Hi all
Bringing you up to date with what’s been happening and what is going to happen.
First off, a quick health update – My ankle/foot is recovering nicely although I still have reduced mobility especially on staircases. I have at least managed to get my normal footwear back on, most of it. I am still carrying a crutch for support if I am walking any reasonable distance. I am told by the physio that it could take 12 months to get back to “normal”. Restarted swimming, something I enjoy doing and used to do on a regular basis. Hoping it will help.
Band news, we played at Porters Resurrection last Sunday – Bank Holiday weekend. Great pub, nice Rock vibe. The normal playing area had suffered a structural issue, so we were moved to a different location, wasn’t ideal for the audience but it all went well, everyone there including us had a good time and that is the main thing. We have been rebooked for next year so must have been ok. First full gig for Steve and he did a great job as we knew he would.
This Saturday (Sept 5th) sees us playing a 45-minute set in West Kirby as part of the annual West Kirby Live festival. Live music all day with nine venues being used. Most venues are really coffee/wine bars so can only accommodate silo/duo not a full four-piece rock band. We are at the Football club, a bit off the beaten track but there is a shuttle bus so you never can tell. We are finishing off the proceedings there at 7pm. I am a little wary as the drums and backline amps are being provided as is the PA. This is for convenience of course with multiple bands, but I really don’t like playing through some random guitar amp. We do it in the rehearsal rooms but the overall sound quality there is not relevant its more about the song arrangements, stops and starts etc. For live gigs I prefer my own amp as I use that as it is a main contribution to my sound but we’ll see. It will be taken with me.
Speaking of amps, I mentioned last time that I needed one repairing. That has been done, Thanks to Dan Whitelock-jones, great to know someone who specialises in valve (Tube) amps. The Badcat Unleash has also been replaced by a Tone king Ironman II attenuator which does the job I need it to do. Worked well on Saturday. I was very pleased with my guitar sound.
Stonedead
Last Saturday was the annual pilgrimage to Stonedead festival at Newark. I was hobbling around but didn’t really move from the camping chair much. First time the weather hasn’t been good since we started going to this several years ago. Consequently, didn’t manage to meet up with as many folks as usual although I know they were there. Did see Chris Purviss from The Tivoli, Simon Berry, Rob Shaw, Tina Saxton and a few others whose names escape me. Spotted Mike from Fugitive although I was talking to someone else at the time so never actually caught up with him. Apologies to Darren “Daz” and Nick Grimley for not catching you.
We only arrived halfway through the first band but all I could hear was the bass guitar. Not the best mix from where I was. Next up were Asomvel who I have been following on social media for some time. I like their attitude and sense of humour, their music only in small doses, think Motorhead and that’s pretty much it. Crobot were next followed by The Damn Truth. Never heard either of these before, I believe they are on a UK tour together and had played Chester on Friday night. Both sounded ok. Didn’t hang around to see most of Armored saint, we went back to car to warm up. I did see the end of their set and again it was ok. Next up were Battle Beast, To me the name conjures up a specific sound and not a sound I enjoy but they were nothing like that. Hailing from Finland with a new Brazilian singer They were good, the best surprise of the day, I will be checking them out further. Magnum, I have seen multiple times since I first saw them support Judas Priest on the Sin after Sin tour many years ago. Sometimes they have been good other times they felt like they were just going through the motions. On Saturday, the setlist was good and I think the band performed well but the sound out front was dire. Too quiet overall and Bob Catley’s vocals were miles away in Nottingham or somewhere, could hardly hear them at all and at 78 he probably needed an extra boost on the mic. Magnum 1 sound guy 0.
Next up – Accept – German Rockers formed in 1976, one original guitarist remaining. I ‘ll admit these were never a band I listened to although their original singer supported Saxon last year and played a lot of Accept material. I wasn’t very impressed with that. However, I was pleasantly surprised by them, yes, they had their full stage set up plus Pyro, decent lights etc which I love anyway but the music was good solid rock. A total audio failure at one point had the crowd filling in and when the power was restored the band restarted almost exactly where they had left off, very professional recovery. Yes, they were good fun and entertaining which is exactly how it should be.
This brough us to the headliners and the rundown to the end. Europe, a band I like but to a lot of people are tied forever to The Final countdown. What can I say? The lighting suddenly improved 100%, the sound quality improved 100% and the band delivered a superb set containing the hits and newer material plus material from their forthcoming new album. Pretty much the only band all day to have variety in their set. I was really impressed by their class. The only odd thing was the inclusion of a snippet of Whitesnake’s “Here I go again” which seemed out of place and pointless but a minor distraction. Obviously That song was kept until the end, but it is still a brilliant track. I didn’t really understand why people started leaving before it given that they had endured the rain for 8 hours already? Each to their own.
So, another stonedead done and dusted, I have the tickets for next year. It is a well run and organised festival but it’s not just about the music, its meeting friends from all over the country and making new ones. I will wait with interest in the line up to be announced and let’s hope the rain doesn’t reappear.
I am out this week to see some friends too, Tony and his Bon Jovi Experience one day and Malcolm and his Blackmore’s Blood another day. I know the guys in both bands quite well as we have played with them on multiple occasions, but it will be a nice change to just watch this week.
Speaking of Ritchie Blackmore, a hero of mine since I first heard Made in Japan and Deep Purple in Rock, it was good to see him and Ian Gillan bury the hatchet at a Deep Purple gig recently. Life is too short to bear grudges.
No band rehearsal this week as its Jim’s birthday. Probably do something with Roland at some point as we need to rehearse our Duo (VanMac) set ready for October.
Oh, I forgot to say I did a couple of Open mic nights last week both new venues for me. All went well. Ended up playing about ten songs at one as it was quiet due to the appalling but spectacular rain and Lightning.
Think that is about all really.
Until next time
Keep rockin’
Craig