Is it really a month since the last post? Yes it is.

Quite a lot happening as always, including most importantly the long-awaited finish of the 2nd album! Yes, the new 10-track CD is finished, and awaiting final printing and duplication before I'll be selling copies.

As usual, these will be available at gigs and on cdbaby.com, and in due course various other digital distributors such as apple itunes and napster.

The album is entitled 'Seven Shades Of Grey' and 4 of the new tracks are now on my myspace site.
There's also a VIDEO of a LIVE PERFORMANCE from Zephyr Bar in March of 'Money From The Satified Man'. Carol Douglas also has the track 'Through Heartache and Back' on her page.


PAUL GOES MAD ON MYSPACE
Speaking of myspace.....apart from ranging between over-worked to lethargy the other reason for the long delay since the last blog is that I've finally become addicted to myspace, about a year after I started with it and about 2 years after everybody else cracked it and moved on.
Slow developer again.

I've progressively been getting more 'hits' on there than on here basically. Website traffic is a slow trickle and without constant mailshots and new releases seems to stay that way. Myspace is there, it's immediate and the networking potential is of course infinite. I've realised fully the power it can have for promoting my music and very slowly I'm learning how to utilise that power.

The site is virtually a website in itself, apart from the limit on songs (4). But with soundclick.com allowing limitless uploads that is easily stepped around. Pics, videos, and then your 'guestbook'-where people leave nice comments and promote their own wares-all add to the instant networking appeal.

Of course, you all knew this long before me and are probably now bemoaning it's lack of 'edge' and championing facebook and bebo. I think I'll stick to myspace for now, who knows I might even get nostalgic about that too.

Back to the gigs then, The 18th July Primrose was cancelled due to 2 bands pulling out. So I went off to try another new open mic night in West Leeds, the Old Vic at Bramley. This is run by Scouse Andy (who used to be riot controller/compere at the Fox & Newt open mic). Here in more civilised surroundings we had a good night. I played 'Your Shadow', 'Laura Jones' (over their heads a bit), and then a special impromtu duet of 'No Other Baby' with Andy. He happened to be playing it in the soundcheck which I remarked on.

'No Other Baby' is by the Vincents from about 500 your ago, and was covered by Paul McCartney on his 1999 Run Devil Run rock n roll album. I loved the vibe of the latter version and used to cover it in my old band. There's very little to it, just a 12-bar that builds up-the rest of the band hated it but I always loved the song. Andy sang the lead vocals and I harmonised, to me at times it sounded like the Everleys....

Saturday 21 July featured my set in the afternoon at the Abbey. Their festival brought indoors by the council this year, just as well with the abismal weather. I played around 20 mins and with Andy compering again, in went the duet for a 2nd time!

Dare Cafe was on the schedule for that evening but was cancelled as the venue has music licensing problems. These problems seem to have become more perminent since then so I hope they can sort it out.

Sunday night was my 2nd time at Santiagos. I played a set comprising 'Your Shadow', 'Whiskey', 'Can't Believe The News', 'Dare' and 'These Eyes'. I really enjoyed this one, and am now starting to recognise some of the other acts that are around, as well as having a bit of fun with the passing City Varieties Blues Brothers audience as they made their way home.

The Grove open mic on Wed 25th July was pretty special. I played '7 Shades' and 'Words' and sold quite a few CDs. It is currently my favourite of the open nights. The following night I played a set at the Puzzle Hall open mic, again pretty succesful, mainly to promote the following weeks' band gig. 'I Don't Need' had an airing this time.

The last Monday of the month was another first, a set at The Priestley Bar in Bradford. This is based in Little Germany and is a studio theatre with a bar. Another hugely succesful night in terms of cds sales and networking. It was here that I hooked up with bcb radio to do some interviews for the new album. I really hope this night survives because it deserves some success.

I'll pause there with August still to go, stay awake at the back....