Band: Eureka Stockade
Venue: The Portland Arms, Cambridge
Date: 14/06/11
Audience: Small-ish but very nice
Set: Not sure - opened with All Alone, ended with Heroes Fall, about 5 songs in the middle
Notes: As I walked off tonight I said 'that was horrible', but I think that was probably an over reaction. There was a lot of nice things about tonight, hanging out with my Eureka chums beforehand is always nice, this is what I like about being in a band sometimes. It was also nice to proper rock out - having done lots of acoustic things recently (including the Strawberry Fair with Eureka Stockade which was a quieter one) it was nice to hit those drums hard. Having been about for a couple years now we've built a nice set, so a half an hour support slot sees us being able to pick and choose rather than play everything we know, so we played our rockier set tonight - 'Violence' (still our most popular single) and 'Erotomania' thrown in ahead of the ballad-ee material. That was probably why we weren't the tightest tonight though, as we've not played those songs in what feels like ages, so it was a bit of a rough one, but the crowd seemed to respond well anyway. The 'horrible' feeling though was just from the heat, it was ridiculously hot up there tonight, that felt like a proper work out.
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Sunday, 12 June 2011
Gig report: Trevor Jones Band @ The Water Rats Theatre, London
Band: Trevor Jones Band
Venue: The Water Rats Theatre, London
Date: 11/06/11
Audience: Scattered but enough of them to make us feel appreciated
Set: All I Am, Badman, Shine A Light, I Don't Wanna Talk About It, Alive, Roll On The Rain, She Was Me, Old Fashioned Woman, Falling
Notes: Well that was better. None of us really enjoyed Friday's gig, but we all came out of Saturday's show absolutely buzzing. The Water Rats is a lovely venue - small but extremely friendly. We were the first on, at the very early time of 7.15pm, but it didn't seem to matter as we had a good crowd, the best the Trevor Jones Band has had I think, they seemed really into it. It was just a lovely show, the sound on and off stage was top notch, the sound men extremely complimentary and patient, the house kit was tuned perfectly, and we were really in the zone throughout. It's the first time we've played 'Shine A Light' at the correct speed, whilst 'Alive' - often the favourite track of the night anyway - was proper fiery with the sharpest, tightest ending yet. I'd even go as far as to say that was probably the best I've ever played, ever, on stage. That's possibly not true, but it felt like it last night. Got drunk afterwards, watched the outstanding Koasound (who we supported in London a few weeks back) and made some really good contacts. More gigs like that, please.
Venue: The Water Rats Theatre, London
Date: 11/06/11
Audience: Scattered but enough of them to make us feel appreciated
Set: All I Am, Badman, Shine A Light, I Don't Wanna Talk About It, Alive, Roll On The Rain, She Was Me, Old Fashioned Woman, Falling
Notes: Well that was better. None of us really enjoyed Friday's gig, but we all came out of Saturday's show absolutely buzzing. The Water Rats is a lovely venue - small but extremely friendly. We were the first on, at the very early time of 7.15pm, but it didn't seem to matter as we had a good crowd, the best the Trevor Jones Band has had I think, they seemed really into it. It was just a lovely show, the sound on and off stage was top notch, the sound men extremely complimentary and patient, the house kit was tuned perfectly, and we were really in the zone throughout. It's the first time we've played 'Shine A Light' at the correct speed, whilst 'Alive' - often the favourite track of the night anyway - was proper fiery with the sharpest, tightest ending yet. I'd even go as far as to say that was probably the best I've ever played, ever, on stage. That's possibly not true, but it felt like it last night. Got drunk afterwards, watched the outstanding Koasound (who we supported in London a few weeks back) and made some really good contacts. More gigs like that, please.
Friday, 10 June 2011
Gig report: Trevor Jones Band @ The Haymakers, Cambridge
Band: Trevor Jones Band
Venue: The Haymakers, Cambridge
Date: 10/06/11
Audience: Minimal, polite
Set: All I Am, Badman, Shine A Light, I Don't Wanna Talk About It, Alive, Roll On The Rain, She Was Me, Old Fashioned Woman, Falling
Notes: Our third gig as Trevor Jones Band, I've got mixed feelings about tonight. I shouldn't let the lack of audience get to me, but it's the third gig in a row where our crowd has barely met double figures. A lot of people, friends, promised they'd make tonight's gig because it was being filmed by some professional cameramen and it's kind of essential for promotional material to have a good crowd whooping and all that. I know people have lives, and I know I do a lot of gigs and theatre stuff, and I know I can't rely on people because as a band you can't always depend on your friends to be the audience, but apart from Rich, Jack, Ken and James the audience was the other bands. I feel sorry for the venue - it's a wonderful venue run by a fantastic team, and seeing it this empty annoys me...don't people go to gigs anymore? Have all of my friends actually grown up into a world of Friday night television and cosiness? As I say though, it shouldn't be about the audience, it's about the music, and we were tighter than ever tonight - we're a good band you know, really sharp, and tonight was probably the best we've played so far. The banter afterwards kind of made it worthwhile, I love this bunch of people. But as a gig it was soul destroying. London gig tomorrow, which will probably be exactly the same situation, only with the inconvenience of having to travel to do it.
Venue: The Haymakers, Cambridge
Date: 10/06/11
Audience: Minimal, polite
Set: All I Am, Badman, Shine A Light, I Don't Wanna Talk About It, Alive, Roll On The Rain, She Was Me, Old Fashioned Woman, Falling
Notes: Our third gig as Trevor Jones Band, I've got mixed feelings about tonight. I shouldn't let the lack of audience get to me, but it's the third gig in a row where our crowd has barely met double figures. A lot of people, friends, promised they'd make tonight's gig because it was being filmed by some professional cameramen and it's kind of essential for promotional material to have a good crowd whooping and all that. I know people have lives, and I know I do a lot of gigs and theatre stuff, and I know I can't rely on people because as a band you can't always depend on your friends to be the audience, but apart from Rich, Jack, Ken and James the audience was the other bands. I feel sorry for the venue - it's a wonderful venue run by a fantastic team, and seeing it this empty annoys me...don't people go to gigs anymore? Have all of my friends actually grown up into a world of Friday night television and cosiness? As I say though, it shouldn't be about the audience, it's about the music, and we were tighter than ever tonight - we're a good band you know, really sharp, and tonight was probably the best we've played so far. The banter afterwards kind of made it worthwhile, I love this bunch of people. But as a gig it was soul destroying. London gig tomorrow, which will probably be exactly the same situation, only with the inconvenience of having to travel to do it.
Sunday, 5 June 2011
Gig report: Flaming June @ Stowfest, Stowmarket
Band: Flaming June
Venue: Stowfest Festival, Stowmarket
Date: 05/06/2011
Audience: Lots of them, a lot of kids
Set: Rejoice, Under My Skin, You Do Moody So Well, Rumplestiltskin, Nerves Of Steel, I Know What It's Like (no drums), Insane Ex-Girlfriend Parade, Stop The Ride, Wednesday's And Weekends
Notes: Of all the festivals I've done recently this certainly has to be one of the friendliest. A family day out really, but meticulously well organised with two stages running well together and a really nice vibe to it. Because of the nature of the audience we couldn't play 'The Wizard', but other than that it was typical fiery Flaming June doing what we do best. Having not played percussion for a while as I've been back on the drums recently, my hands hurt a little after a couple songs but by the end of the set they'd toughened up again. We played well today, we generally always do - FJ are a very consistent band, although if I'd known there was going to be so many photographers I would have warn a nicer t-shirt. All in all a good day, good sound, good crowd, relatively easy drive home too.
Venue: Stowfest Festival, Stowmarket
Date: 05/06/2011
Audience: Lots of them, a lot of kids
Set: Rejoice, Under My Skin, You Do Moody So Well, Rumplestiltskin, Nerves Of Steel, I Know What It's Like (no drums), Insane Ex-Girlfriend Parade, Stop The Ride, Wednesday's And Weekends
Notes: Of all the festivals I've done recently this certainly has to be one of the friendliest. A family day out really, but meticulously well organised with two stages running well together and a really nice vibe to it. Because of the nature of the audience we couldn't play 'The Wizard', but other than that it was typical fiery Flaming June doing what we do best. Having not played percussion for a while as I've been back on the drums recently, my hands hurt a little after a couple songs but by the end of the set they'd toughened up again. We played well today, we generally always do - FJ are a very consistent band, although if I'd known there was going to be so many photographers I would have warn a nicer t-shirt. All in all a good day, good sound, good crowd, relatively easy drive home too.
Gig report: Eureka Stockade @ Strawberry Fair Festival, Cambridge
Band: Eureka Stockade
Venue: Strawberry Fair Festival, Cambridge
Date: 04/06/2011
Audience: Packed, friendly
Set: She Got Good, All Alone, Without You, I've Been There Before, Caught In The Fire, Resistance, Through Every Darkness
Notes: Having had a year off, the Strawberry Fair returned this year and we were lucky enough to be offered a slot in the acoustic tent. It started off feeling like it was going to be hard work, the whole festival is pretty big and very busy so access with cars is a bit tricky. As a result having to carry my hardware, snare, cymbals, bass pedal and sticks from the nearby multistory across the site was a struggle and I felt knackered before the gig even started, probably also because it was scorching hot and sweaty summer's day. But a pint and a chance to watch a bit of the lovely Fred's House later and I felt refreshed and we played okay I think. To be honest we couldn't hear too much on stage, such is the nature of festival gigs generally, so I'm not sure how we sounded, but there was a nice big crowd and they all seemed to appreciate what we do. As like the previous last few gigs the new material, 'I've Been There Before' and 'Caught In The Fire' seemed to go down particularly well, and we managed to give out plenty of copies of our new single, 'Without You' so it was a worthwhile experience. I was a bit 'cave man' in my own playing I reckon, a bit too bashy and less off the trickery, but some gigs you just have to hit things a bit harder and it seemed to work. It was also great to have Dave Greeves (from Paul Goodwin's band) join us on steel guitar, he's a fantastic musician and we're looking forward to recording with him again later this year.
Venue: Strawberry Fair Festival, Cambridge
Date: 04/06/2011
Audience: Packed, friendly
Set: She Got Good, All Alone, Without You, I've Been There Before, Caught In The Fire, Resistance, Through Every Darkness
Notes: Having had a year off, the Strawberry Fair returned this year and we were lucky enough to be offered a slot in the acoustic tent. It started off feeling like it was going to be hard work, the whole festival is pretty big and very busy so access with cars is a bit tricky. As a result having to carry my hardware, snare, cymbals, bass pedal and sticks from the nearby multistory across the site was a struggle and I felt knackered before the gig even started, probably also because it was scorching hot and sweaty summer's day. But a pint and a chance to watch a bit of the lovely Fred's House later and I felt refreshed and we played okay I think. To be honest we couldn't hear too much on stage, such is the nature of festival gigs generally, so I'm not sure how we sounded, but there was a nice big crowd and they all seemed to appreciate what we do. As like the previous last few gigs the new material, 'I've Been There Before' and 'Caught In The Fire' seemed to go down particularly well, and we managed to give out plenty of copies of our new single, 'Without You' so it was a worthwhile experience. I was a bit 'cave man' in my own playing I reckon, a bit too bashy and less off the trickery, but some gigs you just have to hit things a bit harder and it seemed to work. It was also great to have Dave Greeves (from Paul Goodwin's band) join us on steel guitar, he's a fantastic musician and we're looking forward to recording with him again later this year.
Friday, 3 June 2011
Gig report: Aidy/Trevor Jones Band @ The Cornerhouse, Cambridge
Bands: Aidy, Trevor Jones Band
Venue: The Cornerhouse, Cambridge
Date: 03/06/11
Audience: Minimal, enthusiastic
Set: Aidy - not sure (opened with 'Make It Happen' ended with 'Washing Machine', with about 4 songs in the middle), Trevor Jones Band - All I Am, Badman, Shine A Light, I Don't Wanna Talk About It, Alive, Roll On The Rain, She Was Me, Old Fashioned Woman, Falling
Notes: This gig was initially booked by Trevor as another chance for the recently formed band to get some gig experience, ahead of next Friday's filmed gig (for promotional purposes) and next Saturday's London gig (which is also being filmed by some Canadian TV company or something). Short on an act, Aidy stepped in at reasonably short notice, complete with Dave the bassist and myself on drums. It was a modest affair, none of us really advertised it, it was incredibly warm outside so why anyone would want to come in to a heaving pub is beyond me no matter how good the beer, food and music is, but we had a few in tonight. A nice easy show that, as a trio it's probably the best we've played Aidy's songs - sometimes we're a little too ramshackle for our own good, but tonight I felt we were really in good shape and when they work like this it's a reminder that they are really great tunes - witty lyrics, punchy, unpredictable, he won a few new fans tonight like he always does, and rightly so. That was followed very quickly by Trevor Jones Band - I'm pretty sure it was the same set as last week's London gig but we keep on finding more intricacies within the music and it just gets better every time, we're really starting to sound like a proper band, it's a big sound, it was very well received and rightly so. A nice gig, that was, I've got two more this weekend (tomorrow with Eureka Stockade, Sunday with Flaming June), if they're as good as that one I'll be happy enough.
Venue: The Cornerhouse, Cambridge
Date: 03/06/11
Audience: Minimal, enthusiastic
Set: Aidy - not sure (opened with 'Make It Happen' ended with 'Washing Machine', with about 4 songs in the middle), Trevor Jones Band - All I Am, Badman, Shine A Light, I Don't Wanna Talk About It, Alive, Roll On The Rain, She Was Me, Old Fashioned Woman, Falling
Notes: This gig was initially booked by Trevor as another chance for the recently formed band to get some gig experience, ahead of next Friday's filmed gig (for promotional purposes) and next Saturday's London gig (which is also being filmed by some Canadian TV company or something). Short on an act, Aidy stepped in at reasonably short notice, complete with Dave the bassist and myself on drums. It was a modest affair, none of us really advertised it, it was incredibly warm outside so why anyone would want to come in to a heaving pub is beyond me no matter how good the beer, food and music is, but we had a few in tonight. A nice easy show that, as a trio it's probably the best we've played Aidy's songs - sometimes we're a little too ramshackle for our own good, but tonight I felt we were really in good shape and when they work like this it's a reminder that they are really great tunes - witty lyrics, punchy, unpredictable, he won a few new fans tonight like he always does, and rightly so. That was followed very quickly by Trevor Jones Band - I'm pretty sure it was the same set as last week's London gig but we keep on finding more intricacies within the music and it just gets better every time, we're really starting to sound like a proper band, it's a big sound, it was very well received and rightly so. A nice gig, that was, I've got two more this weekend (tomorrow with Eureka Stockade, Sunday with Flaming June), if they're as good as that one I'll be happy enough.
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
Oscar Pike - show 4
I can barely keep my eyes open so I'll keep this brief. That was hard work tonight, but we did it. My expectations changed from last night where I wanted us to do the 'best show ever' to simply 'getting through it' when I woke up this morning feeling sick, dizzy and lacking in a throat. During the course of the day I drank 8 bottles of water and a litre of orange juice and by the end of the working day I was communicating freely again and knew the show was a goer. I coughed a lot on stage tonight, but still got the show done - in fact my over eagerness to keep the pace up lead to me really rushing things, my monologue about 'everything I hate about working here' was so fast I think it was lost on most people. Michelle reckoned last night's performance was better, I disagree and thought tonight was marginally stronger, either way they're fairly close. The audience seemed to laugh more tonight, but that's probably not a reflection of the performance, as much as I probably wanted it to be. Feel sad that I was too ill to even make the post-show drinks with the wonderful team, all of whom I respect enormously. Mustn't grumble - fourth performance of Oscar Pike, fourth sellout, so we must be doing something right. I guess my desire for perfection in myself though will have to wait until August when we hit Edinburgh.
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