Diary: 18th March - 6th April 2001
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Sunday 18th March
Well, been ages again since I updated the ol' website, I know. Apologies as ever, but I have been doing lots of worthwhile things - there's been a Solarflares gig at Birmingham Academy; I've been producing a track for a local ensemble in what I guess would be described as a folk/roots sort of genre, really good song; there was a hot jazz session in the bar under the Big Peg in Hockley and then II went down to London with Mocca last Friday to do sound for them at the Water Rats, King's Cross.
All was good fun until leaving the venue, discovering the A40 out of London was down to one lane, and we were stuck in traffic from 11:45 till 12:45, during which time we moved about a mile, sitting in the van in the pouring rain, and somehow I just happened to be sitting under the place where the roof leaked and hence was very cold and damp. Was getting into a foul mood by Cherwell Valley services, fortunately a hot pasty and a cup of tea warmed me up and cheered my spirits. Oh, and the half-bottle of brandy that me and Paul went halves on, and I ended up drinking (sorry Paul), mainly on account of the cold. Oh, and then because about forty minutes from Birmingham it suddenly started snowing (which had been forecast but I just didn't believe was going to happen), and then it got heavier and heavier until I could only see about five feet ahead of the van. Nicky, who was driving, assured me he could see fine (and of course I had total faith in his abilities), nevertheless there was a small voice inside me going, Oh my god, we're going to die!! So, having been making a real effort to save some of the brandy for Paul when we got back (he was driving back in the car), I was like, Drink! Drink! Well, I needed my nerves soothing, and plus I was going, well, if I'm going to die I'm not gonna die sober!! Rock and roll!! Etc.
So in the end everything was fine. Oh, apart from when I got back I discovered I'd lost my mobile phone, which needless to say made me feel extra happy. Actually, by then I was too tired to care, and I was still appreciating still-being-alive, but I was pretty pissed off in the morning.
So there you go. So I'm rehearsing with the very excellent Roberto Dell'era (from Solarflares) and the similarly superlative Roger Valdarrama (Buchanan) for this Old Railway gig on Tuesday. Should be good, guitar and guitar and bass. So I've got to go and change my guitar strings etc.
But, right, after this gig I've definitely got to do some recording, no more excuses, if I don't do it you can shoot me. Especially as I've people ringing me up asking for demos, it seems churlish to deny them. But there's nothing recorded properly I can send them, the last demo I did was in February 1999, when I'd just started out on my own with this singer/songwriter thing, and I would say I've improved sufficiently in the meantime to make that obsolete!
So! Watch this space!
Friday 30th March
Okay, hope you're sitting down .... I've actually started doing some new recordings! For a start, I've found a version of "For What It's Worth (Unrequited #74)" (which I've started calling "For Wot", for conciseness) that I started working on before I got all distracted, so bits of that are definitely usable.
So merely by its presence in a nearly-completed form, it suddenly goes to the top of my shortlist of songs to be included on my new demo (okay, it currently is my shortlist of songs to be included on my new demo.) (Which makes me think, if anyone's got any suggestions as to songs of mine that they think would work well on a demo - if you think a certain song's particularly catchy or just really good or whatever, do email me with your suggestions.)
Anyway, plan is to record the top three songs that exist at present, and perhaps get a couple of people to add some bits and pieces to make it more interesting - hopefully Rob and Rog, as they were wicked at the last gig, and maybe some percussion too.
As well as this recording, I'm also working towards my next gig, at the Old Railway, Digbeth (yes, I know I played there last month too - it's just that it's honestly the best local gig I know of, in terms of the vibe of the room, and the PA, and the people involved, the promoter and sound engineer and pub staff, etc., they're all great - what more could you want from a gig?) at which I hope to unveil an all-new electric sound. Bit like that famous Dylan-goes-electric gig, only nobody gives a shit. No, but seriously folks, I feel it's an exciting new direction! Bated breath, etc, all will be revealed on the night.
Friday 6th April
Well, two gigs now booked in a popular-beat-combo form, the Old Railway on April 24th and The Jug Of Ale on May 2nd (see Gig List for details), both of which I have to admit I'm rather excited about. You see, much as I enjoy the solo singer-songwriter thing, I have been really missing playing as part of a band. It's two years now since I left Mocca - who incidentally played a blinding gig at the Jug the other day - and I've really enjoyed the simplicity and autonomy of the solo thing. But sometimes you just want to ROCK!!!
Er, I meant to say, erm, the synergy of an ensemble and the ... the ... DISTORTION!!!!
Ooops, I did it again. Okay, I have to admit that the side of me that likes, well, modern electrified guitars, not to say heavier music generally, seems to be reasserting itself of late - I've been listening to shouty music, basically. And growling at people in the street. Dunno if that's a good or a bad thing ....
So, what was I talking about then? Oh, yes, gigs. Basically, two gigs booked, with a variety of talented people joining me on stage, Roberto Dell'era and Roger Valdarama on guitar and bass guitar, the fabulous "Fluffy" Mark on drums, and a couple of secret special guests for the Jug gig!
Recording is progressing, albeit slowly. Am planning to do some more today, have been temporarily delayed by throwing up unexpectedly this morning. "I didn't order this!", I thought.
Dunno what all that was about .... Still, rock'n'roll, eh?
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