Back to something like normal hectic level last week!
The band made it's first visit over to the Bakers Vaults in Stockport on Friday night. A venue where music is a big part of the nightlife, with several live acts a week. We had a good crowd which, as always, means that the gig is better, and all the songs designed for a big crowd come into their own. It was a good set and, with so many original songs played, very pleasing for me.
On Sunday afternoon we were back on familiar ground at the Bridge in Huddersfield. The pub had just celebrated its 3rd birthday under the current owners the night before-which is great news for a venue that is really supporting the bands. Needless to say there were a few sore heads from their party and the numbers were slightly down for us, but it was still a good run-through for the band which I enjoyed.
I'm still designing the cover for the new album but it's really not too far away now. And thank you also to everyone who has signed up for the new mailing list. Off the back of this, 'Your Shadow' has reached the Top Ten in it's genre on the soundclick site. I can't wait to revamp my page there when the new album is done. To join the mailing list simply click the link above and go to the very bottom of the page-there you can submit your email address!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Not much to report on this week, unless you want the lowdown on the BRISCA World Final. Ask me if you want, but I warn you you may get bored pretty quickly!
So no gigs last week, just one night out at a Conference in Leeds. This was a meeting regarding the South by South West music convention in Austin Texas. It was extremely well-attended and I always feel re-assured when there are other mad-keen musicians there, taking notes and so on. It reminds me that I'm not the only mad fool around.
I don't think SxSW is for me. Not just now anyway. It's very costly and there's VISAs to consider. Plus every other band, singer, etc.. is there. Is that really a good way to get noticed and stand out from the crowd? I'm not sure it's the best way these days. Plus there's a risk of ending up playing to 2 people, and I can do that pretty well here!
One other development last week, which some of you will know by now, is that I'm switching over to a proper 'management' system for sending out email newsletters. If you're not on the mailing list (shame on you!) then please feel free to email me. The old system involved be bcc-ing everyone from my own personal email address and then re-sending it 500+ times! I know, you're shocked that's how many people are on my mailing list...but it's not a very professional approach.
So now I'll be doing it through soundclick.com, where I already have a lot of my music uploaded.
This means I have to have your permission to send the emails, and thus a confirmation email will be sent to all existing subscribers over the next few weeks. Some have already been sent. It all means that in future the email newsletter will look better and, for once, give off the vibe that I know what I'm doing.
Next week there will be news on the 2 upcoming Paul Jeffery Band gigs. On Friday 25th we're over at the Bakers Vaults, Stockport. Then on Sunday 27th in the afternoon (3-5pm) we're at The Bridge in Huddersfield. If you can't wait until next week for the news, then come to the gigs themselves!
So no gigs last week, just one night out at a Conference in Leeds. This was a meeting regarding the South by South West music convention in Austin Texas. It was extremely well-attended and I always feel re-assured when there are other mad-keen musicians there, taking notes and so on. It reminds me that I'm not the only mad fool around.
I don't think SxSW is for me. Not just now anyway. It's very costly and there's VISAs to consider. Plus every other band, singer, etc.. is there. Is that really a good way to get noticed and stand out from the crowd? I'm not sure it's the best way these days. Plus there's a risk of ending up playing to 2 people, and I can do that pretty well here!
One other development last week, which some of you will know by now, is that I'm switching over to a proper 'management' system for sending out email newsletters. If you're not on the mailing list (shame on you!) then please feel free to email me. The old system involved be bcc-ing everyone from my own personal email address and then re-sending it 500+ times! I know, you're shocked that's how many people are on my mailing list...but it's not a very professional approach.
So now I'll be doing it through soundclick.com, where I already have a lot of my music uploaded.
This means I have to have your permission to send the emails, and thus a confirmation email will be sent to all existing subscribers over the next few weeks. Some have already been sent. It all means that in future the email newsletter will look better and, for once, give off the vibe that I know what I'm doing.
Next week there will be news on the 2 upcoming Paul Jeffery Band gigs. On Friday 25th we're over at the Bakers Vaults, Stockport. Then on Sunday 27th in the afternoon (3-5pm) we're at The Bridge in Huddersfield. If you can't wait until next week for the news, then come to the gigs themselves!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
2 gigs in the past week. Fernandes Brewery Tap returned to the scene last Thursday for a solo gig, this time playing in the downstairs 'kellar'. It's a great facility, just not very busy I'm afraid, in keeping with the majority of Ossett Brewery gigs! In fact, I ended up playing to nobody which is never a good feeling. This coupled with the fact it was supposed to be a 'trad blues' night meant it was really one to forget. The one consolation being that there was no-one there to complain that I wasn't a Trad Blues artist!
Friday was one of our regular band venues, the Kings Arms at Heaton. Not a bad night, but the noise detector is a bit of a pain. These devices aren't representative of how loud a band actually is. They're more representative of peaking frequencies, particularly when the vocal is un-compressed and has such a vast dynamic range. Playing a gig with a noise meter is a bit like playing Call My Bluff connected to a polygraph. I must point out however that the venue aren't in any way to blame for the need to have a meter, so it's probably a pain in the arse for them too.
Therefore I'm glad to be enjoying a couple of weeks with no gigs! It goes that way sometimes. If only there were more web-based sales, things would be very different. Still, the work of promoting the music must go on and live promotion is still one of the best ways to do this.
I've been working on the cover design for the new album, which is musically now finished. There will soon be tracks to listen to and, in one case, download for free.
In the meantime I'm gearing up for a weekend away at the World Stock Car finals at King's Lynn. This will be spectacular and one I wouldn't miss for anything, even a gig!
Friday was one of our regular band venues, the Kings Arms at Heaton. Not a bad night, but the noise detector is a bit of a pain. These devices aren't representative of how loud a band actually is. They're more representative of peaking frequencies, particularly when the vocal is un-compressed and has such a vast dynamic range. Playing a gig with a noise meter is a bit like playing Call My Bluff connected to a polygraph. I must point out however that the venue aren't in any way to blame for the need to have a meter, so it's probably a pain in the arse for them too.
Therefore I'm glad to be enjoying a couple of weeks with no gigs! It goes that way sometimes. If only there were more web-based sales, things would be very different. Still, the work of promoting the music must go on and live promotion is still one of the best ways to do this.
I've been working on the cover design for the new album, which is musically now finished. There will soon be tracks to listen to and, in one case, download for free.
In the meantime I'm gearing up for a weekend away at the World Stock Car finals at King's Lynn. This will be spectacular and one I wouldn't miss for anything, even a gig!
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Another heavy week of gigging, which has again delayed progress on the new album, now I know how Pink Floyd felt. (Their albums were always delayed and taking forever, although there the similarities with my career abruptly end).
We start off on Friday at Hoagys in Leeds, with my band playing there for the first time. We had a new drummer for the evening too. Not a bad night, it wasn't overly busy but those that were there had a good time.
On Saturday we had our second innings at the Cricketers Arms in Keighley. (don't worry, that's the end of the cricketing analogies). This is a venue that continues to amaze me. It has sort of crept up on us, a really good venue that until a few months ago I knew little about. Now we've had 2 really good gigs there, and we've only been twice!! Without meaning to offend anyone, and you know I'd never do that on here, Keighley isn't exactly known as a hotspot for a good night out, let alone with live music involved. This venue puts all that straight in one go-it was a superb crowd and it was so easy to feed off that energy. If, as seems likely, we lose one of my favourite venues in Leeds, this one goes a long way towards making up for that.
On Sunday afternoon we played at one of our longest standing venues in Berry Brow, the Railway. It's still a tight squeeze getting in but once in we make a good sound and the crowd are very supportive, including for the original material of which we did 7 of my songs. We generally get a good reception there, in one case a little too enthusiastic. The sight of male nipples is one I don't want to see at too many gigs!
Guy Babylon RIP
I was shocked to hear last week of the sudden death of Guy Babylon, who was Elton John's keyboard player for many years. He was at all the gigs I went to, including one just before Christmas. It's a big big shame, as it seems only too recently that Rick Wright and Billy Preston passed away.
We start off on Friday at Hoagys in Leeds, with my band playing there for the first time. We had a new drummer for the evening too. Not a bad night, it wasn't overly busy but those that were there had a good time.
On Saturday we had our second innings at the Cricketers Arms in Keighley. (don't worry, that's the end of the cricketing analogies). This is a venue that continues to amaze me. It has sort of crept up on us, a really good venue that until a few months ago I knew little about. Now we've had 2 really good gigs there, and we've only been twice!! Without meaning to offend anyone, and you know I'd never do that on here, Keighley isn't exactly known as a hotspot for a good night out, let alone with live music involved. This venue puts all that straight in one go-it was a superb crowd and it was so easy to feed off that energy. If, as seems likely, we lose one of my favourite venues in Leeds, this one goes a long way towards making up for that.
On Sunday afternoon we played at one of our longest standing venues in Berry Brow, the Railway. It's still a tight squeeze getting in but once in we make a good sound and the crowd are very supportive, including for the original material of which we did 7 of my songs. We generally get a good reception there, in one case a little too enthusiastic. The sight of male nipples is one I don't want to see at too many gigs!
Guy Babylon RIP
I was shocked to hear last week of the sudden death of Guy Babylon, who was Elton John's keyboard player for many years. He was at all the gigs I went to, including one just before Christmas. It's a big big shame, as it seems only too recently that Rick Wright and Billy Preston passed away.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Selling songs off the back of a lorry
Well, I'm back from my short sabatical on the Isle Of Wight. I'd like to show you some photos but as usual the long-awaited flickr account and photo management of this blog is somewhat behind schedule (by a few years, a bit like the Isle of Wight really). So I'll just tell you a little about where I've been:
Saturday 22nd: Went to Birmingham F1 Stock Car semi-final, the 2 major incidents happened right in front of me. Including the site of Steve Jacklin sliding along on his roof, gouging out the tarmac, a small piece of which hit me on the cheek. I felt like James Tague in Dealey Plaza, glad to be part of the action! (but no blood). Overnight in Bromsgrove, too late for the pub.
Sunday 23rd: Down the M5 to Taunton for Formula 2 stock car semi-finals, (the smaller versions). Great day, best commentator ever at a meeting, and witnessed the legend that is Rob Speak, can't wait for the World Final at Buxton in a couple of weeks. Overnight in Yeovil, beer not bad, no cider.
Monday 24th: Drove across to Portsmouth and got a ferry across. Started my island 'tour' (nothing to do with gigging) in the evening on the south coast, beautiful sunset, shame it had to end in Ventnor.
Tuesday 25th: Continued from Shanklin (very peaceful) to Sandown (very tacky), then virtually every place onto Ryde. Appropriately enough, saw Speedway meeting here that evening. Only 2 hospitalised, great smells!
Wednesday 26th: Started at East Cowes (not so great smells), got 'floating bridge' to Cowes, then onto Newtown-a more beautiful place I can't think of. Yarmouth next, also cracking place-such a contrast to Sandown, much more middle-class. Heard about the death of Ted Kennedy while in a second-hand bookshop. I stayed in Newport, hotel and local pub fine, blocked the toilet once and had to ask embarrasingly for help. Twas a brave person that rectified that situation!
Thursday 27th: Carisbrooke Castle to kill time, home.
There were also gigs just before and after all this fun. Thursday 20th saw the band return to the Fenton. Last time was definetly one of the best shows this year, this time was nearly as good. The crowd in there are superb. They were behind us all the way, and I had another great night. Please give me more gigs like this!
On the bank holiday weekend just gone, we played at The Wills O'Nats (Meltham) 'festival' with 3 bands playing on the back of a truck. It was a shame the weather didn't smile on us, though the sheer mention of the words 'outdoor gig' seem to cause this to happen! Not a great occasion mainly due to the rain. The following day I did a solo gig in Rodley at the Barge, again....on the back of a lorry! I was beginning to see a pattern emerging here. This one went better as the rain waited until I finished rather than during the set and I was proud of my 'thank you Wembley...sorry, Rodley' closer, though no-one else seemed too bothered. Glad to say the festival was well-attended, and that with me going on first when it's usually not too busy.
So we're now into September, and a mere 3 gigs to do this week. All my band, Leeds Friday, Keighley Saturday, Huddersfield Sunday afternoon.
Saturday 22nd: Went to Birmingham F1 Stock Car semi-final, the 2 major incidents happened right in front of me. Including the site of Steve Jacklin sliding along on his roof, gouging out the tarmac, a small piece of which hit me on the cheek. I felt like James Tague in Dealey Plaza, glad to be part of the action! (but no blood). Overnight in Bromsgrove, too late for the pub.
Sunday 23rd: Down the M5 to Taunton for Formula 2 stock car semi-finals, (the smaller versions). Great day, best commentator ever at a meeting, and witnessed the legend that is Rob Speak, can't wait for the World Final at Buxton in a couple of weeks. Overnight in Yeovil, beer not bad, no cider.
Monday 24th: Drove across to Portsmouth and got a ferry across. Started my island 'tour' (nothing to do with gigging) in the evening on the south coast, beautiful sunset, shame it had to end in Ventnor.
Tuesday 25th: Continued from Shanklin (very peaceful) to Sandown (very tacky), then virtually every place onto Ryde. Appropriately enough, saw Speedway meeting here that evening. Only 2 hospitalised, great smells!
Wednesday 26th: Started at East Cowes (not so great smells), got 'floating bridge' to Cowes, then onto Newtown-a more beautiful place I can't think of. Yarmouth next, also cracking place-such a contrast to Sandown, much more middle-class. Heard about the death of Ted Kennedy while in a second-hand bookshop. I stayed in Newport, hotel and local pub fine, blocked the toilet once and had to ask embarrasingly for help. Twas a brave person that rectified that situation!
Thursday 27th: Carisbrooke Castle to kill time, home.
There were also gigs just before and after all this fun. Thursday 20th saw the band return to the Fenton. Last time was definetly one of the best shows this year, this time was nearly as good. The crowd in there are superb. They were behind us all the way, and I had another great night. Please give me more gigs like this!
On the bank holiday weekend just gone, we played at The Wills O'Nats (Meltham) 'festival' with 3 bands playing on the back of a truck. It was a shame the weather didn't smile on us, though the sheer mention of the words 'outdoor gig' seem to cause this to happen! Not a great occasion mainly due to the rain. The following day I did a solo gig in Rodley at the Barge, again....on the back of a lorry! I was beginning to see a pattern emerging here. This one went better as the rain waited until I finished rather than during the set and I was proud of my 'thank you Wembley...sorry, Rodley' closer, though no-one else seemed too bothered. Glad to say the festival was well-attended, and that with me going on first when it's usually not too busy.
So we're now into September, and a mere 3 gigs to do this week. All my band, Leeds Friday, Keighley Saturday, Huddersfield Sunday afternoon.
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