Well, Capital of Culture year seemed to be actually happening last week, what with the start of June, Paul Macca's big concert, Liverpool Comedy Fest and some sunny weather too.
Anyway, it's Saturday night, the last day of May and I'm drinking in the Ship and Mitre on Dale Street.
I had been talking earlier in the week to some people about the guy from the Zutons. I saw him in the paper and was surprised by his new look. He has really long hair and a beard. He looks like he should be in a stoner metal band.
So a bloke with long hair and a beard comes in the Ship and Mitre and I say, him, that's what the guy from the Zutons looks like now. And everyone goes, 'hmmm, yeah' and then, 'hmmm, nah'.
An hour or so later the guy is leaving and they all go, 'oh yeah - that is the guy from the Zutons.' Dave McCabe's his name - the frontman of the group. A barmaid unlocked a heavy door for him, he seemed to have his bike kept there. I nodded at him as he came past our table, as if to say, I know who you are, mate. He stared at me, as if trying to place me. Then he got on his bike and left.
The next day he would be playing to thousands of people at Anfield, supporting Sir Paul McCartney.
Fast forward to Monday, June 2nd. That night, I went to an event called 'Drink up, Stand up'. Part of the Liverpool Comedy Festival, it involves going to a pub, having a drink while a stand-up comedian performs and then leaving with everyone else to head for another pub and seeing a different stand-up. In order to keep everyone together, the compere has a megaphone with which to guide and cajole the group into the next pub.
Moving from the Flute and Firkin pub on Hardman Street, down to the Metropolitan, I spotted a familiar looking chap, with long hair and beard, on the other side of Berry Street.
He seemed to be just finishing off a rather necessary wee by the bookies on the corner of Slater Street. He turned around to face our group with a smile on his face and made a rock god salute with arms outstretched. A passing drunk had grabbed our megaphone and was singing a very passable version of mega Zutons hit 'Valerie' and broadcasting it across the street.
Mr Dave McCabe listened dutifully, turned and strolled down Slater Street, shaking his hips and dancing to his own song as his fellow male Zutons creased up, further on down the road.
Inside The Metropolitan our compere summed it up: "The lead singer of our city's premier band, p**sing it up against the bookies. Capital of f**king Culture!"
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