EVEN with a long lie I’m feeling completely broken. Everything hurts. I really need to get match fit….although I’m sure most of my aches and pains are down to the gear and set up rather than playing the show!
First job is to unpack the car at the studio and then the office. Next, there’s al the video footage to get off the cameras.
While the video’s downloading I take a wee walk and stop into Betty’s to sort a router issue.
Margaret’s away to get some shopping when I get back and I start importing another load of video. For some reason, though, I had the GoPro on auto exposure which has resulted in pretty much unusable video from that camera. Down to trying to do too much I guess – sound, lighting, soundchecks etc with the cameras on top of it all. I’ll learn one day!
Black Bull, Gartmore – first gig of the year…and sold out 🙂
AFTER breakfast and the usually email/socials/admin stuff I go ton the studio to prep and pack all the gear for tonight’s show in Gartmore which is now sold out 🙂
There’s no PA/sound at the venue and although there’s some stage lighting, it’s kinda cheesy ‘disco roadshow’ stuff, so I need to sort out a couple of lights to take too.
In addition, I wanna try and grab some video of the gig so pack some camera stuff and a field recorder too.
I’ve just finished packing the car when Betty arrives – we’re giving her a lift to (and from) Gartmore and although we’re going early too set up she‘ll hang out with some pals in the village before they come to the show.
Set up all goes fine and once Duncan and Cy – who’re opening the show – are soundchecked we have some dinner and I set up the extra lights, cameras etc.
The night goes grand and the room is packed…more than sold out…not bad for a Wednesday evening in the middle of nowhere!
AFTER breakfast I cut some leather for a new ‘impossible weave’ bracelet…I replaced the stud on my own one last week but damaged the leather and it’s bust. So time for a new one.
I dye the cut leather and leave it to dry – I;m hoping Maregareet might do the weave later for me…the process messes with my head!
In the studio I plug in everything that needs charged up for tomorrow’s (Wednesday) show in Gartmore before running through a. Couple of songs then restringing the guitars.
After a much-needed walk up the lochside I get back into the studio and prep more stuff for tomorrow’s show. Although the venue is nice, there’s no PA so I need to sort sound…and I wanna take some lights to avoid having to use the house ‘disco roadshow’ lighting.
UP EARLY to get the sourdough in the oven and it’s another grey, damp – and windy – day. Boo!
While waiting for the sourdough to cool we plan to go for a swim before lunch. Meantime, I get some work done before a session with a Zoom guitar student.
Once I’m done we go to the village and have a swim then home in time for lunch.
I have a prototype piece o merch – yup, another one – to work on then it’s into the studio to rehearse some more of my set for Wednesday’s show in Gartmore..
After my late afternoon guitar student is through I go back to the studio and prep for tonight’s livestream into the Wildcats’ Facebook group.
WE’RE not long up and finished breakfast when Catriona, Will and the kids arrive. Will said he’d drop by to leave something he needs engraved…but we weren’t sure if he was bringing the crew. Nice to see everyone.
They only stay about an hour and I tend a brisket on the smoker in the hope it’ll be ready in time for dinner.
I pack the merch order that includes a bunch of CDs and one of the guitar pins then make a batch of acrylic keyrings that I’ll put round the tables at Wednesday’s show…curious to see if folks like them.
The weather’s awful as I head to the studio where I start listing a show I’m playing for Huddersfield Blues Club on 19 February…Margaret’s trying to find a show/s around it make the trip more practical.
The brisket comes out the smoker and rests a while then we plate it up and enjoy it while watching Bills and Dorothy’s January livestream from Florida.
YESTERDAY’S swim has indeed created a few ‘sore bits’….but that’s maybe a good thing.
After breakfast I spend some time in the studio running through stuff for Wednesday’s show in Gartmore. It’s getting close!
The pewter reso guitar pins I cast yesterday need some finishing before I can attach the pins so I get that job out the way after lunch.
Having committed to releasing an EP of Blind WIllie Johnson songs at the beginning of March I set up to do some recording. Gonna need to get cracking on it.
I manage to make some progress by the time we meet Betty at the local pub for dinner.
I get a nice pic, but if we’d been home five minutes earlier it woulda been spectacular…
A MERCH order that's come in includes a pewter reso guitar pin and I have none in stock…so I need to go out and cast a couple up.
Both the casting, trimming and finishing/sanding are messy and need to be done outside under the smoker/BBQ shelter….and it’s buddy freezing. Anyway, I get the casting done and decide to leave the rest ‘til later as there’s higher priority stuff needing dealt with.
I’ve been trying to think of ‘news hooks’ to help promote March’s shows in Aldershot and Brighton. Just the fact that I have shows is not likely to be enough ‘news’ for the national and regional mags and media so I decide to schedule a release – a three-track EP tribute to Blind WIllie Johnson.
Once I’ve put together an appropriate news release and messed with some photo ideas I get it sent out.
After a late lunch we drive to the village to advise a swim at the hotel’s health suite. We joined up on a special offer earlier in the week and I’m determined to make use of the facilities.
We’re back in time for a new eight-year-old guitar student and his mum arriving. The kid has potential and the session goes well.
In the studio I mess with some options of how I might record the Blind WIllie songs then head back to the house for dinner.
MARGARET’S away to Edinburgh first though to get her hair done…and also pick up some stuff at Costco.
I spend the morning setting up sign-up forms and links for the newly migrated mailing list. It reminds me of trying to make sure you remember everywhere you need to update your credit card details when you get a new card. A little more complicated tho’.
A thin layer of snow needs brushed of the steps and the deck in front of the office in case it all freezes later.
There’s some merch orders to be made up and packed for the positive to pick up tomorrow then I hit the studio. I’m still a bit undecided how I’m gonna set up next week’s Gartmore show so I try a few options out then rehearse some of the song that’ll be in my set.
My late afternoon guitar student rocks up and we have a good session then I get on with my own rehearal stuff until Margaret gets back with the shopping.
DESPITE an early night and no booze last night we sleep in...so much of the morning is gone by the time I've finished checking emails and my socials.
It's a crappy day outside and I spend the early part of the afternoon making some merch in the office and furthering my email list migration from Mailchimp to Brevo.
I need to get some news releases about the March shows down south out to the monthly mags and stuff...while I think about a 'hook' for 'em I set up some pix in the studio.
My evening guitar student arrives bang on time and we have a good session then I get on with making dinner - black pepper beef.
Jennifer and Malky stop by for a visit….and a jam in the studio
BACK into the usual Monday (early!) morning sourdough baking routine ten I get the admin-y type stuff dealt with before an online session with one of my guitar students.
Margaret’s sorted flights to and from New York later in the month – we have some business to sort out – so we go through the ESTA application. A bit longer and more involved than we remember…and quite a lot more expensive…at least I’m not gigging etc so don’t need a visa.That’s an entirely different ball game!
My pals Jennifer (JPax Guitars) and Malky (Mad Malky Guitars) stop by for a visit and we talk music, guitars and all sortsa stuff over coffee then have a wee session in the studio.
Darkness falls too soon and I have to get some stuff ready for tonight’s Wildcats’ livestream on Facebook. I also set up the PA and some IEM (in ear monitoring) ready to rehearse the set I made up for the Gartmore show on 14 January…a week on Wednesday!
The livestream goes to plan – other than I stream it to my Facebook page instead of into the private WIldcats’ group. Ah well….no harm done!
