..and the inevitable, I cannot sleep syndrome appears… *Sigh*

How have things been lately? Brilliant.

The usual rigmarol that you’re always used too, band ace, work usual etc..

That is all..

Quick update - things, really busy… All going well.. Now the cool bit

The countdown has well and truly begun. We’ve been busy preparing for the series of gigs we have coming up this weekend.

Our stage time for Glastonbudget has been confirmed. We will be on the New Acts Showcase Big Top stage at 18:55 on Sunday. Make sure you arrive at the stage in plenty of time to make sure you don’t miss out!

Before our euphoric Glastonbudget set, we are taking part in the Silver Bullet Battle of the Bands at the The Pavilion Venue, Victoria Park, London Road, Leicester on Friday 22nd May and on Saturday, we are also playing at The Shed in Leicester on Saturday 23rd May. 

So, it’s going to be a busy weekend for us. We will be camping the weekend at Glastonbudget, so if you spot our banner, please come and say Hi!

We will be updating you all throughout the weekend using our twitter channel.

Can’t wait!

The Sheldon Marquee is going to be hosting it’s last ever gig on Saturday 18th April 2009. Quote from the website:

SATURDAY 18TH APRIL WILL BE LAST GIG PLAYED AT THE CHESTNUT TREE.

THE NEW MANAGEMENT NO LONGER WISHES TO HOST LIVE MUSIC. I WILL THEREFORE BE CONCENTRATING ON THE BLACK HORSE.

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY A BIG THANK YOU TO YOU ALL FOR YOUR LOYAL CUSTOM OVER THE YEARS, AS WELL AS A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THE BANDS THAT HAVE PLAYED FOR US.

ON A FINAL NOTE IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD MAKE THESE LAST GIGS A HELLUVA PARTY AND GO OUT WITH A BANG.

The Sheldon Marquee (or the Chestnut Tree as it always has been known) has been quite special place for me and live music. Once a place where my Dad and his family would spend endless evenings and it was really fitting that a further generation down the line was that I was there too. It’s always been the centre of attention for the community in Sheldon and the surrounding areas for a long time when the area was first built.

I remember when I was in my first band Final Redemption and having the opportunity to play at the place and I was excited and delighted a the opportunity to do so.

I also spent my 18th Birthday there, watching Dizzy Lizzy and how the place was starting to spring to life as a music venue. I managed to play a few more gigs with Final Redemption and a couple with FulBright and LegendX as cover, thanks to John & Daz from DNA and of course Kite.

Hampton Street played numorous amounts of times, along with the covers band the RockHits. I started to have a real affection to the place and considering I’d moved house and it was less that a 4 minute drive away.

My 24th Birthday in which I played three sets in one night, is something I won’t forget for quite some time.

After Saturday, I will miss the place. Not only as a musician who has performed there but as some one who has been very grateful to play and enjoy live music.

It’s a shame the current management don’t see the full potential of the place as a music venue for the future, considering places are closing left, right and centre, it’s the only place in the surrounding area that does so. Who knows, I might go down there for a curry. Yes.. A curry.. I mean.. Why?!

Thanks to Kite, Keith, John and Daz for their efforts and giving me the opportunity to play there.

I just wish my Grandad was around to have seen me play.

Long Live the Nuts.

To quote John Mayer. I’ve been introduced to John Mayer by Ricardo Thompson. I’ve been listening to some of his stuff for quite some time now and it’s really grown on me. The Where the Light is DVD is certainly well worth checking out.

Stuff has been going alright recently. The usual really.

Captain Horizon played a fantastic set at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall Bar, including radio play. We’ve also been very busy writing new stuff too! My first venture for a gig in the East Midlands starts on Friday with a gig at the Shed in Leicester.

Roll on gigggggss!

Got a fantastic gig coming up this weekend at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall Bar, with Captain Horizon. It’s the semi final’s of the battle of the bands. I’m really looking forward to it. Also got some radio play too!

Work has been busy, which is always good.

I’ve also departed from the RockHits now so I can focus on playing with Captain Horizon. The kit is in the studio and it feels great to be able to play on it, other than gigs.

Right, plenty of practising to do for saturday!

Another two gigs down the line with Captain Horizon, both went well, which is all good.

I’ve been on the road a fair bit today (driving down the Clevedon and back), and pretty much gave myself a reality check. I was just having one of those moments, when you become really critical of yourself. It was about drumming and how I can improve and what areas I feel I am falling short on. I’ll be back with Mr. Tandler this week and I think it’s time I very much went back to basics. I really want to install some more discipline in my playing.

Pretty much looking forward to focusing on the new band now. Starting tomorrow.

‘Loose and Colourful’

So yep, it’s been a while since I’ve posted an update. That’s because this evening I am in bed suffering with the old man flu.

Things have been pretty intense lately. Captain Horizon have now had a further two gigs under our belt, along with qualifying for the semi-finals of the banks’ battle of the bands. My birthday gig was awesome. I played three sets, the first with Captain Horizon, the second with the Ricardo Thompson Trio and finally one of my last performances with the RockHits. Valentines night the RockHits played at the Perfect in Pink ball, a charity gig for breast cancer. It was a wonderful night in which we chilled out all night, had a four course meal, before we then hit the stage to play some different tunes to what we usually do.

I’ve moved on from the RockHits now, in which was a quite low key exit, which is what I wanted. Not a fan of these big send off gigs.

I’ll be concentrating my efforts with Captain Horizon now, which is ultimately what  I want to be doing.

Gig at the Black horse tomorrow night with Captain Horizon. I hope that I am indeed, well enough.

Well, after the long wait…. Captain Horizon’s debut gig has been a resounding success. The fire is back, whitty is back and it’s great to get back on the unsigned scene after 10 or so months out of the loop. Nothing beats playing your own stuff and playing songs that people can sing along too.

This is just the beginning. I’m back.

Finally got into some form for my drumming the last couple of days, finaly can play again after having a mare the last week or so.

Really looking forward to the gig in a weeks time. It’s really exciting and its going to be great playing a gig with orignal material again.

Got Richard, Ross and Andy paying me a visit next weekend too, going to be awesome.

Work has been fine, the forum upgrade went ever so well. I’m really pleased about it.

Car has had to have some work done on it this month, some new brake disc’s unfortunately. Oh well. Still well on the way for saving for my new motor.

Hopefully see you at the gig?

First week of work over with and on to the next. Monday morning and I’m feeling quite awake, which is a rather nice feeling for a Monday.

Finally started on the preperation for the Captain Horizon gig, you can check out the details here, along with the facebook event here. I’m really excited about the gig.

Currently deciding what I would like for my Birthday, either a second snare or a mini-china. Mmmmm…