Happy New Year everybody, I'll try and make sure I update this blog more often this year, see how long that one lasts!!
I tend to get very into the idea of a new year, as if last year now counts for nothing and somehow everything will be different after the clock strikes midnight. Bullshit. I've already realised how stupid that is, ok it's great for me personally to renew my efforts and focus etc.... but I've already received bad news from others this 'year' on a few occasions, luckily not for me personally but there are several friends I know for whom the year has not started well.

On the music front, the major change is the upping of the band gigs to one a week. The solo shows continue about normal and I've left Morris & The Minors.

I'll start with the latter as my last gig with them was on New Years' Eve. I don't often mention their shows because strictly speaking they're not relevant to my own material. Here though is where the old year ends and the new one begins...with a wedding (!) near Wetherby. Who has a wedding on New Years' Eve?? A rich bugger I guess. There was a room for the night for all guests, fireworks on the terrace at midnight, and of course a band.
One thing I will miss about the band is the class of venue. This was no exception, a beautiful stately mansion-cum-hotel in it's own grounds (about a mile's drive to get from the gates to the front door). There have been others similar over the past 2 years, and whilst I love some of the smaller venues I'm sure there will come a point where I'll miss this side of things. I don't like getting my feet wet.

The gig itself was routine enough, and then it was the last load up and off we went. Into 2008 and God only knows what. One thing for definite is that it will be busy to start off with. For on top of trying to make a 'fresh start' and do as much work on New Years' Day as I did in the whole of 2007, there's a lot of gigs coming up.

The first one was on Thursday 3rd at Verve Bar in Leeds. This is arguably the place best suited to acoustic gigs in Leeds at the moment. It's small but with an atmosphere, and it has a good PA. On a night like this I could have been forgiven for expecting a quiet do. Not so. The little room was packed, 50 people being a lot in there. I was on first, playing through a set of 'Your Shadow', 'You Never Understood', 'Even', 'Can't Believe the News', 'Laura Jones' and 'These Eyes'. Fairly succesful all in all. 'Can't Believe The News' was on it's 10th anniversary since being written and both halves of the writing partnership were there.
I decided to have a go at 'Laura' to stretch myself and this almost came off. The best received numbers were still the first and last but I was pleased with how it went.

One other act caught the eye, although I honestly can't remember his name. He had some innovative ideas including a drum machine and some effects pedals, some short witty riffs and lyrics, and most importantly a following. The only downside was that they all followed him straight up the stairs after his set and left the last artist to suffer the quietest crowd of the night.
Luckily it didn't seem to phase him, it's happened to me a few times and it leaves a bit of a bad taste in the mouth. I have to admit I've left venues before the end of the night a few times, but not when it's a good, well-organised night like this.

On Friday night I went to see Paul Carrack doing his regular show at the Ritz in Brighouse. For those not familiar, the Ritz is an old cinema converted into a ballroom and is straight out of the 1960s. It keeps getting threatened with closure which would be a tragedy because with a bit more effort it could house name artists every week-just like Holmfirth picturedrome have managed! As usual, Paul was brilliant and the whole band seem to rock this year. His Hammond playing is the highlight for me, for there are few equals, especially now that Billy Preston is no longer with us. His voice is classy as always, and although I don't care for the 60s cover songs, the ballroom was bouncing once again.

Saturday night was the first band gig of the year at the Owl in Rodley. This is the 3rd member of the West Leeds Triangle including the Old Vic and the Abbey. The landlord here has quickly established the venue for live music and a nice atmosphere. If only there were more places like this, we certainly need them! The band had a good night, playing all the originals we know plus 'I Don't Need' which I did solo.
It was the first test of the year, and I only hope we can stay on top of things this year, because it's really fun to do and it went down very well.

As always there's an idiot present, this time the cheeky bastard who suggested I got a wig. Pillock of Week 1 I think.

The following day, I had yet another show in the afternoon, this being at the Travellers, Hipperholme. This is a truly lovely pub in beautiful surroundings, great beer and no scrotes in sight. Perfect except for one thing, they haven't come to listen to a musician. Thus I played, and a few people listened.
I only played covers this time, and although it was by no means a disaster, I have to question the strategy to putting an act on. By all means do it, but please do it once a week not once a month and make sure people know and aren't left thinking the poor bloke has intruded for the afternoon. Potentially the idea works but it needs more effort on the promotion so that the musician isn't just left to fend for themselves against a frowning audience.
To be fair, I think more enjoyed it than I first thought, but it was hard to tell when people weren't paying much attention.

That just about wraps up Week 1. This week it's the band at the Cricketers, Horbury on Friday and solo at New Roscoe Sunday. As usual check out the myspace page for upto date news!!