When James rang the other day and said he'd really like us to do another round of recording, it was, quite literally, music to my ears. We've done a few sessions together over the years and he really has helped shape a lot of my songs. I may have provided the playground, but James was the one who put the swings and roundabouts in.
That's not my quote by the way - when Nigel Clark walked out on Dodgy 20 years ago I remember Matt their drummer saying it might be Clark's name on the records, but they all know how the songs really got written and recorded. Ouch.
That said, I know this time around we'll be doing a couple of covers. James and I both love the Eiderdowns' version of From the Beginning by ELP. Bernard, who played fiddle on Pickering Place would certainly be my Number One choice for this along with Nat: Nathaniel plays sax with local shit kickers Slumb Party, but it's his banjo I want to hear on this:
The Eiderdowns - From the Beginning
And another one I'd like to have a crack at is My Brother Jake. Free had a huge hit with it in 1971, but, again, I want to do it more like the Eiderdowns; so chilled we may all end up getting hypothermia. Let me make a few phone calls and see if we can't fix this up for early in the New Year.
It's sleeting. It's cold. It's still dark at nearly 9 o'clock in the morning. That can only mean one thing - the festival season is upon us!
Gin for breakfast
That's right, kicking off in a little under two hours is 'The Sherwood Gin Festival'. It being a Bank Holiday Monday, my friends have decided that I can't possibly have anything better to do today than drink copious amount of what was once described as Mother's Ruin*. They know me so well.
*You'd be run out of town on a rail these days for using that outdated term. It's strictly hashtag gin now - the new craft beer - which, I've been promised (and the only reason I'm going today, to be honest), is also being served today. Don't get me wrong, I love the stuff, but a gin only diet would mean I'd be an early faller for sure, and, after about 2:00 p.m. could not be held responsible for my actions.
Left to right, Bernard Wright, Nat Mason, James Medd
Why don't we do it in the road?
House band
I knew when I asked Frozen Gin to play with me on Saturday they'd go down a storm. And so it proved. Bernard Wright, Nat Mason and James Medd came up on the Friday night and spent a couple of days with us jamming, drinking tea, busking, drinking more tea and generally ingratiating themselves with the locals. Prior to the gig they'd joined us at The Sun for a couple of looseners before taking to the stage and giving the crowd a master class in musicianship; they knocked out a multifarious set including Irish jigs and reels played at breakneck speed then gently applying the anchors for a dreamy set of French Canadian tunes before hitting the gas once again. We raised a lot of money for charity, not least the £48.92 the lads kindly donated from their hour's busking outside Boots the Chemist. A big thank you also to David Swann, Martin Robertson and Phil Wright for their dedication to the cause.
When Nottingham brewery Castle Rock unveiled their Screech Owl IPA in 2008 they said it was a strictly one off brew. But in the same way that The Darkness brought you a One Way Ticket To Hell, And Back, so too did Screech Owl return. And now, to complete Castle Rock's U-turn, it's available in bottles. And why wouldn't it be? This fruity, hoppy, bright and clear beer, which at 5.5% ABV is no slouch, surely ranks as one of Castle Rock's finest achievements.
As you can see from the above promo, if it's good enough for Robin Hood and his Merry Men, then in true Dodgy style, it's good enough for me. Robin Hood and his fair maiden, Maid Marian, are coming up this weekend (seriously) - I hope they bring a couple of flagons of this fine frothing ale with them.
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