Archive for the Everyday things Category

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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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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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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Double kick is so much fun!!!

Posted in Everyday things with tags , , , , on 23/02/2010 by Matt McDonough

Last week I got hold of Pete Riley’s double kick book. I have never played double kick before and as Ive been looking for a new angl to approach practicing at, I thought Id drop myself into the world of double kick playing. Having bought a Pearl Eliminator double kick pedal approx 3 years ago, I figured I should probably get it out of the box!

I gotta say, it’s not immediately easy! To be able to play with control and finesse really takes some hardcore time spent at the pedals, and it makes me appreciate even more, the skill of other session drummers like Pete Riley. It also makes me even more scared of Vinnie!!!!

Ive worked through the first few pages which are essentially the basics – Singles, 2′s, 3′s, 4′s. I could spend hours just on singles alone, but realising that I have limited time to practise, I’ve managed to push on to more intricate exercises.

Well, it really is LOADS of fun!! Once you start playing Liner patterns mixing up 2′s 3′s and fours, there are some wicked rhythms that appear. I’ve noticed that one of the most important things is consistency in terms of volume and placement with both pedals. That is what really puts the icing on the cake when it comes to it. Hearing those masters, I’ve noticed that accuracy is key to their success. For me, I find that assertiveness with the pedals is what makes the difference. It’s really satisfying to hear a 4 bar phrase which is deadly accurate. At the moment Im not working any faster than 1/4  note (Crotchet to you English folks out there!) = 140 with all strokes being 16th notes. Technique wise, finding your balance point on the stool is crucial as this effects the speed, power and stamina you have to put into it. And further to this, I’ve fond that allowing my heels to drop after each stroke, whilst staying relaxed has been key so far.

Im actually thinking of hooking up with one of the double kick legends in order to get a bit of direction on this brand new territory.

Anyway, it’s something which Im actually really looking forward practicing and the exercises haven’t stopped going through my mind since I started them! Now, the tricky bit is finding a musical, tasty place in which to fit them and not sticking them in wherever I can just because it’s my new toy….

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