Scarlett & Saffron
The end of the radio show NottinghamLIVE was a bit of a damp squib and I haven't really seen Darren since. At first I think he tried to distance himself from me and my sometimes less than flattering comments about some of Nottingham's musicians and try and keep the NottinghamLIVE website unblemished, something I can't blame him for I suppose. He commented on Facebook about an online tirade I once had and said something along the lines of occasionally being glad he doesn't have to apologise for me anymore. I was a bit hurt that he and Cassia didn't ask me to get involved with their stage at last year's Hockley Hustle and although there wasn't a proper falling out I felt that our working relationship was over. However, the ice (if there was any, it might have just been in my head) thawed when Mark 'literally' Del wrote this blog which a lot of people, myself included, assumed was aimed at me (you're so vain...) and I replied with this. Sitting on the fence and refusing, quite sensibly to agree or disagree with either of us, Darren came up with this. After I read this I messaged him on Facebook to thank him for writing it and made reference to what felt like me to be a small falling out and said we should have a beer. Of course we still haven't done that but to be fair we are both busy people, especially as he has three young children on top of everything else.
I had attended a few meetings with Darren and others when the Trent Sound fire was reducing to a smoulder, with regards the setting up of a new radio station for Nottingham and the music scene. In fact not just the music scene but all areas of the city in the same way that Jason Loftus's show Nottingham L.A.C.E. was intended. I didn't hear any more of it until I found out that NG Digital had started without me. This wasn't a massive problem to me and I met Jason and Darren at Jam Cafe where they were streaming a gig live over the Internet and all was well between us.
Although NG Digital hasn't yet started as a 'proper' radio station, they have quite a few live gigs under their belts and available to listen to again on the website. This is a great way to preserve some notable gigs for future generations and build a collection of the local music scene's best performers. Jason and Darren had asked me to get on board in some way and last night I made my debut for the station and reunited with Darren on the airwaves too.
Diablo Furs
I'm Not From London had staged last night's gig at the Golden Fleece and NG Digital were on hand to broadcast the event live for those who couldn't make it along. It was great fun working with Darren again and we seemingly picked up exactly where we had left off with several chaotic elements such as my lack of knowledge about what was going on. One of the bands had apparently split up, the things some people will do to avoid me and my notepad, but we were left with two fantastic bands to broadcast. Scarlett and Saffron had come from Grimsby to play and put on an impressive show and the head-liners were only playing their second ever gig. Diablo Furs sound like a classic 1977 punk band and give the impression that they have been together for years, rather than only having formed this year. I have become a little jaded by the live music scene in Nottingham and haven't been to a great deal of gigs in the last week or so (giving Mark 'literally' Del chance to catch up, he must have done by now) to avoid going to see the same bands again and again (not to mention being pissed off with everybody talking). Last night restored my faith in live music as I was genuinely impressed by both bands and without wanting to single Diablo Furs out (they are new so need the publicity) I would certainly recommend catching them live, maybe make it along to their third gig.
No podcast this week.
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May housekeeping
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