...i just want someone to die for.
Probably one of my favourite lyrics ever ever ever. Sortof describes how I'm feeling about stuff at the moment. I kindof well like a girl but I have completely forgotten how to go about courting, that's pretty bad isn't it? I don't really know how to do things in the conventional sense at all. I'm not even sure I have the balls to ask her to do something with me, if we know each other well enough to facilitate me asking that. Is that how things are done? Fuck knows. All I know is I have a +1 for Futureheads/Johnny Foreigner this weekend and I'll be damned if I'm not using it on someone fun. I'm just scared of fucking up. OH WELL.
I did a blog yesterday on the mistakes.in.animation myspace which has lots of stuff in it, some stuff I've said in here but there's some song lyrics and stuff in it, dunno if anyone who reads this wants to take a look but here you go. Actually getting properly excited about the way things are panning out, if we end up playing New Slang on the 18th, looks like Martin will be staying the weekend prior to that and joining us for the Surbiton HC Cocktail Party. I want Dave to come too, with a Stella box on his head. But three days of solid practicing = just what we need. Perfect timing as well - although Scarlett's in New York, it means we can tighten everything up. Scarlett's a good enough musician in her own right and knows the songs well enough to be able to play along with us quite happily (we'll just do plenty of vocal work before the show itself as my vocals are well poor).
Finally, the Blakfish fundraiser went really well, we raised about £200 for them which will go towards gear they really need. It was a tiring and stressful day / weekend in general, but that was worth it. Jose Vanders in particular was amazing, she was completely out of place on the bill but she blew quite a few people away with her songs and general stage demeanour. Can't wait to have her play for me again.
Current listening:
Coldplay - A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Blakfish - See You In Another City
The Boxer Rebellion - Exits
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
in the right light you can see the dust as it falls through the air...
So, it's coming around to my favourite time of the year. Ok, that might be somewhat biased in that, the 18th December is my birthday, the 25th is Xmas, and the 1st January are all within close proximity with each other, but I guess on a personal level there's a little more to it than that.
I'm at uni right now, trying to sort out the endless saga that is my 2nd year enrolment, and thus the release of the second instalment of my student loan. Recently I've been driving up to Ealing instead of taking the K3/65 bus routes (and back again) - mainly because it saves time but also because I can choose which route to go and what music to listen to loudly - today was Rolo Tomassi's new album (which, while confusing, is brilliant). I left at about 3pm, which meant that the sun was just on the cusp of setting and the autumn leaves looked even more orange than usual. I love it when the weather's like this, it makes me feel all warm inside in a slightly gay way. Whatever.
I decided that my route, today, would be A3 up to Roehampton, then through Richmond Park to Richmond and then onto Ealing. Easy. Noone told me, however, that the Robin Hood Roundabout entrance to Richmond Park had been closed for about 3 years. Good skills, Noble. So this had pretty much ruined the prospect of driving through one of London's most beautiful parks in great weather, and getting that general 'good feeling' as a result.
Instead, I ended up driving through Sheen, and being surrounded by impoverished foreigners. Great. So yeah that saddened me a little (the lack of Richmond park, not the foreigners, they ALWAYS sadden me), but it also made me think that for the last couple of years, I've always had someone at this time of the year that I can totally share that whole romantic vibe with. I think I'm in agreement with Dartz when I say I prefer cold holidays 'cos I don't like the heat. I like the idea of travelling to Eastern Europe and having to wear 80 layers to keep warm and having rosy cheeks but also having someone special with you to share it all with.
This year, not only am I more alone than ever but I'm DREADING spending Xmas with my parents. It's going to be pretty hard on us all, I think, but worse for my parents. In the aftermath of Lindsay's passing, my way of dealing with it was just to try and move on, and plunge myself into other projects and try and ignore what had happened. I think I still haven't really taken it all in, but I do miss him terribly. My mum's way of dealing with things was pretty much crying for a month, and my dad's was to have a heart attack - clearly a winner family. I think we're having family friends over for Xmas dinner, but it's still not really going to fill the hole that missing a brother has left.
In other news, Martin (Keep, of former Clique Application, Lowerway and generally being fat fame) has joined my band to play bass. Someone mentioned, that as he's going out with Scarlett, there might be some kind of Fleetwood Mac-esque problem but that didn't even cross my mind, we're all good mates so hopefully it should work. We had our first practice all together last Saturday, and got a lot done. I finally feel like I have a real band, and I finally feel like we're moving in a direction I want to be travelling. I wrote some lyrics last night - about what, I'm not entirely sure - but it appears to be about staying true to yourself and fighting for what you believe in. How Jetplane.
I'm still injured and taking some fairly hefty drugs to cure the sciatica in my left leg, which means I sometimes get hallucinations when I'm driving. Maybe I should stop driving so much. I think I'm off home now, I parked in a space that said "Stop & Shop - 30 minutes only, no return within 2 hours". I hope I don't have a parking ticket.
Current listening:
Rolo Tomassi - Hysterics
Interpol - Our Love To Admire
Enemies - Alpha Waves EP
I'm at uni right now, trying to sort out the endless saga that is my 2nd year enrolment, and thus the release of the second instalment of my student loan. Recently I've been driving up to Ealing instead of taking the K3/65 bus routes (and back again) - mainly because it saves time but also because I can choose which route to go and what music to listen to loudly - today was Rolo Tomassi's new album (which, while confusing, is brilliant). I left at about 3pm, which meant that the sun was just on the cusp of setting and the autumn leaves looked even more orange than usual. I love it when the weather's like this, it makes me feel all warm inside in a slightly gay way. Whatever.
I decided that my route, today, would be A3 up to Roehampton, then through Richmond Park to Richmond and then onto Ealing. Easy. Noone told me, however, that the Robin Hood Roundabout entrance to Richmond Park had been closed for about 3 years. Good skills, Noble. So this had pretty much ruined the prospect of driving through one of London's most beautiful parks in great weather, and getting that general 'good feeling' as a result.
Instead, I ended up driving through Sheen, and being surrounded by impoverished foreigners. Great. So yeah that saddened me a little (the lack of Richmond park, not the foreigners, they ALWAYS sadden me), but it also made me think that for the last couple of years, I've always had someone at this time of the year that I can totally share that whole romantic vibe with. I think I'm in agreement with Dartz when I say I prefer cold holidays 'cos I don't like the heat. I like the idea of travelling to Eastern Europe and having to wear 80 layers to keep warm and having rosy cheeks but also having someone special with you to share it all with.
This year, not only am I more alone than ever but I'm DREADING spending Xmas with my parents. It's going to be pretty hard on us all, I think, but worse for my parents. In the aftermath of Lindsay's passing, my way of dealing with it was just to try and move on, and plunge myself into other projects and try and ignore what had happened. I think I still haven't really taken it all in, but I do miss him terribly. My mum's way of dealing with things was pretty much crying for a month, and my dad's was to have a heart attack - clearly a winner family. I think we're having family friends over for Xmas dinner, but it's still not really going to fill the hole that missing a brother has left.
In other news, Martin (Keep, of former Clique Application, Lowerway and generally being fat fame) has joined my band to play bass. Someone mentioned, that as he's going out with Scarlett, there might be some kind of Fleetwood Mac-esque problem but that didn't even cross my mind, we're all good mates so hopefully it should work. We had our first practice all together last Saturday, and got a lot done. I finally feel like I have a real band, and I finally feel like we're moving in a direction I want to be travelling. I wrote some lyrics last night - about what, I'm not entirely sure - but it appears to be about staying true to yourself and fighting for what you believe in. How Jetplane.
I'm still injured and taking some fairly hefty drugs to cure the sciatica in my left leg, which means I sometimes get hallucinations when I'm driving. Maybe I should stop driving so much. I think I'm off home now, I parked in a space that said "Stop & Shop - 30 minutes only, no return within 2 hours". I hope I don't have a parking ticket.
Current listening:
Rolo Tomassi - Hysterics
Interpol - Our Love To Admire
Enemies - Alpha Waves EP
Monday, 10 November 2008
in the meantime, they moved all the factories...
On Friday, I put on Outcry Collective, Young Guns, Cut The Blue Wire and Scholars at The Fighting Cocks. It's no lie that I'm not a massive fan of the first three bands, and I only booked that lineup because Blakfish were originally on the lineup and it's always good to help them out. But after the show I was at total breaking point.
It's one thing putting on loads of shows with bands that you're into, because if you lose money then at least you can say, "Well, I put on this amazing show and I really enjoyed the night." Except Friday was not that at all. Scholars were really good but they only played to about five people. Not even the other bands dignified them an audience, because they were out the front of the venue having a drink with their mates. Not saying that they SHOULD have been in the venue watching, they can do what they like, but it's only polite.
So having lost money on my last four or five shows I was basically at breaking point by about 10pm, when some guy came to the door and claimed he was on the (rather extensive) Outcry Collective guestlist. I'd made it a cheap list of £2 entry because I really couldn't afford to lose yet more money on another show, so when this guy showed up, I explained he had to pay two pounds, he gave me a look and went, "What?!" as to say that £2 was an extortionate amount to pay for a gig. At this point I'd had enough so I just let him in free, far rather just let him be a prick than have to justify any of my actions to such a narrow-minded individual.
Of course, there will be those of you who read this who will be like, "OMG DEL BUT YOU ALWAYS ASK TO BE ON DA GUESTLIST!" At risk of sounding all "one rule for me, one rule for everyone else", and while I also don't feel a need to justify what I do, I'm going to anyway:
1. If anyone ever asked me to pay a reduced amount for a show, I would gladly do it. And HAVE done it.
2. I would never, ever ask to be guestlisted for what is essentially a DIY show. Even if it is all mates' bands playing (Tellison/Tubelord/Colour in Leeds recently = good example. Gem puts on some really good shows in Leeds, you should check them out.
3. In terms of what putting on shows has cost me this year (I'd estimate I've lost somewhere in the region of £600-£700 this year), you would probably agree that it evens itself out. Me not paying in to see Youthmovies in London on Thursday, for example, was a request so I could flyer one of my own shows, and not end up with a massive debt at the end of it.
4. Everything I do within the music industry is always done with the best intentions at heart. While a few years ago I was pretty naive about everything (and I don't claim to be a wise old man now, I'm still learning new things every day and taking it all in with an open mind), it's a difficult industry to be involved in and there's a massive minefield of politics and people who seem to be working against each other rather than working for each other.
So while on Friday I had all the life sucked out of me and I went to bed feeling like I had a lead weight on my shoulders, Saturday more than redeemed everything and restored every faith I have in music, the music-buying public and just PEOPLE in general.
During the day I had pulled my hamstring playing hockey so I wasn't in the best of shape come the evening when I went to buy the rider for Youthmovies/Adam Gnade/Colour. When I arrived at the venue with £100-worth of food and drink, I half-expected it to be chaos but in fact, everyone was in good spirits - we even finished soundcheck early, which NEVER happens. The gig came, we had 110 people in, it was amazo. It completely re-affirmed every reason why I put on shows, everything about the night was enjoyable and all the bands were lovely.
Sometimes I wished that happened all the time. Not to make it completely effortless, I quite enjoy some of the legwork behind putting on shows, but it would be nice to sometimes have something to show at the end of the night, and feel like the end product justifies the effort I put into it. Because I put a LOT of effort in. And despite owing a few people here and there, I consider myself to be in that 10% of "trustworthy promoters" in the UK.
Here endeth rant, I really needed to get a lot of that off my chest. I can't see myself doing many shows next year because I'll be concentrating on my band more, and helping out Tubelord and Colour to a greater extent.
2009 is promising. But 2008 hasn't finished yet, and I have a lot of unfinished business to address...
Current listening:
Sigur Ros - Heim / Hvarf
Secondsmile - Years
Jose Vanders - The Red Black Blue & Tortoise
It's one thing putting on loads of shows with bands that you're into, because if you lose money then at least you can say, "Well, I put on this amazing show and I really enjoyed the night." Except Friday was not that at all. Scholars were really good but they only played to about five people. Not even the other bands dignified them an audience, because they were out the front of the venue having a drink with their mates. Not saying that they SHOULD have been in the venue watching, they can do what they like, but it's only polite.
So having lost money on my last four or five shows I was basically at breaking point by about 10pm, when some guy came to the door and claimed he was on the (rather extensive) Outcry Collective guestlist. I'd made it a cheap list of £2 entry because I really couldn't afford to lose yet more money on another show, so when this guy showed up, I explained he had to pay two pounds, he gave me a look and went, "What?!" as to say that £2 was an extortionate amount to pay for a gig. At this point I'd had enough so I just let him in free, far rather just let him be a prick than have to justify any of my actions to such a narrow-minded individual.
Of course, there will be those of you who read this who will be like, "OMG DEL BUT YOU ALWAYS ASK TO BE ON DA GUESTLIST!" At risk of sounding all "one rule for me, one rule for everyone else", and while I also don't feel a need to justify what I do, I'm going to anyway:
1. If anyone ever asked me to pay a reduced amount for a show, I would gladly do it. And HAVE done it.
2. I would never, ever ask to be guestlisted for what is essentially a DIY show. Even if it is all mates' bands playing (Tellison/Tubelord/Colour in Leeds recently = good example. Gem puts on some really good shows in Leeds, you should check them out.
3. In terms of what putting on shows has cost me this year (I'd estimate I've lost somewhere in the region of £600-£700 this year), you would probably agree that it evens itself out. Me not paying in to see Youthmovies in London on Thursday, for example, was a request so I could flyer one of my own shows, and not end up with a massive debt at the end of it.
4. Everything I do within the music industry is always done with the best intentions at heart. While a few years ago I was pretty naive about everything (and I don't claim to be a wise old man now, I'm still learning new things every day and taking it all in with an open mind), it's a difficult industry to be involved in and there's a massive minefield of politics and people who seem to be working against each other rather than working for each other.
So while on Friday I had all the life sucked out of me and I went to bed feeling like I had a lead weight on my shoulders, Saturday more than redeemed everything and restored every faith I have in music, the music-buying public and just PEOPLE in general.
During the day I had pulled my hamstring playing hockey so I wasn't in the best of shape come the evening when I went to buy the rider for Youthmovies/Adam Gnade/Colour. When I arrived at the venue with £100-worth of food and drink, I half-expected it to be chaos but in fact, everyone was in good spirits - we even finished soundcheck early, which NEVER happens. The gig came, we had 110 people in, it was amazo. It completely re-affirmed every reason why I put on shows, everything about the night was enjoyable and all the bands were lovely.
Sometimes I wished that happened all the time. Not to make it completely effortless, I quite enjoy some of the legwork behind putting on shows, but it would be nice to sometimes have something to show at the end of the night, and feel like the end product justifies the effort I put into it. Because I put a LOT of effort in. And despite owing a few people here and there, I consider myself to be in that 10% of "trustworthy promoters" in the UK.
Here endeth rant, I really needed to get a lot of that off my chest. I can't see myself doing many shows next year because I'll be concentrating on my band more, and helping out Tubelord and Colour to a greater extent.
2009 is promising. But 2008 hasn't finished yet, and I have a lot of unfinished business to address...
Current listening:
Sigur Ros - Heim / Hvarf
Secondsmile - Years
Jose Vanders - The Red Black Blue & Tortoise
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