Riadsala’s Blog

Hello world. I thought I’d share my thoughts on the gigs I saw during the Jazz & Blues Festival. In general, I think the festival suffers from being too close to the almighty Fringe and International Festival. Tickets aren’t cheap, and while there are some good names, the line-up is never stunning (and by stunning, I mean something like the North Sea Jazz Festival… how did I miss that?!?).

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Well, my week off hasn’t started that well… spent the morning in work as I had a list of things that needed done. And now I’m home, and it looks like the week’s going to be pretty busy. On the to-do list we have:

• Record Warr guitar parts for the next track on the Invisible Helpers EP. This will probably take longer than I’d like, but will be good for my technique… I’ll find out just cleanly I can play all those arpeggios.
• Make some noticeable progress on some of the tracks for my collab EP.
• Take my old fretted Warwick bass to Red Dog. The instrument’s action is all wrong (loads of fretbuzz) and I’m also wondering if I should get it re-varnished.
• Start learning how to play lead-guitar style parts on the Warr. In particular, find where all the interesting notes are. I can find the obvious notes, and the wrong notes. Although I have a hunch that the problem isn’t with the notes at all: it’s how I play them
• Play my ‘cello a bit. As the poor thing has been sitting in it’s case for too long
• Read a few journal papers. Preferably over coffee.
• Work out the best way to attach my pedals to my pedal board.

And finally, I’m also off to see the adaptation of the Wind Up Bird Chronicles in the Internation Festival, and Shooglenifty in the Fringe.

Lets see how much of that I get done.

I finally gave in and took advantage of the 3 for 2 offer on Boss effect pedals. So I know reckon my effects board is complete…. tuner, volume pedal, compressor/sustainer, blues driver, chorus ensemble, fender deluxe, super octaver, and gigadelay.

Now I just need to get better at playing the Warr.

Hello,

spring eh. A nice time of year. Especially as my fear of immenent unemployment looks like it will be unrealised. At least until 2012. Which is good. And the weather is improving. And I’ve finished the draft paper that I’ve been stuggling with. And resubmitted another paper, which all going well will get published. And Louisa has just suggested meeting at the pub in a bit. So things are pretty good.

Musically, as usual, I’ve not been up to as much as I would like. I guess I’m losing enthusiasm as I head towards 30. Which is a great shame. I would really put a bit more effort in. I have a lot of ideas. On the plus side, even though neither of them are “mine”, I am featured on a couple of local releases.

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In no particular order:

• Richard Thompson concert later this month. Loved the new album, and this will be the  first time I’ve seen him with a full electric band. Should be a cracking gig.
• Penguin Cafe Orchestra concert in Febuary. I saw the new incarnation in  the Ed Festival year before last. Was great getting to hear all those lovely little tunes, as the original PCO was before my time. Glad to see the new lot are still going strong and returning to Edinburgh outside of the festival (and hence, cheaper tickets, longer concert, and a more reasonable start time!)
• The Invisible Helpers debut gig and recordings. We were meant to be playing our first gig in December, but it was cancelled due to all that snow (seems to long ago now!). Norman seems to be dead keen to get the show on the road soon though, so I can’t imagine it’ll  be that long til we play. On a related note, we were in the recording studio yesterday laying the foundations down for two tunes. I’m quite excited to hear how they sound as more parts gradually get added.
• Louisa’s first ice hockey match with the Beagals. Although I do worry a little, i can imagine it’ll be great fun to watch! I do hope she makes it through in one piece though!
• Getting my Go Kyu past 20 on DGS. Shouldn’t be too hard, as long as I can avoid making stupid mistakes. Not playing Go for six years makes you careless!
• Getting a 3rd journal paper accepted. Optimistic. And it’s been a while since I had a publication. But I there was more interest in my work than I expected at the Paris AVA meeting, so fingers crossed.
• Continuing to improve my ‘cello playing. Here’s hoping that by the end of 2011, I’ll be better than I was in 2000! Eep. I’m really enjoying trying to play Brahm’s 1st cello sonata just now. And the Vivaldi sonatas.
• Get more of my daft electronic solo music done. You never know, I might manage to do enough for a EP
• The National Museum of Scotland reopening in the summer!
• Potentially, a trip to Skye for a little Scottish Vision Conference around Easter.
• The Big Chill, if I can persuade a few friends to come along
• More hill walking with Ed. About time I walking up some Monroes.

My suit isn’t big enough.

It doesn’t have enough flashing lights either: