In October, 2006 My good friend Scott Spooner and I decided to go to London for 11 days. This was just before I started recording my Album “Life Is Sweeter…”
From the moment we touched down at Heathrow Airport, took the Tube to Kings Cross, then a cab to Angel Islington, it was an amazing time.
We stayed at a bed and breakfast called the Oxford Arms ran by an adorable older couple named Barry and Shirley. Apparently you’re not suppose to tip the cab drivers there. After we told Shirley that we tipped him she said “He must’ve thought it was his birthday or something.”
It was a great experience there at the Oxford Arms. They had a little area in the hall with a small table with some snacks and instant coffee. The coffee was so bad but you loved it anyway because the place was so charming.
Every morning we would walk down the street to enjoy a traditional English breakfast. The bacon was like nothing I’ve ever tasted. So good, and it was thick. I could do with out the baked beans with my eggs though.
I had scheduled 4 shows in advance but that quickly turned into 14. At every Pub or Venue that I performed at we would meet some very cool people that would tell us about other venues to play.
We shot all over London from the East side to the West side, North, and South, every day. Spooner was the tour manager and his expert map reading made it easy for me. This was 2006. GPS wasn’t like it is now.
It was so great for me to see and feel the music scene from where so many of my influences came from. I really tried to soak up that vibe.
Besides playing all of these great gigs at some legendary places like Monkey Chews in Camden, and The Orange Club. Scott talked me into hopping on one of those site seeing buses through Downtown Westminster.
I’m so happy that I did that because I was shocked at how beautiful it was there. It was really like riding through a fairytale. I just remember that everything was pristine.
This trip will be be special to me forever. It wasn’t until 10 years later that I would make it back there to play a great gig with Chubby Checker.
A trip is in the works for the Spoonman and myself to return.
Look out London, Part Two.
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