Thursday night: bought an Ovation acoustic in time for Guitar Craft weekend next weekend. Now I fit in, now I conform, like all the other bright shiny cult members!
Friday night: Dave Watson’s Mercy Ships gig. Lots of people turned so I’m sure it was a success from the fundraising point of view. Gravy Spiders, a very nervous Gravy Spiders, made their debut and by the third song we’d relaxed, Tricia was in good voice, Sean and Pete had locked in (after having no soundcheck) and I produced some subversive (if you like it) or random (if you didn’t) guitar phrases. It was interesting to pick up the reference points people mentioned when they talked to us afterwards – Portishead, Cowboy Junkies and Magic Numbers all mentioned. I always maintain that you don’t know your music until you play it live – I thought with this ‘non-rock’ audience the ballads – Hungry Ghosts and Used To Be – would go down best, but the best live feel and the best response was for Popster, one of the jerky, spiky stop-start numbers. We all enjoyed it and are up for more. (Click on the photos to enlarge)
Another highlight for me was playing with the Morningside String Quartet (one of whom played on some Beatles sessions in the 60s) and Sharon Jacobsen, the soprano. Then a few fun numbers with Daves Haswell, Christopher and Watson, including Nicole. 