I've been on a bit of a self-destruct mission since we got back from Dubai. Fags, beer, jack daniels, mdma, speed, weed. It's been fun but i need to slow down, its starting to takes its toll on me. Mentally if not physically. I need to get re-focused on the things I want and love doing.
I've been coasting at work the last few weeks which has suited me to be honest, no stress, just turn up, do what I'm told and fuck off, but it's not an attitude that is productive in the long run and I know that i want more than that. I suppose sometimes it's nice to chill out, but it gets a bit boring after a while.
I've been to some excellent live music recently. Gallows at the Astoria was an unexpect surprise, I'm not much of a hardcore fan and i felt old in a crowd of scene fringes and tight clothing but the band were quite excellent. Its nice to see a band with some passion and enthusiasm for what they do. I think too many bands get into the habit of just going through the motions when they tour.
Then we saw an absolute hero of mine: Mr Neil Young.
He's not cool in any way, most people i know don't get him...but fuck ya, he's mint. He was every bit as good as i had ever imagined. His (better) records (there have been a few stinkers) I hold very close to my heart and hearing a lot of the songs off those album performed so effortlessly and wonderfully was breath taking, especially considering half the songs he was playing were over 40 years old yet sounded better than the original recording. I don't think I've ever applauded so hard.
Friday night me and hannah and adam went to The Mars Volta in Brixton. Which was FANTASTIC. There is no other word to describe how increadably brilliant they are. They played a 3 hour set which absolutely blew my mind. And the drummer...i was standing on the barrier just thinking "what the fuck?!?!" because his playing was on another level to ANY other drummer i'v eever seen....Ah I'm not going to bother trying to explain how good it was, you won't get it. Lets just say it was one of only two gigs in my life that challenged my perception of what music is and how good it can be. It's excellent to see that people are still coming up with new sounds and ingenius musical tricks. Gives me hope that not all music has already been created a million times before. These guys are pushing the fucking boat out.
So much musical influence, and having such little focus at the moment, has really given me a hankering to get back into my music. I'd like to make a real stab at making something that people actually like. All my musical career i've been too shit to make anything up to the standards you'd hear on the radio. But i think I'm getting there now.
My very good friend Helen Bennison came over yesterday and we recorded some of her new material. She's an excellent girl with bags of talent and a voice which gets better all the time. The one song that really stands out from the session is here --> http://www.dannyblackman.com/mp3/Just because - 2nd mix.mp3
I really love it, more than anything I've ever had a hand in producing before.
Aside from all this we've got our wife over again this weekend. She's here for the week, which is excellent because she's ace and I love having her around. Big up the NPPC. We went out to sin for Laura and Ishan's birthday last night at which i had a lot of fun indeed.
But now i'm paying the cost.
I've been coasting at work the last few weeks which has suited me to be honest, no stress, just turn up, do what I'm told and fuck off, but it's not an attitude that is productive in the long run and I know that i want more than that. I suppose sometimes it's nice to chill out, but it gets a bit boring after a while.
I've been to some excellent live music recently. Gallows at the Astoria was an unexpect surprise, I'm not much of a hardcore fan and i felt old in a crowd of scene fringes and tight clothing but the band were quite excellent. Its nice to see a band with some passion and enthusiasm for what they do. I think too many bands get into the habit of just going through the motions when they tour.
Then we saw an absolute hero of mine: Mr Neil Young.
He's not cool in any way, most people i know don't get him...but fuck ya, he's mint. He was every bit as good as i had ever imagined. His (better) records (there have been a few stinkers) I hold very close to my heart and hearing a lot of the songs off those album performed so effortlessly and wonderfully was breath taking, especially considering half the songs he was playing were over 40 years old yet sounded better than the original recording. I don't think I've ever applauded so hard.
Friday night me and hannah and adam went to The Mars Volta in Brixton. Which was FANTASTIC. There is no other word to describe how increadably brilliant they are. They played a 3 hour set which absolutely blew my mind. And the drummer...i was standing on the barrier just thinking "what the fuck?!?!" because his playing was on another level to ANY other drummer i'v eever seen....Ah I'm not going to bother trying to explain how good it was, you won't get it. Lets just say it was one of only two gigs in my life that challenged my perception of what music is and how good it can be. It's excellent to see that people are still coming up with new sounds and ingenius musical tricks. Gives me hope that not all music has already been created a million times before. These guys are pushing the fucking boat out.
So much musical influence, and having such little focus at the moment, has really given me a hankering to get back into my music. I'd like to make a real stab at making something that people actually like. All my musical career i've been too shit to make anything up to the standards you'd hear on the radio. But i think I'm getting there now.
My very good friend Helen Bennison came over yesterday and we recorded some of her new material. She's an excellent girl with bags of talent and a voice which gets better all the time. The one song that really stands out from the session is here --> http://www.dannyblackman.com/mp3/Just because - 2nd mix.mp3
I really love it, more than anything I've ever had a hand in producing before.
Aside from all this we've got our wife over again this weekend. She's here for the week, which is excellent because she's ace and I love having her around. Big up the NPPC. We went out to sin for Laura and Ishan's birthday last night at which i had a lot of fun indeed.
But now i'm paying the cost.
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xoxoxox