Friday, 20 March 2009
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Monday, 16 March 2009
The Grey Horse - Kingston - 15th March 2009
The last of the dates on this tour brings us back to Pete's local and musicians favorite The Grey Horse in Kingston upon Thames. A friendly pub filled with music loving people that all seem to know Pete well and the fact that there are photo's of him on the walls gives you an indication of the love they have for him.
Also on the wall I notice the running order for the afternoon and following Papa George ( a fantastic blues musician who was playing on our arrival) is Peter Bruntnell. .
Pete starts with Dave doing a small set of classic covers and then announces that Im going to play a half hour set in the middle of his slot.
The fact that I wasent billed to play at this point and then was going to take half an hour away of what should have been thier beloved Mr Bruntnell left me feeling a little bit nervous and a touch uneasy.
However I soon found out I had nothing to worry about as the warm supportive locals gave me a fantastic reception and I could see why Pete refers to this place as his home pub.
Half an hour later and I play my last song of the tour.
A brilliant week of playing varied venues and meeting some wonderful people.
Im grateful to Pete for asking me to come and grateful to all the ears that listened that had never heard of me and even then went on to buy my new album.
I hope to be back.
See you on the next one.
Thanks
Also on the wall I notice the running order for the afternoon and following Papa George ( a fantastic blues musician who was playing on our arrival) is Peter Bruntnell. .
Pete starts with Dave doing a small set of classic covers and then announces that Im going to play a half hour set in the middle of his slot.
The fact that I wasent billed to play at this point and then was going to take half an hour away of what should have been thier beloved Mr Bruntnell left me feeling a little bit nervous and a touch uneasy.
However I soon found out I had nothing to worry about as the warm supportive locals gave me a fantastic reception and I could see why Pete refers to this place as his home pub.
Half an hour later and I play my last song of the tour.
A brilliant week of playing varied venues and meeting some wonderful people.
Im grateful to Pete for asking me to come and grateful to all the ears that listened that had never heard of me and even then went on to buy my new album.
I hope to be back.
See you on the next one.
Thanks
Sunday, 15 March 2009
The Ent Shed - Bedford- 14th March 2009
The final night on Petes ecclectic tour could not have been planned any better. (the last gig in Kingston is on Sunday afternoon) I played Bedford a few years ago and was amazed then at the amount of people at the gig and the support that an unknown like me recieved. Tonight was different though. The venue, unlike the previous time at the boat house, was a purpose built gig venue set up perfectly for the kind of night we wanted to put on. The guys at east-west who run the nights seemed to have everything covered and were a pleasure to work with. The sound engineers had a new state of the art Bose PA which somehow made you sound at your most natural but with volume (incredible piece of kit) we were fed, watered and even has someone looking after our CD sales for us. All we needed now in this 120 capacity venue were the people. Sitting in the back room you could here the place steadily filling up but walking out I never expected to see a completely ram packed room with people sat expectantly waiting for what for me has to be my show of the tour.
You could here a pin drop in this place and with such a good sounding PA I could almost whisper songs out but at the same time fill the room with sound. Every song I went onto play recieved a rousing response and come the last it felt like i was playing to a room full of friends and I would have been happy to have stayed playing for longer. However this crowd wasent here for me, this was Pete's night and I was stoked for him to have the kind of venue, audience and set up that was surely going to make for a fantastic evening.
Returning to the back stage room after playing I was grateful for such a reception and after getting refreshed my ears pricked up to the sound of the whybirds. These guys were rocking out and seemed to raise the gig onto another level, giving a high energy set of strong memorable melodies set to a backdrop of original southern rock anthems. Definately worth checking out should you spot them out and about. (I should be a music journalist....not!!)
Finally Pete comes out with the boys and makes full use of the quality set up giving an amazing performance of the new material. Every song seemed to have people mesmerized. Even though the odd unanswerd calls for the old stuff didn't happen I think the devotees soon realized that these tracks were matching up to and going further than the Peter Bruntnell classics of old. Judging by the response I think Pete demonstrated that he is still writng and performing some of the best music I know of.
I stood at the back of the room taking it all in, grateful to be part of such a happening and thankful to be travelling around playing support to someone who's music I think is fantastic.
Cheers Pete.
Cheers Bedford.
It's the grey horse then home tomorrow.
You could here a pin drop in this place and with such a good sounding PA I could almost whisper songs out but at the same time fill the room with sound. Every song I went onto play recieved a rousing response and come the last it felt like i was playing to a room full of friends and I would have been happy to have stayed playing for longer. However this crowd wasent here for me, this was Pete's night and I was stoked for him to have the kind of venue, audience and set up that was surely going to make for a fantastic evening.
Returning to the back stage room after playing I was grateful for such a reception and after getting refreshed my ears pricked up to the sound of the whybirds. These guys were rocking out and seemed to raise the gig onto another level, giving a high energy set of strong memorable melodies set to a backdrop of original southern rock anthems. Definately worth checking out should you spot them out and about. (I should be a music journalist....not!!)
Finally Pete comes out with the boys and makes full use of the quality set up giving an amazing performance of the new material. Every song seemed to have people mesmerized. Even though the odd unanswerd calls for the old stuff didn't happen I think the devotees soon realized that these tracks were matching up to and going further than the Peter Bruntnell classics of old. Judging by the response I think Pete demonstrated that he is still writng and performing some of the best music I know of.
I stood at the back of the room taking it all in, grateful to be part of such a happening and thankful to be travelling around playing support to someone who's music I think is fantastic.
Cheers Pete.
Cheers Bedford.
It's the grey horse then home tomorrow.
Saturday, 14 March 2009
The Half brick - Worthing - 13th March 2009
As a boy growing up in West Sussex I used to come to Worthing with my family for the occasional summers day trip to the seaside. I had vauge memories of the pier, ice creams and gritty sand and cucumber sandwiches, so arriving at the south coast seaside town was a bit of a nostlgia trip for me. Once we found the half brick venue I was suprised and stoked to be greeted on arrival by the owner "Bob" telling me how much he liked the track "Hey" which he had heard on my myspace page. Being the support act you don't always get much in the way of that kind of stuff so I was grateful for the compliment. After our warm Worthing welcome and after unloading a few bits of gear Danny (petes bass player) and I took a trip into town.
We had noticed a guitar shop on our way in called "guitar junction" which turned out to be a fantastic museum-esque vintage acoustic guitar shop. A 1928 Gibson acoustic and a 100 year old Martin were just a couple of the items on display in what turned out to be a brilliant store. Definately worth checking out if you are ever down this way. However, the only thing I could afford was a new guitar stand!!!
One day.
Back to the gig-
Once we were all set up and ready to go we awaited the arrival of the gig- goers. A steady trickling of people came through the door and I eventually started playing to a fairly full, some what grown up and very supportive crowd. There were a few technical problems to begin with but nothing that affected things too badly. Half an hour later and it's me done again. I really enjoyed the half brick vibe as apparently did everyone else.
Pete went onto play another quality set and although numbers weren't great and a there were a few noisy guests, they were still a very attentative, receptive and supportive bunch. What more could you ask for? Ice cream & Cucumber sand butties maybe?
Happy days!!
We had noticed a guitar shop on our way in called "guitar junction" which turned out to be a fantastic museum-esque vintage acoustic guitar shop. A 1928 Gibson acoustic and a 100 year old Martin were just a couple of the items on display in what turned out to be a brilliant store. Definately worth checking out if you are ever down this way. However, the only thing I could afford was a new guitar stand!!!
One day.
Back to the gig-
Once we were all set up and ready to go we awaited the arrival of the gig- goers. A steady trickling of people came through the door and I eventually started playing to a fairly full, some what grown up and very supportive crowd. There were a few technical problems to begin with but nothing that affected things too badly. Half an hour later and it's me done again. I really enjoyed the half brick vibe as apparently did everyone else.
Pete went onto play another quality set and although numbers weren't great and a there were a few noisy guests, they were still a very attentative, receptive and supportive bunch. What more could you ask for? Ice cream & Cucumber sand butties maybe?
Happy days!!
Friday, 13 March 2009
The Borderline-London-12th March 2009
Arrived in London with a little time to spare so after having my nose pressed up against the windows ( like a kid at a cake shop) to the guitar shops in Denmark street I took my self off to the cinema. The only flick showing at the time I had to spare was the film "doubt." A brilliantly acted film, that made great use of my free afternoon as the time seemed to pass in a moment. Met up with the guys, soundchecked, got some noodles, had a pint and felt ready for the night ahead.
Started at the borderline a little later than stated just so a few more punters could make their way down into the basement venue and generate more of a vibe. I started on my own with "find me out" to what seemed like only a few onlookers but when i looked up I was actually playing to a attentively silent and fairly busy room. Dave soon joined me on stage and once again did a great job of playing around my songs and not over them too much. He's great to have around. 9 songs later and it's all over for me again and I am grateful for the rousing applause of the now busy club. I've got time to have a beer and then take myself off to man the Merch stand at the back where I sold quite a few more albums. Thank you London. A band called the epstein were up next followed by Mr Bruntnell and the boys. Pete showed the packed room just why he is heralded as one on britains best songwriters. He played a blinder!
Worthing tomorrow. It's all good.
Speak soon.
Started at the borderline a little later than stated just so a few more punters could make their way down into the basement venue and generate more of a vibe. I started on my own with "find me out" to what seemed like only a few onlookers but when i looked up I was actually playing to a attentively silent and fairly busy room. Dave soon joined me on stage and once again did a great job of playing around my songs and not over them too much. He's great to have around. 9 songs later and it's all over for me again and I am grateful for the rousing applause of the now busy club. I've got time to have a beer and then take myself off to man the Merch stand at the back where I sold quite a few more albums. Thank you London. A band called the epstein were up next followed by Mr Bruntnell and the boys. Pete showed the packed room just why he is heralded as one on britains best songwriters. He played a blinder!
Worthing tomorrow. It's all good.
Speak soon.
The Railway - Winchester - 10th march 09
The last time I played at The Railway I was greeted with a warm, supportive and listening crowd. A community of music lovers that seem to have an understanding and respect to really give attention to the band or musician playing. (which can be often lost in pubs) It was really appreciated. There was a kind of intensity about the atmosphere, which somehow meant the songs connected more. I think i may have gained a few more listeners. I had some great compliments and shifted a few CD's - a great start to my five days with Bruntnell. Emily Barker and her band were up after me followed by Pete and his murder of crows. Emily sounds great, worth checking out.
Pete played a superb set of new and old, the highlight for me was his new song "black window" (i think it was called.) Dave and Danny coloured in the sound to perfection.
I'm liking this live blogging thing, don't want to get carried away though. Not sure what else to write. May need some sugestions of the kind of things you would want to know about. London beckons. Speak soon. Jim
Pete played a superb set of new and old, the highlight for me was his new song "black window" (i think it was called.) Dave and Danny coloured in the sound to perfection.
I'm liking this live blogging thing, don't want to get carried away though. Not sure what else to write. May need some sugestions of the kind of things you would want to know about. London beckons. Speak soon. Jim
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Leaving for Winchester! PB tour 09
Just added a blog application to my
phone so I can keep you up to date while I'm out and about on tour. I will try not to bore you too much. Speak soon. Jim
phone so I can keep you up to date while I'm out and about on tour. I will try not to bore you too much. Speak soon. Jim
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