Cat Burrito

Not so much of a "gig last night" but today marks 35 years of playing live! With all the occasional rubbish that life throws at us all, it's been the one constant source of sanity. Across 16+ bands, several countries and several instruments (I reckon 80% of them have been on bass), it's been amazing. I'd be surprised if I manage a 2nd 35yrs and I definitely have reached a stage where I enjoy the small local pubs as much as the ones that sound more impressive. 22nd December 1989 was pretty woeful and I am so grateful we didn't have the internet but it will always be a fond memory because it set the wheels in motion for what was to come.

2024 ended with a cheeky little trip over to the Southgate Inn in Devizes. Armed with just my mandolin, I actually got the bus over. We got a heroes welcome from the regular customers and were greeted with "here come the goths". 😺 My wife snapped this one picture that sounds off a comparatively quiet year on the live front.

Matt bought a head off of me. A smooth and effortless transaction. Recommended.

In Sixth Form (1989), we all wanted to be Sisters of Mercy. My first gigging band was the appallingly titled "Whores in Reverence" who made a live debut as the band in a Sixth Form pantomime production of Cinderella. We did a fairly woeful version of Bauhaus' classic "Bela Lugosi's Dead". Things got better and we wound up playing a handful of shows around various local village halls for most of 1990. Of course it all came crashing down because I was committing the hideous crime of spending too much time with my then girlfriend and wearing a not-on-message Hanoi Rocks t-shirt. They all started a new band without me but I think we moved past it. Two of the guys I stayed very close with and the other two weaved in and out of my life but with absolutely no ill feeling. It was always good to see them whenever paths crossed. The guitarist and I tried doing a band in 2004 but he'd just had his first born so it never really got off the ground. Another member had me as best man at his wedding in 2010 and I returned the favour in 2016. In 2020, the guitarist and I acknowledged our love for the darker 80s sounds and decided to have a jam when restrictions eased. By the time we got that jam, we'd built up quite a list. Before we knew it, we were writing originals, playing open mic nights and building momentum. We signed a little indie deal and have put out two albums, an EP and made numerous videos. Over a 35yr friendship Nick and I have never had a cross word. I am sure we know our weaknesses as people but also know how to act around one another. It's easier with age. The twist was that whilst the original singer is AWOL, last seen in Thailand about 10yrs ago, the other two were openly big fans of what we are doing. With one down on the South Coast and the other in Atlanta, GA, I wasn't sure I could ever get 80% of the old band together. With a lot of organisation, we finally managed a reunion as Reverence 80. Having played all over Europe, once in the US, the legendary Marquee Club and numerous other iconic venues, I have to say that little village pub gig remains my favourite show I have ever done. We're keen to get Mike and Greg to play on our next release. On the 35th anniversary of our first show, Nick and I re-visited "Bela Lugosi's Dead" this week. I wish we could have played it like that in '89!

Wiltshire's darkest boy band Deadlight Dance played what was easily the best open mic that I have done in a LONG time. We thought it would be fun to mix it up and both play acoustic guitars so I dusted down my Gretsch Rancher and spent the last few days practicing. As it's 35yrs ago this month that Nick and I made our live debut (in a Sixth Form production of Cinderella, she lost her shoe at the ball to the soundtrack of us stumbling through Bauhaus' "Bela Lugosi's Dead), we thought it would be fun to open with that very song. We also did versions of three originals from our latest release, "Chapter & Verse". I thought it was the best we'd played in a while. Directly in front of us was the legendary Nick Harper (son of Roy) and he seemed really into it. His friends all were too. What I liked was that every act, bar just a couple, watched and supported each other. The standard was exceptionally high and I felt confident enough to flyer the pub, which in turn boosted our likes / followers online. I have to say that Nick Harper's set was hands down the most impressive musical performance I have ever seen. He was down tuning notes with the tuning pegs as he played and it was an absolute masterclass in guitar virtuosity. Still the overriding take home for me was good musicians, all supporting each other.

Only because this time I remembered I could lower the endpin! 🙀

I have some friends that I met through open mic that asked me to play with them. They got excited when I suggest I use my upright bass. I like the singer's voice and they people involved but it's not strictly 'my sort of thing' musically. Still, it gets me out the house and I like playing with different people and learning new stuff. I just need to get some experience playing venues with higher ceilings!

I have learned eight songs on my upright for an open mic tonight with my nameless band in the Wiltshire village of Shalbourne. What could possibly go wrong?

Yesterday was the one year anniversary of my duo Deadlight Dance recording our live in a Saxon Church movie / album "The Wiltshire Gothic" so we thought we'd mark it with a cheeky few numbers at our friend Joe's Open Mic in Aldbourne, Wiltshire. Just for fun, I worked out a few on the upright and off we went... We opened with The Cure's Fire in Cairo, bravely tackled Sisters of Mercy's This Corrosion (on the upright bass and mandocello) and finished up with joy Division's New Dawn Fades. We got a second set where most of the acts had gone once they played (I always think that is a poor show!) so did a couple of our original songs and then some other deep cuts from the depths of our collections. The crowd seemed to like us but one drunken local coming out the toilet decided to shout about us being "f***ing s**t!" Everyone ignored him. I didn't think it was worthy of acknowledging at the time. I am sure he's brilliant! I don't know if it's a consequence of growing up post punk but I quite like music being divisive at times and not appealing to everyone. I felt we played pretty well. I was also rather taken with the teenagers who did a couple of set. Nice to see the younger generation giving it a go.

I have been a fan since the mid 80s and I think for a band to do a record this good, so late into their career is stunning. I have friends who are good friends with the band and this was never about money. To release a first song where the vocal doesn't start for 3 minutes, clearly Robert isn't worried about the TikTok generation.

So, three weeks ago, I was messaged by a friend asking if I fancied learning 35 songs in just three weeks to dep for his band. I know the band, they are friends but it's not really stuff I know. I was flattered to be approached and I do like a challenge. I have spent every night learning these. I also thought it might be fun to dig out the upright for a few. I had ONE rehearsal. The show was last night. In the words of Jay Cartwright from The Inbetweeners, "Completed it!" I am definitely of a stage in my playing where I can immediately correct mistakes without getting caught but in fairness, most of it went smoothly. I really enjoyed it and the audience were well up for it. A bunch of North Hampshire farmers who seemed to like my "big cello". I did about 60% of it on my Fender Precision through a Blackstar amp. I have been invited to do there more shows this year. An amazing night.

I'm concerned that it has an aftermarket pickguard and he hasn't clearly stated that this doesn't affect the playability at all!?!

Three weeks ago, a friend from another band messaged me to say "how do you fancy learning 35 songs for a gig in 3wks?" Sure, why not, I thought. Perhaps I will make it harder for myself by doing some on my upright bass! Here we are - live on Saturday to a private function in North Hampshire. As Hannibal from the A-Team said, "I love it when a plan comes together".

I can see arguments for both. Personally I prefer passive as it is what I have predominately always had. My worry is the flat battery is one more thing to go wrong. A bit pessimistic, I know! A lot of the music I have played over the years has been more old school so passive had the sound I was after BUT all that said, I have nothing against active stuff and can certainly see the appeal.

Deadlight Dance did a quick turn at one of the local open mic nights, as we have been a bit light on bookings. We played two off of our new EP, one of the singles off of the debut album and ended on Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart. I got a genuine laugh for describing us as "Wiltshire's darkest boy band". The low point was a very drunken lady congratulating me on my Halloween costume that I had to explain was actually just how I look. A good standard of acts last night and we are both experienced enough to pay the other acts the courtesy of watching and supporting them.

I played Steel Paws at the weekend in Sheffield. I'm over 3wks into a bug that is not shifting and my desire to drive up from Wiltshire and back in a day wasn't great. I brought my trusty Hofner Verythin bass and Blackstar U700 head. I was delighted that the festival cab was a Blackstar 4x10. From the second I plugged in, it sounded great. I'd not met the drummer before but our three piece sounded great. The stage manager afterwards told us we were the most professional band of the night. There were loads of pro photographers there but I am still waiting on the photos. This image is from the previous show but I figured worthy of a share. Pic courtesy of Nick Ashton Photography.

I have seen the Mission a few times recently and they completely get the importance of playing the songs people want to here now. Vastly superior to seeing the Sisters of Mercy these days and I never thought I'd say that. I think it helps having Craig and Simon back in the band, 75% of the classic lineup.

Patrick bought an EHX Mole pedal from me. Smooth and prompt transaction with no fuss.

When I was at school, a lot of the girls could name John Taylor from Duran Duran. Likewise, Gary Tibbs from Adam & the Ants. And a few could name Craig Logan from Bros. I'm not sure that this would be the case now but it was at the time.

We played an intimate acoustic set, mostly on two mandocellos last night in Old Town, Swindon. We supported Canute's Plastic Army who were both talented and very personable. Lots of peop!e came who had seen us before at Swindon Shuffle last year. I am 5 1/2 months alcohol free now and I think it was a strong contender for my personal favourite show of 2024.

I don't have a fancy poster but this is my social media meme for Deadlight Dance supporting Canute's Plastic Army at The Tuppenny in Old Town, Swindon in 7 days time.

I've never done this but it turned out that my ex-wife did for me! 🙈 I think doing so would cure a lot of GAS.

I think there is a overly romanticised view of drugs when it comes to rock 'n' roll. Over the years I have worked with a handful of drug users and they are generally a pain in the **** - not as creative as they think they are and pretty unreliable. In the 90s, we had a guitarist who was permanently smoking weed ("only weed") and he'd have to give me his money to cover rehearsals at the start of the month or he'd spend it on weed. We'd then get to middle to later in the month and he'd be calling me up asking for a loan. Every month it was the same, we'd debate it for an hour with me reminding him of what happens every time, only for history to repeat - he'd then get angry with me when I asked for it back "it was just a fiver, not a tenner", only to eventually remember that I wasn't a liar and it was as I had written it down. Unsurprisingly, I don't miss that! These days I work with a few musicians who have issues around alcohol and I have to say it is the same. Some really talented players junking 1/2 a day of recording because they listen to the play back. I find it staggering when good musicians practice all the time and then when they go out, they blow it for themselves. I hasten to add most musicians I work with these days are focussed and creative. Have a pint, smoke a spliff (if you have to) but just keep your act together!