BASEMENT JAM. HERE IS THE LINK.

I have posted a link on this blog, and hope that loads of you will come and watch ' Basement Jam' on Sunday 4th December 2005, it's completely free and bandwidth has been increased to supply demand. View on WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER only.

It's going to be a great night, loads of bloggers are coming to the venue, and there will be performances by Rachel and her band, Pete, Foy Vance, Simon Townshend and me, I'm really looking forward to it. I hope you can all watch, and enjoy the spectacle.

To watch the show you will need to click here to view.

I'm having a relaxing week, I've been running through a few songs, mostly 'Matches' and 'You', but I think that I will definitely play 'Plasticine'. I don't quite know how many songs I'll play, but I know that it is going to be a fantastic night.

Well done to everyone who has already secured a 'live' seat in the venue, but if you couldn't get a flight, just watch on your computer at home. Have a great time everyone. GMAS.

mikey

PLASTICINE.

As requested, here are the lyric's for Plasticine (in her pocket).

My girl Rene, well she like's rocket,
She's got a crazy dream,
Ain't tried to block it,
Cause in this mixed up scene,
Well you just can't knock it,
Yeah she wants me to be,
Plasticine in her pocket,

Plasticine in her pocket,
Plasticine in her pocket,
It sounds extreme, but I think I like it,

I'm the plug, yeah I'm the plug,
And she's my socket,
And I'm the chain, I'm the chain,
And she's my locket,
Yeah I'm plasticine in her pocket,

Plasticine in her pocket,
Plasticine in her pocket,
It sounds extreme, but I think I like it,

Plasticine, do you know what that means,
To be plasticine, in her pocket, yeah,
Do you know what that means, to be plasticine,
Plasticine, do you know what that means, to be plasticine,
Plasticine, do you know what that means, to be plasticine.

GMAS.
mikey

BASEMENT JAM - Now FREE!!!!

Rene bought a new camera on friday, we've done a little Christmas shopping and bought a new duvet, as well as some ski gloves for us both.

The photo's come out pretty smart, we're impressed with the camera, it is probably that we've had an awfall digital camera for ages, but now, my photo's cannot be blamed on the camera.

It's bitterly cold and windy, but the colours over the estuary still seem to glow on the gloomiest of days, I'm wearing my big old parker, and my french cap, but we didn't stay out there long, back for a cup of tea.

So, I hope everyone's had a good weekend, this week will be strangley empty for me because the ITA show has finished, I will however be practicing for the Basement Jam, on the 4th, I hope to meet many of you there, and hope everyone else gets to see and hear it.

Thanks bloggers. GMAS

mikey

Snow...

Got up really early this morning, probably because I went to bed very early last night. I was exhausted yesterday, I stayed round Pete's after the show, and travelled back in the morning.

When I got home, I put the loop on, later my brother Shaun visited, so I put the loop back on as he had not seen it.
I also worked out the song that I couldn't remember on the show, it's called 'Matches', and was written years ago. I have nearly redescovered the whole song, except for a tiny part, I'll keep on with it. It sounds great, but it is quite complicated to play and sing, so I'll have to practise.

Just looked out of the window, and noticed that it is snowing, not to heavily though. I love the snow, I just hope it's not to icey when Rene walks back from the station tonight.
Just a quiet night in for me and Rene tonight, we'll get a film and maybe a take away.

Thankyou for all your lovely comments, I had a great time on the show the other night, and from your comments, I can see you all enjoyed it as much as I did, thanks for watching these last ten weeks, and I hope you can all watch the Basement Jam(which is now free), I'll post the proper note soon, and the Christmas special.
So loads to look forward too, hope to see some of you there, take care bloggers,
and give me a shout.

mikey

Tonights Show...

The last show, I can't believe it. Well its not the last, cause we've got the Christmas special, and the Basement Jam, and it's all for free, can't be bad. I hope everyone can watch tonight, and the others of course.
I found some lovely sounding chords with that new tuning, but no words, I'll have another quick go, but don't hold your breath.
Another short blog from me here, I going to leave even earlier this week, and hope I don't get in the same problems as last week.
So, I hope you get a clean feed, and really enjoy the show.

Thanks very much bloggers, give me a shout.

mikey

CGDGBD

CGDGBD, is the tuning I was given on last weeks show, I'm going to spend the day today working on this tuning, and see if I can come up with anything.

Looking forward to tomorrow's show, can't believe we are on show number 10 already, the time has really flown by. I've had so much fun, and met so many new people, including bloggers.
Well it's not going to be a big one today, just a note to say thanks to everyone that has posted, and that I hope everyone can watch the show tomorrow.

Now back to work on that new tuning.

If anyone has a favorite that they want me to play on the last show, give me a shout.

mikey

Just a walkin' the dog...

I was looking after my friend's dog today, he's a sweat-heart. He's a Japanese Akita, and very big and strong, although totally laid back and relaxed. We get on real fine, and it was good to see how excited he was when he arrived this morning very early.

He sleeps for most of the day, which is fine by me, although I did take him out on the beach for a long walk, and got some pictures, he was far to excited by all the smells to stand still for a second, hence the poor photo.
I cannot afford to let him off the leash, because he is very aggressive to other male dogs, it's only his nature. When he is with me, the conflict never arrises.
I really enjoy our day's together, we don't do it that often, but I enjoy his company. Rene is very sweet about it, although she doesn't appreciate the amount of fur he leaves behind.
Thanks for all your lovely comments, give me a shout.

mikey

mikey.

MY HOME STUDIO...

Here's a couple of photo's of my home studio set up, back when I first got it, it was constructed, designed and thought out by Pete, I have previously posted 'My Recording Process', and in that I explained what everything is. I must admit, I was very scared of the towering beast when I first got it home, I didn't record on it for the first six months, but since then, I have got to love it more each day.
I have thanked Pete, but will do again here, ' I am eternally grateful to Pete for the constant help and guidance he has offered me.'
I am also very grateful to Rachel, as without her, not only would I not have a blog, but I wouldn't be on the show, or would I have met Pete, and many things besides.

Sorry, that I've neglected this blog, I was exhausted after my journey on thursday, and it's taken me a while to recoup my energy.

Yesterday evening I took the video camera out onto the beach and made a film of the sunset. The colours were extraordinary, its only short, but I hope I can get it on to DVD soon and show you.

Thanks to everyone for posting on this blog, and supporting me, thankyou very much and I hope you'll come back for more, and maybe check out my Indonesian blog, which I do keep up to date, or have done up to now.

Thanks again bloggers, and give me a shout.

mikey

Show number 9.

Finished recording my new song last night, it all went really well, although some of my levels were not exact. I sit and listen to new recordings obsessively, but then leave them and move on to something new.

Can't believe were on the penultimat show, doesn't time fly when your havin' fun bloggers!

On my way now, to catch the train to London, then it's across London on the underground to Richmond, it take's me just over two hours, but I end up sleeping most of the way because the motion of the trains sends me to sleep.

Hope everyone gets a good feed, and can either watch the show live or on the loop, thanks for all the great comments on my blog, I will catch up soon I promise.

Let me know if you enjoy the show, give me a shout.

mikey

THE BLUE'S BROTHERS...

Here's a picture of me and my brother Shaun, I'm the bald, naked one. I love this picture. There's a funny blue colour to it, maybe it's because its so old, well that's the reason for the title. I should also mention that I really loved the film with the same title.

Getting ready to have another go at recording my new song 'Terrified', sounds scary, but it's not. So not a very long blog today, looking forward to the show tomorrow, I can't believe we are on show 9 of 'In the Attic', only one more to go, well, and then the christmas special of course, oh and the 'Basement Jam' pay per view event on the 4th December, how exciting!

Give me a shout bloggers!

mikey

SUCKED IN.

I'm posting this picture I found last week, it's of me when I was 23-24, and had just had all my hair cut off, I had returned to art college after a break for some years. It was only at this time really that the preverbial penny dropped for me, and I kind of understood conceptualism, and a lot more besides to do with art, a year later, I painted the Southend Pier painting, that I posted some time ago, you can see how much my hair has grown.


I got up quite late this morning, and had a walk along the beach, and buy some more fags. It was really cold and windy, but incredibly bright, my eye's were watering.
I came home and turned on the computer, posted my Indonesian blog, posted some answer's to comments, and then had a look at Rachel's blog, and saw that the show had been looped.

Well, once I turned it on, I found it very hard to turn off, I have been 'sucked in' and have watched it for most of the day, I should have been recording today, and only managed to turn on the equipment. I'll go back to it in a second. I've stopped watching 'In the Attic', and I'm getting back to work.

Rene will be home soon, and I'm cooking dinner tonight.
Best crack on, if I want to get anything done.

Give me a shout.

mikey

This is Spinal Tap...

Here's a picture taken from an old sketch book, probably when I was at Art school. I still like it, maybe because of the colour, I suppose this is a bit of a doodle as well. Let me know what you think?

Sorry I've gone a few days without a blog, I know how frustrating it is to check someone's blog, only to find that they haven't updated.
I do understand, and if I ever feel I need time off from blogging to write or whatever, I'll let you all know before hand, I think that's fair.

Stayed at Pete's after the show, and travelled home on Friday, felt pretty tired and decided against trying to go back to drum loops. I'll leave it till monday, when Rene's at work and I have no distractions.

Had a lovely take out Chinese meal for dinner, beautiful, I love Chinese food, and today, I've helped Rene build the wardrobe, and twisted my neck, I'll be fine, me and Rene are staying up to watch ' This is Spinal Tap', top film, I'm looking forward to it, take care blogger, give me a shout...

mikey

Tomorrow's show...

Thankyou so much for your great responces, hope you can all watch the show tomorrow 7-9pm London time, Rachel's got the Roger D interview, and I'll play some songs, I don't know which, although Rene thinks I should play 'invisible', well maybe. I would also like to sing a song called 'Inside', which is about the 'inner self' or inner child.

Here's a picture of the sunset this evening, it's been a beautiful day, I've been doing the drum programing today, it takes ages. Then I popped out to feed the seagulls and get a photo of the sunset, but I took a trial photo while I waited for the sun to drop a little lower, only to find out that I had used the last photo, oh well. You can see a big flock of turnstones I think, they move along the beach every time a dog is walked along the strand line.

Once again, hope everyone gets a good feed, and is able to watch, I'll see you there I hope.

Question to bloggers; what songs would you like to hear again, of mine obviously, just a thought.

Anyway, give me a shout.

mikey

HEY BLOGGERS,GO TO RACHEL'S BLOG NOW!

Rachel has just put a post up about a live performance event on 4th December, it is pay per view, but also you can get the chance to come and see it live, for free!!!
So check your diaries, and I hope you can all come or just watch. As I said in the title, go on to Rachel's blog and take a look.
Isn't it exciting, well put your name down, do what it takes and watch us play.
Thanks bloggers.

mikey

PHOTO BOX.

Here's a drawing, well actually just a doodle, taken from my songbook, I enjoy drawing, it relaxes me. This drawing has been worked on many times, in fact any time I can, but I still don't know what it is, who cares.
Haven't started recording my new song yet, I got up this morning and started looking through a box of old photo's, and I have just finished looking, and it's dark outside, I can't believe it, but I've scanned loads of stuff into the computer and am ready for future blogs.
Thankyou everyone for great comments, and I hope your all reading my Indonesian journal, I found another 40 pictures from Indonesia in the box today, so I'll scan them in.
I will try and record the new song tomorrow, but I need to be in the right frame of mind to record, I'll see what happens.
Rene's screw's arrived today, at last, its only been a month. Still haven't heard from my friend Lee, I don't know how to reach him, or where he's staying.
Well, thanks for reading, give me a shout.

mikey

On a limb...

The weekend flew by, the evenings are getting dark so early now, and because I get up quite late, the days seem very short. Kept checking to see if the show was up on loop, but alas, I haven't seen it. Although I did watch it, that night back at Pete's, but Rene hasn't seen it yet I mean, and its just odd.
Anyway, I'm sure it will be up before the next show, so you may still have the chance to see it, if you thought you missed it. I'm confusing myself here.

Anyway, today was spent 20 feet up a tree in my Dad's garden, he's got this 30 ft standard conifer that needed the top 10 ft chopped off, not an easy job. Climbed a ladder up the 20 ft of just bare trunk, then had to cut my way into the centre of the ball area, then climb into the centre and then cut the tops off, once I was into the centre, it was relatively safe, but getting in there, I felt a bit scared.
After I'd been working for a while, I lost all fear and start harging out the tree holding on with one hand, my dad even brought me up a cup of tea, it was a great view of the sunset. My dad got a couple of pictures whilst I was up the tree, so I'll post them when I get them. I love helping my Dad in his garden, its a truly beautiful place, full of memories.

We sat in the garden and had some tea, I don't smoke in my dads house, then all the lights went out, not just my dads, but the whole area. It all came back on after about 5 minutes, but then it happened again, longer than before, hunting round for candles, I enjoyed it.

Back home, with Rene, I was planning on recording my new song today, but that will have to wait until tomorrow now.

The picture is of me, taken some time ago on Rene's old phone, which she is using again due to the recent theft, says HAPPY. I think this was a joke, but I am happy enough now, just wanted to show you it.

mikey

Healed.

Thankyou everyone, for your kind words. I have been healed. I really enjoyed 'In the Attic' last night, I ended up staying at Pete's, cause it was quite late when we finished. I stayed up and watched the recording of the show, and really enjoyed it, but it did mean that I didn't get to sleep til very late again.
Made my way back this morning, and have been working on my new song all day, and some of the evening. Its going really well now, Rene came home, and when I played her the some, she said that it sounded like a had the spark back, and its just how I felt, the buzz of creation, well when its going well anyway. So hopefully I'll be playing it real soon, just got to record it next week at home before Wednesday.
My friend Lee didn't come round today, or I missed him in the morning. I hope he calls back soon, I haven't got his number, he's one of the few people I know, that hasn't got a mobile phone because he doesn't like them. Talking about phones, I can't believe Rene had her phone stolen, what a nightmare. At least she was safe and sound. Anyway, thanks again you beautiful bloggers, I'm listening to you, and I'm liking it. GMAS

mikey

Tonights show.

Looking forward to tonights show, its a shame Roger won't be there this week, but I'm sure we'll have a laugh as always. Its going to air a little later tonight, 7-9pm London time, I hope everyone gets a good feed and is able to watch, if not, you can catch the loop.

About that review, I was really happy for Rachel, so I can't blame his ear, because he obviously loves good music, I'm afraid he just didn't think I was up to the grade. That did upset me a little, but I've had a lot worse happen to me, and I will continue as always along this long road.
So this is going to be short and sweet, thanks to everyone that rallied to my aid, Rene is a star isn't she, but don't worry, I'm ok with it, the rough with the smooth.
Thankyou again.

mikey

Self-portait...

Here's a self-portait I painted when I was about 20, its quite stylised, but I'm very happy with the skin tones. I still have this painting.

Yesterday, Rene took another day off work under my orders, she's was a lot better, but still wasn't 100%, and we spent the day together relaxing.

Rene's gone to work today, so I'll get back to work as well, I've found a bit that helps me with my new song that I've been working on for ages. Just the tiniest thing can make the change, we'll see where it goes from here.

Got a phone call from an old friend this morning called Lee, he's a singer/songwriter that I've worked with and been friends with for many years, he was also a visual artist that showed in one of my exhibitions .

I thought that I'd annoyed him or something because I hadn't heard from him in ages, but apparently he'd been away travelling to Japan and Australia. How cool, I bet he's got loads of great stories and songs. He's going to pop over on Friday, can't wait to see him. It was Lee actually that got me fishing again, a good few years ago.

So the show's on Thursday this week, hope you all can come, GMAS.

mikey.