In the penultimate week before Christmas, things have been pretty busy here. Another 2 gigs played, more experience gained, another argument with a mad woman, just about normal I guess.

My band morphed into 'function-mode' on Saturday night to play to a room full of miserable buggers who were something to do with British Telecom. We played mainly soul stuff, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding... no original tunes. It was good fun and the band played superbly.

A lot of people danced and enjoyed themselves so I shouldn't let the one dissenting voice spoil things. It's just that I'm rubbish with confrontations. It was quite funny with hindsight. We were accused of playing 'niche music...more suitable for university students'. Yes, songs from the 1960s, students are clearly getting older these days. Not to worry, I kept to my basic PR skills...I told her to piss off.

Oh and just for the record we were underpaid by £20. Hopefully this was a clerical error, or perhaps I had some long-oustanding phone bill unpaid.

Sunday afternoon was back to normal fare at The Bridge in Huddersfield. It was very quiet but the band played as if to a full stadium. I exagerate not. The versions of 'Heroes', 'White Room' and 'So Lonely' at the moment are an immense sound. It's just hard to take when the song ends, reality kicks in and you realise you're a nobody playing to half a dozen folk. Still at least nobody complained this time. It scores 5.

The Paradise Street album is now but one mix away from completion. Then it's a quick once-over on the tracks and the layout and we're ready to go. For those that don't know, this is a side project as an outlet for some of my material more suited to female singers (I don't really like singing about my unrequited love for boys). There's 13 songs and the whole thing has been a joy to work on. Brilliant vocal performances and guitar work, I've really grown to love these songs. Hopefully it will sell a few copies too, or at least gain more exposure, I think it's deserving.

One final gig this Saturday (20th) is at The Owl, Rodley. Ironically, it's where we played our first show of the year too. Then it's on to Christmas time. As I'm saying this I realise this will be the last blog of 2008 (barring any major record deals) so it only remains for me to say thank you, merry Christmas, Happy New Year and for those that complain at my gigs: piss off.