So, what’s new with you?

The last couple of dates with Josh & Co we’re a riot. We had tremendous fun, met a lot of new people, and made some great new friends.

I’ve got to give special thanks to Dave for making it all sound so good (at least from where I was stood), and, of course, the Judge for packing everything away each night and driving it home.

I was really blown away by the response to the shows – I felt it doubly so because I never thought we’d get everyone together in one placelong enough to gig the record. But now we’ve done it andI can’t wait to get back out there.

York flew by in a blur. Every piece of kit we own decided to break during soundcheck so right up until show time we were changing batteries, re-stringing, gaffa-taping, soldering and re-booting like demons. All except Gav, who slept like a baby until five minutes before we went on… bless…

We had one of the roughest vans I’ve ever been in to get us to Bilston. I still can’t decide if it was the hole in the floor (which offered a great view of the motorway speeding by beneath us), or the complete lack of heating that’s pushed it to the top of my ‘vans of death’ list…I think it was the hole…

So that was 2009. We’ve loads of plans for 2010, but I’m saying nothing until they’re thawed out and up and walkinground unaided.

See you soon

Paddy

P.S. Don’t forget, The Fabric gets its retail release on 25 January.

My view of the M1, somewhere in West Yorkshire

It’s been a week since this gig, I think I’ve just about processed it all and I’m ready to talk about it. Just about.

There were a lot of nerves before we went on; more than I’ve seen from any of us in a long while. It’s been time out of mind since any of us did a ‘first’ gig with a band, and it was preying on everyone.

In the end, we needn’t have worried. There were a few minor fluffs (and a couple of ‘jazz’ notes), but the good ship Parade launched without calamity. The reception from the crowd was fantastic. We even made a few new friends at the end of the night!

The drive back was fairly hellish – the A1 northbound was shut for miles so we got sent off on a diversion. I got into bed at 4.30. Things weren’t helped by the ‘tour-bus’.

Now, it’s been a few years since I did so much travelleing for gigs and I was reassured to see that many of the things I remember (dog-food pasties, traffic jams, spinal tap references) haven’t changed, but I was hoping that transport arrangements might have improved over time. Unfortunately they haven’t. I can only describe the van in terms of a Stephen King novel, I swear it was trying to kill us!

I think Chris took it worse. He’s been on the road with Fish and got used to being looked after. I think he was a bit shocked that our van lacked many of the executive luxuries he’s got used to, like seatbelts, wing mirrors that aren’t gaffa taped on and a roof that doesn’t let the rain in… ah, the glamour!

There a lots of great photos – of the gig, not the van – they’re on the website, www.paradeband.com/photos and a few mediocre ones by me are on flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/parademusic

We’re all fired-up and ready for the next one. See you in York.

Paddy

The last couple of weeks have been a hectic round of rehearsals, punctuated by moments of calm whilst Gavin and Anne-Marie leave the warmth of our rehearsal room for Panic Room and MA gigs.

It’s been quite strange hearing all these songs performed ‘live’ – I’ve always found there’s a different dynamic when you’re making a record to when you’re rehearsing for a gig. A record is just that, a permanent, indelible version of a song that we can all revisit whenever we want. Live is completely different, the music’s there one second and gone the next, leaving everyone with only an impression of what’s just occurred… until it ends up on YouTube.

Enough of the cod-philosophy; I’m enjoying my first night off in some time ahead of what’s to come tomorrow. It’s tough enough on one’s nerves debuting one band, but we’re doing it twice tomorrow night! It’s all sounding as good as it can before the first gig, there’s some things you just can’t say will work until you’ve got up and done it. I’m looking forward to it. I’lllet you know how it went. I hope Bedford is ready.

Here’s a few pictures from the rehearsal room, it wasn’t until just now that I realised that, apart from Chris’ legs, there are no people in any of them… maybe I’ve spent too long in that room amongst all the equipment. Anyway, Chris’ phone is better than mine, so maybe he’ll have some better ones…

Paddy

Oh dear, I’m knackered. How do you spell that word that’s just a noise that tired people make? Like a zombie groan. “Uuuurrrghhhh…” maybe? Anyway, that’s all that comes out when I try to speak so apologies if this post is a bit short and a bit woolly.

Press release went out yesterday announcing a release date for The Fabric as 17th August. I’m told that any orders taken before then will be posted out the week before so that folks’ll get the CD’s on 17th.

The site is still being built so you can watch it improve over time. Who knows whatwondrouscontent will find its way up there for all to peruse ponder and enjoy. If anyone has any suggestions let me know – chris@paradeband.com

I’m on the train up to Fish’s for the last 2 set run throughs before the convention. Had to get up at stupid-o-clock to make the early train after doing my regular Dylan gig last night and packing when I got in. I tried to have a kip just now but the train’s a bit noisy with morning people. So with a creasy face crap hair and a sluggish brain I’ll just share this with you that Foss and Frank showed me last week and it made me happy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjbpwlqp5Qw

Chris.

I kept a diary on the road with Fish last year – this is copied from it word for word from when we were stranded in Greece for a few days with a broken down bus

…I had a dream where I was running away from something. Not just running down a street with something behind, but an epic chase across several continents always keeping a few days ahead of an unseen dark organisation of untold connections, influence and size.

The most enduring image I have as the last scraps of dream dissolve into the wakeful realities of day is that I came to be at sea somehow. There was an abandoned raft in the middle of a lost ocean and it was piled high with junk.

As I came closer I could see that the junk was all stuff that I have had and got rid of – not rubbish, but items that had my affections for a while and then been given away to charity or whatever when I have had a clear out. Old books, toys, clothes etc were all together on this aimless raft in the middle of a nowhere sea probably only being chanced upon once every 10 years or so.

I could rummage through the stuff and find very specific items I have not seen in reality since I was a kid. There was a knitted leprechaun doll I had as a soft toy and in this dream I turned it over in my hands noting every detail, every knit and stitch. I tried to remember when I’d thrown it away and why but couldn’t. Still can’t.

There were other bits and pieces – things that have been a wrench to pass on but then soon got forgotten. Somehow they had all found there way to this barge and it made me feel guilty for getting rid of them all.

Do they all still exist somewhere in this world; drifting pieces of plastic on a route to pollute whatever vortex draws them to it in the middle of an ocean? Or are they just there in the ocean of subconscience, bubbling to the surface due to some unnoticed daytime trigger.

If I still had that leprechaun I’d think about giving it to one of my friends’ new kids.

Then I’d buy them something else and keep it for myself…”

Chris.