We seem to get more extreme weather these days, last Monday there were more storms about which probably accounted for the internet going down. This meant no blog, which I'm sure both of you were really upset about.
So I'll set out from Monday the 4th of March. The Tuesday that week brought me to a new open mic night in Huddersfield at Sleepers. This was my first of 2 gigs in the week that were in bars built into railway arches. Fascinating stuff I know. Sleepers has a jazz night and also a real piano. So I got to play 'Your Shadow' and '7 Shades' on the real Joanna. The latter always benefits from this. Then as it was quiet I got a 2nd slot to do 'Lost In Love Town' and then 'Rocket Man'. The title track from my first album getting a rare outing there. As said the night was quiet. The bar was fine and the night has potential but it badly needs another 20 people. I say this quite a lot.

Thursday at Verve in Leeds was busy enough. Unfortunately the night was totally abortive for me as no one seemed prepared to listen. I'd introduced 'Coming Up For Air' for this one, which is going to be on the new Paradise Street project album. It's always been a female song but I enjoyed playing it. There's not much more I can say about this night.

The week wasn't a total disaster though, as I've just introduced a new work schedule which means I actually get things done for a change. It's only taken me 10 years to figure it out! So by Friday I'd managed to more or less mix the 2nd Paradise Street track, and get time to go visit a new potential venue, which was (refreshingly) a buzzing place which I hope we can get the band on at.

I had Saturday (the 8th) to pursue watching cars going round in circles at Birmingham before ending the week at the last point of my now famous Bars Built Into Railway Arches Tour. The Sunday night slot was called LiveSpace, at Bridges Bar in Sowerby Bridge. It's in the upstairs bit, run as a seperate night. This keeps it apart from the locals downstairs. There were some very interesting acts on and this was a much better night. It reminded me of the Priestley gigs in Bradford in that it was 'semi-open mic' but with a booked band at the end. I did 3 songs only but was pleased with the reception. I'm booked to do the headline slot in September now. It may be possible to get the band involved, we'll just have to see.

Into the previous week gone by now. As a result of the Bridges gig, I went along to another new open mic night in Hebden Bridge. This is further up the Calder Valley and is also a very 'artistic' place. That's the polite description anyway! Upstairs again, this time at the Stubbing Wharfe. My night wasn't that great due to a dicky keyboard amp (made by Custom Sound) as I played Your Shadow and 7 Shades. I'm also left feeling a little uneasy at these more provincial open nights. They have a habit of becoming club, and if you're not in the club, there's always a slight atmposphere of restrained tolerance. Most of the performers I think go weekly. It's also supposed to be one song only (something they relaxed for me, not my idea honest) which I think is a bit tight. But at least it aleviates the bordom of watching longer sets! I'll see how things go before setting out there again. It's a good night and there's some nice people, so it should be OK.

Thursday was another recee trip. I encountered a band that caused some talking points. They were one of many similar bands in this area-and I wonder whether the time is right for a cull.

Take a guitarist with 4 Marshall 4x12 amps, a bassist with the same , neglect the vocals by using 12 inch tops and you have all the right ingredients. Yes, it's a West Yorkshire cock rock band!

Throw in some leather pants, screaming, flashing lights, and the SAME FUCKING SET THAT ALL THE OTHER BANDS PLAY, honed from years of listening to the SAME THREE FUCKING BANDS and you're getting there. These bands have all been at it for years, playing mainly the same set as when they formed in 1987. Don't get me wrong, I like it loud and I like the original versions of the songs, but if I have to sit through another ear-bleeding version of Whole Lotta Rosie or Highway To Hell I might have to kill someone.

These bands are like dinosaurs. Never more arrogant than just before extinction. They now play to an ever-dwindling band of long-haired followers, less and less Rock Chicks (which is a shame!) and more and more folk wondering why the hell they bother. I'd like to see, just for a change, an acoustic set, or some Neil Young, just anything DIFFERENT.

Which leaves us with the weekend just gone. I got soaked to the bone in Birmingham on Saturday night, and then nearly frozen in Santiagos in Leeds! The latter was a gig too. A very quiet night in Leeds, due to the 2 St Patricks Days either side. I was on last. And just in time for my set was.....an encroacher! I haven't had one for a while, but never tempt fate. There could be a scrote just lurking around any corner, just waiting for my set to begin! And here he was...a foreign chappy with a severe mental problems. Joining me on stage half way through a song asking for Dark Side Of The Moon (all of it?). After I'd finished by enjoyable set, off he went. Spitting on the window as he left. Lord help us all. Why me?