Do The Rite Thing

Here's a photo of Tim Wheeler from Ash, in conversation with Terri Hooley of Good Vibrations fame. It was taken in Belfast at the weekend, just after a blazing all-ages show. And when I say the two were in conversation, I really mean that the guitarist was listening to an erratic monologue from his elder.

Q Magazine once wrote about Bono and 'the speech' which he apparently delivers to the new musical contenders. Essentially, his advice is to enjoy the trip. Well, in our parish, it is Hooley who baptises the new breed in brandy fumes, Zen puzzles and well-honed Undertones stories.

Most bands seem to enjoy the privilege. It's a rite and an entertainment, and somewhere in the middle of all the bluster and non-sequiturs are some valuable notes about capitalism, community and personal responsibility.

That said, we staged a rescue mission after ten minutes. Tim is a lovely chap and too well-reared to indicate that the speech is starting to drag. The best Hooleygrams are concise and funny, but that ain't always the way.