Goodbye 2019, it was all I could think of during those midnight moments, we had finally played ourlast show of 2019- and what a year it had been. Jimmy’s was in full swing by this point, confetti everywhere, deafening crowd noise and none of us could see a thing through the mix of stage lights and haze. Even with all this chaos going on around us I couldn’t help but think how far we’d come that year. I wasn’t ready for 2020, not even a little bit and even though at the time I knew we had so many good things to come our way I was sad. A big part of me didn’t want to say good bye to the best year of my life.
We achieved our dreams in 2019, we released our debut album and it had charted, we had our first sell out tour where we’d even conquered the legendary Brudenell Social Club, we embarked on our first journeys to Europe and even had the honour of playingGlastonbury. It was hard to see how we could top that and I can’t help but laugh now knowing how much of a train wreck 2020 is. But I can’t deny that in that moment onstage, I knew that this show was the perfect setting to say our farewell. Because Liverpool gigs have always been our highlights, no matter what new weird and wonderful experiences befall us, there’s nothing more exciting than getting up and playing in our hometown- in front of the people that we know and love.These are the people who’ve been there from the start, they’ve seen all the blood, sweat and tears that’s gone into this and it always means so much more when we get share our music with them.
I think it’s why I end up finding myself reflecting about what we’ve done during my time onstage.There’s always a sense of a chapter closing because we’ve finally come home. This gig at Jimmy’s particularly felt like a homecoming to me because it’s become an important part of my life since it’s opened. We had played a few shows at their Manchester venue over the years but I first met George properly after our sellout show in the Bread Shed last May. My friend Megan who I’ve known since my uni days introduced me to him that night and we all went out for a few drinks to celebrate the occasion. It was then when I heard about Jimmy’s moving to Liverpool and after hearing George explain his vision I knew I had to be a part of it. It sounded perfect and the confidence with which he spoke about it only reinforced what I was feeling.
From day one I knew it was the place for me, because I’ve never known anywhere that has been so understanding of the unpredictable nature of my life with RRC. Even on my first day I had to leave early to record my parts for “Kid’s Addicted” and it was a total non-issue. George and Jimmy knew that the band took priority in my life, and they welcomed that with every intention of helping me out when I needed it. Fast forward a few days and I’m standing up on top of the bar, pissed as a fart playingJungle’s “Busy Earning” trying not fall off and thinking “how did I get here?”. I’m sure the lads agreed with me, I could see they were having a ball and I’m pretty sure they were enjoying not having to sweat it out up there with me for once.Feels weird not having that part of my life at the moment, but I know it’s not forever.
This year’s not been quite what we planned, but we’ll make it work. I just like to think we’ll be seeing the year out the same as the last. Seeing the lads again, getting back onstage and then maybe having a few drinks to celebrate. Back in Jimmy’s
Joe ‘The Blow’ Corby
