So, Spiny Norman are on a mini tour. I say tour, it's 3 gigs in the next two weeks'. And all of them pretty much local so no aeroplanes to Cyprus worse luck.
To yet again borrow something from the world of the Who -Roger Daltrey's solo tour is called, Use it or lose it -I have nicknamed the tour, Lose what? We never had any. Or words to that effect.
Considering we planned at the end of last year to gig more, this has been a pretty quiet year for Spiny. I have noticed a few changes in the guys: Al is shorter and has less hair -no mean feat as he was totally bald anyway- Andy has monkey thumbs from twiddling the knobs on his amp unattended and Egg, love him, looks 40 years older. One good thing to come out of the recent practice sessions at Manic Studios, is that the owner has now cancelled proposed building works due to Egg constantly leaning against the wall and thus correcting a very bad tilt.
We have been joined in the studio by Johnie Monkey Hawkins, lead singer of Funky Monkey, who will be fronting the stage -well, upturned timber pallet really - for a one-off musical marvel in Mountain Ash.
I, of course, am fighting fit and ready to go accept for: a sore neck,aching arms, and a dodgy knee. Oh, and a lack of drumsticks and no time to go and buy some.
Makes for some good shows.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Saturday, August 01, 2009
So what's new?
Just a bit.
Been doing a different job for the last 6 weeks. Who knows, it may turn out to be permanent an i can leave proper work behind.
Bought another new geetar. Pics to follow.
Apart from that Spiny Norman are very, very quiet. It's all because Andy is a very, very busy little s*****r. No details, i'm afraid. Strict instructions not to say anything -not even a hint of it.
D'oh.
News is we are in for a practice session in a month. i think by that time i will have forgotten what Egg looks like and I may mistake him as an intruder.
Alun, Andy and I went to see a Status Quo covers band last night. Pretty average really. That's what has given us renewed hope for Spiny. Although that may have been the atmos getting to us as no doubt, we will struggle to plug the new mixer in, let alone get it sounding proper.
We have an updated web site. http://www.spiny-norman.co.uk
go there, click on my name and you'll get linked back to here. Totally pointless but it's a good way to kill a bit of time.
Been doing a different job for the last 6 weeks. Who knows, it may turn out to be permanent an i can leave proper work behind.
Bought another new geetar. Pics to follow.
Apart from that Spiny Norman are very, very quiet. It's all because Andy is a very, very busy little s*****r. No details, i'm afraid. Strict instructions not to say anything -not even a hint of it.
D'oh.
News is we are in for a practice session in a month. i think by that time i will have forgotten what Egg looks like and I may mistake him as an intruder.
Alun, Andy and I went to see a Status Quo covers band last night. Pretty average really. That's what has given us renewed hope for Spiny. Although that may have been the atmos getting to us as no doubt, we will struggle to plug the new mixer in, let alone get it sounding proper.
We have an updated web site. http://www.spiny-norman.co.uk
go there, click on my name and you'll get linked back to here. Totally pointless but it's a good way to kill a bit of time.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
TA DA
Well, look who's back. Delbut has been away too long. To be honest, not had anything interesting or funny to say and i don't do boring ( matter of opinion, i suppose).
What have i been doing? Absofuckinglutley not much. Like everyone else, i have fallen into the facebook trap and am getting bored of that now.
Still playing with Spiny and about to "sit-in" with another band for a couple of gigs so learning some new stuff, too. Also been learning some guitar stuff with an old mate of mine from another band i used to play in. So, musically busy but in a amatuer type of way.
Was hoping to get back to Cyprus in May but Andy our guitar player is being a poof and spending his money on his shitpit of a car. (Poof? Can't use that anymore, can I? I'm not poofist, some of my best friends...yada,yada,yada. No, seriously, i love you all -although not in a biblical sense)
Well, watch this space -i'll be back in September if true to form.
What have i been doing? Absofuckinglutley not much. Like everyone else, i have fallen into the facebook trap and am getting bored of that now.
Still playing with Spiny and about to "sit-in" with another band for a couple of gigs so learning some new stuff, too. Also been learning some guitar stuff with an old mate of mine from another band i used to play in. So, musically busy but in a amatuer type of way.
Was hoping to get back to Cyprus in May but Andy our guitar player is being a poof and spending his money on his shitpit of a car. (Poof? Can't use that anymore, can I? I'm not poofist, some of my best friends...yada,yada,yada. No, seriously, i love you all -although not in a biblical sense)
Well, watch this space -i'll be back in September if true to form.
Friday, September 05, 2008
Polifuckingticians- A Rant.
Although i have strong political views, I have no political allegiance to any of our parties here in the UK. I tend to agree and disagree with all parties on certain bits of their main policies. They are ALL in it for themselves and what started out as a working for the dirty masses, has turned into a selfish, self-promoting, fuck you jack, free-for-all.
i cant think of one politician who would last 10 minutes in a "proper" job. The amount of fuck-ups by this and past governments are, sadly, too many to list and would be laughable if not so serious in that they fuck up so many people's lives. The latest example of talking before you are fully awake has come from Yvette Cooper, cabinet spokes person for something or other (the treasury, i think) responded to the conservatives' announcement that they would, if they get to power, raise the threshold of Inheritance tax to £1m per person or £2m for a couple. ( currently set by Labour at £1/4M or there abouts) Yvette, I would like to think, in a state of panic (but it probably is down to straightforward idiocy), commented thus:
" It's just a tax break for millionaires". HELLO, you stupid bitch. If you pay no tax on inheritance under £1M; and therefore pay tax on £1M or over, it's a tax ON millionaires. How stupid can one person be? No need to answer that one, i know from experience.
i cant think of one politician who would last 10 minutes in a "proper" job. The amount of fuck-ups by this and past governments are, sadly, too many to list and would be laughable if not so serious in that they fuck up so many people's lives. The latest example of talking before you are fully awake has come from Yvette Cooper, cabinet spokes person for something or other (the treasury, i think) responded to the conservatives' announcement that they would, if they get to power, raise the threshold of Inheritance tax to £1m per person or £2m for a couple. ( currently set by Labour at £1/4M or there abouts) Yvette, I would like to think, in a state of panic (but it probably is down to straightforward idiocy), commented thus:
" It's just a tax break for millionaires". HELLO, you stupid bitch. If you pay no tax on inheritance under £1M; and therefore pay tax on £1M or over, it's a tax ON millionaires. How stupid can one person be? No need to answer that one, i know from experience.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
By popular demand
Ok folks. some of you still come here to read what Delbut is up to. Sue even suggested that i should "make something up like i used to". Sue, everything on here is true and factual. I've never made anything up.
Today's topic is the Olympics. Seems team GB has had one of the most successful Olympics -ever. We are third only to the Chinese and Americans. Yeah, we are beating the Aussies. Whoohoo.
Now the realistic bit. We have won most of our medals either in or on the water or on a push bike. Mmm. Considering we are surrounded by water and have had the wettest summer on record and most of the in-land area consists of very large puddles and, just as importantly, because we have run out of petrol, we are now cycling everywhere, how could we fail?
All other events that rely on: throwing things, lifting things, hand/eye coordination, shooting clay objects, punching people, running around in circles, running a long way, jumping over things in the way, any ball game, dressing up in leotards, bows and arrows -well, everything else really-we are still pretty crap at.
What we need now is another conflict with the French so we can brush up on the archery and shooting skills and maybe ask the Romans, Angles and Vikings to invade us again so we can practice the running away bit. We have got too comfortable in peace time so Delbut's answer is: full-on WAR. I intend standing on a cliff at Dover and showing my naked arse to the French while doodling a beard on to a photograph of Edith Piaf. That should do it.
P.S.
Is it wrong to watch the female swimmers for more than their aquatic ability?
Today's topic is the Olympics. Seems team GB has had one of the most successful Olympics -ever. We are third only to the Chinese and Americans. Yeah, we are beating the Aussies. Whoohoo.
Now the realistic bit. We have won most of our medals either in or on the water or on a push bike. Mmm. Considering we are surrounded by water and have had the wettest summer on record and most of the in-land area consists of very large puddles and, just as importantly, because we have run out of petrol, we are now cycling everywhere, how could we fail?
All other events that rely on: throwing things, lifting things, hand/eye coordination, shooting clay objects, punching people, running around in circles, running a long way, jumping over things in the way, any ball game, dressing up in leotards, bows and arrows -well, everything else really-we are still pretty crap at.
What we need now is another conflict with the French so we can brush up on the archery and shooting skills and maybe ask the Romans, Angles and Vikings to invade us again so we can practice the running away bit. We have got too comfortable in peace time so Delbut's answer is: full-on WAR. I intend standing on a cliff at Dover and showing my naked arse to the French while doodling a beard on to a photograph of Edith Piaf. That should do it.
P.S.
Is it wrong to watch the female swimmers for more than their aquatic ability?
Thursday, June 19, 2008
So, what has been happening in the world of Delbut? Well, apart from making sweet lurve to my new lover (see last post) I have mostly been to Cyprus. Northern Cyprus. Kyrenia, to be exact.
Why? I hear you say.
Because Spiny Norman, top Welsh covers band, was invited out there to take part in the first Big Jam weekend in the Tunnel Rock Bar.
To be honest, Delbut was a little negative about it to start with. (Only because we had to fly out at 10pm and, having to stop in Istanbul, Turkey to re-wind the elastic band that was the engine, before flying on to Ercan airport landing at 5am.) but that soon lifted when we got through customs with guitars in tact and Delbut had his first fag in 7 hours.
Taxi to the hotel was waiting for us and we get there in time for breakfast. A quick kip and off to the tunnel bar at 3pm for a sound check. This is where we started to think we were a little out of our depth. Massive P.A (anything over 600w is huge for us) good equipment, big stage and in a line-up with musicians that know their stuff.
(Spiny and Red Raw conceal the fact that 12 televisions have been thrown into the pool. how childish).
Which brings me to the other bands on the bill. We flew over with a great Scottish band, Red Raw who, to be honest, had an even longer trip to get there than we did, a local blues band whose name escapes me, and resident band. Funky Monkey. Top, top band made up of a Welshman, Scot, Cypriot and Turkish musicians. These guys seriously kick arse and were also the promoters of the event.
First thing we had to do was to sink a couple of lagers, which we begrudgingly did, do the sound check From here on, it got a little surreal, to say the least. Big Al, (bass/vocal) trotted off to do an interview for Cypriot radio. What? Then, during lunch, we were told we had to Turkish TV. interviews. What the fuck?
Apparently, this was a big thing for Northern Cyprus, who have not had too many travelling bands call in. Stupidly, Delbut volunteered along with Egg (guitar) to do it. Even more stupidly, I suggested that to make the most of this one time opportunity, we must elect a word that we had to sneak into the interview. Egg gave me “pineapple”. Never playing this game before, I gave Egg “transit van” and “bread”. Which, on reflection was rather too easy!
(Egg talks bollocks to a t.v man from turkey).
Anyway, apparently, Spiny Norman will be playing at the world-famous Pineapple festival in Birmingham in the summer, and Egg enjoyed breaking bread with some good people and is looking forward to chucking the gear in the back of a transit van and touring the world.
Friday’s gig.
Spiny Norman became the first western band to officially play on Cypriot soil. We were second on and already sunk enough of Jonnie's Tequila to fill a bass drum. But it went well. No, it went spiffingly well.
Red Raw was on next and they were absolutely fab. A great band but better than that, a great bunch of guys.
Ok. With a collective sigh of relief, we then watched Funky Monkey. I’ve seen a lot of covers bands in my time but these guys are a cut above. And gorgeous Anna on guest vocal added a bit of glamour.
(Um, what chord is it?)
Saturday.
Probably got to bed about 4am. I was up at 8am. Ears ringing from last night, I needed food. Eventually, when everyone got up, Spiny and Red Raw were on a mission for an English breakfast. We found Molly’s. The best brekkie ever. It was here that we decided on the plan for the day. Andy (guitar/vocals) and Al had to go do a radio interview. Ok, what word must Andy get in?
To be fair we were democratic about it. Give me a number, says Delbut. 48 says, Al. K, turn to page 48 of yesterdays Times. Number from 1-3. 3, says Al. K. Number from 1 –8. 8. K. Any number up to 20.- 10 he says. Cool. Stamford Bridge. (football stadium). Apparently, we have a secret 5th member of the band. Suffering with snow blindness. Stamford couldn’t be with us on this trip but we wished him all the best.
The gig on Saturday was again great fun. More people there and a great atmos.
(The fab Anna does her Mel C impersonation).
Sunday was a day off and we flew back on Monday.
We have been invited back to play in July at Big Jam 2, which promises to be as good but with even more tequila. Where will all this jet setting end? Apart from the newly-invented Pineapple festival …and a wedding to play?
Why? I hear you say.
Because Spiny Norman, top Welsh covers band, was invited out there to take part in the first Big Jam weekend in the Tunnel Rock Bar.
To be honest, Delbut was a little negative about it to start with. (Only because we had to fly out at 10pm and, having to stop in Istanbul, Turkey to re-wind the elastic band that was the engine, before flying on to Ercan airport landing at 5am.) but that soon lifted when we got through customs with guitars in tact and Delbut had his first fag in 7 hours.
Taxi to the hotel was waiting for us and we get there in time for breakfast. A quick kip and off to the tunnel bar at 3pm for a sound check. This is where we started to think we were a little out of our depth. Massive P.A (anything over 600w is huge for us) good equipment, big stage and in a line-up with musicians that know their stuff.
(Spiny and Red Raw conceal the fact that 12 televisions have been thrown into the pool. how childish).
Which brings me to the other bands on the bill. We flew over with a great Scottish band, Red Raw who, to be honest, had an even longer trip to get there than we did, a local blues band whose name escapes me, and resident band. Funky Monkey. Top, top band made up of a Welshman, Scot, Cypriot and Turkish musicians. These guys seriously kick arse and were also the promoters of the event.
First thing we had to do was to sink a couple of lagers, which we begrudgingly did, do the sound check From here on, it got a little surreal, to say the least. Big Al, (bass/vocal) trotted off to do an interview for Cypriot radio. What? Then, during lunch, we were told we had to Turkish TV. interviews. What the fuck?
Apparently, this was a big thing for Northern Cyprus, who have not had too many travelling bands call in. Stupidly, Delbut volunteered along with Egg (guitar) to do it. Even more stupidly, I suggested that to make the most of this one time opportunity, we must elect a word that we had to sneak into the interview. Egg gave me “pineapple”. Never playing this game before, I gave Egg “transit van” and “bread”. Which, on reflection was rather too easy!
(Egg talks bollocks to a t.v man from turkey).
Anyway, apparently, Spiny Norman will be playing at the world-famous Pineapple festival in Birmingham in the summer, and Egg enjoyed breaking bread with some good people and is looking forward to chucking the gear in the back of a transit van and touring the world.
Friday’s gig.
Spiny Norman became the first western band to officially play on Cypriot soil. We were second on and already sunk enough of Jonnie's Tequila to fill a bass drum. But it went well. No, it went spiffingly well.
Red Raw was on next and they were absolutely fab. A great band but better than that, a great bunch of guys.
Ok. With a collective sigh of relief, we then watched Funky Monkey. I’ve seen a lot of covers bands in my time but these guys are a cut above. And gorgeous Anna on guest vocal added a bit of glamour.
(Um, what chord is it?)
Saturday.
Probably got to bed about 4am. I was up at 8am. Ears ringing from last night, I needed food. Eventually, when everyone got up, Spiny and Red Raw were on a mission for an English breakfast. We found Molly’s. The best brekkie ever. It was here that we decided on the plan for the day. Andy (guitar/vocals) and Al had to go do a radio interview. Ok, what word must Andy get in?
To be fair we were democratic about it. Give me a number, says Delbut. 48 says, Al. K, turn to page 48 of yesterdays Times. Number from 1-3. 3, says Al. K. Number from 1 –8. 8. K. Any number up to 20.- 10 he says. Cool. Stamford Bridge. (football stadium). Apparently, we have a secret 5th member of the band. Suffering with snow blindness. Stamford couldn’t be with us on this trip but we wished him all the best.
The gig on Saturday was again great fun. More people there and a great atmos.
(The fab Anna does her Mel C impersonation).
Sunday was a day off and we flew back on Monday.
We have been invited back to play in July at Big Jam 2, which promises to be as good but with even more tequila. Where will all this jet setting end? Apart from the newly-invented Pineapple festival …and a wedding to play?
Monday, March 24, 2008
My Baby waits in the day for the night...
Ok. So i bought this new geetar. #She is my baby and i love her yeah#.She is not new really -no, someone else has fingered her - but she is mine now. Ok, the pictures are crap -flash wouldn't work -so i'll take some new ones tomorrow. But it's a Gibon J-200 and she is called Mary-Ann.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
