Supporting Emeralds

It was with great pleasure that I supported Emeralds at the Hare and Hounds on Sunday.

It was my first gig at the Hare and Hounds and the first public performance of my new Mr Underwood material. I was nervous. I had rehearsed a lot, as ever, but due to circumstances beyond my control the vital time I usually spend developing ideas was taken up by other thoughts. Times like in the shower when I suddenly arrive at new ways of doing stuff. I’m always thinking of ideas and approaches, except recently when there has been something else weighing on my mind…

I didn’t let this affect things too much. I was pleased with my performance, I was just in slightly the wrong head-space. It happens. I enjoyed myself though and I’m pleased to say that the people who had made the effort to come and see me seemed really impressed. Thank you if you made it out.

This is the start of a new more subtle side to my live music. I used a lot of new techniques to good effect and I am really enjoying the addition of live percussion to my set. Glatze lives on, but now alongside Mr Underwood.

Kevin, of Phantom Circuit fame, kindly took a few photographs and recordings. Here’s a couple to give you an indication of what I got up to. Onwards and upwards for Mr Underwood!

THANKS to Kevin for the image & recording and THANKS to Ben Waddington for stepping in at the last minute with his list.

Supporting Emeralds

Having spent a while developing my musical self as Glatze, it’s now the turn of Mr.Underwood. Expect something a bit different from my “jump up” Glatze sets. Mr.Underwood is a more considered musician, with a more subtle approach.

I’m pleased to say that he gets his first public outing in support of the fabulous Emeralds at The Hare and Hounds on the 22nd May 2011. More info here. Do come along!

Be my guest

Just a quick post to mention what a rocking good time I had playing a gig at a party to celebrate “40 years of Ben” at the weekend! I had my concerns about my set beforehand but I was in the right mood and the crowd were delightful. Moreover though it was my first gig where I featured other artists as guests and it added so much and relieved some of the pressure on me. First up, Graham Dunning did a fantastic spoken word piece over one of my tunes. He’d not realised that I wanted him to perform that night, so he’d written nothing in preparation. I had mentioned something in a Gil Scott-Heron drawl style might be nice, so he downloaded a Churchill speech on his iPhone and read that out, occasionally adding “The revolution will not be televised”. Inspired! Next up, Jen of Conway and Young fame played some trumpet over a track. She’s not been playing that long but she did a great job. It added so much to an otherwise pretty sparse tune. Finally, as an encore, the birthday boy himself (Ben Waddington) stepped up to the mic and we did an improvised piece based on him speaking in tongues! Bonkers stuff.

Anyway, the conclusion I came to is that collaboration is REALLY good! I have always avoided it in the past for live stuff, as I am a bit of a control freak, but it was great fun and really added a lot. Here’s to more of it!