It'll be a bit briefer this week, as I'm writing this between the soundcheck and performance with the covers band today. Yes, it's Sunday and it's a 60th Birthday party in a golf club, which can only mean one thing...it'll be too loud.

Just the one gig this week which was the old faithful Doctor Wu's on Tuesday the 23rd. This in itself nearly didn't happen due to a power cut, and having driven there in the snow it was beginning to look like one of those days....
Fortunately power was restored and though mysteriously the light in the room never seemed to quite return to normal, I was able to play and mingle.

I got 3 songs this time, 'Your Shadow', 'The Prisoner' and a cover-'You Got To Hide Your Love Away'. There wasn't much of a listening contingent this week, but it went off fine. 'The Prisoner' is a song that hasn't quite bedded in so far, and this was it's best airing yet.

Away from the gigging scene, there's been a major development:

CHECK OUT THIS MYSPACE PAGE

Here you will find details of a new movie based on the autobiographical novel 'Addict', by Steven Smith. There's full details on there, and also on Carol Douglas' page
Basically the song you can hear playing 'Money From The Satisfied Man' is written by me and Carol, and will feature on my forthcoming album. The song lyrically was inspired by the said book, and Carol had the ingenuity to contact the author, who it turns out is a big fan of the song.
We can only hope that the song makes it that far, and that this stage nothing is certain, but Steven wants full control over the film and if you read his blurb you will see it says the song will appear 'by hook or by crook'. It's all rather exciting....
The version you can hear is only the original rough demo, but the fuller version will be with us shortly, watch this space....

THE PRS
I guess if I achieve a worldwide smash hit in a movie, the PRS might even let me join. Like most things in life, I get the feeling they are becoming squeezed and as the music industry of old forever contracts I wonder just what will remain in another few years time.

MIKA
Thank heavens for talent coming to the surface in the face of all this..... I have to say I love the new 'Mika' song. After first hearing him on Jools Holland before Christmas, I was uncertain as to what I felt was the over-use of falcetto. Perhaps its a normal reaction to be a little uncertain over someone who takes things a little further.
I think it's wonderful to hear something different, and only time will tell if the rest of the album measures up. My main reason for saying all this is that he is clearly influenced by Queen. The middle section is very Queen, and its about time too!!

BOBBY
My other great passion apart from music is the real life 'who dunnits', in particular the Kennedy assassinations. I have bored many a person over the years with my conspiracy theories first triggered (forgive the pun) by watching the JFK movie back in the 90's.
So naturally I had to see the new Anthony Hopkins film Bobby which was released on Friday. It's not a conspiracy film, but paints of wonderful picture of the era and the atmosphere leading directly up to the lesser known shooting. If the aim of the film was to make you think 'what if...' then it certainly got me thinking again. Anyone who cares about the state of the world today should go and see it. Quickly.

THIS WEEK....

A busy week ahead, with open mic slots at O'Donoghue's, Wakefield on Monday 29th and The Ship, Briggate Leeds on Tuesday 30th. On Thursday 1st February there will be a booked 30 minute slot at The Old Police Station at Chapel Allerton and then on Sunday 4th my first full set show of the year at the New Inn, Barwick-in-Elmet. The latter is one of the nicer parts of Leeds (!!) and will feature covers as well as originals. It's a lovely venue so it should be a good night.