Songs '..of grace and wit', The Musician. 'A voice and sentiment to lift you from slumber', Fatea Records. 'This will get in your head', BBC Introducing.
Song club is a special night, once a month me thinks, in the "other" Newcastle (the Under-Lyme variety in Stoke) featuring original-only tunes performed by the artists who wrote them in the lovely environs of The Old Brown Jug, a real music club with a great history locally. Despite the very snowy weather, a good crowd eventually appeared and helped give us all a good time (save for the one or two obligatory nutters). Anyway, Song Club - Highly Recommended! I debuted a new song, "There She Moves", rusty to say the least and perhaps a draft one version in terms of it's arrangement, but the audience were lovely and forgiving. In addition to those I photographed and commented on below were the emotional and ethereal Rain. I'm sorry I couldn't stay around for the brilliant Giro Junkie but am glad I at least heard the urgent folk-rockers Headsticks soundcheck at least. Look out for them!
Newcastle Under Lyme looking purdy.
The Old Brown Jug, great venue and with some great posters!
United Breaks, very different and very good.
Julia Dowler, Soulful songs aided masterfully by Darren.
Piano jazz/pop maestro Tom Seals and quality axeman Al Dean put on a great show on Saturday night as Tom Seals and Friends with their band, they managed to transform the rather, well, cosey.. Cosey Club into a kind of buzzing New Orleans Jazz venue. As well as myself Tom's guests included new acoustic duo Roadside Dinosaurs who played a well-measured, emotional version of Black among other things, one of my all time favourite tracks by Pearl Jam. I played Big Low Copper Moon, Galleries and No Tobacco , on the latter being joined by Mat from the Dinosaurs (and indeed mega-electronic 80s band Human Condition) on the Cajon and Tom himself on the piano. Jammed but rocking! Thanks guys!
There can only be one best or at least "most important" bit of 2012 for me as a year which has seen the debut album release for my band, The Blue Yellows. Namely "All These Things Right Now"! We're very proud of it so please feel free to listen and download via this link below. We are more than happy for you to pay absolutely nothing at all for the download if you like we're just delighted for you to have a copy and listen.
January. Gigs at new venues including Oddie's Bar in Crewe and a new video for an old song in "Pleasure Machine" from The Applecause days.
February. Our first forays into the recording studio at Orchard. Read the studio diary HERE
March. More studio work including Mr Dayve Dean doing some guest backing vocals for us, read the March studio diary HERE
April & May Back to live rather than recording with some great gigs and my first ever gig, with the band at a favourite festival of mine, The Nantwich Jazz Festival.
July. The Launch Show for "All These Things" with great support from Human Condition and Tim Lee of Suzie Does It fame. Thanks guys, and to the many who bought CDs that day and at the following shows. I also had this discerning audience, sat down ready and early for my solo set at The International Eisteddfod!
August.Great reviews came in from the good and the great in music journalism, Read them HERE Plus another great fun festival gig near Northwich which included fantastic musical friends Phil Maddocks and Sink Or Swim who had also played, in the audience.
September. All These Things T-Shirts became available. Buy one HERE.
November & December. More solo sets including my 1st proper show at the rather lovely Cafe Yes! and 3 of the 4 BYs including myself played a special send off by Liverpool's Albert Dock.
Thanks to everyone mentioned above plus many others for helping me have another fantastic year in music plus thanks to all of you who have come to shows, bought CDs, downloaded tracks or just followed my on the web. Special thanks must go to my fellow band-mates Hayley, Emma and Simon for giving my the highest of musical highs you can only reach playing live in a full band and to Dan Logan for his expertise in the studio. 2013? So far I've almost finished writing 3 brand new songs with a view to a solo album, have started having dates for my 2013 solo shows confirmed, have a video being planned for a Blue Yellows track and will also be involved in the soundtrack to a new film, stay tuned right here to find out more!
Happy New Year! May all your dreams come true! xxx
Before: Arriving in central Liverpool and her dizzying bright lights, as viewed from Vincent, the van.
We had a lovely time last night, for the last scheduled gig of 2012, by "we" meaning me, Hayley, Emma from the band and 7 year old Soul making his live debut on additional percussion! The bittersweet occasion was the celebration of the life of Geoff, captain of the tall ship Zebu in The Albert Dock, Liverpool, who tragically died a few weeks ago. There were some heartfelt readings, memories of the man and an appropriately good time was jolly-well had by all of Geoff's shipmates and family.
At gigs we're used to getting free beer and free food sometimes, but this is the first time we had a password to secure our prized ale! "Live" is never averse to the odd mishap and on this occasion Emma's accordion was subject to a log-landslide no less. Luckily an accordion-tech was on hand (the place was full of sea-shantying types, many playing a song or two) to bring it back into shape and allow "D" to be played again.
I'm not aware of any "during" photos for now but here's a before and after at least.
