0 Writing and Recording During Lockdown

As all gigs have ground to a halt I found myself mid tour performing out in France. My concerts have been moved back and back again and so while I await them I’m staying and writing/recording with musicians I know in the area.

Rehearsing with Jean Marie

One of them is a wonderful 74 year old Saxophonist called Jean Marie Granier. We have collaborated over many of my record compositions and I have begun to learn more about the chords and changes used in Jazz. It has been a very pleasant exchange.

Recently I begun working on learning a composition by one of my favourite piano players ‘Toshiko Akiyoshi’ called ‘Phrygian Waterfall’. A piece I have loved for many years with an addictive repeating 5/4 (I think) bassline. Soon after starting work on it some words came and then I decided to bring it to Jean Marie who also brought some lyrics (but this time sung in French).

We have expanded this into a 5 mins song and here is a live video of us jamming our way through it.

We hope you enjoy 🙂

 

0 Tour Blog 3 – Kent

So from the big smoke of central London I scoot out back into the wilderness.

Down to the coast I go and along the shore line passing the Banksy Brexit balloon as I go.

Eventually I arrive at my destination the quaint town of Deal. This is my 1st show in Kent for many years.

The place was on a sleepy Sunday vibe when I arrived but the chaos soon picked up.

Photo Taken By Toby Barton

Photo Taken By Toby Barton

Following my show I got the chance to hang out in the town for a few days and was lucky to be greeted with great hospitality by Toby who booked me to play the show.

I also had the chance to catch up with a dear old friend Peter fry who has been a collaborator from afar for many years. He is a beautiful photographer with a wonderful eye.

Some of his work can be found with his current project here:

https://p3t3fry.tumblr.com/

modern life from p3t3fry on Vimeo.

Following Deal I played Canterbury and for the first time got to visit and feel like a tourist there.

Onstage in Canterbury – Photo by Peter Fry

I had a great time playing the venue Bramleys and  was relaxed enough to perform one of my newest works in progress.

This is a rehearsal of the tune a couple of days earlier:

0 2017 Tour Blog 2 – London

Having only just left a week before I return to my home City to Play in West London in a Church no less.

Photo By Hannah Chadwick

Returning home after such a short stint on the road definitely has its benefits. 1st of all I realised quite quickly that I had forgotten a great number of things and as the tour rolled along it occurred to me what I needed. So playing so close to home enabled me to collect various bits and bobs.

Anyway back to the playing. My show was in possibly the most picturesque of all venues and the crew were wonderful that night. Also the show was a part of a bigger event called the Hanwell Hootie.

I was blown away by the number of amazing stages across this small part of West London. It proudly boasts to be the largest free one day fest London has to offer. Once my set was done I had a chance to catch many amazing bands.

Speaking of which I shared the billing with a great band called Chile who had elements of the Knife and the XX to their sound.

Chile onstage at Hanwell Hootie

For my set it was a real rush on and off affair but with the help of the technicians I managed to go out with my full rig.

 

Please see below an audience recording of unreleased tune ‘Here is Where it is’.

There are also some shots of me performing taken by the lovely people at West London & Middlesex Twitter Page:

#HanwellHootie #Hanwell #StuartOConnor #Pinner @HanwellHootie @stuoconnor #ImpactTheatre #Perivale #Ealing #StMellitusChurch pic.twitter.com/T5Pxz7yVOb

— WestLondon&Middlesex (@WestLondonMiddx) May 7, 2017

Onward from the big smoke of the English capital I will head to the slightly more rural county of Kent in the deep South East. Playing a few new places along the way.

Before I head there though I did frequent an open mic to practise my piano songs.

Onstage at the Flag Watford

Next stop Kent!!

0 2017 Tour Blog 1 – Essex

And I am off!!!!!

Many months of touring begins with a smattering of shows firstly around Essex before I head to London.

Many Hour Behind the Wheel begins with the drive to Southend.

Southend kicks things off and despite competing with a boxing match in the pub I am happy to make much chaotic noise and just over joyed to be playing again.

Being the 1st show of the tour many of the tunes played are making their live debut and to be airing them at all is a joyful din.

Kudos to Iain for booking me and Davey Hal (the support act for the night).

Onwards I headed to Cosmic Puffin Fest:

Had to scale down the rig because it was quick change over so it was all pre 2013 material for that one and then the following night was an all out acoustic show in Billericay. Slowly I’m becoming more comfortable at the piano and a couple of piano only tunes made the set that night.

Following a couple of days parked in the pub car park I moved onto performing in Chelmsford. the Venue was called the Basement and the space was awesome as were the staff.

 

Some great sets from the supports groups and I braved debuting another newbie. One I’ve been piecing together for months. Work in progress title of ‘The Downfall’ please hear a clip of rehearsal of it from here:

 

Final show of the Essex run was in Basildon. It was a full rig mega session and I was overjoyed to play a stormer. The audience were really on board and following my departure from the stage I was met with many a friendly face.

Next stop is my brief return to London.

0 Acoustic / Electric Videos

The Process of performing live has become ever more complicated as the journey has continued.

I used to simply have one set up. Guitar/ Vocal

That was it!

But first came the loop station and then all manor of instruments followed.

Please find below 2 vids from both ends of the spectrum both recorded during my last international tour in 2015.

One track is taken from double LP called ‘Time Lost Tradition’ which can be ordered here: http://goforthbrightscenic.bigcartel.com/product/go-fourth-bright-scenic-2×12-lp

The other is yet to be released.

Enjoy 🙂

Time Lost Tradition – Reverie Sessions

Here is Where it is – Live looping Performance

0 South Korea Tour Blog – Freebird – Seoul

This night was nearly the grand finale to being out here touring. The Korean adventure had educated me quickly on the nature of place so removed from the UK. I had only just begun to understand how things worked and I was due to fly home. My final night was back in Seoul and sharing the billing was Nick Aka GT Arp who had worked to make wonderful things happen to allow me to come and perform. I had played 8 shows in 8 days and this was the penultimate leg.

Nick Anzivino – AKA – GT Arp

I was asked for an interview which I happily accepted. You can listen to it here:

http://www.seoulitup.com/2013/12/english-touring-musician-stuart-oconnor.html 

The Staff at Freebird were awesome and friendly. I had spent the day in Seoul baby sitting my equipment and taking my time over coffee whilst alone. So to be socialising with others was refreshing.

Hanging with the Free Bird Management 🙂

There were quite a few other bands on the billing. But playing last gave me time to read the vibe of the room.

Onstage @ Free Bird

Footage of this show was recorded by an audience member and uploaded to Youtube and can be seen here:

Song: As Stubborn as a Sandfly  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN_HJ9RO4T0

Around about the middle of the set 2 drunk Korean businessman came into the venue and were loudly shouting at each other during a quiet song. I asked then to respect the atmosphere of the concert from the stage but out made little difference. Later the venue staff and the audience began to more bluntly demand that they shut up or leave. This caused nearly a physical fight as one audience member begun to usher them out the door. The older and drunker of the two men in suits began shouting abuse at the venue staff. Eventually they did depart but it caused 10 mins of the set to be put on hold until the situation was resolved. What really warmed my heart was how apologetic the Korean audience were and supportive they were to ensure the concert was not disturbed any further by these alcohol fuelled morons. I assured them the same thing happens in the UK from time to time and it is a world wide epidemic of cultural ignorance. Still to this day even at concerts of hugely popular bands such as Radiohead and Wilco I have seem the performers stop to request people not to talk over the more mellow or acoustic numbers. It amazes me how some folks cannot be aware of the situation.

Default: Escape

Sleep Tight

As Stubborn as a Sandfly

Headlights

Distance From Ear to Ear

Before Your Very Eyes (Atoms for Peace Cover Version)

 Reality & Pretence

Modern Life

3 Tunes from the set were taken from 3 different albums released as a part of the Go Forth Bright Scenic project which came out in 2012.

As Stubborn as a Sandfly – Go

Default: Escape – Forth

Modern Life – Bright

Songs from the Scenic album are often unrepresented in a live capacity due to the nature of the recordings being difficult to recreate in a live setting. Even with the use of loop stations available.

The rest of the tunes were from my first 3 albums and one cover of current obsessions ‘Atoms for Peace’.

I have 1 more show of the 8 show tour left lined up before I begin the return flight to blighty.

0 South Korea Tour Blog – Daejeon – The Cantina

Following my show in Jeonju the day before I slept in the venue saving me vital funds on accommodation.

We also stayed awake drinking and chilling. A great way to finish a night.

Chilling with Spencer Theodore of the band ‘Asleep Without Dreaming’ in Radio Star

The following day was a traditional Korean Lunch. Being a vegetarian limited me a little. But I LOVE Kim Chi (Korean Pickles). So I consumed this en mass.

Lunch prior to my next mission to a new city.

Getting to the Daejeon Cantina was a mission for sure as I took a national bus and then a (heavily crowded) local bus getting me to the closest stop. From there I had written directions which I followed to the venue. I arrived in good time and then had time to hang with the venue staff and the other bands. One of them was a great bunch of guys called The Primary. They had just finished their debut album and were working hard to get the music out there round Korea.

(click links below for studio versions of the songs)

Default: Escape

You Know the Score

Map of Shibuya

Pish

Distance From Ear to Ear

Ons

Sleep Tight

Alaskan Sky

Before Your Very Eyes (Atoms for Peace Cover Version)

The reaction from the Daejeon locals was encouraging and one of the audience members uploaded a couple of videos to youtube stating “This guy, Stuart O’Connor, was insane! Loved it!” – They are only recorded to a phone but you a feeling for the concert.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZ3DurKCubE

 Part 1 – End of Map of Shibuya

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDHnTw5Q2Hc

 Part 2 – An excert of Ons

Following the show I slept in the venue for the 2nd night in a row. I ended up letting the alcohol flow a little too much and relied only on the fortune of things to get me through the following day.

A messy night but immensely enjoyable all round.

And as for the boys in the Primary I would encounter then once again when I played at their home town a few night later.

Familiarity even in the abyss.

0 South Korea Tour Blog – Radio Star – Jeonju

Only a couple of days into the tour and my fatigue was already beginning to show. I slept for an hour or so of my long bus ride to the most southern city of the tour. From there I was able to get a taxi and by showing him print outs of maps we made it to the location of the venue.

About 4 hours across the heart of S Korea Mainland

Radio Star was a wonderful live space run by Inyeol. A great drummer and passionate musician. Clearly into the music of the right reasons. I shared the billing with a host of Korean and International artists but felt very much like the special guest. It always make one feel like the hours of flying and driving are worth it when you arrive to a warm welcome.

Onstage @ Radio Star

The venue was a great space and the audience were there for the music. It was exactly the kind of show you hope to find when touring through.

 

 

(click links below for studio versions of the songs)

Initiate

Ons

Headlights

Default: Escape

Sleep Tight

Alaskan Sky

Following the show there were queues of people buying CD’s and even getting me to sign them. I was honoured to be in so far from home and so accepted for the songs that had been written in my London bedroom.

 

Adding my John Hancock to a copy of my 3rd album ‘Good Times with Evil’.

Following the show I went for food with some of the members of the other bands. A great feeling of camaraderie was in the air and I learnt how it was to be an English or American musician living in S.Korea. It was a chance to really get to understand the difference between Korean Culture (which I knew little) and Japanese Cunlture (which I feel I knew much better).

S.Korea is very much a Catholic country and age is a major part of social standing. If you have grey hair then you are very likely to be treated well. I would learn more of this as the tour would progress. My next show will be in a new city again and so I was lucky to have the venue offer to let me sleep inside. Cheap accommodation is a major part of the trip. 🙂

0 South Korea Tour Blog – So Zacs – Gangneung

OK so I know these shows happened nearly a year ago. But I started writing blogs for them and just got distracted with life. So here I am recapping what was a very unique tour experience.

About 4 hours on a bus. Luckily South Korea has an amazing bus network.

Gangneung was my furthest north into South Korea. Apparently I was not so far from the North Korea border and I met many who had travelled up just to see it. But time limited me so from the perspective of tourism. I was on a busy schedule that involved me playing 8 shows in 8 different cities over 8 days.

 

Set 1

Initiate

Map of Shibuya

Time & Places

Sleep Tight

We’re On Fire (Crashland Cover)

Resonate

2nd Set

Reality & Pretence

Distance From Ear to Ear

Misfit Theatre (Spoken Word)

You Know the Score

Make A Little Silence

Modern Life

 

 

For my time tonight I was simply playing an acoustic set. The PA set up in the cafe was fairly limited so I was taking the chance to air strictly my acoustic side. I used to play a lot of shows this way in the early days. especially at student run events at universities where there not even be a microphone on occasion. This was such an occasion 🙂

Any way I was surprised to see so many English and American folks on my travels and this performance was more of an english audience than Korean. This was a rare chance to bust out some poetry. So for the first time in some time I recited words from ‘Misfit Theatre’ a poem that became the secret track to my 2nd album. (It remains the only secret track I have released).

My Makeshift Merch Stall

So Zacs was run by a lovely couple getting ready to have their first child. They were most welcoming and picked me up from the bus station. My journey there had been from Seoul and I had many hours checking out the land scape. Many mountains and wonderful views.

Happy to have sold one of the 2X12″ Vinyl LP’s. They weigh a lot. – phew!!

I also decided to play a cover version as a part of my set. An obscure song by a band called Crashland. They released 1 album back in 2000 and I still recommend it to this day.

Normal scene at a jimjillbang

Following the concert I was taken to a Jimjilbang. A Korean bathhouse where you can wash and sleep at your leisure. I was personally exhausted and then when I found out I had to share the floor with many randoms I was a little phased. But eventually I fell asleep. I awoke many hours later to discover one of the staff had put extra covers on me to keep me warm. Very nice.

0 South Korea Tour Blog – Sleeper – Seoul

 

 

Setlist with links to the Studio Recordings:

Initiate,

Map of Shibuya,

Pish

Make A Little Silence

Ons

Default: Escape

Alaskan Sky

Time & Places

Somewhat ironic that my first show of the tour in South Korea should be called Sleeper.

Sleep was the one thing missing from my life at this time. 13 odd hours of travel and missions from London to Seoul and then a few hours killed in the city whilst making my way to my venue.

I was met at the airport by a wonderful guy called Nicholas. He is a musician himself but also a wise and wonderful soul.

Nick Anzivino – AKA – GT Arp

Hear his music here: https://soundcloud.com/g-t-arpe

He reached out to me on Facebook nearly a year prior when I was on the road in Japan. He offered to help me get concerts around Korea and at the time I was unable due to European commitments already in place. But we stayed in touch and when I reached out to him he made it possible for things to work.All this and you must bear in mind we had never even met each other face to face.

So hear I am back in asai at the tail end of a year that start in New Zealand and is ending in Korea via, Japan, Italy, Netherlands (twice), Poland, Germany, France and the UK.

We arrived at tour venue and I chilled with the wonderful staff and the other musicians who were from Korea and the Netherlands themselves. A lot of experimental styles involved and some amazing beatboxing to boot.

I found when it came time to step up and play that I was getting an electric shock from the mic. So I chose to do something almost never done in my career. I wore shoes. This stopped the flow of the current and ensured I survived the concert.

 

 

 

 

My show was kind of a case of playing what I felt most comfortable to play. What was awesome was to meet an american called Frank who joined me on Alto Sax for 2 tunes.

Setlist with links to the Studio Recordings:

Initiate,

Map of Shibuya,

Pish

Make A Little Silence

Ons

Default: Escape

Alaskan Sky

Time & Places