Blackie Blogg- How do?

Hello everyone,
I do hope you've all been keeping well. It's been a long while since I last rambled on about some rubbish or other, well when I say a long while I mean since I wrote it in the form of a blogg, I don't think it's been that long since I talked rubbish, I'm sure that was probably earlier today. Hm?
Anyway, I hope you all had a great Christmas & New Year & have been working out in the gym, every day that January has given us, in order to get rid of the Christmas Turkey. "Feel the burn", "No pain no gain", "Can't breathe. Oh my god I'm going to die!" "Can I get some Pilates for my ....!" etc, etc.
I wanted to mention the fact that this year has been showing us some rather unusual behaviour from our tour manager Dave. He's started showing some serious signs of rock 'n' roll tendencies. He refuses to ride on the bus and travels behind in a blacked out, stretch limo, wakes up late & arrives at the shows in the afternoon wearing leather, Jim Morrison style, trousers with a half empty bottle of Jack in one hand & a smoke burning away in the other talking about, "What a great party it was last night." "No I don't know what happened to last nights settlement!" "Rock 'n' roll baby, yeah!" etc.
So we were all wondering what was going on until these popped up in our mailbox's. Exhibit 1 & Exhibit 2 I'm sure there's a few people out there who could explain what's going on here. Go Dave!

I'm Free (Arrgh-yeah right Keef!)

On the road again
Just can't wait to get on the road again
The life I love is makin' music with my friends
And I can't wait to get on the road again
On the road again

(Willie)

Another tour coming to a close....all is good in the camp except for frosty toes, jeez it's bloody freazin'! We broke up the support tour with OAR with a few hours in the studio (well house), re-recording a version of I'm Free by the Stones (arrr yeah!)....our third version. This time we took another approach and made the toon far more Schmezzy sounding....that is, nothing like the original.

I started out on Monday programming some beats, within an hour it sounded more like a Kraftwerk tune, which was cool and all, but erm, yeah, maybe too cool for what we needed. E suggested an idea similar to a King Biscuit Time track and within a few hours I had some stella loops. Later I added some tuned bass drums which made the groove slinky as hell, E then came up with a seriously cool bluesy guitar part and bingo!

The next day in Charlottesville we got down to the studio around lunch and finished the track by early evening. Paul "Blackie" Blackburn dubbed it up on de bass, Tom played some crazy Chamberlain and Benny Ben Ben the Benster played some slinky slide and vocals. Not too shabby for a day and halfs work.

And so on with the shows, Fairfax tonight and then MADISON SQUARE GARDEN....garden-garden-garden....not sure if anyone can hear us in these arenas, I think we might go play caves instead, they probably have a better sound. Still it's a massive privilege to play Madison.

Easy now,

Olly.

Thanks Kids!

Hey Y'all!

So thankyou for all the comments recommending old and new music, I'm still sieving through them all, there's so much to check out. The moment I posted the last blog I immediately found a bunch of great toons. I still have a list of my own to check out, here's a few things I'm looking into:

Josh Pyke (Australian) - Beg Your Pardon.

Howling Bells - Howling Bells.

Findaly Brown - Don't You know I love You EP

Amy Winehouse - Back To Black

Gruff Rhys - Candylion

Bands still to check out - Grizzly Bear, Infandels, Quoopearh, The Occasion, Vetiver, Yeti, Camera Obscura.

Also check out the Panda Band from Australia, will be touring with them in April.

New Music

Ola!

Jeez I must be getting old....all I'm trying to do is find some cool new bands or music of any kind.....so far I'm finding very little. maybe my ears are worn out or maybe we are content just rehashing the same old crap.

Besides Gruff Rhys' new album and getting more and more into Midlake I am really struggling....What is going on? Have all the record companies lost their identities? Er, let's sign all the bands that sound like they are from the late 70's and pummel the audience into submission. My God things have got boring.

Currently I'm looking at the iTunes Hotly Tipped 2007 compilation....more like hotly tipped to die a death. I'm trying so hard to be stay open minded and even trying to convince myself I like some of what I hear, when I know it's shit. Any suggestions are warmly welcomed.

The quest is on.

See y'all soon.

Olly.

Happy New Year!

Well well well!

Hey y'all!

So how are we feeling after the debauchery of Christmas? I had a great time myself....oh the mulled wine, movies, friends old and new, running around trying to get gifts...baby jesus. I'd like to do it all again tomorrow.

And so onwards to more shows and then more shows....not sure if the couch will allow me to leave, it's grown acustom to me and my girlfriends bottoms....I'll let you know if I can pull myself away and get to Cincinnati for the first gig of the year.

Take it easy,

Shabba!!

Olly.