The journey from Leeds had been uneventful until we began to climb up the road from Hutton-le-Hole towards the North Yorkshire Moors. At first just strands of mist swept across the car windscreen, but as we twisted and turned up the moor road the mist became thicker and really dense. There came a point when I slowed the car right down to 20mph! I just could not see the road ahead for more than a few yards. Just when I was thinking if the mist got any more dense we would be off the road, the dim lights of The Lion Inn could be seen through the fog.
The inn looked like some welcoming wayside
tavern straight out of The Lord Of The Rings, ready to throw wide
it's doors to weary travellers. As we entered the bar we put the
mist and cold 
behind
us as the warmth of the open fire promised good food and ale.
After finding our room for the night we went back to the bar to find almost all of Mostly Autumn setting up their gear or propping up the bar with a pint to hand. Bryan, Heather and Angie took us to a side room that had been set aside for the band and their friends and family to eat in. After getting the beers in we ordered our food, both Elaine and I went for the sirlion steak, chips and salad. When the steaks arrived everybody in the room just sat open-mouthed at the size of the steaks on our plates. They were truly enormous. I have a good appetite, but I was hard pressed to finish the steak, let alone the huge plateful of real chips (none of your frozen crap!) and ended up sharing them with Bryan and Iain.
After the food and a couple of pints of
Theakstone's Old Peculiar the horrendous drive across the moors
faded into the distance. We sat and chatted with the band for
some time and I took some casual photos of the gathering. Soon
after, the coach from York arrived and we went to say hello to
Jean as she set up the merchandise table. It was to be a special
night as the band had produced a limited number of CDR's for this
one night of "The Last Bright Light" as the final pressing
of the new album had been delayed. It was also the first time
that issue 1 of Autumn Leaves had been on sale to the public,
two celebrations in one night!
Time seemed to fly by and before long the music room was bursting at the beams with eager fans of the band waiting for them to begin the real event of the night - some live Mostly Autumn! For any of you who haven't been to The Lion Inn, there is no actual stage in the music room, the band play right in front of you with only the monitors acting as a barrier between band and audience. As the first notes of "The Night Sky" drifted from the PA an air of expectancy filled the room. Tonight was special to us all because we knew that Mostly Autumn had taken another giant leap forward with what we all know by now is a Classic album - "The Last Bright Light".
It was truly a magical night of moving and poignant music. "Heroes Never Die" was the best we had ever heard it played, Bryan's solo just went on and on, it was almost too much to bear as the notes became tears in honour of the very special person who has moved on, but returned to be with Bryan that special night!
The band played "We Come And We Go"
and "Hollow" from the new album and a host of favourites
from the first two albums. All too soon the last notes of "Evergreen"
tore through the room and two hours of soaring emotion was over.
After the gig fans brought their CDR's to be signed and had a chat to the band who, as always, were happy to sit and talk and share a drink. Around midnight we slipped away to Angie's room for a quiet talk and a night cap or three! It was a wonderful end to a fantastic night and one that will live on in our memories for many years to come. I think it was around 2am when we finally slipped into our incredibly comfortable bed (most of the band didn't get to bed until around 5am - Rock'n'Roll eh?)
We managed to stir ourselves just before 9am to sample the inn's very famous full English breakfast, we defy anybody to walk away from the Lion's table still feeling thet wanted more!
At around 10:30, after helping Bryan load the hire van with amps etc we said our farewells to the inn and loaded the car up for the return trip to Leeds. In fact we followed the hire van down the moor road before we turned towards Pickering and they (Bryan, Heather, Angie and Mark) turned towards Thirsk. Waved goodbyes and blown kisses ended a very special Launch Party for what we believe will easily be the best album of 2001. Now that you have heard it too we are sure you will agree!
Autumn Leaves is the official Magazine of Mostly Autumn Including exclusive interviews, reviews, photos...etc. A must for any fan of this incredible band. For further details, or to subscribe contact Simon & Elaine at smusk@currantbun.com << PREVIOUS REVIEW REVIEWS INDEX NEXT REVIEW >>
