Pimp my Strat up!

A bonus for my battered old Fernandes Strat - new dice-shaped control knobs. 

I got these from http://www.diceknobs.com - great selection, quick service, easy fit. 

Now I'm wondering about a decal as well..... 

Crown Hotel, Biggar

We had great fun playing at our friend Iain Shedden's birthday party. A massive gathering of the clans, with all the enrichment that comes from seeing some of your oldest friends.

The Primevals set went down well. Then we took a break, and came back with a few covers - Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White, Midnight To Six, The Fire Of Love. 

Next up - Mr Chris Bailey. I have 4 copies of the 1st Saints album. That's 4 more than he does. We played (I'm) Stranded, and then No Time. That would be the A & B side of their debut single. Chris was funny, charming, and fired up for some rock & roll. The birthday boy, Mr Shedden,  took over on drums for Talk To Me Baby, and then Chris was bribed with a Gin & Tonic for G-L-O-R-I-A. Which lasted about ten minutes, with backing vocals from me & our old compadre Seori Burnett (elder brother of Rhod Burnett, Primevals original drummer). I've known Seori since 83 - that's the first time we've gigged together! 

Onstage, Chris referred to us as his compadres - a word which chimed with me, as I use it carefully & selectively. An absolute blast. 

It was exactly the kind of event that re-kindles your belief in humanity.

I'm Stranded - With Chris Bailey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_jipWOz4WY&feature=share

No Time - With Chris Bailey http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XklVGlJlq_k

Gloria - with Chris Bailey, Seori Burnett, Jom Doak & Iain Shedden

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZGwOWZnFsU&feature=share

Diligent

A good evening's work, rehearsing for a gig at a friend's birthday party on Saturday.

Primevals set

1 defying science

2 a road trip

3. spiritual

4 blues at my door

5 rightful duty

6 way beyond tore up

7.fire and clay

8 someone to love 

9 stream of life

10 it dont feel fre

11 elixir

12 hit the peaks

13 primevals call

14 saint jack

15 sister

Covers - 

1 i happen to love you

2 fire of love

3 the letter

4 sometimes good guys don't wear white

5 route 66

6 big boss man

7midnight to six man

8.louie louie

Saints-

1.no time

2 stranded

3 erotic neurotic 

That's a year since I rejoined. Jings!I 

I just got some more of the photos from the rehearsal in December - Here's one (above, click for bigger)

and here is a flickr photoset of the first part  - now updated to add the second part 

Mono Photos

A couple of photos from the Mono gig (click on photo for bigger version)

A great night out

The gig went very well. Sleepy Eyes Nelson started with a set of acoustic blues. Then James King & The Lonewolves - they borrowed our bassist & drummer, Paul & John. Great to see Jimmy & Jake back onstage together. They played I Don't Care If You Live Or Die, Happy Home, and Fun Patrol. Paul & John did a great job - no rehearsals. 

James King & The Lonewolves

Then The Reverse Cowgirls played a storming set, including Jack On Fire and Sex Beat

The Primevals set was Preachin' The Blues, Ghost On The Highway, Mother of Earth (with Tam on lap steel), The Fire Of Love, A House Is Not A Home, Death Party. Michael jumped off the stage onto the table you can see in the photos during Ghost On The Highway.

We did an encore - we played Prairie Chain, which was written by Malcolm McDonald. Michael prefaced it with an explanation of Robbie's death, of Malcolm's great contribution to the Primevals down the years, then we tore it up. A righteous act.

Many old friends were there, including Rhod Burnett who remembered me buying the bootlace tie in the photo above in Chelsea in 84. 

This was a great way to end the year, a tribal gathering. 

Words - what are words worth ?

We got some dreadful news last week. Malcolm McDonald played bass in the first lineup of the Primevals, and returned to play guitar for much of the band's time. He left at the tail end of last year. His son, Robbie, was killed in a hit & run accident on Monday night,while cycling. Robbie was a lovely young man, only 22. My heart goes out to Malcolm and all his family. The funeral is on Thursday. We'll be there. I haven't spoken to Malc in a while, the way that you don't always talk to some of your oldest and dearest friends because you know you'll always be able to pick up again where you left off. Yeah, that.

It's the kind of news that makes you go and hug your children, even if they are asleep.

The rehearsal tonight was subdued. We did our best - we've got a gig on Friday playing Gun Club & Jeffrey Lee Pierce songs at a charity show to raise money for the homeless.

We grew up on these songs, that vibe. We supported the Gun Club at Strathclyde Uni in 84 - the photo of our first album was taken backstage at that gig.

I was 22 in that photo. I still have that bootlace tie. I'll be wearing it on Friday.

Beckett - I can't go on. I'll go on.

Seven. That's not bad at all.

A good, productive day at FM, just by Ravenscraig. We recorded 7 songs in 8 hours.

We were fuelled by the One True Source for Jock & Roll - Tunnocks.

I took 3 guitars along - 2 Moons and a DeArmond

I used the DeArmond for most of the rhythm, the Moon Tele for "Comin' From The Hills", and Big Black (the other Moon) for all the lead and slide. 

We recorded -

• Way Beyond Tore Up
• Comin' From The Hills
• Rightful Duty
• Undertow
• Keep Comin' Back
• In A Violent Way
• Hit The Peaks

We were still doing a bit of shaping the songs as we went - but it is very useful to listen back properly to something because when you are in the middle of playing it, you aren't the best judge of whether or not it works. 

As always, plenty laughs and daftness as we went through. 

I can't make tomorrow's recording - they'll be finishing the vocals, adding keyboards, percussion, and Martin's overdubs. 

We got one of the photos that John took at the last rehearsal - here's a photo of the glossy photo