The ambulance that just keeps on getting stuck

My play 'An Ambulance Stuck In Traffic', which I originally wrote about 4 years ago, is enjoying a bit of a comeback this year. It was initially written for WriteOn in Cambridge, and enjoyed a couple other Cambs dates before rightly being put to bed (well, sold to the publishers). This year though London Theatre group 'First Draft' have taken it under their wing, with 3 sublime performances in Waterloo, and I've now just been told they're performing it again on December 10th as part of their end of year cabaret show. It's also up for an award that night. Gutted I can't be there to find out if it wins or not, as that's the same night at the Cracking Tunes Christmas gig, but there's a tingly bit of excitement in me at least.

Christmas busy stuff

I thought that by now things would be starting to calm down a bit, but they're actually getting busier than ever, these are crazy busy times. But I like them, a lot, I'm well aware I put myself in these situations. Rehearsals for the Christmas show started alarmingly slowly (unlike last year where it just happened instantly) but I get the feeling, especially after tonight's session with the other play, that we're finding our feet with it. Kevin and Heather in particular are working so hard outside of rehearsals to make this work, and I think it will do. The two plays show both sides to my writing - the main piece, 'Santa Claus, And The Unfortunate Allegations' is the lively, silly one with a daft plot and lots of jokes, whilst the other piece, '(Dawn Palmer Just Wants To Be) Lonely This Christmas' is a gentle, awkward piece, with an honest scenario, and a few big lines but most of it is character-driven stuff. I actually think that '(Dawn Palmer Just Wants To Be)...' is my best piece of writing in years, yet I know full well it's the other piece that people will come out of the show talking about. If people actually turn up, and all those other negative thoughts that I have pre-show. Alongside those two shows, the audience will also be given a CDR of a festive radio comedy that I'm writing that will be broadcast a week later - on Christmas Day, on Cambridge City Radio at 3pm. It's a nice slot to be given. I've not written it yet, but I wrote 'Dawn Palmer...' very quickly, and if we go into the studio next week to record the radio one I'd best start writing it, probably tonight. Yes, writing on a Friday night with a four pack of Carlsberg, Mariah Carey Christmas album and a tube of Pringles. Sad, but this seems to be happening a lot with these deadlines...

Meanwhile all things band are equally busy - the forthcoming Eureka Stockade album is getting a LOT of attention, including festival offers for next year, we always knew it was good (I'm proud of it - a lot of work has gone into this from a lot of people) but this is very exciting. We have the launch gig of that in 2 weeks time, next week it's the launch of the Under The Streetlamp album which is on a much more reserved scale (because we're never in the same room as each other anymore), and then there's the totally massive issue of the Christmas album. The album, 'It's Going To Be An Awkward Christmas, Darling' has been one of the most intense, but enjoyable process of my musical career, Helen and Martin are both geniuses, and although the release is now with the distributors there's still much to be done in the means of promotion, Helen and I have gone 50/50 with that side of things but it's going to take a fair old amount of time. It's Christmas though, and I love a bit of Christmas. You can hear half of the Christmas album here by the way: www.reverbnation.com/awkwardchristmas

With the 2 Christmas plays, but the radio play, creatively stretching me, I also have 12 gigs in December. I started this post as a moan, but actually - I love it, I totally love it - it's me doing what I do, and people accepting it. Maybe that's the Carlsberg/Pringles/Mariah Carey talking though.

Gig report: Flaming June @ BBC Radio Suffolk, Ipswich

Band: Flaming June
Venue: BBC Radio Suffolk - Broadcast House, Ipswich
Date: 23/11/10
Audience: It's being broadcast next week, so we'll wait and see I guess.
Set: Insane Ex-Girlfriend Parade, You Do Moody So Well, Nerves Of Steel, The Wizard, The Boy I Knew Before I Met You
Notes: Enjoyed that, as I seem to be enjoying most things Flaming June at the moment. I got very lost finding the studio, but was made to feel very welcome when I did get there a fair bit later than everybody else. We were recording a session for The Stephen Foster show, which will air on BBC Radio Suffolk next week at some point, with Louise and Steve also doing a brief interview with him. The fact that the session was pre-recorded ensured it was pressure-free, yet we still played with a fiery energy and confidence that sounded pretty clean on the listen back. Looking forward to hearing it, I felt we all played well tonight.

Artwork for forthcoming Christmas album...

Matt Corrall = genius.

Gig report: Ethan Ash @ CB2, Cambridge

Band: Ethan Ash (duo set)
Venue: CB2, Cambridge
Date: 20/11/10
Audience: Absolutely rammed, so packed it was uncomfortable - in a good way
Set: 10 songs altogether, 5 of which I had the pleasure of playing on (the 4 tracks from the EP - Take Some Time, Hushed Quiet Silence, Dawning, Tried To Get Rid Of Me) and a new track which I can't remember then name of, interspersed with 5 non-drum tracks which Ethan performed solo - 4 tracks from his first EP, and a new song
Notes: Ethan Ash has been the iTunes single of the week all week for his superb single, 'Tried To Get Rid Of Me', which I had the pleasure of performing on, and then releasing on the label. Half way through a mammoth tour of the UK, I was invited to play live with him tonight at the EP launch in his home town, basically playing the songs I recorded with him and one extra track. There's a real buzz about Ethan, he's building a good following, and the show tonight - which was organised by the consistently brilliant Living Room team, was a lovely event. Such is the small venue, it was completely packed, with many having to stand at the back, and there was a great sense of expectation in the air. I loved it tonight, I like playing to crowds that are really up for it, and Ethan's stage presence is top notch, it's very much a gig where I need to be out of the limelight and very much in the background and I worked hard to keep myself quiet, sharp, but funky, and all in all it worked out a treat. I'm knackered.

Christmas stuff

It's been a while since I've updated this properly (apart from gig reports), the last time being when I was struggling to finish the Christmas script. That script, 'Santa, And The Unfortunate Allegations' is now done, and the first rehearsal at the weekend suggested it was a winner - Heather in particular seems to enjoy her returning character of Hitler Judy, and Kev revelled as Jesus. That felt like a tough one to write, but as always a couple late nights, aided by a tipple or two and the 'Best Christmas Album In The World' and it was easy enough. But like my previous Christmas shows, I really want it to be a double bill, so I'm now quickly bashing out an opening play, kind of like a support act. It'll be a lead role for Heather, simply because she's keen, very good and more to the point able to learn it quickly - she'll have about three weeks to nail it, once I've finished writing the thing. It's called '(Dawn Palmer Just Wants To Be) Loneley This Christmas' and I'm very pleased with the concept, just need to do the idea justice - and more to the point - find the time to do so. It's been a crazy few weeks, with much to be done still before I can relax a bit. The 'Awkward Christmas...' album is nearly there - Helen's now back from Thailand and is going to re-record the odd backing vocal before it's mixed, ideally it'll be completely sorted this week so I can get it to the distributor in time for a festive release, but things are cutting it a little tight. I never thought I'd say this, but Christmas is coming a little too early for my liking. Both Christmas shows need intensive rehearsals too before I'd be confident enough to start selling tickets for them.

In the meantime, the Under The Streetlamp debut album was released on Monday after a couple scary hitches in getting everything ready in time - which is remarkable I left things this late since we recorded it in February. It's out now, anyway. And also Ethan Ash - who I drum for, and have on my label, is currently iTunes 'single of the week' all this week, which is a totally amazing thing, that I have known about for a while, but very happy it's actually happened, will be interesting to see how this affects sales. I'm playing drums for him at the EP launch this Friday and it's a gig I've been looking forward to for a very long time, and the rehearsals were great. The Eureka Stockade album is done, back from mastering, and should be set up for a pre-order before the end of the week in time for it's preferred release date. The 'Awkward Christmas...' album still needs a bit of PR work, as well as actually finishing. This is a stressful week - but in a good way, I'm buzzing from it all, whilst completely knackered. If I get all the albums sent to the distrubtor, and finish the other Christmas show, and make good progress on the radio Christmas special (which will be broadcast on Cambridge City Radio at 3pm on Christmas Day...must make it good then) by the end of the week, the rest of the year will just be plain sailing. But since when was anything that simple?

Gig report: Aidy @ The Punter, Cambridge

Band: Aidy (trio set)
Venue: The Punter, Cambridge (headline)
Date: 17/11/10
Audience: Just like the venue - lovely, and charming
Set: Not sure
Notes: I really enjoyed this gig, I'd never been to The Punter before and it's a lovely place that is remarkably easy for me to get to. The acoustic event, with 5 acts playing in the 'barn' area, found us play to a nice audience, on the bill with top quality acts, and everybody felt very comfortable. Aidy was on good form tonight, with the ancedotes well recieved by the audience and with enough humour for it to be enjoyable whilst never interfering with the songs. I came out of this one smiling, it was an easy gig, but we played well (on a personal level probably the best I've played for Aidy) and felt very welcome throughout.

Gig report: Flaming June @ B-Bar, Cambridge

Band: Flaming June
Venue: B-Bar, Cambridge (house band for comedy night)
Date: 14/11/10
Audience: Frankly amazing. Seated, responded well, wonderful
Set: Not sure exactly, but 20 minutes at the start, 3 songs at the end of the first batch of 5 comedians before the interval, and then a 20 minute set at the end
Notes: Got back from this gig about an hour ago, and I'm still buzzing from it now. I really, really enjoyed tonight, probably because I wasn't expecting to. It had been a long day of Christmas play rehearsals, alongside a slight hangover, and carrying congas from the multistory down the road as well as helping my mate Alan carry the lights for the show meant I had dead arms before the gig even started, but it turned into an absolute cracker. We were the house band for the comedy night, which sees 10 new comedians do their thing. Originally I was supposed to be playing this gig with Lu, but sadly she's ill at the moment, so one of my other bands - Flaming June, stepped in at pretty short notice. The audience tonight, a packed house in the function room of B-Bar, were a comedy audience, but they took to us instantly and even when we played the final set after the comedy (when they really could have left and gone to the bar if they wanted) a large majority of them not only stayed for the whole thing, but really got into it. I'm proud to be in Flaming June, we were on absolute fire tonight - it was incredibly hot and a little uncomfortable with those lights (yep, the ones I helped carry) burning on us, we all came out of it drenched in sweat - but it was full-throttle Flaming June tonight, Louise in particular was in incredible form, fiery, witty songs, and the crowd really took to it. She even taught the audience a fairly complex chorus to a song I'd never played with them before, and then the whole room bellowed it out - it was a lovely moment, it was a top-notch gig all round. More of that, please.

Gig report: Eureka Stockade @ High Barn, Great Bardfield

Band: Eureka Stockade (with guest Anna Scott on cello)
Venue: High Barn, Great Bardfield, Essex
Date: 12/11/10
Audience: A fair amount of them, very respectful, seated
Set: (without cello) She Got Good, Erotomania, Violence, (with cello) Broken Pieces, Warm Hands, All Alone, Without You, Through Every Darkness, Heroes Fall
Notes: High Barn is and has been for a good while my favourite venue, tonight was the second time I've had the pleasure of playing there and the fourth time altogether I've drummed there (having worked on the Lu recording sessions at the venue earlier this year). We headlined tonight, which was a lovely thing, and the brilliant Anna Scott, who played on our album (to be released December 6th) joined us for most of the set after a successful rehearsal during the week. The support acts were all very young, making us feel very old, the audience were reserved but polite enough to make us feel welcome. The sound was great, we were a bit off the pace for the first tune, but by the time we were at 'All Alone' I felt we were really flying, and Anna's performance was consistantly great. I was a bit caveman-like in my playing tonight, far too bashy, but I doubt anybody noticed - in fact some audience members were extremely complimentary afterwards. Capped off the evening by not getting lost, which is a huge bonus and a first for me at that venue, although I did cheat and follow Nathan the bassist.

Christmas script

I just looked back on what I wrote on here exactly a year ago today...this time last year I was in a terrible mess, trying to write the Christmas show and struggling for inspiration. One year later, and it's an identical situation. I've been working on this script for a week now, it's a comedy called 'The Day The Carol Singers Stole Christmas', I've got every festive hit blaring out to the extent that I'm expecting my landlady to complain, I've tried caffeine, I've tried alcohol, I've tried sleep...the idea is a goodun, probably my best yet. But can I fucking write it? Of course not. The show opens on the 17th December, the cast want/need the script. I've got a million other things on the go. I'm stressed. I probably shouldn't be writing this and actually getting on with it.

Under The Streetlamp - album artwork

Excellent artwork for our forthcoming debut album, courtesy of Mr. Chris Boland...