Dave Johnson's funeral

Dave's funeral was unique. It was made very individual by some memorable characters, events and images.
1. motorcycle parade to open
2. Rolling Stones music on entrance
3. Biker and WW1 helmet and wizards hat and one of Dave's paintings on the coffin and Dave's guitar leaning up against coffin plinth. Seeing his guitar standing there was really emotional for me. 
4. biker vicar in leathers took the ceremony - was quite wordy but cheery and quite down to earth.
5. a remote control tank that Dave made was driven up and down the aisle - then stopped, raised it's turret and fired a "shot" at the vicar.
6. Dave the Drums made a moving speech and read from a recent poem entry in Dave J's diary/jottings
7. we'd been given a flower each which we filed up and put on his coffin - this was an emotional moment too.
8. as the time came for the curtain to close on Dave's coffin, Sue the Bellydancer from the Shapeshifter band got up and holding up her black shiffon cape like wings shimmered and her bells jingled. This was a really powerful moment - then Nick the Performance Artist from the band got up in his giant Fish Head costume and danced gently as the Shapeshifter song Fish was played - this was both strange and really emotional for those of us associated with the band, plus hearing Dave's guitar on the song.
9. We then filed out and very surreally were ushed into an anteroom where there was a large Sikh family awaiting their funeral, - and us with our bellydancer, our man ina  giant fishhead costune, and a guy in leathers holding a toy tank. They must;ve wondered what our religion was exactly.

I was pretty wound up before the funeral and I was pretty weepy at the big points in the ceremony - I'm a bit delicate with dying stuff - even scenes in movies - plus it was my first funeral since my moms. Also tho I;ve been to other muzo's funerals, they were elder statesmen on the scene - Dave was the first "one of us" to go. I was so glad to have Jackie the Djembe next to me - also a Shapeshifter who is a special pal and was a great help. Maureen Shapeshifter was great too with hugs and kind words. I never knew him so well, but we had played together with Shapeshifter now and then for over 12 years - I think recording 3 or 4 albums together.

I needed some space after that so I went to town, grabbed some lunch, took soem ipod earphones back, and bought another Within Temptationalbum ina  weak moment. Then it was off home to grab theremin and join the bash/wake/gathering at the Musician. Quite a gathering onstage with a 10piece Shapeshifter 1 hour set with light show. Very loud and a complete wonderful racket. Certainly achieve3d critical mass.
All in all a funeral and wake like no other, for a unique guy.

As I had gig to get to it was quick pack and goodbyes and home to eat, repack for Irish gig and turn it around.

Hear Shapeshifter music here

3 Govannen gigs in 3 days

Friday - The Grange, Asfordby Hill
This was less wild than previous Grange gigs - the restaurant is themed a sa ski lodge, and it;s set in a garden centre which has recently gone bust. It was also Dave Unthank from When Cousin's Marry band's last day at work gathering so that brought 25 in. There was only a little bit of dancing though and I was greatful it wasn;t too full-on what with the full day with Dave's funeral and the wake. Deli & I were bothe pretty tired at this gig. We sold a Celtic Fire CD.

Saturday - Korporate Keltic Keilidh in Kettering
Had nice day off with G down the Queens Rd, lunching at new cafe/deli called Salvador Deli. Excellent. The gig was a small business conference of 30 people who got stuck into the dances called by Cathy - plsu some loud wild lasses who were dtermined to have a good time but weren't bad-crazy. All pretty good fun and cathy certainly danced them into the ground.

Sunday - Don Paddys, Uppingham
A nice mellow gig with supportive and listening crowd - Don Paddy's - a Spanish-Irish restaurant bar in Rutland - is one of our fave places to play. I was much more on form, being a lot less tired and enjoyed the gig. Nice to see our agent Dave the Sax there and Jay the Drums. Sold 2 Sniff the Pony CDs.