You Really Got Me

Andy's band has just got a new bass player and this bass player, Matt, well his dad is in a Kinks tribute band. Yesterday there was a Kinks convention at which said tribute band was playing, so Matt invited his new band mates along, putting them on the guest list which was kind of him.

I go absolutely giddy when faced with Ray Davies, regardless of his age when I see him, as not only do I adore his voice but I am fascinated by his mouth, it's beautiful and he has a lovely smile; I also love the gap he has between his front teeth .. go here to see one of my all time favourite clips of him, oh that smile! (1.58 minutes in, oh this makes me all un-necessary. 1.03 too ... actually, let's just say the whole thing and be done with it shall we).

So, imagine my glee when I got to go too! Free Kinkage! Of course there was no guarantee Ray would be there, but there was a possibility as he had done so before.

As I very rarely get to go anywhere, I spent the week planning what I would wear and settled on -

Jade ring, made by me.
Carnelian earrings - made by me
Vintage chiffon scarf, gift from Vix.
1930's necklace - antique shop.
Black cardi - retail
1960's belt - vintage clothes shop
Black swing jacket - gift from Andy
Navy polka dot skirt - made by me
1950's brooch - antique shop.
Teal t-bars - retail

*

Half an hour before Luke the drummer was due to pick us up, Andy got a text from Matt who was unfortunately poorly and couldn't come too. When Luke found out, he didn't want to go at all, I was distraught! I like to think my distress forced his mind to continue on the original plan because off to London we went! Huzzah!

I was shoe-horned into the back of a Ford Ka and we were on our way! The traffic was shocking but we got there at 2.30pm. The place was packed with Kinks fanatics and I have never had so much positive attention in my life, and mostly from women, which still boggles my mind.

What also boggled my mind was the venue, it looked so familiar and it should have done too as the three of us had been there before, to see Billy Childish ..

Then

Yesterday ..

We have been to London, the three of us just twice and both times have found ourselves in the same venue, so that was strange.

*

My back started to play up after about half an hour and a man spilled his drink down my leg which peeved me no end, so we moved to a place near the stage. I set about leaning on walls and what not and had a good old people watch. 

I had been there a while before the door next to me opened (it was a fire escape into a tiny corridor which led to the street) and I turned to come face to face with Ray Davies .. inside my head, the part that goes absolutely giddy was going to pieces while the sensible part of my brain was telling me not to stare as that was rude. But I couldn't help it, I had to look because it was Ray Davies for heavens sake! Wide eyed, I looked in what I suspect was a rather coy manner, look, glance away, look, look down, and very much enjoyed that little moment as oh my goodness, word quickly spread and women from all corners descended  on my quiet corner, it was chaos and he quickly made his way back stage .. this was the best picture Andy could get as I personally do not see him as my property to annoy with a camera and the poor man looked very under the weather bless him.

*

Random picture by Luke .. apparently I married the devil. Behold facial expression which screams "Don't blink!"

Time moved on. 

Ray was nowhere. 

I was bored.

I decided to nip into that small corridor behind the fire escape to freshen up my lipstick. I found my mirror but could not find my lipstick and then someone hit me with the door. I moved to the other side of the teeny area and lo, Luke squashed me behind the door as I was having a rummage in my little handbag.

Suddenly there was a commotion and I looked up to see Ray Davies stood two foot in front of me, looking right at me with a smile on his face.

I froze mid rummage and realised I was looking right into the eyes of Ray, who was smiling at me. Never in my lifetime did I ever think I would be that lucky. I watched as he struggled out of the venue through this tiny space with multiple people hanging on to him trying to touch him and get his attention. All I could do was be squashed against the wall, handbag held aloft with a bewildered expression on my face, so I hope I didn't come across like a rabid fan girl.

And then he was gone. But, but he smiled at me :)

Luke decided we should slope off, so we did, and he wanted a picture of us outside in case we ended up there again ..

*

The trip home was long and we got a bit lost. Back here, we sat in Luke's car watching Horrible Histories clips on his iPad for a few minutes as he had never seen the King of Bling!

We also managed to get a few outfit shots before coming in .. 

Really, I have no idea what I am doing with my arms, but Andy cracked up when he took this, he said it looks like I am dancing wildly. 

*

Yes, it was cold ..