Photo by Mr Ian Dunn A legend http://www.principlephotography.co.uk/
Life on the Road
Well I lead a charmed life, I’ve just completed two legs of touring with the lovely Paper Aeroplanes, first leg was headline shows and the 2nd leg was supporting Ellen and the Escapades http://www.ellenandtheescapades.com/ They were awesome every night, was great to go on before an act that were so dynamic, we all became very close to, such great people, definitely a band you’d like to be in a bus with on a tour of America. Go see them/buy there record.
What I think is great about going out on the road every night is meeting new people, working the audience and transcending any sound issues, which I have to say there really wasn’t many.
Well I lead a charmed life, I’ve just completed two legs of touring with the lovely Paper Aeroplanes, first leg was headline shows and the 2nd leg was supporting Ellen and the Escapades http://www.ellenandtheescapades.com/ They were awesome every night, was great to go on before an act that were so dynamic, we all became very close to, such great people, definitely a band you’d like to be in a bus with on a tour of America. Go see them/buy there record.
What I think is great about going out on the road every night is meeting new people, working the audience and transcending any sound issues, which I have to say there really wasn’t many.
Playing with Paper Aeroplanes is a nice challenge for a busy double bassist like me, firstly there’s fitting in with a duo that have been going for years and have a very strong and established connection both as great friends and as a musical partnership, it means they’ll often be ok with being quiet, were I’ll never shut up and keep asking everyone about how they’re feeling about everything (can be very entertaining and part irritating, I’m sure) It reminds me of how things were between me and Luke sometimes, were often a raised eyebrow says it all.
2ndly playing on delicate, melodic and often sensitive songs, means I need to play less and work on tone, (as I’m sure Sarah would agree) this is a work in progress for me, I love the great Danny Thompson and he had a way of moving sound that had massive impact without loads of notes, he once said to me that I play more notes live in one song, with Nizlopi than he had in his whole career (whoops) It was a different time, felt very free and it was my band to express myself, but me and Sarah had many chats about it and some of the later shows were just so much better for me taking a step back and leaving loads of space.
I’m going to miss touring with them and I miss the road when I’m home, often feel that is were I’m most comfortable.
Saying that I go on tour with the amazing Jake Morley http://www.jakemorley.com/ this may and it will be the last tour of this Album, so get tickets while you can.
There have been a few releases over the last month; I’m all over the New Polly Paulusma Record http://pollypaulusma.com/wp/ “Leaves from the family tree”
And Jake Morley Released A Live Ep With one of my fav tracks of the year “Ghostess” Was released for record store day and the artwork is lovely
Anyway practicing Has been an issue, never any real quality time, so have had to make do with 30mins here and there but it’s all sounding good, have a new set of strings on my bass and now they’ve settled in I’m a happy man.
Well I shall try and blog regularly whilst on tour put pics up etc… and generally keep you all posted on what’s going on.
Till then keep busy and stay well. X
2ndly playing on delicate, melodic and often sensitive songs, means I need to play less and work on tone, (as I’m sure Sarah would agree) this is a work in progress for me, I love the great Danny Thompson and he had a way of moving sound that had massive impact without loads of notes, he once said to me that I play more notes live in one song, with Nizlopi than he had in his whole career (whoops) It was a different time, felt very free and it was my band to express myself, but me and Sarah had many chats about it and some of the later shows were just so much better for me taking a step back and leaving loads of space.
I’m going to miss touring with them and I miss the road when I’m home, often feel that is were I’m most comfortable.
Saying that I go on tour with the amazing Jake Morley http://www.jakemorley.com/ this may and it will be the last tour of this Album, so get tickets while you can.
There have been a few releases over the last month; I’m all over the New Polly Paulusma Record http://pollypaulusma.com/wp/ “Leaves from the family tree”
And Jake Morley Released A Live Ep With one of my fav tracks of the year “Ghostess” Was released for record store day and the artwork is lovely
Anyway practicing Has been an issue, never any real quality time, so have had to make do with 30mins here and there but it’s all sounding good, have a new set of strings on my bass and now they’ve settled in I’m a happy man.
Well I shall try and blog regularly whilst on tour put pics up etc… and generally keep you all posted on what’s going on.
Till then keep busy and stay well. X
p.s A lovely review of my gig with paper Aeroplanes in Birmingham. http://www.gigjunkies.com/band-reviews/ellen-the-escapades-paper-aeroplanes-john-napier-band-the-hare-hounds-birmingham-uk-20th-april-2012/
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