February 24, 2009
Hello
although it’s now Tuesday, and the happyness and enthusiasm are fading, I had a very good weekend. It didn’t start too well: The Pussycats’ gig at the Ark was a bit crap. Turning up for the soundcheck only to find that we’d been double booked with somebodies party didn’t really help set a good scene. Luckily, we managed to negotiate a 30 min set. But still, somewhat of a downer as the last gig at the Ark back in December went pretty well, and the Cab gig was pretty good too. But hey, you win some you lose some.
Things improved though, with a surprise phone call from Ali on Sat morning.
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Posted by riadsala
February 19, 2009
20th Feb – The Als and the Pussycats at The Ark. 8pm.
Yeah, the Ark. I hope Ralph is doing the sound. Fingers crossed I can get a another live recording so we can hear what we actually sound like. Probably cost you £4 or there abouts.
22nd Feb – AlKandAlC at The Listening Room (Blue Blazer). 9pm.
Our first duo gig of 2009! Hopefully we can piece together a new set this weekend. The evening starts at 8pm with some open mic acts, and Ali and I are on around 9pm. Free!
10th March – The Als and the Pussycats at Whistlebinkies. 11pm.
The first gig at Whistlebinkies for the cats.
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February 17, 2009
ok, Maybe etude is over doing it a little, but hey.
melodicminormodulatemajorex
This was mainly done as an idea for Cantor (a reprise/coda/outro) for Interlock, But Matt doesn’t like modulating, he’s got something about major keys. I guess maybe I’ve been playing with Ali for too long, as I quite like like major these days. So anyway, I quite like this, and I might try and expand it into a piece in it’s own right. Already some happy accidents are suggesting new ways to develop it.
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Posted by riadsala
February 5, 2009
It’s important to have the right tool for the job. With this in mind, we assembled a whole forest of guitars 
Yes, we love each and every one of them. Well, almost.
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Posted by riadsala
January 28, 2009
Hello, the week’s gone so so so far (that is grammatically correct isn’t it?). Work is ebbing up and down. I’ve been givning the task of doing a preliminary lit. review for a new project/grant proposal my boss is thinking of submitting. Which is exciting in theory (lots of interesting research etc) but boring in practise (trying to find relevant lit. review). No doubt this will change by the end of the once I get a handle on the field.
I’m currently looking forward to the weekend! The Als and the Pussycats are playing the Cab this weekend. Which I have low expectations of. But because of this, I actually expect to be pleasantly surprised when I realise that we’re better than I give us/the rest of the band, credit for. Which will no doubt put me in a good mood. Not that I’m a bad mood just now. But you know.
Hopefully, Ali permitting, we’ll spend the weekend sorting out a set of duo material and making some progress on the album. Which i guess is about a 3rd done. Or nearly. Anyway, I want to keep it down to 40-45 minutes long which means we don’t have much to do as Sweet Moves, Stranger and Talk All Day are in pretty good shape. Add in the possibility of resurrecting the original Amy, with a new Jaco inspired fretless bass intro (I’ve got some new ideas, it’s just a matter of distilling them all into 30 seconds or so! Anyway, I think that will fit the vibe set up by the three tracks we’ve recorded so far. (Don’t) Come Look For Me will probably be on it too, as the token blues track, and I’m hoping to record a little ‘cello part for it. Then a couple of Trees, Car, Wolf, Sailor Song, She Cries, All Breaks Down, Who Needs Who, etc. Y’ know, Ali’s written a lot of good songs!
I made some good progress in learning Three of a Perfect Pair last night. No Cantor rehearsal tomorrow, (Matt’s birthday), but we should be back next week.
Amazon have Korg DS10′s back in stock! I really want one. Not sure if I can justify the money though. Not that it’s expensive by any means. Hmmm. Maybe it will provide the Pussycats with whatever it is I seem to think is missing. Or could be a secret weapon for Cantor. Hmmmmmm. Strokes beard.
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Posted by riadsala
January 25, 2009
Hello,
the other day we put the bread machine to great use and made a calzone:
Calzone............yum
Worked a treat! And there was some left for lunch the next day! It was even better than the pizza we made with Ali the week before!
And bread fans, yes, you!, currently, I am in the process of, making, can you tell I can hardly contain my excitment, no, me neither, anyway, currently, I am trying to make….. baps! For my lunch tomorrow! The world of bread is indeed an exciting one. I think i’ll buy some of the Wallace & Gromit branded flour next time I’m in Waitrose.
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Posted by riadsala
January 22, 2009
Well, this should be interesting. I guess it will be a good reality check for Cantor. Although, of course, if it doesn’t work, we will continue with the elitist arrogance, at least for a while longer. Cause it’s fun. And we’re better than you.*
So, anyway, on tonight’s menu, we will be by doing the obvious. Now you may ask, does doing the obvious not go against everything you pretend to believe in? Well, we would answer that question with a “yes, but…” with the but being we have a band with a Warr Guitar and two normal guitars, one of which is being enticed to play in NST. So of course we’re going to bloody well try and play a King Crimson song.
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Posted by riadsala
