Song Number 35: Fat Kids Are Harder To Kidnap

Challenge Accepted!

NEARLY THERE!  If this song made you laugh, donate some money to Parkinson's UK.  If you thought it was in bad taste, it's not Parkinson's UK's fault - so donate some money to them anyway.  Then feel free to send me a stiff letter. http://www.justgiving.com/songaweek

Right, then.  Mr John Siely, a regular at the open mic sessions at The Guildford Tup, challenged me to write a song with this title.  I said I'd perform it at the open mic two weeks later.  Of course, what happened was I ended up leaving the song til the last minute, so this was written in the hour before I was due to go on stage with it. 

And today, I was in no mood to argue with the technology in my studio, which was sulking about something, so it only took half an hour from start to finish.

On to song 36.  And of course the gig - yes, the gig.

Tuesday 27th September, The Bedford, Balham

FREE ENTRY!

Plenty of parking at the Sainsbury's across the road (at least there was last time), and the station (National Rail and Northern Line Tube) is just around the corner.

The night also features Big Mamma's Door (excellent blues band) and Anna Phoebe (classic rock electric violinist. Yes!)

This is my favourite venue in the capital, with the best sound and a great atmosphere. The gig will also be streamed live on the internet at http://www.justin.tv/thebedfordlive

We'll be on pretty late (10 o clock start, we reckon), but get down early to see the rest of the acts, too.


COME DOWN and see my wonderful band - they deserve your support, because they're all splendid musicians.  Don't believe me?  There's only one way to find out...

Song Number 33: Fallen Down

Another one bites the dust...

We're almost there - but let's not get complacent! PLEASE DONATE SOME PENNIES TO PARKINSON'S UK NOW! justgiving.com/songaweek

So what's all this racket at the beginning about?  Well, I had a drum beat playing on the computer, while at the same time importing a CD.  Perfectly in time with the beat, the "Import Finished" noise sounded. 

And that's about that, really.  Transposed melody in the second verse - I like doing that.

Rehearsal today in readiness for the Bedford Gig on the 27th September!

Bohemian Rhapsody and other maulings!

Great fun at the Guildford Tup last night, listening to some cracking performers and meeting some lovely people.  The set included plenty from the Song A Week repertoire, as well as a dust-off of Work To Do  and a totally off-the-cuff rendering (if that's the word) of Bohemian Rhapsody!

What's wrong with Brian's face?!

Particular thanks to John Siely, who has challenged me to write a song with a particular title - come down to the open mic at the same place on 21st September to hear the result!

Also, hallo to Michael the Magpie from Apex Corner McDonald's!

Next on the agenda:


Tuesday 27th September, The Bedford, Balham

FREE ENTRY!

Plenty of parking at the Sainsbury's across the road (at least there was last time), and the station (National Rail and Northern Line Tube) is just around the corner.

The night also features Big Mamma's Door (excellent blues band) and Anna Phoebe (classic rock electric violinist. Yes!)

This is my favourite venue in the capital, with the best sound and a great atmosphere. The gig will also be streamed live on the internet at http://www.justin.tv/thebedfordlive

We'll be on pretty late (somewhere between half nine and ten, I reckon), but get down early to see the rest of the acts, too.


And in the meantime, I've got the next three songs all on the boil at the moment.  It's a busy few days/weeks/months ahead, but I'm confident about catching up and getting these songs done and dusted. 

If you're new to the site, check out the "Why Parkinson's" page, and have a flick through the songs (the "Just The Songs" page might be most useful there), and please, please, please donate some money to Parkinson's UK.  I'm not doing this for the good of my health, you know!

Hang on again...

I'm off on (belated) honeymoon to the States on Monday - four weeks around the North, South and West - but this means I've been cramming a hell of a lot in at the moment to pay for it!  But Song A Week will still be continuing.  Here's what's coming up in the next few weeks:

• Song 28 - the most ridiculous track I've done since Marty & Me back at track 4
• Thoughts on the second and third Secrets of the Pop Song BBC programme - read my thoughts on part one here
• Various wibblings about musical things I come across in the US of A
• And of course, Songs 29 onwards.  Yes, courtesy of VocaLive I'll be able to record while we're out there.  (I have a very understanding wife - it was actually Jess's suggestion!)

Ta-ra! Mind the roads!

 But in the meantime, as we'll be going to Graceland at some point, here's a track I recorded a few years ago of which I'm very fond - it's an odd little thing, but I'd love to know what you think.  I think it's kind of a prelude to Song 26: Escape on Amenartas.

  

More tracks at my Soundcloud Site 

And finally, do try and come along to the gig tomorrow night (Friday 22nd July) at The Star Inn, Guildford. We'll be playing a few new tracks from the Song A Week project, and will be supported by Steve The Drummer's band Earthtide - 70s inspired metal with stoner grooves.  They are not to be missed - a truly excellent band, with excellent musicianship and superb heavy-as-Rick-Waller guitar riffs that lift them above most other metal bands on the circuit.  £2 in; doors about 8.30. 

Soundcloud Demo

As I'm starting another assault on publishing companies, I've had to arrange the songs on my new SoundCloud site:

Click here to hear the tracks

There are a few from SAW2011, and a couple of earlier songs too.  Leave your comments and let me know what you think!  Bad or good, knowing that there are people out there listening is very important to a blogger!

Hello?

Also the next gig is on 22nd July at The Star Inn, Guildford.  Come along for about 9, and we'll be playing until the police come to kick us out.  Only £2 entry!

Song Number 23: Bright Lights

Featuring Twickenham singer Shelle Luscombe on vocals, here's song 23:

Thanks to everybody who's donated so far - we've had a great surge of activity this weekend - but we need to keep things going: http://www.justgiving.com/songaweek or click the widget in the corner!

Shelle got in touch with me a few months ago wanting to get involved with SAW2011 as she also raises funds for Parkinson's UK in honour of her father, who has the condition.  Eventually we managed to get half an hour (I'm not joking!) to record the vocals, and the song was premièred last Friday at Shelle's regular slot at the Marble Hill pub in Twickenham.  I played a couple of other tracks from SAW2011, as well, and also improvised a song based on the BBC News 24 rolling headlines on the pub's plasma screen:

It got a bit rude after that, so it's only a short clip! 

Song 24 on its way in the next couple of days.  Nearly at the half way point, folks!

In other news, we're all set for a return to The Bedford in Balham on 27th September, and the next gig on the horizon is on 22nd July at The Star Inn, Guildford.

Finally, just a quick congratulations to Earthtide's drummer (and mine!) Steve, and his lovely lady Leonie, who got married this weekend!

Free show, this Friday night!

Playing a cheeky little Friday night slot with local singer Shelle Luscombe, at which we'll be premièring Song 23.

Shelle runs a regular night at The Marble Hill pub, TW1 2NP, at which she invites local musicians to join her on stage to play a set, and duet on a few numbers. She got in touch with me months ago, interested in helping out with the Song A Week project, so I've written a new track for her to sing - come to Twickenham and be the first to hear it!

More details at www.themarblehill.co.uk and www.shelleluscombe.co.uk

FREE ENTRY!

Bedford Gig highlights!

Blogger's finally working on my computer, so here's a link to the highlights of the Bedford gig.  Thanks to everybody who came down, and who watched on the internet - please leave your comments here or on the YouTube vid!

Next gig booked is on 22nd June at The Star Inn, Guildford.  Who knows how we'll mutilate Smoke On The Water this time!

Illness and gig preparation have been kicking at the feet of SAW2011, but I'll be back on track soon...

Song Number 16: Canapé Chat

Here we go:

Now please put your money where my mouth is!  I'm breaking my back here trying to keep up with the weeks as they fly past, so the least you can do is donate a few quid to Parkinson's UK! 


The words were written before the music, prompted by a phrase in a ridiculous "Royal Top Trumps" game in Grazia magazine (not an organ I habitually take, I might mention!). 

The lead vocal sound in the verse might interest the geeks amongst you - there's one track of conventionally treated vocal, and one track of the exact same vocal take shoved up an octave through a pitchshifter, and then back down to the original pitch with another.  The slight delay and loss of sound quality makes it sound interestingly doubletracked, I think.  So there you go!

Otherwise there are all sorts of bits and pieces going on, and I could have (should have) spent a lot more time building up arrangement in the choruses to make them a bit more interesting, but I need to move on to song 17 already!

Having a bit of a flap at the moment - I'm trying to catch up with the weekly target, but the last two weekends have been destroyed by public holidays (both of which were lovely, of course, but not conducive to SAW2011).  Plus, I'm getting the band ready for the gig on the 12th of May at The Bedford in Balham!

Doors at 7.30; we'll be on at 9. The set will feature a couple of tracks as yet unplayed by the new band, and at least one Song A Week 2011 track!

Also playing:

Emi Green (http://www.emigreenmusic.com/), formerly of Home & Away, now a respected songwriter

and

Nigel H Seymour (http://www.nigelhseymour.co.uk/), seasoned folk sort.

Check out the Facebook Event page and sign up as an attendee!

Ticking along

Cracking night at the Slug & Lettuce in Guildford last night - really good atmosphere, with some great musicians and a friendly vibe* all round. 

With last weekend being out of action, and this week being horrendously crammed (last week of term at the college at which I teach), I have fallen way behind with SAW2011, but I do have a couple of things in the pipeline so I hope to be nicely caught up by the end of next week.  Odd little number in 6/4 should be making itself heard soon...

Also, I'm looking at getting some CDs printed up, and the ReverbNation site properly working.  Watch this space!


*I'm really not fond of this word, but it seems to have fallen out of my fingers.  Give it a fortnight and I'll start talking about giving my music a new "Flava"

You can now follow by email!

That's right, folks - simply enter your email address in that box on the right, and blog updates will be sent straight to your inbox!

If you haven't already seen, all the songs are posted just by themselves on the "Just The Songs" page, so you don't have to wade through all the blog posts to listen to them.  Thinking about doing a one-off fundraising gig at the beginning of 2012, playing the most popular 20 (or thereabouts) tracks from the SAW2011 project, so I'm keeping tabs on which ones are going down well, and your feedback on the tracks is much needed.

Remember - all of this is in aid of Parkinson's UK, and if we're going to hit that target, I need you to help me spread the word about this site!

To help you, here's a bit of html for you - just copy and paste the following into an email or a blog post, and send it to as many people as you can!

<a href="songaweek2011.blogspot.com">Writing A Song A Week in 2011 for Parkinson's UK!</a>

Thanks for your help, folks!  And if any of you are around tonight (Thursday 31st March), some of the band and I are playing an impromptu set at the Slug & Lettuce, Guildford.

Song Number 10: I Should Be Here

TEN SONGS!  We're into double figures, folks!

And now, PLEASE donate a few bob to Parkinson's UK by clicking on the widget in the top right, or visiting justgiving.com/songaweek.

BEFORE I TALK ABOUT THE SONG, I'd like to say a massive thank you to everybody who came along to the Water Rats gig on the 9th.  It was a great success on the night, but I need you all to do me a favour and, as Batman once said, TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT ME!  If we're going to reach this £1,000 target, we're going to need all hands on deck.

Now, the song.  This one was written and largely recorded in the early hours of this morning after eating a large takeaway in front of a documentary about Harry Nilsson.

 Nilsson is one of my biggest influences as a singer and songwriter.  When he was in his prime, his voice was just beyond compare; and his best songs wouldn't have disgraced Lennon & McCartney.  Even if you've not heard of him, you'll have heard him - "Can't live, if living is without you..."; "Everybody's talkin' at me.  I don't hear a word they're sayin..."; "One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do..."; "You put de lime in de coconut you drink em both up..." and so on and on.  For the uninitiated, I recommend you check out the albums Nilsson Schmilsson and Harry.  The former was the biggie that made him a star, beautifully produced by Richard Perry; the latter is a slightly earlier album that sounds like what music might have sounded like had Rock n Roll not come along - it's one of my 5 favourite records, and if you don't absolutely adore at least one track on there, you simply have no heart.

He was a flawed man, bent for whatever reason on sabotaging his own career, and could be a bit of a bastard when he wanted to be... but he was also capable of this.

Song Number 9: The Change

Starting to fall behind again...

Now it's time for you to do something - DONATE to PARKINSON'S UK by clicking on the Justgiving widget on the top right, or visit http://www.justgiving.com/songaweek


I'll be honest with you, I'm disappointed with just about everything on this track.  First proper stinker of the year.  Started off as an excuse to get that backwards Bo Diddley thing in, but the words are poor; the vocals were a rushed one-take job this morning... poor all round, really.  But I needed to get a song up today as we're already in week 10, so I couldn't afford to be too proud. I promised 52 songs - I never said they were all going to be good!


Onwards and upwards, though - once I've got TOMORROW'S GIG out the way, I'll be starting on the new track with a clear head. 

6/3 update

Just had the last rehearsal with the band before Wednesday's gig, and I'm over the moon.  Final details are as follows:

Monto Water Rats
328 Gray's Inn Rd (2 mins' walk from King's Cross Station)
MAP

Get your name to me, and arrive at the venue before 7.45, and it's £6 entry
£8 for the rest of you

We'll be on at 8.15, all being well!

Other acts:

Anita Maj - feisty rock minx
Decline and Fall - edgy Stooges-type rock
Gecko - they do a song called Pigeon, so they're alright in my book
The Red Suns - epic; a bit like Joy Division with a big reverb unit
and the headline act, The Rock Of Travolta - Radiohead/Muse fans walk this way...


I've also been working on Song Number 9, which should hit the internet tomorrow or Tuesday.  Harmonica debut on this one, too.


AS EVER, please spread this site around.  Something like this would do:

"Dear BFF - there's this bloke, right, and he's writing a song a week every week for the whole of 2011, and it's for Parkinson's UK and the songs are, like, totally amazing - CHECK IT OUT!"

Song Number 8: End Of The World

For those of you about to drill, here's a song about Bruce Willis in Outer Space;

Special thanks to Alex Creese for providing the solo.

You like it?  You don't like it?  Either way, thanks for listening - but please drop a couple of quid in the Parkinson's UK tin, either by clicking on the widget on the top right, or by visiting Justgiving.com/songaweek.

Local stoner rock band Earthtide are well worth a look.  A trio of excellent musicians, playing music somewhere between Deep Purple and Black Sabbath, in amongst the set is a song about Jaws called Bigger Boat.  Superb song, and it was suggested by some fool that they do a song about Armageddon next.  Despite never having seen the damn film, I volunteered to write it for them.  This meant watching it.  Hell's teeth.  I'm a fan of Bruce Willis, and Steve Buscemi's never played a bad role as far as I know... but this ye-har, gung-ho, slack-jawed, GO AMERICA! nonsense peddled by Jerry Bruckheimer gets right on my tit ends.  I really am suffering for my art here, guys.  Just hope nobody asks me to write a song about Gigli or Catwoman.  Still, it passed a couple of hours.

In writing the song itself, I had to come up with a riff that sounded Earthtide-ish, but at the same time different enough to warrant a place in their set.  If it sounded exactly like another one of their songs, why would they bother playing it?  I think the verse and solo riffs sound pretty authentic, but the change comes in the chorus, which is much more American and Foo Fightersy than the rest of their set - which kind of fits in with the All American Action Movie premise, I guess.  The words are made up almost entirely from lines in the film, though I couldn't quite get the line "I have repeatedly asked you to call me dad" in there.  And the line "My daughter can't act" might have been my own...

Anyways, the band themselves seem to be pleased with it - let me know what youse think, and SPREAD THE WORD!  The donations have stalled again, and we need to get this site passed around widely as possible if we're going to meet this target. 

I'll be shouting it from the rooftops at the gig on Weds 9th March at The Water Rats, King's Cross (get there for 7.45!) 

7/2 update: New Gigs!

Hallo one and all!

First of all, thank you for your continued support, kind words and donations - the JustGiving box up there is doing well - so much so I think I might actually up the target amount in a couple of months' time - but we mustn't get complacent!  PLEASE keep passing this blog around to people.  I'm working on getting some radio interviews, so I'll keep you posted about that.

Thanks go to live music champion and open mic legend Vic Cracknell of www.vicsbuskers.co.uk and also Red Admiral Records for their support, and for helping to publicise the blog - help me pay them back by visiting their websites!  

And last but not least, I'm happy to announce Two New Live Shows with the big band for 2011! 

First, I'm playing with the band at Monto Water Rats in King's Cross on Wednesday 9th March, supporting a grown-up band with a tremendous name, The Rock Of Travolta.  They've previously supported Radiohead, Snow Patrol, Doves and other bands of that nature, and are now striking out to make their own not inconsiderable mark on the world.
 
Second gig is at The Bedford, Balham on Thursday 12th May.

More details on both of these gigs to follow as they come in, but put them in your diary now and get yourselves along! 

Damn you, mortality! (And some good news too!)

Absolute cow of a month, and while the backing for this week's song has been done and dusted for a couple of days now, tonight's the first chance I've had to do the vocals.  However, I'm so completely exhausted I just couldn't come up with a half decent take.

I'll try again tomorrow, of course, and it'll be fine... but I'm finding it very hard to get into any kind of a routine, such is the eggs-in-several-baskets nature of my work as a musician/singing teacher.  This means, of course, that I need to be more efficient with the snatches of time I do get.

Don't mean to moan - just letting off a bit of steam.

On the plus side of things, I'm looking forward to finishing this one, I've had some more websites quote/link me (I'll post their links tomorrow or at the weekend), there are gigs on the horizon for the Peter Falconer Band, and I'm sorting out a couple of local radio spots too!