Hi All,
I thought that I would jot down a kind of diary to detail some of the recent experiences that we have had, auditioning guys to play in a band with us and the ups and downs that we have had
Friday – Mid September
I've arrived in France on the Thursday. Cécile has booked Octavox studio for two hours and this evening we are auditioning a drummer and a bassist. We have got 4 songs together that we intend to perform live but to be honest, I'm a bit rusty. I haven't played live for years so it's like a brand new experience. Plus, although we've written the songs that we are going to perform, I still don't know the lyrics or chords by heart.
The evening is a great buzz and we manage to plough through the 4 songs, albeit with a fair share of mistakes and restarts. The drummer is a great guy although he has not been playing for long and the bassist is more a jazz bassist, although he tells us that he won't be able to do weekends in the winter as he is into winter sports. At the end of the evening, the bassist tells us that the he couldn't really work with the drummer. We have some great songs, etc etc
Tuesday – We're off to an open mic at La Douc'Heure. It's a great little venue, maybe 50 people max and they also do some fabulous food. We're greeted by the host Yanno, who is an Australian blues guitarist who likes to play in his bare feet. I don't realise that he's Australian for a while as we're talking in French until he breaks out into his Aussie drawl. Asks me where I'm from in the UK – Portsmouth – Ah, is that in Wales ?
We're up on stage straight away and do a couple of songs together, just vocs and guitar. We've got a guy who decides to play bass with us but I think he's still learning. A great evening and a first experience of playing live in front of people for yonks.
Saturday – We meet up with a guitarist in Grenoble – He's pretty good and has some ideas. We explain that the live version of the songs is not going to be like the recordings so we need some creativity.
Thursday – We're hired another studio at La Bobine which is a cool music venue that has rehersal studios as well. A drummer lets us down about an hour before so I quickly knock up some drum backing tracks but that's difficult. Despite that, we manage to get through the songs and the guitarist is coming up with some creative stuff
Friday – We're off to Le Touvet as a bassist has offered us the opportunity to practice at his house. His neighbour is a drummer so he's going to join in too. We have a great welcome. The bassist gives me a beer – A neuf – It's only when I'm halfway through the bottle that I realise that it's called neuf as it's 9 percent !!! The bassist has constructed a bar in his garden and has kitted out his garage as a studio. We have a great night although it's difficult to hear everything at times. It was loose at times but a great vibe.
Wednesday – Jam session at Le local – We're going to to two songs. I've written arrangements, with chords and lyrics !!! There is a house bassist and drummer and they join in with us. The reggae number goes down well, but the next more funky number goes a bit ropey once we get into Bb and C#m territory – Ah well !! - Enjoyed it
Friday – We're going to meet the guitarist and another bassist at Michel music. It's a great place, a music shop that has it's own little gig / jam room where all the kit is set up and anybody is welcome to get up and do their stuff. Before I know it, I'm up playing bass to a Gun's and Roses track that I don't know with a crazy young Italian vocalist. Cécile and myself do a couple of tracks, The drummer who joins in is not too shabby at all and we play a cover as well
It's too noisy to hear so we head off somewhere else. The guitarist says that our arrangements are too complicated and wants to do verse/chorus/verse/chorus/ verse/ chorus – Kinda defeats the object and he's persuaded the bass player too. The guitarist's girlfriend orders an Irish coffee at this expensive bar – Oh ! And she's not paying too.
We make a decision and decide that we want to preserve the integrity and arrangements of our songs so we will concentrate on guitar and vocals duet
Friday – We're in Octavox again – Just the two of us. The set is taking shape and yep, practice does make a big difference. It's a different experience playing solo guitar as there is nowhere to hide and you seriously have to get your shit together !!!
Here's a couple of tracks from the rehersal as a duet
More news soon
John & Cécile
