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Emma is doing a really amazing job and I reckon the video we come out with is gonna be something really really special. In single related news, 'The Doctor' will now be released on the 18th May for three reasons: Firstly, I got pedantic about two parts in the original mix that we had to change, which took time for Dave and I to meet up and also then for him to re-master the whole thing. The guy is so patient, I'd get pretty bored with me constantly changing my mind if I were him. Did that sentence make sense!? Secondly, to give Emma time to finish the video and to allow her to get more than three hours sleep per night, it's logical to push it back. Thirdly, from my point of view doing all the PR for the record, I really need quite a long lead up time to try and get as much exposure as I can. These times matter greatly to me as I don't have someone constantly working on my press so I have to try and get as much out of release times as possible. Anyway, that's the haps with the single.My little tour was fun. Although the London gig I played pretty poorly. I became really very nervous. And I also was thinking too much about what other people think/thought, which is daft. It happens mostly when I'm playing to people I know. It matters to me that friends have a good time to the point where that takes precedence over my performance and therefore I'm preoccupied an play like plop. So I metaphorically slapped myself round the face a few times over the next few days and stopped being such a moron. The gigs in Birmingham, Cleethorpes and Sheffield saw great improvement. Indeed, Sheffield was probably the best I've played by myself thus far. Cleethorpes was well attended and I met some really nice folk and managed not to endure the same fate as one of the bands who had a full pint thrown at them. Mind you, I didn't imitate a Yorkshire accent to 200 people from Lincolnshire who seemingly despise 'Yorkies' so you know, they kind of left themselves open to a potential Fosters soaking really. Besides, I didn't travel for four hours on the train (having to change three times) and then walk four miles from the center of Cleethropes to the venue (six hours from leaving Nottingham to getting to the venue in total) to get doused in booze! Thanks to Dan and his house for letting me stop at theirs, lovely lovely people.
Birmingham's show was at a pub in Digbeth with plush carpets, many many people who'd been drinking all day because of football and rugby games and arguably the worst toilet I've ever seen. Seemingly, a good night out in Digbeth involves alcohol followed by a trip to a toilet cubical where you have sex and leave the used condom next to the toilet with a pair of your soiled underpants. At this point I ascertained that these people might just not be my target audience. My friend Dave and I had a few drinks whilst waiting to go on, eventually half nine came round and I was up to play. However, a quick check of the train ticket told us that we needed to be at Birmingham New Street station for 22.10 and the venue was about a fifteen minute cab drive from the station. Hmmm...so I played some songs, even the angry drunk guys at the bar applauded and Dave got some drinks for us to take with us for our journey back to Nottingham which is where I was staying. Midway through 'The Doctor' I saw Dave talking to the cab driver and pointing at me which, I must admit, slightly threw me off my stride. I laugh. Inform the pub that we need to leave, leave the song unfinished and go on our merry way. Greatest gig ever. Note: we made the train on time, chatted to a girl from Oxford about acappella bands, a guy from Long Eaton about catching fish (?), watched a documentary on the LA music scene in the late 60's/early 70's and passed out. Winner.
