Istvanski's Killercast: Depcast #14

Below is a link to Istvanski's Killercast: Depcast #14.

For the uninitiated, Istvanski's depcasts are his podcast radio shows. This particular one features songs about killing and murder as chosen, and discussed around the kitchen table, by Istvanski, Colin Gillman and myself.

I hope you enjoy it. You can listen to it, and/or download it, here:

Rock til you drop, not just til Christmas

I've made a lot of new friends as a result of setting up ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP. Nice people that I expect to keep in touch with for many more years. A particularly special friend is Colin Gillman. And the other night, before the arrival of another new friend, Steve 'Istvanski', with whose recording equipment and expert knowledge we would all later that evening be recording a podcast radio show of songs about killing and murder, Colin and I were discussing music that we wanted played at our funerals. No surprise that we both picked eleven minute songs.

While we were talking on the subject, it reinforced for me the deeper meaning behind the 'clever' name, ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP. The fact that most of us really mean it. That we're in this together now. We have created a loop. A social circle. We now know where to find each other, at least on-line, if not on the telephone, and in the real world too. We have each other to turn to for advice. For information. For counselling. This is for life, and not just 'til Christmas.

This common ambition is what brings us together; Me, Colin and Steve, for example, around that kitchen table the other night. The commitment. The shared love of making and listening to rock music. That is what we have signed up for. For the duration, for the longevity. Because we all believe that this is one of a very few things that is certain. The fact that we will be rocking 'til we die; give or take a few days, when we may well be dosed up to the eyeballs with morphine and won't be able to remember our names, let alone what 'rock' is.

To that end, I have set up a temporary home for the Members' Obituaries. Not wanting to tempt fate or anything. But before long, someone will 'drop', and it'd be nice to be prepared, and to have a place for others to share their memories, and pay tribute.

As well as Facebook, I mean.

Better out than in: October's Acoustic Afternoon at The Libertine

Another fine afternoon was had by all those assembled for music, beer, roast and colouring-in, at the Libertine yesterday.

Colin Gillman opened proceedings by sitting down with a cup of tea and playing his first ever solo acoustic gig. And why not? I really enjoyed his set, which included new songs Elvis Night at Andy's and Goodbye Ophelia, as well as songs that he composed for his former band Magic Ship.

A bespectacled Patrick Begley, he of Dipsticks fame, also sedentary, performed an engaging set of songs with guitar playing that wouldn't have seemed out of place on Led Zep 3. His bold a capella rendition of a Leadbelly song, was a highlight, and silenced the room.

Tracy Picardi, upstanding, lightened the mood with a set of upbeat songs, and the sweetest voice of the afternoon. Toes started tapping and children downed colour pencils and started dancing and whooping.

Brian Caulfield (pictured above), stalwart of the RTYD scene, and his new guitarist Matthew Quinn (united by RTYD itself, I'm proud to say), were next up, performing under the alias of the Lone Groover and Wonder Boy. Brian's playfully lyrical musical commentaries on modern life and his nostalgic reminiscences kept the adults amused and the ankle-biters on the dance-floor. Between his set of self-penned songs was sandwiched a well-chosen Lone Groover-ised version of The Jam's Eton Rifles, which cleared up one or two of Weller's lyrics that the modfather himself has managed to masticate into incoherence since 1979. Thanks Brian.

Finally RTYD member and professional musician, Jay Stapley, demanded quiet and got it, by wowing the audience with his technical ability and his witty, narrative songs. Delivered with aplomb and mid-song banter, he made it all look so easy. Which, of course, it isn't.

Virtually all of the musicians playing yesterday afternoon, we're nervous about performing. I know 'cos they told me. But they we're all rising to a challenge that they had set for themselves. This challenge involves disconcerting one's self and laying one's self and one's songs bare. It's one of the hardest gigs a musician can play. Either the audience are hanging on your every note, or you need to try to impress them into doing so.

But if you don't have a band (yet), it's better to be playing and developing your songs and craft in this sort of situation, than doing fuck all with 'em. Songs need to be sung. Songs, as Michael Caines of Spirit of Play reminded me at the show yesterday, don't come alive until you perform them and you project them in a room like this. Better out than in.

If you do have a band, though, sometimes you can feel the need to break out of its mould. Of the trappings of it genre, or instrumentation. To make music that differs from that which you play regularly. This is my reason for wanting to book myself to play The Libertine. The challenge for me, is to do it next month. As it is for Graham Hunt, alias mature musician blogger Furtheron and writer of the Guitars and Life blog. Check out his blog, as he too rises to the challenge.

Colin Gillman: A RTYD Case Study #5: 'The second coming' or 'Robert Ludlum vs Facebook'

Because my band Pocket Rocket has been in the studio in the last few days and I've had various other bits and bobs on my plate, I have been a bit lax in reporting on Colin progress recently. Sorry about that - but it's all good news. Since his renunciation of all things social-networky he has had a very promising acoustic rehearsal with guitarist and drummer Roy Phillips, as well as, finished a Robert Ludlum hardback he picked up for 10pence.

Roy and Colin worked through a number of Colin's songs at a rehearsal room in Perivale called Loz Vegas Soundhouse, and the results have inspired Colin no end, and renewed his confidence. As I may have mentioned before, they plan to use the RTYD Libertine gigs, to work up new songs and ideas as an acoustic guitar duo.

The book was good too, apparently.

Colin has also been in contact with guitarist Marty from East Grinstead (?), who seems very keen, after a period of telephone silence. Colin has booked a series of rehearsals at Airplay Studios and is planning to get together with Roy, who will be playing drums in the band, Marty and a bass player (I can't remember which one, now?) on the 21st September.

All good news and Colin is suitably psyched. So psyched, he's only back on Facebook!

Colin Gillman: A RTYD Case Study #4: The man who fell to earth...and took up fishing

On the 26th August, I reported that Colin had 'gone fishing'. I was of course referring to Colin's search for new musicians, not to any literal activity of this nature. Well, early on Thursday morning as I slept, an email arrived in my inbox from Colin announcing that he was closing his Facebook, MySpace, blog and Twitter sites, and that he was planning to sell his electric guitar and take up fishing. I have to say I was just a little worried and called him first thing in the morning to make sure he was okay. He didn't answer, but instead sent a text asking me not to worry, all was well, it was an epiphany rather the act of a broken man.

I finally managed to speak to Colin last night and he confirmed that this is definitely no whim. He hopes that a jam session with guitarist and drummer Roy Phillips next week will be a productive and inspiring one, and he fully intends to honour his acoustic gig bookings at The Libertine in the autumn, but he says he wants to re-familiarise himself with more down to earth activities such as fishing, reading, and socialising in the real world over a pint rather than over a social network.

I have to say for a moment I was envious of the feeling of liberation that his act of renunciation had inspired. I look forward then to Colin twittering on to me over a pint in a pub very soon.

Colin Gillman: A RTYD Case Study #2: Colin's 'Gone fishing'

And the latest is that he has already had a couple of bites on PartySounds. Both sound promising.

The first, a lead guitarist/songwriter, formerly of a black-T-shirted heavy rock band, who have been know to do the odd tribute to Lizzy and the like, has his own studio, transport and has experience of playing as one-half of a twin lead-guitar section. Perfect for Col's vision. And he can collaborate with Colin on the songwriting. He is from the 'south' of England, Colin's not sure where exactly.

The second is a bass player. I can't remember what Colin said about this guy but he sounded worth meeting and/or trying out.

Colin is a little taken aback by the speed of the responses. I think he needs to act fairly quickly or they might wriggle free of his line.

Click here to see Colin's ad on RTYD.

To be continued.

No nutters, stalkers or political activists: Just three guitars, a hammond organ, bass, drums and two backing singers, preferably black.

So it seems that I witnessed the final Magic Ship gig on Saturday night. At least Magic Ship fronted by one Faces-obsessed, Hawaiian shirted, Colin Gillman.

Colin has left Magic Ship, and he is keen to branch out creatively. To move away from the trappings of Magic Ship's brand of classic rock and explore melody and instrumentation beyond guitar, bass and drums.

So I thought, well he actually thought - 'cos he's the PR consultant - that it might make an interesting 'case study'-type thing to follow his progress on my blog. I think he's right, so I'm gonna give it a shot. From one man and a musical vision to a three guitar line-up with Hammond organ, drums, bass, and backing singers - preferably black. The ads, the auditions, the doubt and the dilemmas, the joy and the jealousy (not sure about that last one -Ed) - I'm gonna attempt to cover it all.

Colin has already posted an ad to the RTYD Musicians' Ads pages, and I believe to PartySounds.co.uk. He has been to JoinMyBand.co.uk but found nothing but a bunch of youngsters.

Now, he actually already has drummer and RTYD member Roy Phillips on board, which is great. Roy's a fantastic drummer, and a bit of an all-rounder by all accounts, so he and Colin are planning to work up a few songs with two acoustics over the next few weeks and play at one of my acoustic gigs at The Libertine in the near future. Just to keep the juices flowing, like.

And why not.

So watch this space.

The latest is, he's been down the Offy to get some beers in. Unfortunately, they are all out of his beloved London Pride. He is dumbfounded. He is incredulous. He is.... living in a lager-obsessed drinking culture. Poor bastard - I hate that too.