|
Thursday 15th May 2008
Tonight we were reunited with Congleton, the slightly mental genius who produced our record. When we were in America with him we knew him as a chatty, slightly introverted charming nerdy sort. Tonight we got to see the whole other side, Congleton the performer. He threw himself arbout the stage like a true showman, spitting like a llama, playing the guitar like some kind of dark alternate Hendrix and proclaiming his thoughts like a prophet. The Paperchase are an awesome band – good thing I’m gonna see them again tomorrow night at ATP
I muddled our way through our set with my mangled hand, we skipped out all of the mathrock tunes and just played the gentle stuff – it hurt, a little, but we got there in the end. Wasn’t the greatest gig in the world, and it somehow grated a little to put on anything but a top performance in the presence of Congleton – although across the course of the night I came to realise that he probably didn’t care.
Being a complete nummer, I forgot to take my camera - so here is a picture of the Paperhase from the net - Shizzer was taking snaps, if he sends me any I'll switch it round....
We know where you sleep....
Wednesday 14th May 2008
Today – after much deliberating and exploring, we signed for a new yard. The new yard is even closer to the park, to my work, to the rehearsal rooms, to town, and to various people’s houses than the Beamsley yard. It also has a m-hasseeve ground floor bedroom for me and my piano. It does however, all face North and have only one room as living room and kitchen. It’ll be worth it though for the ultra hybrid bedroom/studio that I create, and for a toilet within reach when rehearsing..
Don't be camping out in my yard though....
Monday 12th May 2008
The above picture shows an x-ray of my left wrist – thankfully, not broken...
Yesterday, in an enthusiastic rush to catch White Boys for Austrian Childcare at Joseph’s Well, whilst sprinting down Clarendon Road in a fit of glee, I trod upon my own renegade shoelace and tumbled headlong to the asphalt, spared serious head trauma by the reflex reactions of my own now marginally sore left wrist....
It isn’t broken, but the pain is intolerable, and my left wrist is now in a splint, good thing that we’re gigging with the Paperchase in three days....
Plus a fairly tender spot on my right elbow
Saturday 10th May 2008
Today, to mark the 60th anniversary of the creation of the state of Israel, we marched through London in solidarity with the people of Palestine. We had to get up at 5:30am to get over to Bradford for the coach down to London and after marching in my flip-flops to Trafalgar square I got blisters on my feet.
We ruminated upon the concept of a protest in Britain. In Palestine, to protest against the occupation, they march to where the land has been partitioned and stand in solidarity against the soldiers, who have been known to throw teargas and shoot rubber bullets at non-violent protestors. Against our own problems we can lock ourselves to the gates of factories or lie down in the road, but what is most effective against an occupation on another continent?
Bit of a walk anybody?
Sunday 4th May 2008
After the anti-social marathon that was Live at Leeds yesterday I did actually manage to leave the house today and go and party at Rich’s yard. He laid on a barbeque (in the pouring rain) for about thirty folks and we stayed up till the wee hours listening to classic rock radio on DAB.
Classic Rock FM
Saturday 3rd May 2008
Today I played two gigs before teatime, as it was Live at Leeds day. Over 100 bands across more than ten venues all over the city. Vessels played the Cockpit at three, the synth broke and Tom's guitar strap came out, and I had my guitar switched off for one entire track. But apart from that we were safe.
Then I played solo at the Library, exactly a week after pledging on stage to not do any more solo shows until I had some new material, but I only did it because Haydn neede me to fill in last minute. I played better than last week, and although the crowd were a bit disinterested (I was filling in for a really heavy rock band with my folkesque musings) I had them by the end.
Now my wrists hurt, with slightly disturbing echoes of this time last year - I couldn't even carry my guitar home because I got shooting pains in my right arm, so here is a picture of J, kindly carrying it for me (She only did it so that people would think she was a musician) ....
Guitar carrier for hire - £60 per hour.
Friday 2nd May 2008
J, Tomas and Mimz have been in Footprint today bookleting their mags, which are now all done. It looks sweet, you can email
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
and they'll send you a copy.
Then tonight Vessels rehearsed, for the first time in ages... in advance of tommorrow's show at the Cockpit, which i quite exciting....
I really do read all the messages....
Tuesday 29t h April 2008
Tonight I played my first ever proper jazz gig, it was ace. It was the Leed University Union Democracy Awards and we were hired to play dinner jazz before the awards whilst people ate their buffet. We played four piano trio tunes and then three upbeat jazz funk tunes. Maiden Voyage, Night Train, Mr PC and Impressions and The Chicken, Watermelon Man and the Chameleon. Jazz makes me very happy indeed.
The picture shows the first side of Subverse magazine, which my friends have compiled, which I finished today at Footprint..
Jazz trio for hire....
Monday 28th April 2008
Today I rehearsed with Al MacSween and Jimmy Theory for the jazz trio gig we're doing tomorrow night at the Uni. My first ever proper jazz gig, I'm suitably excited.... Then we went to Norman's to watch the Klezma trip, for what seemed like the first time in forever. Bill doesn't do the Norman's gigs anymore, so Garside does it and they do it with 2 guitars. It was, as ever, mint....
I know famous people.....
Saturday 26 th April 2008
Today, despite it being saturday, I spent the day at work. Working on Saturday is always ace, as the office id always empty and the phone never ings. Then I did a solo gig at the Brudenell social with Jon Gomm. I was ok, Lee played Cajon on some of my tracks and they were the best ones, although I completely forgot the guitar part to the road song, which was a bit of a shame. So I promised on stage to not play another gig till I'd written some new songs and practiced the old ones. The Eureka Machines made everyone laugh, and covered Take on me by AhHa, and then the Gomm played for about an hour including some new material. Those still unfamiliar with his ridiculously virtuosic style were suitably dunmbstruck...
Then we all piled over to the Wolf yard for a do. Nice to go to his yard instead of mine, because then I could sack it off when I like adn got to sleep.
Being a complete nummer I failed to take any photos today, but if I had taken an extreme close up of the Gomm during his set, this is what it would have looked like, as he only ever wears black....
Cheers Wolferboon.
Friday 25 th April 2008
Tonight we played in Preston . What a charming little outpost. Her Name is Calla were very loud and quite safe, as were Spokes, who we’re playing with again somewhere or other – Dunno where though, might check, might not, depends how contrary I’m felling at any particular point....
Turns out cheese isn't vegan.
Thursday 24 th April 2008
It's London alternative Fashion Week. With different collections by upcoming designers everyday on an adhoc catwalk in Spitalfield's Market. Here is J, modelling for Kerry (Aesthetic Victim) - I think the theme was something to do with the weather, as J had a waterproof top on and Mida had an umbrella. My photos were a bit lame though, so I rinsed this one from the fashion show website . Cue lots of ribbing at Footprint about hanging out with models...
Then, when I was booning to Victoria to get the coach home, whom should I encounter, why Jimmy Flea, the bassist in the Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute band that I used to do with Garside six years ago. He's living in Fulham playing in a band called The Layers and he seemed really happy - if you knew him, bunce him up on the myspaces...
Hit me up Jimmy Flea....
Wednesday 23rd April 2008
Today I got the megabus to London in advance of tomorrow's fashion show
at Spitalfield's Market. On the bus I made a friend, who is travelling somewhere with someone to stay with some other folks. We chatted a lot on the way
down, about a band, about some towns, and about the nature
of some philosphical issues in 2008. It's nice to have someone
to chat to on the bus, especially someone as interesting as this chap - although he did ask me to secure his anonimity - so that is that.....
Dude, that email address you used to contact me isn't real - thus we cannot continue our interesting and stimulating discussions - I'm not ignoring you - hit me up again.....
|
