GP Electronics Amplifiers designed and built in Bovey Tracey

27th Jan 2011 at the Picturehouse and the run up to it.

Had a really interesting couple of weeks musically speaking. It all started about 3 weeks ago when I placed an ad on Gumtree for a singer for the new band. I had trie before but to no avail but after getting new material out there, I thought I would give it another shot. Anyhow as it turned out 2 people applied for the job, and I kind of went with the person that applied first. That person was Marina, and before we had even practiced we had already written one song together, and she has given me lyrics for 4 other songs, one of which I have written a riff for.
I had the idea that to see how things go that she would sing a song with me at my acoustic show I had booked for the 27th Jan. Well firstly Niall was available to play so it was already a duo Then we upped it from 1 song to adding the new one as well. We rehearsed it last Sunday, both electric and acoustic and both were really good. I knew from this point that my gut instinct was right (though after the initial rehearsal I offered Marina the job based on the fact she had a good voice and a really good work ethic) even at Sundays rehearsal she had learned all her lyrics.
So then I chatted on facebook with Mike who I have had on the back burner as our drummer, Mike was in a band I really rated called Mummysmack so I knew he was perfect for the job. I suggested that he play at the gig on some kind of hand drum, he was a little uncertain but he agreed anyway, so last Thursday not only did everybody meet for the first time, but we also played a gig.
I did go through the numbers with Mike outside the venue just to make sure everything was ok. Then it was how time.
Rosie Eade was on and shes someone I really rate, she did a set of mostly her own songs, though she did an amazing version of The Whos Behind Blue Eyes.
Until the day of the gig I forgot that I had actually meant to do a solo set as well, so I went through a few old favourites. Martin suggested a few songs to do so the set went.

Fortunes Light
Blue Sky
Jessica
The Widow’s Blame
Broken Dream

All were done with Niall playing electric Slide Guitar.

The it was the Secrets For September Set where we played

To Behold
Upside Down

I made a catastrophic boo boo in that I put the Capo on the wrong fret for Upside down, so we did it a semitone higher than it was meant to be, Niall quickly spotted it and amended accordingly, it didn’t faze Marina at all and she sang in brilliantly.

So all in all a very successful night all round, some even commented that I was also my best solo set that I have played, listening to the tape back, it was by far one of my best its almost like I have now mastered this singing lark!!