15.4.09
8.4.09
I'VE GOT RESERVATIONS.....
....about so many things but not about you.Wilco all day today. This band are amazing and strangely seem to be soundtracking my life right now.
The day goes fast, a little too fast. Friday creeps closer.
7.4.09
26.3.09
Sleepingdog Tour pt5
EDINBURGH
Shit. I just realized I didn't finish the tour diary.
Well Edinburgh was a hoot... man I love that place. I've played the Wee Red Bar like 4 times in a year now, the people there are so nice and friendly and the task is set to make it 4 out of 4 in terms of Edinburgh being the best night of every tour.
Chantal is tired from driving and disappears off for a walk while Christophe and I set up. Alex (the sound guy) is always so good in getting exactly the sound you want in there - quiet or loud. Every time.
It's great to see Euan again, we've made a really nice friendship over the past year or so and tonight I play on a song by his band The Kays Lavelle. I am a band whore.
Esperi is up first tonight - Chris is clearly mega-talented just from watching him soundcheck and he plays are really great set, Chantal is in love with him as he is cute and sings about dogs. He's in Leeds in a couple of weeks so it will be nice to hook up again.
Heidi and Ally are here! Two of my good Scottish friends who always turn up to shows, its so nice to see familiar faces when you are on the road.
The Kays Lavelle play a nice stripped back set and I join them on the last song 'December'.
There is a nice vibe about the venue and everyone is sat quietly and listening intently. We have some sadness for the last show of the tour but we all seem in good spirits and really focused tonight. Again the show is emotional I feel and really intense, total silence again from the crowd. It's the best we played all tour and such a good atmosphere in the room. The best show goes to Edinburgh again.
We have to drive back to Leeds and I try to stay awake with Chantal by drinking a lot of red wine but we end up talking some real shit and I trade the front seat with Christophe after passing through Newcastle so I can sleep in the back!
The next morning is sad goodbyes. I have felt something new on this tour and learned a lot about myself and about playing music. It's been a really emotional week for a lot of reasons but one I will hold dear for a long time to come.
Shit. I just realized I didn't finish the tour diary.
Well Edinburgh was a hoot... man I love that place. I've played the Wee Red Bar like 4 times in a year now, the people there are so nice and friendly and the task is set to make it 4 out of 4 in terms of Edinburgh being the best night of every tour.
Chantal is tired from driving and disappears off for a walk while Christophe and I set up. Alex (the sound guy) is always so good in getting exactly the sound you want in there - quiet or loud. Every time.
It's great to see Euan again, we've made a really nice friendship over the past year or so and tonight I play on a song by his band The Kays Lavelle. I am a band whore.
Esperi is up first tonight - Chris is clearly mega-talented just from watching him soundcheck and he plays are really great set, Chantal is in love with him as he is cute and sings about dogs. He's in Leeds in a couple of weeks so it will be nice to hook up again.
Heidi and Ally are here! Two of my good Scottish friends who always turn up to shows, its so nice to see familiar faces when you are on the road.
The Kays Lavelle play a nice stripped back set and I join them on the last song 'December'.
There is a nice vibe about the venue and everyone is sat quietly and listening intently. We have some sadness for the last show of the tour but we all seem in good spirits and really focused tonight. Again the show is emotional I feel and really intense, total silence again from the crowd. It's the best we played all tour and such a good atmosphere in the room. The best show goes to Edinburgh again.
We have to drive back to Leeds and I try to stay awake with Chantal by drinking a lot of red wine but we end up talking some real shit and I trade the front seat with Christophe after passing through Newcastle so I can sleep in the back!
The next morning is sad goodbyes. I have felt something new on this tour and learned a lot about myself and about playing music. It's been a really emotional week for a lot of reasons but one I will hold dear for a long time to come.
21.3.09
Sleepingdog Tour pt4
NEWCASTLE
Hangover.
The lovely English weather continues and Newcastle arrives in a sunny haze. John and Narbi greet us and look after us well. John plays a really nice set and the crowd are very polite and quiet. Today I feel ill and the whole show is a massive struggle for me, I'm almost sick while we play and I feel bad that this is the only show that I haven't enjoyed.
We take in some beers at the Head of Steam after the show and the Pulled Apart By Horses guys are in the bar which is a pleasant suprise! We head to John's place and attempt to play various Low songs whilst polishing off the previous nights whiskey.
Hangover.
The lovely English weather continues and Newcastle arrives in a sunny haze. John and Narbi greet us and look after us well. John plays a really nice set and the crowd are very polite and quiet. Today I feel ill and the whole show is a massive struggle for me, I'm almost sick while we play and I feel bad that this is the only show that I haven't enjoyed.
We take in some beers at the Head of Steam after the show and the Pulled Apart By Horses guys are in the bar which is a pleasant suprise! We head to John's place and attempt to play various Low songs whilst polishing off the previous nights whiskey.
Sleepingdog Tour pt3
LONDON
Our new friend Antony (of Konntinent) and his lovely housemates make us feel so warm and welcome... we really have met some beautiful people on this tour.
Today Christophe joins us from Belgium to play the rest of the dates with us, the three of us have never played together before so more interesting times ahead!
Most of the day is spent chilling around, catching up on work and drinking too much tea and coffee.
My last experience of playing the Macbeth wasn't very pleasant. this time however is quite the opposite. My old friend Tony is here and my beautiful new friend Faye. It's an emotional evening and we are drained after playing - Chantal especially. The three of us seem to gel on stage straight away which is a relief.
LEEDS
Today is one of the hardest days I've known. Faye leaves for Paris, goodbyes are so difficult sometimes. I can't really put into words the emotions of today. Much staring and pondering is done on the journey north to Leeds. Chantal didn't sleep last night (not on purpose) and so the drive is hard work.
The amazing people of 1 Moorland Avenue greet us with such warmth. Rebecca cooks a huge meal for everyone and as people arrive for the house show it's a really wonderful atmosphere. Everyone eats together and then we move to the basement to watch Eric Chenaux who I have got to play with us tonight. Eric is a sweet guy and his music is whispered and heartfelt.
To play in a basement with 30+ people crammed on the floor in front of you is a special feeling, especially with so many good friends here. Again playing the songs is a real joy. Sophie joins us on Prophets with some lovely violin. The rest of the evening is somewhat blurred as red wine and whiskey take hold. Kind folks put me to bed!
Our new friend Antony (of Konntinent) and his lovely housemates make us feel so warm and welcome... we really have met some beautiful people on this tour.
Today Christophe joins us from Belgium to play the rest of the dates with us, the three of us have never played together before so more interesting times ahead!
Most of the day is spent chilling around, catching up on work and drinking too much tea and coffee.
My last experience of playing the Macbeth wasn't very pleasant. this time however is quite the opposite. My old friend Tony is here and my beautiful new friend Faye. It's an emotional evening and we are drained after playing - Chantal especially. The three of us seem to gel on stage straight away which is a relief.
LEEDS
Today is one of the hardest days I've known. Faye leaves for Paris, goodbyes are so difficult sometimes. I can't really put into words the emotions of today. Much staring and pondering is done on the journey north to Leeds. Chantal didn't sleep last night (not on purpose) and so the drive is hard work.
The amazing people of 1 Moorland Avenue greet us with such warmth. Rebecca cooks a huge meal for everyone and as people arrive for the house show it's a really wonderful atmosphere. Everyone eats together and then we move to the basement to watch Eric Chenaux who I have got to play with us tonight. Eric is a sweet guy and his music is whispered and heartfelt.
To play in a basement with 30+ people crammed on the floor in front of you is a special feeling, especially with so many good friends here. Again playing the songs is a real joy. Sophie joins us on Prophets with some lovely violin. The rest of the evening is somewhat blurred as red wine and whiskey take hold. Kind folks put me to bed!
17.3.09
Sleepingdog Tour pt2
BRIGHTON
The last time I came to Brighton with Glissando in February it snowed like a motherfucker. Today there is no snow so already an improvement. Tonight we play the Prince Albert which is a really beautiful venue and it also has a piano which makes Chantal a happy girl.
The crowd is so silent when we play we could really have been playing to an empty room. The songs tonight took on a whole new form for me and an intensity which is very different from playing in Glissando. I feel so peaceful and calm playing these songs.
We have no where to stay tonight so after surveying the room there is more girls than guys so I have to ask the audience and hope someone is kind. It works and we stay with a lovely lesbian couple who look after us well.
The last time I came to Brighton with Glissando in February it snowed like a motherfucker. Today there is no snow so already an improvement. Tonight we play the Prince Albert which is a really beautiful venue and it also has a piano which makes Chantal a happy girl.
The crowd is so silent when we play we could really have been playing to an empty room. The songs tonight took on a whole new form for me and an intensity which is very different from playing in Glissando. I feel so peaceful and calm playing these songs.
We have no where to stay tonight so after surveying the room there is more girls than guys so I have to ask the audience and hope someone is kind. It works and we stay with a lovely lesbian couple who look after us well.
16.3.09
Sleepingdog Tour pt1
CHICHESTER
Having lived in Leeds all my adult life the prospect of walking through town at 7am for a 4 and a half hour coach journey to London isn't a great one. This morning however is a cold but rather pleasant one and the city is quiet.
My journey today is to Chichester to play the first of a week of shows as part of Sleepingdog. National Express coaches are generally not much fun but today is an exception. Nice old ladies feed me hard boiled sweets and I pass the time watching the new Her Name is Calla DVD and listening to Neil Young.
At the moment this feels like the Glissando tour we did back in May, purely on trains and coaches, but without Elly asleep on my shoulder and telling me where to go.
I get to London in time to watch the Man Utd / Liverpool game which is indeed a grand affair.
Trains that split in two half way into the journey are all well and good providing that all the stops are read out so you know which half of the train to be on. i take a chance and stay on the one to Littlehampton, only because it's the only place I've ever heard of before on the list.
The man opposite me appears to be about to die. I hope he doesn't. He's also lost his ticket and doesn't know where the fuck he's going. I feel bad writing about him when he's staring right at me.
I meet Chantal at the venue and seeing as we have had no rehearsals at all for the shows a long soundcheck is most welcome. Tonight is a free show so the usual crowd divide happens but the people seem to enjoy it and we suprisingly play without fucking up.
Chris the promoter and his sister take care of us after traveling for 10 hours each to get here, sleep is very much needed.
Having lived in Leeds all my adult life the prospect of walking through town at 7am for a 4 and a half hour coach journey to London isn't a great one. This morning however is a cold but rather pleasant one and the city is quiet.
My journey today is to Chichester to play the first of a week of shows as part of Sleepingdog. National Express coaches are generally not much fun but today is an exception. Nice old ladies feed me hard boiled sweets and I pass the time watching the new Her Name is Calla DVD and listening to Neil Young.
At the moment this feels like the Glissando tour we did back in May, purely on trains and coaches, but without Elly asleep on my shoulder and telling me where to go.
I get to London in time to watch the Man Utd / Liverpool game which is indeed a grand affair.
Trains that split in two half way into the journey are all well and good providing that all the stops are read out so you know which half of the train to be on. i take a chance and stay on the one to Littlehampton, only because it's the only place I've ever heard of before on the list.
The man opposite me appears to be about to die. I hope he doesn't. He's also lost his ticket and doesn't know where the fuck he's going. I feel bad writing about him when he's staring right at me.
I meet Chantal at the venue and seeing as we have had no rehearsals at all for the shows a long soundcheck is most welcome. Tonight is a free show so the usual crowd divide happens but the people seem to enjoy it and we suprisingly play without fucking up.
Chris the promoter and his sister take care of us after traveling for 10 hours each to get here, sleep is very much needed.
30.10.08
Euro Tour Diary
BRUSSELS
Last night we played a show in Leeds with Port O'Brien. It's rare that we play and it seems to pass everyone by. It's by far the loudest Glissando has ever played. Now we have to lose Tim for the trip which is sad.
So it's up at 6am and off at 7 to catch the bus to London. I get interviewed by the BBC in St Pancras station about the exchange rate which seemed to amuse Sophie and Elly as they throw food down themselves while I have a massive thrust in my face.
The tiredness is kicking in round as we arrive via Eurostar into Brussels to meet Chantal from Sleepingdog who we are playing some shows with. We head off to find much needed alcohol and food and meet Adam from Stars of the Lid. Wine, Ricard and pizza are all consumed at Adam's place and we get on the wrong train to Leuven to meet Chantal's partner Mark in the bar he works at.
We're all in various forms of drunkeness by now and head off to Chantal and Mark's beautiful house in the countryside.
Elly's new favorite shop
Chantal and Adam
Sophie's new favorite shop
Lots of crisps
The hail and Elly's burp in Gent
Beautiful Gent
Last night we played a show in Leeds with Port O'Brien. It's rare that we play and it seems to pass everyone by. It's by far the loudest Glissando has ever played. Now we have to lose Tim for the trip which is sad.
So it's up at 6am and off at 7 to catch the bus to London. I get interviewed by the BBC in St Pancras station about the exchange rate which seemed to amuse Sophie and Elly as they throw food down themselves while I have a massive thrust in my face.
The tiredness is kicking in round as we arrive via Eurostar into Brussels to meet Chantal from Sleepingdog who we are playing some shows with. We head off to find much needed alcohol and food and meet Adam from Stars of the Lid. Wine, Ricard and pizza are all consumed at Adam's place and we get on the wrong train to Leuven to meet Chantal's partner Mark in the bar he works at.
We're all in various forms of drunkeness by now and head off to Chantal and Mark's beautiful house in the countryside.
Elly's new favorite shop
Chantal and Adam
Sophie's new favorite shopEINDHOVEN
We all awake with various forms of hangovers but Darko the dog is friendly now and he helps us feel better. We eat sugar for breakfast and then Sophie and I take a short ride on Chantal's Icelandic pony before packing the car for Eindhoven.
We meet Christophe and Nick along the way who are playing in Sleepingdog at the moment. The traffic is not so great and we arrive a little late. Tonight is a matinée show so we play at 5pm. The venue is a huge arts centre, right opposite the PSV Eindhoven stadium! The show is bad for us and Sleepingdog, the sound was awful and the general atmosphere was pretty difficult. We eat some insane food you have to boil in a pan (in the venue) and to Gent with Nick.
MALDEGEM
After a rather needed sleep in, Sophie and I tuck into the lovely food Nick has bought for us and listen to the Bon Iver record before planning on walking into Gent but then not bothering. Nick picks us up and we head off to get on the bus to Maldegem.... some illegal driving/parking later we just make the bus and arrive in Maldegem to be greeted by the lovely Deiter who is promoting the show tonight.
Soundcheck is awesome, we get fed some home-made spaghetti, do an interview for Belgian webzine DaMusic and watch Cecillia::Eyes who are opening for us tonight.
The crowd is really nice and we play as well as we have done in a while. Some people at the show have traveled across Belgium to see us which is very humbling to say the least. Pretty much the perfect show tonight. We buy wine and more Salt n Pepper crisps (which are now a tour favorite) and head back to Nick's place again.
ANTWERP
Today we go for a walk into Gent - a really beautiful place. We freeze our balls off as the hail-stones come down and we have to take shelter under a bridge for ages. God damn it. Then it's off to a cafe for the worlds smallest cup of coffee before wondering aimlessly around the town looking for food/hats/bags/postcards. Elly seems to have put grease on the bottom of her boots and struggles to even walk 20 yards without almost falling down.
We all awake with various forms of hangovers but Darko the dog is friendly now and he helps us feel better. We eat sugar for breakfast and then Sophie and I take a short ride on Chantal's Icelandic pony before packing the car for Eindhoven.
We meet Christophe and Nick along the way who are playing in Sleepingdog at the moment. The traffic is not so great and we arrive a little late. Tonight is a matinée show so we play at 5pm. The venue is a huge arts centre, right opposite the PSV Eindhoven stadium! The show is bad for us and Sleepingdog, the sound was awful and the general atmosphere was pretty difficult. We eat some insane food you have to boil in a pan (in the venue) and to Gent with Nick.
MALDEGEMAfter a rather needed sleep in, Sophie and I tuck into the lovely food Nick has bought for us and listen to the Bon Iver record before planning on walking into Gent but then not bothering. Nick picks us up and we head off to get on the bus to Maldegem.... some illegal driving/parking later we just make the bus and arrive in Maldegem to be greeted by the lovely Deiter who is promoting the show tonight.
Soundcheck is awesome, we get fed some home-made spaghetti, do an interview for Belgian webzine DaMusic and watch Cecillia::Eyes who are opening for us tonight.
The crowd is really nice and we play as well as we have done in a while. Some people at the show have traveled across Belgium to see us which is very humbling to say the least. Pretty much the perfect show tonight. We buy wine and more Salt n Pepper crisps (which are now a tour favorite) and head back to Nick's place again.
ANTWERP
Today we go for a walk into Gent - a really beautiful place. We freeze our balls off as the hail-stones come down and we have to take shelter under a bridge for ages. God damn it. Then it's off to a cafe for the worlds smallest cup of coffee before wondering aimlessly around the town looking for food/hats/bags/postcards. Elly seems to have put grease on the bottom of her boots and struggles to even walk 20 yards without almost falling down.
Lots of crisps
The hail and Elly's burp in Gent
Beautiful Gent
The truth
Back to Nick's and off to Antwerp for a living room show with Sleepingdog. The traffic is heavy and Sophie is bored yet again and takes pictures of everything including two army trucks which you don't see very often according to Nick. The show tonight is in a beautiful apartment, we have to change what we do a little as there are no microphones etc... so we mess around in soundcheck and I end up playing percussion and a little guitar. It sounds great and the audience is so quiet. Good times. Sleepingdog play a really moving set and everyone is happy.
Tonight we go to Leuven. We head to venue called Stuk to meet Geert who runs Sleepingdog's label in Belgium. More drinks later and it's really late so bed time as it's home tomorrow.
HOME
Breakfast in Leuven is good and I spend my last Euro's on records in a cool little independent shop. I was doing so well with money on the tour and blew it all in the last half hour. Balls. We say sad goodbyes to Chantal and Christophe drops us at the station in Leuven. The journey is pretty good until we get to London and see chavs (they dont seem to exist in Belglium) and the coach to Leeds and it's delayed by an hour. We get to Leeds at midnight, tired, weary and cold but happy.
Tonight we go to Leuven. We head to venue called Stuk to meet Geert who runs Sleepingdog's label in Belgium. More drinks later and it's really late so bed time as it's home tomorrow.
HOME
Breakfast in Leuven is good and I spend my last Euro's on records in a cool little independent shop. I was doing so well with money on the tour and blew it all in the last half hour. Balls. We say sad goodbyes to Chantal and Christophe drops us at the station in Leuven. The journey is pretty good until we get to London and see chavs (they dont seem to exist in Belglium) and the coach to Leeds and it's delayed by an hour. We get to Leeds at midnight, tired, weary and cold but happy.
22.10.08
Port O'Brien and Euroland
So a busy week goes into overdrive now. Tomorrow is Mogwai in Manchester - which is exciting. I think they are possibly my most seen band ever. Maybe.
Then on Friday we open for Port O'Brien at the Brudenell in Leeds before shooting off to London early on Saturday to catch the Eurostar to Brussels to play a show in Eindhoven and two shows in Belgium.
If there is net access I will update the blog as often as possible.
We are all super excited (well me, Elly and Sophie are). There is only three of us on this little tour as we have to leave Tim behind (his choice not mine!!). We will pull some shapes for him though and maybe have a few drinks.
We play a coupe of shows with Sleepingdog and hopefully get to see Daniel Johnston after our Eindhoven show.
Be good.
R
x
Then on Friday we open for Port O'Brien at the Brudenell in Leeds before shooting off to London early on Saturday to catch the Eurostar to Brussels to play a show in Eindhoven and two shows in Belgium.
If there is net access I will update the blog as often as possible.
We are all super excited (well me, Elly and Sophie are). There is only three of us on this little tour as we have to leave Tim behind (his choice not mine!!). We will pull some shapes for him though and maybe have a few drinks.
We play a coupe of shows with Sleepingdog and hopefully get to see Daniel Johnston after our Eindhoven show.
Be good.
R
x
Why I love Mogwai
there are many reasons but I recently read a Fuck Buttons tour diary in Plan B and they said that Mogwai guitarist John Cummings offered to do sound for them (and did) on their US tour (supporting Mogwai) so that they could afford to go out there and play. How awesome is that? Two soundchecks and two shows every night. I tip my hat.
8.10.08
Nottingham and The Hockley Hustle
So to Nottingham to play the Hockley Hustle, a large 'In the City' type event. A kind Mr Chris Woolford of I Concur gives us a ride down as those boys were playing too.
I saw I Concur the previous night in Leeds for their single launch and they sounded awesome so it's cool to play with them tonight.
We are playing the Drowned In Sound stage and as a few of our friends are also playing across town we have planned the evening as to catch everyone else play at some point. This is clearly not going to happen from the moment we arrive as everything is running late and so we're pushed back by an hour or so.
Tonight we are playing as a duo for the first time in about 7 or 8 shows so things feel a little sparse but it's also kind of nice in that it's back to the old days. Having only a line check always bothers me but somehow we make it work and we are both pretty happy with how we play... the now usual bottle of wine is consumed, Concur play a strong set and it's off back to Leeds with a pint of the worst lager ever invented... we didn't see any other bands.
This post is a few days late.
Last night I saw the Melvins. Mint.
I saw I Concur the previous night in Leeds for their single launch and they sounded awesome so it's cool to play with them tonight.
We are playing the Drowned In Sound stage and as a few of our friends are also playing across town we have planned the evening as to catch everyone else play at some point. This is clearly not going to happen from the moment we arrive as everything is running late and so we're pushed back by an hour or so.
Tonight we are playing as a duo for the first time in about 7 or 8 shows so things feel a little sparse but it's also kind of nice in that it's back to the old days. Having only a line check always bothers me but somehow we make it work and we are both pretty happy with how we play... the now usual bottle of wine is consumed, Concur play a strong set and it's off back to Leeds with a pint of the worst lager ever invented... we didn't see any other bands.
This post is a few days late.
Last night I saw the Melvins. Mint.
28.9.08
Tour Diary pt3
MANCHESTER
Last night we had a house show in Elly's basement which was pretty cute. Chantal played a cover of dEUS's Hotel Lounge which was beautiful and I played guitar on Your Eyes after 1 minutes practice. It worked though.
Chantal and Mark are staying at Elly's for the week so it's a nice opportunity to hang out and get to know each other a bit.
A pretty uneventful drive to Manchester (mainly because there are no places on the way called Cock) and we are greeted by Phil the promoter and Owain from Spokes which is always a pleasure. Phil smokes like a beast which makes me smile. Last time we played the Dry Bar it smelled like someone had shit themselves and then died. This time Phil makes it smell better.
We get to play with Spokes and Arficiden tonight - both awesome bands. The sound is good, a nice quiet crowd for Sleepingdog and i repeat my appearance on Your Eyes again while Sophie play on Prophets and The Sun Sinks in the Sea. Both are amazing.
Tonight is a good atmosphere and we are all getting along just perfect.
BRISTOL
An early start and back on the road properly again for a long drive. Which isn't anywhere near as long as I thought. We stop for health food at a Marks and Spencer service station, apart from Tim who buys drinks that make him feel sick.
Now we realise that we are going to be really early so I find a place before Bristol called Slimbridge which has some kind of Wildlife Centre there. We would have educated ourselves in the Wildlife Centre if it didn't cost the earth to get in. Instead we find Slimbridge. It is exactly that. A bridge. Over a canal. Not so exciting but we manage to find some hideous amusement from somewhere as we drink tea by the canal. Well we all drink tea apart from Sophie who managed to spray hers everywhere after I make a comment about the Slimbridge Bridge.
And off we go to Bristol again. Slow going into the city and we nearly burn out the clutch on the car but we make it in one piece and park right outside the venue. Sweet.
The Folkhouse is pretty cool, we play in what looks like a dinner hall or something. Tonight is very difficult for me for a few reasons. Sleepingdog's set is gorgeous again. Chantal gets to play the big piano in the room which makes her happy.
Our set feels incredibly intense tonight. I continue my bottle of red wine a night pattern of the tour and we decide to try drive home after the show.
Toby - the promoter is a great guy and my old friend James comes to see us too. The guys take care of me and we head home. Sleep is needed for me so I trade seats in the car with Sophie who drinks her body weight in caffeine to keep Tim awake. It works.
LEEDS
By now our friendship with Chantal and Mark is really great and we are getting on so well. We share the same humor and love for swearing.
We're all looking forward to tonights show in Leeds, lots a good bands in a tiny venue. It's a little stressful as I'm organising the show with Paul from Forest of Sound but things move pretty smoothly. Pete does a great job with the sound.
Tim is playing a show with Hub across the road before he plays with us and things get hectic but it works. The place is rammed full and in keeping with all the other shows you could hear a pin drop.
It's sad to see Sleepingdog for the last time this week and goodbyes are hard. We will meet again soon as we go to Belgium in a few weeks.
This week has been really awesome. We have made lots of new friends, met old friends and become better friends with people we already knew. We all look to the same stars in the same sky.x
Last night we had a house show in Elly's basement which was pretty cute. Chantal played a cover of dEUS's Hotel Lounge which was beautiful and I played guitar on Your Eyes after 1 minutes practice. It worked though.
Chantal and Mark are staying at Elly's for the week so it's a nice opportunity to hang out and get to know each other a bit.
A pretty uneventful drive to Manchester (mainly because there are no places on the way called Cock) and we are greeted by Phil the promoter and Owain from Spokes which is always a pleasure. Phil smokes like a beast which makes me smile. Last time we played the Dry Bar it smelled like someone had shit themselves and then died. This time Phil makes it smell better.
We get to play with Spokes and Arficiden tonight - both awesome bands. The sound is good, a nice quiet crowd for Sleepingdog and i repeat my appearance on Your Eyes again while Sophie play on Prophets and The Sun Sinks in the Sea. Both are amazing.
Tonight is a good atmosphere and we are all getting along just perfect.
BRISTOL
An early start and back on the road properly again for a long drive. Which isn't anywhere near as long as I thought. We stop for health food at a Marks and Spencer service station, apart from Tim who buys drinks that make him feel sick.
Now we realise that we are going to be really early so I find a place before Bristol called Slimbridge which has some kind of Wildlife Centre there. We would have educated ourselves in the Wildlife Centre if it didn't cost the earth to get in. Instead we find Slimbridge. It is exactly that. A bridge. Over a canal. Not so exciting but we manage to find some hideous amusement from somewhere as we drink tea by the canal. Well we all drink tea apart from Sophie who managed to spray hers everywhere after I make a comment about the Slimbridge Bridge.
And off we go to Bristol again. Slow going into the city and we nearly burn out the clutch on the car but we make it in one piece and park right outside the venue. Sweet.
The Folkhouse is pretty cool, we play in what looks like a dinner hall or something. Tonight is very difficult for me for a few reasons. Sleepingdog's set is gorgeous again. Chantal gets to play the big piano in the room which makes her happy.
Our set feels incredibly intense tonight. I continue my bottle of red wine a night pattern of the tour and we decide to try drive home after the show.
Toby - the promoter is a great guy and my old friend James comes to see us too. The guys take care of me and we head home. Sleep is needed for me so I trade seats in the car with Sophie who drinks her body weight in caffeine to keep Tim awake. It works.
LEEDS
By now our friendship with Chantal and Mark is really great and we are getting on so well. We share the same humor and love for swearing.
We're all looking forward to tonights show in Leeds, lots a good bands in a tiny venue. It's a little stressful as I'm organising the show with Paul from Forest of Sound but things move pretty smoothly. Pete does a great job with the sound.
Tim is playing a show with Hub across the road before he plays with us and things get hectic but it works. The place is rammed full and in keeping with all the other shows you could hear a pin drop.
It's sad to see Sleepingdog for the last time this week and goodbyes are hard. We will meet again soon as we go to Belgium in a few weeks.
This week has been really awesome. We have made lots of new friends, met old friends and become better friends with people we already knew. We all look to the same stars in the same sky.x
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