Last night at the CUC

Last night, I had the good fortune to be playing at the CUC for the last of the AfterworkBeforedark sessions. I turned up at 6 and I didn't know what was going on. Lucy Styles (the evening's hostess and a brilliant musician in her own right etc etc) rang me to explain that she was sorry but it wasn't on. Then someone there, who I've now found out is called Chris (a great man of many virtues) explained that it was on.

I never write down setlists. This is a gigantic flaw. All musicians everywhere should write setlists. This avoids looking around blankly wondering what you're going to play next. I think it went something like this though.

1. I Won't Tell Your Daddy (new song)
2. Where Are We Going To
3. Give of Yourself
4. Just Don't Worry 
5. Crash Into Me (Dave Matthews cover)
6. Holly
7. Cannonball (Damien Rice cover)
8. Hold Me

I think it was these songs. I really can't be entirely sure. I know I enjoyed myself. Did you? Who knows.

Met some terrific musicians; Kaya was spectacular, also brilliant were Laura James and the Lyres. The Pigeonettes were great as well.

Charley Blue plays as part of Laura James and the Lyres as a violinist. Her music is really good. She's very very strange but very good.

New batch of songs coming together and gig tonight at 11pm

On my soundcloud page, I have been uploading stuff I've been recording on little home-set up. I seem to be getting slowly and surely better at the production side of things which is freeing up the creative side. When I went to see Jon Astley I remember how clean his working space was, there is probably something in that.

All good songs start with the sound of a vacuum cleaner in your ears. After that, it's all down to effort I suppose.

Gig at Bumper festival thingie ding ding tonight around 11pm I think. Hopefully fun stuff.

This short little piece of folk-pop is something I'm pretty happy with:

http://soundcloud.com/thom-morecroft/sexy-shade-of-sunburn

It's about busking...kindof...

Recent recordings

http://soundcloud.com/thom-morecroft/tasting-caroline

http://soundcloud.com/thom-morecroft/something-i-cant-see

Songs written today

http://soundcloud.com/you/tracks

1. Geterdonbirdinand http://soundcloud.com/thom-morecroft/geterdonbirdinan
2. Run http://soundcloud.com/thom-morecroft/run
3. Apologies Avaughan http://soundcloud.com/thom-morecroft/apologies-avaughan
4. Medicine Lady (Morgs Says Meow) http://soundcloud.com/thom-morecroft/medicine-lady-morgs-says-meow
5. All Gone Avenue http://soundcloud.com/thom-morecroft/all-gone-avenue
6. Pasta Song http://soundcloud.com/thom-morecroft/pasta-song-you-made-me-write
7. The Lazy Eye http://soundcloud.com/thom-morecroft/the-lazy-eye
8. I Am A Tiny Man http://soundcloud.com/thom-morecroft/i-am-a-tiny-man

Friday 22nd April 2011

Dear Captain's Beef
Got two gigs coming up this weekend - must pace myself tomorrow. Salopian Bar from 8.30 Saturday, and the Coach and Horses in Market Drayton from about 6.00pm as well.

Learnt 'Homeward Bound' by Simon and Garfunkel today, very keen to play this one live.

Good show!

Monday April 18th 2011

Friday night - pleasant pub gig at the OPO. Played from 8.45 till 10.45, Ben Hughes plays from then until 11.15 and then I suppose I carried on until 12.00 after that.

Ben Hughes, who I met on the day, plays very chilled-out blues on his one-some. Good fella; met him through Matthew Galliers.

Nice that Chris Wright was working on the bar - can't believe it was a year ago last Friday that his youngest was born.

Did a little mini-set for James Mitchell, Sacha Molin and Connor Grady when I arrived, was noice.

Best to thank Sam Morecroft, Sarah Marshall, Lindsay Mitchell, Kevin Duffy, Nick Whitehurst, Ryoko Whitehurst, Hamish McKeown, Fergus McKeown, Jake Scott, Matt Galliers, Ben Hughes, Andy Bullough, Liz Andre, John Goodall, Connor Grady, Sacha Molin, James Mitchell, Dan Puckey, Mark Puckey, Jade Colley, Tracey Colley, Joey Colley, Katherine Hannaford, Francesca Fletcher, Cal Brockel, George Sambrook, Grant Widdowson, Steph Hunt, Bill Torgeson, Matt Wright, Miles Shepherd, Sarah Sinead Dodd, woman from Newport, her husband, Pete Kilby, Laura Jebb, Ellen Jones, Lucy Balcombe, Joe Allan, Tom Davies, Tony B, Dave Stevens, Tom Wyatt, Matt Clough, Jack Martain, Anley Baker, Emma Price and Jess Reid. I'm sure that's everybody.

Apologies to Catherine Mackworth and her friends, obviously...

Having been to a cracking open mic the night before, my voice was definitely a bit tired by Saturday morning...hopefully it should be fine for the gig at the Salopian on Saturday and the gig the day after at the Coach and Horses in Market Drayton.

Today, I might attempt to use my home recording setup again....

gig tomorrow...

Spent yesterday trying to work out how to use recording equipment - everything still keeps skipping, which is very frustrating. Supposed to be playing the closed mic night at the Salopian tonight but feel a bit knackered due to a Shrewsbury visitation yesterday. Would be nice to to be able to record tomorrow's gig, shame I can't. Must pick up a jacklead tomorrow though.

Monday April 11th 2011

Dear Captain's Blog,
Today I made a blog which I could use as a personal diary of all musical events. I thought this might be a giggle, given that unlike the diaries I have kept in the past, this is not prone to suddenly disappearing under the floorboards. In this, I will write up every gig, song, recording etc. I'm not a moron so I won't write up personal anecdotes or political grievances.

Signing off
Thom