Catchup
Well its been a glorious day in the South. The sun was shining, the scent of summer brushed beneath my nostrils and reminded me of a time, not too long ago, when my skin felt this way in the humid heat and the colours of the day were from a similar palette, all so easily forgotten with the passing winter season. I finally left the house to drive back to Reading with the sun roof open (percs of the summer you see) in order to use the parents internet (Tolworth is too far from the map apparently!). I got to see the bare torso's of my favurite chavs and thought I'd rebel in a similar way by rolling up the sleeves of my T-shirt.
I'll get this bit over with...
My Luminaries supporting Blackbud this Sunday 7th May
The Fez Club, 5 -6 Gun Street, READING, RG1 2JR
Main support so probably on about 9/9.30pm (8.30pm to be safe)
Tickets available at http://www.wegottickets.com/event/10027
My Luminaries supporting Fanfarlo this Tuesday 9th May
White Heat @ Madame JoJo's, 8-10 Brewer Street, , SOHO
Bands start at 8.30pm so get there then to be safe.
Hope you can make any of these...
Recording
We spent last weekend recording the B side to our first single, due to come out in July (The A side 'My Idiot Fix', the B side 'A New Philosophy') After thinking through a selection of producers (Eliot James had done the A side, yet to be completed and mixed) we decided on our good friend Duncan Mills aka Pixie. He produced the recording of the song 'All I Really Want', which you may have somewhere on vinyl, but have never had the means of actually playing the bloody thing, back in August 2004. This time round we had clearer views of what our sound was, how we would like it to be captured onto tape (something that we feel has never been done successfully) and where it would take us for future recordings. I met continuously with Pixie during the previous week to play him examples of things the band are currently listening to and songs we have recently written. You may have noticed a transition between songs like 'All I Really Want' to songs like 'The Outsider Steps Inside' and 'Parasol (Shade from the Sun)'. I'm certainly trying to pay more attention to the lyrical content and songwriting, and we are all spending a greater time on the arrangement. (Finding music from the likes of the Arcade Fire, Wilco and Neil Young has been the major catalyst, and we are indebted to them). 'A New Philosophy' and 'My Idiot Fix' seem to bridge the two styles and provide what Pixie calls "The 3 minuters".
The drums and bass were already recorded from the Eastcote Session a few weeks back, and we were certain of their impact and excuse me for saying it, vibe. We began with a live setup at Peer Studios, Chancery Lane. Saul re-recording the bass, dylan recording both guitar and keyboards in the same take, while I was singing and playing guitar. Its easy to become over concious of how you are performing when you are not performing, if you see what I mean? Recording with this setup at least ensures the closest thing to live, and when I'm singing live I don't think too much about the way I'm singing. Apparently the Who spent their entire career trying to emulate their live atmosphere and energy on record. Steve Albini did a pretty great job with both The Pixies and Nirvana.
Overdubs were done and a mixture of composites of all the takes were used in the final mix. The idea that a B side should be less considered is a common one, mostly due to budget etc so the mix was done on the second day, where it might usually be done a few weeks later for an album or single.
Some videos I took on my phone...
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=709537610&n=2
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=709535033&n=2
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=709582659&n=2
The outcome is the closest thing yet. It'll be up here before too long.
Signing Party 13/04/06
If you were there, you'd know...
For those that were there, I know what you're thinking..."How fucked was Jim Bowes?!" Well, I can tell you, very. I think he even tried to join us for the last song bless him! There's also been quite a reaction to the appearance of 911 singer Lee Brennan. Unfortunately this will not be a regular occurance (don't cry Lian)! If you didn't get given a card with Dave Water's limited edition artwork on, please let me know as they arrived late and we didn't do well handing them out. I'll get one to you.
Can you spot yourself??
Photos taken by Alex Cooke (www.myspace.com/alexcooke), Pam Cooper-Thorne, Phil Backhouse, and Blanka (www.myspace.com/bblanka)
If you couldn't make the night or we didn't manage to chat to you, thankyou for all your previous and current support.
Other Stuff
Sam's been away visiting his sister in New York/Chicago...
...tho it looks more like Japan.
Saul found Cliff Richard's silver discs...
Actually I had a dream the other night that Cliff Richard scored for Chelsea! It was one of those where in your dream you know that he doesn't actually play for Chelsea and the fans around you tell you he does and so on...anyway.
PlugnPlay Review, Reading.
We've been confirmed to play at this year's O2 Wireless festival in Hyde Park on the 25th June. We'll be on the new bands stage while Depeche Mode, Goldfrapp and Gang of Four play the main stage amongst others. Tickets are £37.50 (see www.wirelessfestival.co.uk for details)
Get a copy of 'Johnny Got His Gun' by Dalton Trumbo. Its about a WW1 soldier who awakes with no arms, legs, ears, mouth, nose or eyes. And what would you do? Makes you wanna get out of bed.
James x
