Sunday, 18 December 2011

My Bro played Banjo at inferno!

Greetings chaps!

Forgive the pop culture reference title. Ive been "hanging" with nerds, and it's wearing off.
The more I learn the various memes and Internet videos, the more I understand and join in with my chums nerdish games.
But unfortunately the more i understand.The less I make sense to my lovely future wife.

Speaking of wifery*, I have decided to mark the countdown to next June's festivities with a terror threat style warning system:

Bride condition:
Black (Everything is shit!! We can't afford it!)

Groom condition:
Blueish green: (maybe the reception should have a bouncy castle for the adults)


Over the past week myself and a Mr Jack "Mr Darcy" Searle, have been Jamming out some ideas as a Folk/Chap-hop group (think the Dubliners mixed with Mr B)

Possible genre names:
Chalk-hop
Cholk-hop
Folk-hop
Fap-hop

It was exciting stuff as it is genuinely something new. (When we get some stuff recorded I shall post links).
This could end up as just a bit of fun,but I do believe we have something giggable. Either way watch this space crackers!

Gig reports:
Rma: met up with some old chums, josie, Dan, Brad and Dave Gentle, who I haven't seen in literally close to a decade. Who was a jolly good laugh, (just as I remember) and many congrats on him qualifying as a Nurse. Looking forward to our next meeting.
Bumping into the Bennett brothers was a pleasure. Got drunk and caught up with Dan, then got very Drunk with Brad and reminisced.
I had completely forgotten how much joy it brings me watching Brad's appearance scare the shit out of people who don't know him.
Imagine watching a giant moustachioed Skinhead, boisterously introducing himself to a Dickensian looking student with the defence capabilities of a brandy snap.
Then imagine that the Dickensian brandy snap has the look of a man who has seen his own rape filled death on his face.
Brad is of course a gentleman, and one of my dearest old friends. But seeing him unintentionally bringing brown trousers to the middle class, brings joy to my heart.

The gig itself was a bitt naff, as usual Nick Courtney chewed up the sound of my banjo then turned it to a nearly inaudible volume. But it went well do I can't complain to much.

One thing that sticks in my mind is the last act who were a full prog band that included a nest of keyboards. Being played one hand per keyboard.
At the time (as I was as pissed as an Lord) I thought it was awesome.
I was reliably informed that my opinion may have been influenced by the amount of cider I had consumed.

Drift bar last Sunday was a good laugh, my only complaint was having to wait for an hour for a drunk guy (i can only assume) playing covers (questionably) before me. When everyone else had a half hour set.
It was a nice mix of Music and the promotor was not only present (yeah I know freaky) but was a thoroughly nice chap. The set up was good and I look forward to playing there I'm the future and working with those chaps in the future.
Side note if you want to add excitement to a gig, Just add a drunk raving Scotsman to the front row. I couldn't understand him but altleast it was possitive Celtic rambling.

Finally a big shout out to friends old and new at Inferno in Bournmouth.
As usual a lovely gig with reassuringly growing support. Unfortunately I missed brothers Grimmer AGAIN! But I had to head home as my betrothed had work in the morning and she was driving.
Harpin in played like tasty blues bitches. This has caused excitement for a future blues showcase I'm organising with them. Stay tuned!!

Ta ta chaps
"Chunks"

Harpin' on, great blues band from inferno, soon to be featuring as part of a blues showcase at the inferno Febuary 25th.
http://www.harpin-on.co.uk/

The silhouettes, my chum Brads Band:
http://www.myspace.com/thesilhouettesuk





*no it's not a word but I like it! It's like midwifery with out nurses or screaming sprogs!

Sunday, 4 December 2011

Silver Haired Leviathan!

Greetings Chaps!

Again it's late and again I'm blaming it on Hitler!

So on Weds the 30th I played my first Bemis Gig. I shat the proverbial brick as it was a month earlier than we had originally planned.
Oh well, Into the Breach Dear Friends!
So anyway the gig itself was a night of firsts for me as a performer:
First use of a Green room.
First time having bandmates and not being Billy no mates in the corner, waiting for my friends to arrive.
First night of a promoter buying all my drinks! (this was a first most dear to my heart)
First night to sign an album (that i might add had nothing to do with, but fuck it! one is an attention slut)
First night to perform where someone else has to worry about all of the attention and the Lyrics.

Being a bassist or any other ist for that matter is much more relaxing than being a soloist*. It ws nice to just get on with the gig and just have fun. Let Gareth do all the hard work ill just sit back and relax. (and pull faces).

Despite new band jitters and playing like a numpty (hey I'm new) it was a cracking little gig to play, we got into a nice groove and (despite my spaz like memory) we gelled really well. The Highlight of the gig was having Dave Pegg and PJ Wright come up and join us on the Bands's# "The Wieght".

 Dave Pegg and PJ Wright (who were the headliners) were like silver haired leviathans who crushed all in their way! Ie: Played fantastic folky Gems, a few Fairport Convention and some Jethro Tull numbers. We were also regaled with some nuggets of story telling gold from Tours Past and we were also informed that Ian Anderson is a Tight-fisted twat! (Being an empirical person I shall have to meet him and try borrowing money off of him. Don't worry I shall keep you informed of my investigations.)

Getting drunk, playing folk music,watching folk music, Chatting With Folk Playing Legends, Signing stuff, posing for photos and Drinking more. A good table of contents for a thoroughly good evening.
may there be many more like it!

Ta ta
'Chunks

PJ and Peggy:
http://folking.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/a-night-off-with-pj-peggy-%E2%80%93-uk-tour/

Bemis:
http://www.bemisland.com/

*Not that being a solo doesn't have its bonuses... not having to worry about paying for laxatives for one.

# for my younger readers The Band are and actual Band.But the idea of a band to be called The Band is very confusing. for example when discussing a band like The Band, The phrase The Band may be in reference to another Band besides The The Band, to avoid confusing The Band With another Band I would suggest using the name of the Band and not the Band,unless The Name of the Band does itself  become a Band Name but that could be shortened to TNOTB, a problem with this of course is if it is read quickly that could be mistaken for KNOB(a finnish punk band).
The Band are in fact a very good Band and some would say the the Band are a definitive example of a Band hence the name; The Band.
Some would also say this joke is cheap and it has gone on to long so i shall stop it now