Sat 17th March 2007

Got to get back into this blogging lark. Though I really don't know who reads this rubbish, but I suppose it looks like I'm 'bovverd'. Which I am of course. It's just the age old problem of time, never enough, or too much; at the moment it's never enough.
For anyone who does read this, it's all going quite well. I'm getting a few gigs coming in, which is nice. Played a blinder the other night at The Oval Tavern in Croydon. Great venue, great people, hope to get another one there. All the new gigs should be up on the site soon. I also want to revamp the site somewhat, some additions and omissions, new pics, songs etc... I'm so glad there's some video footage of me doing what I currently do up there. I'm very proud of my past, but that was then and this is now, there's some more stuff if you go to the Youtube site, in case you didn't know.
So, more blogging, great gigs and a revamped site are all the menu for the to distant future. Also, my wife and I are expecting our 2nd kiddy in April, so all good positive stuff. Not to mention that I'm itching to record my next album, it's practically all ready and waiting. Watch this space. Got a few side projects going on as well, that sound very interesting, will let you know as and when things develop.
It's not War and Peace I know, but it's a start. I'll try and get back into the habit of blogging the gigs again, it's just that... no more excuses.
Bye for now

Kris

6th Jan 07

It's always a struggle this time of year, though the worst is over. I can't really win with the Xmas thing: I dread it approaching, and I'm sad when it's over. I think there's something to be said for the 'sad' syndrome. It does make sense; cold, rain, grey, darkness. I actually enjoy it in autumn when the leaves start to turn, the days get shorter and the night closes in earlier and earlier. Though I think it's the change that I'm embracing, and also going back to something you haven't experienced for a while, something familiar. By the time Xmas arrives we're in the thick of it, and I've had enough. I want to feel the sun on my face, and wear t-shirts out and moan about how hot it is, and long for the winter. As I said, I can't bloody win.
Contrary of how this blog might read, I am in quite a good mood; full of hope and expectation for the New Year. It usually does start to lift around this time, it helps that almost everyone else is feeling the same. Of course it doesn't last, I don't mean to be cynical, but it doesn't. But, hopefully it'll be enough to see me through to next year.
As I said, I'm really quite positive about the year ahead. I'm looking forward to recording a new album, as much as I love, and so proud of 02/01/1978, I can't wait to get working the next one. I've got the songs, though I chop and change them all the time, and I've got a wealth of ideas. Hopefully Jim and Stuart will be up for it again - bring it on!
I downloaded the album by Seasick Steve - Doghouse Music. It blew me away. I heard him on Andy Kershaws radio show, and on the Late Junction. Unfortunately I missed him on Jools Holland, but I heard he was amazing. It's just totally what I want to hear: filthy neanderthal blues, check it out.
Looking forward to the gigs too. The Nags Head has been rescheduled for the Sat 20th Jan by the way. Really excited about the CD coming out on Cargo, it's such a relief knowing that people will be able to buy it shops. Not everyone is converted to buying online - yet, but that's another moan for another blog.
All the best for the New Year.

Kris

Sun 26th Nov

Apologies for lack of blogging, no real excuses, though I was laid up with quite a severe bout of flu for most of last week. I did have the intention of blogging each and every gig, but I don't think that's gonna happen. The gigs have been going great by the way, though most have been marred in some way by a persistent cold that culminated in the above mentioned flu. All better now though - I hope.
Starting to look forward to Xmas, I've always been a bit of a 'bah humbug' about Yuletide season, but as my little girl, Rosie, gets older (she's 3 in May) it just gets better and better. More expensive admittedly, but... whatyougonnado!
I took her to see Jake and Bella from The Tweenies the other day, they were making a guest appearance at the local shopping center. It's just amazing how much these characters mean to kids, they were all in absolute awe. She met Santa for the first time today too, again overwhelmed with awe and fascination... Rosie was impressed too. ; )
I sometimes feel a bit uncomfortable, knowing that we're blatantly lying to our daughter. I'm sure it's an age old debate about whether to encourage children to believe in things that don't exist. I wonder if it's a purely selfish act of the parents, because it is such a wonderful feeling, and a sight to behold to see your childs (or any child) face when they meet Santa or The Tweenies.
What load of old bollocks! It's a typical trait of mine to start analyzing anything that stirs an emotion. Father Xmas is real, The Tweenies and Bob The Builder too, they are to my Rosie and millions of other kids as well - you try telling them different! It's a shame they have to grow out of it, stop believing; but we have to have to grow up I suppose, we're almost forced to. I personally would rather not, some bits are alright. Take the good bits. The rest of the time I think I'd rather live life as a Rubber Dubber.
I started this blog with an apology, but I'm not gonna end with one, I almost did, but NO!
Free the child inside you. ( I am taking the piss... sort of).
I'll talk about the music next time.

Seeya

The Cockroach Club, Peterborough Sat 4th Nov

Courtesy of The Surgens, The Cockroach Club, Peterborough. The same Surgens who have a 4 star review of their album in this months Mojo. A very cool club indeed, situated in the hull of an old barge moored on the river nene.
I don't really know a lot about Peterborough, I actually know more about the Surgens. I now know more about The Nightingales than I do about Peterborough. The Nightingales being the headline band whom I was supporting. The name of the band rang distant bells when I heard I was supporting them, but I couldn't claim to know anything about them - I do now!
Sat 4th was a fantastic night at The Cockroach, a night where you wouldn't want to be anywhere else, for me and a handful others anyway; for some they would rather be anywhere else, and made a swift exit to get there.
I started my set, as usual, with Soul Of A Man. From the very first chord I struck, I knew it was gonna be a good one. Even though I hadn't soundchecked, I was using a borrowed amp, and it wasn't my usual p.a. system. Everything was in it's rightful place - it was a full moon, the stars were aligned and the mojo was out and about in full force working it's magic on musician and spectator alike.
I played for about half hour, but I could've played all night. It was one of those gigs where you could do no wrong. No matter what I played, whether it was technically the right note or not, in tune or not, in time or not - it was always going to be right.
The plan, before hand, was: do my set, watch a few numbers by The Nightingales, then bugger off home. But, The Nightingales completely enthralled me, so we stuck around and ended up watching their whole set. Rob, the singer, is one of the scariest human beings I've ever seen front a band. It's the typical thing, I was talking to him before the gig, and I wouldn't have had a clue he was gonna perform like that. On stage he's the sort of bloke you'd avoid like the plague at a party or something, 'cause he just has a volatile air about him, like he could go off any second - a beefy, 6 ft, pissed up bloke with cropped hair dancing like your dad. Truly entertaining.
The best moment of the night though was when he was trying to get people to clap along, there was a few takers but not many, so he gave some bloke a fiver to join in. You had to be there, it was funny, believe me.
So, I still don't know much about Peterborough, Pete's Dad lost £200 there during the war; Steve Butler, and ex Gills striker, played for Peterborough United and there's a great club there called the Cockroach - and The Surgens are from there, who have a 4 star review in this months Mojo, as do The Nightingales. Bastards!

Bonanza at The Mucky Pup - Fri 27th Oct

The Mucky Pup isn't a pub you'd casually stumble upon, you'd kinda have to know it was there. Tucked into the backstreets of Islington, you would definitely want to return, once discovered; especially on a Bonanza night, Martyn (Myers, Mr Bonanza), plays some great records.
There was a bit of a scare when I first got there; the landlord showed me where he wanted me to play, and it was literally in a doorway. The DJ gear would've have to been moved, before and after I played, it would've been a complete nightmare. So, he showed me an alternative, through the mentioned doorway into the pool room. Move the pool table, a few of the punters and... Hey presto! I have a place to play. It wasn't as nice as the intended room, but I had plenty of space to set up and do my thing.
I was due to play at about 9.30, after Martyn spun Tony Joe Whites' Polk Salad Annie. I started with what seems to be a regular opener lately: Blind Willie Johnsons' Soul Of A Man, then swiftly into my own The Enemy, and onwards and upwards from there. It was a great gig. I would have to say it's up there with one of my best. Loads of people turned up, who said there they were gonna turn up, which is always nice; and I think I made some new friends too. I can't ask for more than that.
Thanks to all my mates who did make the effort to get along, it really is appreciated; and thanks also to all those who I didn't know for getting into my music. Hope to see you again.

Cheers

Kris

Resonance 104.4FM - Sun 22nd Oct

My first live radio session as a solo artist. I've done live radio a ton of times with other bands or artists, but it's a bit different when you're on your own. Previously I would just skulk around in the background, trying to avoid getting spoken to by the presenter. The actual playing 'live' has never really bothered me, it's the being spoken to that I've never been that comfortable with. It went well though, I thought.
I didn't realize quite how nervous I was, until I actually came to play. It felt like my fingers wouldn't work properly. I soon settled into it though, Martyn (the presenter) was a great help, being so laid back and making you feel at home. I really, really enjoyed, could played all afternoon.
I thought the whole show was brilliant, he played some great records; some I've heard before, an others that I never heard. There was one by Johnny Cash about building the railroad or something, just him speaking and all these noises in the background, it sounded fantastic, never heard that one before.
Really looking forward to playing The Mucky Pup, which is one Martyns Bonanza nights (check out the link in the news section). It's free to get in so if anyone can make it down, it's gonna be a good night I think.
It all seems to be going well. Peter and I had a great day on Friday, two fantastic bits of news: I've now got a full time agent, to hopefully get me better gigs and good supports; and Cargo Records have said they'll distribute my CD in the UK and Europe. We was totally over the moon, as they were both our preferred choices for agent and distributor. This will all be in the news page at some point, but I thought I'd mention it here first. It's all looking good though.
Enough for now, hopefully see you at The Mucky Pup.

Cheers

Kris

Smugglers, Hastings - Sun 8th Oct 2006

I do love to be beside the seaside. I got there way to early, as I've never played this venue before, and wanted to give myself time in case of traffic, finding the venue etc... But I had a straight run down there, found it right away.
So I thought I'd park up and take in a bit that sea air, and lovely it was to. I quite like Hastings, it's got a bit of a bad rep over the years, but there's a certain vibe to it. There's some fantastic old architecture along the sea front, and elsewhere in the 'Old Town' - really quite stunning.
So to the gig. I took my time setting up, and sound checked everything - twice. When it was time to go on, I felt pretty confident that it was all gonna sound good and I'd hit 'em hard with Blind Willie Johnsons' Soul Of A Man. The first strike of the chord and there's a howl of feedback. 'kin nightmare, it completely throws you when something goes wrong on the first song, or any song for that matter.
So I was twisting and turning, fiddling and fumbling trying to sort the sound out, which I eventually did. I don't know what happened, it just does sometimes. It's probably that I play a lot harder and louder when it comes to the real thing than I do in soundcheck.
It went on to be a right rockin' gig. I said before in my previous blog, that all I can ask for is for people to listen and appreciate what I do. A step up from that is for people to dance and have a good time to my music - and at Smugglers on Sunday they danced all night long. That's what Blues music should be about; it shouldn't be analyzed and dissected to figure out how, what and why so and so done this or that, it should be absorbed and enjoyed - and danced to.
I'm as guilty as any other Blues fan for getting to anal about stuff sometimes, so it's nice to be reminded about what it's really all about.
Thanks Smugglers for a great night, hope to see you again soon.

Kris