The Bad Notes

 

The Bad Notes

By Paul McCann

Aidan and I had a duo . We called ourselves the Bad Notes . After a week in London we managed to get a gig one night in a pub in the East end .

 Due to the troubles in Northern Ireland and us being Irish it was always tricky to get a spot  . I guess Aidan and I were used to the suspicions in parts of the city . It was as if we had to explain who and what we were . Never the less, being Irish in London brought its own complications . So after we had a body search , our guitars were checked out and then we were allowed to take the stage . Once we started playing most of the crowd didn’t care anyhow . We opened up with a few well known cover songs that most people would have known and then slipped in a few Irish numbers . Then as I stood there looking out into the crowd I sensed what was going to happen . One always expects trouble playing live in East London at night . Most nights there would be a rough crowd and if you were complacent in any way at all about night life in the East end there would be no room for you on stage with a guitar singing into a microphone . You had to have a hard edge and be street wise .

It was near closing time when I had give Aidan a certain nod which meant it was time to leave in a hurry . I saw at the back of the bar the Bishopsgate Brigade walk in with some weapons in their hand . When the tables and chairs went up in the air we unplugged our gear and escaped just in time out the back door before the knives drew blood . We had seen it happen too many times before . Heads would roll and we wanted out of it . Off we went like two greyhounds along the rails of the back alley down into the main drag at Kingsland Road . We heard the sirens and saw flashing lights as havoc again penetrated the darkness of the night . Recently there has been a lot of trouble in the East end and the two rival gangs seemed to be at war over some turf issue . Control was a big thing on the street . Some of the gang leaders would be so fanatical about it that they would kill to keep it . London ate you up and spat you out unless you satisfied the hungry lion . What the lion required was money and it’s greed for more was habitual like a daily feed I fact . We had really had enough of it and as Aidan and I darted in and out the traffic we looked at each other .  A little out of breath Aidan stopped and pulled out a smoke and said ,

“Anybody would think we were back in Belfast Bobby .“

I lit up as well and said ,

“Shut up and put your hands up against the wall .“

We both laughed  and Aidan said ,

“Was our music that bad ?“

I spat on the ground and said ,

“They just don’t appreciate Irish music .“

Aidan looked hard at me and said ,

“Well that’s their problem .”

I sniggered and said ,

“ No . I had a feeling that there was going to be trouble in there tonight .“

Aidan replied .

“Why . Was it the colour of our skin ?”

“No Aidan . It was a drug issue . Nothing to do with us ”

He nodded and said ,

“Drug issue but we don’t take drugs .“

I  put my hand on his shoulders and said .

“I know but there were lots of people in the crowd who do .“

 

“Well that’s there problem .“

He said with a touch of apathy in his voice .

I looked at him and replied ,

“Aidan just because we both got off the stuff and are straight doesn’t make us better than any of them . The thing is our customers in the gig are users and we know what that means so don’t get on that high horse of yours .“

“I suppose you’re right Bobby . So what are we going to do now ?”

I checked the small change in my pocket and said .

“Well we still haven’t the price of a boat train ticket to get home .“

“So what are we to do now ?”

I confidently answered .

“We’ll get the head down in The Bullring tonight .“

“Not Cardboard City again Bobby .“

He answered .

“Sure tomorrows another day and I know a place where they’re crackers about Irish music . I’ll take you there .“

I put on a steady pace and Aidan chased close behind . I could hear his heavy breathing and he said ,

“Slow down Bobby . I can’t keep up . You’re walking much too fast .“

 I stopped and let him catch his breath then looked at him and said .

“It’s just as well I’m the one who is doing vocals in this outfit . Now c’mon .

We made our way to Waterloo and soon were surrounded by the residents of Cardboard City who always loved to see us come . After a few songs we settled down for the night .

In the morning we were up and at them again . Aidan and I started walking  double time to get the double decker to New Cross . When we jumped off the bus I led the way to a place where I had been to before . I pushed open the door and made my way to the bar . The manager remembered me from another gig I had done and gave me the ok . We got a booking that evening to play . With lunch and a room thrown in we had new look on things .

After resting up Aidan and I rehearsed before the gig . We had some new songs we wanted to try out . The time flew and soon it was time for the show .

The pub was packed with people and there was more than enough for  the bar . The air was thick with Irish accents and laughter filled the air .

The craic was mighty thick all right . You could almost taste it . After a few numbers the barman sent over two pints in the corner for us . We got the thumbs up from him and Aidan and I did a few sets of lively tunes .

The music was flowing like the Lagan under the Ormeau bridge . By the end of the night the crowd had enjoyed us and we had earned our sleep . It was almost closing time when I saw a group near the staircase and another few by  the door then I realised there was going to be trouble . I looked at Aidan and gave him the nod . We finished the number we were doing and took off our guitars .As we did all mayhem broke loose .

The front window went in and fists were flying . The crowd started throwing punches and broken glasses were used . In the middle of all the blood and guts Aidan and I did another runner .As we headed out the back door I heard Aidan say ,

“You’re amazing Bobby .“

“ Good luck Aidan . I’ll see you in Belfast . “

His eyes were almost laughing as I heard him say ,

“See you in the morning .“

Next day I got up and saw Belfast city in the morning light . Belfast always looked brand new after being away . I knew that there was no time to waste and went to find Aidan . 

Aidan and I had stuck together for years. We were like brothers who had a lot in common . Apart from being musicians we both could use our fingers in light skilled ways . We were both good pick pockets . Although both of us dreamt of getting a big break  we both worked it out years ago . It was never going to happen for us and that’s when we forgot the dream and started picking the pockets of the patrons before each gig we did . Usually no one suspected us and wee were the musicians on stage . So we usually mingled among the crowd before the gig and did our work undetected  . Needless to say there was always trouble wherever we played .

We gad given up the idea of trying to change the world with our little songs and we in the end we found how people in the world out there could contribute in someway to making the world a better place for us .

I met up with Aidan in the usual place in the Crown . He looked at me and said ,

“I think the trouble is behind us now  Bobby .“

“Do you want to go back to London then ?”

I asked .

“Well do you ?”

Came the answer . I smiled and emptied out my pockets . He did the same and we divided up our stash . The pub was half empty and with no one around . We counted out a few thousand pounds . We had a good collection of wrist watches and other jewellery this time .

“Well you know Aidan “ I said ,

 “I think London couldn’t be much better than here .“

He looked at me and took a deep breath and said ,

“You’re right you know Bobby “

I went through the small change in my pocket and said , .

“Right then we’ll stay here for a while until we can raise the boat train fare .“

“Sounds good to me”

He replied and after a brief pause  I said .

“Follow me . I have an idea where we could get a gig this evening .“

We headed back into Belfast thinking positive . Both of us knew competition was fierce but as Irish musicians we went looking for work in the pubs abd clubs . As it turned out we struck gold right away . Lucky for us that the band who were booked to play in one of the bars had suddenly struck a  problem with their drummer . Apparently both his hands had been broken and the band were unable to do the gig that evening . Lucky for us Aidan knew where the drummer lived . Lucky for us nobody saw us pay him a visit .

That evening the publican had a big night with live music organised and weren’t we lucky to have just walked in off the street looking for a gig .

Sometimes in this business things go just right .

 

THE END