As an alternative to just showing you the gigs we are about to do, we thought it might be interesting to show you where we have been and a brief description of what it was like.

This is also our way of thanking the venues for their support and allowing us to entertain their customers.

Road to Hell (Jan - Apr 2003) | Road to Hell (May - Sept 2003) | Road to Hell (Current)

31 December 2002 - The Purton Working Mens Club, Purton, Swindon

After a drive of 3 hours to get there we were champing at the bit to get on stage and showing a completely new audience just what The Beer Monsters are all about. Being New Year, the place was busy and somehow the long arm of the law were serving pints behind the bar, in uniform complete with handcuffs and batons.

As this was going to be a long night, we started off the first set gently so as not to tire the audience too early. We wanted them to be ready for the chimes of Big Ben when they came later on.

With the second set, the crowd soon found Paul and Huw wandering about the place. At one point we thought we had lost Paul as he seemed to have been gone a long time. Perhaps he had been "arrested" for being loud and being in charge of a guitar!

Our new "bare faced cheek" award goes to Mr Richard Skidmark for his brazen exposure of all things moon. Thankfully he was pointing in the general direction of the stage so didn't frighten too many people!

In addition, we had a request for "Stairway to Heaven" shouted repeatedly but although Paul demonstrated he knew the guitar part we didn't play it. This is because in order to do it properly, you really do need a keyboard to add in the various flutelike bits. We always work on the basis that if a song is worth doing, it is worth doing properly or not at all. This was a case in point.

After the turn of the year, and the obligatory Auld Lang Syne, the volume went up as did the energy levels. It was great to see some serious dancing, head banging and singing. When Paul and Huw set off once again into the crowd and swapped guitars, they missed the sight of grown men playing air guitar and throwing guitar hero shapes on the stage. We even had a head banger in full flow trying to head one of Robin's cymbals in time with the music. Priceless!

Thanks go to the club, its staff and members for making the long journey there and back so worthwhile. We promise that we will be back at some time in 2003 so we will see you all there again.

27 December 2002 - The Horse and Jockey, Basford, Nottingham

Seems like only a few days ago since we last played here - ah, could that be because our last rehearsal was here only a few days ago!

It was really good to see some old and new faces in attendance ready for a great night's rockin & drinkin.

As is our choice here when we play the big room, we had the "big rig" wired up and even had chance to do a little judicious miking of the drum kit. The bass drum sounded a killer through the PA before people came in and when Paul and Huw went off on their round the pub tour, they confirmed that it sounded good out front too!

Once again, Paul decided to "step outside" during their walk about and he even appeared in a window once again. This time though he couldn't get back in through the door onto the stage so had to walk back round to the front door. What is it with guitarists and 5 minute solos? Isn't that supposed to be drummers - apart from Robin of course!

The crowd once again got their many of the songs that they had hoped for and left happy, some more signing up to the mailing list as they left. (If you are reading this from a computer, why aren't you signed up already, if you haven't already done so?)

Thanks go to Marie, Russ and the rest of the Horse & Jockey crew. We hope that you have a great New Year and we will return once more to rehearse new material as well as to play for your lovely customers.

24 December 2002 - The Hope and Anchor, Coventry

Santa was loading his sleigh with presents ready for his incredible trans-global journey and the band were on the road again ready to bring festive cheer to the people of Coventry.

This was the first time that we had played here, and hopefully not the last. We were really looking forward to widening our horizons further than Nottingham and hoped for a good reception.

The small, but select, audience were soon into the mood with some serious drinking and just as serious partying to the music. Thanks go to Gav, the landlord, for the free bar for the band. To say that this was much appreciated would be an understatement!

The popular tunes were spiced up with a select number of festive songs to keep the mood relevant to the time of year and we added in a couple of numbers that we had been working on in rehearsal. The set list that we choose from now stretches closer towards the 5 hour mark. The audience's reaction suggested that they really liked what they were hearing

The evening's entertainment was finished off admirably by the audiences fighting spirit in refusing to accept that the bar was closed amongst other things, much to our amusement.

We look forward to visiting the area again and showing you even more of what we are capable of doing.

Thanks to Gav for inviting us and buying one of our CD's and to the bar staff for keeping us "fuelled up" throughout the evening. We couldn't have done it without you all.

24 November 2002 - The Old Volunteer, Carlton, Nottingham

It seems like quite a while since we have done an afternoon gig and since we had not played here "officially" we weren't sure what to expect.

Initially, whilst setting the gear up, things didn't look too promising with the numbers of people present but according to the landlady, the audience were all trying to be fashionably late. As a result she recommended delaying the start until 3:30pm. D'you know what, she was right!

As usual, we were definitely ready to rock and proceeded to rip through our first set. The release was obvious for all to see as Robin managed to hit his cymbals so hard that the clamps on the stands moved dropping them down on to his drum kit not once but twice! Paul and Huw did their usual walkabout to meet and greet the members of the audience and once again Paul had the indignity of passing underneath Huw whilst still playing. It's a good job they trust each other or it could all end in tears.

What is it about people coming to see us and asking as to play bizarre songs. Why, oh why did you ask for Des O'Connor's "The Last Waltz" and some kids TV theme songs? You should know by now that Paul probably knows it and will force Huw and Robin to learn it as they go along!

During the next beer break Paul made a promise to one member of the audience to learn the solo's in Rainbow's "Since you've been gone" and the forfeit agreed was that he would personally buy beer for the individual if he hadn't got it sorted out by the time she next saw us. You'll all have to come again to see if Paul fulfils that promise.

In time honoured Beer Monsters tradition, we played as long as we could. In Robin's case, old git that he is, it was almost physically impossible for him to have played much more what with the blisters on his hands and his aching muscles. He will need to work on his fitness to keep going for longer just in case we decide to do a show containing all four hours plus worth of material that is contained on our Set choice list.

The band would like to thank you all for coming and especially to thank the landlady and staff for inviting us. They've even gone as far as inviting us back again so Carlton seems to like us.

25 October 2002 - Horse and Jockey, Basford

Friday night, the weather trying to blow water all over the place, Paul stuck in a truck on the nightmarish road network between London and Nottingham, Robin dealing with an over stretched police force after someone vandalised his car and Huw decorating suggested that this might be a bit of a downer. Nothing could be further from the truth. We were so "up for it" as a release, we put our all into our playing and thanks to a receptive audience and some extra special friends, we all had a good time.

True to form, the audience here were up to their usual tricks of asking for bizarre songs but where Paul knew them, we obliged in playing them. We just can't stop trying to satisfy everyone in the audience even if it means apologising to our number one fan prior to playing an Oasis number!

The "walkabout" part of the first set was interesting to say the least. Paul decided that he would go out of the back doors whilst Huw went out of the side door. That was fine apart from the fact that Paul didn't shut the door behind him so Basford certainly knew we were back in town with the "big rig" blasting out of the wide open double doors.

In quite a change, Mick Marriott, a singer/guitarist and Mick Lund our harmonica playing friend, took centre stage as first Robin and then Huw took a break - Paul stepping in and playing drums and then bass, flash git that he is! The audience loved it and so did we, especially the stirring, emotive version of Dire Straits "Romeo and Juliet." For Paul, it was especially welcome as Mick Marriott was an idol for him from long ago and it turns out he is getting back into the ring again after a while away. Welcome back.

The pub had once again laid on sandwiches for those present but the audience got a surprise when Paul came round with the tray whilst still playing guitar with his other hand. Even more bizarre was him handing a sarnie to Huw and then Robin so it ended up with the whole band playing one handed.

Thanks again to the pub and its staff and an extra special mention to the guy (sorry can't remember your name) who is intent on getting us a couple of weeks of gigs in Corfu of all places! Watch the gig list to see if it comes off. Also thanks to Nick, our number one fan who imported a guest all the way from the USA to see us.

18 October 2002 - Victoria Leisure Centre, Nottingham - CAMRA Beer Festival

If there is a Beer Monster heaven, it must be something like this. A large hall containing loads of people all intent on sampling some amazing beers and being entertained whilst doing it.

We had visited the Leisure Centre the night before to check things out and had immediately agreed that this was going to be a "big rig" event owing to the size of the hall. We were thus a little concerned when we got there to find the previous band setting up! We needn't have worried though, since they only performed a short set and our rapid setup got us up and running quickly.

Initially, from our vantage point on the stage, we could see that there were a few people near the front who were listening but very soon people further and further back were turning towards us and taking notice. With a reaction like that it was obvious that Paul and Huw were feeding off the interest and wanted to join the audience. Sure enough, off they went into the crowd with cheers ringing in their ears.

Not content with the usual walkabout in the audience, later on Paul and Huw were once again off the stage and on the floor, this time Paul soloing whilst passing between Huw's legs. Not only did this produce cheering but also a lot of laughter, particularly when people realised that Huw's radio pack had become dislodged and he was playing bass with the aerial grasped firmly in his teeth!

We were told that normally at this event, the bands play two sets but being the Beer Monsters we decided to do three and during the latter two it was great to see people dancing and singing along to some of the classic songs that they knew.

We had also decided that this was the ideal place to premiere the band's new song, cunningly titled "La Booza" and the reaction that got was tremendous. Rest assured we will be repeating the song at future shows.

We would like to thank Nottingham CAMRA, Andrew Ludlow and Ray Kirby in particular, for letting us play at their most important annual event. We hope that you all had a great time, we know we did!

13 October 2002 - The Running Horse, Canning Circus, Nottingham

It was a cold, damp Sunday evening when the Running Horse opened its doors to let you lot in but we weren't going to let anything like the season and the weather hold us back. We were here to party and it looks like you were too!

We hope that you all had a good time and that any sore head you might have suffered the following day was purely down to the sampling of fine ales provided by Barry, Sally and the bar staff. Believe it or not, we were respecting Barry's wishes to keep a lid on the sound whilst the current differences of opinion with the neighbours are resolved.

Paul was definitely into his "rock god" trip on the night, chucking his guitar around and posing for Barry's camera but Huw wasn't too far behind. Once again, the pair of them disappeared into the farthest recesses of the pub leaving Robin stranded on the stage. The sooner the remote controlled motorised drum kit prototype breaks cover the better - the drop off the stage could be a problem though!

We played some new stuff again when certain people, (you know who you are Barry) asked if we could play "Spirit in the Sky" so thanks for introducing that into the act and the singalong to the 4 Non Blondes track was really inspiring. Can we take it that you all like that one? It's a shame that Huw forgot to buy some new tapes so that we could have recorded the show but what the heck, it's probably better remembered than recorded. You always sing better when you have had a few!

Thanks to Barry, Sally, Russ and the rest of the staff at the Runner for making us feel really welcome and also promising to get us back there again. Watch this site for news in the New Year!

20 September 2002 - The Horse and Jockey, Basford, Nottingham

How familiar is this place to us! We rehearse here and have played a show here but this night was different - we were in the small front bar!

Since we knew this before the event we only set up our rehearsal rig, not wanting to inflict too much volume into a small space and deafen the audience. We also were going to try to record the event. It was a shame that Paul forgot to put the cassette in the multi track for the first set as there was a unique song made up on the spot by Paul after someone shouted out a song that Paul knew how to play but couldn't remember the words! Based on the reaction though, we may well work on this happy accident and introduce it to the set list.

We'll decide on what to do with the recording once we have had a chance to listen to it after a quick mix down. You never know, bits of it could end up here on the site!

As usual, there was a little "excursion" from the radio'd up members of the band and since not many of the audience knew what to expect, it came as a bit of a surprise. They especially liked the bit where Paul started gorging himself on the sandwiches provided by the pub whilst continuing his solo.

If you keep up to date with the gig list on the site, you will see that we are back here again in about a month's time so we look forward to seeing you all - and your friends, on the 25th October.

The band would like to thank the pub, it's staff and you lot for making us feel at home here. We promise we will keep you all entertained again next time around.

7 September 2002 - The Fox & Crown, Basford, Nottingham

Thank you, thank you, thank you! We love you all!

Things started off unpromisingly as the skies were chucking water down when we arrived to set up. A decision had to be made about whether to set up outside or indoors. Those of us who own the equipment didn't want to see money going up in smoke so we decided on the indoor route. The discussion took longer than hoped so we missed our 5:30pm start. Apologies to those of you who were there at the advertised time and were disappointed that we were not playing.

The first set, which was supposed to be half an hour in length but in fine Beer Monsters tradition went on longer, was played to a small but appreciative audience. We tried to keep the levels down and the choice tasteful so as not to frighten anybody there for a quiet, early evening drink.

Our second set started the ascent into the loud and proud stuff and included the now common disappearance of the bass player and guitarist into the farthest recesses of the pub and also outside. It was here that Paul started "gurning" through the window. Those of you that had seen us recently knew what to expect but the looks of surprise from the rest when Huw & Paul wandered off were great and just what was hoped for.

By now we were into our stride, and the beer, so strange things started to happen! A world premiere occurred when Huw sang lead vocals on "Sweet Dreams (are made of this)" since it was only last Sunday at rehearsal that the idea had come up. We had only run through it only a couple of times too! Those people in the know about this possibility had been goading him all week but he was adamant, up until actually starting the song, that he wasn't going to do it.

We also had the similarly unusual event of Huw, having swapped instruments with Paul, actually performing a guitar solo. Again, those people that know him will understand just how out of the ordinary this is - him being insistent that he is a rhythm guitarist and bass player only!

Finally the other thanks:-
We have to say thank you to Ped for the banner. We promise we will figure out a better way to display it in future.
To Liz, our official photographer, who is now worried about how the audience photo's will come out. When they are developed we hope you enjoy trying to spot yourselves and don't forget what Huw promised!!!!
To Tammy, the bar staff, our roadies and you lot again. We couldn't have done it without all of you. You are all appreciated by all three of us.

30 August 2002 - The Boundary, South Normanton

This was actually a charity show with the aim of raising as much money as possible for a cancer patient wanting pioneering surgery currently not available on the N.H.S As a result, not only was there live music but there were quizzes auctions and other general mucking about raising money. The "guestimated" total raised on the night was in the region of £3,000. Well done to everyone who attended and made the evening so successful.

The Beer Monsters were there in the capacity of forming the core of the band with the addition of Jim Underhill on guitar, our old buddy Norv on guitar, bass and vocals. To add the element of surprise to the audience, George - the organiser of the night, got up and sang a few numbers with us all. Considering up until Monday 19th August, George had never sung in public before and, apart from Jim nobody knew he was going to be doing it, he can consider himself an honorary band member from now on! The surprise worked and the audience loved him for it.

The crowd were once again treated to a Paul & Huw special of an "opposed fly past" but this time they were in front of the audience so more people appreciated their efforts and Robin had two musicians on stage with him whilst they did it.

Money was also raised for the cause if Paul would demonstrate all the ways of playing the guitar that Jimi Hendrix used. Sure enough, after getting a member of the audience to pluck his G string and thus prove there were no tape tricks happening, he launched into Johnny B Goode and soloed behind his head, upside down, using his teeth and behind has back.

After the event, we understand that so many people thought so much of the musicianship on view, that there could be a coach load of people coming to the Monday Open Mike night at the Running Horse some time soon.

Once again, we would like to thank George, Jim, Norv, Nick - our temporary roadie, the landlord, the staff and most of all the incredibly generous audience for making us feel welcome and helping us to help you all have a good time raising cash for a worthwhile cause.

Small note to George - if you are reading this!
Liz really knew the answer to the Starship question, could have told you what film it was featured in and other information about it without any help from the band. She loves the track and the film!

25 August 2002 - Bar Oz, St James St, Nottingham City Centre

Our first time here as the Beer Monsters. Previously, the three of us had played here in another band under the catchy name of "The Billabong Boogie Boys." Obviously our Australian connections coming to the fore in that!

The gig was originally to be in the Beer Garden but the weather conspired against it by threatening to chuck water at us so we set up in the main downstairs bar area. Strangely enough, it didn't rain at all.

Being a Sunday night and since Bar Oz is not known as a music venue, there weren't that many people there to start with but we were pleased to see some of our regulars once again.

We were supposed to start at 7:00pm and play until 9:00 but in fine Beer Monster tradition the audience were really into our third set so we once again over ran playing until gone 10:30pm.

With Bar Oz being quite an extensive venue, the opportunity to roam about was too good. As you can imagine Paul and Huw went off around the place chatting to the audience, getting behind the bar and inevitably doing an "opposed fly past" outside on St James' Street, much to the amusement of the door staff and other people passing by!

Plans for Robin's motorised drum kit are going ahead according to the person behind the idea, in as much as she intends to build a radio controlled model. If it happens, pictures will be on the web site. Robin is not so sure that being radio controlled by a member of the audience is not such a good idea.

Thanks to Gordon, Matty and the rest of the staff for letting us play for you all. Huw would also like to apologise for removing varnish from the floor with his extensive use of gaffer tape but he prefers to argue that it was necessary for health & safety reasons and that Gordon should therefore be relieved not to be at risk of public liability claims for damages!

4 August 2002 - The Royal Oak, Beeston, Nottingham

Another day, another gig - NOT!

Our second show here and it was good to see so many new faces as well as some of the characters from when we were here last time.

It seems as if we experiment with new stuff just for you since this was the world premiere of the "two twats with radio packs" innovation. You had been warned about this on this site first. (See the review of our 14th July gig here)

Both Huw and Paul wandered off into the distance leaving poor old (and he is old!) Robin drumming away whilst they were enjoying themselves. After the show some people suggested that this wasn't fair and even came up with an idea to make him mobile too. A motorised wheelchair for Christ's sake!! Thanks Ped, but we do have an idea or two up our sleeves anyway.

With both of the "front men" free to roam about, Paul had another trick or two to perform whilst mobile. Imagine, playing a solo whilst playing a slot machine. How show-biz do we need to make this, or more like how far are we prepared to go!

Another small change, was the availability of a sign up sheet for our electronic mailing list and sheets for you to tell us about venues where you think we could play one of our unique style of shows.

The E-mail list got used with great invention by a certain group of individuals (you know who you are) by adding loads of funny fictional addresses as well as their own. Also, thanks for telling us that we should be booked in to Wembley Arena too!

Thanks again to Rae, Tony the DJ and the staff for putting up with us. A special thanks to Meryl too for services rendered - there is a beer in it for you but you will have to come to another show to claim it!

14 July 2002 - The Royal Oak, Beeston

Our first time here and we are already booked to return. Result!!!!

As this gig is further away from our current stomping ground, there were only a few of our regular fans but we hope that those of you who witnessed the show will come again when we return.

Tonight was the first time Paul has played using a radio pack on his guitar so he could wander amongst you whilst playing. Perhaps he took it to extremes by accompanying an audience member into the gents whilst playing. What do you think? (answers to our e-mail address please) It also served him right that he bust a string whilst playing between our "guest artiste's" legs [1]. You never know, there may even be some photos of this somewhere on the site![2]

Because of the obvious fun that Paul was having, Huw tried to join in but got carried away managing to yank his bass out of the amplifier and turning the band into a two piece whilst he sorted out the problem. Looks like another radio pack is going to be joining our gear soon![3]. If that happens, what odds would anyone give of them figuring out a way to radio pack the drum kit to let Robin leave the safety of his drums…

Thanks to Rae, the rock night DJ and all of the staff there for making us feel welcome. Like Arnie might say if he was in our band (not that we'd have him!) "We'll be back!"

[1] fnaar, fnaar - Huw

[2] On the "Photos" page 14 July, Photo 1

[3] either that or I'm getting a LONG lead - Huw

(Additional Note 20 July) An extra radio pack has been purchased, along with a new bass. You have been warned...

6 July 2002 - The Fox & Crown, Basford

Woohoo!!!

Hello Basford. We're back in your back gardens again!

The gig was in the open playing to the beer garden again but the added attraction was the beer festival happening at the same time. What could have been better? Good music and good beer - heaven!

We were booked to play from 5:30 until 7:30 but as usual we kept going until close to 9:45. What is it here that keeps us playing for you until way past stopping time? Must be the audience reaction or the beer or both. The Police even tried to gatecrash the party by flying their helicopter over us for a few minutes during Another Brick in the Wall so Paul did his helicopter and siren impressions.

Once again, it was great to see people from the previous gigs watching us. Keep coming back and see us doing even more different stuff. You never know, you might even get to hear some of our original material once we have sobered up enough to finish writing it.

The best story to come out of this was a couple who heard the music from their back garden, liked what they heard and decided to set out on foot to track the source down. Eventually they discovered us and just as importantly, the beer. The really great thing was the distance they came. They lived on Perry Road, which to all the non-locals is approximately half a mile away as the crow flies. Cheers to them for making the effort

Once again, thanks to Tammy and the rest of the staff for making us so welcome. Thanks also to those people who took contact cards to keep in touch with us. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

15 June 2002 - The Horse & Jockey, Basford

This was almost like our homecoming gig since we regularly rehearse in the back room where we actually did the show.

This was the first gig where we used our "big" PA system (all 2000 watts) as it had plenty of space and we wanted to give it a try. Needless to say the quality of sound was superb.

The set was pretty much an excuse to really rock out in the style we are most enthusiastic about. Plenty of rock and blues anthems interspersed with some quieter more thoughtful material. The audience could see that we were really enjoying ourselves and joined in with the spirit of the occasion.

Thanks to Russ for letting us play there and to the members of the audience who remembered us from the Fox & Crown gig and came to see us again as they enjoyed it so much last time. It was good to see you and we hope to see you again.

3 June 2002 - The King William IV, Boston, Lincolnshire

This was supposed to be our first gig but the Fox and Crown stepped in and beat them to it!

This was an evening gig played in the corner of the bar and once again people have taken our details so that potentially other gigs in the area will come out of it.

Sadly, the landlady of the pub is moving to another soon and thus further gigs here might not happen but she is adamant that when she is settled in at her new place, also in Boston, we will be invited to play there. We may also be doing a cancer charity gig for her as well.

Thanks to the landlady for inviting us, and asking us to do more gigs for her and thanks also to Ian, the temporary barman on the night who kept us entertained by persuading us of the benefits of the only two draught ales he had at the time and constantly lending the till money when he had run out of change again!

2 June 2002 - The Fox & Crown, Basford, Nottingham

This was our first ever paid gig as a band. We played here as a result of an invitation from the landlady after she allowed us to rehearse there whilst we were getting ready for what turned out to be our second gig.

We played outside on a balcony to an audience sitting in the beer garden. It was strange to be so high above them but the audience seemed to like it. In fact we played for over an hour longer than we were booked for! The audience kept buying us beer and cheering us on so what more could we do! Mention was made of gigs elsewhere if we wanted but we will have to see, since we don't want this to become a job.

Thanks to Tammy for allowing us to play there, buying us drinks and inviting us back again.