I was late doing it this week,
but the latest Robin Hood Sessions podcast with
Josh Kemp is available from here.
Talking of which, I was back
at ROFL Audio this evening to record another American radio session for this
weekend. Tonight was a band I had never met before or even seen live, although
I have played them on the radio on both sides of the Atlantic and was looking
forward to working with them. Priory Jones and the Mission arrived bang on time
and were setting up in the studio when I turned up. To be fair, although I had
asked them to be at ROFL for quarter to seven, I didn’t see the point in
rushing as there is nothing I can contribute to the setting up process and I
would just get in the way. Joe was doing the sound engineer, and an intern
called Jack was on hand to lend a hand and make tea. Caz was already there to
take photographs too, so I felt a bit like the one they were all waiting for. I
do like the idea of having not only a photographer on hand, but also someone
making me cups of tea without needing to be asked, it’s a life I could get used
to. They aren’t my own personal staff though, so I’m not allowed to take them
home with me. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have ‘people’, such
as a P.A. (formerly known as a secretary), I especially get this thought when
watching I’m Alan Partridge and seeing how
organised Lynn is. The temptation would be too great to employ a P.A who was
also willing to write scripts and podcasts on the side so I could concentrate
on my golf game. Of course then I would have to learn to play golf and become
one of those ‘the golf course is my office’ twits; trying to impress people
within the industry on a pitch and putt course wouldn’t have quite the same
go-getter impact.
Anyway, I can’t afford to
employ staff. Maybe if more people downloaded my three books, or bought my
music albums (I have to share this with the musicians, everyone a winner), or
maybe took advantage of the PayPal ‘donate’ button above this blog, then I
could pay to have someone follow me around with a ready cuppa and organise all
my stuff.
picture by Caz Harby
Priory Jones and the Mission haven’t been together too long, although they have worked together for quite a while working in various guises. They started their session with a cover of ‘Another Day In Paradise’ which sounded brilliant with two acoustic guitars. I have never had a band do a cover before, and to be honest it isn’t something I’m keen to encourage as I like to showcase the full range of talents. Having said that, I have always said that I enjoy a cover that sounds as if the effort has been made to reinterpret the song so that it doesn’t just sound like the original. The rest of the set was original material, which sounded great. In the break between session and interview, we talked about trying to get gigs in the city. They are from Mansfield so only just squeeze into my Nottingham remit, (Darren and I still get attention seeking emails from bands from all the corners of the country that I politely reply by explaining the meaning of either NottinghamLIVE or The Sound Of Nottingham UK), and according to them there isn’t really a scene there. I’ve never been there so I couldn’t possibly comment, so we recommended several venues that might appeal to them and also suggested the open mic circuit.
picture by Caz Harby
My other good thing of the day
was that I can add Paul and Ryan to my ever expanding set of people who just
don’t get the appeal of Jake Bugg.
===
My daily blog can be delivered straight to your Kindle
for 99p a month (link)
I’m raising money to make a film about The Sunday Alternative and put on a free screening, please read my latest newsletter.
I’m raising money to make a film about The Sunday Alternative and put on a free screening, please read my latest newsletter.
