Newsletter 8.
TRY THIS – NOW AVAILABLE.
You can purchase Try This. Click on Album Link To iTunes.
You’ll see we are on the first pages of CD BABY new releases. http://www.cdbaby.com/new/537
PLEASE REVIEW - I know some of you already have the EP, but it would be great if you could put a small review on the CD Baby website. It’s simple to do. Just go to http://cdbaby.com/cd/bassistry3
THE ADVENTURES OF 2010.
For those who managed to come to our shows, thank you! As players we had a really great time, and personally I’ve had some surreal, alarming, funny and amazing experiences.
SURREAL - I had the honour of being invited to play at our dearest friends wedding on the Indonesian island of Bintan. It was my first solo gig (possibly my last!) but what a start and end. The surreal experience of playing ‘It’s Only’ on a beach, over looking a white, sand, a turquoise sea, surrounded by lush tropical vegetation, palm trees, in a humid heat will stay with me. Later watching two beautiful people such as Ian and Laura dance to a song that means so much to me was priceless. It’s why we do what we do.
Shows in London & Leeds – London was a small show, but small is often beautiful. Some very dear people came, and made it feel great for the band. In a sense it allowed us to feel so relaxed. Cassell on the kit did an amazing job. It’s always a pleasure measuring up to his exacting standards.
COOL but ALARMING Leeds was cool. The Wardrobe’s a nice club. Mind you, the alarming experience happened here after the show at the bed and breakfast the next morning. I won’t go into it, but put it this way, it involved a barking mad guest, drugs and alcohol, then finally the police. It was a unique experience for all of us. I’m not sure to be match again! Corinne Bailey Rae came along to watch the show and hang out, which was cool. The connection is Alex and Sam toured with her for a good year and a half when she hit that crest of a wave. Sam was back after touring with Paloma Faith. Again, playing with Sam makes bass playing a truly enlightened experience. Close your eyes and away you fly!
High Barn gig in Essex is a rare beast in the UK. A venue where creating the best playing environment for band and audience is the defining principal. Strange, many London venues don’t get this. No dodgy equipment, people who are there to make yours and the listens experience as good as it can be. The gig was also special because it will be the last show with Nicola for a while. She’s of to create a family. We’ll miss her, but I hope she’ll be back. Sam suffered from flu, and we literally had to wheel him onto the stage. But the show went on. God bless him.
Cassell ‘the beatmaker’ hits No.1 in the UK with Plan B.
Congratulations to Plan B, and more importantly Cassell, Eric and Tom Goss who all contributed writing to his new album, ‘The Defamation of Strickland Bank.’ Unbelievable really, when you embark on a writing project and it just catches fire. Lady luck. Here’s a sense of what can happen.
Destination BBC, appearing on The Jonathon Ross Show:
“Cassell and I are on our way to Warwickshire to do a workshop, generally having one of those conversations about the crazy music industry, life, kids, etc. When Cassell takes a call that sets of a chain of events. Essentially, Cheryl Cole, her of dubious talents, has pulled out of The Jonathan Ross Show. The spot has been offered to Plan B. “Can you get back to London for blah, blah, o’clock?” Er, well, yeah. What happens next is the madness begins. Endless calls, coordination, get this here, get this there. Can we get back to White City in time? Finish workshop, jump in car, calls, calls, where are you? Where are you? How long? How far? Arrive at the BBC, manager on the mobile. Relief. The show’s recorded. The next night a few million people get to know what Plan B is all about. Plan B album is No. 1 within the next month. The next soul superstar! Who knows.
Hong Kong – Spent an amazing couple of weeks in Hong Kong at West Island International School as Artist in Residence. What a blast. Great place, great people I worked with, and superb students. Sam flew out in the second week, and we did the live stuff.
V Festival, Glastonbury, Wireless, Etc.
Look out for Sam playing with Paloma Faith and Professor Green at this year’s festivals (on the same day), and Cassell with Plan B at the same festivals. Cassell tours the UK in October.
Rock Choir – I went to see Katy Seath’s Rock Choir. It was like watching Sister Act Part 3, but in Chiswick with a wide demographic of middle class folk expressing their joy through singing. But, Katy ensured they got the groove, she got them to move! Yeah, everyone’s got a voice, and all it needs is someone like Katy to bring it out in you!
New Projects - Being versatile. Now that’s something that helps when you’re in music. You never know how you may end up working. But it’s not surprising that musicians develop a wide range of skills based on the exposure to all the things that make up the mix within the business. I’m working with Josh from Oi Va Voi at the moment in a very different way to what I would have anticipated. But I’m not surprised that he proving to have a real flair in other areas beyond drumming. Anyway, all will be revealed in the coming months.
Photographs – Respect for Paul Rizzadi who took the live shots. A very talented man. You can check out his work by going to his site: rizzardi@me.com
OSCAR – God Bless the new man entering our world. Love to Nicola.
Look out for our shows later in the year.
Marcel