It’s been a great fortnight of gigs, from playing Guildford the week before last, then a few times in Cardiff last week, onto the brilliantly shambolic evening at West Bank Gallery in Notting Hill, which celebrated the first major exhibition in the UK of legendary Lee Black Childers photographs. Amazing unseen images from the New York Punk Scene and beyond, including David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, and Andy Warhol.
Last Friday I played at the wonderful Bush Hall, in support of The Ghost Of A Saber Tooth Tiger - who were excellent, psychedelic-art-folk three piece pinned in place by the scatty charisma of their Conductor Sean Lennon.
Saturday I headed down to Folkstone and played at Googies Cafe, in support of OXJAM. Witnessed great performances from Stuart Turner, Unlucky Fried Kitten and Les Carter’s latest project Abdoujaparov.
The weekend also saw another OXJAM related event take place, when at midnight last Friday Medway Eyes released their 3rd album. An epic collection of Medway music which you can download for free right HERE. The video above, a live performance of the song ‘Tale Of An Everyman’ taken from my album ‘Waiting For The Post-Man’, is featured on the album.
If you do download the ME3 album (which I highly recommend) you are encouraged to donate as much as you see fit to the Charity OXJAM, details of which can be found whilst downloading – I know that Medway Eyes, and all the musicians who have provided music for this album would really appreciate it, however much you can in these hard times – it all counts!
Here’s the 4th instalment of videos for the Chasing Dragons single release …
You’ve seen the stop-motion, the live performance at Ranscombe and the lo-fi gothic bohemia of the Sunlight version … and so here’s MENACE, a remix by Dan Lawrence of Kids Unique. Many thanks to Dan for re-interpreting the original song, made surreal and strangely peaceful, something like a sun-set.
The video I made to accompany the song is a mood piece more than anything, simple and subtle, which I figured suited the vibe of the song. I was grateful to have been given permission to use previously unseen paintings created by Matthew Stephens Scott – many thanks to Matthew’s family for allowing me to use them.
Once again, any support you can give this song and its video is greatly appreciated. Share around this virtual maze we occupy as you see fit.
If you fancy downloading the song(s) that feature as part of the Chasing Dragons single release, simply click HERE. Come 17th October they will be available to download via iTunes and Amazon.
Not many copies of the album left now, so if you want to buy a physical copy of WAITING FOR THE POST-MAN, from which the original version of Chasing Dragons is taken, head over HERE.
As promised, here’s a video to accompany the Sunlight Garage Rock Version of Chasing Dragons – recorded live at The Sunlight Centre, Gillingham, Kent.
This version features guest performances from Wolfgang Riot on Bass and Chris Garth of Up/C/Down/C on Drums. Many thanks to them both, as well as the wonderful Greg Webster for recording and mixing the track.
Hg came along for the day and filmed this shot-gun style session, clips of which feature in this lo-fi video I’ve put together.
Thanks for all your support, I really hope you enjoy this little slice of chaos. Once again, if you like the track please share this video around – as far-fetched and wide-eyed as possible.
Chasing Dragons with it’s 3 b-side versions are officially released on iTunes and Amazon on 17th October, but you can get them via this site right now by clicking HERE! A very limited number of Promotional CD’s are available to purchase as well, you can order one for yourself via the SHOP.
Here’s the second video instalment of the Chasing Dragons single release (due 17th October). This is an acoustic version of the song recorded live by Jim Riley at Ranscombe Studios, Rochester.
Many thanks to Hg and Dave Wise for coming along to film the session.
You can download this version, and the others, before the official release date by clicking HERE.
Here’s the first of the videos that I’ve made, this one accompanying the original album version of Chasing Dragons, which you can download HERE.
This video is an adventure into the wonderful world of stop-frame animation. Using Hg’s camera and Jenny hardcore’s tripod, plus a crash course in how to make a camera work, I set up base in my back room and documented the step by step creation of a painting – a portrait of The MRS – entitled “Puzzled Peace”.
With windows papered over, less natural daylight and fresh air, it took 4 days to complete the process of painting and photographing the piece. Not the most healthy of environments for sure, but after a further 2 days of editing I’m pleased with the result given this was my first attempt. Much respect to all those who do this stop frame madness full time – it was truly exhausting! However, by the end so satisfying to see my artwork come to life – a long held ambition of mine. Something I’ll be developing in the future.
If you enjoy this song, and the video, please do share with your friends and enemies alike … far and wide!
Six week holidays coming to their close, tying ties and shining shoes for the new terms of engagement … i’ve got a nice little run of shows up and down the country booked up during the fresh weeks of this season. These will be acoustic solo performances and I’ll be playing material from the current album ‘Waiting For The Post-Man’ plus some dusted down treasures from my previous releases. Can’t wait to get out there, I’m really looking forward to crossing as many paths as possible.
Come the end of September, around the time these gigs kick off, I’ll also be giving the song CHASING DRAGONS, taken from my album ‘Waiting For The Post-Man’, a big push. It will be released as a digital bundle available from this site or via itunes, and will be presented alongside some alternative versions and remixes of the song, plus a few videos no doubt. Any and all the support you can give to this track would be really appreciated. This song always felt like the sound of summer suns and campfires giving their final farewell to the grounds on which they’d set alight, so I figured it would make a fitting song to release during the crossover of seasons.
In the back rooms, and after a month or so of shifting the shape of words and collecting curious thoughts through the hole in my head, I’ve finally firmed up my plans to start work on my new album. The songs are in place, and I’ll be heading into the studio soon. I’ll keep you updated as I go along. Feel free to send me any glowing orange thoughts, whatever triangles you wish to spare.
This Autumn will also see two exhibitions of my artwork – a group exhibition at Bardens Boudoir in London and a solo show at the Deaf Cat Cafe in Rochester. More details will follow about these. Dates of all my gigs and exhibitions can be found in the performance listing on this site which is regularly updated.
Before myself and Hg really ramp up the Chasing Dragons stuff, I thought I’d give this acoustic version of Knives and Pliers an airing. This song is from my first album, ‘Accidents Occur Whilst Sleeping’ and is one of the tracks I’ll be playing out during the tour. This version was recorded during a recent session at Jim Riley’s, Ranscombe Studios, which was kindly filmed by Hg and Dave Wise. Enjoy and share as you wish. xxx
Well, whilst London has been burning, being brought near to its knees by the lost and loathing of our Dysunited Kingdom, I have been making a video in the garden with Matilda Kilda. This is for the song MANTRA 29 taken from my new album, ‘WAITING FOR THE POST-MAN‘.
Limited edition physical copies of the album are available here, or else my preferred download outlet can be found here, though it’s available on iTUNES for those who fancy using that as well.
Last Saturday I headed to Medway where Beast Reality Presented its second official night to mark the release of ‘Waiting For The Post-Man‘. I was really excited about this one, we’d put together a cracking line-up and the The Barge is a beautiful setting. The night exceeded our expectations …. thanks so very much for everyone who came out to support us, and to BOAT OF GARTEN, THE SANS PAREIL and WOLF HOWARD for putting in amazing performances on the night.
Quote of the night has to go to Wolf Howard, who had us all hanging on his every word - “I’m terribly sorry about my language, I realise there are some children here in the pub tonight. This next one’s called ‘Cunt’…”
Sara Norling kindly donated the footage for this video which I’ve edited into a little snap-shot of the evenings proceedings. Below are a set of photos also taken by the wonderful Sara Norling and a shot from photographer Phil Dillon at the top of this post. Many thanks to them both for documenting the evening.
Also ….. The Slaughtered Lamb, which held my London Album Launch night in June, have invited me back to support BAXTER DURY on the 16th August. Should be a great gig for those of you around London or anyone who fancies the trip into the City. Lots more gigs soon to be announced and other pretty exciting stuff happening.
Myself and Hg headed up to Sheffield a few weeks ago for the TRAMLINES festival – it was fucking ace … the whole city was seething with enthusiasm and support for the 600+ bands and artists that were performing around the city.
I played a number of times, from guerilla style busking sets outside various places around the city, as well more conventional venues such as the RIVERSIDE CAFE and SOYO. All were really well received, so many thanks for the support from those who caught my performances.
For me, the most memorable was the intimate and surreal Buskers’ Bus Session, which travelled around the city over the whole weekend. Shown above is a version of ‘Hardest Way Home’ filmed by Hg, live from the Bus.
Much thanks to Foz from BIG DOG STUDIOS, who came out on it for the whole weekend, and was kind enough to let us rest our dizzy heads on his studio floor once again. Couldn’t have done it without him.
Time has been flying, spinning plates and all – lots of gigs coming up throughout the year which will be announced shortly on the website … and from the past couple of gigs I’ve played its finally starting to feel like me and my tattered 8 string are at home with each other on stage. Got some stuff coming for you this week, but I’ll start with this ….
A few weeks back I received a phone call from director John Bland, of OEM films, who’d given Dorothy what she deserved late last year. An excited Mr Bland instructed me to make some ‘expressive box-heads’ with whatever I could find, and meet him the very next day for what turned out to be a pretty surreal, thoroughly enjoyable day of filming. His concept and the footage captured was inspired by and made to aid the song Lunacy, taken from my new album, ‘WAITING FOR THE POST-MAN‘.
I received the final cut just the other day … so here it is …. enjoy, share, spread far and wide …
Hope all is well in hell and far beyond, more news coming soon about various bits and pieces, all the best and keep in touch ….
