Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
Monday, 21 November 2011
An Evening of Lugubrious Music and Lopsided Prose: Prep.
I seem to have done nothing for the last 6-8 weeks except practice the songs I set to music from the Hooting Yard Song Book.
I actually 'collected' 9 originals but, due to pressure of time, had to cut it back to 6 for performance.
I began by sitting with the words up on a screen in front of me and my large ukulele in my hand.
Through a process of strumming, plunking and mumbling, I get a rough form to work on.
I may abandon this 'original' form if something better turns up later on.
Which happened 3 times whilst working on these songs.
Then it's all about practice/record/review/practice/record/review/practice/record/review/practice/record/review/practice/record/review/practice/record/review.
I have a bit of a bee in my bonnet about learning the words to any song I intend to perform but, non of these songs were going into my set so, I probably could get away with not learning them by heart.
I learnt 'em by heart all the same.
I wasn't conscious of any 'pressure' about the gig but pushed myself to practice everyday for at least 2 hours.
I had demo versions of the songs on my iPod, on repeat.
I think Linda stopped speaking to me for 3 days before she forbade me from playing 'The Tiny-Headed Boy' in her earshot again. (she really meant it!)
I had intended for the gig to be the premier of the songs but I really needed to play them in front of people to get some feed-back.
I chose a folk session in the downs frequented by people of the 'Morris'.
I explained, as much as one can explain, the context of the songs and how they related to Hooting Yard and Mr. Key.
I, more or less, 'fluffed' all of the songs I played and gave up after 4.
The response was surprisingly positive.
Then a drunk man at the bar insisted we all play 'The Wild Rover' before he went home.
So, swings and round-a-bouts on that adventure.
Intensify the Training!
'The Tiny-Headed Boy' and 'On The Bonny, Bonny Banks' become so firmly embedded in my consciousness I cannot block them out during waking hours.
Linda forbids me from playing 'On The Bonny, Bonny Banks' within her ear-shot.
During this period I was also considering the small matter of amplification.
Did I need it?
If I did need it, how much?
I won't go into detail, suffice to say I came up with a mind-numbing list of options before deciding to forget them all and play acoustically.
Which is what I like doing.
During this period I was also considering the small matter of what to wear.
I chose my cape & a cherrie smile.
Thursday 17th of November, the day before the gig.
I leave work at lunch-time and return home to run through & record the 6 songs as many times as I can.
It takes around 14 minutes to play through all the songs.
I don't keep the recordings.
I just play/record, listen back, and trash. (Using QT Pro:7)
Linda went out.
Next Post: To London, Ah, Mr. Key I presume, Haemoglobin Towers and, possibly, An Evening of Lugubrious Music and Lopsided Prose.
I actually 'collected' 9 originals but, due to pressure of time, had to cut it back to 6 for performance.
I began by sitting with the words up on a screen in front of me and my large ukulele in my hand.
Through a process of strumming, plunking and mumbling, I get a rough form to work on.
I may abandon this 'original' form if something better turns up later on.
Which happened 3 times whilst working on these songs.
Then it's all about practice/record/review/practice/record/review/practice/record/review/practice/record/review/practice/record/review/practice/record/review.
I have a bit of a bee in my bonnet about learning the words to any song I intend to perform but, non of these songs were going into my set so, I probably could get away with not learning them by heart.
I learnt 'em by heart all the same.
I wasn't conscious of any 'pressure' about the gig but pushed myself to practice everyday for at least 2 hours.
I had demo versions of the songs on my iPod, on repeat.
I think Linda stopped speaking to me for 3 days before she forbade me from playing 'The Tiny-Headed Boy' in her earshot again. (she really meant it!)
I had intended for the gig to be the premier of the songs but I really needed to play them in front of people to get some feed-back.
I chose a folk session in the downs frequented by people of the 'Morris'.
I explained, as much as one can explain, the context of the songs and how they related to Hooting Yard and Mr. Key.
I, more or less, 'fluffed' all of the songs I played and gave up after 4.
The response was surprisingly positive.
Then a drunk man at the bar insisted we all play 'The Wild Rover' before he went home.
So, swings and round-a-bouts on that adventure.
Intensify the Training!
'The Tiny-Headed Boy' and 'On The Bonny, Bonny Banks' become so firmly embedded in my consciousness I cannot block them out during waking hours.
Linda forbids me from playing 'On The Bonny, Bonny Banks' within her ear-shot.
During this period I was also considering the small matter of amplification.
Did I need it?
If I did need it, how much?
I won't go into detail, suffice to say I came up with a mind-numbing list of options before deciding to forget them all and play acoustically.
Which is what I like doing.
During this period I was also considering the small matter of what to wear.
I chose my cape & a cherrie smile.
Thursday 17th of November, the day before the gig.
I leave work at lunch-time and return home to run through & record the 6 songs as many times as I can.
It takes around 14 minutes to play through all the songs.
I don't keep the recordings.
I just play/record, listen back, and trash. (Using QT Pro:7)
Linda went out.
Next Post: To London, Ah, Mr. Key I presume, Haemoglobin Towers and, possibly, An Evening of Lugubrious Music and Lopsided Prose.
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Saturday, 19 November 2011
Cardboard Reality Interventions 2011: 323
Tower Bridge London 19/11/11:
This intervention is dedicated to Pansy, Evrah, Frank, Woolfson, Tay and all the Yardista.
Friday, 18 November 2011
Thursday, 17 November 2011
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Monday, 14 November 2011
Sunday, 13 November 2011
Ned Ouwell Art: The Wreath.
Ned Ouwell has been swearing with vigour all afternoon and succeeded in creating this:
Which is a frightening reminder of how close the 'festive' season is getting.
Saturday, 12 November 2011
An Evening of Lugubrious Music and Lopsided Prose: The Countdown Begins.
An Evening of Lugubrious Music and Lopsided Prose is upon us.
I shall be premiering the following songs:
I'll also be playing:
I've been practicing them all, relentlessly.
So relentlessly in fact, that Linda has forbidden me to play 'The Tiny-Headed Boy " in her hearing because she is unable, having heard the song, to "get it out of my head!"
 |
| Just buy a bloody ticket! |
- Rustic Lesson*
- The Tiny-Headed Boy
- On The Bonny Bonny Banks*
- Leo Sayer*
I'll also be playing:
- Dismantled Wooden Myrna Loy
- There Is A Pavilion By The Shore
- The Hooting Yard Chant
- Windham
I've been practicing them all, relentlessly.
So relentlessly in fact, that Linda has forbidden me to play 'The Tiny-Headed Boy " in her hearing because she is unable, having heard the song, to "get it out of my head!"
Friday, 11 November 2011
Geese!
Intrepid independent film maker Ned Ouwell confronts an angry crowd:
Notice poor Teepee the spotty dog, who just wants a bit of a fussing, lurking in the background.
Awwww.....
Notice poor Teepee the spotty dog, who just wants a bit of a fussing, lurking in the background.
Awwww.....
Thursday, 10 November 2011
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Monday, 7 November 2011
Adventures In Modern Cycling: Off The Peg.
Between October and February I usually take all my bicycles off the road to service and repair them.
The 'Dobson' is popping spokes at an alarming rate so I intend replacing the horrid bits of gavanised wire that pass for spokes with lovely stainless steel ones.
The 'Potato' needs a complete re-think and I'd really like to convert it into a tricycle.
The 'Black Tractor' is now the on-going Cyclemotor Project which probably only needs one good day's work to finish it.
I also need to service Linda's bike.
The problem is my current employment is around seven miles away from home and I therefore need transport.
I tried using the Potato but it was really designed for cruising up and down the prom on sunny days not hacking through traffic and along the poorly maintained cycle tracks between me and gainful employment.
I could scour the hedgerows, byways or small ads to find something to ride but I'd end up spending time and money to make it reliable.
So, last month I bit the bullet and visited our local branch of Halfords to get a winter steed.
I shelled out £129.99 for this:
I also got £20's worth of free bits as part of the deal.
I was quite prepared to be bike-snob-sniffy about it but I can't be.
It's a really good bike.
The group set leaves something to be desired with it's nylon brake levers and steel crank set but, in general, it's better equipped than the first mountain bike I owned (Specialised Rockhopper) back it the 1980's.
I have sworn a vow not to modify it in any way and only replace the bits that break or drop off.
Thus far I've had to replace the rear brake when, on trying to balance it, a piece snapped of the tension spring.
(I may change the saddle though. It's a little eye-watering to sit on for any length of time.)
Oh, and to the woman in the black Ford Ka that nearly killed me this morning, I've got your reg number sweetheart and I've informed the local constabulary about your dangerous driving and two-fingered hand gestures.
The 'Dobson' is popping spokes at an alarming rate so I intend replacing the horrid bits of gavanised wire that pass for spokes with lovely stainless steel ones.
The 'Potato' needs a complete re-think and I'd really like to convert it into a tricycle.
The 'Black Tractor' is now the on-going Cyclemotor Project which probably only needs one good day's work to finish it.
I also need to service Linda's bike.
The problem is my current employment is around seven miles away from home and I therefore need transport.
I tried using the Potato but it was really designed for cruising up and down the prom on sunny days not hacking through traffic and along the poorly maintained cycle tracks between me and gainful employment.
I could scour the hedgerows, byways or small ads to find something to ride but I'd end up spending time and money to make it reliable.
So, last month I bit the bullet and visited our local branch of Halfords to get a winter steed.
I shelled out £129.99 for this:
I was quite prepared to be bike-snob-sniffy about it but I can't be.
It's a really good bike.
The group set leaves something to be desired with it's nylon brake levers and steel crank set but, in general, it's better equipped than the first mountain bike I owned (Specialised Rockhopper) back it the 1980's.
I have sworn a vow not to modify it in any way and only replace the bits that break or drop off.
Thus far I've had to replace the rear brake when, on trying to balance it, a piece snapped of the tension spring.
(I may change the saddle though. It's a little eye-watering to sit on for any length of time.)
Oh, and to the woman in the black Ford Ka that nearly killed me this morning, I've got your reg number sweetheart and I've informed the local constabulary about your dangerous driving and two-fingered hand gestures.
Sunday, 6 November 2011
Saturday, 5 November 2011
Friday, 4 November 2011
Thursday, 3 November 2011
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
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