After what seemed an age clearing the stage of the supports paraphernalia we were treated to an hour and a half of Brett and Rene Sparks’ blend of Gothic and often macabre country music. A few I knew from their last album The Last Days Of Wonder, some older stuff and one or two new ones. The music was melodic, dark, sometimes depressing, the banter was amusing and eccentric and Brett Sparks’ deep warm vocals were a treat.

You can sample their inimitable style here.

So we had an OK score (it should have been a lot better after that start) to defend and the weather + a bellyful of cakes to contend with. We struck early doors with yours truly managing to snaffle another catch (that’s 3 so far). We took wickets regularly but the runs were coming too and it was hard to say which way it was going to go. But we got the breakthrough we needed and were among the tail. Some tidy fielding and accurate bowling saw them off and we had won taking the last wicket with our opponents still 20 odd runs shy of the target. All in all a satisfying outcome and the duck was soon forgotten.

That was followed by a trip to the Riverside this afternoon to Middlesbrough FC (the finest team in football the world has ever seen). After securing their Premiership safety last week it was the season’s (and seemingly Sven’s) farewell against City. And what a turn up it was. I couldn’t really believe my eyes when the 4th one went in, never mind the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th.

A ridiculous scoreline by any stretch but given we haven’t scored more than 2 in any game this season it was quite incredible. I thought it was going well when we went in 2 up at half time but to notch up another 6 in the second half was bizarre. It was marred slightly by us conceding but it is being churlish to dwell on that for any more than a second or two. The Barcodes and Mackems lost too - roll on MOTD!

Yesterday saw the opening day of The York Senior Cricket League 2008 season. It entailed a trip to Cawood and a comfortable victory for my team. I even made a notable contribution to the game - a couple of catches and 10 quick runs - which was thoroughly satisfying.

We won the toss and didn’t hesitate to put our opponents in. We struck early with yours truly managing to hold on to a catch in the gully. A short ball took the bat by surprise and up she popped, a second or two of adrenaline fuelled panic ensued as I moved forward and grabbed hold - thank goodness for the lack of pace and the strong wind holding the ball up. Wickets then tumbled regularly and before we knew it we had them all out for 54 in the 16th over (or thereabouts). I took another very similar but far less panic stricken catch right towards the end. A job well done (in the fielding department at least) by Civil Service.

Following a delicious tea - jacket potatoes, salad and a smashing fruit pie - we went out to knock them off. A shaky and nervous start was soon put to rest as Messrs Wray and Woodhall steadied the ship after the loss of early wickets. A brief cameo by me (10 off about 10 balls) saw us almost home - I think if the ball had beaten the fielder and gone to the boundary that would have wrapped it up. I was a bit gutted because I was sure the fielder had dropped it - he never looked like he was going to catch it to be honest - but he managed to wrap his arms round it as it popped out and headed groundwards. Still we were almost home and a couple of minutes later had moved on to 58 for 4 for a comfortable win.

Steve Wynn played a great set and gave his guitar a serious bit of stick. The atmosphere was very good (I’ve never been to a gig in the Basement Bar before) and the music excelled. All three were extremely talented musicians and this was emphasised with one of the encore songs which they said they had never played together before. It was interesting because the bassist didn’t join in to start with, instead watching the guitar and mandolin players carefully for a little while to get the chords and then playing his part beautifully and seemingly flawlessly. I was sat looking at the bassist - I love an upright and especially when there’s a bit of bowing action - and there was a little voice in my head telling me I’ve seen him before. I worked out he must have been with Robert Fisher and this was confirmed when we had a little chat after the gig.

It was a good mix of old and new stuff (there’s an album out in a month or so) and it was finished with the excellent amphetamine. This is an excellent track whether played acoustically, as last night and seen previously, or as is it is in all its electric glory as on the album Static Transmission.

Top night!

He is coming back over in ‘the fall’ with a full band and I really hope he comes to York or Leeds!

After that we had a saunter along the pier, along the quayside, across to to the glass and jet shops and then a quick shufty in the Sutcliffe Gallery, where Mum bought me this picture, on the way back to West Cliff and a drive along the coast home taking in the magical sights of Sandsend and Staithes and then the less picturesque Boulby (dominated by a mammoth potash mine) and Skinningrove (steelworks).

Some photos in the Gallery.

Boro started the game terribly with the ball barely on the deck and them hardly having a touch for 10 minutes. However, they soon started to play football and found some joy but the usually profligacy in front of goal was evident with good chances missed by Stewart Downing, Luke Young and new man Alves. He was probably the highlight of the first half and started to show some of the things we have paid all that money for. He was quick and skillful and showed some technique from a free kick.

Half time came and went though and was followed by a dire 45 mins of turgid and uninspiring. Sheffield seemed they were in the mood to play for penalties even at this stage of the game and Boro seemed bereft of ideas as to how to break the dogged Championship side down. Alves was replaced after about 70 mins much to the consternation and audible disappointment of the crowd and it was nice to hear Gareth Southgate refer to the popularity of his decision in his pot match interview.

Nothing came of the second 45 so we had extra time to endure and by this time I could feel neither my legs nor my feet. The first hlf came and went as did much of the second and it was definitely ’squeaky bum time’ for the fans. However through a stroke of luck (or a fluke depending on your viewpoint I suppose) we managed to nick it at the death. A deflected Mido shout looped over Paddy Kenny in the Sheffield goal and hit the post but, much to the keepers pain he palmed it into the open goal in a desperate attempt to clear his lines. It was a shocker but a great relief for all the home fans and a nice home tie against Cardiff beckons.

I then had the seemingly never ending wait and fight to escape the Middlesbrough town centre car park. It took 40 mins, a blatant disregard for a ‘No Entry’ sign and a brief sojourn round parts of the town centre to contrive my getaway.

The night started with a young man whose name escapes me who played a short acoustic set. He was closely followed by the Vincent dudes, the lead man resplendent in his gold braided matador jacket. They played a lively vibrant set and sounded like a cross between Gene Vincent and The Cramps. Have a listen here. Guitar driven 60s style pop with kicking drum patterns and rhythms. All that was missing was a bit of trumpet!

The curtain came down and the stage was hastily rearranged and cleared and then the curtain was lifted again. There were guitars as far as the eye could see (and quite a few quids worth of them too). Richard Hawley played both a Gretsch and a Gibson hollow body electric complete with Bigsby as well as an acoustic. The lead guitarist had at least 3 different ones including an Hawaiian which he played on his lap with a slide and a 12 string electric. The bassist alternated between his antique white Fender Precision and an upright.

We were treated to some new ones, a lot of old favourites, a couple of covers, a bit of rockabilly, some good old fashioned crooning and quite a bit of swearing. I took a couple of photos and even a video but since I was quite a long way away (up in a box in the grand circle) the quality leaves a little to be desired. The view wasn’t so good at all really but the sound was great - there was a rather large speaker about 3 feet from my left ear!

The set was long, the crack was great and the music divine. It blew me away!