A house is not an excuse

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A house is not a home nor is it an igloo or a sandwich: We have a new place! Next month farewell to our beloved Inchgarvie (after 3 years – see the cool painting) and hello to the run-down but spacious Upper Parkhead. Lots of work to do but we hope to have fun and make this exciting new piece of living space as warm, welcoming and inspiring as we can. Extra rooms (of all shapes and sizes) will certainly help, open fire, oddly smelling but large kitchen, utility room, big garden, two loos, two showers and a bath, a mysterious pond in the woods, a garage and large parking area. In the hot weather the house looked very impressive despite needing obvious TLC.

Late Leithstock Stuff

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Leithstock, later than planned, a few of the few pictures I took before my phone / camera froze, Tommy Mackay, Scott Renton, Norman Lamont all in some kind of action.

Leithstock - late incoming pics from CBQ

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In a cumming piece of blog piracy I've taken this rather artistic little montage from http://crispycat.co.uk (that'll lead you to the CBQ blog). This is only because my phone froze (and Ali and I are in few of the pics).

Sunshine on Leith...again

(These fish are nothing to do with anything)

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Yes I know it’s pretty obvious title but that was what we all experienced today after a little early morning rain. OOTB invaded Leith Market for 6 hours of live and generally pretty good music. We gave out flyers for the forthcoming Leith gigs, sold CDs, chatted, hung out, ate big burgers, drank coffee and beer and all had a pretty good afternoon. We were on at 1230 before the market (never really busy) fully woke up. Our set was nice and noisy and (spiney tingly crystaly guitary sweepy uppy swoopy vocals) I’m sure woke up a few folks in the surrounding flats and apartments in the still air. The music seemed to bounce back from the surrounding buildings in a rather satisfying way. Impossible Song’s set list was:

That’s my baby
How I hate
Quiet Genius
Dancing
Happy Like
I miss that boy
WIP

Also playing were (and listed in no particular order): Flowers for Algernon, Jill Hepburn, Tommy Mackay (mastermind behind the gig), Norman Lamont, Torpedo Buoy, Scott Renton, Fraser Drummond, Chris Brown, Steve Cox, Jeremy Kemp and Rosie Bell.

Lots of friends and fellow musos (CBQ, JJ, Big Jim, FS and more) all drifted along during the afternoon. I’d have pictures but my phone cam froze up for some reason after I took a pic of Steve (Spartacus) Cox. Some will no doubt follow from other sources.

Catch us next at the Left Bank, Guthrie Street, Tuesday 16th at 9 pm and then next Sunday (9pm also) at “Out of Bounds” Lamb’s House, Leith.

Syrus the cat

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I was out in one of the outhouses this afternoon looking for a piece of timber to fix a notice board. Syrus was in a shed, up on a shelf, at Cheshire Cat height, staring down at me, wondering no doubt why on earth I was hunting on his patch, interfering in his world, scaring away his prey.

These pictures show him however in a more restful state, which is mainly how we see him.

So far we've caught him with five rabbits, half a rabbit (?), a mouse and a small bird. On occasions the local magpies do however gang up against him.

Glen Esk

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Glen Esk

Quiet,
Very Quiet,
Still and tranquil
A tranquil footprint,
Still the same as it has always been.
Occasional visitors,
Birds and bees, ancient trees,
History twisted by Lairds and roadmen.
Ploughs and searchlights, ruin and dry stone.
Mysterious cairns and monuments.
The Picts came this way, the robbers and the cattlemen,
The priest and the poacher and those who could not stay,
But we only have a few days,
To share this drizzle and mist,
The elusive sun, the cruel cloud,
Those that deny us a perfect summer,
Some how doesn’t matter.
No phone signals for there is no need,
Track the RAF in a hurry,
Planes are still new to these skies,
Chop logs and bird watch,
Waste time and build bridges,
Dam up streams and daydream,
Think and write down thoughts,
Forget what you were taught,
About time and things to do,
On holiday with you.

Various live efforts etc.

Impossible Songs at the Roxy - Picture by Stu Cobley.

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Had fun (?) last night playing at the Left Bank in Edinburgh. A 35 minute set was received well by a young and eager audience (eager for the next act that is!) but Ali and I enjoyed the gig. We were pleased that the very busy Norman Lamont joined us on bass for "that's my baby" before doing his own set later in the evening.

Gigs coming up for us are:

Sunday 14th August - "Leithstock "- open air OOTB day at Leith Market cunningly put together by Tommy Mackay. Lots of OOTB favourites will be playing from 11.30 till 5.00pm ouside and live in the fresh air. A taster for "Out of Bounds" which begins Saturday 20th.

Tuesday 16th August - back at the "Left Bank" Guthrie Street from 9.00pm.

Sunday 21st August - "Out of Bounds" at Lamb's House, Leith from 9.00pm.

Saturday 10th September - "South Queensferry Arts Festival" - ourselves, Norman Lamont and Tommy Mackay - details TBC.

Of course Out of the Bedroom is on each Thursday (except 25th August) at the Waverley Bar in St Mary's Street. www.outofthebedroom.co.uk

Out of Bounds at Lamb's House

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Out of the Bedroom's fun packed festival nights begin at Lamb's House, Burgess Street, Leith, Edinburgh (Pic above) 8.30 till late, 20th August till 26th. A wild mix of open mike and set performances, you'd be mad to miss it and it's only £3.00. The venue is just behind the Waterline Pub (Venue 237). More details at www.outofthebedroom.co.uk

A special 30 ish track CD is being released by OOTB featuring us (impossible songs), Tommy Mackay, Scott Renton, Norman Lamont, Big Jim, William Douglas, Flowers for Algernon, Andy Paterson, The G.co.uk, CBQ and many other OOTB favourites - £3.00.

And while on the subject of gigs we're back from holiday and playing at the "Left Bank" Guthrie Street, Edinburgh. Tuesday 9th & Tuesday 16th August - 9.00 pm onwards.

Final Guitar Twaddle for now...

The other guitars in my life are an Ibanez “Martin 1930” copy and a cheap jumbo Jim Deacon (with cutaway). I bought the Ibanez in 1982 and though the octaves are a little out I like it, the wider classical neck and the small hourglass body are all very tactile and comfortable so it’s snug and easily playable. I’ve written a lot of songs on this guitar. It did have a pick up on it at one time and I gigged it for a short while in the early eighties. It also spent time in Aberdeen as a student guitar in the late 90s, but I felt sorry for it and rescued it from potential destruction. The JD is a bit of a heap; ok for strumming and fiddling with and the electrics are reliable if nothing else. Played it a lot in the mid 90s when, to be honest I wasn’t all that bothered about guitars (or what I was playing on them!).

My Yamaha (top right) has only been around six weeks, I guess I’m still breaking it in but it does everything I want already. It’s up a Glen Esk in a cottage right now, I left it there at the weekend and I’m missing it already. I’ve used it three times for our shows at the Roxy and really enjoyed playing it. I think it does well in most departments. I’ve used it with a Morley Wah Wah pedal also which has been fun. It’ll be the main guitar I’ll use for our regular live stuff over the next few months. I’ll probably do some home recording with it in the autumn, for demos, fun and the like.

Lastly and without any current picture or contact, I have a 1964 Vox Teardrop (Bill Wyman) sunburst semi-acoustic bass. I acquired this from a friend around 1976 and played it regularly till about 1984. Eventually one of my sons fell heir to it and played it in various Fife and Aberdeen bands in the late 90s. Currently it’s in bits and needing some TLC, it’s probably in Banff. One pick up is badly cracked and the wiring is shot but the neck and body are ok. A project for some one.

Other guitars I’ve loved and lost: 1975 sunburst Telecaster (classic model), 1971 Shaftsbury Bass, 19?? Semi Acoustic (335 body) Epiphone (Rivolli type) bass, various crappy acoustics, one Yamaha FG?, a Harmony Sovereign twelve string, the Gold Top Antoria (1973?) and a black semi-acoustic whose details I cannot remember at all.

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Guitar Twaddle 3

The Ozark resonator cut-away is two years old. Features on the “WIP” CD on all the live recordings and also the remix and studio tracks. Most of these do contain a great deal of effects and distortions added and overlaid so much of the tingly, jangley sound it naturally produces is lost. Used it at one “acoustica” and a few OOTB nights as well as “50 for the Festival” the CBQ nights in August 2004. Recent songs written on it are “not pretty” and “I miss that boy”.



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Guitar Twaddle 2

This picture is of my Japanese Strat. Probably about six years old now and quite nicely playable thanks to a mature maple neck and the usual creature comforts. I have painted it in a series of odd designs using surplus nail varnish that Ali kindly donated to the project. Only gigged once (at a Full Moon night at the Complex in Leith) but used on both the “scapes” and “heartburst” recordings and CDs for all the main guitar parts. The tremolo arm fell off a few years ago (in Germany), I’ve never bothered to replace it.


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Guitar Twaddle

Recently got a hold of an old (1974) black top Antoria Les Paul. Many years ago I had a gold top that I really enjoyed playing, chugged out a load of James Gang, Mountain and Velvet Underground riffs on it as I recall. All played through a battered WEM PA40 and two 2 x12s or a WEM Dominator. Well I’ve this black one now, I don’t think the neck is original, fingerboard is plain pearl and rosewood and the machines are new and a little odd. None the less the action and feel is good and I’m going to re string it and set it up properly for myself after the holidays. If I’m happy with it I’ll take it to Germany for our next batch of recordings with our buddy Martin Freitag from the band Mobil.



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World's Longest Soundcheck

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World’s longest soundcheck gets underway.

Had a lot of fun at the Roxy last night: Friends playing were the marvellous Norman Lamont doing both songs and soundscapes and the “Famous Blue Raincoat” Cohen cover.The articulate and polished works of Cloudland Blue Quarter (CBQ) and James Jamieson performing as a duo also featured. The Roxy manager, Linda recorded all our sets so we’ll have some pleasure and pain listening to our performances over again.

The evening began with the soundscapes and smoke, CBQ practising quite impressively before Norman started with the full works. Impossible Songs then did 35 minutes including “That’s my Baby”, “Dancing”, “How I Hate” and “Not Pretty”. CBQ and James followed. We did a further 25 minutes: “WIP”, “Happy Like” and “Twin Song”. CBQ and James again shining with “The Crocodile Song” and “King’s Country”(and a mystery guest introduced by Norman). Norman closed the evening with a shorter set than I’d have liked but included “Nicolle” and the sinister “Desert”.

The audience was sparse but we all had a good time, Ali was looking great in a new jacket and singing with a power and confidence that’s grown in the last few months. Now it's time for a holiday...

Useful links are:

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http://crispycat-recordings.blogspot.com

www.normanlamont.com

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http://www.outofthebedroom.co.uk/

Roxy Still Rules

Impossible Songs @ the ROXY Thursday 14th July.

Impossible Snobs are back at the Roxy Art House this Thursday 14th July.

Two sets (perhaps) are required in a bag of worms and sandshoes production, more than less than usual will not be too much, or quite enough - thank you.

Also none other than Norman Lamont, Cloudland Blue Quartet and Mr James Jamieson, will be present and playing live. Music starts at 9.00 pm - Entry £3.00 at the door.

Spectacular soundscapes (from Mr NL), Wah pyrotechnics, natural reverb and echo, blissed out vocals and screaming anger, gardens, cranes and skylines, 80's idols and the First World War, searching for Bob, Nicolle and the hungry ghosts of the Southlands. Cats and domestic situations may be mentioned at times. Do not come if you are at all feeble minded, badly prepared or afraid of the effects of magnetism, otherwise all welcome!

Beer and TV on tap, daily newspapers and candlelight, fudge and strawberries and forgiveness for all: Before we take a short break while others gig on.

Shuman Says..

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Shuman says "Hi", Shuman says "Stay foxy", Shuman says "I'm watching you, hope to see you on Friday at the Roxy!"

Please try to please Shuman, impossible songs are not responsible for his actions....right now.

Syrus, G8, Roxy.

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G8 Live8 F8?

Mingled with the folks and wandered around the centre of Edinburgh after the G8 MPH march, prior to playing at St Andrews Church. Interesting to see the litter and (slight) devastation left by the protesters, discarded placards, water bottles, posters and trash every where, some of it spookily blowing along the empty streets on the Saturday evening breeze. I admire the protest and the protesters but I’d like a world without poverty and without thoughtless littering. Let’s join up our thinking a bit!

Enjoyed playing our short set in the church, quite a few people of all types there seeking a quiet time and some entertainment after the march. Did three songs, “Twin Song”, “Damage” and “Rainbow” all of which seemed to go down well. Unfortunately I dropped a small radio mike which decided to stop working thereafter and my guitar was a bit boomy on “Damage”. Ali sang like an angel and made a good little opening speech, being in church of course makes all the difference to the likes of us.

On the way out of St Andrews bumped into the sunburned and tired looking (but always interesting) Norman Lamont http://www.normanlamont.com/ who had survived the march and was now grateful for a lift back to Queensferry.

Home in time to see the end of Live8, Sting was pretty good I thought but the reunited Pink Floyd were possibly the highlight of the whole thing for me. For once there appeared a decent level of emotion and bonding between them as they shared the same stage. Seeing them together and hearing their music brought back a lot of memories for me, their music has, quite unintentionally formed a large part of my life’s soundtrack. The last time I saw them live was in the Usher Hall in Edinburgh, I think in 1974; they did “Echoes” and all of “DsoM” as I recall.

Advert now: Impossible Songs: Appearing live at the Roxy Art House in July!

Friday July 8th at 9.00 PM - £3.00 – or free if you are already in at the theatre performance.

Acoustic/vocal soft rock for snobs and intellectuals, neo-new things, bright young things and spoonerisim lovers of all ages. The play list is a closely guarded secret and even if you saw it you wouldn’t understand any more than we do.

CDs may be up for sale along with fridge magnets, a single wah pedal may be heard behind vocals and walls of sound, wine and water shall be consumed, stuff will be strutted.

Phone the Roxy on 0871 750 0077 to book a sandwich and a deckchair.

2 Roxburgh Place, Edinburgh EH8 9SU. http://www.roxyarthouse.com/

Fridge Magnets!

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In a super piece of marketing and creative odd-ballness we've produced a range of funky fridge magnets, no self respecting fridge or home should be without some - or all. There are three big fat beauties to collect, nicely priced at 40p each, email, call or comment. Actual sizes are not quite what is on your screen at the moment but who cares, your fridge will love you more than your family as a result of this thoughtful purchase.

We'll be selling, giving, swopping and trading these collectors items at www.outofthebedroom.co.uk most Thursdays and at St Andrews Church, Princes Street - 1900 on the 2nd July and at the Roxy Art House 2100 on the 8th of July. We do sell nice CDs too, try one today!

Errr...Roxy Musak?

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Rockin’ the Roxy.

Well we had a lot of fun. We performed for about 55 minutes to a small but well formed audience. The theatre show on before us failed to live up to it’s promised audience expectation and we suffered as a result. However we played on and though I say so myself were pretty good. A decent (big) PA and foldback and wide stage makes such a difference, we both relaxed and just got on with playing the songs, fluffs and bouts of nerves were few and far between. Ali looked pretty good in her new pink jacket.

Set list:

That’s my baby, All the Vows, Dancing, Daddy, Tokyo Skyline, How I Hate, Not Pretty, She’s a Waitress, WIP, The Rainbow, I Miss That Boy and Happy Like. We had the song “Damage” held in reserve but didn’t play it.

See us next at OOTB on Thursday 30Th June at the Waverley www.outofthebedroom.co.uk and on Saturday 2nd July at St John’s in Princes Street (West End) at around 7pm. (following on from the “make poverty history” rally and march in Edinburgh).

Next gig at the Roxy, Friday 8th July at 9pm.

Impossible Songs @ the Roxy

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Impossible Songs: Appearing live at the Roxy Art House x2 - June & July!

Thursday June 23rd at 9.00 PM - £3.00 – or free if you are already in at the theatre performance.

Friday July 8th at 9.00 PM - £3.00 – or free if you are already in at the theatre performance.

Acoustic/vocal soft rock for snobs and intellectuals, neo-vegetarians, carnivores and pranksters of all ages. The play list is a closely guarded secret and even if you saw it you wouldn’t understand any more than we do.

CDs may be up for sale along with fridge magnets, a single wah pedal may be heard behind vocals and walls of sound, oh and water shall be consumed, who knows - some stuff may be strutted.

Phone the Roxy on 0871 750 0077 to book a sandwich.

2 Roxburgh Place, Edinburgh EH8 9SU. http://www.roxyarthouse.com

A day in the life

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2 coffees (forgot to take the cod liver oil, vitamins and aspirin)
4 pieces of toast
1 egg (fried)
4 small sausages + brown sauce
1 newspaper (The Scotsman)
1 EBay transaction (a used light sabre)
1 can of Tennants lager
1 bag of prawns (thawing out for stir fry)
1 viewing of the Sponge Bob movie – with the kids
4 games of Mario Cart – highest place second
1 Great Escape scene acted out on the tyre swings
2 phone calls, also read numerous emails
3 plastic cups used
1 cloud shaped like a question mark
1 cloud shaped like a question mark that was gone quickly
1 made up story about the “Witch's Tree” and her gory death
1 series of thoughts about Warren Zevron’s WW of London
1 stir-fry
1 bout of homework assistance
Some text messages, can’t remember how many
1 strop, 1 minor tantrum, 1 hiding in the toilet (not me incidentally, a small person)
1 sleep