Ssssshhhhhhh....

.....here's a sneak preview of the Voodoo Trombone Quartet's third album.

Click here for the perfect summer track on this oddly summery day.

Enjoy.

x

Princess Limiter - A Ska Wars Adventure

In my quest to become the most sought after Tenor Sax ska dep in the country, I did my first dep gig with Ska Wars this weekend. A good bunch of mostly Northern lads, the set included such standards as Fatty Fatty, Nightboat to Cairo and Baggy Trousers, as well as the rarer Shame and Scandal. In another life (dressed as the undead) I gigged with their guitarist in the Texas Chainsaw Orchestra, but now it was out with the camp and on with the ska.

The crowd loved it, the venue did not. It seems we'd triggered a rather over zealous limiter before we'd even finished soundchecking, and by the end of 'Little Bitch' something had to give. We finished the gig with no brass mics, kick mic, or even monitors. Amps on 0.11 rather than 11, and only vox and keys through the front. Not ideal, having to hold back like that, but the audience enjoyed it, and no one had a hernia. No harm done.

I'll be depping with them again at The Nook in Holmfirth, on 29th October 2011. This is apparently a legendary Halloween gig, and it looks like I'll be dressed as the undead once again. Funny how things come back around.

All good things...

...must come to an end. And that time has come.

I've made the decision to leave Popes of Chillitown. PoC have big things ahead in the next year, touring with the new album and getting out there, and will need more time from me than I've got to give. Some of you know, myself and PoC have been in a long distance relationship for the past two years, and in end all the travelling and expense take their toll.

Like all bands, there have been ups and downs.  A 6 hour round trip for a 45 minute set, wandering through Brighton on Easter Bank Holiday in the snow looking for a Djembe, swatting wasps on an outdoor stage with whatever instrument you happened to be holding, and seeing an inane grin appear on the faces of young and old when the chorus to Bad Man gets going. Good and bad times, but that's banding for you. And I'll miss it. And them.

I'll be gigging with PoC for a few more weeks, and my last gig will be at Ginglik on 21st October, supporting Dub Pistols. It will be massive and you should all be there for the last hurrah. The album recording will carry on unabated, as we started it together, and we'll bloody well finish it together too. I'm so very proud of the songs we've made and the album will be an amazing legacy.

Musically I feel like I'm heading in a new direction, and ready for change, so it's slightly scary but exciting times ahead.