Psicle: Four Decades

Friday afternoon and I'm heading northwards for a 40th Anniversary meet up with Ramsay, Olly and Jon. Jeez that's a lifetime isn't it? I'm into Birmingham New Street early afternoon and wander down to Digbeth via the Rag Market which is similar to what I remember it but without a lot of cheap 2nd hand clothes and the used porn mag stall has gone. I guess another victim of the internet. I get a fantastic seitan filled bagel at the lovely Warehouse Cafe before wandering back up to New Street to get a train to Bourneville and then a quick walk to the Bournbrook Inn in Stirchley where we are staying. As the others are arriving a lot later and it's a nice day I wander into Selly Oak stopping off for a swift half at the Country Girl where me and my 6 female housemates used to go as it was a nice relaxed place for a drink and chat. Then past the house I shared with them on Tiverton Road next to the swimming pool where I used to go for a bath and also use their loo when ours froze over in the winter. I wander down as far as the Bournbrook Hotel which has undergone 2 name changes and looking in the window seeing lots of youth enjoying themselves I decide to not go in. Then a wander back to Bournville station along the canal which I'm pretty sure didn't have a tow path you could walk along 40 years ago. Soon the others arrive and after a couple of pints in our inn we Uber down to the university student union. Depressingly dead although the beer and shots are cheap. Only others in the 1 bar that was open were a load of smelly hockey players. Next up is the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath which is buzzing and a lot trendier than it was back in the day. It was here that one of my female friends was refused service as they didn't like serving women, men should go to the bar, and they didn't like women in the Bar instead of the Saloon. The Bar areas of pubs back then had cheaper drinks which is why we went into them. I digress. We then wander up and Station Road trying to remember which house we lived in then go for a drink at the Station pub. Next it's down to the Fighting Cocks in Moseley which used to be an eclectic hang out which put on great bands but is now a fairly ordinary boozer with not many boozers in it. After that it's the Bulls Head which hosts a Cuban bar (Havana Embassy) so we dance around to Latin funky tunes played by a great band. That's quite enough excitement, and alcohol, for 1 night and we head home.

Saturday is wet and after a fantastic breakfast at Can Eat we get the train to Five Ways and then to another old house Eldon Road, again can't remember which one exactly, and to Edgbaston Reservoir and the sadly dilapidated Tower Ballroom which used to put on bands I particularly remember dancing to the Damned under plastic palm trees. Classic place. No more. The rain is easing and we walk into town posing for photos at the Black Sabbath Bridge and the Flappers pub that Ramsay's found on-line. Turns out to be an excellent place playing great music, well, a bit too much metal, and we chat to a guy in creepers who tells us that GBH are playing today. Unfortunately have other plans. After Jon and I give Ramsay and Olly a lesson in pool playing we wander through town stopping for a pint in the Gay Village and I return to the Warehouse Cafe where we line our stomachs. A short walk to the Dead Wax pub for our gig. They are playing great tunes downstairs but we go up as the support are already on. Gunther Prague are a great 3 piece playing hard punky tunes with a great choppy guitarist. It's pretty hard core thumping noise reminding me of the power of Big Black. We're not all enthusiastic. After dropping downstairs again we're soon back up for Imperial Wax who sound like The Fall. I know I say that about a lot of bands but this was the last formation of The Fall when MES passed away. Although reminiscent of The Fall in that they jump around genres RnR, psychobilly, hard core punk and indie. Great singer guitarist who is rock star material. Tight bass & drums and a great 2nd guitarist driving the rhythm. I thought they hit the spot for energy and loudness but again we weren't all as enthusiastic. After that we decide not to join the long queue going into a warehouse with thumping music and instead enter the Spotted Dog pub that we passed on our way here which is a great pub and surprisingly busy with a big beer garden. Surprisingly as there's not a lot of housing round here. I spent a while chatting to the landlord and his mate. Interesting guy. As I said he served a lovely pint of mild, which he was drinking too, he gave me a free pint which was nice. Although it only cost £2.20 anyway! I rejoin my mates in the garden and then we travel home stopping in the bar of our inn for an unnecessary nightcap.

Sunday is a lovely brisk morning and Olly has left early. Me, Jon and Ramsay check out and have breakfast at Can Eat again. We travel to the halls of residence where we first met and after a pleasant sit down next to the lake wander into the university past our old lecture buildings. The place looks very different but maybe it's all the marquees that are up on the lawns for some reason. After popping into the union building, it's still very quiet, we travel into New Street station where we finally part. A great weekend of nostalgia and more good time to add the collective collection. And OK, the pool score was 2-1 and Ramsay illegally potted the black on the decider so a little unlucky.