A belated Happy New Year to you.
Since posting in November I’ve played a few gigs but not posted about them, despite intending to. The loss of my set-list book started the rot. I like to keep setlists in a nice little moleskin notebook but instead have been writing them on scraps of paper which invariably get lost.
Of the gigs played since my last post I remember:
Americana UK house concert in November. Always a pleasure, never a chore, as they say. Mark is a great host and there is a good vibe here. Dan Sumner went along with me and took his banjo and played 3 or 4 songs accompanying me. Simon Alpin, from Willard Grant Conspiracy was the main draw and great he was too. At the end of a sprawling, lonesome tour, he was nicely not sober and played a lovely, playful set.
Went back to the North Wales Inn in December. No car this time so Chris and I stayed in a respectable Mrs Miggins guesthouse and played to a fairly disappointing turnout. No, a very disappointing turnout. We had a great argument about smoking though. With each other, not the audience. And we both smoke….
Played the John Lennon memorial day in Liverpool on a stage the BBC has in the City Centre. There is a big screen above you so the audience spends the set gazing over your head. It was proper cold but fun. Did a solo version of the Beatles’ ‘I’m So Tired’ and a little interview with BBC 6music. Trying to get hold of footage of the gig. A couple of photos are on the photo page back on my main site.
In January played a couple of gigs at the Hark to Towler in Tottington near Bury. I love this pub and not just because of Lady Tottington in the latest Wallace and Gromit film. Played the first as a 3 piece with Chris on bass and the second as a duo with Robbie. Couldn’t play as a full band due to Martyn’s ongoing touring with Richard Ashcroft - what can he offer him the I can’t?…..
As a result of Martyn’s proper job taking up his time I’ve had to cancel a number of gigs in March and I’m having to think how I can keep the Bank of England going. Will let you know what I figure out as soon as I figure it out. The main problem is booking gigs months in advance and having everyone commit to doing them.
On to other things.
I spent a couple of weeks recording songs written with old mucker Brian Chin. Brian wrote a number of songs with me that appeared on It Just Is. We had about 20 to choose from and managed to break the back of 9 of them. We’re not sure yet what name they’re going to be released under yet. Toying with Captain Pop but that could and probably will change.
The songs written with Brian tend to have more advanced chord structures than those I write on my own. There’s some jazzy chording going on, God forgive me, but overall they’re upbeat poppy things. Will try and persuade Brian to let me post some early mixes.
We had a great time doing it, bringing in violins and trumpets from Robbie and old mate Al Richardson. Also, on drums we had the pleasure of Tony Mcguigan’s skill and company. Tony was in 16 Tambourines with me and Brian all those years ago and I love his bones. Tony has been spotted all over the telly recently playing with the girl from Atomic Kitten (Jenny?).
Speaking of 16 Tambourines, there is a website on the band hosted by Tony Elliot who played bass. You can find it at http://www.16tambourines.com I have to declare here that Tony and I no longer see each other and probably don’t speak, in the way that old band members seem not to, so my take on his site may be prejudiced. However, to set the record straight, 16 Tambourines was formed about 18 months before he joined the band and Tony Mcguigan was in it from the very start. I was also the main songwriter and we didn’t write songs together, barring a couple on the album and a joint b-side or two. That said, it’s a pretty fair representation of us and there are a couple of photos you might like to laugh at. I have a great recording of us live at the Hammersmith Odeon - I think - and maybe I’ll stick them on the site sometime.
That’s all for now and I hope we all have a healthy year ahead of us.
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