Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Start spreadin' the news...
I'm off to New York tomorrow! HA!
You are very unlikely to get any updates from me whilst I'm away, so absolutely no change there then
Go and see Pete and the Pirates at The Garage on march 23rd, they are on last in the proper big downstairs Garage and it's only £3.50. I think The Fall are playing at The Fez on the same day. Oh and Goldie Lookin Chain are playing the Uni as well. You guys are going to have another great week of live music without me.
You are very unlikely to get any updates from me whilst I'm away, so absolutely no change there then
Go and see Pete and the Pirates at The Garage on march 23rd, they are on last in the proper big downstairs Garage and it's only £3.50. I think The Fall are playing at The Fez on the same day. Oh and Goldie Lookin Chain are playing the Uni as well. You guys are going to have another great week of live music without me.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Müf in the Jungle Business
Inna jungle, inna inna jungle. *regresses back to early 90's*
So.. yeah.. anyway, being the fulltime muso that I so obviously am at the minute, where better to kick my heels than at Reading's finest recording studio, Bleeding Ear? With MC Blaumfeldt at the controls, I managed to apply the finishing touches to my guitar parts for the new - and improved! - Müf EP. It's one track that we've been playing since year dot, another that we wrote about 6 months back and a brand new one that we wrote for this EP. We've been arguing over what to call the EP - I want to call it "Diverse" or "Closer", but Mike seems adamant that we will be steering well clear of any puns on Müf. I'm waiting for him to come out with the statement "I want people to take us seriously" so I can laugh myself hoarse and roll around on the floor kicking my legs in the air with mirth. He's showing signs of taking this far too seriously as it is, he won't even let me call "Semtex Backpack" (one of the tunes on the EP) by that name anymore. I suggested "C4 Briefcase" as the grown-up alternative, but I think my point was lost on him. As it happens, we seem to be going down a very "B" orientated road with this recording, all the songs seem to start with B, so the EP name may as well follow suit.
Meh, it's a democracy so we'll go with whatever we're all happy with. I just think that if we've named the band Müf we'd be idiots not to release something called "Diverse".
Anyway, the songs are sounding great and once I've gotten over this sore throat I'll be warbling like a chaffinch in springtime over them. Actually, I need to write the lyrics for the new one first. I'll wait for Mike to finish his parts and take a demo home with me to listen to and summon the spirit of song to inspire me to some salacious loquacity. If you have any ideas as to what subject matter I should sing about, please leave a comment here.
So.. yeah.. anyway, being the fulltime muso that I so obviously am at the minute, where better to kick my heels than at Reading's finest recording studio, Bleeding Ear? With MC Blaumfeldt at the controls, I managed to apply the finishing touches to my guitar parts for the new - and improved! - Müf EP. It's one track that we've been playing since year dot, another that we wrote about 6 months back and a brand new one that we wrote for this EP. We've been arguing over what to call the EP - I want to call it "Diverse" or "Closer", but Mike seems adamant that we will be steering well clear of any puns on Müf. I'm waiting for him to come out with the statement "I want people to take us seriously" so I can laugh myself hoarse and roll around on the floor kicking my legs in the air with mirth. He's showing signs of taking this far too seriously as it is, he won't even let me call "Semtex Backpack" (one of the tunes on the EP) by that name anymore. I suggested "C4 Briefcase" as the grown-up alternative, but I think my point was lost on him. As it happens, we seem to be going down a very "B" orientated road with this recording, all the songs seem to start with B, so the EP name may as well follow suit.
Meh, it's a democracy so we'll go with whatever we're all happy with. I just think that if we've named the band Müf we'd be idiots not to release something called "Diverse".
Anyway, the songs are sounding great and once I've gotten over this sore throat I'll be warbling like a chaffinch in springtime over them. Actually, I need to write the lyrics for the new one first. I'll wait for Mike to finish his parts and take a demo home with me to listen to and summon the spirit of song to inspire me to some salacious loquacity. If you have any ideas as to what subject matter I should sing about, please leave a comment here.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Only a day late...
So... what was I going to tell you about?
Oh yeah, it wasn't that interesting really Müf are recording on Sunday which is quite exciting. We're going to record the songs we haven't recorded yet for posterity. We've also written a new one which we've never played live which I think is great but as we've had no feedback from outside the band it's hard to tell. I expect when it's finish we'll stick it on myspace or something so you can listen and tell us if you think it's shit or not.
There's a really good gig at the After Dark tonight. Rebus, Elle Milano, Polar Remote and Libor Spacek. Josaka preview here. If AK really is going maybe we'll do one of our famous tag team reviews of the night.
I got distracted when I was looking for that preview link by the Plug'n'Play newsletter, they talk about a load of the recent achievements by local bands and it's actually mightily impressive. Some good nights coming up there as well. News of the next Screwball there, which will be on a Saturday night, coming soon!
Oh yeah, it wasn't that interesting really Müf are recording on Sunday which is quite exciting. We're going to record the songs we haven't recorded yet for posterity. We've also written a new one which we've never played live which I think is great but as we've had no feedback from outside the band it's hard to tell. I expect when it's finish we'll stick it on myspace or something so you can listen and tell us if you think it's shit or not.
There's a really good gig at the After Dark tonight. Rebus, Elle Milano, Polar Remote and Libor Spacek. Josaka preview here. If AK really is going maybe we'll do one of our famous tag team reviews of the night.
I got distracted when I was looking for that preview link by the Plug'n'Play newsletter, they talk about a load of the recent achievements by local bands and it's actually mightily impressive. Some good nights coming up there as well. News of the next Screwball there, which will be on a Saturday night, coming soon!
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Back in the DHSS
Well, it feels good to be a full-time musician now that my previous paymasters have started culling staff. Meh, I hated that job (although it did pay the rent, etc.).
Will try and post more often - being in front of a computer just annoys me these days tho. I'm either looking for new revenue streams online, or losing money at online poker games. Think I'll disappear for a while and run into hiding with a four track recorder and write some songs.
Well, I may make it to the After Dark on Thursday tho!
Will try and post more often - being in front of a computer just annoys me these days tho. I'm either looking for new revenue streams online, or losing money at online poker games. Think I'll disappear for a while and run into hiding with a four track recorder and write some songs.
Well, I may make it to the After Dark on Thursday tho!
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Dooooooooooo di dooooooooo
I was just randomly surfing MySpace, reading various blog entries of friends of mine so I thought I should really post something on here. As is so often the case I start these entries with no real idea what I'm going to say. This is probably obvious to whoever is reading it. Kevin, who's crazy idea it was to inflict these ramblings on the general public, insists that we'd be surprised how many people read this blog. I know I've mentioned that before at least once but the idea is so bizarre that I still don't believe him. Or possibly I don't want to believe him because if I believe people are reading it I might have to start thinking carefully about what I write!
I think what got me started on that again is that my last couple of posts got random comments from Emily and Stacy. Now, cynical old internet vet that I am this puzzled me. Where is the link to "check out my new webcam" or "btw, I know a great cheap online pharmacy...".
A few weeks ago we had lovely comments from "phentermine" (google tells me it's a diet pill - you saying I'm fat spam bot?), now that I could understand. There's the angle and the link to the scam. Before that we had a generic comment with a link to a "penny stock investment" blog, again, nice and understandable.
Generally the only comments we get from real humans are either AK or myself replying to each others posts, or someone we know either from that crazy place known as 'real life' or from Berkshire Live, so when random people turn up it's a bit weird.
But what's the angle here, if I reply will we get the next installment with the scam? Or, more bizarrely, are they actual real girls who've randomly stumbled on Coments and find it interesting? Nah. You see? It's a ridiculous concept isn't it!
Damn, I had a load of stuff to say about music and recording and songwriting and local gigs and things but I've posted too much already, I don't want to get into one of those AKesque epics. I'll try and remember to come back tomorrow.
I think what got me started on that again is that my last couple of posts got random comments from Emily and Stacy. Now, cynical old internet vet that I am this puzzled me. Where is the link to "check out my new webcam" or "btw, I know a great cheap online pharmacy...".
A few weeks ago we had lovely comments from "phentermine" (google tells me it's a diet pill - you saying I'm fat spam bot?), now that I could understand. There's the angle and the link to the scam. Before that we had a generic comment with a link to a "penny stock investment" blog, again, nice and understandable.
Generally the only comments we get from real humans are either AK or myself replying to each others posts, or someone we know either from that crazy place known as 'real life' or from Berkshire Live, so when random people turn up it's a bit weird.
But what's the angle here, if I reply will we get the next installment with the scam? Or, more bizarrely, are they actual real girls who've randomly stumbled on Coments and find it interesting? Nah. You see? It's a ridiculous concept isn't it!
Damn, I had a load of stuff to say about music and recording and songwriting and local gigs and things but I've posted too much already, I don't want to get into one of those AKesque epics. I'll try and remember to come back tomorrow.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
How'd it get to be March already?
This year has gone really fast. On the plus side that means I'm going to New York in three weeks. Woo! I've never been but am really looking forward to it.
The Screwball meeting/piss-up the other day was really good fun. Did you know that 118118 don't have a number for Chas and Dave? Er... anyway, before things got to that stage I think we have provisionally got a date in May for the next one and some line-up ideas. I think this could be the best one yet!
The Screwball meeting/piss-up the other day was really good fun. Did you know that 118118 don't have a number for Chas and Dave? Er... anyway, before things got to that stage I think we have provisionally got a date in May for the next one and some line-up ideas. I think this could be the best one yet!
