Thursday, 07 January 2010

Hope you all had a good Christmas and new year!?

Mine was bliss!!!

The last gig was in Manchester on the 20th, which was the end of what seemed like an endless run on the road.  how these big bands go on the road for a year plus is quite beyond me!  Where do they wash their socks? Or do they just throw them out and buy new ones? I just wear the same ones for the whole tour period myself.  It's not that I'm dirty, it just keeps me grounded.  You see when you perform in front of people you always get praise. Even if you're not that good at least one person will tell you that you're the best thing they've ever heard, don't ask why; it just is.... so I wear the same socks so that whilst I'm being smothered in compliments I'm kicking off a right pong!!

aaah, if only that were true... think I might adapt that approach.

I'm off to the US tomorrow for a 'bus man's holiday' on a cruise.  It's set up by Delbert McClinton, a great singer and songwriter from Nashville (I used to cover his songs in my old Soul Band in Belfast).  I met him at a friends house early last year and he invited me on the cruise on the condition that I played a set... seemed like a win win scenario to me.

I get back on the 22nd at which point I start work in earnest on the new album which should be ready by the end of June(ish).... I'll be coupled up in my studio here for the first couple of weeks, just getting things in order, before booking into a studio somewhere else in the world and chipping away at the marble till it reveals something worth sharing.  I'm also working on this album with David Holmes so I'll be in his studio in February getting that in shape for release later on in the year.  We're only a few days in but already this year is shaping up to be a busy one.  Twenty Ten has a lot of work to do to live up to 2009 though.... I saw Poland for the first time, met the original Pearl Jam Drummer Played with Snow Patrol and broke Duke Special's thumb.... I look forward to seeing what unfolds... who know's, maybe I'll get to hospitilise David Bowie?  That's be great, cause then I'd have an excuse to visit him every day and pick (or pickle) his brains....

Well, enough of this mumbo jumbo... I just wanted to come on here and wish you all a happy new year and let you know I haven't forgotten you... if fact why don't you all come round for some poached eggs, soda bread and taddy farls on the 22nd Jan around 11am... be good to see you!!!

!!!Happy New Year!!!

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp,
And surely I'll be mine,
And we'll tak a cup o kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou'd the gowans fine,
But we've wander'd monie a weary fit,
Sin auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin auld lang syne.

And there's a hand my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o thine,
And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught,
For auld lang syne

by Rabbie Burns (1759-96)

Meanings (just in case)

auld lang syne - times gone by
be - pay for
braes - hills
braid - broad
burn - stream
dine - dinner time
fiere - friend
fit - foot
gowans - daisies
guid-willie waught - goodwill drink
monie - many
morning sun - noon
paidl't - paddled
pint-stowp - pint tankard
pou'd - pulled
twa - two