ah, so you're *here*.

mart's right - i want the total lack of responsibility inherent in winging it on the night. that way i won't feel like i'm suffocating in the carrier bag that is my musical performance history.

or something.

i'm free to wing this friday...

so have you seen the emails?
is saturday 21st august any good?
or saturday 28th?
or saturday 7th, at a pinch?

Nice one The Shore!

I was beginning to think we'd all gone solo. But to quote my favourite philosophers, Dr. Venkman, Dr. Standz and Dr. Spengler of the Ghostbusters: "We'd better split up... we can do more damage that way."

Does it take more or less confidence to improvise? I like the idea of doing another serious jam. At least one!

Over and Out and Under.

Hello chaps,

Jesus, look at the time.
Sorry have not been in touch.
The gig sounds ace...shit, shit, things to do!

As for what to play, I've been listening back to the
minidiscs from the last rehearsal and I have to say
I'd probably be quite happy just completely
improvising. Its probably a confidence thing.
I think it might be worth getting another practise
in though and treating it like a gig.

OK people, I think we need to start brainstorming for our imminent debut performance.

I'm also going to email this to you guys. Don't use the 'blog Comments' function as it doesn't seem to be working - just 'create new post' or email everyone with your ideas.

We need to get some kind of dialogue going as to our plan of attack.

I'm assuming that Beth and Lewis would like to get a very focused set-list together. I'm also assuming that Nigel wants no set list at all, or at least a set list that simply has the word 'improvise' printed on it.

I'd like to just plough on in with some ideas and see where it gets us.

At the moment I'm thinking that we could do two sets': one total improv, one based around a selection of more structured ideas. We can choose whether to contribute or sit out of either set.

Or how about we begin with improv and see if and when and where it leads us? Really take time to shape a vibe before bringing a beat in. We need to be able to do that and I think we're more than capable. Create a vibe and then see where that takes us - leaving what beats to use to the moment.

I'd like to know what you guys think - so be frank. Anything's possible. There's no reason why we can't do a bit of everything - so what do we want to do?

Personally, I don't think we're at our best just going through the motions. We can't hide behind chord structures or whatever - this music of ours is all about atmosphere, flavour, vibe, call it what you will.

If we recreate a track we need to think in terms of vibe, not simply about what parts we played before. Because the beat or the riff or whatever won't necessarily recreate the same vibe. We need to be able to 'go with the flow' of the moment.

More like a live-remix situation.

Great news Nodule.. Saturday nights are best for gigs anyway, no?

Are we all up for this then? Shall we say early August?

I'm free this friday and saturday. What do we want to do? Informal at Nigel's? I like the idea of doing something different each week. But rather than being totally acoustic can I suggest we do a night of beatless drone / soundscapey stuff or something? 'Unplugged' seems a bit 'traditional'...

I'm not bothered about making money off this gig but if you guys want to charge people that's OK. I think I only know about seven people locally.

Jennie mentioned she knows the guys @ Dance2 - the DJ shop on Western Road. I've seen them advertise PA hire with sub-bass speakers [!] for £35. Tracy's got a smoke machine!

I don't see how we can play without a PA? I don't know if Lewis has a guitar amp, but we still need the beats and the Beth to be nice and loud and I don't imagine my stereo can compete with dirty Marshall amps?

Adam's volunteered his band, but I've just heard them and it's really awful 1981 Goth stuff. Might be funny to have them along if Jennie's not up for it.

Does anyone know a cool DJ instead of using another band? Let's use our imaginations.

What about using slide / super 8 projections?

hello the people,

yous free to meet up to drink / listen to mart's sunday session remixes / maybe do something acoustic if the mood takes ye / form a darts team down the pub / whatever on friday (25th june)?

also, the hanover community centre is hireable: saturday nights are best. they have no p.a. - but would we need one, what with stereos/amps...? capacity: 100 people. cost = £75 from 6pm to 11.30pm (+ £75 deposit). if we had us four, jennie, etc - costs are perhaps going to be a tenner each (without p.a.) - but for an extra £25 we can get an entertainments licence and charge people for ticket entry; if we got a hundred people (which we won't - even with jennie's entourage) to pay even just £2 a ticket, we're not gonna be out of pocket...

nice size venue / we'd be in control of the whole thang... let adam know! let jennie know! let blanket know! let etc know! interested? if so, which saturdays are good for yous?

n

Hello The Set,

Right, this week has been a bit up and down, but I've been working on a couple of new things from last week, one is a nice big live sounding dark synth groove workout complete with dirty-funky guitars c/o Nigel. Nice up-front vocals from Beth and cool bass-synth from Lewis. The other has a confusing beat, nice metalic-flute and me doing unpleasant things to a fretless bass and a microphone. I've also remixed one of the earlier things and tidied it up a bit.

I've also emailed a few potential venues and will keep you posted. Laters. Safe journey Beth, and enjoy your weekends!

Oh, she's a kidder that Nigel! Anyho, I hope we are all ready for todays 7 hour rock-mantra.

hello!

i am beth.

well, that's all of us here then.

and now.

and how!

Well done squire. Now all we need is Beth, then we have the entire collection, or Set. 'Four to Collect: The Mekano Set Poseable Action Figures. Part one with free binder. Battering not Included.'

I am a little electronic God now.
Can you feel it?

Hello. Erm... can I start by appologizing if I misbehaved in any way last night. I was a bit sozzled, and I haven't had much sleep this week. And I'm a 12 hours sleep a night kind of person. Grrrr.