When you play a kitchen this small, someones going to get a guitar in their face

The Friday before truck was outstanding. We played our second house party gig (and 9th gig in total, wow, we are getting used to this). Big thanks go out to Ben and his housemates for putting this show on in his little kitchen. Another one of the series of Les Editions De Minuit gigs that Ben has put on at his house over the last few months. Sadly, being that Ben has now graduated from studentsville, this was the last of the Kitchen Gigs which have been so much fun every month recently.

A crowd of about 40 were present and rammed in little corners and peeking through little windows to watch all the bands play.

We even got to play our first encore.

Ruben sported a fucking fantastic moustache, which i was shocked and saddened to see he then shaved it off for truck the next day.

My mate Ceri from Liverpool came down to join in the fun and now never wants to leave. Almost. He might move down here someday anyway. Big respect to him for bringing all the RUM.

Jody and Hugo Jonquil came along to psyche themselves up for the Jonquil houseparty on the 15th at the secret location. (PS Can't fucking wait for that)

Anna Log played an amazing set with various members of her day-job band we aeronauts helping her out.

Mark and Grillo gulliver coined my new nickname, Steve-o, and proceeded to shout that out a lot.

We missed UTE a lot, because they couldnt make it sadly. Last time they played in this kitchen, i had a spiritual awakening.

We got drunk and mingled and chatted, I think.

And all was gooood.

Thank you for mr daniel ershov (legend) for the photos x

Truck and pissed dancing

My stomach muscles wince when i laugh at the moment, because they exerted themselves with too much laughter at this years Truck Festival and wore themselves out. Amazing scenes.

Highlights were not only playing to a decent crowd at the barn stage at 10am, seeing the crowd almost scarily flood in to see us when we strummed our first chords, and enjoying the whole playing truck experience despite all of us having a wrecked head each, but also, moments of enjoyment went as thus:

The pissed dancing to Ash - WILD SURF!! - and pissed dancing to Britpop in the village pub tent until 2:30am; seeing alphabet backwards storm stage main and make everyone happy - the pissed dancing went along with this, and yes it was only 1pm; seeing Stornoway become oxford legends; getting angry at the fact We Aeronauts were not on the bill; remembering meeting Mark Hamilton from Ash immediately after their show but being too shy to say anything since he's from the band who were my boyhood heroes; the broken glasses on the floor; DOGS IN 1930's CLOTHING and the impromptu BBC Oxford interview; warm hugs from someone you dont want to let go of, ever; arguing with Mark from the Gullivers about Ash: ''why aren't you dancing!!'' I ask ''because they are fucking shit!'' replies Mark;

Being happy in the country air in the fields 2 miles from where you grew up, the summer, the summer. Say goodbye to the last days of summer and i'm waiting here for you...(because lets face it, Truck won't be topped until it comes around again next year)

Love x

Introducing the Cat and the Rat

The cat and the rat have been enemies for centuries, but now they have decided to make peace and collaborate. With the cool elegance of the cat and the brazen attitude of the rat a new hip hop crew from the sewers and back alley ways of inner west of Sydney is born. Cat and The Rat are like Tom & Jerry, if they were mates and loved funk, hip hop and soul. While only in its infancy CATR plan to fill your saucer and rock your nest. No cheese!

www.myspace.com/catandtherat
So this is a new musical project from my friend Paddy who is an Australian and lives all the way over in that freakin crazy place called Australia. Paddy is a good friend whom i met when he was living here with his girlfriend Intan, both of whom i don't see anymore because they both live all the way over in freakin Australia. Paddy and I once dabbled in a musical experiment of folk-soul-rap. One of these days i'll see him again. But this is my way of saying what a great guy he is and i look forward to hearing more stuff from him and his crew.

I think this kind of music could only ever come from a place like Australia. Laid back colourful and cool with an honest edge.

Freddie loves it.

It's ropey...but you get the idea

As of yet, we haven't yet recorded anything properly with a full quota of 'Coles. We're hoping to get something 'proper' recorded in the next couple of months. Some kind people have offered to help record us. In the meantime here are a selection of ambient recordings from a band practice recently. Please note this makes us sound like we enjoy practicing in a small toilet. And voices are a bit haggard and guitars a little out of tune. But there's an energy on their which is captured quite well. So i'm popping them up on here. Things can only get better recording wise at least.

Sad Eyes

Small Rooms

The Deer Song

Magnet

Ho-dowwwn!!

Saturday 11th July was a brilliant night. We were playing a very much looked-forward to show at the Bullingdon Arms in Oxford, alongside our good friends We Aeronauts and Alphabet Backwards, who were headlining the night celebrating the release of their fantastic mini-album and debut record (buy online here - sunshine cider and shagtastic).

Despite the summer rain rearing its ugly head a lot of people turned up for the show, and it was a great show for alphabet backwards to kick start their record-release with. We all got drunk on a big self-procured rider of carling and various quantities of rum. Cue some flashdance style dancing at the zo2diac afterwards for some of us. For those who remember. And i don't.

I have been playing in We Aeronauts recently, to help them out as their tertiary guitarist is out in Africa chasing baboons and frolicking in the jungles. I've had a really great time playing with them and thank them for letting me loose on their live show, and entrusting me not to fuck up. It's surprisingly nervewracking playing in a friends band. You are put in a position where fucking up royally and hitting bum notes is much easier to achieve, and the fear of letting down your mates band is quite nerve-jangling. But I got through it all unscathed. A particular highlight was playing with them at brixton windmill on a bill featuring Ute and Jonquil and other oxford bands. With a free bbq thrown in to the mixer. That was a fine way to spend a june afternoon.

Today i am ill, i have come down with this man/pig flu stuff. It means i'm locked at home and pretty upset because I can't go to see Ute at the Wheatsheaf, a gig hosted by 3 blind mice (the boys and girls from the gullivers promotion arm). Ah well. Cuppa tea and the alphabet backwards mini album will cheer me up.