My first ever foray to Newcastle was in 1987 when my local Preston North End team went on an impressive FA Cup run. Despite being in the bottom division at that stage, we had a famous win at Middlesbrough in the Third round before drawing Newcastle away in the Fourth round. About 6000 fans headed up and I remember a convoy of coaches crossing the impressive Tyne Bridge, but unfortunately we lost the match 2-0.
The Tyne Bridge with the Sage in the background. Image Credit Evening Chronicle.
On Mogwai’s 2023 tour, and almost twelve years to the day from the previous 2011 Gateshead date, Uncle George and I decided to make a return visit. I had already undertaken a double header aural battering in Manchester on the Thursday and the Friday before a day off on the Saturday and then headed up to the Northeast on the Sunday.
Due to train constraints, it was a logistical challenge initially involving my first ever Uber journey. Now, I must say I am somewhat conflicted about Uber’s and the working conditions they abide to, but to salve my conscience somewhat the driver who took me into town stated he preferred his job to his previous role as a Black cab driver, albeit the smallest possible sample size to draw these findings from!
My route incorporated trains from Manchester to Wigan, Wigan to Carlisle, a 45-minute wait and then onto the bone rattler Northern train into ‘Heidi’ territory over the mountain pass into Newcastle, a small matter of over 5 hours since I left home. I simply would not have undertaken this journey for any other band!
We were staying again at the Quayside and then navigated our way back up the very steep steps to the welcoming Bridge Inn at the apex, where we encountered a fine ale, a roaring fire, and Six Nations on the TV. We then scouted around the corner for a quality pint of Porter in an excellent Taps bar called Split Chimp.
After grabbing some tea in a Turkish restaurant, we headed over the High-Level Bridge to a terrific little bar owned by my pal Gary Moore and his partner. Gary is also a keen muso and a huge Eels fan, he retired a few years ago and bought a pub, which sounds like a fine career change to me!
The venue is called Microbus and is ensconced within the arches on Wellington Street and they have created the bar from the front of a campervan and there is an old bus stop inside and a live-time bus timetable display so you have no excuses as to when to finish off your pint!
Inside the inimitable Gateshead Microbus bar. Image Credit microbus.pub
They have also just been awarded the Tyneside and Northumberland CAMRA’s pub of the year and this is all within the first year of its launch. They do stage music but unfortunately not on the night of my attendance. The site used to be a café back in the 1960’s and the story goes that a chap called Alan Hull was stuck on a bus outside in pea souper smog and allegedly wrote the famous song ‘Fog on the Tyne’ whilst he was sat there.
A quick five-minute walk brought us to the venue and we swiftly released we were in the larger Gateshead Sage Stage 1, an unexpected bonus new venue. The larger room is apparently modelled on the Musikverein in Vienna and the acoustics were compellingly impressive.
It was my favourite performance of the three as there was room to breathe in comparison to the Friday Manchester gig, a very respectful audience and the venue created a very lush sound. ‘Summer’ and ‘Mogwai Fear Satan’ were particularly epic.
Post-gig we headed to the Tiger Hornsby and got chatting to a couple of lads from Galashiels who had also attended the gig. We were informed on entry that they would be closing in 20 minutes but then must have taken a likeness to us as they very generously served us for another hour.
Back at the hotel, we watched the Superbowl until they reached half time. The following day, thankfully the trains behaved themselves and I enjoyed total musical silence on the way home to rest my jaded ears!