WE’RE both knackered and the lurgy seems to have gripped us now the adrenaline of the last few days has faded. We sleep until after midday!
I drag myself to the studio to unload and try and tidy up a little then do some work on the Kickstarter campaign round my socials and stuff.
I also create a campaign landing page on my website.
A courier drops off a new microphone I ordered from GuitarGuitar – a hypercardiod Shure vocal mic. The engineer in Aberdeen had one on loan and I liked it so much I ordered one on Saturday morning!
I do a few tests with my wee PA in the studio and it’s really nice – clarity, power and much better feedback rejection than my trusty old SM58 and SM58 Beta.
It’s getting late when I get back to the house. Margaret makes dinner and I edit a bit of video from the Edinburgh show.
We chill and watch the first of three films about American music – American Epic. There was a reference to it on the radio during a piece about the new Led Zeppelin doc and although I couldn’t find it on any of our streaming services, I found it on YouTube 😉
Thank you all for coming out to the Edinbrugh show \../
AFTER a lazy morning catching up peon emails, socials and posting some ‘on the day’ promo for to ngiht’s show in Edinburgh we hit the road.
We stop in Stonehaven for brunch then again in Dundee to pick up some shopping.
It’s bang on load-in time when we get to the Voodoo Rooms and gig rep Evelyn is waiting for us.
Engineer Craig has done my sound a few times at the venue and is first class.
Once sound checks are done we’re fed then we hang out in the dressing room ’til it’s time for Trevor to open the show. It’s a full house and there’s a few familiar faces in the crowd.
As usual, he goes down a storm then it’s my turn to hit the stage…then a couple tunes together at the end.
All in, a fantastic night. We drop Les off in Edinburgh then head for home. Knackered.
Trevor joins me for an encore at the Voodoo Rooms 🙂
WE’RE all up kinda late and sit round for breakfast.
I have some online merch orders to pack up and drop at the post office then pack the car.
We’re waiting on the postie dropping off some Kickstarter promo flyers so I can put them out at tonight and tomorrow’s gigs – as soon as we have them we head off to Aberdeen.
Trevor and Emma follow us and we rendezvous at the hotel we’re staying in just south of the city.
Load in and sound check’s a breeze. We’re in the bigger downstairs room at the Blue Lamp and engineer Chris is fantastic. They have a pretty slick rig in there now too 🙂
We head off to get some chips and get back just as doors open….then Trevor hits the stage.
He plays a blinder then it’s my turn.
There’s a good crowd in and we have a really good night 🙂
AWAKE before my alarm to get the Kickstarter live.
Then there’s the obligatory posting round socials and Facebook covers to follow….and a mailout to my email list.
I have a community hydro society board meeting that lasts all morning then check in on the Kickstarter. Looks like it’s off to a good start.
After lunch I run through some more of my set for tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday shows.
I get my gear packed ready to go in the car in the morning then sort the merch out with Margaret.
Trevor and Emma rock up in plenty time for dinner, Margaret serves up a fantastic kung pao tofu and we have a grand evening, finally turning in around 2am.
AFTER my regular Wednesday morning guitar student leaves I get some more brass pins and necklaces into ‘production’. I wanna have three of each for the merch table at the weekend.
Margaret’s off to Glasgow for some shopping and drops me at the school in Balloch.
Turns out there’s no kids around so I’m ‘surplus’ and get away early. I walk to the bus stop and am home by 3pm!
Although I seem to managing to keep the lurgy (mostly) at bay I’m knackered and end up having a nap on the couch before hitting the studio where I run through some of my set for the upcoming shows.
The new album Kickstarter campaign goes live tomorrow (Thursday) and I need assets to promote around my socials. Facebook covers, vertical video etc…so I get busy….
UP EARLY to get the Monday morning sourdough in the oven.
I have a coffee and check emails and socials while it’s baking then jump in. The shower once the bread’s out the oven.
By the time I head to the studio for a Zoom session with a regular guitar student I’ve got a few routine things out the way.
My design for the brass guitar necklaces and pins needs work so I spend a few hours working on some ideas ready for prototyping over the next few days.
I’ve been managing to avoid the lurgy that Margaret had last week but it’s kinda starting to threaten. Hopefully it’ll stay in the background until after this weekend’s shows.
Aberdeen ticket sales could do with a bit of a boost. Hopefully some targeted posing and stuff will help.
It’s not a very nice day but I badly need some exercise and fresh air and head for a walk up the lochside.
AFTER breakfast I finish off engraving a batch of signature bottlenecks to ensure I have some on the merch table at Friday and Saturday’s shows.
I also make up a couple of insulated cups.
There’s various bit and bobs to get done in the studio then we jump in the car to Stirling to pickle up some shopping and go to see the Bob Dylan film, A Complete Unknown.
The film is good. Not remarkable, but pretty good. I’m particularly impressed with the quality of all the actors.
My third attempt at the outstanding brass coin for one of the workshop participants turns out good so I set about finishing and polishing.
I take the car to the studio and unload the PA, guitars and other workshop stuff then try and tidy the studio a little. It’s still a mess but at least I can get some work done in there.
We have a video message to make for a pal in the ’States and get that done…then back to the house to prepare to night’s chicken enchiladas. Betty’s coming for dinner.
