Unoffishal October 04

Question for the Month: "When did mediocrity and banality become a good thing?" (Wild) Bill Hicks, kindly forwarded by 'Laurence' of The Last Great Wilderness as always: www.clearchannelsucks.org

Tell me a story....... Last night 'veered off' the rock n roll superhighway (if that thoroughfare passes through these parts!).. took a little detour into the land of ..uh.. STORYTELLING! Wandering around Edinburgh lost, looking for a gig I 'thought' was on (discover it's NOVEMBER 30th - that's NEXT month) anyway.. I said to Jim and John.. 'let's go to the Waverley Bar.. maybe something suitably wacky is on upstairs.' [I couldn't have been more on the money if I'd stood on a dime.] I asked the bar maid this evenings ''particular' fare. Her reply with a twinkling eye: "Storytelling". SO we ventured upstairs and into the wonderfully wacky world of the Edinburgh Storytelling Festival's penultimate night. The biggest surprise of the event was how packed out it was. A LOT of people are into storytelling in a BIG way. The other surprise was the discovery of a rather gorgeous man in his later years. My initial reaction, indeed, age does not diminish true beauty. I could spend time with him.. sex or no sex. Notes on the subject to my dear friend Fifi J to follow.

The Sessions of Suffering: The earlier part of Saturday had been spent painstakingly matching John's vocal lines for 3 songs he described as 'music to slit your wrists to'. I found the process pain-free and the hooks were catchy as hell. Overall, good songs. He asked me to deliver a 'projected/folk 'Irish'/kinda country/ wailing/ keening/ open/yet controlled' vocal on all the harmonies. Difficult to get into, but once there.. I did good. That's all I'll say.

You just might get it: A couple of months ago.. I'd made a comment that I really would like to do some 'session' singing.. just kick back and be told exactly what tone to make, where to put that note.. how to la la la.. how many times, etc.. In the last couple of weeks this has become the theme to my life. In the studio with Jim doing Free As A Dog and working out the vocals for ALL of his other tracks.. and tomorrow John Torj is coming up from London to collect his IOU. A couple of months ago he traded his brilliant keyboard playing on some of Jim's pre-production for my voice 'in future'. The future has come. This weekend, I will be singing on John's album. I don't even know what the music is like. He told Jim, 'don't worry, I'll tell her how to sing each part." Great.

Thought 2 for the Day: "Never depend on the admiration of others. There is no strength in it." 'The Manual of the Warrior of Light' by Paulo Coelho

I know, but I can't help it. I like it. Andy G.. Mr Dead Earnest, the guy who saw me at Bannermans earlier this month, (where I was 'shite' - but, apparently, got away with it (maybe) due to the sound system breaking down) asked for the CD's and wrote a GREAT review of CRAWL & DIAMOND KITTY. In rather incestuous fashion, I shall depose Delta Dawn for a 'mo and post Andy's reviews on the Listening to page. The reviews are so good, I wondered if I'd paid him!

Listening to Radio 6 Int'l for the first time.. and heard a great little song, delivered by an un-named female voice: "Swimming With Sharks". It was like Rosie Bell, but more Rosie Bell than Rosie. The track was quite wonderfully concise and cool. I've written to the station asking who she was. May be able to tell you later. [Ed's Note: Alien Kabaret is the group]

Radio Six International (Internet, Canada, US and Europe) have emailed me to say they're playlisting 'Jonny Cash' from this Friday. They were given a copy of the Full Moon Compilation CD and there ya go.

Bob's your uncle or a very dear pet. Still.. I'm sure it's down to the 'shower' shot Fritz included on the CD insert. Naked wimmin.. done to death, but works every time.

If you want to hear the track (even without the shower shot): 5,105kHz shortwave to the USA, Canada and Western Europe daily between midnight and 2am (7 - 9pm New York time) and 24 hours a day on http://www.radiosix.com. Or buy a copy here, there, and everywhere. Very kindly the Programme Director has asked me to send him more music.. so there ya go Bob. Somebody likes it.

"But who's going to play our records now??" Later today.. I heard John Peel has died.

22 Oct 2004 Fri Thought for the Day: "Beggars CAN be choosers." revised proverb

FREE AS A DOG: Did my part at BigByte on Wednesday. Painstakingly lay down all backing vocals - line by line - with a couple of extra rows of harmonies and outbursts of freewheeling voice here and there. It's been a while since someone told me how to sing (not since I was a proper show-me-the-money session singer) so, the experience was incredibly nerve-wracking but I got it and got into it and by the end, enjoyed it thoroughly.. so yeah.. a successful day. JM put down more guitar and keys on track and it's sounding most definitely unusually rich. Building nicely.

Received CD For Review: 'The Sengen' - Nice Packaging. Real perfesshional looking. Will stick it on and see what it sounds like. (It sounds good actually. Distinctive, deep.)

Some Parisian internet radio station (or maybe it's just a French Radio station) has asked for music and yesterday was a sunny day.

PS - The Absentee Ballot has arrived! Time to get that asshole out of the White House. Use your VOTE!

Thought for the Day: "He who speaks the truth should have one foot in the stirrup." proverb

I won't speak any particular truths today, so I needn't leave town. Learning vocal parts and harmonies for Jimmy Miller's 'Free As A Dog' track. In the studio on Wednesday. Suddenly, he's created 15 complex vocal parts that I must get down pat, plus he wants a freewheeling interpretive vocal over that. It's a lot of work, believe me, to be both schooled and spontaneous. Last night the 'Porn Cops' played Bannerman's. I'd been told to see them but didn't - other fish to fry, next time maybe. Andy Garibaldi suggested distributing CRAWL CD's through his Dead Earnest website. There's about 3 or 4 tracks I want to add first (which means finish producing) and then maybe.

Jim says the new Blue Nile CD "HIGH", is like an 'old friend'; brilliant in it's quiet, simple, longing way. I have to admit, when I came in last night, it was on and it sounded welcoming. Cozy, deep-pained emotion; perfect for the onset of Scottish winter; bring your own rope.

11 Oct 2004 Mon - Thought for the Day: "...'shallow' is the new 'deep'...." Fifi J (aka Ms Jackson)

The following letter came to our 'Advice' page and my colleague Fifi J's answer is so timely and astute I must post the entire thing here:

Question from 'Winona': "How do I get in touch with my deeper self so as to change it and make it more attractive to members of the opposite sex?"

Answer from Fifi J: "OK, So you want to get laid? Do Tantric Yoga. But the secret is to TELL EVERYONE you are doing tantric yoga, then sit back and watch the offers come in. Once you've mastered it, give me a call. If that fails ... botox, plastic surgery, therapy ... Sweetie, the road to self fulfilment does not rely on validation from anyone else. You have to love YOU before anyone else will. Chances are there isn't that much to change, and anyway these days "shallow" is the new "deep". Fifi J x

Thought for the Day: "This world has so much techno without the knowledgy." Jimmy Miller

I suppose I should talk about the FULL MOON Vol I Compilation CD! (Again! dark photos from the night) Damn.. I missed the whole point of Thursday night. It was a CD LAUNCH PARTY! An eclectic and interesting collection.. A bit of a 'wild mix'. I can't get William Mysterious' (ex-Rezillos AND Waterboys) "Put On the Pancakes" and "We've Got Lots of Time" out of my head and I discovered K9. Seen him play once before, but suddenly realise, even though he's barking out Turret's Syndrome Rap like he da BADDEST nigga' in da BADDEST BLACKEST HOOD!... he's kinda talented. MC Pitman would have something to say to him about 'keep it proper', but the kid is genuinely filled with vicious pit-bull neck-biting energy and on the bits he sings, he's got a great voice. Crevis Inspection do 2 tracks about being 'Crevis Inspectors' and other tour-bus moments (good live.. especially their rendition of 'Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter'). Rosie Bell does that smoky cabaret broken-souled stuff that sounds so great after midnight. My tracks 'Jonny Cash' and 'Kitty Kitty' are on there, which is kinda unfortunate as they're on the Diamond Kitty 'Rough Diamonds' CD as well. Norman Lamont's "The Ballad of Bob Dylan" is apparently a favourite with Ian Anderson and is indeed a favourite of mine - the lyrics are genius.. his album is reviewed on the Listening To page... Z28's dropped in 3 tracks from their epic "Wrecks on the Highway"... FRAK "Last Band to Play on Top of the Pops" is really tight, cute appropriate pop and Hennisi bring depth with "Merge" and "Invent"... Finally, Miyagi bring the multi-instrumental harmonic sax surf rock approach. Modern Midlothian sometime Beach Boys meet Crosby Still Nash & Young with a touch of YES... "all good people...". I'm surprised they haven't got a website (or, apparently, a deal). Big following, no website (no deal? How strange is this world? Someone like Robbie "Tosser" Williams has a deal. Proof that God is, indeed, dead).

Apart from that, the CD looks good (there's the Shower Scene photo in the CD booklet. How could you let that go by?) and it's £5. Contact deltadawn@mgck.co.uk if you want one. Fritz said something to the effect they're £5 from us and more elsewhere.

Received For Review: CD's from The Last Great Wilderness "American Pornography" and a guy called Jim Bryce. WHAT A DICHOTOMY! So as not to hurt Jim Bryce's feelings I should post the review (which is really not bad) on this page. It's not rock OR roll but sometimes you need a stretch... But he is a mildly interesting character. His website: www.jamesbryce.org.uk. The Last Great Wilderness 3-trk EP is SO great. Problem for me, when I like something this much.. I don't have a flurry of descriptives marching through my head. I just hear it and it takes me. Not very good at writing 'good' reviews. [Editor's note: I finally WROTE THE REVIEW!]

Which reminds me, someone who's reviewing Thursday's gig, emailed me asking to get some CD's to review as the sound was so bad on Thursday night. Sometimes bad sound is a bonus. [Editor's Note: That 'someone' is Andy Garibaldi. A funny funny guy.. very cool, very nice... his website: www.deadearnest.btinternet.co.uk]

Jimmy Miller is in the studio again today. He's moving along aimlessly, like a bit of flotsam floating downstream.. just going in and putting down whatever. Not approaching it right as far as I'm concerned, but maybe there's method.... Kenny was with us on Thursday night at Bannerman's. For the first time he told me the set was good. It was the worst one ever and he told me it was good because Norman was playing and it just gave it that 'feel'. Yes, well... organic musicians... you can't beat em.

Thought for the Day : "May you live in interesting times..." ancient Chinese curse. (silence for KB whose agony finally ended in 'interesting' pre-apocalyptic times)

Last night was kind of interesting (some dark photos of the event), but boy, was I shite. There's not really any other word that describes it so well. "Sometimes I know the only way is down!" - my favourite line from 'American Pornography' -The Last Great Wilderness

Bands like Miyagi, Z28's (I have the sneaking suspicion the Z28s guitarist - Lick Buzzin' Licks, or whatever moniker he goes by - would be awesome in bed), Hennisi, etc.. they were all good, especially Hennisi (a band I've never seen before from Dundee.. really good vocalist), but boy, was I shite. The mic cut out at the end of Miyagi's set; started crackling. By the time we (Norman Lamont played with me) took to the stage... there was a constant crackling accompaniment. His guitar pedals didn't help, but his playing did. Everyone commented on Norman as an excellent addition to the vibe so thumbs up and thanks for being there, but boy, was I shite. Just a whole host of issues conspiring to make the event an uphill climb. Mostly the sound system, but, unfortunately, also me. I was just not 'in' the thing. I was not in the moment and couldn't hear a word of myself through the monitors. I'd been hanging around drinking wine for a couple of hours before I went on. Hanging around is a 'BIG' drain. Rule Number One from 'Motorhead Rules of Touring': You need to be shootin' speed out in the tour bus, not 'hanging' watching the other acts.

Anyway, soldiered on to 'rousing' (Jim's word) applause and audience support, and got a lot more attention from people after the gig who recognised that I'd stayed up there playing regardless of the sound. Lots of pats on the back (must be the shoes) and "diabolical sound system, but you were great.' I was shite, shame about the sound system. Lindsay and...oh fuck what is her name??? BONNIE!!!! who do programs for LEITH FM came up to me. They were taping every set and asked, due to my technical problems on stage, if I would come down and do a live set 'in the studio'. So there ya go. You can think (know) you're shite and other people might find it intriguing. The CD looks good and somehow, Fritz smuggled that 'shower scene' photo of me into the booklet. Hey... it's all rock n roll, and sometimes, when I'm not shite, I like it.

7 Oct 2004 Thurs Hmmmmm how to make October interesting.. that's the question.

8 William Mysterious - 8.30 Norman Lamont - 9 K9 - 9.30 Crevis inspection - 10 Hennisi - 10.30 Miyagi - 11 Electra - 11.30 Z/28s - 12 Rosie Bell

Jim has come back from London with a bit of coalface hip-hop (courtesy of Jim L), the ravings of MC Pitman. I have to say.. Pitman is infectious and on the money about this islands ills, the world's ills. If you want to read about this guy who took a strange idea to it's conclusion visit: http://www.ukhh.com/features/interviews/pitman/ He's also got 3 CD's out on Son Records. Jim has bought them all.

Popped back into this reality from that reality over there where the sun shines. Decided Bill Hicks will remain our poster boy for truth and beauty.

Not much to tell... or it's just that I haven't digested any of it yet, but really, it seems, life's too short to hang around in a place like this, when you can hang around in a place like that. I have to think about it some more.

Paul Hastie @Bannerman's has asked that I post the review of the Bannerman's CD on the MGCK 'Listening To' page to their www.bannermansgigs.co.uk website. He'll buy me a beer if I am so kind. Haven't finished reviewing the CD yet. Still rather partial to The Last Great Wilderness and 'American Pornography', i.e. the other Bill Hicks quote Lawrence sent me: "You know what pornographic is to me? the amount we spend on weapons and defence each year..." We're all living in an obscene dream, but nobody wants to wake up.