The Big T Break Conspiracy

I thought i`d get in my tuppence worth about T Break being a charade and how it`s all a big fix. All these big bad judges not picking your poor wee band. Grow up and stop being so naive. The judges, like all of us, have their own opinions on what makes a good band. Some may also have a vested interest in certain bands, they all work in the music industry after all. So they pick the bands they like ahead of yours and you start crying like fucking babies. T Break is a battle of the bands and nothing more. There`s only one solution to avoiding all the negativity surrounding BOTB`s, don`t enter them. Use your time and energy into promoting a gig of your own, get the place filled and put on the show of your life. The chances are you will take so much more from this than playing the T Break stage. There`s more bands making waves in Scotland without ever needing to play T Break, i don`t remember too many of the past bands to play it, do you?
I was stunned when i read online that some bands are really interested in what criteria is required to be selected to play T Break. Your music is going to end up a diluted pot of piss if you are even contemplating meeting this mystical criteria.
Playing an unsigned bands tent in the corner of T In The Park isn`t some holy fucking grail, it`s time to get a grip.
If DF Concerts decided they were going to pick 8 or 10 Scottish bands in the same way they book the bands for the other stages, that would give the whole thing a lot more credibility. Don`t bill them as unsigned bands and don`t put them on a seperate stage, put them amongst the signed artists over the weekend. Doing it this way would ensure the promoters bring in bands who can deliver rather than pandering to some committee decision.
Then again, that would be fixed too wouldn`t it?

Diary of an Album Launch

 A Diary of an album launch party

It`s just after midnight when I decide to have an early night, but end up watching an electrical storm split the skies over Edinburgh. May 7<sup>th</sup> has arrived with a real bang. We`ve been working on the release of “No Colour Too Strong To Paint” for several months in an effort to raise as much money as possible for The Edinburgh Sick Kids Hospital and today was the day of reckoning.

The first task of the day was to deliver some bits and pieces to the venue. As it was a charity night we had permission to bring in our own rider for the bands, who were all playing the gig for no fee. Seven bands and a few volunteers amounted to 30 people, so we had a paltry three drinks each for them. I was then informed that no one had bothered to clear this with the manager in charge for the day and i wasn`t allowed on the premises. After much negotiation the manager kindly agreed to let us leave the rider there while she sorted things out.

I arrive back at the venue to find that they were willing to let us use half the rider, one and half drinks each. It was the least of my worries though. Anyone who has had a party of any kind must go through the “what if no one turns up” phase. I needn`t have worried as people start queuing early, waiting for the doors to open.

As the place begins to fill, the limited edition cd`s are selling well. Big hearted punters are buying the £6 disc and putting their change in the collection bucket. Even in times as tight as these, people are willing to delve a little deeper to help such a good cause.

David Winpenny has the unenviable task of opening proceedings and he pulls it off superbly. Just himself and his acoustic guitar, he quietens down the chattering audience who quickly warm to his well crafted songs.

The Remnant Kings are the first full band of the evening and the volume cranks up a little. The play a great set of indie rock, augmented well by their violin player, who adds an unusual texture to this style of music.

Next up are My Electric Love Affair, a band I’ve always loved. It has to be said that MELA are a genuine love them or hate them band. The audience opinion is split by the 10 minute trance inducing psychedelic songs. Those of us old enough to remember Suicide and Spacemen 3 will always warm to this lot though.

I`ve been listening to Steve Heron`s album for the last few months but have yet to see him live. Steve and his band certainly didn`t let me down. “Eleanor” was the first track I’d heard of Steve`s and the one that made me want to hear more, so i was delighted it was included in the set. His cover of “This Charming Man” was an inspired choice and had a certain Frantic Chant guitarist flailing about the dance floor.

It was during Steve`s set that it dawned on me that I was actually playing a gig and not just helping to organise it. With all the build up to tonight, I felt a little nervous for the first time in a good few years. Our set flies by in a flash and it`s time for our last song, “Reel Eyes”. Suddenly the stage fills up with members of the audience, dancing, singing and falling on their arses. Bouncers are pulling people off the floor before they get trampled on. This song is always open to some ad libbing from Stazy and relies on eye contact and wee nods to each other as we pick up the pace. The stage is so crowded by now, I can’t see any of the band, just bodies landing on top of me and my drums. We get to the end of the song, managing to get to the changes all at the same time. Afterwards we all agree that this is, by far, the best gig we have ever done.

The Steals are next on and are in fine form. They always deliver a full on, adrenaline fuelled set and tonight is no different. In Lee, they have a charismatic frontman who commands an audience`s attention. Their songs of good times and escapism certainly strike a chord with their crowd.

White Heath are a fantastic band, when I first saw them play I was raving about them to anyone who would listen. I was really looking forward to them tonight. The fact that they were on so late and the crowd had thinned out a little didn`t have any effect on their performance. Their singer has a voice that cracks with emotion and I was blown away by them all over again. I can`t wait to hear their debut album which should be out soon.

The night was tremendous success, the bands played to a great, appreciative crowd, we made a few quid for the hospital and the venue made a fortune behind the bar. I was going to go into detail about how shabbily we were treated by the venue and bouncers but their baffling behaviour wasn`t going to put a dampener on this evening. Even the rain that was now bucketing down couldn`t do that.

I`d just like to thank Ginger Music Promotions, Stephen Young, Dom Holt, all the bands and everyone who came out and supported this labour of love.

You can download the album from here http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/no-colour-too-strong-to-paint/id435410723

Join the Facebook page too, there will be more announcements coming soon that you won`t want to miss. www.facebook.com/charityalbum