Well I can’t believe how fast time is going. It’s two weeks since the last blog and quite a lot has happened. A week or so ago we had three great gigs on the run, the Springfield, Hoggs ‘n’ Heifers and the Toll Point.
We finished our new single “On the Radio” which will be released on July 8th via Itunes and other download sites. A catchy little number that rocks and is based on our favourite theme of being on the road travelling from gig to gig. Produced once again by Russ Cottier www.russellcottier.com who has produced all my recordings since the “Pies,Pasties and Rock ‘n’ Roll” album which started all this off.
Last week I went with my good friend Neil Tudor www.mccartneylookaliketribute.com to see ZZ Top in Manchester. Quite honestly I was disappointed. Nothing wrong with the music or the set list, I just found the band very boring in their presentation. Hiding behind beards, dark glasses and hats they could have been anyone and there was no way of knowing if they were enjoying themselves. No audience interaction and little movement. Basically the “show” was constant videos throughout which is not my thing. To compound it all they only played for 75 minutes including encores which I consider unacceptable for a top name band. 90 Minutes is what I believe is the bare minimum.
We played a couple of times last weekend – Friday in Burnley, Talbot – best one there yet. Saturday was a charity gig for the Royal British Legion in aid of Armed forces day. Now we are al for that but to be honest there had been no publicity or effort made by the Legion at all. As a consequence we were playing to the usual Saturday night legion regulars most of whom would have preferred a pop band playing Beatles, rock and roll etc. So basically the wrong band in the wrong place and it was hard work to try and get anything going at all.
We suspected as much when we had to wait for the Bingo and the raffle to be drawn. Ah well, can’t win them all.
So Sunday was a nice lazy day and the sun made a brief appearance – lest we forget it is Summer.
No gigs this week as concentrating on promo for the single however we are back on the road with three shows on the run starting on Friday 12th July.
I’m still loving the new Black Sabbath album, it has really grown on me. Good to see them getting a no.1 in the States after all this time. Gives us all hope J
Getting home after gigs last weekend I flicked on the TV and watched a bit of “glasto”. Never been a festival I had aspirations to play although I am sure we would if asked. It’s never really known for what I define as rock music.
So despite the considerable coverage by the BBC all I really saw were bands I have never heard of playing music I didn’t really like. It all seemed very depressing and full of angst to me. When did it become unfashionable to have fun playing music?
It’s been three years this month since The Clan came together and I think we have achieved a lot. We’ve played something like 300 gigs some small some large. We’ve met some good people and made some good friends along the way and it’s been fun. Sure we have had our moments but hopefully we will press on for another twelve months. We are already planning the next single and if we can fund it then an album should be out towards the end of the year. We have the material just need the cash!
As always I continue to hustle for gigs although petrol costs are increasingly becoming a consideration.
My videos on Youtube continue to attract more viewings although you have to wonder about some of the people who add comments. That’s what happens when you put things on the internet I guess.
Ok I’m going to have to leave this here as time has once again caught up with me.
Checkout the new single next Monday on Itunes – you will be singing along before the end I am sure.
Until next time
Keep rockin’
Craig