Criterion

Strange it was t be playing a Chris & Dan set after so much Govannening this last year. Strange too to be playing in Leicester city centre on a Friday night - and a nice crowd too. We had a few sound problems with a booming wolf note on A. I think we more or less got accimatised to playing this set by about 3/4 of the way thru the gig. We played safe songwise and didnlt roll anything fancy or new out - tho I did try Finally on keys which I can;t decide whether it worked or not.

Earlier in the day I got a couple of germs of songs bubbling to the surface of my brain. Looking for lyrics now ...

Was totally chuffed to get a short email reply from world music hero of mine Jai Uttal
He has a new album out after a long while.

I got Buffy Sainte-Marie's new album Running For The Drum. Great to hear ew music from her - there are a few production frustrations tho.
1. programing - 3 uptempo techno numbers are tracks 1,2,3 - then all kind of styles follow. I;da spread them out.
2. her voice is mixed a bit high, making band sound weedy and seperate. Also her voice has been put thru one of those supposedly warming compressors - sounds like she;s singing ont he other side of a piece of greaseproof paper. Pal Neil had one of these for a while - we loved it for a fortnight - then we all hated it. 
3. drums, real and electronic, production poor - electric guitar sounds are flay and not gorgeous - I sense producer was "going for a sound" - in the end some tracks sound like demos.

However there is some good stuff on it and she is obviously having fun doing a jazz/blues, an Elvis band soundalike, and a blues/rock with Taj Mahal. Nowhere near as good as Coincidence & Likely Stories but that would be hard to do - perhaps with the same producer comparisons are inevitable and unfortunate.

Jessica & Dave's Wedding

Bit of a shock to the system after last night's Criterion gig to wake up early the next day having swapped kit over to jazz kit and head off to Cambridge for plaid_dragon  and losthismarbles wedding. First to the church - beautiful service with nice light address on a theme of board games by their friend Paul. plaid_dragon looked stunning and they looked such a happy couple.
Then I left drinks & nibbles to drive the 20miles to the reception where I set up piano & PA i the garden of the conference centre. Had heartstopping moment when I thought the amp wasn't working - sorted it. Nice to have about 12 filker friends there so I chatted while I played piano for a coupla hours. Then time to pack up and nice dinner round, sat next to bardling  and the table of filker chums. Ate & chatted til 9ish then headed for home where I watched a great Voyager to unwind. Was one sleepy boy...

chillin & chores today