News and Forthcoming Gigs

Blog Update Thursday 1st October 2009
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Regular readers will recall that I keep harping on about how awesome it would be to have a kick arse female power vocalist ( Anastasia ?? )with the ordinary female vocals doing backing only. I had that planned at one time but when suggesting it, the existing singers grew devil horns, got all red eyed and blew me down with fire.........
Trouble was since Patrick left,our vocal line up was so ordinary that without fundamental change the band was doomed. There was no change and the band was indeed doomed. I shut it down.!! I cant stand mediocrity. Folk pay good money and deserve a high standard. Too many bands go through the sub-standard motions and it is a crime. If the line up does not cut it. Change it. Be brave but be honest as well.

All bands that strive to be better than average need to have striking vocals. Vocals that can harmonise is even better and should be mandatory.....

If you want to know what I mean then remember you heard about it here first.....

Her name is Florence Rawlings. She is currently on tour including supporting Tom Jones.
She is 20 and white. She does not sound white. Her voice is kick arse.
Google her and find her new CD.......for all you budding or wannabe vocalists out there, watch, listen and learn. Then go away for lessons and come back gigging as a better singer !!.......
Line up is almost identical to SA. Thats where the similarity stops.

I wished my band had listened all them years ago !!!!

The best bass player ever has to be James Jamerson. He was a Funk Brother. A band of some of the best muscians regularly got together in a cellar in Detroit and made the Mowtown sound.
Just re-watched the DVD and it is just breathtaking. Its called Under the Shadow of Mowtown.

Catch it and listen to Heatwave. This has a shuffle drum beat and a walking bass line that in my view is unsurpassed.
Drummers them days didnt neeed 20-piece kits and double pedals. Just the basics. Start the beat, lock it in and play like a frigging metronome.Jamerson with his old Fender Precision. Single finger hook playing and boy did the bass line sing. None of this modern slapping crap. Thank goodness I was around and still am to enjoy playing at the highest technical pinnacle.

Thats it for now toodle pip !

Thanks for reading
Mike