Let It Roll!

Lucky I'm so busy writing and editing at work, otherwise I think I'd go crazy.

Anders, Bob, Mike and I are all fit to burst. In the past few weeks we've jammed with some interested bass players, but nobody has leapt out as being the man (or woman) for the job. And it's only been jamming, no real working on tunes. I think the highlight of last week was that I broke my first guitar string in public. I'd like to work on my guitar skills and play a little in the band.

I also saw that Boog, our old guitarist's new band is playing in town this weekend. Stand back, here come The Boogiemen! I hear they're good. I'd expect them to be. I'll have to drag the boys down there for a listen. It'd be great for the new boys to sit in if they could.

Hopefully our situation will resolve tomorrow. I renewed my membership of the Muso's club last week, and booked it out for a private jam/practice session. We're expecting a couple of highly rated bassists to come along, one recommended by Leo Ladell, and another who's been playing in the Otago University Capping Show with Bob, so the anticipation is high.

Even if the bass players don't work out, the four of us are just eager to really cut loose together for the first time, rather than be constrained by a pub jam night.

Feelers are out for gigs and we've had a couple of positive responses - we can do it as soon as we get this beast together.

Come On, Come On, Come On!

Nearly there!

My shoot around Melbourne and Sydney went well. I got to work with some great crew, including the fabulous cameraman Peter Nearhos. I also got to meet and interview the legendary Ron and Val Taylor, pioneers of underwater film and shark conservation.

But wait a minute, this is a blues blog! My point, and I do have one, is that I also managed to get a couple of nights off with Clay Hichens. Clay's a current affairs show producer for the ABC. He's also fine guitarist and great music enthusiast. We basically immersed ourselves in cd's, dvd's and intoxicants for 48 hours, and talked a lot of shit about music. He did manage to finish his garage conversion (into a music den), so I can't have been too big a distraction.

The real news is that it looks like we have our drummer. Bob Zammit is new to town, but comes with a lot of talent and experience. Now we just need to find a great bass player and we'll be on our way - once we all agree on a name of course. Bob is currently gigging in the Otago University cappng show, and is off to practice and approach someone he says is a very promising bass player tonight. Maybe this time next week we'll have a blues band and a practice under our belts! Like it says on the cover of Charlie Musselwhite's South Side Blues Band: Stand Back!