Played the Tower Tavern in Fitzrovia (that's London for you provincial types) on Friday. Since I joined the band in June 2008, we've done a few "live" gigs over the internet in Second Life (not my thing at all, but our guitarist is a long-time Second Lifer), but this was our first real life gig. The band has gigged before in different incarnations, but not for a few years. We were fourth band on out of six - got 30 minutes and played 6 original songs in our own inimitable off-the-wall hippy pagan/eco rock stylee. We brought at least 20 punters, and there were something like 100-150 people there altogether. I'd been fighting off some kind of ear-nose-throat infection for the previous couple of days, and was dosed up on Ibuprofen and Vitamin C for the evening, felt lousy beforehand, but once at the venue adrenalin and excitement took over. No nerves, great fun and the set was well received. We had been hoping to have our new album ready to sell, but sadly it didn't arrive from the pressing plant in time. Got a mate to film the gig, but haven't seen the tape yet - I'm told it came out quite well.
This was my first gig as a bass player for well over 25 years, and my first gig of any kind for about 15-20 years (I used to play piano in a duet with a jazz/blues singer in the late eighties, early nineties).
The Tower Tavern is a good venue, I think - the sound guys were really friendly and helpful, and they seem to have a good regular crowd as well as all the folks brought along by the bands. The backline and drumkit were provided, and they have a decent PA, so it was easy to turn up on public transport.
I think I'll be doing more of this!
EDIT: Album has just arrived, apparently! We're on a roll!