Current location:	Home
Current mood:	complacent
Current music:	Recurring Dream - Crowded House

Mad Season

Hey all.

Forgive my probable incoherence as I've just driven for 4 horus to get home and am feeling all tired-ish! Had a good week and a half away from home though. Had a few gigs in Bristol, including our first headlining gig at the Louisiana. It was nerve-wracking stuff, because it also marked a transitional point in the band - we've gone from a 3-piece to a 4-piece with the help of our producer, Anil, who has joined us in an exciting new live context. He plays a combination of bass (with bow), guitar, electronic drum machine and keyboard (not all at the same time, of course), and the upshot of that was the soundman loved us (but he was a legend and microphoned everything properly). Headlining the gig was an odd decision by the promoters - the other two acts on the bill are arguably more high profile in the context of bristol, so although a fair few people ended up coming to see us, not quite as many stayed until the end. Which was a little bit of an annoyance. But the set itself was much tighter than I expected, and I felt personally that I really got into the atmosphere of playing off other instruments. Not an easy thing to fill a 40 minute set, but I think we pulled it off.

After more recording and occasional alcohol related breaks (ahem), it was time to make the trip to Hereford (on the border with Wales) to visit my grandparents. Was a relaxing change of pace, though by this time I'd already been away from home for more than a week and was beginning to feel a bit too much like I was living out of my suitcase. That said, it was great to see family, and on one of the days we went walking in the Breccon Beacons, near famous literary town Hay-On-Wye. My phone had packed up earlier in the week and so I went and bought a new one with a far better camera. This photo shows just how stunning the area is and what a nice view we had.

So now i'm back home and have plenty more going on - off to Croatia for a week in a week, and moving out to live with housemates. Can't quite believe how quickly these holidays are going and how quickly I'll be back to teaching! Will try and keep you all more updated, take care and much love

Andyx