WV1, Deftones and

Deftones UK and Audioslaved

First of all, I’d like to start off by announcing that I am also now the drummer in another tribute band, Deftones UK, UK tribute to Deftones. Only recently started, we’ve had just the one gig, and along with the epic feedback from this gig, we’ve also got five or six new gigs for this year and a few into early next year. Whey! Aswell as this, I and the bassplayer and guitarist from TMRO have teamed up with one Nick Steven, as a tribute to Audioslave, called Audioslaved. Although it may be in a slight niche in the market, we probably won’t be pressing further with this band after the next gig which is in Burnley. Shout out to the Sanctuary Rock Bar!

Also recently, I’ve played a number of rather large festival gigs with The Machine Rages on! WV1Fest, Boltfest and Festwich! All of which are festivals in tribute to big names, anything from Madness through to Limp Bizkit. And run by the same group, these events are considerably larger gigs than I’ve ever played before. Just a few photos here...

I would absolutely love Deftones UK to play these gigs too. Maybe even alongside TMRO, which would be a proper workout for me, two sets in three hours! Challenge accepted.  Deftones UK are of course gigging elsewhere, Manchester, Burnley and Bradford plus more, our next being Bradford! Let us know what you think!

Gigs and babies.

Parenthood and performance, do they work together?

               After a few months of realising I want to become a dad, it’s dawned on me that maybe my music career would be taking a different direction. After all, how can I keep climbing that musical hill and be a dedicated father to one or maybe more kids at the same time? This is what I want to explore and discuss in this post.

       Obviously, there are many aspects to this topic. Where to start being the main one...

           In my opinion, it can work. I would of course personally make sure that everything is provided for and maintained whichever my working situation, I would always have the child in mind with everything I do, whether I’m working a regular day job or a night shift, whether its evening or early morning work. That said, performing music (in my circumstances) isn’t exactly a regular contracted, guaranteed hours job. It’s more of a challenge to get the gigs in, making it financially viable, and after that, landing a gig or two every week just to make a weekly payday.  Indeed I realised that even before I started gigging, that I couldn’t rely on solely just performance to make ends meet. And at the same time, I knew the challenges of the whole self-employed situation before I became a sole trader, i.e. keeping the next week booked in with enough work to keep going. But, I know that the music industry doesn’t have the same demand regarding venues as plastering or decorating does, as much as it is the same game for finding work.

    I also think that, as much as I want to be gigging, playing and rehearsing as much as possible, it wouldn’t hinder my abilities and time to be with my future kid(s). It’s a definite no-no to keep putting off family time. But it goes without saying that other immediate family should see the child on a regular/irregular basis anyway, such as the grandparents, which could potentially come to the arrangement of weekly visits to their house for a night each, which may well in turn could open up the days of the week id be behind the kit. I have a few friends who have kids and still manage to perform and rehearse around their family life, who encourage the idea of still going out and doing the things for your own self and also as a couple, just to maintain sanity (this I find is a pretty standardised thing even if one of the parents isnt anything about a musician). However, it’s not like I’d be gigging every single weekend of the year as it is, currently it’s more like once or twice every two or three weeks.

I guess it could also depend on how regular, how far and how many days away it would mean. The aspect of “touring”, be it round the world or the UK, kind of means it would be weeks on end of not being home at all. This is of course the extreme end of things, one of which I would not really see myself doing within the next five years. And at the same time, I wouldn’t regard my musical endeavours as a “touring” situation. As I said, it’s more like two or three gigs every two or three weeks, and any of these gigs can be as close as to be able to be back home that same evening.

                        

Another important aspect is the other parent’s view/needs. If it were to be a situation where there was no one else to visit and look after the children, how can the musician expect the other parent to constantly be babysitter while they’re out on a Friday or Saturday playing music? I think it depends on the ability of anyone else to cover for the other parent while they let their hair down too. I personally wouldn’t expect my partner to be at home every time I’m at a gig, if anything, I want them to be with me at the gig anyway.  I wouldn’t have them stressing at the fact that I’m out of the house on any given evening, not if there’s another way around it. But yes, there are so many different scenarios involved that I couldn’t possible cover every angle on that. Thoughts??

My dad’s dad used to be in the CBSO on the French horn, and my mum’s dad used to play gigs on a regular on the double bass in a good few jazz bands. (They say talent skips a generation?!) And my parents have said before that they remember asking mummy where daddy is, although not necessarily overly upset or affected psychologically by the irregular/regular absence of their parent.

All I’m asking is for some kind of input as to whether it’s a good move to be still maintaining a level of dedication to making music with a young family, or is it just selfish in that performing music can be seen as a hobby, more so than a job that is enjoyed?

Tributes

Tribute bands.

 "Why don’t you start a covers/tribute band? Tribute bands always make good money doing shows, playing songs that people already know, yknow, the classics, you can’t complain about being paid for doing what you love doing."

It took me years to give in to that idea of being paid for performing other people’s music.

                          But what are the pros of being in a tribute band? Generally it’s for the money, or being the next best thing for a fraction of the price, or generally getting experience and your own name out there and provide some kind of publicity for your own self as well as your own band’s music. And instead of performing for free in an unknown local band at an empty venue for god knows how long, I realised that performing in a tribute band does that for yourself on an individual musician level too. It allows opportunities to do more gigs or projects outside of a band you’re in because there’s no limiting faithfulness to be constricted by. 

And what about against? Some people would say it’s a bad idea copying other people, no originality, and on a musician level, being physically able to play whichever songs by their favourite band, it could be seen as a big hurdle. As well as experience enough to put their performance as close as possible to the person they’re tributing. Though this is more of your own limitations I guess. I think that acting/looking like someone they’re not might have an awkward or wrong feeling to the player, being uncomfortable on stage is probably the worst thing to feel. Is it pointless? It’s already been done before, keep moving on with new music.

Despite all that... It was sometime through playing in Interrobang that I realised I should be part of a covers/tribute band, Elliot, Interrobang’s bassplayer had started a Rage Against The Machine tribute band called " The Machine Rages On" and proceeded to jam out the debut album tracks instrumentally. On the off chance, Elliot had Facebooked a last minute rehearsal due to his drummer cancelling, and I felt reluctant at first to even go, after a long time of not listening to that particular band. (I know, I’m sorry.) He left thus leaving an opportunity for me to relive and relearn old-school RATM songs on drums. Much fun!

The Machine Rages On; Myself, Kostas Tzimas, Amit Mohan, Elliot Smith.

What’s your views on tribute bands?  Let me know your thoughts! 

IN ALL FAIRNESS...

Interrobang

I need to start off from the start. or at least, where i left off. "Interrobang" were a birmingham heavy funk rock band who I had the ultimate pleasure of writing performing and recording music with. Started off through a small world situation jamming out Sam Rutters intricate yet gnarly guitar demos, through to full e.p. launches and headliner slots, tribute band support sets and honestly very diverse array of songs and feels. Interrobang became the one thing I had been looking for since I started writing music, almost every gig felt right, or at least where we were supposed to be in each our own individual career paths and experience levels. We knew what we were doing. We were gigging and rehearsing regularly enough for me to feel comfortable without playing a kit between them, as I had lost the place I could go and play my kit fully. We knew how to grow through the local scene and make some kind of impact at at least the local venues. And for me, everything was falling into place, so happy yet still challenged and pushed forwards by my band mates and friends. Until we moved in to a lock up, which ultimately became Interrobangs downfall, many things affected our use of this place, money and time being the major issue for all four of us, I was inundated with work pretty much straight from when we got the place, working until late on a daily basis meant i couldnt go and jam with the guys whenever we wanted, which ultimately was the beauty of having a lock up in the first place, unlimited access, was limited. I still feel bitter about how it ended with Interrobang, even now after almost a year  and whenever I think about making original music again.

I do hear every so often that the bands and people we got to know during Interrobangs time want to see a reunion gig, but as much as id be up for that, it just wont happen, you can kick me in the shin if it does.

                    Looking at this photo does still make me smile it does.

Interrobang was; Ellis Wilde, Sam Rutter, Elliot Smith and some guy.

New Post Finally!

The long awaited post.

                Hello!! Its been a good few years since i posted here, in fact, I had even forgot this page even existed. (Not good). This time I intend to keep regular, maybe even weekly updates, just to keep the flow going. In keeping the written part of my musical life up to date, I feel it would benefit me greatly. Since I last entered here a long while back, I have moved on alot in the ways of music and performance as well as recording, promoting and writing music. With many more new contacts and friends it is so much more of a community for me even more so than before.

Call it weird, but it is imperitive for me to now recap since I last posted in an effort to portray what Ive been doing, and how I feel about it, so I guess ill have to write up a short summary of it all! (wish me luck on the short bit)!

Ill be back soon with a proper entry!

CHewD

Shorty story, hope you like!!

alright guys. i decided spontaneously this morning to write a short story. i like this story, but, it might seem a lil depressing to you. please read if you would, there is a few edits to do but, this is the deal now. thanks guys!

The sun blazed down upon the grass, brightening its already pronounced colour. Ice melts in a large decanter, half full with semi diluted Belvedere vodka, perched so elegantly close to the edge, on the circular frosted glass table. Its lemon slice, positioned ever so slightly off centre, drips its refreshing juices down the side of the glass, staring back at me like an evil temptress. Directly in front, stands confident, proud and everlasting, an apple tree. Casting its shadow across the rest of the garden, gradually sharing out its relief from the sun as the darkness slowly heads towards me.  Everything seems to just have that endless glow to it, a slight haze as if seen from tired eyes, sparing a very random few objects and areas of visionary bliss in which, their significance is emitted tenfold.

This woman, lies silently next to me. On the single garden recliner, we relax in total immersion of this English summer breeze. She faces me, one shoulder completely exposed to the sun, the light just emphasises her beauty,  long luscious hair, soft and red, falls over my shoulder as she rests her head, looking downwards to the tree. She has her hand lay on the centre of my chest, her nails painted in different patterns, all intertwined in various and uncountable orientations as she occasionally scratches lightly with one or two fingers. Although i cant see her face, i just know that she is smiling. I know that she is enjoying the silence, enjoying my company. She lies there, either sleeping or just sharing my adoration for the day.

For what feels like an hour, if not four, we still just hang there in that one moment. I cant imagine being anywhere else, how could i, not from this state of aromatic happiness. I could stay here forever.

“You OK?”  she asks calmly, slowly, as if shes almost yawning.

Surprised that anyone's said anything at all, for a moment i think about what she has asked. It goes through my head to be really sarcastic, but answer with the positive. I think about why shes wondering if i'm okay. Of course i'm okay. More than okay! Silly question.

I answer her through a smile, slowly also calmly. “Yes i am, are you?”

“I am, beautiful day.”

“I know, goes without saying, ha”

“Fine ill shush then!” 

She replies hastily, playfully, flirting with me. She raises her head and looks up at me and pretends to pull a sad face, turning her lower lip down. And, as quickly and she raised, shes back down again lying on my torso, i hope back to that same smile, i know how beautiful it is.

“Do you love me?” 

She asked wondering. Which for a few moments i had to think, why could she possibly think otherwise, how? Its not like i've shown anything other than that towards her. Everything i have ever done since i met her, was because i do. I always have done, and always will do. Or at least, for a very significant amount of time. 

“Yes.”

I reply simply and confidently, trying not to show anything of the confusion as to why she asked. She slowly raises her head again, staring at me full of passion, full of femininity, of love, of sheer beauty. Her body half against me, her shapely curves screaming at me. She  moves her lips towards mine, their gracious shape looking ever so intense.  Closer, she moves in for the kill.

She really couldn’t kiss much better than this, this was her best yet. She holds, in this moment i could never forget, this is the pinnacle of my life. If it gets any better than this, i don’t want it to. And, as she starts to move back, i sit forward following for as long as i can, still kissing her.

I don’t know whether i said this at the wrong point, or whether i should have said it at all, but, i don’t care, its true.  

“I could do that forever, yknow.” 

Her hair is now falling over her chest and onto mine, its too long for her to control properly. Its nature is such an accurate portrayal of her person, beautiful, natural, untamed. Yet at the same time, shy, apprehensive. Like an animal, there is an underlying personality underneath that attractive facade that just wants to finally let loose, to unlock all those inner thoughts and emotions. And perhaps, i am the person who she finally feels she can do that with, after all this time.

“I love you too.” 

She whispers, my smile appearing now too, and i finally feel complete, every aspect of my life has a reason, i cannot begin to describe what i felt after she said that, and i couldn’t imagine my life without her. She kisses me again, though shorter this time, still with her intensity just emitting from her like the sun on the grass, melting the ice in the glass, shimmering as forever the time passed.

Staring into her eyes, they're so deep, like an infinite space of stars and colour, never seen a light so bright, shining from behind them. Its as if shes studying my eyes too, thinking about what she sees, i couldnt possibly imagine whats going through her head.

Again, we lay back down against the recliner chair, resuming the same position again, her hand on my chest, head on my shoulder as i wrap my left arm around her, holding her closer. I close my eyes, feeling her heartbeat through my chest, her soft breathing against my hand, and i slowly fall asleep, so comfortable, in that state of bliss she always seems to bring with her. And, after what must have been an hour, i open my eyes.

The sun had disappeared behind the tree, the breeze now a harsh cold wind, i take a look downwards and see that shes still there. Still lying on my chest, although, its not the same now, somethings wrong. I take another look at her and i realise, shes not breathing. I start to move her, shouting for help, trying to find her pulse in an attempt to save her, the kiss of life.

Again i try and try my best to save her, crying, distraught, but still, nothing. Shes gone.

That's when i sit bolt upright in bed. I look around, and see that no its still the same, shes not in the left side of the bed. Shes not here. Hasn’t been here with me for a long time. I realise that i have had the same dream every night for the past five years, The memory of it, clinging to my subconscious like a grappling hook, impossible to remove. I try my very best to get out of bed every day, she wouldn’t want me sad, I still feel her somewhere in this darkened room, i cling to that last thing she said to me, the words that give me strength to carry on.

Gigging to an empty venue.

               What should a musician do when playing to an absolute zero of a crowd?  Have you ever played a gig to a venue audience of literally the other four bands? More people on the stage than in the audience? Ever not been given a soundcheck before your set when every other band got at least one song for theirs? Ever had to sit around for literally four hours before any one actually did anything to accomplish the complex task of setting a stage up and putting a gig on? 

               I had to endure a similar occurance last night, with watch us fade. I would go ahead and say that it was a large element of unprofessionalism that the company/organisers failed to achieve at least the headliners soundchecking before the doors opened, but there is always some form of other factor included into organising a gig that affects everything that needs to happen. but should i, four hours? thats no good, lack of promoting the event and lack of punters, other bands taking the piss to load onto stage, having not set their equipment up before putting it into potision, stood there hanging around watching for four hours. AND even then we didnt actually get to soundcheck. 

        Although the audience was ( apart from a few or three people) made up of the other four bands members, and all of that said, the gig was great. I had noticed a decline of the crowd as bands came on and offstage, showing that the other four bands where watching the first band,. three bands were watching the second, two for the third, one for the fourth and i felt kinda bad for the fifth.  Sad times.

   The headliners kit was perched onto a rug. like a bathmat or something. seriously, how is that not gonna move? i had started our set at the back of the stage, and in the six or seven foot of stage there was, i ended up at the front of it. What the full on fuck.  not as bad as when watch us fade had played rockit bar, everything was moving in different directions, not just forwards! i had tried with all the finnesse i have in my playing to avoid it happening any further, as the kit had about another four inches before it would have ended up on the crowd. or no crowd....


      All im saying is, COME ON PROMOTERS! WHAT?! I know i should be putting maybe a little bit more promotion in myself, and to share events, post on social media about my gigs with whichever number of bands i work with,  and i do, but surely, promotion companies and event organisers should be more of a major part in doing this? leaflets, posters, flyers etc maybe word of mouth? Where is it all?