Feature: Jumping Ships UK Tour Diary
With the recent release of their latest single, 'Heart and Hope', Brighton's Jumping Ships recently headed out on a UK tour. During the tour, the alternative pop-rockers put together an exclusive tour diary exclusively for Alter The Press.
Show 1 – The Albert w/ Flood of Red (Brighton, 23/02/11)
To kick off our tour we literally traveled down the road to support Glasgow’s finest Flood of Red. After dragging our full drum kit down to the venue, we realized that the rather accommodating Glaswegians had brought a spare kit for their support acts. That kind act meant we had to lug our kit back before performing. The saving grace had to be seeing a great set before heading back home, just minutes away.
Show 2 – The Cellars (Portsmouth 28/02/11)
After a short gap in the tour we got to pick up our tour van, which was lovingly borrowed our friends in the band Jouis. This van, full of character, has a letter ‘J’ imprinted on its side, also has a key to the ignition used to be a nail crafted into a key shape (of course?!). Named ‘The old LDV’ (‘Jean Claude’ – got the pun yet?) it took us west to The Cellars, Portsmouth.
We arrive to the easiest load in ever. We then meet-up with some top guys for Portsmouth University who we do a smart video interview for. The show was great, and really kick-started the tour. We then proceed back to the promoters (Joel Ransom) house by the aid of a racist taxi driver who also expresses his annoyance at the lack of ‘knocking shops’ in Portsmouth these days. Yes, bad person. When back at Joe’s it all got a bit rock’n’roll, ordering four pizzas for £25 (amazing deal) whilst shouting at the television whilst the American Apprentice was on.
The Bracknell show came about from an unforeseen circumstance in Oxford that led to a cancellation. Mike got in touch with the venue he ‘grew up in’ called The Cellar Bar in his hometown of Bracknell. Despite how it might sound, it was great show. For a real last minute booking, it was a huge success getting local band Our Lost Infantry to support. They were excellent. We also expanded our merch stand into a "merch grotto" complete with some sort of "Merch Santa’" (Our Tour Manager called Roby wearing a fez!). Strong nostalgia on this date.
Show 4 - The Purple Turtle (Reading, 02/03/11)
After the last nights trip to the "silicon valley" of the UK (yes, Bracknell) we proceeded off down the road to Reading. En route we visited a local music shop named ‘Amen Corner’ (Which I think has some relation to the band from the 70’s) to get guitar related stuff. After the detour we then headed off to the venue. We arrive to find a total lack of parking and a rather odd shaped stage – it’s also the first time I’d realized that the turtle in the Purple Turtle logo is smoking a spliff. The promoter for the show tonight was one heck of a character, and gives us his business card in which he declares himself a ‘rock n roll detective’ – brilliant!
Show 5 - The Tubman (Hastings, 04/03/11)
With our sights set on the coastline once more, we headed to Hastings to a little pub called The Tubman, that turned out to be one of the highlights of the tour. It was absolutely packed and even Jason (somebody we met in the Travel Lodge on our last Hastings outing) makes an appearance.
The gig went down an absolute storm. Kai and Rich sneaked-off back to Jason’s house for a brief party before the load out. Load out, incidentally, included loading one too many pedal boards in to the van - namely the pedal board of the guitarist from one of the support bands.
Show 6 - The Buffalo Bar (Cardiff, 06/03/11)
After Mike ran the pedal board back to Hastings, we headed off on our way to Cardiff. We arrived at the Buffalo bar early in the afternoon and met the guys
from Attention Thieves. After a swift load-in and sound check, we then scooted off down to the local Wetherspoons for a pre-show beer and a burger.
We arrive back at the venue as the first act are going on and the venue was getting busy. A couple of songs into our set and Rich managed to achieve the impossible, breaking a string on his bass. Not just any old string, it had to be the heavy E-string! After some extended improvisation on stage to new song ‘Broken English’ there was a cue applause for Rich as he grabs his back-up bass and jumps back on stage like nothing had happened.
We ended the night with some lunging competitions with Attention Thieves before heading to stay with a new friend Alex, who leant us some spare rooms to stay in. We woke to find out he had maths tests to revise for that day, including some rather lengthy formulas for shopping cues. We left with with our fingers crossed that the exam went okay.
Show 7 - The Old Blue Last (Single Launch in London, 07/03/11)
About 30 minutes into our journey London we realize the brakes on The Jean Claude start to grind really loudly. After pulling into a service station it becomes clear that The old LDV needed TLC in the form of the AA. After 3 hours, made easier with amusement grabber machines and cheap coffee fixes, we finally get moving again thanks to shift work from Cardiff’s AA team.
Another 3 hours later we arrive at Shoreditch, still about 5pm, in desperate need of strings after Rich bass string troubles. Mike wandered the streets of Shoreditch to find a music shop amongst so many music venues. Apparently there isn’t and a rush hour trip to Denmark Street finally allowed us to go sound check.
There was an awesome line-up at the Old Blue Last, with Adults The Elderly, Children and Dexy and the Hand Me Downs starting the night off fantastically. The awesome Scholars; our secret main support, absolutely killed it too!
Setting the bar high for our set, we proceeded Scholars feeling fresh (or not so fresh "mid-tour") and we debuted a couple of new songs and had a grand ole’ time. This was the first time we see the new singles and tee’s. In amongst the entire melee afterwards, Mike manages to lose an Oyster card (which wasn’t his) and tried to find it for the rest of the night whilst everyone gets on it.
Show 8 - Westminster University (London 09/03/11 Cancelled)Unfortunately this show got cancelled a day before we were supposed to be playing it and then the news that the University might be closing down
wasn’t great either. We had a day in London to kill so we got in touch Maryam Hassan (from Punktastic) and went out to take some promo shots. We hung around
Shoreditch looking all cool and rad before heading off to Hampstead Heath feed the ducks peanuts and Asda value Cheesy Poofs. We later found out that some ducks don’t like peanuts.. and can actually die from eating them. After a long conversation it was decided that they were probably seagulls anyway. Please note: Do NOT feed ducks peanuts!
Show 9 - The Watershed (Wimbledon, 11/03/11)
After the short break from shows, we went down to South London to Wimbledon to play The Watershed. We took the car as the van is no longer in our possession, which meant we had to use the house kit which involves Alex basically taking it apart and sorting it out. The club night is pretty much starting next door when we go on, but the venue was busy and we had a good show. After we load-out the walk back to the car sees us duck and dive the local nightlife which was kicking off in a big way/ On the street we find a pack of fags and a box of (slightly warm) KFC and then we are on our way. Result.
Show 10 - The Green Door Store (Brighton, 17/03/11)
A few days after our show at Wimbledon Watershed and St. Patricks Day has arrived - and that means the Brighton leg of our single launch is here! In the days running up to the show, we went on JuiceFM 107.2 to give our new single its premiere on the radio and chat about the launch. When the day of the show arrives we get down their early to set up, the stage isnt wide enough so this means that we have to set up in a line - with the drums at the side; second time on the tour we have done this (will there be a repeat of the co-ordinated ‘Spinal Tap’ kick there was in Bracknell?)
The bands start arriving and the show gets under way. Its a four band bill, support comes from; Alcopop’s! Finisest BMX pop kings - Stagecoach, hard hitting BSM rockers Hold Your Horse Is and Eager Teeth (ex Telegraphs + This City). Its loud and at capacity and there is a strong smell of Guiness in the air. For this set we dropped ‘The Whole Truth’ (token track from EP) and replaced it with new song ‘Ten Thousand Leagues’.
Photos from The Green Door Store, show in Brighton can be viewed here.
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