So, here we are heading towards our final gig of 2015 (Did I think I was already in 2016 last week? It wouldn’t surprise me). It’s been a good year for gigs and it has gone by in a whirlwind. Our decision to reduce the number of gigs in addition to being more selective has certainly paid off as far as I am concerned. The majority of the gigs have been far more enjoyable and the audiences far more responsive and enthusiastic.
Here we go, last chance to catch us in 2015
Bretton M.C.C Christmas Charity Bash
Saturday 19th December
Saltney Tavern
Saltney (Chester)
Special guests to Sack Sabbath
Looking forward to this one as we are good friend with Sack Sabbath and they are the best Sabbath tribute there is in my opinion. We will probably stick to a mainly Rock covers set given the nature of the event although I am sure Rock for You, Night Ride and the Few will be aired.
Not sure of timings but I guess we will be doing 45 mins to an hour at some point.
Following this one we take a couple of weeks off until we return to the Witton Chimes in January.
So I will wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New now in case I don’t get around to it after today.
As you know we were back at West Kirby Tap last Saturday which went quite well. Not as busy as the first time we were there earlier this year but a fair sized crowd who had a good time. We return in May next year. It is nice to play on “home turf” for a change as it gives a rare chance for our friends to see us and catch up.
Highlights of the year, well actually the aforementioned first gig at the Tap earlier this year, good support slots to “name” bands Troyen and Raven also allowed us to do 100% original material which we always prefer, cover versions being a means to get gigs in “pub” venues really.
Similarly all credit to Alexander’s in Chester for putting on a night of original Rock & Blues music in association with HB promotions, rare to find venues who will take the risk these days.
As an aside it must have shown promise as they are repeating the event in February and we are one of the three bands again so we must be doing something right.
We have about half of the gigs we anticipate next year already booked and a few still being scheduled so I thinks we will be doing about 30 -35 again which is all we really want to do. A couple of festivals would be nice so we are working on that as well.
We have some new venues already booked next year which is always nice. There are still some venues out there who refuse to acknowledge us which is their prerogative although at times I don’t really understand why when you look at who they do have on. Having said that I have said many times that I am fully aware it is about selling beer for most of these places and they are really not too bothered what they put on as long as the takings are up. You can’t blame them for that and we do alright for bookings elsewhere. There are some venues I don’t even bother trying now.
T-shirts – still not done. This will be sorted before the end of the year. I really didn’t appreciate how difficult it is trying to design and produce a simple shirt. We have the concept I just need to find someone who is capable of executing it as anything involve art is not my thing at all.
Recordings, yes we released our “This is a thing called…” album this year but so far it has only been available on Download from all the usual suspects, iTunes, Amazon, etc. We will be pressing up some CDs very shortly although we are potentially considering a limited edition vinyl release as this may be more desirable. Cost being the factor here of course. Vinyl is far more expensive to produce then CDs and the artwork for the cover is more important as well
Speaking of Recording we are going to head into a studio over the Christmas break and see what comes out of that. We have a number of new songs to lay down but we haven’t decided yet which ones we can fit into the allocated time. Really need to pursue that pledge campaign to get some funding for a new studio album. It’s not going to happen without it.
Regular Producer Russell Cottier will once again be flying the console. He seems to be doing really well so I suspect it won’t be long before we can’t afford him anymore.
Rants
Well I keep thinking of these but always forget by the time I write this. I know some of you like them though.
I have just been to the post office actually, how irritating is that. Only wanted some stamps but they prefer you to queue up at a machine and then when you get to it someone is there showing you how to use it. How is that saving people? The stupid machine prints the stamps in strips of 6 as well so you have to wait for a while if getting a few as you do at Christmas. Much quicker when they just ripped a strip out of a book at the counter.
Christmas sales are on I see, how does that work, the same way as the Black Friday ones I suppose. Pick an event and then spread a retail opportunity several days each side of it, no-one will notice. Come January 1st valentines will be the event to hit the marketing machine.
Television is full of adverts and programs for people going to parties and events where food and drink are in abundance and everyone wears Christmas jumpers and drinks mulled wine. Well I know that I am not going to any of these, are you, do you know anyone who is? Who are these people who go to all these alleged festive parties?
Hover boards. Am I the only one who can see that the so called Hover boards on sale this year are actually nothing of the sort? I’m sorry but I would expect a hover board to be like the one on Back to the Future, i.e. hovering above the ground. These Alleged Hover boards have wheels and are in contact with ground. Using the same logic as the manufacturers then I am driving a hover car and hover bikes are everywhere. Clever marketing but sadly wrong.
Speaking of marketing, new Star wars film seems to be generating a lot of interest, lost on me to be honest. I saw the first on when it came out back in ’77? Did nothing for me and never watched any more of them. Each to their own though, a lot of people like them. With all the merchandise it is going to make a lot of money.
Music
Well as you know I went to see Bernie Tormé recently. I have seen Bernie many times and he does seem to be slightly increasing his profile these days although I doubt he will ever be as well-known as he was in the early 80s when he was with Ian Gillan. Over the years I have seen him play in small pubs where I have been one of sometime less than ten people watching which I find (and I am sure he does) a bit disappointing really given the man’s pedigree. Vocalists like Ian Gillan, Dee Snider, Ozzy Osbourne, even Gary Bardens and Phil Lewis can all pretty much choose whoever they want to be their guitarist and all of these have chosen Bernie in the past.
I admit his sound is not for everyone but aren’t loud electric guitar based songs and extended solos what rock is all about? J
Following a rehearsal the other day we ended up having a chat about Jethro Tull so when stuck in a long traffic jam the day after I dialled them up on my IPod. I never was and never will be a huge fan but I will say one thing for Tull, they definitely have their own sound and genre and I can take it in small doses.
Sadly following another birthday I appear to have reached the age where some rock stars have actually lived and died without me even knowing about them. Scott Weiland died recently and it seemed to be a big thing to a lot of people if social media is any indicator. I am sorry to say I had no idea who he was. Turns out he was the singer for the Stone Temple pilots and also in Velvet Revolver with Slash. Tragic when people die in their forties of course but I have to confess to having never knowingly listened to either of those bands.
Speaking of tragic I was listening to “Free Live” the other day. He wasn’t fast but the way Paul Kossof played his guitar was with total passion and emotion. You can almost feel him wringing or wrenching every note out of it. To me that is much better than the likes of Yngwie Malmsteen whizzing all over the fret board at the speed of light. It’s a funny thing actually that whenever there is a top 10 guitar solo poll (which more often than not are popularity polls) the speed merchants rarely get a mention. It is usually the likes of David Gilmour, Paul Kossoff, Joe Walsh, and Brian May etc. that are at the top. Tasteful melodic solos rather than a meaningless flurry of notes.
So what am I listening to? Well I am as usual struggling to find something new which I find interesting enough to listen to a few times. Black Stone Cherry seem to be the newest band I don’t mind. Can’t seem to find any others though.
To be honest I am flitting here there and everywhere between my IPod and a variety of radio stations including Planet rock, Smooth and Radio 2.
One minute is Tyrannosaurus Rex the next it’s Halford, Montrose, Tears for Fears, Hawkwind, the Sweet, or anything on the radio.
Very unsettled really.
I see the Darkness have decided they should describe themselves as a Glam Rock band. Marketing again. Well I am sorry but they are not and that boat sailed in ’75. They are an ok band and they are quite fun which is good, personally I find Justin Hawkins falsetto voice very irritating after one or two numbers so I wouldn’t buy an album but again that is just my taste,
It’s not for me to criticise other musicians and entertainers but I do wonder who listens to guitarist Ted Nugent. Some rock radio stations seem to insist on playing the rather tedious “Stranglehold” quite regularly and the other day one of them played the really awful “Wango Tango”. Cat Scratch Fever is ok but basically who are Ted Nugent’s fans? I assume he does still sell concert tickets in-between his sickening hunting trips and spouting his outdated macho opinions on American TV but I for one wouldn’t bother. I seem to remember that many years ago I borrowed the “Free for all” album (from my good friend Neil Tudor I think) and seem to recall the only decent song on it was called Hammer down. If memory serves correct the vocals on the album were all actually sung by a relatively unknown pre-bat out of hell vocalist called Meatloaf. He was definitely the only good thing about the album. Later albums saw Nugent return to the vocals which didn’t help at all. I am sure there are fans out there but the radio stations could find better songs to fill 4-5 minutes I am sure. Should this have been in Rants?
Not entirely unexpected once the money starts flowing but Ritchie Blackmore is now considering playing more “Rock” dates. No doubt there will be one nearer than Birmingham now that I have it all booked. Still, you can’t rely on what might happen can you.
Ok that is about it
As I said earlier
Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and we will back to “Rock for You” in 2016.
We should have the next single in the can by the next Update so will let you know the details then.
Until then
Keep Rockin’
Craig