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Tabitha Burns's avatar

My Scouse nana used to say, ‘You’ll be waiting for Dick to dock.’

‘When you’re older you go down like a cow’s tale.’

‘You don’t know your luck ‘til your hat falls off.’

Between those words I hear seagulls and see boats bobbing against the Liverpool docks. Old women marching down the pub to see where their husband is with the rent money. Irish families walking down Hope Street to one of its two cathedrals, a whole history echoed in the direction they take.

I remember less of what my dad said, but I can hear him saying in his Scouse accent, ‘I like your kecks’.

‘She looked like a cat’s arse.’

‘Oi, dogs head.’

It brings back memories of stories that feel like memories of my own. A young punk sitting in the bath in his jeans, and asking his mum to sew them even tighter. In the centre of Liverpool, spitting at an old nun who abused him at school. Delivering a kick up the bum to a man who was abusing his dog.

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Intact Animal's avatar

The accent can make the difference.

The trio awoke, a few hours post-performance. Too early in the morning to escape a cider headache earned from the last night’s gig in a cramped Basque bar outside of San Sebastian. Antonio Luis (drums) took responsibility and drove the tour van across the border into southern France. The border crossing was a first for Antonio, who had never left Spain. 9 hours later in Paris, Jorge (bass) and Eric (guitar/vocals) failed to convince a tired and culture-shocked Antonio to leave his hotel room in the 14th arrondissement for their short appearance at Le Pop-In. “Don’t worry, I get it. We’ve got this,” said Eric. “It’s only a 20-minute slot, we’ll go acoustic.”

The duo performed to a sweaty and packed basement. After the set, an announcer’s voice boomed out of the main sound system. “Thank you. That’s it. You’re geeks. Geeks. Geeks!” Eric stood stunned. Was it the acoustic set in a rowdy room? Too soft? Is this guy serious? What nerve!

“Gigs. He is asking if you have any upcoming gigs,” Mich (manager) shouted from the front row. Confidence restored. “Oh. Ah, yes. We’re off to Gent and Amsterdam. See you there!”

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