... Stay there, soft and blue...
=]
Hi!
It's been time since the last post, has it not? My apologies for that, I believe I finished the last post by saying how I was going over to Ireland, and looking forward to gigging with the Trestles, so I shall turn first...
TO IRELAND!:
Always a pleasure to return to the emerald isle! I do love that place, but my ties with Liverpool are still stronger - Standing on the ferry on my own, watching the Liverpool waterfront sliding slowly away, a myriad of lights stretching into the distance, fronted by those all-too-familiar outlines, seen so often that they're etched into my memory... Well, it causes a pang, even though I know I'm coming back soon enough!
Anyway, me and my dad went up to Achill - in the extreme North-West of Ireland - to basically mess about for a weekend, playing music and enjoying the scenery. Achill is pretty much the last stop before the Atlantic (and features "The Most Westerly Pub in Ireland"!)
So, last time I was there, there was this music festival sort of thing happening, and I got to admire some of the AMAZING musicians that play the traditional music there (I actually text Danny last time saying "I'm surrounded by 8 of the best musicians I've ever seen", hahaha), and this time, on the last night we were there, I had the opportunity to join in... Enter the Gibson J-200, and me frantically trying to follow the changes and feel of the songs. Don't think I did too badly, at that. =D
Was really nice to be able to just chill with my dad though. I don't see him as often as I'd like. =/
Soo... I return from Ireland overnight and stay awake on Monday, to make sure my sleep pattern is ok, and when my mum comes in from work, do I get a "welcome home!"? Nope. I am given 90 days notice to, basically, get the fuck out of her life.
Ok, so maybe she doesn't see it that way, but I certainly do, I'm afraid... So yes. I have 90 days - less, now - to find somewhere to live. As previously mentioned, I'm attached to Liverpool for a number of reasons, and I really want to stay here, if it's possible. We'll see!
To this end (that is, of moving out), I've started absolutely ripping into my bedroom, throwing out/selling EVERYTHING that isn't going to be needed. And by GOD, but I have a lot of shit that's surplus to requirements. =|
It's nice though. Sort of therapeutic to go to sleep each night and see less and less stuff just lying around. =]
Anyway:
Thursday 12th provided my first gig with my new band, The Trestles! We played a "warm-up" gig in The Carter's Arms in Kirkby. I really enjoyed it, actually, despite a little bit of an issue with my bass/the bass amp (I still haven't established which).
Entertaining events unfolded outside, after the gig too.... But I won't go into detail about them. =']
We're playing the Mathew St Fringe Festival on August 30th, anyway. Free entry gig, innit, and it promises to be HEAVING in the Zanzibar that night. Can't wait! We also have our single, "Sing On" being released on iTunes the same date!
On top of this, we've had radio play recently from Billy Butler and Dave Monks on BBC Radio Merseyside, which I'm more than happy about! Especially since, thanks to Dave Monks, I'm a little bit famous... If I may just extract the quote:
"...Michael Tetlow, better known as 'Tet' on the music scene; he plays bass in The Trestles."
;]
I've been going to the Monday night Jam Nights in Chameleon regularly... It's always a brilliant atmosphere there, everyone is always just chilled and enjoying playing and listening to the music that everyone else is coming up with. Always worth it! I really like going there. Bit of an issue about going to the next one though... My beloved LIVERPOOL FC are playing on the Monday night; quite a big game against Man City... So I'm in two minds as to whether to watch the game, or go to play music. Unfair: I can't choose between two of my passions like this! =[
(Ok, so we all know I'll end up playing music, but...)
Right. I've just had a bit of a rant on the ol' Facebook, so I'm going to transfer it over to here and expand:
MUSIC. BANDS. THE LOCAL MUSIC SCENE.
A friend of mine (they're going to remain nameless, saves trouble) is playing a gig. Trouble is, the gig they're playing is with a fucking AWFUL excuse for a promotions company (again, they will remain nameless. Although, if you've spoken to me about the scene, you'll probably know who I'm talking about. Nevertheless... To remain within the bounds of the law...)
This friend is playing a gig alongside a Rock band and a Metal band, when they're quite mellow. I can't help but think that this is a fucking stupid idea for a gig.
What the local scene needs is for bands to come together and create a mutual fan base. Bands of a similar genre sticking together, gigging together, etc. That will cause the best outcome for both the bands themselves and the scene they're a part of.
(For anyone in doubt, I love Metal, as I do most music, and am IN a rock band, and a more mellow poppy band!)
But no, these greedy, stupid promoters are happy to throw any combination of bands together and make them "pay to play" (A concept, by the way, that is high up on my personal list of "Should never have even been conceived as a possibility", topped by "Hitler looking at a map of Europe and thinking "Poland, hey?" *rubs chin reflectively*... Anyway, I digress.)
In short, I have a vision of how the music scene in Liverpool COULD be... And once again, another idea that will benefit lots of people is defeated by greed. *sighs*
In more pleasant news:
What do you think of Russell Brand?
I've been listening to his (now very) old podcasts, from when he was a Radio 6, then a Radio 2 presenter... And I've been laughing almost incessantly. The man lives in an insane world, that's only loosely connected to this one. I'd love to talk to him!
My new iPod (well, I got it for my birthday, anyway) is filling up nicely. I transferred the remaining Foo Fighters albums onto it today, along with Death From Above 1979's "You're a Woman, I'm a Machine" album (I'm as in love with that as I was in 2005...)
Listening to the eponymous debut album from the Foo Fighters now... I do love my grunge/rock. =D
Right, anyway my friends, it's time to crack on with packing my life away!
Speak to/See you all soon, I hope!
À Bientôt,
Tet x
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