Blimey!! Where on earth did 2004 go?? So much life packed into the blink of an eye. With Christmas and the 4th Blockheads Xmas Bash looming fast. The first gig of the month was a new venue in Colchester at the Old King Cole on Ipswich road. The initial thought was eermm, this place isn't really set up for having much entertainment here. There seemed to be only one double wall socket for all our p.a. etc!! This caused technical problems and the crowd, no sorry, wrong word; 'mêlée' of people that were there, didn't seem too fussed if they had a band, a kiddies crèche or a stripper there at all!
We finished the evening............just. Say no more.
The next night was at The Kings Head at Tollesbury. Always a great evening there. The pub is small but such a welcoming bunch of friends and a fantastic atmosphere always helps the night go with a bang. Hope to see all you guys soon again.
Saturday 11th saw us back at The Aldeburgh Railway. Another good night, the usual locals and some fresh faces clambered in from the cold.
The following Friday we were back at the Brewers Arms in Colchester. We have a God given gift of being able to fit ourselves into these tiny places. Me thinks I'm going to have to get some miniature drums so that I can at least move in some of these nooks and crannies that the rest of the band seem to sqidge me into!! Still, that's the fun of rock 'n' roll! (Lord, give me Wembley stage to play on.....)
Being in the middle of town, The Brewers lends itself to all kinds of unwanted 'persons'. Just as the second set was under way, there seemed to be a tussle brewing, (maybe that's why they call it the Brewers!) With a bit of shoving and pushing from one or two certain people, it was evident that the bouncer had to intervene. Some of the girls on the dance floor were just minding their own business and having a good time, and this all got spoilt through some silly act that should have been sorted outside. The dreaded 'falling down water' hey?
After a good nights sleep and a shave, saw us back (which seemed to be within minutes of the night before!) at The Arts Centre!! Wahay!! The fourth Blockheads Christmas bash in a row. We all really enjoy it. It seems to be becoming a yearly ritual. It's also nice to play a proper stage with proper sound techs and guys, and to a full house. We excelled on selling merchandise this time, thanks to my best friend Graham and his great girlfriend Georgie; fantastic job peeps, hope you enjoyed it, and thank you.
Darren performed at his best that evening. We were all quite relieved I can tell you. No disrespect, but we had Jason fronting for the past three years which we and everyone were used to. So this was a test for all concerned. Yet again, we went down a storm. Thank you to all who were there and showed your appreciation. Hopefully we will see everyone again this year for another Christmas party gig. Needless to say, The Blockheads were superb as usual. They always play a good balanced, awesome sounding, energetic gig. Wonderful to be back with you again.
That saw the end of the December gigs. It was a good end to the year for us after all the Christmas shopping, wondering what the hell to buy everybody, aching feet, tired legs, aching backs, loads of bags and getting long arms through the weight etc etc etc!!!!! Personally, I had a good, relaxing time off. A weeks rest with lots of food and drink and crappy xmas telly. If that's entertainment, then I think micky mouse should run the TV. networks!
It was also nice to be able to sit back and have the time to reminisce over the last five years of being with the band and how we've all put such hard work into it. We had our ups and downs, which is only natural. But with Jason leaving, it's like the end of an era. The main thing is, we are still together as a band and going places. The 2004 T.T. was a fantastic time for us again, with the gig at Bushy's Beer Tent on Mad Sunday being the most exciting and always one of the best highlights that the band has ever achieved. With the 2005 T.T. looming up in six months time, we've got our work cut out for us.
Another thing to say that is positive about 2004, is that my girlfriend, Andi, has up to now, won her fight against the dreaded cancer. The time spent on Isle of Man was a great healing period for her. It helped to send her well on the road to recovery. We now will be able to have more time to go out on the motorbikes together, which we both enjoy humungously. I know, when I say, that I wish continued good health to the rest of the bands 'offspring', I say it for everyone who knows us. Lets hope that 2005 has a little better good fortune for all of us.
It's just left for me to say to all of you out there, who have come to see us in the past year; to all our friends, families, pet dogs, cats, rabbits and the rest..........HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2004 musical hi-lights;
Duncan Velvet Revolver
Mark Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Steve Steve Vai
Be Happy, Be Safe, Keep Rockin'
the Old Git
Oooohh, here we go. Lots of things to do and Christmas looming.
But first, my Birthday. The Eastbourne clan came up to celebrate with me, and took Andi and I to the Red Lion in town. Erm, hallo. A wedding reception in the function room and only one waitress on a Saturday night? We were a party of eight in the next room and the poor waitress was run ragged. At least the food was better than the George. Strange, the two 'top' hotels in Colchester, and neither can organise a simple Birthday meal!!
Looking forward to the Weatherden Maypole for the first November gig. Unfortunately, Simone had her entertainment budget revoked. So no more gigs there. This could be only temporary, but I wonder if this is yet another pub destined to become a plot of posh houses?? Shame, good setup and sound.
One venue that's still going strong is the North Street Tavern in Sudbury. I've said it all before. A great gig in a great venue with a great crowd. If you've never been, catch us there some time.
It's been over a year since we've played Bury Grapes. Been itching to get back there. What a night it turned out to be; it was packed, friendly and obviously up for a party. The first set was energetic, but the second set saw a 'mosh pit', almost to Bushy's standards!! Yeh, what a crowd, thanks to all you mad folk. Someone knows how to enjoy themselves! Be back soon.
On the journey home from Bury, we visited our favourite food stop, a garage on the A14, to see Uncle Albert. Have been meaning, for ages, to mention Uncle Albert (he really looks like the 'Uncle' from Fools and Horses). We always visit him on the way home from Bury, and to be honest, we must be his worst nightmare! He will only serve through the night-hatch, and only fetch one item at a time. So we feel a need to help him with his ten thousand paces by ordering everything we can. It's funny watching someone put a bunch of flowers through a serving hatch!!! And Mark cannot resist asking for the latest copy of Pregnant Asian Babes Take It Up The Bum! Poor Uncle Albert, we like you really.
Now to the sad part. I've lost me battle. My 'gigging trainers' are well and truly redundant. (So they think!) On a Christmas shopping trip I was forced at gun point by Andi, to buy some new ones. Boo. I think it was a case of saying yes or having something important surgically removed with a rusty razorblade. I said yes, quickly! I am thinking of putting the old ones up for sale on EBay; any offers?
As far Dunc and Mark, life has all been family, band and work. And no juicy gossip to report in that direction.
Listening and watching;
haven't had the time!
Be Happy, Be Safe, Keep Rockin'
the Old Git
Well, now that the champagne and Guinness has more then whetted baby's head, it's back to sober land and getting ready for the Cowdray gig. It really has been hard work, both mentally and physically, working with several singers at once. If you see us live and someone has a total breakdown during 20th Century Boy - then be understanding!!! How many times can anyone play that in one week and retain their sanity......
So, straight in with gigs. The month kicked off at the Brewers Arms with a fine start, although the welcoming pool of vomit over the doorstep on our arrival wasn't quite the red carpet we would have liked. Still, after a few buckets of soapy water it was our time to get the 'quart into a pint pot'. No cat swinging room at the Brewers but it does lend itself to a good atmosphere. The next night we travelled to Bury, and the Priors Inn - good to see Geordie the landlord as we had not been there for a little while. The Priors is a very big pub so can quite often seem sparsely attended, although it actually has a good crowd there. This time even MORE people. A few car loads of fans popped up the road from Sudbury to see us - brilliant - and we found the time for a chat with them - which was nice. During the 1st set the Thunderbird 1 girlies ( see TT2004 review) arrived proudly sporting new t-shirts ( and not our merchandise, I might add !!). "IF YOUR LOADED - I'M SINGLE" in bright pink glittery writing......HMMM what can you say to that???? Bless 'em. They can both redefine the word 'shopaholic'.
The next couple of weeks were hard rehearsals again, and also a lot of deep thought. We have achieved so much in the last few years through bloody hard work that there was an underlying fear that the wheel was about to fall off the wagon - and there's no way we were going to let that happen. So the next gig was the self-promoted Cowdray Arms to give Darren a run out. It was really well attended and the band were so pleased to see how many people had made the effort. Cheers - all of you. All things considering, it went really well. Change is always something that is hard to deal with, and regular followers were maybe more reserved in their opinions than those who see us only occasionally. Overall though the crowd gave us a thumbs up - and Loaded certainly gave Darren the thumbs up. A 20 song set in 9hours rehearsal - now that's dedication. Jason came on for a song, (he was there to lend moral support, cheers mate) and received rapturous applause. He is certainly loved by many.
The end of the month saw a return to the Needhan Swan in Suffolk. We took Darren along to this one also. It normally seems quite empty in there, the dance floor being so long and the bar around the corner, but it soon filled up. With some good (and slightly intoxicated) dancing, the evening turned out to be a great one. The usual shouts of 'more' after time. Sometimes its a shame we can't keep going for another hour or so! Look forward to seeing you all again in the future.
Just after that, Jason and Mark clocked up another candle each on their Birthday cakes. Soon, they'll be catching me up 'cos I'm going backwards!! Ha, 21 again.....?!!
During October, Mark launched the message board on the LOaDeD website. There's a good few people using it but please, don't be shy. We want you all to have some input. Place your comments in there, whether good, bad or indifferent. We can take it!
LOaDeD - listening to new singers , watching the days fly by....
Be Happy, Be Safe, Keep Rockin'
the Old Git
I think the first announcement to make is the safe arrival of a little lad called Joe - yup Jason now firmly in the land of dark shadows under the eyes, chapped hands and involuntary yawning......it's called new baby time. From all your band mates and families - CONGRATULATIONS. And some news for me from Bec'n'kev (my Eastbourne tribe) the old git's gonna be a sshhhhh ummm whisper - grandad .AAAAAARRRRRRrrrGGGGggggHHHHHHHH!!!
Following on from this, and with reference to last months news, LoaDeD can announce a gig!!!! Nothing new I hear you chant in unison. Well this one is a bit special. Friday October 15th at the Cowdray Arms in Colchester we will proudly present one of two potential new singers. His name is Darren and is someone we all have known for many years, me more than most!. As said previously, we will never let standards slip and we feel that Darren could be a brilliant stand in/replacement for Jason, but we still have another singer waiting in the wings. So, it's possible there will be another Cowdray gig in a little while. There is still nothing official to date, but with options still open LoaDeD hope a permanent announcement will be made in the run up to Christmas. We would love as many people as possible to make that gig. It will be good for us, certainly good for Darren, and we hope, a cracking night for you all as well. Just a snippet about Darren. - he is better looking than me, he is younger than me, he can sing better than me. Well, that doesn't tell you much then!!! He is a prolific song writer in his own right, writing material for his old band Silent Child, which went on to record an album. But more of the publicity, if he becomes a LoaDeD band member. So what else, we have been rehearsing like mad with Darren and working on a set to suit the occasion, along with fitting in extra rehearsals with the other guy.
Still, its been a good learning curve for us as well - and fun....We did finish off the month with a real gig, the Cork at Felixstowe, and you know what, there was a massive absence of roadies waiting to help us up those infernal stairs.....where were you all??? That is, all except for 'Jimbo' - now a real star in our eyes because he turned up to lend his immense muscle power. Cheers Jim - you were a massive help. It was strange in a way to go rehearse all month with other singers yet gig with Jase, his first trip out since Joe was born. Wow, he certainly didn't let anyone down.....we all had a good night there, sold quite a few cd's as well. Can't be bad, and an enquiry to play for someone's party. There was the usual enthusiastic crowd and we all went home fired up, as is now the norm.
Outside of this - well Dunc. went to see his Velvet Revolver in London, they totally blew him away - we know he loves the album and Dunc reckons its all so much better live. Can't shut him up about it!!!! I know Mark has been burning the midnight oil on preparations to make some clever changes to the web site. Clever b*****d, I'm still shouting at mine - bring back pigeon post - less hassle! Still, keep checking the site - we now got music download clips on some of the pages, and there's going to be extra thumbnail piccies taken from the TT tour - those shots from our own camcorders - those shots we all thought would never see the light of day, hopefully - still, said Mark was a b*****d !!! I have had a really lucky month - wonder when it will go wrong.....Andi and I supported the Essex Air-Ambulance bike ride from Basildon to Harwich. Great weather, great ride, well organised and thousands of bikes - great to see money raised for such a good cause. Anyway, who should be running around with his camera, asking for bikers to join in a photo shoot with a very smart mini??? Bryan Adams - that's who. What a fantastic bloke - nowt pretentious about him, in fact many people passed him without realising who it was. Anyway, we got involved in the photo shoot - thanks to a tip-off from LoaDeD fans Graham and Rose who we bumped into, and Andi got to get a kiss on the cheek from the man himself. Now whose not washing?? Next fantastic bit was to get a phone call at work from a guitarist called Buddy Whittington - who??? - stop it now, don't be insulting. Buddy is a man mountain Texan guitarist with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers ( Eric Clapton, Pete Green, Mick Taylor et al). He was spending the day with a mutual friend called Ian, and Ian kindly asked Buddy to give me a ring. Wow!!!!!!!!!!!! And to top it all, I have just won a set of tyres for my bike courtesy of a letter I wrote to a national bike magazine. Well, that's my 3 in a row.........your turn now.
If any of you follow bike racing as well as LoaDeD(!!) then what an end of the season its been. Racing so tense and thrilling, right up to the wire. Congratulations to Rizla-Suzuki for the British manufacturer title, and to J.R for winning the British Super bike title. Looks like another Brit., James Toseland is in with a good chance of getting the World title - and how close has that racing been this season - fantastic, just don't let Bernie Ecclestone near it, he might make it as predictable as F1 !!!!!! Seriously, thanks to all for a fantastic seasons racing, and sorry J.R., you got the title but Yukio is still my 'man of the year'.
LoaDeD watching and listening to:-
Dunc
watching porn ( can you say that?) 6Music radio on DABMark TT private tapes The Music and Greenday new albums
Jase nappies in the washing machine silence - not now matey !!!!
Steve Andi get a 'Smacker' from Bryan Adams Buddy Whittington
Be Happy, Be Safe, Keep Rockin'
the Old Git
August already, this year going' like a steam train. This month's diary, looking back over the month, is much ado about nothing' - on the gig scene, but oh so much behind the scenes. Any of you regular followers of this 'rambling' might have noticed that 1. Jason is to become a dad and 2. the gig list is looking as bare as Kylie's bum!!! Guessed the tie up yet? Yeah, our wind down for August/September is to allow our Jase some space to enter the scary world of Daddyhood. Mark + family descended on London for a few days and bought up nearly all of Camden!!! Dunc. been working his sox off and playing with yet another new Gismo for his guitar. I zoomed off on the bike to see my son and his wife in Eastbourne.
Lets talk gigs. First up was the Queens (Kings) Head at Tollesbury. I know LoaDeD have sung the praises of this place before, an nothin' gonna change that. The pub was packed, the local summat-or-other club were having a Bar-b in the gardens so there was a full house before we set up. Usual warm greetings - like returning to old friends - and good to see our T-shirts being proudly(??!!) worn. No other way to put it - IT ROCKED! - as Dunc said on the way home - we don't have a bad gig these days - hope he hasn't done a 'Murray Walker' on us...I do feel we owe an apology though to Tollesbury 'cos the clock was ticking, the pub was jumping, and the phone was ringing.....OOOOOps - not everyone in the village wanted to rock the night away. Errrr- Sorry. Still thanx to all you folk who stayed with it to make yet another memorable night. The following week we played the Milestone in Ipswich. There have been some changes there of late, with Karen & Adie now running two pubs, so have put a 'manager' in at the Milestone - and a noticeable change of staff as well. Not gonna pass too much comment on that. So with feelings of 'Shit, there goes another good venue' we kicked into a LoaDeD on heat set especially with this being the last one for many,many weeks. The crowd there rose to the occasion and reckon that was as good a gig we have ever had there. Rockin', jumpin' full-on energy with Mark kindly keeping me cool with regular mouthfuls of water sprayed all over me and the kit! Cheers mate, but you don't have to clean it! Ahhh, who cares? Jason certainly went for it too, brilliant the way music can free the mind of clutter, no matter how important it is. That's one reason I will always love live music - a week of dross to earn a groat and let all the crap drift away by beating 2 shades of s*** out of a drum kit. Do you know, I reckon people out there are paying fortunes to get therapy as good as that.!! Hmmmmm....now thats an idea !!
So, now the dificult bit. Behind the scenes. Jase, impersonating an iceberg, and us trying our hardest not be the Titanic,has told us that he will have trouble keeping up with our levels of commitment and his impending sprog will eat heavily into his spare time......yup understandable. LoaDeD, as you may have gathered already, will never compromise hard work, dedication and desire. So the situation is basically that Jase will still honour 'local' gigs and Dunc Mark and I were left to ponder on the other stuff - like TT2005, bikers rallies and other ideas we have brewing slowly. It took really 7 or 8 seconds to come up with an answer. After lots of adverts, phone calls etc we have been auditioning and rehearsing new singers - primarily for major gigs, which LoaDeD are hoping will soon be the rule rather than the exception. So please watch this space. There are no 'announcements' to be made at this moment, but we are hoping to announce good news in September. LoaDeD ask that you can all show the same level of support for us as usual during this 'awkward' time. We hope whoever is singing at what ever gig will get your full support because whatever we do, we wont compromise on the standards we have reached so far......and we still goin' for it.
Quote of the month from Dunc. " ONWARDS and UPWARDS "
LoaDeD watching and listening to:-
Dunc Olympics on telly / Velvet Revolver
Mark LoaDeD web-site //singers demo's by the boxful
Jase foetal kick-boxing /silence
Steve J.R. and Yukio in Brit Superbikes /new The Calling cd
Be Happy, Be Safe, Keep Rockin'
the Old Git
Did I mention my bathroom at anytime??? How can such a small area of space take so much time and effort? Well it's nearly finished now thanks to Mark marching in with his bucket of tools and 'splodge'! And Andi has now taken the clothes peg off her nose when she comes to see me!!!
Well, what did July have in store? It's all questions ain't it?? Blast - there goes another one... Andi and I returned from a blissful week-end away suitably refreshed. Dunc and his tribe of boonsters returned from being bar-b-q'd somewhere very hot and sunny. Mark? too busy fixing someones bathroom - and Jason intrepidly preparing house and home for the new addition due in September, gosh - Jason a dad!!!! Scary ain't it.... Band wise, we kicked off the month playing a private party. Imagine if you dare - LoaDeD set up in a wooden annexe adjoining a pub. This annexe was actually smaller than a double garage! And had a table set up for a disco - oooops sorry - a drum and bass MC!!!! Ooooh, and had a bar..........and......hmmmmmm.....oh yes - a load of guests. Kinda cosy comes to mind. Lets forget that night shall we??? I will also not reveal the Mr.X in the band who was supposed to have checked the venue out for size,access,power etc. Loading van - "Did you check the venue out Mr.X? - HMmmm, er yes I did, its all ok." Mr.X or Pinnochio, I'll let you decide.The next night was the Railway at Ipswich. As usual there, discerning but great crowd and we blew away the frustrations from the night before. The following week was back to North Street Tavern in Sudbury. Y'know - for a smallish town it actually puts Colchester to shame for the amount of music pubs, venues etc. and the enthusiasm of the Sudbury folk that frequent these places. Have even been known to go over there on a night off, certainly better than a night on the town in Colchester - unless you are limited to Ben Sherman, winebars and big t**ts!!!. Claire at the Tavern has a ripping pub there and certainly deserves all the support she attracts. Converted some more fans, especially as one of them used to go to school with Mark and Dunc. Wetherden Maypole followed the next week and at least we were saved the spectacle of 'Bar-boxing' this time!
Mark has been lovingly restoring a Land-Rover, and guess what? its taken longer to do than my bathrom.........Yisssssss. So its been great to see him - covered in grease but with a massive smile on his face. At least that's another project nearer to completion. If you see a coloured hedgehog cruising the streets in a loud racy Land-Rover................! Andi and I went to the seriously wilds of Norfolk to a 'handfasting'. Nope, nothing to do with finger buffets, it was close friends of ours getting hitched pagan style, a wonderful and spiritual affair. The highlight had to be 30 of us in a saxon roundhouse all percussing on 'things wot go bang when u hit'em' - now THAT WAS RHYTHM. Still, back to gigs. Next up was the Cork at Felixstowe. The usual great night, but totally knac****d lugging the gear up and down the infamous stairs. Roadies anyone?? Wanna job 24th September?? e-mail us 'cos guess where we will be??? ( Not another bloody question).
Now, if you follow this diary I hope you realise I don't slag anyone or anyplace off just to be 'clever'. There is generally a good reason. Try this one. George hotel Colchester - table for 25 for my son's birthday. Hands up anyone who can make a salad? Yup ok, hands down now - just get along to the George and show the f***ing chef how its done will you? My Andi did - much to the horror of the waiters - who said 'you can't do that' as she disappered through the doors to the kitchens muttering very loudly that if the chef was that thick she'd go and make her own!!! Don't mess with Andi - I did once and look what happened to my hair...... By the way, she returned with rather a nice salad this time - strange that.
LoaDeD finished off July in brilliant form. Mark had a phone call from the Rising Sun in Bury St.Edmunds. They had a space to fill - would we do it??
Aware that this was not the biggest pub in the world, and with the private party in the dolls-house still smarting, Mark furnished them with a minimum floor area that we needed, flurry of tape measures - yup we would just fit. Boy, glad we did. Can't wait to get back there, fantastic night and we certainly rose to the occasion and left our stamp, 11/10 as a gig.
LoaDeD watching and listening to:-
Dunc sea lapping the beach sea lapping the beach
Mark Red Hot Chillies in London Sound of a v-8
Jase paint dry tills at Toys'r'us
Steve TT-2004 dvd water running in a bath
Be Happy, Be Safe, Keep Rockin'
the Old Git
Most of this will be covered in the BIG TT review - coming soon - ok I know - how much longer??? Just don't mention the bathroom !!!!!!!!!!! I'm doing a major refit on it at home and its taken since May, and still not finished. Ok, real bands just turn up and play Wembley, they party hard and pay someone to do the mundane. In the REAL WORLD ----
So, in a nutshell, F***ing MAGIC !! I speak for us all when I say, after the initial hiccups before we left, the rest of it started well and got better and better day by day. I've not enjoyed a trip away so much ever !! The Venue gig was a real eye opener - the attention and help we got from the crew there was unbelievable - coo - just think - treated like real musicians. Thanks Andy, Peter, and Adie who gave us a sound that our regular followers said was "AWESOME - the best sound ever". Bushy's on Friday was in yer face - if only every gig.......................... Saturday at the Venue - live dvd recording and a far busier night. Then Mad Sunday - WOW - that outstripped even last year there. Sold quite a few demos just on the strength of the soundcheck. If you read this and you were part of the crowd that night - then from LoaDeD - cheers you were F***ing UNBELIEVABLE !!!! The crowd were jumping so hard that the security guys had to come and hold the speaker stacks in place ! To Martin, and all your solid crew and staff - you have something to be proud of. The atmosphere of Bushy's has to be experienced at least once in your life - and if you do try it - make sure its the night that we are there - so, be told !!! we found out later that there was a 'pop stars' competition on the stage outside the tent, and errrr, our crowd singing to White Wedding drowned it out - YISSSSSSSSSSSS.. Bikes, beer, racing, sunshine, fun-fairs and us in a spirit I've not felt before. Also a big thank you to Sharon and Phil - they run the Ministry of Loud rock disco round our way - brilliantly too. They text'd us on the saturday to say that they had tried to get air tickets to fly out and see us but too no avail. You guys - that message meant more to us than you will ever realise. The fact that you thought of us and tried - respect - friends. I will also thank our darling beloveds' for their support - and yup Andi made the trip and partied like no tomoorow - proud of your courage darling. Karen and Marty also made the trip with us - cheers guys - we don't always show it - but thanks sometimes ain't enough.
Well, hello reality, hello back to work, hello bathroom. Just one gig when we returned - up in Bury. Spirit was good but was there something missing???? I wonder - like 2000 people. Andi and I went off to a favourite retreat of ours on the river Avon for a week-end break. Chalk and cheese for us this month, but the break was what we both needed, Bliss.
Mark, Andi and I met with Wicky ( from Amber Studios) to go to see Steve Vai and Joe Satriani at the Royal Albert Hall. Well Wicky, used to working in London, insisted that we try a few of the 'quirkier' pubs he knows of, and thus started the pub crawl !!!! Oh dear, I musn't get drawn into that sort of thing - cocoa would have been perfectly fine. Anyway, visited some great wacky pubs before taking life in our hands in the back of a London cab to get to the R.A.H. Shit - how do they drive like that? and live..... I think the gig was good, well it looked good - but someone explain why rock shows in this place. The sound in there was worse than pants. It changes wherever you move to. Drummer looked busy - shame you couldnt hear him. Billy Sheehan playing the frets off - or was he actually plugged in?? Major disappointment - never again to the Albert Hall - but the pubs were great.
Things that Loaded are listening to and watching of late:-
all of us - our LoaDeD dvd.
Be Happy, Be Safe, Keep Rockin'
Old Git
This month had a great start. My girlfriend Andi, who has unfortunately been seriously ill since christmas, had her last hospital visit for treatment. All is now looking good for complete recovery. TT coming up and she has been looking forward so much to being able to make the trip. Well done babe - you're gonna make it.
For the rest of us, preparations and double checking arrangements paid off. Mark checked on the hire van booked months ago. So, tell me like I'm a 2-year old, how does a 6 seater crew cab Transit become a 3 seater pick up truck???? I checked on the T-shirt printing - yup all under control. so we thought!!! Duncan posts some messages on the TT forum web site. Proudly announcing the tour dates, he was so suprised to see replies casting doubts over the Port Erin gig. Led Zepplin got the song right - Communication Breakdown. Frantic e-mails ensued and, nope, the Port Erin gig was a non-starter. Are these omens of a nasty nature building?? Apart from that, some serious rehearsal time was giving us good vibes. Re-hash the set list order, try this in that song, rearrange that in this song and the feel was great. No problems there then.
First gig of the month was outside at Rivenhall for the Road Hogs M.C. rally. 2nd year we have played there and it was a belter, great weather good atmosphere - Luvvin' It.... The following week we had been booked for a girls 18th birthday party. To be honest, we all had a worry on this. It was either gonna flop or completely rock. Glad to say it was a totally rocking night. Great crowd of people all up for it(?!!!) errr a good time that is. Ooooops.......But where was the jelly and ice cream??? Left me a bit disappointed that, and no pinning the tail on the donkey. Strange party - just happy people rocking away to us and alcohol !!! The next night saw us back at Tollesbury. Now this is a gig we have played a few times now thanks to some peeps who saw us at the 2003 TT at Sulby Glen. I shouldn't ever mention one gig better than another out of fairness to all the pubs who try their hardest to bring good music to their locals. But - you knew there would be a but didn't ya - I love this gig. Tollesbury - on the road to nowhere between the sea and the edge of the world. What a fantastic crowd of people living there, all ages and all up for a great night out and so,so friendly.
If you get the chance to catch us there in July it's worth buying a map to find it.
Now we are left with the countdown to the BIGTT tour. Daily e-mails from Dunc. counting down the days and with the Irish sea weather forecast - no Dunc. it's still 10 days away. Final check with the Venue - all ok there and permission to film our live dvd of the saturday gig. Check with cameraman - all ok. Check T-shirts again - errr sorry! you wanted then when? Well the dates are on the t-shirt mate, could that not be a clue? Errrr, I'm very busy, I'll see what I can do. Come on, tell me its not me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mandy and Mark arrange a band Bar-B-Q and on a really hot sunday afternoon we all had an enjoyable pre-tour chill out. Thanks M&M that was great.
So all is set - ( where did we store the tent????)
Things that Loaded are listening to and watching of late:-
listening to:- shipping forecast Watching:- teletext shipping forecast
Be Happy, Be Safe, Keep Rockin'
the Old Git
Hi again, it’s the ‘old git’ looking back over April. Seems like it was 3-months long, packing so much into 4 weeks.
Loaded started April off with a bang - literally. Stuck behind Jason and an array of cymbals, I couldn’t understand why the band burst into the Rocky theme tune at the end of the night at one particular venue. Hmmmmm, the large pool of claret in the car park explained a lot. I missed seeing the - how shall I put it - disagreement at the bar!!!
Talking of missed sightings - my pain and mentor AndI was subjected to world wide infamy and she, along with all the band, missed it. Whilst standing on a table last year on Mad Sunday in Bushy’s beer tent filming merrily away, she didn’t notice one of the bar staff slapping a Bushy’s sticker on her bum…..AndI was in direct line with the web-cam. Yup, that now-famous a*** was beamed all around the world!!
Had a nice complement and invitation from a guy when playing North Street Tavern in Sudbury. No, - steady - don’t jump to conclusions - just read on. He works for Mercury drum company, a smallish firm who make hand crafted exceptionally nice drums. He has invited me to drop in when in the area to test out and try a couple of snare drums they have. Nice thought mate, cheers for that, will take you up on that offer. But going to leave cheque book at home!! The gig itself was another cracker. Although a bit squashed for room, it all helps to make a 'packed' atmosphere - and the peeps there are really friendly.
Congratulations to Jane at the Brewers Arms in Colchester. Its another smallish pub, recently licensed for music and an attempt to bring live music back to the town. That itself deserves some support - and a load of our friends and family did just that!! I'm sure Loaded did the place proud. It was strange, but great, to play a 'home-town' gig, the first one in 2 years or more.
Poor old Jason - he has been plagued of late with some nasty gremlins in his microphone - keep telling him - bit of wet string and a couple of dinosaur bones and he could sound great. Think he is still talking to me….
We are backing off of musical rehearsals a bit, still got lots to do for our ‘BIG TT’ tour - crickeys its only 6 weeks away. Well the van has been booked, camp site organised, new range of T-shirts now being printed ( HINT ), crates of beer at the ready and sea-sickness tablets packed. Copying our demo cd like crazy because of massive demand(!!). We still keep thinking of things to organise….see now why tour managers earn their money?! Great news is the confirmation of the live recording for a dvd on Saturday 5th June at the Venue….and I’m still getting butterflies about it !!!!
One of these days I’m going to put a picture on this site of my gigging trainers - I love them to bits…and they are in bits!!! I have resisted so far the weekly digs, nags and hints about replacing them. Not on your nelly! £6-00 from Felixstowe market 5 years ago and they are now worn in perfectly, so why does the band shudder in embarrassment when I wear them???? Jealousy I reckon.. Photo soon and you can make your own mind up!
I’m still not too sure about these new fangled cum‘poota things. This magical box that is supposed to make life easy - I’ve learnt some great new sayings whilst shouting at it!! Bring back quill and ink or clay tablet - that’s what I say.
Tried out my new ‘Rockbox’ at the Milestone - great night, good gig, good crowd, - pleased with the drum sound, more tweaking needed but its really punching up the sound.
Talking of which - how’s this for Rock’n’Roll???? Loaded have been asked to do a big charity gig for Essex Air Ambulance, supported brilliantly by Essex bikers…and covered by a local radio station. This radio station, who happened to put on a boy band last year (yup, no joke - they really did) - have been in contact with us - and they are a little bit concerned that Loaded - playing to 3000-odd bikers might just play AC/DC - heaven forbid, their listeners will all fall over their zimmer frames or choke on their Pimms !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What the hell is that all about - get yourselves a real radio station who can cover the event properly. And yes that is a sound-off - that sort of thing really p****s me off. Perhaps we could help arrange a string quartet as support.?? Still, its their loss…
The biker success gig in April though was the 'Arse in the Grass' rally at East Mersea. Well organised, well supported - and yes - we did play AC/DC !!! (suck on that you local radio station). The buzz within the band playing at biker rallys' is fantastic - I think its when Loaded really 'come alive'. 2-1/4 hours just flew by. This year though, we learned a good lesson - well I certainly did. When you lend most of your gear to the 2nd band to save their transport problems and set up time, by my reckoning the words 'cheers mate' or 'thank you' wouldnt go amiss. Shame the drummer with the PlayGirls has yet to learn that phrase - or are we soooooo important that we are beyond the word 'thanks'. I know which part of F*** Off she will get next time of asking.
AndI and I won freebie tickets for British Superbikes at Snetterton last week. Fabulous weather, great run for our bikes and I just may have to upgrade my bike… reason is to keep up with ’er indoors’ GSXR - so I can still see her world-famous bum wrapped in leather in front of me. Fantastic racing too, personal big congrats to Yukio, crossing the line to win the first race - at Christmas he was fighting for his life….that’s a lesson for us all, surely - believe in yourself hard enough and you can do it…..Loaded did…I.O.M. here we come - again - bigger and better.....!
Monday night was George Thorogood and the Destroyers ( Bad to the Bone??) at Cambridge, Saw several friendly faces there from our gigs around Suffolk, great to see you guys - Anyway, point of this - watching someone actually older than me on stage still showing how to rock the place!
Things that Loaded are listening to and watching of late:-
Jason - watching Star Trek listening to - 'sheep'
Mark - watching Extraordinary League of Gentlemen listening to - Vero
Duncan - watching Maggie and the Ferocious Beast listening to - Bob The Builder pt2
Steve - watching Vero playing to 10 peeps(!) listening to - The Calling
Any ramblings of your own - feel free to send them in - see the contacts page
Be Happy, Be Safe, Keep Rockin'
' The Old Git '
Hi – to most of the world – I’m Steve. To the band – hmmm, on a good day its Young Mr .Grace, but more often than not its ‘the old git’ ! Huh, young whippersnappers – what do they know….Well, I’ve been given this page as a ‘drummers’ rambles’ scrap-pad. Apparently I’ve been known to ramble…..on an on an on an on…so that’s what I’m gonna do.
We’ve had a few weeks off of gigging, I’ve had a holiday in the sun for my lad’s wedding, Jason had booked a week to try and break his legs in the snow, and Mark has been off to deepest England – somewhere. But band work never stops. We have been rehearsing new material, two songs ready for the world shortly, and a real cracker on its way in a couple of weeks. I celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with Guinness and a night in front of a computer, bombarding the u.k. biker web sites with groveling pleas to play their rallies. Some promising replies already. A night well spent.
As I’m writing this, I’m thinking of the next gig – tomorrow in fact – at the Cork Bar. It’s a gig we all love ( well, we would do if they installed a bl***y lift!!! ) ‘cos the crowd there are friendly and its normally a cracking night. Also Sat.27th in Sudbury at North Street Tavern – we all get a buzz from that place – it really rocks there. Talking of forthcoming gigs, I am getting some serious butterflies already about the ‘BIG TT’ TOUR on the Isle of Man this summer. Mad Sunday at Bushy’s – after last year’s gig there I remember thinking how do we better that. Now I know – we do it again this year – and 2 gigs as well at The Venue. We all visited the Venue last year, it’s an impressive club and the in-house sound system is awesome, and now to be playing there….hoo hoooooo!! We are most probably recording the Saturday gig for a live dvd….now that is scary.
Tuesday I went to Chelmsford with my partner to see an old mate of mine, Mark, who is now general manager of the revamped Amber Studios. They have made some major improvements to the place – it’s looking like a good recording/rehearsal venue. We got chatting to some great guys from a band called Vero who have just clinched a record deal and their single is out soon. Check out the B-side – it’s brilliant. Suzi Quatro formally opened the studios ( she’s a hell of a lot taller on TOTP!!).
I’ll soon be using some new mic. gear I’ve got for the drum kit. Doesn’t make me play any better but crikeys you’ll hear it alright! Hopefully it will beef up the overall sound of the band especially with more and more bigger gigs and rallies coming up. Usual story, expensive toyz for grown up ‘’boyz’. Good job I snuck that one past my ‘finance committee’.
I think that I will sign off each ‘rambling’ with a list of C.D.’s and DVD’s that are getting a hammering on the home set-ups of the band:-
Jason – watching Bambi – listening to Muse
Mark – watching Chili’s Live At Slane Castle – listening to Monster Magnet
Steve – watching Steve Vai live – listening to the Vero single
Cheers for the visit – any ramblings of your own send them to me…..see the contacts page.
Be Happy, Be Safe, Keep rockin’
‘The Old Git’