Yes, the Paul Jeffery Band was back at The Hop in Wakefield last Friday (the 24th) for our only show of the week. Last time we were there it was a very good night and, if anything, this time was even better!
The best thing about the Hop is that it gets rather busy, and an audience is a great help at a gig! Better still, the audience is very knowledgable and so songs such as 'Badge' went down very well. Also our interspertions of various other songs went down very well, none more so than my blast of Neil Young during 'So Lonely'! Even better than that, the beer is first class (I wasn't driving!) and so I would rate this gig very highly. It even felt like summer as well with the window folded back, so we were playing to the people out on the terrace (the outside bit) as well as those inside. That's like a semi-outdoor gig I suppose!
The following night I was working with Atlanta Soul in North Wales at what must surely have been one of the most picturesque venues I've ever done. It helped that it was a pleasant evening with the sun shining down the river Conwy valley. A most beautiful setting for a gig, or anything else for that matter.
Owing to my cold the preivous week, I was struggling to record the last vocals for the new album, so hopefully I can make some headway with that this week, in between the 3 gigs I'm doing!
Of course, as soon as the album is finished, there will be many blogs, bulletins, emails, courier pidgeons and smoke signals sent out.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
With all this talk of Swine Flu (oink) I was a bit concerned to go feeling under the weather last week. It's just a cold, partly induced by a strained throat, if you really wanted to know! But I was a bit relieved when Thursday's gig at the Fenton was cancelled for reasons beyond our control. That show is now re-arranged for Thurs Aug 20th. As always see the myspace site for an upto date giglist.
That left us just one band gig last week on Friday up at the Moorlands in Ogden. It was a typical British summer's day. Yes, torrential rain all day with the wind whipping up over the moors. More like November I thought. I was quite surprised to see how many people had turned out to eat, drink and be entertained on such a filthy night. Things are going pretty well up there!
This was our second visit and followed on from the first with a good response, particularly towards the end of the night. Encours were taken, with more being asked for! I was then talked into doing just one more by a girl who was going to France the following day, and was yet to pack. Quite why this meant she wanted another song I'm not too sure, but it's always nice to be asked-for whatever reason!
With my throat well and truly knackered, it was a good job we weren't working the rest of the weekend. I was off to the Europeans at Northampton. It was another full action-packed weekend, with plenty of summer rain on Sunday. A tiring way to have fun, but you know I wouldn't let that stop me. Now for a bit of rest and hopefully some time to work on new songs (I couldn't obviously record any vocals last week). Then the band is out on Friday at The Hop in Wakefield, another venue becoming very popular for music.
See you next week, and don't let the swines get you down.
That left us just one band gig last week on Friday up at the Moorlands in Ogden. It was a typical British summer's day. Yes, torrential rain all day with the wind whipping up over the moors. More like November I thought. I was quite surprised to see how many people had turned out to eat, drink and be entertained on such a filthy night. Things are going pretty well up there!
This was our second visit and followed on from the first with a good response, particularly towards the end of the night. Encours were taken, with more being asked for! I was then talked into doing just one more by a girl who was going to France the following day, and was yet to pack. Quite why this meant she wanted another song I'm not too sure, but it's always nice to be asked-for whatever reason!
With my throat well and truly knackered, it was a good job we weren't working the rest of the weekend. I was off to the Europeans at Northampton. It was another full action-packed weekend, with plenty of summer rain on Sunday. A tiring way to have fun, but you know I wouldn't let that stop me. Now for a bit of rest and hopefully some time to work on new songs (I couldn't obviously record any vocals last week). Then the band is out on Friday at The Hop in Wakefield, another venue becoming very popular for music.
See you next week, and don't let the swines get you down.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Another hectic week with just the 3 gigs this weekend! My voice is feeling it a bit today, so it's a good job I'm typing this rather than talking to you about it.
Friday saw our long-awaited (by us) return to the Puzzle Hall Inn, Sowerby Bridge. This is the cult music venue that was closed for a period of time last year. Now it's about to celebrate one year since it's re-opening and is fully up and running once more. We played a good set which towards the end of the night had people bouncing off the walls....literally, it's quite small inside! This was mainly thanks to a birthday party who got everybody up dancing about. They were up close and personal towards the end, but after all the gigs over the years where we've played to the proverbial one man and his dog, there seems little point in complaining about a more lively crowd! All said, a good night and we'll be back for more in October. Thanks to Martin for making my job easier by operating the PA system!
Saturday night was my turn on stage left with Atlanta Soul at the Last Drop in Bolton, most people think this is a home gig for me but I've actually never lived there...and I still had to drive home in torrential rain with the M62 about as bad as I can remember it.
Sunday afternoon, having dried out, brought us back to The Bridge in Huddersfield for the first time this year. Feeling like a real working musician, there's something about Sunday afternoon gigs that always makes me feel I've done a hard weekend's work.
Voted 'Music Pub Of The Year' by our local entertainments paper this was I think our best gig here so far. We had a good crowd throughout and didn't shy away from rocking it a bit more, this is a biker's pub after all. In the 2nd set we were joined by some genuine 1950s throwbacks Teddy Boys (and Girls), and while I couldn't quite fit any rock n roll into our set it made for a colourful afternoon. Is there anywhere else in the country where you can find authentic Teds in the town still enjoying good old rock n roll? Or is it something unique to Huddersfield?
The New Album cometh:
In the middle of all these gigs I'm still finding some spare moments to work on the record, with another song mixed last week. I sent out an email to everyone on the mailing list giving it a quick preview last week also, so I'm very excited about putting this one out, as I am with any new album.
Just a note to say the Fenton gig which would have been this Thursday has now been re-arranged for August 20th.
Bye for now.
Friday saw our long-awaited (by us) return to the Puzzle Hall Inn, Sowerby Bridge. This is the cult music venue that was closed for a period of time last year. Now it's about to celebrate one year since it's re-opening and is fully up and running once more. We played a good set which towards the end of the night had people bouncing off the walls....literally, it's quite small inside! This was mainly thanks to a birthday party who got everybody up dancing about. They were up close and personal towards the end, but after all the gigs over the years where we've played to the proverbial one man and his dog, there seems little point in complaining about a more lively crowd! All said, a good night and we'll be back for more in October. Thanks to Martin for making my job easier by operating the PA system!
Saturday night was my turn on stage left with Atlanta Soul at the Last Drop in Bolton, most people think this is a home gig for me but I've actually never lived there...and I still had to drive home in torrential rain with the M62 about as bad as I can remember it.
Sunday afternoon, having dried out, brought us back to The Bridge in Huddersfield for the first time this year. Feeling like a real working musician, there's something about Sunday afternoon gigs that always makes me feel I've done a hard weekend's work.
Voted 'Music Pub Of The Year' by our local entertainments paper this was I think our best gig here so far. We had a good crowd throughout and didn't shy away from rocking it a bit more, this is a biker's pub after all. In the 2nd set we were joined by some genuine 1950s throwbacks Teddy Boys (and Girls), and while I couldn't quite fit any rock n roll into our set it made for a colourful afternoon. Is there anywhere else in the country where you can find authentic Teds in the town still enjoying good old rock n roll? Or is it something unique to Huddersfield?
The New Album cometh:
In the middle of all these gigs I'm still finding some spare moments to work on the record, with another song mixed last week. I sent out an email to everyone on the mailing list giving it a quick preview last week also, so I'm very excited about putting this one out, as I am with any new album.
Just a note to say the Fenton gig which would have been this Thursday has now been re-arranged for August 20th.
Bye for now.
Monday, July 06, 2009
Plenty to catch up on after a run of 4 gigs in the last 4 days. This started on Thursday (2nd) with the band at Zephyr Bar in Huddersfield, scene of the PJ Band's first ever gig!
Always a favourite venue, it was a pity the bar (and indeed the whole area in general) was quiet that night. Perhaps it's due to the exodus of students, or because it was a hot day(and a hot night). Perhaps everyone had heard we were playing and decided to stay out of the area!
All the bars on King Street were quiet, and you could tell this by the lesser than usual number of people wandering up and down the road. Whichever way, I thought the band played really well and were well-received. 15 minutes after we finished playing....the bar got quite busy, at just after midnight! Was this coincidence, or just bad luck-perhaps they were all waiting until we finished playing!
Next up was a new venue in Drighlington, the Malt Shovel. I think the band nights are a fairly recent thing there but it seems to be working for them as we had a good, enthusiastic crowd. As I've said before I'm always a bit nervous about a new venue, stepping into the unknown, but this one came up trumps and we're looking forward to returning in October.
Saturday was another new one, the Lockwood&Salford Conservative Club. The last time I played in a conservative club was in 2005 and it very nearly put me off gigging for good! I'm tempted to wind up the people I know will be reading this and say it was rubbish, but that would be a lie: We had a very good night indeed!
Again, not quite knowing what to expect can lead to a more exciting gig. This one went down very well and it was great to see so many people into what we were doing, just dancing, clapping, it all makes such a difference. By the end of the night the place was really buzzing and I think this is currently tieing with the Fenton for the best gig of 2009 so far.
Sunday afternoon rounded things off with my solo slot at the Abbey Inn Festival. The most notable change this year was the addition of a fantastic tent to host the event, not only covering the acts but also the entire audience!
I was the opening act for the Sunday, and it was pretty hot come midday. The crowd was still beginning to arrive but I really enjoyed the set. I got to give 'Brian Wilson' another go, as well as 'Learning To Fly' and several of my own songs. It seems the Abbey festival gets better each year and it's great to see live music supported. I'm told there are many non-regulars who visit the event and this can only be a good thing. I hope some of them come back to support the regular music nights in the area.
This week we have just the 2 PJ Band gigs, with the Puzzle Hall: another cult classic in Sowerby Bridge, on Friday then The Bridge, Huddersfield, on Sunday afternoon.
NEW ALBUM
Now I know even more people are reading the blog, I thought I should mention again that my new album is coming soon! If you would like to receive further news, updates and ramblings, please drop me an email at paul@pauljeffery.com to be added to the mailing list.
Always a favourite venue, it was a pity the bar (and indeed the whole area in general) was quiet that night. Perhaps it's due to the exodus of students, or because it was a hot day(and a hot night). Perhaps everyone had heard we were playing and decided to stay out of the area!
All the bars on King Street were quiet, and you could tell this by the lesser than usual number of people wandering up and down the road. Whichever way, I thought the band played really well and were well-received. 15 minutes after we finished playing....the bar got quite busy, at just after midnight! Was this coincidence, or just bad luck-perhaps they were all waiting until we finished playing!
Next up was a new venue in Drighlington, the Malt Shovel. I think the band nights are a fairly recent thing there but it seems to be working for them as we had a good, enthusiastic crowd. As I've said before I'm always a bit nervous about a new venue, stepping into the unknown, but this one came up trumps and we're looking forward to returning in October.
Saturday was another new one, the Lockwood&Salford Conservative Club. The last time I played in a conservative club was in 2005 and it very nearly put me off gigging for good! I'm tempted to wind up the people I know will be reading this and say it was rubbish, but that would be a lie: We had a very good night indeed!
Again, not quite knowing what to expect can lead to a more exciting gig. This one went down very well and it was great to see so many people into what we were doing, just dancing, clapping, it all makes such a difference. By the end of the night the place was really buzzing and I think this is currently tieing with the Fenton for the best gig of 2009 so far.
Sunday afternoon rounded things off with my solo slot at the Abbey Inn Festival. The most notable change this year was the addition of a fantastic tent to host the event, not only covering the acts but also the entire audience!
I was the opening act for the Sunday, and it was pretty hot come midday. The crowd was still beginning to arrive but I really enjoyed the set. I got to give 'Brian Wilson' another go, as well as 'Learning To Fly' and several of my own songs. It seems the Abbey festival gets better each year and it's great to see live music supported. I'm told there are many non-regulars who visit the event and this can only be a good thing. I hope some of them come back to support the regular music nights in the area.
This week we have just the 2 PJ Band gigs, with the Puzzle Hall: another cult classic in Sowerby Bridge, on Friday then The Bridge, Huddersfield, on Sunday afternoon.
NEW ALBUM
Now I know even more people are reading the blog, I thought I should mention again that my new album is coming soon! If you would like to receive further news, updates and ramblings, please drop me an email at paul@pauljeffery.com to be added to the mailing list.
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