22 May 2014

Billy Bragg On Steroids

"Billy Bragg on steroids!!" - Yes, that is what I was called at this weekends gig in Folkestone. I have no idea where the bloke got that from but that is how he chose to describe me to the guitarist of Surgery Without Research. I must admit I am quite amused by it (Thank You Terry).
The gig itself was a bit of a nervous one even tho I know all the people in the bands and half the audience, I was on second, after the wonderful Deanos Hose and their psychadelic experience. I had, up til now, gone on first and was just getting used to that and as I had done gigs before I shouldn't be nervous. Even so, this kind of gig was still new to me and I am still learning but I had done this before so it was easy, wasn't it?
I went on a bit over confident and the nerves showed straight after the intro to the first song when I completetly forgot the words and had to start again - first bloody song, I was a bit annoyed with myself. I re-started and things went a lot better, I even managed to do a very rough version of a new song called "When The Tea Runs Out" which although I struggled a bit with it, went down very well. It will go in the set but needs working on so maybe not for a couple of gigs, a quick check on the time and I did one more, bloody hell my half hour went quickly. I got called back for an encore so maybe it wasn't as bad as I first thought.

Set List:
1. You're A Terrorist
2. Still Called Scum
3. R.I.P (Riot In Progress)
4. Go Back To Sleep
5. Race To The Bottom
6. When The Tea Runs Out
7. Generation iDiot
8. Pissing In The Wind (encore)

I wanted to do Question Authority as well but I still hadn't learnt the words and didn't really have time so ditched it. I actually enjoyed the gig even tho it was probably the hardest one to do yet. I must have enjoyed it as I was buzzing about it in the morning so much that I even managed to write a new song and wanted to try out a new (to me) way of mixing the guitars. I recorded it on the Tuesday night, mixed it and uploaded it on Wednesday. I was way pleased with how the guitar had come out and will have to try mixing like that again. Its still a bit rough but here ya go, have a listen. Personally I think the mixing is better on this track than previously. I'm still very much a learner on both the guitar and a DAW but am enjoying the journey and the different ways of doing things, so no doubt there will be fuck ups along the way as well as moments of almost genius - I am looking forward to both.
After I had uploaded this someone else  tried to describe it as "Hardcore Acoustic - If there is such a thang" - we shall see.



Please feel free to download this or any other track from the soundcloud page. If you use this in a radio show or podcast - please credit me and and let me know - Thanks Russ Crimewave.