Was that just one year?

We're nearly finished with 2011 and it seems an awfully long time since last new year. This is odd, coz since the dawn of my period spent on this planet, it seems time has only ever sped up, not once slowed down until now

However, this is probably coz it's been a fairly intense year, full of many ups and many downs

January - my house got reposessed, what a great way to start a year. A combination of fibromyalgia that went undiagnosed for a long time, ATOS(sers) and lots of little incidents of bad luck had left me financially screwed. I remember at one point a bailiff calling, me explaining I have 10 pounds and that's to feed me for a week and him demanding it (clearly ticking a tenner of a 4 figure debt is more important than me being able to eat)

Anyway, this complication of being homeless was solved by the legendary DJ Buddha, who offered me a place to stay - and who I will now always be indebted to. Moving to Scotland had a lot of mixed emotions for me - I was moving to be closer to the band Cross The Border, and thus the hope that we'd realise more of our ambitions with less travel needed, but I was also moving away from my love Susan and my family, not to mention a great group of friends (though much smaller than a year before due to some lack of empathy for my condition).

Still, it was a fresh start - something that was desperately needed!

Feb-April

I'd begun settling in, found an open mic just round the corner from DJ's house which was nice and friendly, opportunities to meet up with Stoo for songwriting and planning the future, trips to see Susan and my family and a couple of weekends away at Fiona of Flying Pixie Promotions house. Optimism had begun

However, it was at this point that Gary "Sketchy" Painting left Cross The Border. It was a very low time for all of us, for a long time I feared I'd lost him as a friend forever.
Still, the show had to go on and so we advertised for a new guitarist and also sought to get a bass player - all of which fell together remarkably quickly and a new line up was born, with Alistair Bell, John Duffy and Richie "Biscuit" Neville added to the band

Rehearsals began in earnest

At the end of this I also went on my 1st holiday with Susan at a cottage near Berwick. It was a great week in most respects - the beaches were fantastic, weather good, Blondie bounding along and making doggie friends.

However, one thing was a little odd. I dont care whether you believe in such things or not, makes no nevermind to me, but there was a very dark entity there. Its presence was centred on the landing and 1st bedroom. I sensed it almost immediately, but didnt say anything to Susan, as I didnt know if she was particularly sensitive to such things and didnt want to scare her. Then a couple of days in she asked "do you feel that?"
A couple of nights we had to sleep with the lights on - while I wouldnt like to give myself any tags of psychic or whatever, I've felt certain things my whole life and this was one of only two entities I've felt that were purely dark. Not just angry, pissed off or trapped, but evil - a lovely holiday it was, but one I was glad when it ended safely

May
Once again a big hearty thanks to Djay Buddha as this was the month I began recording my solo album with him in earnest (some work had been done in April, but that months post was long enough lol)
Hearing songs I'd been playing for so long coming back to me was amazing and I learnt so much through the whole experience.
Cross The Border began getting gigs with the new line up that went really well, bookings for more were coming in, including SchottenRadio Sommer Party and Merry Tom Folk Festival, when we'd given up on the year as far as such events went due to all the changes - it was exciting!

June

More gigs, more rehearsals, Cross The Border getting tighter all the time, my solo album having violin added by Yuuka Yamada - this alone would've made June a great month, but it wasnt this alone

At the end of June we went to Germany for SchottenRadio's Sommer Party and it was one of the best experiences I've ever had in my life, musical or otherwise.
The trip in the campervan with Fiona, Dj, Alistair, Yuuka and the awesome Don Nicolson was a blast. Me and Don took our instruments on board the ferry and began jamming, first outside where a couple of people started dancing, before I gave someone a basic percussion lesson (I do hope he went home, bought some kit and continued to learn) and then went inside to the bar where Don ended up getting half the ferry singing along. It was a truly magical and unique experience, being so off the cuff

Then when we arrived, we met the mighty howler Basil Wolfrhine and his family and friends. I've never felt so wanted and appreciated - so well looked after! Then our German fans began arriving and made us all feel so special. It was a weekend where I felt like I'd achieved everything in music that I ever wished to. I could've died on the journey home and been more than content with my lot

July

Merry Tom Folk Festival - playing this was brilliant. Meeting old friends such as Nobby of Nobby's Brewery, Hugh "he can fix anything" Wilson and so many more I darednt do too long a list in case I missed one.
We played Mad Dog Mcreas song "Am I Drinking Enough" to half of Mad Dog Mcrea - Damien Scarr their double bass player has one of the best laughs I've ever heard! Before they dedicated it to us for their performance of it as they closed the event on the main stage (saying, most untruthfully, that ours was the better version). A very special moment

However, we also knew that this gig was going to be Alistairs last gig with us, as he'd been offered an opportunity with another band that was too good to refuse and Yuuka Yamada had also decided to leave, but hadnt been able to make it to Merry Tom.
This was a very saddening time, but was all done in the best of friendship

It was around now that I realised how much I missed seeing Susan and my family on a regular basis. I had to move back down south to be with them.
I spoke to Stoo (though being a little cowardly I kept putting it off) and it was agreed that whilst I wouldnt leave the band, that I wouldnt be around enough to be a full time member.

August-September
I finished the recording and mixing of my solo album and prepared it for release. By now I'd had the addition of 2 musical legends in Steph Macleod and John Duffy - so proud to have them both on my songs! - and it was sounding great
I also had to prepare and complete my move back down south. It was very emotional for me, moving to be with so many who I loved and yet leaving so many that I loved behind. I just wished (and still do) that I could remove the chunk of country in between the 2 and set it adrift

October-November
I was back down south, living with Susan, my album released (which went better than I could've hoped) and solo gigs were starting to come in. Though there was (and always is and will be) stressful moments and events, the year was coming to a close on a high
When me and Sketchy met up at an open mic, had a jam and decided to reform under the name "Bearded Flagons"
Due to one thing or another, we've not had many gigs or rehearsals since, but what we've done has been fun - and hopefully will continue for a long time

December

The last month, the close of the year. I guess this is too near for me to reminisce in the same manner as I've done with the rest, but there's been gigs (though I started the month with a heavy bout of fever), family fun at Christmas and plans made for the future
The future really does look good right now, I've so many plans, ideas and dreams - and realistic ways to realise them - that when I look back to a year ago today, I wonder how I got so lucky
I know I've done a lot to achieve this change in fortunes myself, there's no way I could've done it alone. There's so many I have to thank for helping me through this that I wouldnt know where to begin, but my family, Susan, Djay Buddha and Stoo Nicol have been the major players

I would say something like "dont you just love a happy ending" but this aint the ending, at least, not of my story, just of a chapter - and the next chapter has a very optimistic title!

Love you all - especially those who've had the patience to read this far

Beginning to not feel like a beginner

What a palava it is at the minute getting around Kingsthorpe and Northampton! Every route we took to try and get to the gig there was road closed and diversion signs. At one point I was starting to think the town had been quarantined and they were keeping it hushed up! We got there, despite our 10 mile journey turning into 25

Despite that, it was a good night last night at the Sunnyside. KRAB were a lot of fun as always, Ben Weston who I hadnt seen before was brilliant, there was another bloke I forget the name of coz I'm crap at that - and the 2 Stevies who were hosting did a great job!

I enjoyed playing a lot. I'm slowly reaching the point where I feel at home on stage with a guitar in my hand now. It feels like I've been playing and singing forever, when in reality it's only been just over 3 years (and a chunk during that nearly the size of a year I hardly played).

Realising that has made me realise how much I've over-achieved in that short space of time. It's quite remarkable when I try to cram all these memories into that short a timescale - it doesnt seem to fit! And now that I'm practising more and playing more gigs, I wonder where I can go and what I can do. I'm not setting any grand ambitions or lofty desires, I'm just curious

I owe a lot of this comfort to a guy named P00kah, who probably barely remembers this titbit of wisdom that stuck with me, if he remembers it at all. I'd been playing guitar for only about a month and was in Germany for one of the Artistic Freedom Collective "Gatherings" (I was on percussion, not nearly ready for guitar on stage).

It was the day after and we were all chilling out, sitting in the courtyard and jamming away, when suddenly the guitar got handed to me. I looked at all these great guitarists around me and said "no, I aint good enough" and went to pass it on. P00kah said "it aint a fucking competition man, play the guitar"

So I did - very badly admittedly, but I did - and that philosophy has stuck with me ever since

Here's a bit of P00kah for your listening pleasure :-)

Pineapple Wine

Just started 2 Gallons of Pineapple wine using my old juice recipe, which is as follows

1ltr/2 pints of fruit juice (in this instance, but depending on the juice and taste, can be up to 2ltrs/4 pints)
1kg/2lbs sugar turned into a syrup
Add to demijon and once cool add yeast - it's that simple!

Can be drunk in as little as 4 weeks depending on clearing time - the perfect hooch! Though not for when your posh friends come to visit lol

Went out to an open mic at the Sunnyside, Kingsthorpe last night. Was a lot of fun, caught up with good friends Ray and Liz Beck, the duo KRAB and of course Stevie and Hannah.

And met some new people - one of the featured artists, Emma Pick, is a tremendous talent! Not sure how old she is, but she's still in school and has a big future ahead of her if she puts in the effort

It was the 1st time I'd performed since my voice has gone up a step after quitting smoking. It felt weird hearing a higher pitched me coming out of the monitors, but I enjoyed it and so did everyone else (or were very polite lol)

Looking forward to seeing what new songs this new voice is capable of, but to finish off the old deep era, here's probably the deepest my voice has ever been in a recording. A dedication to the finest brewery in the land http://www.nobbysbrewery.co.uk/

Old Market Inn shenanigans

It was a great gig last night - most enjoyable as both performer and listener!

The barman was a lot of fun. When I told him I liked real ale, he kept trying to get me to have one of the local brews which he said was "great, but it'll knock your head off." I kept telling him couldnt do that till after I'd been on stage - once I'd finished my set, I did - and he was right! Cant even remember the name of it now hahahaha

First up was Stevie Jones who was also running the night (http://www.wildfiresessions.com/) and it was great to see him performing a few of his originals to get the night started. I can never remember the proper title, but "sometimes loving is not enough" is a great song

Then it was Tim George (http://timgeorgemusic.com/). While I'm biased having known him since we were both 8, he was stunning!!! And the best of the night for me. Playing mostly originals, songs like Busy Life and Cyclone hushed the audience until he'd finished then they'd explode into noise! He also played a cover of M Ward, who was covering someone else who I cant remember which was quite beautiful. An Artists Tale I think was the title. Always makes me laugh to see how humble Tim is, both on and off stage, as in a world that rewarded talent properly, he'd be a millionaire. I wanted to go round the audience shaking hands with people saying "I know him, GIVE ME REFLECTED GLORY!!!" Hahahahaha

After that, I had to get up and follow him, no easy task! I started off with some of my mellower and more meaningful songs and meandered into the more raucous through Cross The Borders "Black Dog" then "King Of The Swingers" from Jungle Book, but it was when I started on the comedy material that, suddenly, I felt at home. I'd intended to finish on "You Should've Been A Blowjob" but with some time left I also did Facebook Bullshit (which for reasons unknown even to me, I've not played live nearly often enough).

This has led me to the conclusion that comedy material is definitely the way forward for me. Not only does it seem to go down better both recorded and live, but I feel more confident and full of swagger when presenting it.
Not to say I'll never write "normal" songs again, but for a long time I'd hold back comedy ideas, thinking they were too silly when compared to my friends and influences songs, but then I realised I'm not my friends and I'm not my influences. Now I will not be holding them back!

After me, My Jaike were on stage. I really love these guys bouncy feel - and the harmonies are fantastic! What sticks out most for me though is the Snoop Dogg song they did. If all rapping was done like they did it, I'd be a huge fan!!!

Them Urban Foxes closed the night. They've got some really fast paced and raucous noise, but with a good bit of 90's indie feel. Almost like putting Ocean Colour Scene and Sonic Youth into a blender. A lot of fun

All in all, a good night. Got to catch up with some old friends (Julia and the Kettering gang who are everything that's great in an audience) and meet some new as well

It's a pity it's so bloody far for me, coz I'd be happy to gig there every week!

Next up though is the Sir Pickering Phipps, Northampton on Sun night

As it's been relivened in my head by playing it live last night, here's an old video of Facebook Bullshit

Old Market Inn gig 3rd Oct

Looking forward to the gig I'm playing for the Wildfire Sessions this Mon Oct 3rd at the Old Market Inn in Kettering (for more info see http://www.wildfiresessions.com/home.cfm)

Also playing is my good friend Tim George who 1st got me into playing music when I bought a drum set to join his grunge band Test Meet many many moons ago. He's recently released a new digital album for download that's available here http://timgeorgemusic.com/ and I'd heartily recommend it

And here's a little REM cover for y'all

Where to begin?

Well, I've decided I should start a blog up, as a whole 30 years of life is a little bit too much to fit into one blog, I'll put a little about what I'll be blogging about in future

I play music and love live music, so there'll be lots of blogs about the things I do within that - gigs, open mics, festivals, new songs I've written/recorded or cds I've listened to etc

I make wine, so whenever I've made a batch there'll be the recipe (while these blogs may be useful to others, it'll be very handy to me so when I get something really right, I know how to do it again)

And of course whatever crops up - dont want to restrict myself, while the above 2 will make up the majority, I may decide to do whatever is on my mind at the time

Hope to see you soon

Lew Bear

PS here's my latest song