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
# posted by Callum from Ten Storeys High @ 9:14 PM 
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