Last Saturday was the shortest day in England. The least amount of daylight in the year. It was also the annual homecoming gig for Birmingham band The Twang. They do this gig just before Christmas each year and Josh has being going since 2012. Last year Pezza and myself got our first call ups for this event. Josh named an unchanged team for this year and it was nice for us to keep our places.

I didn’t blog about last years night. There was plenty of events though. During the song “You On My Shoulders”, Josh unexpectedly stuck his head between my legs and lifted me up. I was surprised somewhat and also worried. Not doubting Josh’s strength but in Boxing terms I’m no Flyweight. Possibly Super Middle or Light Heavyweight. I suddenly had visions of me falling backwards off his shoulder and smashing my head on the ground. I must have made a commotion as people in front looked round and Pezza commented that they looked very concerned.

Post gig we went back to New Street for the last train. Before it came in someone had an altercation with a member of staff on the platform, shoved him over and then bolted across the tracks when back up was called for. The guy reached an adjacent platform just as high viz bods appeared and he ran off down the tracks and into a tunnel. This delayed the trains departure.

On board we were joined by a random guy who befriended the group of ladies behind us, finding out that one was called Colette and he then spent the next 10 minutes singing “Colette, the best a man can get” as if he was in a Gillette advert.

The train showed no sign of moving and then an announcement came through that it would depart shortly but would only go to Hednesford not it’s full route to Rugeley. This caused a fight between two groups of passengers. You know on the films Airplane and Airplane 2 when there are announcements and everyone starts fighting? It reminded me of that.

We had to wait for the police to come. We were joined by Becki Floyd who came along the carriage looking for calmness, she found us. Finally we were put on a different train and the full route was reinstated. We departed an hour late, getting back in to The Registry just after 1am. Josh then made me stay until 4am.

So what did this years event have in store? Josh and Pez met up in the afternoon but I wasn’t down with that. I’d barely been out since the Pelsall day on November 24th so was a bit out of practice at the old drinking lark plus I’m currently under self imposed austerity measures and trying to limit my spending till March so I wanted a cheap day.

I finally left the house at 6, stopping at the Greggs at the bottom of the market for train food. It’s well documented that I don’t drink booze on trains but I’m happy to eat on them. I’d barely been in a Greggs since the pre Saturday overtime stone cold sausage, cheese and bean melt atrocity in 2022. It wasn’t this branch though and I was pleased to see it still open at this time of the day.

Last Christmas by Wham came on as I entered. I’d crashed out of Whamageddon on day 10 with a double Whamming so I was okay with this. I grabbed a baguette and headed to the counter. The friendly lass said I could have a coffee with it for an extra 30p. I didn’t want a coffee but I can’t resist a bargain and you have to look for value during austerity so I agreed. We discussed Christmas shopping while she prepared the drink and it was a nice visit. I left and got a message form Josh. They were catching a later train and summonsed me to The Met Bar. Train coffee quickly became gulped Park Street coffee.

It was busy on arrival. An indie version of Last Christmas came on. I couldn’t place it. Certainly not the Manic Street Preachers or Jimmy Eat World version the latter of which is my favourite.

This gave way to Warm This Winter by Gabriella Cilmi which is an absolute classic. We marvelled at Walsall being top of League 2 on the tv screens and it was a pleasant pint but soon it was chuff chuff time.

On board it took Josh all of seconds to comment on me not drinking on trains but producing a baguette. It was good though. In Birmingham it was straight in to Bachus Bar which is underneath a hotel opposite New Street. It was a new one for me and Josh although I remember me and Woza trying to tick it off on Pub 365 Challenge volume 1 in 2011 but it was either rammed or we were turned away. Possibly both.

It was rammed with some stunning ladies in delightful outfits. From there we headed to the venue which had changed from the previous year. It was now at the O2 Academy which I couldn’t place, Josh had said it was “by New Street” which threw me as it really wasn’t but as we approached I remembered it. This was to be my 4th visit having been before to see Idlewild with Chris & Laura, Shed Seven with Woza, Sarah and Gareth. This was the time I nearly pulled a really nice lady. Woza still insists it was an actual pull and that she was really keen but I am rubbish at reading the signals from ladies. I need them in flashing neon lights.

I also went to see James there with Tim Gwillam where we got to have a q & a with lead singer Tim Booth on the afternoon. Tim (my mate, not the singer) then took me for food in The Mailbox and a couple of pints before we headed back. So it was nice to be making a 4th visit with another set of people.

We were soon inside. I always have someone tall in front of me at gigs and this time it was a Peter Crouch wannabe. I didn’t want to see anyway which was good especially as he soon had his phone aloft above his head.

I can’t profess to being a big fan of The Twang but I know 3 or 4 of their tracks and I remembered some from last year. We moved out of Peter Crouch’s slipstream and I ended up behind a lady in a Santa hat. She moved back and I couldn’t retreat so then every time she moved her head her hat rubbed against my nose. It’s a good job I don’t have a raging Cocaine habit or the sniffer dogs of Birmingham would have had a field day on that hat upon her departure.

The “Shoulder” song came on. Pez and Josh had a quick committee meeting about whether a repeat of last year was occurring but they opted against it. I am noticeably heavier than last year which may have swung it. Crouchy didn’t put anyone on his shoulders either.

It was a cracking gig. Their big hit Either Way went down a storm and it was a great night. Listening to live music, with you and your best mate with your arms around each others shoulders is class.

Afterwards was another new place TOCA Social. Which 3 floors up was reached by 6 flights of stairs and needless to say I was the last of our group to reach the summit. Someone coming up behind me asked if I was ok. I replied “I will be when I get some Oxygen.” It reassured me that Sir Edmund Hillary I certainly am not. We were there to watch the Tyson Fury fight. We arrived during round 4 but I still think we saw more of it than the judges. Usyk must have battered Fury during the 3 and half rounds that we didn’t see as he didn’t do much during the rest of the fight bar round 11. When the result was announced the room was stunned. We slumped out and jumped in an Uber. We didn’t fancy the late night train antics again. I did see on Twitter the next day a couple of Tweets offering articles to explain how Usyk won but as a biased sports fan those didn’t fit my narrative so I didn’t read.

We got to Walsall and The Registry was mentioned. I’d only had two pints all evening so it was a yes from me. It was busy with lots of ladies in Santa outfits. Josh had one and went so me and Pez drank up and headed to The Watering Trough for “a last one”. There were a few in and the DJ was playing Slade and Meatloaf so all good. Pez announced he was getting a Wishbone takeaway. I pondered one more in Flans. Pez said he’d join me in Flans and order his food while in there. All sounded very new fangled but fine with me.

Flans only opens on Friday and Saturday nights nowadays so I don’t get to go in really. Don’t think I’ve been in all year. It was very busy though which was good to see. I got served straight away. A nice lady commented on the big head on my Carling. She then took a lick of it. I didn’t mind. It’s been a long time since a lady licked my head. Just a shame it was on a pint of Carling.

She was a good laugh though. Next she was rubbing the top of my actual head like a superstar DJ scratching on the hottest new white label vinyl in his collection. Then she was pulling her dress down and flashing her red bra at someone across the bar. Red is my 2nd favourite colour after white so I was fine with this.

Pez ordered his food and left at 2. Just as I was finishing my pint the DJ announced that he was going to play for an extra half an hour so I stayed for one more. He was on excellent form. He played The Love I Lost by West End featuring Sybil which is one of the best songs ever. This was followed by Red Light Spells Danger by Billy Ocean, which well what can I say? It’s one of the best songs ever.

Final song was Starship’s Nothings Gonna Stop Us Now which is a Walsall FC anthem and we’ve been pretty unstoppable of late and long may it continue.

I got home at 3am. Earlier than expected and well under budget. Exceptional day. One of my things for 2025 is more live music. And judging by those last two pints, more Flan O’Briens.