2007 UK tour promo picture of "Larch & the WonderWheels" taken at Wombat Recording Studios by Ross Bonadonna
Slightly wrinkled article from the Hampshire Chronicle (weekly arts supplement Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2007)
Oct. 16, Ian & Andy as we prepare to depart from JFK
Airplane sunrise
Airplane over the Thames - approaching London
Static caravan: home base near Hamble, Hampshire (A7, but nowhere near the Pyramid Club)
After moving in we proceeded to toast the tour with real ale
It just so happened that the nearest good pub was also our opening night venue - the King & Queen
Morning view first thing through curtains
Tom, Andy & Ian
Cash Converters (pawn shop) in Shirley where, after careful deliberation, we purchased a keyboard as they are apparently un-rentable in the South of England
Ian + Andy getting everything else we need for rocking...
...from Fret music. Liza, Ian, Andy and the black rental van. These 2 photos by Tom Pope.
Oct. 21, sound check on a Larch song, first show at the King & Queen in Hamble
playing a WonderWheels song - these two photos by Steve Mennella
close up photo taken by Andy Blakemore. We're playing "Hush Now Sweet Pea"
The band rehearsing in A7, photos by Steve Mennella
Andy, Ian, Liza, the £50 pawnshop keyboard and lots of other gear
Tom using the built-in seating with a snare on his lap, Andy, Ian, more gear
Bass shot
Steve watching as Andy, in a blur of activity, packs the last of the gear into the van
Oct. 24, we played The Ferryman in Warsash
Ferryman poster & Steve
the gathering crowd
All our lovely albums
Starting with a WonderWheels song - photos by Andy Blakemore
group shot
Andy singing (Talking Heads cover) Psycho Killer, photo by Steve Mennella
Tom, Andy and Steve after the show
Band shot after midnight at the house with blue shutters in Warsash. Ian grew up in this house! Photo by Steve Mennella
The next day we went for a ramble in the Hamble woods...
... and by the sea
These photos are all by Andy Blakemore
Steve + the band on Hamble Beach
Onwards, towards the show tonight!
On Oct. 25, we played the Cricketers in Eastleigh
Photo by Tom Pope
Live shots by Steve Mennella
Playing WonderWheels song at the Cricketers
Good Morning, Ponies - photo by Tom Pope
Oct. 26, we played the Gamekeeper in the New Forest near Ashurst - photo by Steve Mennella
Our show became the entertainment for the pub's Halloween Party without our prior knowledge!
Gamekeeper poster
Playing a WonderWheels song at the Gamekeeper
Eddie at the Gamekeeper, live photos by Steve Mennella
Gamekeeper crowd
After show band shot by Steve Mennella
Steve getting fish & chips
Oct. 27, we played the Jones Wine Bar in Southampton. That small dude in the suit is Steel (Steal?) who claimed to be the owner, a rude boy thug who would later stiff both bands in the parking lot af
Nothing like hauling the p.a. and all our gear up & down the back stairs of the Jones Wine bar to make us feel like professional traveling musicians!
Ian orchestrated our friends in the fabulous garage pop band <A HREF= "http://myspace.com/tomatoharness"> Tomato Harness </A> to come down from London and open up for us. Photo by Steve M
Playing a WonderWheels song at the Jones Wine Bar
Playing a Larch song at the Jones Wine Bar - photos by Steve Mennella
After (getting stiffed) party at the far superior King & Queen where it was decided we would come back the next night and play as we had the gear rented out until Monday.
Out for Sunday lunch, photo by Shirley Roure
Oct. 28, setting up for last show back at the King & Queen, photo by Tom Pope
Although we were in the area for less than 2 weeks, we certainly made a lot of friends... here is a photo of Liza with the boot people, taken by Tom Pope
Ian and another beautiful sunny day at Riverside Holidays
Time to go back to Fret & return the gear. Photo by Tom Pope
After, we went sightseeing in the New Forest
These two photos by Andy Blakemore
Liza taking a picture of a holly tree in Burley, photo by Tom Pope
Liza's picture
These shots at the Tree Zoo (Arboretum) were all taken by Andy Blakemore