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

Oranges Bar Cafe Ashford, Kent 5th Oct 2006

The drive down was awful. Heavy rain on a busy M20 in the dark. Horrible. Anyway, got there safe and sound, even if I did drive round the one way system three times.
It was a good gig, made better by the fact that my old bandmate Chris Coyne came down to see me. Some of you may know that Chris is the brother of Peter Coyne, my manager. We were all in The Godfathers together many years ago.
It was a really good night, the sound was good and the audience listened and appreciated my music. That's all I can ask for. some of the clubs/pubs I play they just want to bend as many lagers in as possible and ask me if I can play Angels by Robbie Williams. No I can't play fucking Angels by Robbie Williams, I say... thinking to myself. Well Oranges isn't like that, Stuart (the landlord) lets me get on with it and do my thing.
Thanks to everyone who came to see me, and special thanks to Eddie and Remy for making the trip down, and of course to Peter and Chris.

Cheers

Kris

ps. the drive back was a lot better.