2006-06-19 Step It Up

After a late start, we managed to get through quite a bit. We started off very tense, and we didn't play many songs well - people forgot their songsheets, and had difficulty remembering how we start and end songs. However, after we played a couple of sets, and discussed what we would like to be our primary set, we got things right! Well almost. Am I Close sounded amazing, and almost all songs on our primary set were played exceedingly well, and we ended on a high.

I had my new pedal, which I had limited use of, so I kept it on one setting. Very pleased with it though. Stephen's amp was on the blink, but we still managed to get through the songs.

Kyle didn't want to choose between songs for the set as he liked them so much, which was such a compliment!

Our set is as follows, but this may change when people have a good think:

• Come To Me
• Don't Lose Your Nerve
• Inner Moment
• Am I Close?
• Advice / Weapon of Choice
• Closedown

Remaining songs include:

• Burn
• Weapon of Choice / Advice
• Seen To Be Worn
• Winters Here
• Stars
• Warm

Others to start:

• Midnight Cries
• Waiting All These Years
• I'm Not Holding Back
• Behind The Rise
• NU Day

Quite a few songs, which is great!

I'm off to the UK for a month, with the aim of writing a new set of songs, amongst other things! Can't wait to get some new material...

Gradient Vein
Been doing some stuff with Cowley too, after a bit of a break. He re-did his guitars for DLYN and Weapon of Choice, which sound great! I re-mixed Weapon, but need to adjust the guitar settings, but already it sounds almost finished!

He also sent me a version of Falling Star and Tantrums. I was very excited about Falling Star as this is one of my favourites, and spent 2 nights experimenting. It is sounding very good I think, with an additional piano loop which makes it sound more haunting, and loads of harmonies. Really enjoyed doing it, and will see what Mr. Cowley things of it. It now sounds quite different to what he imagined it to sound...

2006-06-06 Smoke On The Water!

To the background of prog-rock, we played our first studio session at Lounge Guitars last Wednesday. Hilarious! Half expecting a large expanse of space to put our equipment, we were put in a graffiti'd box, with the average biker clientelle playing the usual 70's favourites...grrrreeeaat!

It was great to be able to crank it up, but unfortunately we got a bit carried away, and did not take into account the mix of sounds. The first half did not sound well at all, and we decided to alter the room to that bass and drums were next to each other, and the guitars were together, which improved things incredibly!

We went through all the songs several times, with Duffy stopping us to clarify how we want to play certain sections. Bit difficult with Stephen continuing to jam during the breaks while we tried to discuss the songs, but we got there in the end! Made us laugh...

Duffy suggested to play a gig before I go away, but far too early!

Closedown our perfect song, with Am I Close a close second. All others need work! Not long though! DLYN was actually sounding pretty impressive after playing it repeatedly 5-10 times! Very pleased!

We have between 13-16 songs now, and we need to work on more!

Although I was feeling pretty rough, the session turned out well!

The next session will be awesome!