So i’m over in London on thursday doing at show at the old queens head pub, it’s for the oh inverted world club night and i’m very excited about it. Only problem is a little volcano in Iceland is making getting to London very difficult indeed. Even if they do start flying again theres no way i’ll get a flight, so i think sail and rail is the only option. Fingers crossed that all goes well.
On a completely seperate note, i’m now officially on the hunt for musicians to come and help me make my music live what it sounds like on record. If there’s anyone out there who reads this and is interested, then drop me a mail. I don’t want to do the orthodox drum bass and guitars lineup, i want to do something interesting and special, so if you know how to bang a piano, strum a banjo, sing a harmony, and stomp a kick drum, then definitely let me know!!
I’m loving 2 things a lot today,
the first is my favourite poem by Robert frost,
ACQUAINTEDWITHTHENIGHT
I have been one acquainted with the night.
I have walked out in rain — and back in rain.
I have outwalked the furthest city light.
I have looked down the saddest city lane.
I have passed by the watchman on his beat
And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain.
I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet
When far away an interrupted cry
Came over houses from another street,
But not to call me back or say good-bye;
And further still at an unearthly height,
O luminary clock against the sky
Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right.
I have been one acquainted with the night.
The second is a song called ‘everywhere i go’ by an american songwriter called Lissie. I heard it first a good while back and it’s stayed with my ever since. I have a feeling her album is going to be great, what she does reminds me of all the amazing music i love from LA in the late 60’s and early 70’s.
video below.
I wrote a massively comprehensive blog entry of all the things i’ve been up to these last couple of weeks, but when i went to hit post it somehow decided to vanish itself into the ether forever. It took me about an hour to write, i’m massively annoyed, and i dont have the heart to re write the whole thing again, but i wanted to post something to let everyone know i’m still alive and moving.
If i could sum up the aforementioned blog entry in a small paragraph it would be thus.
Went to London on the 23rd, played my first ever London show on the 26th. It was glorious, although i was suffering from a dire flu, and the venue was tiny, packed, and hotter than the sun. Amazing pub though, the people who run it were amazing, plugging out my guitar and playing the last song to an incredibly quiet crowd was perfect way to finish. Thanks to everyone who was there and sweated it out with me! Got to see my friends Ben, Scott, and Jack, down in the EMI studio as well. I Pretty much lived there for most of 2008, so i love nothing more than sitting down there, drinking tea, and debating music with them, for they are my muso nerd peers!
Played my last show of the first months run in the Seamus Ennis Centre in Naul. Again a stunning venue, like a pastoral church you might see in an episode of little house on the prairie! Shane who runs the venue was ace, the crowd were incredibly silent and receptive, just the best way to end the first 4 weeks of madness.
Now i’ve got a week or so off before i have to get back out and play again. Am taking the time to do some writing/recording. I’m really excited about the ideas and arrangements that are floating around my head at the moment, i just have to wrangle them into shape!
Next gig is with Rain Machine, Kyp malone from Tv on the radio’s new band. He’s a hero of mine, hopefully i’ll get to shake his hand. There’s a vid of him in action below, he is the dude with the unreal beard, epic.
Fingers crossed this one will post!!! Aaaaaaaannnnnnd send……..
James
BTW, the new national record sounds like it’s going to be as brilliant as i’d imagined. Blood buzz ohio is an immense song.
Thanks so much to everyone who came along to show in the sugar club.
The albums been out 2 weeks, what more fitting celebration of that then to play my first dublin headline show. And the fact that it was also my first ever sold out show, well that was just unexpected magic.
I’ve decided that for the first little while it will just be my and my nylon string guitar. There were a few reasons for making that decision. As a musician i’ve always felt completely at home when i’m writing and recording, but the connection with playing live has eluded me. I think it’s probably because up to this point i’ve never had a set of songs that i’ve 100% loved and understood. With this album i know i have a piece of work that i’m immensely proud of, so i thought if i was ever going to find that connection, i would have to take a leap and just play, find the core of each and every one of the songs on my own. And low and behold it seems that it’s worked, I’m finding a joy in these songs beyond what i previously thought was possible. I’m excited to play them to as many people as i possibly can, as often as i possibly can. It’s quite the sea change!
It took me about 20 minutes on friday night to actually get my head around the fact that it was my show, i wasn’t opening up for another act, all those people were there for me. Once i grasped that notion i had so much fun. I chose some of my favourite cover songs to play as well, i even threw in a Joanna Newsom song
called 81 off of her new album, even though i didn’t know the chords and had only written the lyric down from memory an hour beforehand(twas mistakes galore, but such a glorious tune).
Its safe to say i was staggered by the response on the night, during the show and afterwards. I feel so lucky to be able to do this, so thank you to everyone who came up and wanted to speak to me, or take a picture, was happy to oblige.
Got a few days off over the weekend, then it’s back to more shows towards the end of the week, then onto London the following week. Can’t wait to get over there and play, i lived in London for a while in 2008, it’s one of my favourite cities on the planet, so bustling and filled with endless things to do and see, to play there will be a pleasure. To play anywhere right now would be a pleasure!!
I’ve added the lyrics to my website if anyone is interested, they’re safely tucked away in the discography section. Also thanks to everyone who’s sent me pictures of the show last week, as silly as i felt up there with the smoke machines and the lighting rigs, it really dig come across great visually. So hats off to you lighting guy, where ever you may be.
Playing my first Dublin solo show tonight since the album came out, really excited. It’s just going to be me and my guitar up there for an hour, never done that before… fingers crossed!
Just finished watching the national on the jimmy fallon show playing a song off their new record. Whoah, pretty bloody epic. As though i expected anything less!
Arcade Fire are going to be playing Oxegen, and that is going to be amazing.
You have to be really really really fast if you want to find a nice place to live on internet letting sites.
I do not do so well musicially when i’m put on an uncomfortable high orange stool, in front of hot lights and cameras.
Back into press and promo in earnest today, such a beautiful day to be in my car driving around Dublin. There’s genuine heat in the sun now, not a lot, but enough to hint at warmer and better times to come.
I saw an incredible movie last night, Crazy heart. Jeff Bridges is stunning in it, and deserved every inch of that statue he won. Also really happy to see Catherine Bigelow and the Hurt Locker winning so many oscars. I loved Avatar like everyone else did, but when it comes to storytelling and acting, 2 things that all great movies are built on, there was only ever going to be won winner. Also fair play to the chap from Ballyfermot college who won for best visual effects, what a great feat that was.
Time for bed, falling asleep to the Holly Miranda record, her voice is lovely.
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