#6 Big weekend...

Well.

That was some weekend.

It was my birthday on Friday. And on Saturday. And on Sunday too as it happens. Ever since I became too old to get the latest Optimus Prime as a present i've not made too big a deal of my birthdays and had it not have been for all the gigs i'd booked around it, this year would have been no different.
As a little birthday "warm-up" we went to see Reef at the O2. They were the first "big" band I ever saw live, my old band (Freerider) supported them on their 1st date of their 10year anniversary tour (which is where the beginnings of AlBenAza were formed), and over the years i've ended up having various dealings and random acts of chance involving them. I've supported "StringerBessant" (Gary & Jacks other project), AlBenAza had a gig once were Dom was drumming for us and Reef's current front of house engineer recorded half of my first EP. Anyway, they absolutely smashed it and it awesome to see them again.

The Friday was my actual birthday and a few friends and I went to a venue called the Stag & Hounds to watch the Plymouth based band Moriarty. Having lived in Plymouth before Bristol, I know Matt (the drummer) but i'd not yet seen them. Annoyingly every time they'd played Bristol, i'd either be giggin myself or working away. It was nice to finally catch them and played a corker of a set with some banging riffs. if you get a chance to see them, do it.

Despite trying to take it easy, shots may have become involved so when I woke up the next morning I can't say I felt 100%. After composing myself I drove down to Totnes to support Dizraeli & The Small Gods at a sold out Barrelhouse. It was great to be back down that way as the Barrelhouse is a great venue and I got to catch up with some friends as well. The gig was awesome too. I'm my own worst critic but that was probably the first gig i've done where I was really happy with how I sang. I'd been listening to the Dizraeli & The Small Gods album on repeat all week and I have to say seeing them live is a must. The album is great, but there's definitely and added layer of awesomeness when it's right in front of you.

Sold out!

The next afternoon(!) I drove back to Bristol to play the Shakespeare for the Totterdown arts trail. The arts trail is basically a load of artists displaying their art in venues and house in the Totterdown area. I got back just in time to catch The Montgomerys who were awesome and another band i'd been meaning to see but just not got round to. Considering by this point my hangover had developed quite nicely and Ben the bar manager had greeted me with a shot of sambuca & tabasco, I managed to get through the set and I dare say I felt like I sang better than I had done the previous night. The night was completed by the Lewis Creaven Band. Seriously, these guys can play. Lewis is probably one of, if not the best guitarist i've ever seen in real life. Get them in your life. :-)

So that was my birthday weekend. Thanks to everyone that came to the shows, bought me drinks, and sent me messages. I'll now be hibernating for a few months. ;-)

EP news! We are in the latter stages now! We should be starting the mixdowns this week and then it's just mastering and artwork to go. Whoop whoop!

Finally, we're off to Launceston at the end of this week to film the video for a single. Quite excited about that so i'll let you know how that goes next time around.

Laters

Aaron

P.S. Moriarty won "Best Video" at the South West Music awards on Friday night. Check it out below.

#5 Best laid plans.....

I was hoping to write this blog very shortly after the last one so (again) apologies for this one being so late. I’m currently putting plans together to make this a more regular thing. For those of you that are reading these then thanks for bearing with it!

Since the last blog the gigs have slowed down a bit whilst I focus on recording the EP and earning enough money to live through the January slump in work. I’ve not had as many gigs however the few I’ve had have been corkers. The biggest of them was this years London Acoustic guitar show. The one last year was a real step up for me as that’s where I attained a number of the endorsements I now have. This year was full on. I walked into the Kensington Olympia and within 5 mins I was playing on the Elixir stand, minutes after that I was playing in the Acoustic café. I ended up playing about 4-5 times over the whole weekend, in between that I was catching up with Martin & Markus from Lakewood (who were over from Germany), Logarhythm, Elixir, and Acoustic magazine. I did a little video interview with Mr Chris Woods

and a “looping lesson” for Elixir so that might be on their website soon. I'm not going to lie, I wasn't entirely prepared and it's not something i've ever done before so i'm fairly certain i'm going to look like a right plonker. ;-)  My parents also came up to surprise me again. I met a guy called Darren at the show last year and he was at this years show also and he tweeted me saying how nice my parents were and how proud of me they are. I don’t say it enough but I really wouldn't be able to do any of this if it wasn't for their support so there’s a “thanks” going out to them now & always. I got to catch up with the guys from Hudson Taylor again which was cool, and I met Scott Matthews and Tom Crouch (Gabrielle Aplins guitarist). It’s great to meet all these guys and finding them so down to earth and friendly especially given the levels they're at and hearing that the music industry is supposed to be full of a-holes!

Scott Matthews & myself

If you pick up a copy of this months "Acoustic" magazine, you'll find a few nice words about me in their review of the show. Thanks chaps. :-)

Other gigs worthy of note in the last few months have been the Little Apple Cyder Festival just outside Newquay. It was organised by a good friend and old band mate and I he did a ruddy good job of it. I can see heaps of potential with that one. Also similarly, Bicton Fest (put together in part by Adam Isaac) is another that I can see getting bigger and better. The main stage is in front of a massive lake which is at the bottom of a hill so it’s kind of like a natural amphitheatre. Beautiful. I also supported Ryan Keen, twice. The first time was at the Barrelhouse in Totnes which was amazing and it was great to see the Barrelhouse absolutely jammed full of people. The second time was in good ‘ole Bristol at The Fleece. Ryan had a tour support called Gavin James with him for that one and he’s one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet. And what a voice that man has. To be fair the pair of them are just really nice guys, and bloody talented. I was gutted I couldn't stick around after the show for longer as I had to fly to Newcastle very early the next morning. Ryan and Gavin have both just released an album (Room for light) and an EP (Remember me) respectively. Go get them. J

So at the end of the last blog I said that I’d be talking about advertising this time around. As you may know I’m endorsed by Logarhythm and they recently ran a campaign that featured their artists in magazines. My creative genius friend Ian “King of Pixels” Skriczka came up with a great idea for a photo with me levitating with the Prolog stomper. He’s a bit of a whizz is Ian and the photo came out really well and as such was featured in the September issue of Guitarist magazine as well as the August & September issues of Acoustic magazine. Check it out below.

Speaking of endorsements I’ve now been added to the Lakewood Guitars official artists list which I’m mega chuffed with as other names on that list are Dave Matthews and Thom Yorke! Other than their guitars being great the Lakewood guys are super nice so it’s a real honour to be included in what they're doing. I’m also very pleased to announce that I’m endorsing Heistercamp straps. These guitar straps are hand made to order, are uber comfortable, and tough as nails. I can’t see myself needing a replacement one of these unless I’m attacked by a Wolverine on stage…..I fact I could probably beat said Wolverine with the strap to save myself.

Finally, I’m now endorsed by G7th capos too! They've got a whole heap of different capos including partial ones so looking forward to trying them bad boys out with regards to new songs.

Speaking of new songs I’m also hoping that I can  actually get back to doing some writing as I finally caught up with and completed Breaking Bad. ;-) That was some TV show……up there with The Wire. (Family Guy joke) In all seriousness though, I did really enjoy that program.

Righto, that's how for now. Next Thursday I shall be off to watch Reef at the O2, and then the Friday is my day of birth so may have a few cheeky shandies. ;-)
For anyone that is in Totnes Saturday after next, i'll be supporting Dizraeli & The Smalls Gods at the Barrelhouse. Should be a cracker of a gig so pop your heads in if you're about. Then finally on the Sunday i'll be back in Bristol playing at The Shakespeare in Totterdown.

I'll let you know how it all goes in 2 weeks. So that'll be the 18th. Pinky promise. :-)

Till then, toodles.

Aaron

P.S. Hudson Taylor recently released their 3rd EP titled "Osea". This is my favourite track from it, check them out yo.