A new music video has been created to one of my songs by students studying at Oaklands College in Welwyn Garden City, England.
Filmed, Directed and Edited by Rohum Pourtahmasbi, Emma Pharaoh & Andrea Coleman this video was created as a part of their Video and Media Coursework.
My thanks go to them for all the hard work and time they put into making this.
You can watch the video on You Tube by clicking HERE:
Sometimes the road does not treat you so well. As much as it’s easy from an outsider perspective to look upon a touring musicians life as ‘living the dream’, we all know deep down that it can be frought with misfortune and apathy.
This show was just simply one of those. The venue and staff were lovely as most of the time they are in Japan. But the other act playing was a well known guitarist from the 70’s who had lost alot of his enthusiasm for music or even social grace.
He talked loudly during my set and made sure he remained the centre of attention even when he wasn’t onstage. The 2 or 3 hangers on who were with him were eager to follow his lead and so my show became a mere formality. Anyone who was trying to listen simply could not.
Then when it came to his set he was joined by many session players and he proceeded to play what was on the whole pure 12 bar blues. Later on Eric Clapton’s ‘Wonderful Tonight’ made a broken english appearence but it did seem to drag on for a lifetime.
After the show the venue owners were very apologetic and proceeded to offer that I return next time and they wont place me with him on the billing again.
I happily shook their hands and said I’d be happy with that.
My favourite memory of the night was packing up in the back room eating my favourite Japanese candy. Kinda like Banana M&M’s.
Delicious!!!
A new music video has been created to one of my songs by a student studying at Oaklands College in Welwyn Garden City, England.
A tale of guilt this video was made to my song ‘Still MIA’ taken from the ‘Go’ album of the ‘Go Forth Bright Scenic’ Project.
Filmed, Directed and Edited by Akar Faraj this video was created as a part of his Video and Media Coursework.
My thanks go to him for all the hard work and time he put into making this.
You can watch the video on You Tube by clicking HERE:
I have been playing shows at Gari Gari now for a couple of years. Run by Sorcha and her husband it’s a pleasure to be asked back to perform each time I return to Japan.
Sorcha was first to play on this evening and she displayed her normal sense of relaxed brilliance as her strong voice and easy going stage presence got us all into the feel of the occasion.
Next up were the Watanabes. I had already mentioned them from a previous blog as this was my 2nd of 3 shows with them. Down to a 3 piece due to a member off sick they still sounded tight and with impressive harmonies for the show.
My show started with 2 tunes from the ‘Forth’ Album. ‘Default: Escape‘ and ‘Resonate‘.
There was also some chime looping for ‘Map of Shibuya‘
The show was immense fun…
…And I felt really relaxed telling stories and rambling between songs.
Guitar percussion was looped…..
…Effect pedals were tweeked.
And I was joined by a very special guest. 🙂
Dom Graham is a versatile and very respected guitarist who I have crossed paths with many times whilst playing shows in and around the London area.
He is also one of those great hard working musicians who is happy to tour far and wide to push his music out there and to keep busy with his missions.
He came to Japan to check it out for the first time and it was a pleasure to have him involved in the performance of 2 songs – ‘Time and Places’ & ‘You Know The Score‘
All in all another great night on the road. Awesome to see Dom again and to hear Sorcha and the Watanabe’s doing their thing also.
It’s not the life of a rock star but a modest existence of variety and adventure.
And of course another show documented in the diary 🙂
Stuart O'Connor 