Diary: 30th October - 18th November 2001

Next    Previous    Back to Diary: Contents

Tuesday 30th October

   Blimey!   Had no time to write since gig on Friday, which I really enjoyed, and thought went very well!   Many thanks to all of you who came down, you will have realised it was a mostly electric set after all - basically we tried to change it at the last minute, as referred to previously, but it just wasn't working.   So rang up the promoter and explained the situation, fortunately they were very understanding about it all!

   So that was fab, then I was back down the Old Railway on Saturday doing sound for Solarflares, their first gig with keyboard player Andy, which worked really really well - hopefully he'll be a regular in the line-up, 'cos it was just great!   So another busy evening, and a rather fantastic party after.

   Then Sunday night was Jo Hamilton at the Jug of Ale, again, a stunning performance, her gigs just get better and better!   Was relieved not to be working.

   And last night, did sound for Mocca, at the Jug again, and another great gig!   They've got a new single out, on pink vinyl!   Wow!   Resolved to release something on vinyl!   Probably when I do some recording with the electric line-up (oh, what an exciting thought!).

   And tonight, I can't face going to another gig!   Which is a real shame, 'cos there's a top punk & hardcore night at the Old Railway.   But I'll be back there Thursday night for Jason Ensa, another great songwriter and performer, and am keen to check out other bands Zeka's Cruise and Sweeney Todd, the latter of which I recorded years ago but haven't seen since, so looking forward to it.

And tomorrow of course is Pulp at Birmingham Academy, with John Peel!   Am very excited albeit in a tired kind of way!   Rest tonight, party tomorrow!

Sunday 11th November

   Blimey again, busy weeks or what?!   Sadly it wasn't Super Furry Animals supporting as promised, the gig guide lied, but Pulp were suitably fab.  Had a chat to a few people at the gig, which was nice - nice to see real music fans out enjoying music.   Gives you hope.

   So that was the Wednesday ... on the Thursday I went down to see Jason Ensa at the Old Railway, again a great night - Jason's songwriting just gets better and better!

 On the Friday I went down to see the Players night in the Quarter bar/restaurant place underneath The Big Peg, in Vyse Street, Hockley, Birmingham - it's kind of a jazz/funk theme overall (in a good way, for those of you who have experienced the many appalling manifestations of that particular genre crossover, fear not).   Basically it's a bunch of really hot musicians playing really good music, a strong jazz theme, but enough variety to keep the non-jazzophile interested.   And a variety of guest artists/ensembles too. 

 And after that, I was very very tired!   And I had a week's worth of hangovers queuing up, so Saturday was decidedly quiet.   In fact I went up to see my folks at the weekend, which was excellent.   Good to see them, good to actually chill out for once.   Ah, yes, and it sparked the re-revelation of a revelation that's so often revealed it should be failing to qualify as such by now - the fact that I never, ever, really chill out and relax.   As I've mentioned in these pages before, it's like, I always have something I could be doing, be it a bit of recording or writing or fiddling with something unnecessaray on the computer, and so it transpires that I never really sit down and just RELAX!!

   But from now on that's all going to change.   Yes, it is.  Yes, it is.

   Oh, the recordings by the way - we're now into the doing-Rob's-guitar-parts stage.   This weekend we've got Demons pretty much nailed, so that's excellent, and hopefully will be doing some more later today.   This ties in nicely with my current not-going-out-drinking-spending-money policy.   Which is much needed after the excellent but financially and physically wearing Radio 1 gig week.

Until next time!

Sunday 18th November

   Well, guitar parts coming along nicely, mostly done, and I even started doing some vocals last night!   Amazing, things are actually getting to a stage where it really is mostly done!   Having spent so long at a stage where it I kept starting something and then going, hmm, doesn't feel quite right for some reason, best throw it away and start again, it's great to be somewhere now where I'm going, hey, it's all sounding pretty good!

   About time too.   I tell you, when I've finally got a finished CD with all the songs on, with a cover and everything, all looking nice ... I'll be so pleased.   And so wanting to do some recording with the electric line up!

   So I reckon get this recording finished, then explore the feasibility of doing an electric set more of the time.   And if it seems feasible, damn well fease it!   Get some gigs, do some recording ... and so it goes on!   No retreat, no surrender, only relentless faith!   

Next    Previous    Back to Diary: Contents