A Change to the Schedule

Saturday 26th January: This week, a not-so-tough choice for the only two available members of the Friday Night Music Club. With not much on at Fibbers and an unknown band at the Roman Bath on Friday night, the obvious answer was to change the night out to Saturday to see one of the best of the current York-based bands.

It's hard to write about Freeway without resorting to superlatives. As I've mentioned before, they are a rock-covers band, who manage to play some of my favourite classic heavy metal tracks along with a handful that I don't know.

This evening's set was slightly different to the last time I saw them - showing that, along with excellent, they can also be versatile - but still included Whitesnake, Cream, Deep Purple, Guns 'n' Roses and Thin Lizzy (among others). It has to be said, the boys were on top form. The pub was packed, possibly due to the fact that it was Australia Day, possibly just because it was Saturday and everybody seemed to be enjoying themselves. For a while, we struggled to find a suitable viewing position, ending up side-on to the stage area, near the entrance (which provided welcome blasts of cool air whenever anybody came or went). The only problem with the location was the guitar-on-a-stand, which spoils the photos a bit.

As the last time I saw them, the band was joined by Livvy Sparnenn, who sang two songs during the set and duetted on the final song (Sweet Child of Mine - Guns 'n' Roses). At least, I assume that was the final song. If there was an encore, I missed it - I'd stayed later than usual and literally had to run to catch the last bus (very rock 'n' roll...)

The whole evening was good fun - excellent music, played brilliantly, good conversation and very drinkable John Smiths beer - putting a fine end on a day previously spoiled by Leeds conceding a last-minute equaliser at near-the-bottom Luton and failing to take second place in the table.