In the toilet

Elton John is coming to Derby next year....well rock my crocodile and blow my candle out. At £80 + a ticket and no less than 16000 seats to be sold...I figure he wouldn't do for 'experience ' or oooh we haven't got a big budget. Fact is, most of the audience, will be so far away, that they will have to watch him on a screen.. so why not stay at home?? Have a take away? 80 smakeroons can buy a lot of kebabs? Well tonight...we are playing for free...as we have every Sunday for last 21 years. Using petrol and buying beer. It costs us to play...as it does most musicians in the real world. Tonight I dedicate my solo to Felix.. my sole reader of meanderings...which reminds me. I went to watch Miranda at Nottingham arena. £46...and yes spent the whole evening watching a screen, whilst this small dot on a stage miles away..told jokes. In fact it could have been anyone? Maybe she was at home with her feet up. The front rows were only for the partially sighted? And it was recorded?? Makes yer think...

Ho ho ho

Brilliant rehearsal with Cranberry Flick last night..Can you believe we are working on chrimbo music!!! Well it's only about 15 weeks until Santa loads his sleigh with tablets phones and x boxes and an orange? I even got to sing with our lovely songstress...ok.she wore ear plugs...but we got through it. Out again tonight with the mighty Risley Big Band. The music season never really ended...bit like football really.

Quasi horns

I just realised this morning...my ears not ringing as much as usual. I have tinnitus...it's permanent...and I have no idea why it started. Ear plugs and acoustic shield helped to protect them...but the damage has been done. The stage set up yesterday was in a long back line, with drums in middle. Ok I was next to drummer, but respectfully reminded him, that the shiny round thing was my head...and not a cymbal. I think if I did a survey of all trombone players in swing bands, that are over 40...then the majority, would have some sort of hearing damage. I only use mine...when someone asks if it's my round..

Amp clamp

34 minutes. 34 minutes to set up a whole 7 piece band last night. With the amount of kit we have, this was actually incredible. Superb technical rehearsal and I also discovered a new use for my Bass Amp. The drummer had set up on a lino floor. So every time he hit the bass drum ( I know most call it kick drum..but hey you don't kick.it? ) he kept sliding forwards. In fact, if I hadn't shoved my amp in.front, then he would have had no need to drive home, as he would have slid there. Great night. Great people. Great group. Great music. Downside...no San Miguel !!!!

Animal house

No work this week, but most of days taken up with organising deps for some up coming gigs. At one point last night i was working a mobile a PC and a laptop.. Trying to contact musicians and put programme together. Cape Canaveral would have been quieter. My house is quite cosy. Angel running round my sofa. Two socks popping in to say hello and scrounge food. I am now considering adopting another stray cat from out of the area...if you cant beat em..join em. Took a photo of my room. Yes my curtains on fire...but so much cheaper than gas...coffee?