mental blocks and musicians...

On Wednesday I have a gig - the first I've played in some time. In fact, only my second proper solo gig. My first was in Huddersfield. I did do an open mic night in Marylebone in October, but that was only two songs...

So my difficulty comes in choosing what songs to play. I fell out with a number of my songs some time ago, so I'm struggling to pick which to play. Autumn, Zihuatanejo, Ichi-go-Ichi-e (一期一会）, theARTFULbastard and Ode To The Hudd will probably make appearances, along with a number of covers.

As luck would have it, I have recruited a bassist for the night. Rory Holland will be joining me on stage to provide a bit of backing... might try to get him on backin vocals too...!


Have you ever suffered writer's block, though? It's a true curse... I have had writers block for months now. I have managed to compose one entire song in the last 6 months, along with partially finished lyrics and melodies. It's incredibly frustrating!

Where to get inspiration?!

To be perfectly honest, I miss playing in a band. I think it is much more fun and satisfying to have people backing you. I used to front a punk band back in Huddersfield called The Disaffected. We wrote our own songs, and even recorded a three track CD in a local studio. Despite the fact that the songs were fairly basic, and we lacked talent, the buzz of playing a gig backed by three mates gave me such a buzz. A feeling of taking on the world.

My bassist (and good friend), Stonnie found a video last month of the band, which dated back to about 2003, showing us recording our CD and practicing in the garage of the guitarist, and it got me all nostalgic.

In my time I have played in a number of bands, and it's always great. So that might have to be my next step... Goodbye solo act, hello band! We'll see..

Songs of the week (well, second half of the week)

Manic Street Preachers - Prologue To History = fantastic opening, and wonderful political song. Really strong lyrics in this one. 'Remember ethnic cleansing in the highlands - no-one says a thing in the middle of En-ger-land'

The Clash - Safe European Home = Joe Strummer at his best. Debating doing an acoustic verse of this. I love the outro, Joe and Mick singing completely different things together... Rudi Rudi Rudi!

そして、今週の日本のソング！

ムラマサ　ー　雨が止んだなら　＝　美しいボーカルメロディー
ミッシェル・ガン・エレファント　ー　ピンク　＝　すごい！　アベのギターはとても上手だよ！

A musical blog

I've been lamenting my lack of gig attendence since I hit London. I fully intended to go to as many as possible, and play as many a possible, and so far all I've managed is Brett Anderson at the Southbank Centre and Manic Street Preachers at Brixton Academy. Granted both were amazing - Brett Anderson with a string Octet was beautiful, and Manics were godlike as always! But I feel I'm letting my side down...

So 2008 is a gig year for me, I have decided! 16th Feb will see me heading back to Brixton for the Dropkick Murphys - for those who don't know them, they are an excellent American Punk band with Celtic influence, hailing from Boston. I last saw them at Manchester Academy in 2003/04 (I forget!). Any band that can integrate bagpipes and a mandolin in to great punk anthems gets my vote! So join me at Brixton on the 16th Feb!

Quite what else is coming up, I have yet to discover, so should be able to let you know by this Friday.

Next week sees me performing in Manchester at Jabez Clegg. I'm supporting a friend's band - the excellent Destroy The Evidence - who you can listen to at www.myspace.com/destroytheevidenceveinforest (check out The Apparitions - excellent song). I'm playing an acoustic solo set, sometime after 7 on the 23rd (Weds). Problem is, I feel I'm lacking my own songs - I fell out with one or two of them some time ago, so could do with writing a few more.

Songs of the week for Jordan:
* Erika - Destination Nowhere: Great tune from this Japanese singer. Used as the theme tune to the recent J-Drama 'Mop Girl'. Really lifting song.
* Northern Uproar - From A Window: Excellent Britpop anthem, great guitars, great northern band.
* Regina Spektor - Us: Possibly the most beautiful song ever written. Captured me the moment I first heard it, sung by a performer in London.
* My Vitriol - Taprobane/Losing Touch: Gorgeous - amazing use of guitars and effects. But where's the second album?!

manics... amazing...

Saw the Manic Street Preachers at the top of their game last night. A varied set, amazing sound, a band full of energy... Absolutely blinding!

And Brixton Academy was such a perfect venue!!!

Manics - 11/12/2007

The video is You Love Us - can you hear the crowd?!

after the weekend...

After a weekend of bad internet connections and much walking around London, here's my latest update.

When a friend comes to visit you in London, you tend to be all blase about the sights, as you've seen them a hundred times. But I think some just never lose their beauty and wonder. Nelson's Column, Westminster from across the river, Buckingham Palace...

I visited the British Museum for the first time too, and was amazed at the sheer size of it. A few hours in there and I only saw a small fraction of what was there. I headed straight for the Japan exhibit and was impressed by the age range of the artifacts.

My Japanese knowledge was tested again this weekend, as my girlfriend's friends were over to stay. Trying to be on the ball with your language skills takes it out of you, and I am still exhausted. But my efforts bore fruit... in the form of a gift from one friend of a child's Hello Kitty picture book for my to test my Japanese reading skills with.

Lastly, I had my audition on Friday for a London Underground busking licence. It was terrifying, yet kind of exhilarating... held on a disused tube platform at Charing Cross, in front of a panel of three and a video camera. I played RP McMurphy by Manic Street Preachers. Have to wait three weeks to find out though, now... Hey-ho!

Just thoughts for the day

Japanese people have grown taller in the last 12 years... But while women have slimmed, men have got chubbier. That's according to Asahi news. Interesting...

When I visited Japan last year, I was something of a giant in every direction. I was taller, broader and wider then everybody I met. Children would stare at me. Grown men would stare at me. Neither were discreet.

I loved Japan, and will certainly return there some day. Such a fascinating country and culture.

そして、今日本語を勉強します。　十二月テストをします。


Tomorrow is my day of judgement... the audition. With a bit of luck, I'll blind the judges (conjures up images of Simon Cowell and cronies) with my talent, and you'll see me busking the stations of the Tube before long. Fingers crossed!

It's a romantic idea for me, reminds of stories I read about the great Joe Strummer busking with a Ukulele, or the Manic Street Preachers busking Clash songs in Cardiff, chasing off anyone who dared give them money. I'm not in a position to chase away money, but I do have a ukulele...

Busking

With only 9 days to go until my audition for my London Underground busking licence, I'm utterly confused as to what songs to audition with...

At the moment I'm feeling like one of my own, and maybe one of the Manic Street Preachers songs I'm stronger with.

Any suggestions?