Monday, April 30, 2007
The Sequel has Landed
Good evening, and welcome to the second installment of the blog.
We've been busy rehearsing and getting things in place for the single release. We're putting out Good Things on the 1st June, along with Sleepwalking, as our debut release. Colin has been doing the do and putting together everything and today it appeared on ITunes and Napster - we're also pressing up 1,000 copies (eek!) and plan to punt these via shops, gigs, radio etc. We might end up selling loads, we might not. Who knows - but it feels good to have a proper single out, so the ego's pretty chuffed.
Had a top practice last week at Banana Row. Steve had come up with a couple of tune ideas that I mentioned in the last spiel, and we had a go at them. It was one of those nights when we were all a bit beat going in, but when we came out we were buzzing. For me, that's the greatest thing about being in a band/playing music - the buzz you get after having a cracking session with your mates. Gigs can be good, of course, but a good rehearsal is something far better for my soul.
The initial jamm around the idea tends to dictate whether or not the idea is something that we'll take on and develop into a tune. If the collective vibe is good early on then you know you've caught something and last week we hope we've caught a couple of beauties. One of the tracks is a wee bit more typical for us in that it's a minor key based tune - i.e. pretty melancholic/miserable - you decide! I'm really into it though - what with being melanc...etc. - and hope that by the next time we hook up I can have something penned for it. I've got a verse and chorus idea and so far so good. Steve's melody has got a bit of a John Barryesque feel to it initially but then he twists it into something a wee bit darker. Colin was coming up with some lovely beats and Ewan, like me is feeling around a wee bit more and suggested another 'bit' as I like to call 'middle eights'. Bit of work to do but I reckon we've got a contender.
The other idea rolled out of the boys like the river, stopped by a dam for 100 years and being let loose by a kindly flock of dam-demolition-expert-angels - free at last, the glam stone-age-rockers in them, were free at last!
Ewan belted out a fecking cracking bolanesque bass line, after Steve suggested that his riff should be supported by a pounding glam rock/queens of the stone age type groove. Colin immediately took up the mantle and melted majestically pounding beats over the guitars - it was a beautiful moment as Steve's riff hooked in and the three of them combined to create what I reckon has already become - the favourite one to play! Really looking forward to nailing this one and getting it into the set in time for The Proclaimers gigs.
Looking forward to the next practice - Wednesday coming. We'll work the new ones up more, and Steve is plugging in the old boy again and is going to try out the electric (Judas!) on a few of the tunes. We reckon that in bigger venues - what bigger than your usual 50 capacity haunts I hear you sneer - the guitar ain't cutting through the way it ought to do - now there's a lyric. Really excited about hearing the ahem, axe, on a few of the tracks. Steve knows how to handle an axe, no I'm sorry I can't go on with this dodgy rawk-talk. Let's just say, I reckon it'll work a treat and should compliment Ewan's big muff vibe - oh, there I go again. Right, I'm off.
We've been busy rehearsing and getting things in place for the single release. We're putting out Good Things on the 1st June, along with Sleepwalking, as our debut release. Colin has been doing the do and putting together everything and today it appeared on ITunes and Napster - we're also pressing up 1,000 copies (eek!) and plan to punt these via shops, gigs, radio etc. We might end up selling loads, we might not. Who knows - but it feels good to have a proper single out, so the ego's pretty chuffed.
Had a top practice last week at Banana Row. Steve had come up with a couple of tune ideas that I mentioned in the last spiel, and we had a go at them. It was one of those nights when we were all a bit beat going in, but when we came out we were buzzing. For me, that's the greatest thing about being in a band/playing music - the buzz you get after having a cracking session with your mates. Gigs can be good, of course, but a good rehearsal is something far better for my soul.
The initial jamm around the idea tends to dictate whether or not the idea is something that we'll take on and develop into a tune. If the collective vibe is good early on then you know you've caught something and last week we hope we've caught a couple of beauties. One of the tracks is a wee bit more typical for us in that it's a minor key based tune - i.e. pretty melancholic/miserable - you decide! I'm really into it though - what with being melanc...etc. - and hope that by the next time we hook up I can have something penned for it. I've got a verse and chorus idea and so far so good. Steve's melody has got a bit of a John Barryesque feel to it initially but then he twists it into something a wee bit darker. Colin was coming up with some lovely beats and Ewan, like me is feeling around a wee bit more and suggested another 'bit' as I like to call 'middle eights'. Bit of work to do but I reckon we've got a contender.
The other idea rolled out of the boys like the river, stopped by a dam for 100 years and being let loose by a kindly flock of dam-demolition-expert-angels - free at last, the glam stone-age-rockers in them, were free at last!
Ewan belted out a fecking cracking bolanesque bass line, after Steve suggested that his riff should be supported by a pounding glam rock/queens of the stone age type groove. Colin immediately took up the mantle and melted majestically pounding beats over the guitars - it was a beautiful moment as Steve's riff hooked in and the three of them combined to create what I reckon has already become - the favourite one to play! Really looking forward to nailing this one and getting it into the set in time for The Proclaimers gigs.
Looking forward to the next practice - Wednesday coming. We'll work the new ones up more, and Steve is plugging in the old boy again and is going to try out the electric (Judas!) on a few of the tunes. We reckon that in bigger venues - what bigger than your usual 50 capacity haunts I hear you sneer - the guitar ain't cutting through the way it ought to do - now there's a lyric. Really excited about hearing the ahem, axe, on a few of the tracks. Steve knows how to handle an axe, no I'm sorry I can't go on with this dodgy rawk-talk. Let's just say, I reckon it'll work a treat and should compliment Ewan's big muff vibe - oh, there I go again. Right, I'm off.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Like a Virgin - blog for the very first time
Wednesday 18th April 2007 Welcome to the first ever news-blog-rant from Ten Storeys High. On this first occasion it comes from the delicate fingers of Mr Maguire. Future news-blog-rants will inevitably come from these same fingers, however, alternative, maybe even more delicate, fingers from the ‘other three’ will no doubt also regularly contribute to this weekly (?) feature.
The idea of the news-blog-rant – how many times will I use that phrase I hear you weep – is to fill a few minutes of your life with news and views from the increasingly self-indulgent Ten Storeys High. Why anyone out there in ciderspace would be in the least bit interested in this guff is beyond me to be honest, but then again, I’m not a big cider drinker.
So, cynicism (mixed with the fear of being disliked, hence the self derogation above) aside, we’re about to enter a really busy, exciting and hopefully fun-fun filled few months for the band. What follows is the story of the not so distant past and the not so distant future (ours, not yours you understand?)…
March 07
Ewan joins band on bass geetar and plays debut gig at The Village bar in Edinburgh – Ewan’s great.
Same gig sees the band debut two newly penned tunes – The Last Leaf Hanging on Winters Eve and The Cotton Wool Ball Song – the first named is my current favourite TSH tune. It’s a melancholic grinder of a tune based around a beautifully simple but unsettling riff that Mr Scott dropped on us a few weeks earlier. I had penned the lyrics used on it around about the same time – they’re about a few folks I know who have fought the biggest fight recently, some of who are winning and one who sadly lost - and they just seemed to click straight away. Always a good sign. Colin and Ewan play understated blinders on it (Ewan uses his big muff!) and we’re all dead chuffed with how it’s progressing. Should end up recording it in May hopefully. The second of the two new tunes, I will leave to Mr Scott to tell you about one day.
Colin blags a free photo shoot from Reuben Paris – cheers Reeeeeeeuben – and we make our modelling debuts in a boxing gym in Leith. Not just a boxing gym - a boxing gym in Leith. Aye, that’s how hard we are, etc. etc.
Filmed a video (yikes!) for debut single Good Things. A non-nonchalant line that. Again, a debut for the band, and again I imagined an achingly embarrassing experience, but again-again, it was remarkably good craic. I really enjoyed lip-synching at double speed whilst simultaneously sounding like one of The Chipmonks. I reckon I should just do that on stage – charge a fiver and make it kids only. Guaranteed hit.
Right at the end of the month, we got some great news that we’d been waiting a wee while for. Colin brilliantly landed us a great tour supporting, the current No. 1 artistes on the hit parade, The Proclaimers. Amazing. We’re all really excited and cannae wait for the gigs, which are over four nights in June.
I’ve always been a fan of The Proclaimers. The first time I heard them was when I saw them supporting my boyhood heroes The Housemartins - must have been about 17 - at The Assembly Rooms in George Street. I was blown away by both bands and it was one of those gigs that started me thinking, I want to do that. Colin, you’re a diamond.
April (so far)
Played at the Queen’s Hall (disappointingly, her Majesty couldn’t make it – yeah, she was just too busy, wait for it...getting her fanny waxed!) in Edinburgh as part of the fantastic mini-festival that is Spectrum. It was great to play in my favourite venue in Edinburgh for the first time and, I think, we went down well with what was a great crowd. A few folks got in touch afterwards and we’re hoping we may get our first review out of it.
Played the first of our resident monthly affair at The Village pub. It’s a champion wee place – cracking mix of a really good boozer and really cool lounge/gallery space. Dean, the manager (Colin, calls him Dean Village), kindly offered us a wee monthly slot at the weekends and he’s lets us take over the lounge area for the night. We’ve, rather pompously, but genuinely, called it
Ten Storeys High and Friends and have invited a few mates/bands to play with us each month and have booked up to, and including, the Festival in August.
The guys we played with (still can’t remember the band name!) were great mates of Ewan and the singer/guitarist Steve was a top player and great singer who settled everyone their into the night perfectly. The honesty box (we don’t charge at the door but welcome modest donations via the tin on the bar) idea seemed to work out well and we got enough for a pint and a supper each. We played a wee set and really enjoyed it – Steve (and Ann?) very kindly bought us a brilliant PA and it made its debut and worked a treat. Nice one Mr Scott.
Next month we play with The Graeme Mearns Band who, I believe, are fantastic. I haven’t seen them play as such, but caught their soundcheck at the Queen’s Hall last month and I like them straight away. They seemed to me to be a brilliant mix of punked-up blues with really nice beats and a cool as flint singer, who I assume is Graeme. Should be a fine night. Hopefully see you on the 19th.
Bonjour for noo
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]