"i was a king bee with a head full of attitude"

Monday night Robin and I went to see Lloyd Cole performing at the Bassline in Newtown. Let me just say it's the most disorganised venue I've ever been in. But back to Lloyd...
I don't really know Lloyd Cole - he's apparently a little "before my time". But there's one track that Robin gave to me some time ago. So while the place was packed out with fans who have followed his career for decades and were cheering at the first few chords from his guitar as soon as they recognised an old favourite, I was waiting for my song. Just that one song that I'd recognise. Something that I could also associate with the evening. Because I certainly didn't have my LPs there to be signed. (you heard right)
From listening to the track I imagined someone older and a little more 'country & western'. But he's a gentle, simple looking man in jeans and a waistcoat who can't be much older than 40. And by his own account he's spent the last 10 years living in seedy motels as his career (which was big in the 80s) took a serious dip. My quote for the evening: "Don't believe the stories - this isn't a comeback. I never left. I was just...failing." That's the other thing about him - a self-effacing humour which you don't notice at first, but which had the crowds giggling through the evening. He also made a tribute to those people in the audience who he "sees a lot at concerts around the world" who aren't actually LLoyd Cole fans but who have the misfortune of dating/being married to/knowing one. "To all of you who happen to be sitting next to a Lloyd Cole fan, who’s dragged you here to listen to this, this is for you, I’d like to thank you for actually being here..." Which I thought was pretty genuine and heartfelt - it can't be easy trying to fight your way up the ebb of your career.
I heard my song by the way - and one other from Johnny Cash I recognised. yay! :oD

It took a lost weekend in a hotel in amsterdam
And double pneumonia in a single room
And the sickest joke was the price of the medicine
Are you laughing at me now may I please laugh along with you
~ "Lost Weekend" by Lloyd Cole

Lloyd's own page.