Last night heralded the first gig of hopefully many this year. It was a small affair, the launch of British Sea Power's new album "Do You Like Rock Music?" held at the Czech Embassy with most of the guests being either invited members of the press or friends of the band. Happily there was a small number of tickets available for mere mortals such as myself, probably to ease up on the cost of the event and I nabbed one the moment they went on sale (They sold out in less than 2 seconds).

Budvar were kindly sponsoring the event and therefore providing free beer. Alcohol and music is a perfect combination for touching my heart, so a few days before the event I ordered a Dukla Praha strip from the internet, a Slovakian arm patch and a Czech flag. The idea behind their new single "Waving Flags" is one of unity, welcoming in the eastern europeans, proclaiming them as astronomical "Fans of Alcohol", and I was determined to join in their internationalist love-fest.

Sadly, the Czech flag did not arrive in time, so on my way to the train station I picked up a union flag and some safety pins so I could fix it on as a cape. New attired in my international garb, I headed into London to meet up with the other fans who were lucky enough to either get an invite or a ticket.

We took over a room in a nearby pub and I was happy to see that two more of the team had came dressed in their Dukla Praha strips. It was nice to see everybody again and I was happy to see that those who had failed in getting tickets had managed to call in their deserved invites.

After a few pints, we marched off to the Czech Embassy, seemingly taking all the patrons of the pub with us and leaving behind some rather confused barmen.

Entry to the Embassy couldn't have been smoother as we showed our passports, were ticked off the guestlist and were shown where to hang our coats. The free beer was there as promised and soon Cath, Alfie and I were posing for photos as the photographers couldn't get enough of our Dukla Praha shirts, a top idea from Alfie then. I spent the next hour walking around and talking to everybody and anybody. People were obviously excited to be lucky enough to gain access to such an exclusive event and the atmosphere was absolutely exhilerating. I was introduced to a lot of new people, including Bill, the notorious stage invader who tends to wreck havok wherever he goes. I don't know how he was allowed in...

Atom
Lights Out For Darker Skies
Down on the Ground
No Lucifer
Canvey Island
Waving Flags
Trip Out
Remember Me
The Spirit of St. Louis
True Adventures
Carrion
A Rock

Hearing all the new stuff in such an intimate setting really set everybody off in a big way. Cath, Bill and I were soon happy bouncing around like idiots and just lapping up the atmosphere and good music. The band was truely on form and were enjoying the adulation of the crowd.

Nobby was soon climbing the fixtures and eyeing up the crowd with an eye on surfing it, and Bill shouted in my ear "I'm going up, give me a hand near the side!!". A Rock kicked off and with Nobby distracting everybody I helped Bill up onto the stage and followed him. The guy is a nutter and I guess it's infectious. I can't really remember the details, but I know it was loud chaotic. Bill and I were stood yelling into the mic, Noble surfed his crowd while Wood, Yan and Hamilton carried on Rocking in A. I can probably simplify the whole experience to the following statement "Looked like a tit, but had a good time".

Wow, just wow. Probably the best BSP gig I've been to yet and now I have a feeling it will be a long time until anything this year can possibly top it.

I'll be writing a letter of thanks to the Czech Embassy as soon as I've posted this blog entry, their hospitality was truely first class and very professional. A congratulations is definitely in order.