The social network takes effect (off-line, i.e: in the real world)

I got a call from Grant from I,Thalamus yesterday afternoon. His keyboard player was not going to be able to make their gig on Saturday night. "It's a real rock-til-you-drop moment" he said, "do you know of anyone who could sit in for the night?"

"Yes I do", I said.

So Dove Jones, who incidentally is an excellent piano/keyboard player, will be sitting in with I, Thalamus at the Dublin Castle tonight (Saturday 2nd May). If I hadn't woken up with chicken pox (I knew I wasn't feeling right all week) I'd be going. Well, that's not entirely true; if I hadn't woken up with chicken pox I'd be playing a gig myself tonight at a 21st birthday party out in the sticks).

It is also worth noting another RTYD Effect, and that is that I originally booked I,T at the Dublin Castle. The venue liked them so much - they're a crowd puller and pleaser - that they offered them a Saturday night slot. This is great for I,T but not so good for me, 'cos I could have done with them playing the next Rock-Til-You-Drop night. That of course is only a Wednesday night gig.

One day, eh?...

....there'll be RTYD gigs, festivals, records, TV shows, oven gloves, la la la la la....

Are friends acoustic?

Mike, my bass player, has got me thinking. And given me a dilemma.

After seeing I, Thalamus headline the Rock-Til-You-Drop night at the Dublin Castle, he thinks we could lighten our sound and be a more accessible and successful and entertaining live band, if like Grant Gordon I played acoustic guitar instead of electric. He's right, it probably would lighten up our songs. It would take away that bite, that sharpness, that hardness, that edge that perhaps pins the audience to the back wall, rather than tempting them to move, jig about, or even, dare I say it, dance.

That said, we have had people dancing to us before. Okay, they were drunk..

But do I want to put down the electric? I love playing electric. I love how it feels. I love the power. The weight of it. The acoustic doesn't feel as cool. It looks okay. Goes with the hat, even.

Oh, he's probably right. But I hate him for it.