Something I havent done for Ages!

Music is an incredibly complex thing! Mid 2005 as part of the Singer Singwriters evenings here in Brussels, I was only playing 3 or 4 songs to a live audience once a week consisting of purely my own material . No worries, lyrics learnt, chords not an issue. This all stopped when I decided to go the whole hog and start performing full gigs mixing covers and original songs together. On Sunday I was asked to be involved in the brand new Singer Songwriters (it stopped about 6 months ago) along with Bai Kamara (www.baikamara.com) Steve Jones (www.saintonline.net) It means going back to about 30 minutes of original material. So last night, I had about one hour practise to come up with a set list ........

I couldn't do it! Too long have I been selling my soul playing covers! Of the 6 songs I picked I forgot the words to 3 of them, had to totally change the key of one, forgot the middle eight to one of them. These are songs that I do play in my sets but not altogether in a row. Why cant I do this simple task??? The Gig is on Wednesday ... thats tomorrow! I dont like practising on the day or the night before a gig (It's a Brass Band thing). Well, it looks like a busy night tonight. Any offer of suggestions will be gratefully recieved!

For those who read this who know my music .... I am thinking of doing "What the Hell"; "Under The Sun"; "Piece of Mind"; "Morning Blues"; "Baby, Steal My Heart"; "Here Today" .... Thoughts anyone?

Ecosse!

Damn them ... damn them all! But to be fair .... well played!! Excellent defensive work from the guys in Blue. Despite being the only Englishman in the "The Bank" (a bar in Brussels) I did receive many free drinks from the normally tight Scots there present. I now have to sit the whole day at work with St. Andrews flags all over my desk. This is punishment for putting the same Scottisjh flags all over the desk of a Frenchman who works for me. He, however, is a contractor ....so he had better tread carefully.

Didnt care much for the reinactment of "Braveheart" before the match started .... next year we will scare the living daylights out of them by a reinactment of the 1956 Morris Dancing final between the "Shropshire Steppers" against the "Derbyshire Dancing Ninnies".

My Dad!

Last weekend my Dad and a very old friend of the family (old as in time of aquaintance rather than actual age of said person) came to stay for the weekend in Brussels. It still amazes me that an 81 year old with 2 artificial hips and a pacemaker can make the journey from deep darkest South Shields to damp dark Brussels. Anyway, he has just recently aquired the taste for Belgium beer ... hmmmm ... beer! This is him sitting in a small bar in Mechelen contemplating life. (BTW, all photos are taken with my mobile phone so no comments please). They had a wonderful time here and even managed to see a gig of mine (sorry Andy). It was the first time he has seen me play guitar and sing (at the same time), he grunted in a manner which I believe was of a positive comment so good news there then.

The next time I will see him is at my Wedding in May where I will be performing again .... might play well enough to get 2 grunts ... you never know!

Good Morning

Well, here we are at Day two! Exciting! Had a grest rehearsal last night with my occasional singer Isabelle. We have a gig at "La Porte Noire" in a couple of weeks so we are putting together a little 30-40 minute set to slip in between my own 2 sets. Nice to concentrate purely on Guitar and backing vocals for a change.

My Gig list at the moment is quite full .... see below

March 1st - Singer Songwriters - 30 minute Set
March 4th - Drums with Bai Kamara Jr - 30-40 minute set
March 6th - Hosting the Bizon Jam - 21.00 - ??.00
March 8th - La Porte Noire - 21.00 - 00.00
March 10th - London (somewhere)

Lots of others in the pipeline including my Stag Night gigs .... more will follow

Ah Ha!!!!

OK, 1st attempt at a photo! Not my best but then Its all I have at the moment!

First Attempt!

OK, this is my first attempt at trying to start a blog.

The idea behind it is not only to try and "blog" but also to use this as an advert for my music, gig listings, set list and other intersting happenings.

So ...... (to Quote Genesis) .... "Here I Go"