| Rebelski | - Martin Roman Rebelski is keyboard player for Doves
- His debut album, Thanks For Your Thoughts, came out in March 2003
- The follow-up, Stickers On Keys, will be released by Twisted Nerve in the autumn.
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A quick beer and much excitement fills the Rebelski dressing rooms and everyone seems genuinely pleased with the show. But the dissection of it must wait. Having drained their bottles, the band return to the back of the stage to pack up their gear. Their two crew, backline tech Chris Snow and front of house engineer Julian Helme, are on hand to help them, but everyone has to muck in, packing up their instruments and moving them out to the van. The high spirits resulting from the show make the work easy going, especially when one of the Festival Hall’s staff turns up to ask when he get hold of the album because he “f**king loved the set.”
 | | Packing up the gear |
Once the gear is packed, the rest of the night is free for everyone except Martin. Usually he’d be relaxing too, but as his manager Dave is flat on his back at home, the tour managing duties are his. He collects his band’s pay from Badly Drawn Boy’s manager and sets up shop in the dressing room, doling out fees in return for receipts and gradually getting more and more stressed attempting to find change amongst the seven band members. “I’m going to kiss him when I see him,” he says when he thinks of Dave, “I never knew how hard this could be.” Thankfully, Simon is also manager of Beats For Beginners and is ready to lend a hand with the intricacies of the financial matters.
 | | Ollie investigates the food |
Elsewhere, Ollie and Mike are investigating catering. There’s a genuine look of disappointment on Mike’s face when he finds the room cleared, but luckily, Ollie is less forgetful and has headed to the small kitchen where the meals the band chose before the show have been put in the fridge, each marked with their name. The smile returns to the singer’s face. With meals eaten and the rider drunk, there’s nothing more for the band to do except catch Damon’s show. Only, they’ve seen most of it during the soundcheck so, while Cath and Ollie sit out front for it, the rest disperse around the Festival Hall, watching the finale of Big Brother in the case of Lizzie or searching out more beer in the case of Martin and Simon.
 | | Cath Evans and Damon Gough discuss the audience |
All are back in the wings for the end of Badly Drawn Boy’s set, and as he and his band leave the stage, the praise that was given out to the support is handed back to the headliner, while people queue at the side of the stage, waiting to be let into the aftershow. Even that, though, is different for the support band. While Damon and his band may be stopping over for another show the following night, no sooner is the party in full swing than the majority of Rebelski’s crew have to get back onto the bus to head back to Manchester. The reality of the situation is summed up by Ollie. “I’ve got another gig tomorrow night with another band I play in,” he muses, “I won’t get back to mine until five in the morning and the gig’s in west Wales!” You can almost feel the glamour draining from the air. But it’s been a great night and a fine third gig. It’s not the usual place for such a show and not the everyday support band experience, but Martin and his troupe have enjoyed themselves in the usual rock and roll way. The show went well, the beer’s been drunk and the laughs have been had. So it’s back on the bus and a return home to early morning Manchester. And as for the next gig? Martin smiles as he leaves the Royal Festival Hall. “The next one’s at the Bridgewater.” It truly isn’t the normal way of doing things. |
