The latest goings on…

Posted in Uncategorized on 21/07/2010 by Matt McDonough

Gemma Mewse

Been out on the road loads with Gemma. We’ve been playing all the usual industry venues and recently a film awards at the Troxy in London. Gemma will be recording her album over the next few months, so Im prepping that with producer Chris Ryan along with getting her marketing sorted etc. Check out her MYSPACE!

Here’s a pic of Gemma at the Camden Crawl where she won best new song award

Gemma Mewse @ the Camden Crawl

MISDAFUSS

Australian Rapper MISDAFUSS is landing in the UK in Sep with SONY behind him. Im currently working on the final bits of the production of his album, along with producer Chris Ryan. Amazingly, Bill Withers estate has given permission for a new release of a very well known song, which MISDAFUSS will be releasing next year . Check You tube link for “Lyrical superhero” (unmixed) and watch this space for more future info on this amazing rapper!

Other Bits

Aside from all the usual Jazz gigs, funk etc, Im playing at a monthly residency with Caroline Jay. This is in Collaboration with the every talented Mr Juan Zelada. The Queen of Hoxton hosts the night, which is packed with London musos and an awesome crowd. Come along – you’ll love it! Next gig Aug 5th…

Here’s a couple of pics from a gig I did at Nottingham Trent Arena a few weeks ago. I LOVE playing drums in Arenas! LOL!

Trent FM Nottingham Arena

BIG Drum sound!

Trent FM Nottingham Arena

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Things moving soooo fast!

Posted in Everyday things, Latest news on 28/04/2010 by Matt McDonough

I haven’t updated for a few weeks…but that is simply because my diary has been so packed andI haven’t had a spare minute! Read on for more details…

Gemma Mewse

Gemma Mewse

Gemma Mewse gigs have been awesome. Big audiences and big responses! We are recording a live album in a few weeks with Producer Chris Ryan which Im looking forward to. The difference between simply being a hired player and being the Musical Director though is that I am the central liason point between the producer and the musicians, which in itself means a load of work in terms of sorting out dates of availability for gigs, rehearsals and recording between 4 different people who are all very busy in their own right. Along with this is the strategy’s and approach we want to take in terms of how to record the live album, where to record it, budgets, what we want from the Live show etc. All challenging, but something I love doing!

Brixton Jamm Crowd

This weekend Gemma is playing at the Camden Crawl after winning the Best Song award at the emerging talents competition. This is a GREAT festival to play at, as Im sure some of you know. Gemma has also just signed a deal with Producer Chris Bailey who has remixed a couple of her songs and they are now being played on radio across the UK.

Make sure you keep checking her myspace page: www.myspace.com/gemmamewse

Malham Road

Malham Road

Malham Road - The Band

Things are really happening quickly with the band. We had a massive gig @ Cafe de Paris on the 23rd of April. The response from the Industry has been just overwhelming. Really excited about the things going on with this group. Similar things to deal with here as well in terms of being the MD of this band – rehearsals, availability, live show strategy, etc. Watch this space! Check out their Myspace page: www.myspace.com/malhamroad You can also look them up on facebook – ADD THEM!

Other Stuff

So Gemma Mewse and Malham road are taking up pretty much most of my time at the moment, which Im dead happy about.

Im also working with a few different producers and musicians with regards to online recording sessions and loops websites. All very exciting stuff. Also got the usual random gigs – Jazz trios, functions etc

Im also playing at Jazz Cafe, Camden with Caroline Jay (May 14th)- But Ill write more about that nearer the time.

Right, back to the grind!! – It’s a good thing :-)

www.uksessiondrummer.com

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Gigs, gigs, gigs (with videos)

Posted in Gigs, Latest news on 01/04/2010 by Matt McDonough

So Fri 26th March saw me playing with Caroline Jay and the lads at the Bloomsbury Ballroom. Funny old room this – Massive, and I not really the best acoustic. Still it was packed – around 400 people there and the gig wa great fund, despite Ryan’s Guitar amp not working (it was someone else amp) and various other pretty major sound issues (the singers had a VERY tough job at this venue, but did really well considering the awful foldback). Here are some vidoes from the gig:

More Malham road fun on Sun too. Watch out for this band. That’s all Im gonna say for now!

Ciao

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Emily louise recording session vids

Posted in Gigs, Latest news with tags , , , , , , , , on 26/03/2010 by Matt McDonough

In Dec 2009 I recorded and produced an album for Singer Emily Louise and have just got back the tracks. At the end of the day I decided to set up my trusty camera whilst recording after remembering a few requests for more videos from visitors to my website. I managed to catch two tracks which are now on you tube.

You can hear all of the tracks on Emily’s website www.emilylouisemusic.com

Emily has a very strong powerful voice and is great in the studio. Her intonation and phrasing was so accurate that much of the vocals on the album were first takes.

Most of the instrumental parts were also first takes and we recorded 6 songs over the day.

The other guys on the album are: Andy Tolman – Bass, Ryan Habefield – Guitar and the amazingly named – Ross Power on Keys (Yes, his parents actually called him that!)

Here’s my favourite of the 2 videos: “Heavy on My Heart”

Gig tonight – Caroline Jay

Tonight Im playing at the Bloomsbury Ballroom with Caroline Jay – On stage at 20:00 for whats going to be a top night! Tickets can be bought on the door, or drop me an Email to contact@uksessiondrummer.com (which I’ll receive on my phone) and Ill get some tickets to you  at the venue. Check my previous posts for more info.

Cheers!

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Brief Updates – Malham Road, Caroline Jay, Gemma Mewse

Posted in Everyday things, Latest news on 24/03/2010 by Matt McDonough

Hey y’all,

Thought Id better give you a brief update as to the latest goings on. More rehearsals with Caroline Jay this week in Preperation for Friday’s gig at the Bloomsbury Ballroom.

You can get tickets at Caroline Jay’s website It’s a great line up and the bands are all fantastic musicians.

Malham Road has been picking up lots of pace – meetings taking place behind the scenes and currently 2 gigs lined up:

Apr 23rd – Cafe De Paris, Piccadilly, London

May 19th – FymFyg bar, Cambridge heath Road, E1

See the Myspace for more info: Malham Road Myspace

And of course Gemma Mewse. Lots of dates lines up with her too. Again check her Myspace for more info: Gemma Mewse Myspace

Im working on production stuff at the mo for some of the technical aspects of the Malham Road show. Looks like Ill be getting a load of triggers to incorporate to my electronic kit, which Im looking forward to!

Anyway, just a brief update for now. Ill be uploading some new vids soon from the Emily Louise sessions we did over xmas. In fact it might only be 1 vid as I don’t think the other came out properly. But anyway, keep an eye out for them.

Cheers!

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Malham road rehearsals and photo shoot

Posted in 1 with tags on 16/03/2010 by Matt McDonough

Had another Malham Road rehearsal on Sun night. This is such an exciting project! The music is wicked and so much fun to play. Phat grooves and the crew are such a laugh. The booking agent is totally on it and we are raring to go! Just going through technical rehearsals at the mo. Check Malham road out at www.myspace.com/malhamroad and ad them as a friend. Here’s a couple of photos from the shoot…

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A Carribean cruise, 6 Month UK tour, photo shoots and introducing the City Banker Forcefield!!!

Posted in 1 on 11/03/2010 by Matt McDonough

Me and my trusty Cymbal/snare trolley AKA the City Banker Forcefield!

Im writing to y’all from the 4th carriage of the Central Line tube on the way to tonight’s Gemma Mewse gig in Notting Hill. As you can see, I have my cymbals and snare with me on my trusty Granny trolley turned City banker leg destroyer! It’s quite satisfying watching the suited and booted trying to barge past me without looking down amongst the crowds, only to find that they walk into a very heavy immovable object and either end up with a painful bruise on their shin, or, even better, lose their balance, get all flustered and stumble around! Followed by a dirty look, and a little chortle (do we still use that word?!) from me. It’s a bit like having a forcefield all of your own. Shields up Mr Spock!

So the last week has been hectic! An offer of a 4 week carribean cruise had to be turned down due to the projects I’m involved with here. Further to that a new bollywood show got in touch asking if id be up for a 6 month uk tour. Have yet to hear more about that but I may well be able to fit that in with my other commitments should they come back to me.

Anyway last weeks gig with Caroline Jay was a great success and she has now been asked to play at the Bloomsbury Theatre on fri march 26th. This will be a top gig in a fantastic venue. Well worth coming down. Supporting Steve Carlson from the USA.

The Bloomsbury Theatre. Come along to the Gig!

My good friend Juan Zelada and his hot band are playing on this night too. I depped with Juan for his full time drummer Rick Chambers a year or so ago and it was Wicked. Juans energy, charisma and music is fantastic. You can’t go wrong coming along to this gig! You can get tickets by dropping me an email to contact@uksessiondrummer.com

Carline Jay rehearsals. The view from behind my drums at Panic

Gemma Mewse

More rehearsals with Gemma Mewse and a gig tonight at Notting hill arts club. Again a top band. The venue is a bit of a mission but Gemma will draw the usual up for it crowd so it should be a good laugh.

Malham Road

OH BOY! Malham road is really kicking off. We are getting constant positivity from new fans and industry people. We rehearsed the live show for the first time on sun night at creekside studios and the vibe and energy in the room was amazing! Following this, we had a photo shoot with the outrageously talented John Fitzpatrick, as you can see below. Join the malham road story at www.myspace.com/malhamroad. Become a friend and check out the tunes. This is a really exciting project!

RIght next stop on the tube is mine…

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Administration, Musical Directing + Bridge gig

Posted in Everyday things, Gigs with tags , , , , , , on 05/03/2010 by Matt McDonough

Aside from the physical side to actually playing, there is the “administrative” side…. (Which is usually pretty boring to be honest!).  I’ve spent the last couple of days arranging rehearsals, booking studios, getting music to people and liasing with producers in relation to the two artists that I have been MD’ing (if you weren’t sure , MD means musical director). It’s a whole lot easier with Email etc and it makes me realise how much time the internet, and Email, actually saves us all. Just thinking about the fact that I can send 10 tracks via Email to someone on the other side of London, at the click of a few buttons, as opposed to what it must have been like 10-15 years ago whereby you would have to pop the CD in the post to each person. Plus, sending over sheet music, phoning to work out when everyone’s diaries are free at the same time, calling round different studios, probably looking through the yellow pages for studios in various areas, etc

In addition to this, we have a bit of a photo shoot on Sunday with Malham Road which is going to be great fun! We are putting the live show together too, which we are all very excited about. Interscope records are really into it all which is awesome. So, getting together the right outfits etc can be time consuming, although fun.

The Bridge – Live at sound

GIG: On Saturday, the bridge are re-forming to play at Chelsea arts club. It’s going to be great to play these tunes again with awesome musicians. Plus, the 3 course meal they serve up to us really is exquisite!

Caroline Jay’s gig in Hoxton went really well  on Wed. So much so, that she has been immediately booked to play at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London on Fri March 26th. Got 800 seats to fill, so come along and enjoy a night of top soul! There are 2 other acts on as well, including my great friend Juan Zelada. I played for him a couple of years ago, and he was also in the Jenny Lynn Smith band, plus came to Italy when we recorded Natalie Griffiths stuff. His own music is absolutly brill and again, great musicians in his band, including Drummer Rick Chambers. So, it really will be a top night.

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Evening rehearsals…

Posted in Everyday things with tags , , , , , , on 02/03/2010 by Matt McDonough

Caroline Jay

Tonight I’m at panic studios with Caroline Jay and the boys (Vince Benjamin, Curtis Stansfield, Chris Marshall, Ryan Haberfield). The great thing about being a musician is that you usually end up playing with people who are your good mates (although Im sure I’ll be told they all hate me really! haha). So unlike another work environment, it is a bit of a social occasion too. We have a gig tomorrow night with Caroline at the Hoxton underbelly so if you are knocking about and fancy hearing some top soul then head on down by 9pm!

Don’t forget to check out malham road who I’m md’ing and who are causing a bit of a storm on the electro scene right now…

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Practice Practice Practice… + Tonights gig

Posted in Everyday things, Gigs with tags , , , , on 27/02/2010 by Matt McDonough

Im back into it. YES. After all this time, Im back at the point where I am addicted to it. I start out intending to do 3 hours, yet I do 5. That’s how it was when I was 17 and at last, Im back in that place!!!

This new double kick stuff has been great for me. Even if it isn’t something Im necessarily looking to use in my everyday playing, the mere experience of sitting down to practice again, and looking to get to that next BPM and to overcome the challenge of new independence and co-ordination has got me itching to be in the studio each day practicing.

I’ve been on one particular exercise for about a week now. So far 11 hours this week. Im up to 140 BPM with it, and my D.K. playing has undoubtably come along by miles and miles. I highly recommend Pete Riley’s book Double Trouble to you all. It’s really well structured and Pete leaves no Stone unturned.

Gig: Tonight Im playing with Glen Macnamara at the Duchess in Battersea. Glen was in the Rat Pack and is a real crooner. Great with the crowd and also with a top Band Consisting of Dave Holland: Keys, Vince Benjamin: Double Bass and Mark Crown: Trumpet.

£20 a ticket which includes a fantastic 3 course meal. Door from 19:30.

See you there for a night of swing!!

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