The most fabulous and surreal thing happened to me last night. A week ago I went to the Scopitones site and ordered the new single (the first for seven years) from my favourite band, The Wedding Present. Yesterday evening there was a knock at the door. ‘Here’s your Wedding Present CDs,’ a smiling woman said, handing me a package. Wow, I thought, that’s service for you. And then in the dark behind her, I noticed a familiar face. ‘Oh hello,’ I spluttered. ‘I don’t supposed you fancy signing these while you’re here?’ It was none other than David Gedge himself, lead singer of the band.
And so in they came while I scrabbled around for a pen. ‘We were just passing, so we thought we’d drop this around.’ Fantastic, in the true sense of the word. There I was in my own home, chatting about Brighton and curry and gigging with one of my all time musical heroes. And I have to say, to his credit, Gedge was utterly charming and genuine, and there simply to put smile on a fan’s face. And in the spirit of the season, he had more deliveries to make after mine.
Well the next few days can be rubbish now. As far as I’m concerned, Christmas has come early for me, and I’m still grinning for ear to ear. And if there’s lesson to be learnt here, it is buy your records directly from the label – especially if it’s a little indie – you never know what might happen! Happy Christmas, one and all, and may your presents be as good as mine was.
Johan wrote:
Wow, that’s incredible! The Wedding Present is a longtime favourite of mine as well – even though I have to admit that I didn’t think they still existed as recording artists.
Merry Christmas!robert wrote:
why is it that small companies/organisations can deliver such incredible levels of service? organisations with deep pockets and huge resources will never understand how powerful your experience was in terms if brand loyalty…
superb stuff :)
happy christmas and merry new year!
Noah Slater wrote:
Almost like you were in a film… very surreal. :D
Jon Hicks wrote:
Now thats what I call local service! Do you think if I order something from the Radiohead site, Thom might just pop round with them? Actually I’m short of milk, so I could maybe ask him to pick some up on the way over…
Stephane Deschamps (nota-bene.org) wrote:
Wow.
I wonder if it would work if I ordered a Tori Amos single.
Wow again. Very nice Christmas indeed.
Design wrote:
Holy!!
This is crazy! I’d never beleive if that would ever happen to me. I’d think I was dreaming.
That good be a sign for a good year!
Guy McCusker wrote:
Best thing I’ve read on the web this year. Fantastic!
Is the record any good?
Rich wrote:
Of course! Actually, yeah, the new single is really good. There’s the familiar drone of strumming (although sounding now a bit like Stereolab of old) some great lyrics and spiky guitar on top. Feels somewhat like where Saturnalia left off, but with a more rounded sound. Good as Weddoes fan and as a music fan, IYSWIM.
Martin wrote:
I was really excited about seeing the weddos at Manchester in February but we left it too late for tickets – doh! Maybe Mr. Gedge will read this and drop a couple by my house??
Sylvia Anderson wrote:
I agree with McCusker – It’s best thing Ive read on the web this year… Thanks for posting this.
Eris wrote:
thats cool man