Ali Campbell - Nothing ever Changes

Old Pa's Wednesday Club

...UB40 V DA PINO
Where's my onions?

 
ALI CAMPBELL - Nothing Ever Changes (2007)

Torrievieja is on the map, UB40 were coming to town, this was a big deal for here, we don't get many live events. It was not the original band but Ali Campbell backed by musicians, but I suppose he was the main man. Hey! it was better than nothing.

I wanted to go, but when I found out it would cost 100 euros for both of us, without drinks, I thought twice. We just had a lot of work done including a large palm tree removed and re-tiling. Money's too tight to mention. (Valentine Brothers)


On the Sunday before the concert we were discussing the event and trying to convince ourselves to go. It was the usual conversation,  'it's only money, you can't take it with you'  'there are no pockets in a shroud'.

S
suddenly the electrics tripped out.  It was my fault of course, its my fault for everything, if there is an earth quake in San Salvador, I get the blame. (water of a platypus's back).

Anything to do with DIY and I am completely hopeless, but I did isolate it to a certain area, but I could not go any further. It was so hot and humid here, it would have been impossible to go through the night without fans or air conditioning. To cut a long story short (Spandau Ballet) I phoned an electrician and he luckily came out on that Sunday night. He detected the fault in 30 secs. I needed a new Boiler (The Boiler). It cost me 70 euros for his visit and the Boiler cost 250 euros.

That decided it, no UB320.

On the day of the Concert we decided to go to a location close to the venue by the sea and sit in a restaurant, have a few beers and maybe a meal, but at least we could get some atmosphere (Joy Division) and hear the music.

That Bar Restaurant we chose unfortunately had their own entertainment, a Shirley Bassey tribute, so we left and got as close as we could to the venue and found another Bar about 100 metres away. We settled there and waited for Ali and the Boys to come on. He was an hour and a half late (I want my money back) and the sound was poor from where we were. I found out later the beer was 8 euros a pint inside the venue, I was paying 2 euros. God knows how much a red red wine (Neil Diamond) would have cost.

That was it!

It was Pino night. If we were quick, we could get back to Da Pino's Restaurant and get his special Thursday 'Menu Del Dai' which was Schnitzel (the best in the World) and you could have any topping you want. For me it was lashings of fried carmalised onions. Bring it on home (Sam Cooke)

Bloody Ali 'bollocks' Campbell . Who needs it when you got Da Pino's Schnitzel.

The track by Ali is actually pretty good.

Comments

The Swede said…
I can't believe Ali Campbell is actually going out as UB40 after leaving the band on such bad terms and saying he wanted nothing more to do with them. I suppose he realises that he wouldn't be able to ask a 100 Euro ticket price under his own name, but then I can't imagine UB40 would be able to get away with it these days either!

Sounds like the fates intervened to prevent you going for all the right reasons and that you and Old Ma had a fine old time at Da Pino's. One question though....do they have a veggie schnitzel option on the menu, or is it just onions and chips for me?
Old Pa's Corner said…
TS - you could always have a carrot as a side. Or maybe I will ask Da Pino to update his menue,,,,that would be better.
Shell Hunter said…
Great post, Pino is Da man! You could do whole post with just song titles, loved that touch!
Old Pa's Corner said…
SH - song titles was an after thought and it is an idea worth following up....ended up last night in Pino as Joshi was full....bloody holiday makers.
flycasual said…
Woah, slow down there Old Pa...don't go spending all of my inheritance at once! The song's not bad but I can't believe he charged 100 euros a pop and without his band. The Swede is right, he'd never draw in the punters with his name alone, Pino all day!

I can just imagine how that reaction went down after the power cut. I chuckled to myself.
Old Pa's Corner said…
Maybe I did not say it right...it was 50e each....35e if you stood....10 pints at 8e...it soon mounts up you know....inheriance my ass!
London Scouser said…
OP - as ever a monumentally Epic (Faith No More) story. However, would the nerd in me be right in thinking The Boiler was Rhoda Dakar ???
London Scouser said…
Oh and is 'Menu Del Dai' the Welsh version ??? Surely you should have had lamb and leeks. Maybe next time you should Caerphilly check your spelling !!!