Well, it’s summer, I’m on holiday (kind of – just don’t have any work!) and so I am listening to more music than I normally would, and rediscovering some stuff I had forgotten.
I am currently grooving to:
I’ve had it – Aimee Mann
On another blog someone is posting about music videos from one UK TV show Top of the Pops. This got me thinking, and as I was growing up in the UK in the 70s, there were only two shows – Top of the Pops ( TOTP) and the Old Grey Whistle Test (OGWT). The OGWT dealt with older classic bands, and was wasted on me as a young kid. Now of course I love to watch old clips of bands before one of them died or they split up or whatever, but back then TOTP had the current hits and was much more interesting. Then in 1982 came The Tube on Channel 4 - a new live music show on a new channel, and after that I became a bit blasé about live music, especially as I was playing it myself and seeing other local bands by that point. But I still remember the moment that just blew me away. This was at about 0,28″ of this..when the guitars kick in. We had heard of them sure – they were all over the papers, getting banned everywhere, and we had even heard the first singles, but this was the first time we had actually seen them, and I can’t describe just how thrilling that was to a 10 year old boy!
Ernst Heimes reading at Sunday's Rottenburger Sommerabend - For some reason Tuesday is not mentioned in the Press reports, but it was a good night - really!
Just got back in after the Rottenburg Sommerabende gig tonight – what a privilege to play for such nice people, in such a lovely location, and for such a nice cause. The people who organise this: Ernst Heimes and Sabine Huber, do a super job, and their interest and enthusiasm is infectious. I arrived a little late – unusual for me, but I thought the gig started at 19:30, and I got there straight from work just after 19:00, thinking I had a little time to prepare – WRONG! I was ushered in, my equipment was carried with me and I was introduced and applauded, and sat at the front with the guest readers all inside 2 mins!
I had drunk too much coffee this afternoon, and despite my jitteriness and dry mouth, and no time for a toilet break before the start, I managed to sing – did a good job I think, and the evening was a success. Afterwards the ‘team’ retired to the Bistro, and a good time was had by all. Can’t wait for the next one!
I will be playing as part of the ‘Rottenburg Sommerabende’ at Haus am Nepomuk, Rottenburg (Directly next door to the Bistro just next to the main footbridge in Rottenburg) on Tuesday 17.08. The festival, if I may call it that, runs from Sunday to Saturday at the same time and place each night, and includes literary readings and some music each night. Strangely, in a naming mix-up, I have been billed as Herr Keightley – Irische Musik. M is delighted. Not quite sure where this mix up of either names or styles came from, but I shall perform Irish music as best I can under the name of Herr Keightley! Admission is free, but they will pass a hat around at the end. Looking forward to it.
Sorry folks, but due to illness I’m afraid tonight’s gig is cancelled. I will be playing again on 22.09.10, when, hopefully, I will be felling better.
I think this will be the last gig before the summer holidays (although there was some talk of a book reading in Rottenburg on 17.08 – more details as soon as I have them) and watching all of this rain has put me in a holiday mood. Specifically a `I need a holiday’ mood!
Hope to see you there!
"Every body needs a summer holiday..."
I just wanted to give an update as it looks like nothing is happening at the moment. Actually, this is not true – quite a lot is happening, but most of it private! I have played a few private parties lately and also had to cancel more gigs than I would like, due to circumstances beyond my control. Fireball are also taking a break at the moment after a few missed gigs.
My next solo gig is at Oscar’s on 04.08, and after that I have nothing until 22.09.
The next Fireball gig is at the new Bräu on 16.10
So, we have a long summer break, and I want to use that time to maybe record a new solo CD, get some new songs together, and work really hard on getting a lot of gigs from September onwards, both for myself and the band.
Look forward to seeing you either at Oscar’s, one of the private parties, or else after the summer break.
Have a good one!
Bad news first – I won’t be playing at Oscar’s on 06.07. Instead I will be watching the world cup semi-final between two of Netherlands, Brazil ,Uruguay or Ghana! My prediction Is Netherlands v. Ghana.
Good News – I will be playing at Marktcafe in Haiterbach on 10.07. This is a new gig for me, so I hope to see lots of people there.
Bit quiet at the moment, hope to have more news soon.
Unfortunately Till, our drummer, is injured, and we will not be playing at the Tridays festival as planned.
We are all really disappointed, and we are sorry if you were planning on coming to see us there.
I will update the pages as soon as we have some more news.
We’re off to Österreich this weekend for the Triumph Tridays Festival. Can’t wait – it promises to be a great gig, and we are really looking forward to it.
Official ‘impressions’ video from last year’s festival is here.
