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23.09.2007 -
Hi there you
lovelies, I have brought a new car! A Peugeot 206. This is my second
206 (I sold the last one). There's something quite refreshing about
new car smell. Maybe I could add that to my collection of scents
(along with "baby head"). The colour is dark grey with a shade of
blue. Kind of shark colour. The best thing about it is it has a CD
player. My last one had a cassette player which had a "Go West"
cassette jammed into it. I could only listen to side 2. Couldn't get
the damn thing out. Don't ask me why it was in there in the first
place. I can't for the life of me figure it out. But the car is my
favourite place to listen to music I am working on. When I am working
on a track I make rough mixes and listen to them subconsciously as I
drive. I can always spot the flaws. I have been using my iPod during
the Go West era. Now I can pop that CD in. The luxury!
I went to the supermarket at the start of August with Pablo and Eva.
Advice to men: Don't forget the list. The check out girl was giving me
strange looks like "are you sure you haven't forgotten anything?".
What she scanned was a blow up shark, blow up crocodile, new arm
bands, a Bay Watch type of surf board, some plastic bowling pins
(multicoloured), balloons, some DVDs, colouring books with an
assortment of felt tipped pens and crayons. microwave popcorn, potato
chips, gallons of Coke, sweets, candy, goggles, a new pool towel for
Eva (pink), plastic cups, Power Rangers sword, a pint of milk, and
some butter. I was feeling quite proud of myself with the shopping in
my new car (loads of space in the trunk of a 206) until we arrived at
the house... Fanny wasn't impressed. Cut to me going shopping again,
with a list and without the kids. Hey, any excuse to drive in my new
car, with my new riffs (There are quite a few now. Watch this space).
My vacation was cut short by some intense session work. I recorded an
album in Paris with William Sheller. The guy is a genius. This is one
of the most exciting projects I have ever worked on. Please check him
out. Google him and watch his videos. Really great stuff. I then went
to work with Otto Sauter in Cologne, Germany. We recorded his album in
a few days. In both sessions the musicianship was at a very high
level. Great players. Some of them were fantastic chess players and I
am happy to say I got my arse kicked on a regular basis.
I have been doing some sessions with Kipper in London for a very
exciting project. More about that soon. I had a great gig in Gateshead
with Mike and Rhani. Sadly Nicolas couldn't make it. Great venue, The
Sage. Antonio Forcione joined me on stage for a few numbers. I am
hoping to do some more with him in the future. It was kind of strange
headlining a guitar festival with these really awesome players. I had
to be on form. I went to Modena (Italy) the next day for another
guitar festival. I had a great clinic with some students. I enjoyed
the experience. Later I did a solo performance which went... ok. It
was hard because I went on very late, much later than expected. This
is because the opening act decided to play for what seemed like hours.
They were very good, but the point is they went on too long. By the
time I was due to play, I think the audience had had enough guitar
music. Maybe I had too.
I had a great show with my band in Munster. I was really happy to do
this one and the feeling was good. I was particularly happy to see
some of our members there. To me, a show is only meaningful if there
is a connection made with the audience. If you have this, then it
doesn't matter how accurately you play. I would rather have mistakes
and make that connection than do a flawless performance with none.
This is why I am not a big fan of live albums. I couldn't put out the
Munster show as an album because there are too many errors. The vibe
was great, but it wouldn't transmit to CD. That was our vibe; the
audience's and ours. By the same token, I wouldn't put out a tight
show if there was no relationship with the audience. Pointless.
I went to LA to work with the composer and pianist Peter Kater. He
really is an awesome musician and I am sure we will do more together
in the future. More about that as it materialises. I then flew back to
London to do some small shows with Sarah Jane Morris. They were
fantastic as always. Once again I was happy to see dom.com members
there. I will be writing some songs with her for her new album in
October. Soon I will be doing some shows in Sweden with the great
cellist, Lars Danielson. As you can see it's all pretty intense these
days. Reason being, I have been taking everything that comes my way.
Maybe too much, who knows. But my message to anyone wishing to go
places in this industry is don't be too picky or the industry will be
picky with you. You never know who you might meet or what something
can lead to. I say, if you're free, do it! I have a lot of craziness
ahead of me. The diary is pretty much jammed until Christmas. I will
keep you all posted with all this madness. But am I having fun? Hell
yeah!
Boys and girls, try this one for size: Your partner goes back with the
ex and then invites you and a few others to join them for dinner.
Would you go?
...I will be seeing The Police in Paris on the 29th.
Love,
PS: Misty and I are really looking forward to seeing some of you in
Racine.
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