I'm still here. All going well, but the only thing I have to report, is that my hair is longer.

As you were!

Its announcement time, finally!

Eden are releasing their cd, Open Minds on the 29th June. To launch the CD, we are having a launch gig / party at the Stourbridge Rock Cafe 25th June 2006. We are planning to have a good support band and rock disco as well, to make it a good night.

I've not got all the details as yet, but tickets look like they will be £5 (let me know if you want one / some) or £6.50 on the door.

I'll post more details as I know them, but thats it for now!

I'm quite excited :)

Ok here's my go at the ( music meme )

A lot has already been said by Ian and Rick on seeing Rush at the MEN arena on Sunday.

Now I am a Rush fan - have been for years, but I am not a mindless fanatic who thinks they can do no wrong - they can, and have done. However they have done some wonderful stuff over the years, and there are many tunes of theirs that I would list in my top 10 favourites - and they played pretty much all of them at this 30 year anniversary gig.

Things I liked about the gig:
Well just being there for one, although like Ian, I wasn't overawed by their presence - but they did perform well, certainly.

They played Bravado, Between the Wheels, Mystic Rhythms (more of which later), La Villa, Xanadu, all of which are special moments for me.

Also it was nice to see them having fun - they have always been seen as a really serious band, but they seemed to be loving it - always nice to see.

Things I didn't like:
The person in front of me - I missed quite a few minutes of the gig as he insisted on standing - I eventually asked if he could sit down as I couldn't see - he replied that if he sat down, he couldn't see properly to which I replied - well I can't see anything other than your back if you stand up, so that isn't very fair - he moved eventually.

The sound wasn't great - I gather it was in other parts of the arena, but being sat on the side, we were never going to get the full sound experience. Everything just seemed to be very muddy and I suspect we were hearing more of the Alex Lifeson wet signal than the dry, which was a real shame. Because of this, Mystic Rhythms really suffered for me, as it is a great song, but just didn't sound *right* to me, and that spoilt it, sadly.

All in all I was very happy though - I'm not sure if they will come again, but they certainly proved that you can still make great music even when you are over 50 :)

I came across this and I found it quite interesting. It seems that it is possible to get certain deleted CDs by official means now, at MVC

One CD that is available is Blood From Stone by Dare - a long deleted product that you can generally only pick up on ebay. I'm sure there are others, but can't think of any right now.

I think this is a wonderful advancement, and its not going to be too long before you can download the tracks in a suitable quality for burning, and get the cover artwork *legally*.

from the melodicrock noticeboard ...

"Well, how strange things happen on the back of a conversation. Having seen the Tyketto/JSS clash on Nov 5th, we wondered exactly what to do about it. Anyway, a few phone calls later, a bit of collusion between the Tyketto and JSS camps we have come up with a plan.
Jeff has very graciously agreed to become part of the Tyketto tour for a few nights. Jeff and his band will slot in to the line up for the following shows:

Friday November 5th : Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall
Tyketto
Jeff Scott Soto (full band show )
Deadline
Teer
Booking :www.wolvescivic.co.uk"

and we have a gig that night... :(

Video of his new single is available here also featuring the lovely Mr Schon :)

If you like Toto, or just like reading about a great guitarist - read this interview with Steve Lukather.

Seeing as fleetfootmike has done this I just have to respond with moments that are either perfect, or just send shivers down my spine (sorry I don't have timings available :)


in no particular order ( click here )

I decided to do a large loop on mine, and return home as well ...

See the pictures wot I took. (Note, the page is about 6Mb in total)

Another week, another PU ...

It's not quite got to the point where the Tribeca has a chair with my name on it, but I'm sure they must recognise me by now :)

Last night was the G3 show in Manchester and whilst I wasn't actually going to see it, there were others who were (pontefractmarkmcg Paul McCrone & Chappers).
Seeing as it just wouldn't be right for people to meet up in Manchester without some of the locals attending, ian_myatt rfbooth & myself also decided to meet up with them, and go on for something to eat.

I also picked up a guitar which Mark had kindly brought all the way from Edinburgh, but I will probably write more about that once I have had chance to play it *in anger*, as it were.

After much debate, the local lads decided to go for Chinese (yes, again) at The Great Wall, and as usual the food was excellent, and I probably ate too much :)

A quick drink back at the Tribeca, and it was time to go home, and we actually managed to achieve a whole evening of avoiding the football :)

I did play the guitar for a little while when I got home ...

I was a bit late into work this morning :)

For those of you interested in Mr Jeff Scott Soto, and Mr Neal Schon - their latest project is Soul Sirkus

There are now some quite tasty audio samples on that site, and first impressions are something quite similar to Hardline, but still retaining the typical Jeff vocals.

So there you go.

Oh, and I should say Happy Birthday to ian_myatt :)

For fans of that other musical JSS, a snippet from his new album is available here

Snippets never give the full story, of course, but it sounds pretty good to me (this is the one written with Neal Schon, and features him on guitars, and you can tell (don't get me wrong, I have nothing against howie (HOWIEEEE) I just mean you can tell it is NS playing) :)

How was that nesting brackets :)

Yay, sorted out tickets to see Rush, who have not toured here since 1992. ian_myatt rickbooth paul_c  will be sharing my joy - but sadly I have to wait until september (the 12th to be exact).

Everyone on the Rush forum seemed to be wanting floor seats, but (as I pointed out to Ian) this is not much help to those of us who are vertically challenged, so I was quite glad to get seats in the first tier, but still in the first block from the stage.

Finally I get to see a Rush gig and actually be on the guitarist side !

 

seeing as I really can't think of anything to say (other than having had a great gig on saturday), I'll play the "look where I've been on my holidays" - well actually, I think it includes everywhere I have ever passed through as well :)

( look at where I've been )

An interesting article about the wonderful world on the record industry, as told by Keith Olsen.