On Wednesday I was asked this question: “Are musicians following a dream or a goal?”
Well, its fair to say that the dream they chase is having their songs provide the ability to live with out financial worry.
However the goal of most musicians is making a living: that usually means playing other people’s music.
If not a day job pays the way until they either achieve their desires or reality bites.
This weekend James Wills, bass player with Fighting Tyler, has fallen pray to the later.
He’s getting married and has started a new job yet happy to hang up the four-string: “I couldn’t give the band the time and commitment that it deserved,” he explained. “I’m excited about getting married and the new challenges that family life will bring so I guess it’s a case of ‘bring on the next adventure!’”
He’ll be saying good bye to ‘Fighting Tyler‘ on Sunday night when they play the Brook as part of their tour launching their debut EP ‘Plastic Hearts, Rubber Bullets’.
Fronted by Vikki-Jo the band will also be playing shows across the South of England from Bristol to Brighton, Plymouth to Islington.
For James its a bitter-sweet weekend but his is very positive about the legacy this EP leaves: “all the reviews that we have had so far lead to it being a massive success. I don’t see it being long before they can emulate the heights of other Southampton favourites such as Natives and Band of Skulls.”
First published in the Daily Echo on 6th April 2012
In the rock and roll hall of ‘things you must do’ arriving at a gig by helicopter has to be in the top five.
And Birdpen’s Dave Pen (left) ticked that particular box this week when he played “Rock the Pistes” at Les Portes du Soleil in France with his other band ‘Archive’.
With the gig half way up a mountain some of the band declined but for our Southampton stalwart Dave: “it was not as scary as I thought, just exciting. And we got to see the Alps from a totally different perspective.”
Below is Dave Pen singing ‘The Empty Bottle’ from Archive’s excellent double album ‘Controlling Crowds’
Even though the concert was open air the band didn’t compromise on their attire with the usual black clothing de rigueur: “not a ski boot in sight” Dave assured me.
However, when he looked out from the stage, “It was just a bit weird,” Dave observed. “The audience were wearing sunglasses and ski jackets.”
In France ‘Archive’ are massive so when they left the festival by skidoo fans followed them on skis and snowboards applauding and waving.
It’s a moment that will live long in Dave’s mind, although 2012 is shaping up to be a big year as both of his groups release albums: for Southampton fans Birdpen’s album is probably more anticipated.
Titled ‘Global Lows’ it documents Dave and Mike Bird’s thoughts, views and opinions on the stresses that humanity and the environment have been suffering the past three years.
Below is a live video of Birdpen performing ‘Nature Regulate’ from the album ‘Global Lows’.
Released in France and Switzerland on 5th June its one album I’ll be spending some Euros on.
When you find the music you love it fits you like a glove: and if it really gets a grip then life as a musician beckons.
So I was delighted to see on Facebook a photo of Lost Boys‘ front man Daniel Ash, standing next to Paul Weller, who was actually holding a copy their last release and quoted as saying: “I really liked that EP, come down and record in my studio sometime.”
Naturally Dan was ecstatic: “Paul Weller was the reason I started writing music of my own and The Jam are my favourite band of all time,” he told me. “It was a blast meeting him, am still pinching myself!”
They met through mutual friends and the benefits are tenfold: “It’s given me a huge boost of encouragement and belief that anything can happen if you work hard enough for it.”
But for those who want to inspire others with their collection, but don’t feel the need to put a band together help is at hand: the Shooting Star has started a DJ competition for musos.
The idea is to bring along a 27 minute set of tracks which the audience judge.
Its proving very popular and according to Oxfam Southampton’s manager Rob Milner: “When the audience were asked to choose the winner at the end there were people making a real racket, even jumping on tables.”
The next ‘Catastrophe Radio‘ is Wednesday 4th April leaving you 11 days to pick your mix.
Daniel Ash will be appearing on South by Southampton, on 103.9 Voice FM, on Saturday 24th March (after 6pm)
First published in the Daily Echo 23rd March 2012
Dances, jumble sales and private parties: that’s what you usually find happening in a village hall – until now.
The sophisticated melodies of Southampton’s Dlugokecki will be resounding in places where bric-a-brac and home-made cakes usually preside.
“Village halls are central to the community and we wanted to do something different,” explains front man Ben Dlugokecki. “We’ve played Guildhalls in Southampton, Portsmouth and Oxford plus festivals and gigs across the UK. We fancied something raw and different. Village halls are perfect for that!”
Well, it will be raw if they don’t have a good lighting rig but once again Ben has found a different way of promoting his band and new album, while highlighting an essential part of English culture.
The album is called ‘Putting the Tracks in Front of the Train’ and was written during a new phase in Ben’s life: he became a father and moved out of the city.
“The title totally reflects my life over the last 4 years. Constantly on the go and making it up as I go along. I’m extremely excited about the album, it’s by far the best thing we’ve accomplished. We drank a lot of tea making this.”
Having not heard any tracks, or even been made a cup of tea by Ben I can’t comment, but the thought of something better is exciting, as the previous material was excellent.
Ben’s favourite childhood memory of a village hall is a buffet, lets hope this album is a feast.
