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Home Sweet Home....Back in sunny Scotchland now.
South by South West was a complete
rammy, completely mad and full on. Everywhere i went bands were
playing, beer was being poured and people were losing themselves and
each other. I'm terrified about getting my mobile bill in. Calling a UK
mobile whilst in Texas to try and find lost band members who are
probably right behind you in the crowd is no joke.
The gigs were
good. First one was a bit tricky - the 4AD showcase in Emo's. It was
only our 2nd band gig and we got no soundcheck so we just jumped on
stage and went for it. We got a pretty good reception actually which is
lovely given that no-one has actually heard the songs before. Then
there was Jovita's out of the centre of town, where we played what
turned out to be a country and blues day party. I'm not sure the
audience had a clue what we were up to actually.
It's been a
peculiar experience playing with a full band again. For the last 18
months I've pretty much only been playing acoustic shows and have got
used to how simple and clear a sound they produce. It's been really
good fun doing that. For so long, I was used to fighting to get my
vocals heard with a drum kit on stage and usually losing. Now I'm
putting a band together again I'm hoping to try and get that sorted
out.
Highlight during the week was The
Twilight Sad, a new band from Glasgow. They're on Fatcat Records
and recorded their debut album last year with Paul at Chem19. I am
obviously biased but it is one of the best things I've heard in a long
time and I have a feeling it's going to do well. They played at the
Scottish Showcase on the Friday and they were great. We also saw them
on the Wed, whilst walking around town. We recognised the opening bars
of one the songs and followed the music to one of the loudest gigs I've
ever been to.
A few people I met since my last blog have been
asking if we did in fact get our guitars back from American Airlines.
Yes - just in the nick of time. They were delivered to us during
soundcheck for the first New York show at Mo Pitkin's.
Following the two gigs in New York I was at a bit of a loose
end and ended up going to the Museum
Of Television and Radio. You can choose to watch pretty much any US
television show or listen to any radio show since the formats began.
Given such a choice i was pretty baffled and ended up going for the old
favourite - The Twilight Zone. Sitting in New York City, indoors, with
headphones, watching the television. I am such a great traveller. |
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