Our single will be released officially on Monday and of course, I'm hoping it will do well. We have gigs lined up at the Good Ship on 17 February (along with the Pennebakers - I've played with their guitarist John Giltrow when I was in the Swamp Band so I asked the venue to put them on the bill).
I believe we also have a gig coming up at the Hope and Anchor on 26 February. It's a fantastic venue and I'll be standing on a stage once graced by the Clash, so that'll be fun.
Saturday, 29 January 2011
Sunday, 23 January 2011
Our first single
The recording session was a pain in the whatsit. I think maybe we managed two or three decent tracks to add to the album and a couple more to surface years later as curiosities. Unfortunately, Remi wasn't there, which is a shame.
More to the point though, I saw the single for the first time. "I'm with the Others"/"La Lascivious" LF01 on Logofiasco records, on yeractual black vinyl and available on mail order from Logofiasco records. I'm not going to review it. I'll let others do that, although naturally enough I do think it's awesome. It has a fine looking sleeve with photography by Paulina Surys and designed by male gaze. On the whole, I'm well happy about it.
More to the point though, I saw the single for the first time. "I'm with the Others"/"La Lascivious" LF01 on Logofiasco records, on yeractual black vinyl and available on mail order from Logofiasco records. I'm not going to review it. I'll let others do that, although naturally enough I do think it's awesome. It has a fine looking sleeve with photography by Paulina Surys and designed by male gaze. On the whole, I'm well happy about it.
Saturday, 22 January 2011
That Was a Long Hiatus
I was hoping there would be something similar this year, but this seems not to be the case. So, the only thing I can think of to do with this blog is to chronicle my own attempt to storm the charts.
This is an appropriate time to do it, I guess. Tomorrow, with Vaccination, I go into the studio for the second time. I will be able to buy some copies of our first single as well as putting down stuff for our album.
Vaccination is different from most bands in many ways, but the most radical is the fact that we don't do rehearsals. We've had about a dozen gigs and a recording session in the last eleven months to a year, which is about as long as I've known the others. The weird thing is, at every gig, as well as the audience members we piss off with our attitude and perhaps our ineptitude, there are others who love us.
So. let's see how it goes for the next year.
Wish me luck.
This is an appropriate time to do it, I guess. Tomorrow, with Vaccination, I go into the studio for the second time. I will be able to buy some copies of our first single as well as putting down stuff for our album.
Vaccination is different from most bands in many ways, but the most radical is the fact that we don't do rehearsals. We've had about a dozen gigs and a recording session in the last eleven months to a year, which is about as long as I've known the others. The weird thing is, at every gig, as well as the audience members we piss off with our attitude and perhaps our ineptitude, there are others who love us.
So. let's see how it goes for the next year.
Wish me luck.
Sunday, 20 June 2010
And the Vote is Closed
So... as they say on the telly, "Don't vote now, your vote will not be counted and you may still be charged?" You won't? See, this is why the Internet is better than telly.
It's been a great ride, I've heard some excellent music and next comes the hard work of buying (and I am SOOO damned glad that payday comes in the middle of the week we're downloading because otherwise I would not be able to afford it).
I've been very happy with most of the tracks chosen and so I'm looking forward to downloading them and seeing them get into the charts... although I've realised I've no idea how I'd know what was in the charts anyway, it's not like they have Top of the Pops any more is it?
It's been a season. I've had a few gigs myself, and then again I seem to have developed PTSD (thank you SO much crime Squad!). But I realise that checking out the new tracks in the forty has been a focus for my week so now, like many others, I have to ask... in two weeks time when I've downloaded, THEN what am I gonna do?
It's been a great ride, I've heard some excellent music and next comes the hard work of buying (and I am SOOO damned glad that payday comes in the middle of the week we're downloading because otherwise I would not be able to afford it).
I've been very happy with most of the tracks chosen and so I'm looking forward to downloading them and seeing them get into the charts... although I've realised I've no idea how I'd know what was in the charts anyway, it's not like they have Top of the Pops any more is it?
It's been a season. I've had a few gigs myself, and then again I seem to have developed PTSD (thank you SO much crime Squad!). But I realise that checking out the new tracks in the forty has been a focus for my week so now, like many others, I have to ask... in two weeks time when I've downloaded, THEN what am I gonna do?
Sunday, 6 June 2010
Coming closer to an end
I'm skint right now so I'm glad the downloading for this will be in the week commencing 27 June, because I get paid on 30 June, so I'll be able to download all the tracks chosen, as well as Cinnamon Antics and the Soviets if they don't get in themselves.
I've gone through all the music again and found that the only ones left that I'd download even if Storm the Charts wasn't happening are those two... so at present, that looks like I'll be downloading my third to forty fourth tracks on payday. Maybe I should find a way to get an I-player to play them on. That'd be nice.
Sad to say, it's getting hard to concentrate on the wonderful music I've heard as a result of this campaign. I've stupidly spent my life working in an office when I should have been singing and writing. I'm 50 now and, despite the physical resemblance, I'm not Seasick Steve so it's probably too late. My biggest regret is there was no internet when I was 15 and just starting out as poet/singer/songwriter and later writer of stories and novelist. Somebody should have told me back in Lincolnshire that I really couldn't be a contender because I didn't know people who knew people.
That's why I love this campaign so much. Because now there's a chance to give a hand to some young people who deserve to do very well indeed but don't necessarily have the contacts or the management necessary to get seen (and so taken up by the pop world.
Good luck to all of you even the ones I don't particularly like.
I've gone through all the music again and found that the only ones left that I'd download even if Storm the Charts wasn't happening are those two... so at present, that looks like I'll be downloading my third to forty fourth tracks on payday. Maybe I should find a way to get an I-player to play them on. That'd be nice.
Sad to say, it's getting hard to concentrate on the wonderful music I've heard as a result of this campaign. I've stupidly spent my life working in an office when I should have been singing and writing. I'm 50 now and, despite the physical resemblance, I'm not Seasick Steve so it's probably too late. My biggest regret is there was no internet when I was 15 and just starting out as poet/singer/songwriter and later writer of stories and novelist. Somebody should have told me back in Lincolnshire that I really couldn't be a contender because I didn't know people who knew people.
That's why I love this campaign so much. Because now there's a chance to give a hand to some young people who deserve to do very well indeed but don't necessarily have the contacts or the management necessary to get seen (and so taken up by the pop world.
Good luck to all of you even the ones I don't particularly like.
Sunday, 16 May 2010
Thought I'd gone?
Well I hadn't. I've been quietly voting on and on but I've also been doing stuff with one of my own bands, Vaccination (and we were awesome thanks, if I may say so myself).
Beside my own egotistical ramblings though, there are still charts to storm. I've noticed some people have complained about having to wait a long time for the bands they want to vote for. I know the arguments on both sides and, while I don't really have an ace to grind, I thought I'd try a few votes one after the other to see how random it might be... so, first vote?
Captcha = at Intel. And the bands are: The Ben Williams Band, Rajko, Inside View, Mamoolian and Beetnik. I shall vote for Rajko and move on to the next vote.
Next Capture = Factotum Juncture... and that's more like it. The bands are: Elektralux, unexamined, Ian M Hale, The Doowops and Tankus the Henge. 10 different out of 10 so far. I prefer the Doowops but I'm gonna vote tactically for Elektralux because I think they have more chance of being in the forty.
Next Captcha - although Balearic. I like some of these. And the bands: Zoon van Snook, Desi Valentine, Electro Sheena, Dave Hughes and the Renegade Folk Band, and 3rd Bar. So fifteen tracks with no repeats. I'm gonna vote for 3rd Bar and move on to the next captcha.
The Yemenis... now that definitely sounds like a band. I'm being asked to choose between: The Words, OneSevenFours, Lead Resonance, Olly Cox and Cellar Door. Twenty tracks and still no repetitions. I shall vote for the Words.
Airborne overdoes says the captcha, not one of their best. The bands are... Alan Neilson, Temple Hedz, The Torrianos, Lippy S, and The Incomparable Bill Zipp. I vote for the Torrianos and still I see no repetitions. Next.
What's the captcha? Common Kennelly sounds not so much like a band but more like the Bodhran player from an Ersatz Irish band from Louisville. And the bands? Nately, Seeking Salvation Through Love, Lex Zaleta, Natubella and Rosered and the Butterflies, so thirty tracks with no repetitions. I'll vote for Rosered and the Butterflies and move on to the next captcha.
Which says Family Keynes. The bands are: Bluesoul Pharmacy, Blind Ego, D'Silva, Thieves Like Us, and Trail. I vote for Trail. Thirty five tracks all different so far.
Ranges 1976 says the capture and then I'm asked to choose between Antonio Lulic, Janey Summer, Venustribes, Vicky Bull and Fiona Sally Miller. Now that's a cruel choice because there are three I would have wished to vote for. No repetitions though and I've listened to forty tracks now. I vote for Fiona Sally Miller.
Next cpatcha says Committee Halicz. This lets me through to The Knower and the Known, 700 000 000, Trader, Mental Health and The Great Escape. Of course, I'm gonna vote for Mental Health. Forty five with no repeats.
Population Novoe. Still no repeats: Eileen Rose and the Holy Wreck, Jo McCafferty, North Atlantic Oscillations, George Kirchner and Two Fingers of Firewater. I'll vote for Eileen Rose and the Holy Wreck and check out the next captcha.
Revenue Wizardry sounds like the slogan for a wannabetrendy firm of accountants. Still no repeats: St Gregory Orange, Golden Section, Atlas&i, Dead Clown Society or Dan Clews? This is just as cruel, I suppose I better vote for Dan Clews.
I'm bored with quoting all the captchas... the bands though are: Jenium, Knew Jerus'lem, The Kickliner, Lakeside Collective, and Casey Fallen. It's hard to choose between Casey Fallen and Knew Jerus'lem but I'll go for Knew Jerus'lem.
Still no repeats in 65 tracks. Lenny Savage, Penny Black, Cinnamon Dreams, Daniella Maria and Arrows of Love. I think I'll choose Cinnamon Antics.
Amoriste, Olivia Broadfield, Indigo, Kamikaze Veterans, and Valhalla Smith. I'm torn but in the end vote for the Kamikaze Veterans.
Then we have the Soviets, Acoustic Jim, David Fernandez, Dark Room Notes, and Black Shades. So 75 and no repeats. I vote for the Soviets.
Inkysmudge, Brave Yesterday, Soul Circus, Some Velvet Morning, The June crush. Eighty tracks and I'm pretty sure this is random now. I've heard, what one in seven of the entrants with no repeats? I'll vote for Some Velvet Morning and call it a day.
Beside my own egotistical ramblings though, there are still charts to storm. I've noticed some people have complained about having to wait a long time for the bands they want to vote for. I know the arguments on both sides and, while I don't really have an ace to grind, I thought I'd try a few votes one after the other to see how random it might be... so, first vote?
Captcha = at Intel. And the bands are: The Ben Williams Band, Rajko, Inside View, Mamoolian and Beetnik. I shall vote for Rajko and move on to the next vote.
Next Capture = Factotum Juncture... and that's more like it. The bands are: Elektralux, unexamined, Ian M Hale, The Doowops and Tankus the Henge. 10 different out of 10 so far. I prefer the Doowops but I'm gonna vote tactically for Elektralux because I think they have more chance of being in the forty.
Next Captcha - although Balearic. I like some of these. And the bands: Zoon van Snook, Desi Valentine, Electro Sheena, Dave Hughes and the Renegade Folk Band, and 3rd Bar. So fifteen tracks with no repeats. I'm gonna vote for 3rd Bar and move on to the next captcha.
The Yemenis... now that definitely sounds like a band. I'm being asked to choose between: The Words, OneSevenFours, Lead Resonance, Olly Cox and Cellar Door. Twenty tracks and still no repetitions. I shall vote for the Words.
Airborne overdoes says the captcha, not one of their best. The bands are... Alan Neilson, Temple Hedz, The Torrianos, Lippy S, and The Incomparable Bill Zipp. I vote for the Torrianos and still I see no repetitions. Next.
What's the captcha? Common Kennelly sounds not so much like a band but more like the Bodhran player from an Ersatz Irish band from Louisville. And the bands? Nately, Seeking Salvation Through Love, Lex Zaleta, Natubella and Rosered and the Butterflies, so thirty tracks with no repetitions. I'll vote for Rosered and the Butterflies and move on to the next captcha.
Which says Family Keynes. The bands are: Bluesoul Pharmacy, Blind Ego, D'Silva, Thieves Like Us, and Trail. I vote for Trail. Thirty five tracks all different so far.
Ranges 1976 says the capture and then I'm asked to choose between Antonio Lulic, Janey Summer, Venustribes, Vicky Bull and Fiona Sally Miller. Now that's a cruel choice because there are three I would have wished to vote for. No repetitions though and I've listened to forty tracks now. I vote for Fiona Sally Miller.
Next cpatcha says Committee Halicz. This lets me through to The Knower and the Known, 700 000 000, Trader, Mental Health and The Great Escape. Of course, I'm gonna vote for Mental Health. Forty five with no repeats.
Population Novoe. Still no repeats: Eileen Rose and the Holy Wreck, Jo McCafferty, North Atlantic Oscillations, George Kirchner and Two Fingers of Firewater. I'll vote for Eileen Rose and the Holy Wreck and check out the next captcha.
Revenue Wizardry sounds like the slogan for a wannabetrendy firm of accountants. Still no repeats: St Gregory Orange, Golden Section, Atlas&i, Dead Clown Society or Dan Clews? This is just as cruel, I suppose I better vote for Dan Clews.
I'm bored with quoting all the captchas... the bands though are: Jenium, Knew Jerus'lem, The Kickliner, Lakeside Collective, and Casey Fallen. It's hard to choose between Casey Fallen and Knew Jerus'lem but I'll go for Knew Jerus'lem.
Still no repeats in 65 tracks. Lenny Savage, Penny Black, Cinnamon Dreams, Daniella Maria and Arrows of Love. I think I'll choose Cinnamon Antics.
Amoriste, Olivia Broadfield, Indigo, Kamikaze Veterans, and Valhalla Smith. I'm torn but in the end vote for the Kamikaze Veterans.
Then we have the Soviets, Acoustic Jim, David Fernandez, Dark Room Notes, and Black Shades. So 75 and no repeats. I vote for the Soviets.
Inkysmudge, Brave Yesterday, Soul Circus, Some Velvet Morning, The June crush. Eighty tracks and I'm pretty sure this is random now. I've heard, what one in seven of the entrants with no repeats? I'll vote for Some Velvet Morning and call it a day.
Monday, 26 April 2010
Keep on voting.
I'm trying to book a gig for one of my own bands for June (I have a fourth of July party gig for the other) as well as practicing my solo stuff. I'm glad to say my dulcitar playing, while it will never be as good as my singing, will soon at least be good enough for self-accompaniment so I can get gigs without waiting for the others.
Anyway, that's an aside for now... who's my next vote for?
"An recant" says the captcha, which is not so wonderful but you can't have it all. Choices are.
"Shiny Armour" by Mountain of Fire which is a delicious piece of English eccentricity, reminding me of the Rolling Stones Circa 1965.
"Write Back" by MINIATURE DINOSAURS Also eccentric, also delicious but more eighties.
"Too Late" by MAMOOLIAN which is less eccentric but the singer sounds as one might imagine Alex from Clockwork Orange might sound if he chose to sing.
"Crayoned Face" by CASEY FALLEN. I'm a little biased here because this band is in my library on Last.fm
But despite my bias in favour of Casey Fallen, on this occasion I'm going to vote for Laura Bowen. She sounds a lot like Lily Allen. I hadn't realised when I reviewed this before that she's only like fourteen? Awesome.
Anyway, that's an aside for now... who's my next vote for?
"An recant" says the captcha, which is not so wonderful but you can't have it all. Choices are.
"Shiny Armour" by Mountain of Fire which is a delicious piece of English eccentricity, reminding me of the Rolling Stones Circa 1965.
"Write Back" by MINIATURE DINOSAURS Also eccentric, also delicious but more eighties.
"Too Late" by MAMOOLIAN which is less eccentric but the singer sounds as one might imagine Alex from Clockwork Orange might sound if he chose to sing.
"Crayoned Face" by CASEY FALLEN. I'm a little biased here because this band is in my library on Last.fm
But despite my bias in favour of Casey Fallen, on this occasion I'm going to vote for Laura Bowen. She sounds a lot like Lily Allen. I hadn't realised when I reviewed this before that she's only like fourteen? Awesome.
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