Archive for the Gigs Category

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

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!

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.

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!!

Gemma Mewse Gig Tonight 21:30 at the Aragon, Chelsea

Posted in 1, Gigs on 20/02/2010 by Matt McDonough

So tonight Im playing with Gemma Mewse at the Aragon in Chelsea. Onstage at 21:30 and the set should be awesome. We had a great rehearsal on Thurs and have the new backing tracks to fatten the sound. So if you are around, come on down .

I spent 3 hours yesterday in the practise studio again. Although I was struggling to get back into the zone due to other things constantly ticking over in my head.

Ive picked up Pete Rileys book on double kick playing. Having never played double kick before I figured this would be a good area in which to challenge myself. Not sure if Ill use it much, but it’s a fun challenge!

So, a quick bit of dinner, then off to play…

Gig: Gemma Mewse – Bull and Gate 20:45

Posted in Gigs with tags on 15/02/2010 by Matt McDonough

Tonight we are out for the first gig with the new band. Venue is the Bull and Gate, Kentish town. Onstage at 20:45.
Vince Benjamin on bass Ryan Haberfield and Lee Bull on Guitar.

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