Brickyard crowd

15+ hours in the van over the weekend. This is why it's worth it. Looking forward to coming back Carlisle... see you soon. More photos are up in the gallery on the main Subsource website.

Gig Review: 18th Feb - The Brickyard, Carlisle

A seven hour journey led us up to Carlisle. Knowing that the turnout couldn't possibly worse than last time, we were more than happy as the place filled out... the Urban Natives have done an amazing job here, in a town reknowned for not having much going on here at all, starved of good live music. There's much to be said for the friends we made last time we were here, who all promised they'd be back with their friends if we ever came up again. Thanks so much for keeping your word. And there were far fewer people this time who took a few minutes comprehending that we were a live band who weren't Keiretsu.

Having people in the crowd who were clearly singing the 'Parasite' lyrics was a first. It's a strange and rewarding feeling linking this back to a couple of years ago when Stix was laying down the vocals in my bedroom, with lyric writing and recording both being finished within half an hour.

(Thanks to Ian Frazer for this photo)

How to write music

Another day, another update to the biog. (Pic above)

OK I'm getting into the swing of things a little more now. Routine:
1. Make sure computer is tidy and has enough free space well beforehand.
2. Shut Outlook, MSN.
3. Tea? Yes please.
4. Hover on the edge of the dark abyss. Think about the pointlessness of my own existence, then balance off the strong feeling of self-loathing against steadily sinking ennui.
5. More tea.
6. Fire up Cubase and go. 

More on the Star and 8-fold

Oh man, we went back to our spiritual brothers' house afterwards for after-show drinks. Apart from being cool mofos on stage, they all live (except one I think) in a house together with a studio in the basement and whiteboards everywhere with 8-fold tasks, bulletins and reminders. I'm in awe.

The Star, having previously looked like a 70's bingo hall is now looking much better... they haven't quite got the lights or the sound rig in yet but last night showed a lot of potential for being a great venue. Watch this space. 

The Star 9th Feb

Crowds don't get much better than this. The premiere of the red shirt/black tie combo seemed to go down OK, after much uhm-ing and ah-ing about whether we'd just look like some pop boy band if we all wore the same thing. Definitely to be tried again.. 

Happy Birthday Blazer

Paul 'The Blazer' Frazer makes a constrained effort to stop being the youngest of the Subsource brethren. Try harder next year dude. 

Telegraph Photo

 

Brixton Telegraph 7th February

After enough successful gigs at the regular places, you start to get a bit anxious when put on anywhere new. Especially when you're the first act on the bill before the crowd have been warmed up. And especially when there's no crowd in the room as you think about getting up on stage. Nothing to fear, the Nizim organising crew had it all going to plan, and the place blew up for our set.

Maybe it's just because I'm not fully gig-fit, but halfway through there was a moment when I felt I'd danced a little too hard and the lamb dupiaza consumed 2 hours previously was about to make an unwelcome stage appearance. Fresh air, head between knees, rock gently and soothingly. Better. 

Watershed February 2nd

Back on the gigs in 2006. Bit rusty and the laptop crashed for the first time in ages. Funny how they never notice.. Not quite the same without Kimba either. Stuey's still got it though - evident from the proposition from three intrepid young ladies. Yes simultaneously.