|
Rick: Posted on Wednesday, September 08, 2010 12:48 AM
I may have been hasty in apportioning blame for the crossed wires on the weekend. So I unreservedly apologise for jumping to conclusions, no matter how I may have came to such thoughts. Sorry. Now I don't think for a minute I have the power to lose anyone any sleep over what I think....I am a pretty obscure musician who's fans are basically my friends and would like what I did if I made fart noises with my armpit and stomped my foot. I personally dont think my music is anything other than something I like doing, sometimes. My opinion is probably less impacting than that of your average pub dwelling Jeremy Kyle guest. If three people read this I would be surprised....my weeks traffic for the site is less than the people at the gigs of those I upset. But that said, if you read my previous rant, please wipe it from your memory as I appear to have caused some offence. But I am a man, and men do things wrong sometimes, I am not any exception to the rule, and in fact could be used as an illustration of such, should anyone be writing a tome on the ways of dumb testosterone (and glandular fever at present) addled males of our species, feel free to use a pic from my gallery. So there it is, my three readers. RJ |
|
|
Posted on Sunday, September 05, 2010 7:51 PM
Well now it's around seven thirty pm, on Sunday the 5th of September, and this means that I am supposed to be playing at the Jersey live festival right now,instead of sat here with the laptop feeling like death. Mother nature decided playing Jersey live was not to be, and struck me down with infected tonsils, and now I'm sitting here sweating, running a fever and feeling like I'm swallowing razorblades. I'm pretty gutted, as I've been playing small bar type gigs solidly for years, and it's been a while since I've done anything big with that electric vibe in the air that you only get when people are there to celebrate music. I'm also very sorry, both to anyone who was coming to watch me play, and to Lucy who organised my slot there, in her own time and for nothing....sorry....feel terrible. That said, there was some of the aforementioned weirdness going on, and maybe I am being paranoid, but there was a moment there when it looked like I was going to have to pay £54 to turn up and play an hour set for them..... not bad considering when Chris Bell first contacted me to play in the other tent on the Sat, he was offering me a couple of weekend passes. Then I got bumped out of that tent, and Lucy managed to square me this set in the Telecoms recharge tent.....so all was good.... Except that telecoms had given all the allocated tickets to their staff, and any bands playing their areana had to buy their own tickets.....that seemed wrong to me....I already spent £105 on strings for the weekend, and anyone who's seen me play knows that I go through at least two G strings per gig.... ...then a quick check of the arena lay out and schedule showed me that, apart from me, everyone playing in the Telecoms tent had a set in the Wild West tease tent the previous day. Hmmm. So they already had weekend passes issued....hence telecoms not needing to issue any. So I am feeling rather silly for getting involved again, and if it weren't for Lucy I wouldn't be playing anyhow....as I wouldn't have payed to play. I can't help thinking **another musician who I must not offend, hence the edit** may have had influence, as there was no attempt to book me the three years past...despite people telling me they'd asked him to include me when sourcing performers. So, if you'll permit me a moments bitterness,***edited to save peoples feelings....lets not worry about mine eh?***** Ok rant over, and more apologies to anyone that read all this nonsense. Can't say I'm in the best of moods. |
|
|
Posted on Thursday, September 02, 2010 11:36 PM
For about three years soild I hosted an open mic/jam/platform for new singer~songwriters or just guitar players at Chambers (Mulcaster street, St Helier, Jersey. Tel. +44 (0) 1534 735405). We stopped it this summer, but as the nights draw in and the weather is getting less barbeque friendly, we decided to give folks something to do on a Sunday again, and we'll resume the format from the 12th of Sept, kicking off at 8pm, at the front, by the fireside. If you play an instrument, please bring it with you, as we don't have any to loan, and refusal to let someone use mine has, in the past, caused some offence. Sorry, but it is the tool of my trade and more expensive than my car, so the rule is fast, and if you can't bring your own you can't play. That aside, it's more flexible than the usual open mic, no lists or set amount of playing time, as long as folks realise that we have to fit everyone on, and they are just as keen,nervous or frightened to death to play as you are. If you have any questions or opinions feel free to leave me a comment under this post! Cheers, RJ |
|
|
Posted on Thursday, September 02, 2010 10:33 PM
Well, I must thank the awesome Lucy Sanderson for this, as she chose to feature me in the magazine on the week of Jersey live, when much of the islands focus is on music already. I consider this a great honour, and I hope I came across ok in the interview, and not like some Welsh hillbilly....which is pretty much what I am if you strip away the fancy font I'm writing this in, and the fact that I have my own website (which still feels odd and a little self indulgent if I'm honest). Jersey Live is a pretty big runaway success story, it's grown to be a huge event and this year is the first year I've played there, I think in part due to the size this year meaning there is more room for local acts, and I'm headlining, such as it is, the acoustic, Jersey Teleceom Recharge tent. I'll be on at ten past seven on the Sunday, the very last act they have on. Would be nice if some friendly faces were in the crowd....or lack of crowd....or whatever is going to be there. I don't mind unfriendly faces either, I tend to play with a bit more fire and venom when I see those! I will admit, I have been sceptical of the seemingly cartel inspiredtactics used in getting gigs at events such as these,by local musicians and promoters, but getting a slot may have relieved my paranoia somewhat....and may have saved you from seeing me degenerate into a tinfoil hat wearing, conspiricy obsessed recluse.............. You can read the article here; |
|
