Long form blogging a tour is, honestly, exhausting. So many things happen that can’t be repeated for polite reasons, and so many things sadly get overlooked as of interest to those not actively sitting at airports, train stations and in hire cars who overlook them (usually the writer) This trip is no exception. It was, simply, immense fun. It was Joby Burgess, Gabriel Prokofiev and me winding our way from Princeton to Chicago, via New York, Boston/Houston (I went to B., Joby to H.), Milwaukee, Madison and Chicago, playing some concerts, eating some food and drinking (some) beer. What’s not to like? … Continued
travel
‘Like This’ if you like this.
The middle of June marks a peculiar season in the mind of me. Not only does it get incredibly busy with Stuff, but there’s also a childish excitement around The Summer, bringing with it festivals, exciting shows, recording and “sunshine”. Also, do we like the new site? It’s a rather fetching level of pink, and just enough information to keep you here but with enough links to other places to let you flee the nest. I hope you enjoy it. Yesterday, I was at The Sage Gateshead for the ECHO Digital conference. ECHO (European Concert Hall Org.) is an incredible … Continued
Anschluss an das Internet, in einem Hotel, um über Dinge Blog.
Sitting, as I am, in a hotel room in Frankfurt fully exploiting the Internetzugang which I have lavishly treated myself to, I am aware I haven’t blogged for a while. Well, quite simple, things have been bizzee – so please accept my apologies! What’s happened… well, it’s been a trip back to the US for nothing much other than some concerts and meetings (attending, not playing!). A while ago, I blogged about the fabulous sounding Ecstatic Music Festival, remember? Well, I went. Thrice. It was terrific – all sorts of awesome, and I’m reliably informed that it’s happening again next … Continued
The need for a Travelling Sound Guy.
More silence, no excuses. Sorry. I’m just back from four of the most genuinely crazy, yet perfect, days playing at the Cross-Linx Festival all over The Netherlands – Utrecht, Eindhoven, Groningen and Rotterdam (I then popped to Amsterdam on the Monday for a meeting, too). It was all The National, Owen Pallett, Efterklang etc etc. Really rather good. I learnt many things about the Dutch language, which really is the most confusing thing in the world. “Gr” denotes this intense phlegm-producing “crhuh” kind of ordeal, which for a timid Brit, is quite emotional. Anyway, I was playing Daniel Bjarnason’s ‘Bow … Continued
Where a platitude meets a fact.
“I’ve been too busy for words” is, in this particular and isolated case, absolfruitly true. Where did we leave off? I think it was just after Aldeburgh and before San Francisco. So let’s talk about Christmas. It’s been a majorly productive Christmastime, measured in equal parts between amount of music prepared (writing and learning, more on this anon), number of sleeping hours accumulated and a notable lack of meetings. Much has been achieved, including learning and fiddling with my new toy (Eventide Harmoniser) and working out quite how it fits into my life. I’m in the process of learning Gabriel Prokofiev’s … Continued