Nothing to report

I’ve been back from holiday for a while and playing with lyrics and melody without much success. Some of the concepts I’ve been working on I’ve dropped as just cheesy or cliche’, some are working out well but I can’t get them to fit into the music so find myself either trying to change a lyric/melody that works, or change the music which isn’t sitting well with me as if I like both it seems stupid to compromise either/both. This has left me with either a vocal line that needs a new song writing for it, or a song with out a vocal line. While my number of musical concepts and work in progress are increasing and gaining some good output I’m struggling to keep track and actually bring some of them to a conclusion or finished product. I’m starting to wonder if a putting a few bits of work in progress snippets to friends would help to get some feedback, or maybe even work with a writing partner for some songs ? not sure at this time.

On a personal note I’ve decided to set myself some fitness goals that I may even document on this website

I’m a little disappointed that a drummer who seems a really nice guy and interesting musically and who had a bass player with him appears to have vanished leaving me again in the unenviable position of looking for people to play with. It’s more frustrating to watch people I’ve played with in the past rocket ahead falling into bed with good musicians that are carrying them.

Back From Holiday Break

I’ve just returned from a holiday in Skiathos in Greece. I had a fantasticly easy time enjoying some great weather, nice food and relaxing surroundings. I can certainly see why Joe Bonamassa decided to record his latest album “Black Rock” in Greece. While on this break I read through various books and zoned out a bit from the day to day grind. Without having a guitar or piano around I found it hard to get inspired to write music, however I pretty much listened to my whole ipod, which indirectly gave me some ideas, I also used my ipod to make lyrical notes and subject matter notes, I’m not sure how these will translate into real songs (my first attempt to pickup a guitar yesterday wasn’t really very sucessful) but it is new subject matter. I did come up with one subject matter and some lyrical content which I quite liked and it seemed to work as an honest bit of writing, however as a John Mayer fan some of it’s a little close in concept to one of his songs, however it really didn’t come from that (although I do love his song in question). I’ll see how it goes before worrying too much though.

I’m doing a charity running event this weekend at a reasonable distance away from home so I’m not sure when I’ll get both the time and the mind set and motivation to sit down and progress these ideas.

As a side note the UK has just had a large government change from the long standing Labour gonvernment to a Conservitive + Lib Dem. I can see and hear thousands of musical people writing about this now, but I have no interest in it from a musical context as I don’t see it as real subject matter.

Vomit stops music

I was supposed to meet a bass player and a drummer this weekend and was really looking forward to it, however since Thursday evening I’ve been feeling progressivly worse/sick, with what started out as a very minor cold to feeling like utter crap over the weekend. I’ve not been able to get in contact with either the guys I was supposed to meet up with, so I’m hopeful they are not annoyed and still keen to meet up to talk about playing. I think I’m over the worse of it now and coming out the other side, but I won’t know until tomorrow, thankfully it’s a short week this weekend and I can hopefully make ammends and do some music next week.

Slow moving band mates

I’ve had a few people to contact in the last week or so, and had some really good and positive exchanges over email, it’s been a slow process but I’m starting to move towards meeting people (my working situation makes it slow). Quite excited about a drummer I’ve had really good communication from and a singer songwriter who I don’t think will do “my” thing, but seems worth meeting up with, chatting more about doing something different, he seems keen and well structured in his approach. Had contact from a bass player who seems like a really nice lad, however I’m a bit worried about this as on research he’s a young guy, really young and I’m a fair bit older so I don’t think he’ll either want to play with me, or want to play the sort of thing I want to play (looks very emo) but that said lets find out, don’t know to you ask and meet up. Had some other responses too, but they have either been no-go from the start or taking a really long time to progress. It’s shocking how few people will talk to you without you sending them at least three tracks (and by the way if you are asking for tracks to be emailed to you STOP using yahoo and hotmail address that can’t take big files, get a proper email account, you want me to take you seriously yet you have a limited free email account called metal_maniac_238472394@freemail.com – it’s a two way street you know). What happened to the good old days, of meeting up, seeing if you where on the same page personally, then jamming, rather than expecting people starting a new project to have amazing quality recordings up front before people will talk to you.  Most of the people I’ve met who have asked for these sort of pre-requisits have sucks as musicians, it’s the ones that are just keen to talk/meet/play any way that I’ve had the best response from (few exceptions to the rule if you’re one of the guys I’m meeting who asked for tapes).

(note just realised I called them “tapes” – I’ll not change that, but just keep it for ammusment of how things have changed.  That was a genuine typo though. )