Over the last few weeks our advertisement for a full time guitarist drew interest from around a dozen players and led to a couple of house meets and a four song audition at our gig at The Angel in Durham on Saturday 22nd March. Our dep guitarist, Stuart Dawson, stood down at the start of the second set to allow one Martin Craggs to show us his stuff in a ‘live’ situation by playing on four of the songs currently in our set. Guess that could be classed as a baptism of fire for Martin rather than holding the audition in a practice hall but it gave us all the ‘real feel’ and we were very happy to ask Martin to join the band. Martin has played in folk, rock, pop, jazz and blues bands at venues and festivals across the UK and Europe and was a member of the award winning Maggie Ross Band. He is classically trained and works as a freelance guitarist and teacher at NMC (Northern Music Centre) in Newcastle. In the four weeks since that audition at The Angel, Martin has been getting up to speed with a list of forty songs we currently still use in our set and played his debut gig with us yesterday at the ‘Easter Takeover’ Rock Event. This was hosted by The Hut Rock Venue at Crook FC where we shared the billing with Black Rose and The Kieran Johnson Band. The new line-up is officially on the road and although, for now, it’s all about settling in and tightening up what we currently run with you can expect new material to be introduced in the near future to cement and define this tenth line-up of Tubesnake.
Having spotted gig posters in the pub window it still took us quite a while to sort this gig out, but with the help of some of our friends in the know who live North of The Tyne, we eventually managed to get a booking at this venue. Late this Sunday afternoon we played at The Railway Hotel in Walkergate, Newcastle for the first time. This was guitar dep Stuart Dawson’s 5th gig with us. He’s been extremely quick to learn our set and is doing a first class job for Tubesnake. Tom returned from Abu Dhabi on Friday and attended this gig, drank copious amounts of lager and stayed for the whole set. It was great to see him and we all had a good catch up but he has plans for further travel and a different direction. Tom, now 24, has been with us since he was 17 and it looks like it’s time for him to fly the Tubesnake nest. This has always been on the cards to happen at some point and we quite simply wish him all the best in all of his future musical endeavours. He’s a cracking lad and a cracking guitarist and we know we’ll all keep in touch. So, seeing as our guitar dep Stuart is only with us for another month or so it’s now time for us to advertise for a new guitarist taking Tubesnake to the Tenth Line-Up.
January has been a pretty quiet month for us with just two dates in the diary. We were happy to leave it that way so we had plenty of breathing space to consider the auditions we held for a guitar dep to take us through the next two or three months. We do have a result but firstly we’d like to say thanks to Steve Gilroy for playing his ‘Birthday’ gig with us at The Star Inn, Newcastle on Friday 3rd January and to Tony Cawson for playing at The John Duck, Durham City on Friday 31st January. Both gigs were excellent and very well attended. Back to our search for a dep. We drew the line at just two auditions and in the end settled on our first applicant who played for us in late December. A very competent 31 year old Stuart Dawson from Newcastle is our choice. Stuart also plays bass and drums, builds his own guitar pedals and is involved in two other bands. Stuart has happily agreed to play with us for up to three months if needed. By that time he expects his involvement in his own projects will take precedence. In the last few weeks Stu has learnt not only our set but also another twenty plus songs we listed. Stuart’s depping stint with Tubesnake begins Saturday 15th February at The Station, Langley Moor, Durham.
Happy New Year Everyone. It’s early days yet as far as our guitarist Tom’s future plans are concerned but it’s looking like he’s gonna be out of the country longer than a month, maybe two or three months in fact. Tony Cawson and Steve Gilroy are still helping us out on guitar. Tony has just covered our Beamish Mary Inn gig in Stanley on Saturday 28th December and our New Year’s Eve gig at The Bonny Moorhen in Stanhope last night. However, we’ve taken the decision to look for a more permanent guitar dep. If Tom is going to be away for another three months we feel it would be better to have a stable line-up over that period with just the one dep in order to maintain some form of continuity at our gigs. We’ve already had a very positive audition a couple of weeks ago and have one more to check out in the next week. Both lads are aware that we’re looking for someone who is a quick learner and can commit to a good two or three months with us until we suss out what’s happening with Tom. We’ll keep you posted.
Teatime slot at The Free Trade Inn in Byker, Newcastle on Sunday 22nd December 2013. The spirit of Christmas was undoubtedly in the air today as what seemed like a never-ending stream of punters continued to squeeze themselves into this pretty small venue. It wasn’t long before the audience was packed in like a tin of sardines which, of course, created a tremendous atmosphere for the gig. Even the pubcat, Craig David, who normally has the run of the place, had to resort to hiding in the bass drum. Well done to pub regular Alan Gordon for getting that photo! Guitar dep, Steve Gilroy (SGB and The Dirty South), once again stood in on guitar since Tom is still gigging in Abu Dhabi at the moment. You did a great job Steve and everyone was suitably impressed with your Santa hat by the way. That’s the spirit! This was a brilliant gig at The Free Trade with a fantastic crowd who still found room to dance and smash a few pint glasses in the process. Merry Christmas, one and all, from Tubesnake.
After some deliberation, our guitarist Tom Atkinson boarded a plane today to begin another bout of gigs abroad. This time he’s starting in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. We say “starting” since we are unsure when, or if, he will be coming back. We’ll have to wait and see. We are pretty impressed by his sense of adventure though! Once again, Tubesnake will continue to meet all gig commitments with the help of guitar deps Tony Cawson (a founder member of Tubesnake) and Steve Gilroy (SGB and The Dirty South) who both performed depping duties for us earlier this year through May/June while Tom was gigging in Eilat, Israel. This coming Friday, 20th December we have Tony on guitar when we play The Saltgrass in Sunderland. Two days later, at 5pm on Sunday 22nd December, Steve steps up when we play The Free Trade, Byker, Ouseburn. Exciting stuff!
“Wham!” Storming gig at The John Duck in Durham City on Friday 22nd November. Lots of ladies invading the stage and strutting their stuff. “Bam!” A short trip across town to sister pub The Angel on Saturday 23rd November for a blistering gig with a hyper audience and another well stocked dance floor. “Thank ya Ma’am!” Third gig in a row, Sunday 24th November, at The Mill House near Birtley. Party time in the second set pandering to requests from a Beatles loving audience with off the cuff versions of ‘Lady Madonna’, ‘Back In The USSR’, ‘Get Back’, and finally ‘Hey Jude’ accompanied by tremendous audience vocal support. Cracking weekend and three great gigs for us!
Sunday afternoon, 3rd November 2013. Excellent! A pub that looks like a Rock Venue as soon as you step in the door. Welcome to The Penny Gill in Spennymoor. The walls are plastered with rock posters and there’s musical instruments and other paraphernalia hanging from the ceiling. A sound system literally “blasts” out rock tunes at the far end of the room where the band set up and a black-out blind is lowered to shut out all daylight, adding to the atmosphere and helping create that real rock venue feel. We’d played here three times previously when it was your normal looking pub back in January and October 2000 and once more in July 2001. We kicked off at 4.15pm with our eyes on the road and our hands upon the wheel, playing to a brand new audience in a room that was made to rock. Many thanks to Warren for booking us. Gigs every Sunday from 3.30pm onwards! … Lenny
Just back from another great “club” gig at Wheatley Hill Constitutional Club (The Conshies). A new venue to us and our fourth club gig out of our last five bookings. We’ve had good turn-outs over the last three weeks at Hetton Lyons Cricket Club in Hetton-le-Hole, Buffalos Rock Night at Houghton-le-Spring Comrades Club and St.Peter’s Social Club in Byker, this one also being a new venue for us. They’ve all had a good buzz and given us a bit more leg room to stretch out in.
That was a damned good break from gigging which, for me (Lenny), included a couple of days camping near Haltwhistle, Northumberland followed by three days to get my act together before flying off to Portugal. Never been before but loved it. Spent a week hanging out with some mates in a top notch villa in Albufeira in The Algarve. Not a single cloud for the whole week. Great to see the sun hadn’t totally disappeared upon my return to the UK. First gig after the break is tonight, Saturday 24th August 2013, at Hetton Lyons Cricket Club. “Where will we be when the summer’s gone?” (Jim Morrison)
Tom’s been back a good few weeks now since his month away gigging in Israel and therefore was on guitar for this stomping gig at The Angel in Durham City tonight, Saturday 27th July 2013. Lots of ‘Fancy Dancing’ and photo opportunities with a great audience. Gimme Shelter (Stones), Creep (Radiohead) and Starman (Bowie) are not in our current set but we put them out following audience requests. Gotta keep ya audience happy! Outta nowhere came Devil Woman with Tom on vocals. Yeah, it may be a Cliff song but it had the place bouncing, including the heedbangers. Who’d have thought? Anyway, it’s now break time for Tubesnake. We’ve had a boat-load of gigs lately and it’s time for a month off. We’re back at the end of August.
Guitarist Tom has been gigging in Eilat in Southern Israel this last month so we’ve just completed six gigs with guitar deps. We’d just like to say thanks to Tony Cawson for covering The Market Tavern, Chester-le-Street and The Barley Mow, Birtley. Guitarist Tony is actually one of the founder members of Tubesnake and played in the band for the first three years beginning in 1992, re-joining for a further three years starting in 1998 before moving on to play in Doctor Sunshine and Skint. We dragged him out of retirement and brought him back up to speed with three practice sessions at Rocking Horse Rehearsal Rooms in Durham City. Many thanks also to Steve Gilroy for covering The Three Tuns in Gateshead, The John Duck in Durham City, The Golden Fleece in Silksworth and Coundon WMC. Steve plays guitar in The Steve Gilroy Band (SGB) and The Dirty South and being an active player he was quite happy to learn our set by candlelight in the privacy of his own bedroom so no rehearsals required there then. Great work lads, and we’ve a feeling we may be using you again in the near future!
Many thanks to those of you who put a word in for us at The Pemberton Arms in Cold Hesledon, Seaham on Friday night. Of course, we weren’t gigging there that night, but your recommendations to book Tubesnake have resulted in me receiving a call tonight from Anthony who books the bands. We now have two gigs at The Pem on Friday 5th July and Friday 29th November 2013. Can’t believe we haven’t played there since November 2007. Looking forward to the return! … Lenny
Sounds rather interesting! Guitarist Tom is leaving the UK to play a month’s worth of nightly gigs in a hotel in Eilat, Israel, starting today and returning on the 14th June. That should at least put a bit of colour in his cheeks. Tom kept us in the loop so we’ve had time to plan for this and have lined up a couple of guitar deps to see us through any gigs already booked while he’s away. So, no gigs lost! Have a great trip Tom and remember to bring us back a stick of rock each!
Saturday 12th September 1992 saw the original 5-piece line-up of Tubesnake take to the stage for the first time in front of a live audience at The Lambton Hounds in Pity Me, Durham.
Fronting the band then, and still now, was Lenny Mustarde, the only original member left in the band. That first line-up consisted of: Lenny (Vocals), Tony Cawson (Guitar), Ken Lamb (Bass), Jeff Cooke (Guitar), John Blackett (Drums).
Back then the band played mainly blues/rock and over the years set-list and line-up changes have kept the band fresh, willing and able to go on.
To celebrate their “20th Anniversary” Tubesnake return to the same pub where it all started. See the band at The Lambton Hounds this Friday 14th September 2012 in its’ current and ninth line-up of Lenny, Woody (Drums), Chris Cowen (Bass) and Tom Atkinson (Guitar).
It’s five years today since our website was launched on 1st September 2007. Eternally grateful to good friend and web-guru Dan Mullen for doing all the original set up of the site and for teaching me the skills needed to continue to manage it. 2007 also saw the ninth line-up change for Tubesnake when guitarist Tom Atkinson joined the band forming the line-up which still stands up to this point. Speaking of the passing of time, a major landmark will be reached later this month when Tubesnake celebrate 20 years of gigging. Now, That’s Entertainment! … Lenny
Fog On The Tyne, Gateshead 8.30pm, Sat 11th January:
in 17419 minutes,45 seconds
The Crook Hotel, C r o o k 4:30pm, Sun 12th January:
in 18619 minutes,45 seconds
The Penny Gill, Spennymoor 4:30pm, Sun 19th January:
in 28699 minutes,45 seconds
The Phoenix Tap, Whitley Bay 6:00pm, Sun 26th January:
in 38869 minutes,45 seconds
Snake Bytes
Guitarist Martin Craggs joined the band in April 2014 taking Tubesnake to their Tenth Line-Up since forming in 1992. Vocalist Lenny is the only remaining original member.
Words of Wisdom
"Out here in the perimeter there are no stars. Out here we is stoned. Immaculate." Jim Morrison
Over the last few weeks our advertisement for a full time guitarist drew interest from around a dozen players and led to a couple of house meets and a four song audition at our gig at The Angel in Durham on Saturday 22nd March. Our dep guitarist, Stuart Dawson, stood down at the start of the second set to allow one Martin Craggs to show us his stuff in a ‘live’ situation by playing on four of the songs currently in our set. Guess that could be classed as a baptism of fire for Martin rather than holding the audition in a practice hall but it gave us all the ‘real feel’ and we were very happy to ask Martin to join the band. Martin has played in folk, rock, pop, jazz and blues bands at venues and festivals across the UK and Europe and was a member of the award winning Maggie Ross Band. He is classically trained and works as a freelance guitarist and teacher at NMC (Northern Music Centre) in Newcastle. In the four weeks since that audition at The Angel, Martin has been getting up to speed with a list of forty songs we currently still use in our set and played his debut gig with us yesterday at the ‘Easter Takeover’ Rock Event. This was hosted by The Hut Rock Venue at Crook FC where we shared the billing with Black Rose and The Kieran Johnson Band. The new line-up is officially on the road and although, for now, it’s all about settling in and tightening up what we currently run with you can expect new material to be introduced in the near future to cement and define this tenth line-up of Tubesnake.
Having spotted gig posters in the pub window it still took us quite a while to sort this gig out, but with the help of some of our friends in the know who live North of The Tyne, we eventually managed to get a booking at this venue. Late this Sunday afternoon we played at The Railway Hotel in Walkergate, Newcastle for the first time. This was guitar dep Stuart Dawson’s 5th gig with us. He’s been extremely quick to learn our set and is doing a first class job for Tubesnake. Tom returned from Abu Dhabi on Friday and attended this gig, drank copious amounts of lager and stayed for the whole set. It was great to see him and we all had a good catch up but he has plans for further travel and a different direction. Tom, now 24, has been with us since he was 17 and it looks like it’s time for him to fly the Tubesnake nest. This has always been on the cards to happen at some point and we quite simply wish him all the best in all of his future musical endeavours. He’s a cracking lad and a cracking guitarist and we know we’ll all keep in touch. So, seeing as our guitar dep Stuart is only with us for another month or so it’s now time for us to advertise for a new guitarist taking Tubesnake to the Tenth Line-Up.
January has been a pretty quiet month for us with just two dates in the diary. We were happy to leave it that way so we had plenty of breathing space to consider the auditions we held for a guitar dep to take us through the next two or three months. We do have a result but firstly we’d like to say thanks to Steve Gilroy for playing his ‘Birthday’ gig with us at The Star Inn, Newcastle on Friday 3rd January and to Tony Cawson for playing at The John Duck, Durham City on Friday 31st January. Both gigs were excellent and very well attended. Back to our search for a dep. We drew the line at just two auditions and in the end settled on our first applicant who played for us in late December. A very competent 31 year old Stuart Dawson from Newcastle is our choice. Stuart also plays bass and drums, builds his own guitar pedals and is involved in two other bands. Stuart has happily agreed to play with us for up to three months if needed. By that time he expects his involvement in his own projects will take precedence. In the last few weeks Stu has learnt not only our set but also another twenty plus songs we listed. Stuart’s depping stint with Tubesnake begins Saturday 15th February at The Station, Langley Moor, Durham. 
Teatime slot at The Free Trade Inn in Byker, Newcastle on Sunday 22nd December 2013. The spirit of Christmas was undoubtedly in the air today as what seemed like a never-ending stream of punters continued to squeeze themselves into this pretty small venue. It wasn’t long before the audience was packed in like a tin of sardines which, of course, created a tremendous atmosphere for the gig. Even the pubcat, Craig David, who normally has the run of the place, had to resort to hiding in the bass drum. Well done to pub regular Alan Gordon for getting that photo! Guitar dep, Steve Gilroy (SGB and The Dirty South), once again stood in on guitar since Tom is still gigging in Abu Dhabi at the moment. You did a great job Steve and everyone was suitably impressed with your Santa hat by the way. That’s the spirit! This was a brilliant gig at The Free Trade with a fantastic crowd who still found room to dance and smash a few pint glasses in the process. Merry Christmas, one and all, from Tubesnake.
After some deliberation, our guitarist Tom Atkinson boarded a plane today to begin another bout of gigs abroad. This time he’s starting in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. We say “starting” since we are unsure when, or if, he will be coming back. We’ll have to wait and see. We are pretty impressed by his sense of adventure though! Once again, Tubesnake will continue to meet all gig commitments with the help of guitar deps Tony Cawson (a founder member of Tubesnake) and Steve Gilroy (SGB and The Dirty South) who both performed depping duties for us earlier this year through May/June while Tom was gigging in Eilat, Israel. This coming Friday, 20th December we have Tony on guitar when we play The Saltgrass in Sunderland. Two days later, at 5pm on Sunday 22nd December, Steve steps up when we play The Free Trade, Byker, Ouseburn. Exciting stuff! 
Sunday afternoon, 3rd November 2013. Excellent! A pub that looks like a Rock Venue as soon as you step in the door. Welcome to The Penny Gill in Spennymoor. The walls are plastered with rock posters and there’s musical instruments and other paraphernalia hanging from the ceiling. A sound system literally “blasts” out rock tunes at the far end of the room where the band set up and a black-out blind is lowered to shut out all daylight, adding to the atmosphere and helping create that real rock venue feel. We’d played here three times previously when it was your normal looking pub back in January and October 2000 and once more in July 2001. We kicked off at 4.15pm with our eyes on the road and our hands upon the wheel, playing to a brand new audience in a room that was made to rock. Many thanks to Warren for booking us. Gigs every Sunday from 3.30pm onwards! … Lenny 
Saturday 12th September 1992 saw the original 5-piece line-up of Tubesnake take to the stage for the first time in front of a live audience at The Lambton Hounds in Pity Me, Durham.