Late Gig News! Wednesday night at the Snickleway

Thanks to Dan Webster it looks like I have a gig supporting him at The Snickleway Inn on Goodrumgate tomorrow night. If you're in the area it would be lovely to see you, I'll be on at about 9:45ish. I may even play some new songs.

In other news, a number of people have asked whether I'll be using my new-found freedom to do more on the music front. I'm thinking of how best to explain my thought process on this one so it will probably require a blog on its own. I promise to get that done soon.

All quiet on the eastern front

Regular viewers of this page (once a year is regular right?) might have noticed that not a lot has been going on recently here.
This is true but not reflective of stuff.
Whilst I have done didly squat in the way of organising any formal gigs I have been continuing to play tunes at both the Habit and Rook and Gaskill for the last few months.
But that is not all, recording is still happening. Things have slowed down a touch whilst I read and attempt to apply various things from Mike Senior's Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio, but they will sound better when they're done.
Also plans are afoot for some full-band shenanigans. It's embryonic at the moment but, ever the optimist*, I'm hopeful for what may come.
I'm also hoping to kick off some stuff** playing the beast for another singer/songwriter chap as well - I would make a joke about this being another string to my bow but that would be a bit cheap wouldn't it?

So things will probably remain a bit quiet on here for the time being, but behind this staid masquerade plans are being made and wheels set in motion.
In the meantime there's still the bandcamp, soundcloud and youtube stuff that I linked to in the previous post, listen, like and share as much as you like. Especially you, you can do anything you want with it, you're cool like that.

* I'm not actually an optimist.
** Good word "stuff", very good word.

What the Sam Hell?

Every now and then I sit here and think something along the lines of "Holy Shit it's 2013!" Generally this is quickly followed by something along the lines of "Where's my jetpack dammit?"
At the moment I'm suffering something similar on a shorter-term scale and thinking "Holy crap it's April!"
When did that happen?
I take comfort in the fact that obviously I'm not the only one thinking this, even mother nature has been caught napping and has forgotten to get spring ready; so I'm keeping good company.

In fact I've been keeping a lot of good company recently, Monday night's regular slot at The Habit is giving me a solid three-hours on the double bass supporting all manner of tunes and songs and Thursday night at the Rook and Gaskill is keeping my six-string skills just about ticking over.
But that's not enough.
It's never enough.

So I've finally got off my fat posterior and put a couple of ads up on JoinMyBand.co.uk to both try and build a band for my stuff and also to offer my services on the dooble baas to some singer/songwriter type or duo. I know I need to follow this up with some paper equivalents in the various music stores and studios but it's a start.

I also took a week off recently to do some chores and a bit more recording - this ended up being doing some chores, an awful lot of drinking (I blane my brother*) and a bit of finding out a bit more about cubase and compression and noise-gating and stuff like that. No actual recording, but next time I do I'll have a better idea of what I'm doing.

So whilst I'm getting my act together for both new live stuff and new recorded stuff here's a selection of localish (Leeds-based) music you should keep an eye out for:
Sam Airey
Arthur Rigby and the Baskervilles
Hope and Social

Stay well

* For everything.

2013 a myspace odyssey

Been very quiet from me recently, sorry about that, but part of the reason is that I have been spending less time in front of the computer and more time behind an instrument. A situation I'm intending to continue this year, possibly even getting some gigs again if I can.
So, just a quick reminded of how it works:
Complete, fully produced and mastered stuff from me and Dr Jones is available from bandcamp here on a pay what you want basis: http://drewstephenson.bandcamp.com/
Work in progress I'm publishing via soundcloud as that seems to suit the single-song format a bit better, you can listen to what's on the go here: https://soundcloud.com/blinddrew
I'm also adding stuff into youtube as well if that's your preferred online music listening tool: http://www.youtube.com/user/drewstephenson?feature=watch - though google have stuck some stuff into quarantine until they confirm if I'm allowed to play my own music. I have no idea how long this will take. Anyone have any experience of this?

That's about it for now, hope your year is kicking off well and everything is coming up roses. Now where did I leave that invitation for the new myspace...

Gig tonight!

Now here's a pleasant surprise. The Buffalo Skinners will be playing at the Black Swan on Peasholme Green tonight and supporting them is the lovely Clare Quinn, who has asked Bessie and I to join her for some songs. Obviously we shall be doing this very thing. Doors at 8, £3 a shot, good beer, cheap at half the price ;¬)