Beautiful Pictures - Harsh Truths

There is a great, thought provoking body of photography on display through Bath's High Street at the moment.

I believe it's called Earth From Air and consists of large prints of images captured from a helicopter flying all over earth.

Not only are the photo's themselves magnificent, (my favourite being of an eroding iceberg near Greenland), but the accompanying text is also incredibly thought provoking.

I wish I could remember exactly what I read this morning - it actually made me angry. It was something to do with the amount of food we can now produce compared to the amount of people actually living on earth, and still so many people are starving. It made me think about how greedy and wasteful we all can be sometimes.

If you are in Bath, do take the time to check out these prints and read some of the information that accompanies them.

Preparations for my gig at The Porters are going really well. I've decided on a set list now, a mix of my latest material with a few older re-workings, and I think I've now got a really cohesive mix of songs.

I'm planing to spend next week really working myself up for it, making sure that my performance is as good as it possibly can be, and attempting to perfect what little vocal and breathing technique I have.

See me at The Porter Cellar Bar, Bath on the 31st of August.

Blues Harp

(I feel like this could be the quiet before the storm. I'm not sure why. It feels like I have nothing I need to do, but am content with looking forward to, and quietly making plans for, all the things set to happen soon.)

I bought myself a Hohner Blues Harp the other day. It sounds fantastic and gives me a good feeling when I sit there and play it. I can happily spend hours running my lips along it's edge, breathing in and out through it's reeds.

This will sound weird, especially to someone who has never really played a harmonica, but there's a definite sensual quality to playing one. Obviously due to it's design, the way you have to use it, but also I guess because of it's encouragement of improvisation, the way it lends itself to you feeling and hearing your way around a performance. You have to relax, exhale and then just listen to the sounds you produce, making subtle adjustments as and when you feel the need. It's incredibly rewarding.

Funny really, for what, at first, seems like such an odd little instrument.

Preperations

I started work on a new EP the other day - It didn't go particularly well.

But then I thought a much better use of my time would be to start rehearsing and preparing for my gig at The Porters on the 31st.

I have drawn up a possible set-list and have been rehearsing the songs, working on my technique, and re-writing/re-ordering the set-list to try and ensure that this coming gig is one of the best yet.

Todays rehearsal went really (really) well.

The Weekend Gone At Moles

Tripwire -- By far the best band of the weekend. Thick, moody, powerful alt rock.
The Answering Machine -- A big let down. Just too jangly and sounded like they were trying ultra hard to make a commercial indie record. Plus they fucked up 'Lightbulbs'.
Lego Castles -- Maybe some potential but they all try to look cooler then they sound. Way too messy and the synths were completely under utilised. Shame.
The Victorian English Gentlemans Club -- Slightly scary, garage, zombie rock. Made me feel tingly.

It's been a good weekend really. The mini reviews there may sound slightly on the negative side but that's just me being critical. I had a really good time at the gigs, mostly due to the company I had, but I would say you could do worse then check out any one of them live.

Being A Musician In Bath: Act Two

After a brief lull, things are gathering pace.

Open mic at The Porters is becoming busier, with a higher standard of performers every week. It really is a great and entertaining night. Monday night was really superb with some incredibly talented musicians in attendance, as well as an enthusiastic audience, both combining to create a fantastic atmosphere.

I guess it also helps that my short sets have started to get some good feedback as I am accepted into the open mic community. I have now been asked to headline one of the nights at the end of the month.

Which brings me onto my next topic. (nice how things link together sometimes)

I have now been booked for two gigs - both in December.

The first is in The Porters on one of the Tantrika acoustic nights and is on the 2nd.

The second is at the brilliant Mr Wolfs noodle bar in Bristol and is on the 28th. Part of my payment for the Wolfs gig comes in the form of a vegetarian noodle dish - FANTASTIC! (seriously, no sarcasm there - I am genuinely looking forward to the noodles)

These gigs are a long way off unfortunately but I guess that will give me time to prepare and make sure they are extra special. One idea which I have already started to investigate is to produce promotional material for these shows in the form a fanzine, something that people will hold in their hands and hopefully be inclined to engage with for a short while.

I am still hoping to secure some other gigs in the meantime but, as is usual in this business, this is starting to become a bit of a ball ache.

In other news - The Answering Machine on Thursday night - Lego Castles on Saturday - Both at Moles.