Worth The Wait!

Right, so I've been neglecting this dear blog, but it's for good reason you see... I've finished mixing and mastering the album that we went to LA to create. I never realised all the faff and behind-the-scenes work that goes into getting an album ready for the world until I made and album of my own and it doesn't really get easier. If anything, the more you know, the more you have to do, ha! Sheesh! It's hard bloody work for a DIY chick like myself but I wouldn't change it for the world.

I have to big up Ian at Damaged Goods who's been so awesome through all of this, and my new manager Lisa who's been super helpful too... so thanks peeps!

Anyway, I FINALLY got round to posting some photos on flickr of our Camden Crawl gig at the Jazz Cafe, it was a super fun weekend and we loved playing. Good times! You can see the pics here if you like
http://www.flickr.com/photos/88986055@N00/sets/72157627278190240/

The last Roadshow gig is in a couple of weeks, which I'm kind of sad about, but kind of excited to do the new stuff live because it rocks (of course I think it rocks! but I think y'all will too). It's a pretty chugging album that'll make you wanna jump around I think! I hope. So it will be an extra special final Roadshow gig. There's so much to look forward to, it's a little overwhelming!

It's the scary bit now where soon I'm going to let go of the new album so you can all hear it. I have trouble letting go. I hope you all like it... meanwhile enjoy the Camden Crawl snaps, it's about time I shared them.

xxx
P

Long time, no see...

Sorry... but I've been a busy lady! In the past 6 weeks I've been to LA to record an album. We've been beavering away in the studio getting all the tracks ready for overdubs next weekend (with brass players and crazy classical percussion and a few extra vocals even). I can't wait to hear it when it's done.

Soon I'm going to start uploading our LA Stories, so keep an eye out for new pics, studio facts, burrito diaries and all that good stuff. It was super good times!

Meanwhile have a great weekend, I'll be tethered between Galia Psapp's hen do, and stu-stu-studio.

xx
Piney

Me and Phil Collins have so much in common!

Phil Collins said it best when he exclaimed "I can't dance, I can't talk..." in his early Genesis days. The thing is, neither can I! What's even freakier about me and Phil Collins is that we are both singing drummers (granted I haven't drummed for a while, but I did get a start on the ol' drum kit and studied percussion for 10 whole years, that's a true story!)

But back to the dancing thing, my lack of coordination doesn't stop me punching the air at the indie disco, it doesn't stop me throwing my bag on the floor and jumping around at the aftershow party and it certainly doesn't stop me from dancing and dusting the flat at the same time. It just means that I look silly when I do it.

So, I've started taking dance lessons, in fact tonight is the first one! I hope I don't stumble over my two left feet. I am hoping in a few weeks or, let's face it, months I will be swanning around town like Ginger Rogers.

Phil Collins, eat your heart out!
xx
P

Oooo... Halloweeeeeen!!!

I love it, I love it, I love it, I love it, I love it!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2010/oct/23/halloween-dog-parade-new-york#/?picture=367994639&index=0

xx
P

Oh to be Blunt!

This might shock some people but I went to see James Blunt do a showcase the other night. Did I buy tickets? Heck no! Why did I go? Hmm... well I'll spare you the details of my day job, but I can disclose that it is music-bizz and sometimes that means going to shows you wouldn't necessarily go to if choosing to do so of your own free will. The evening was well-timed in my social agenda as it was the day before payday and this event boasted a free bar.

Now do you see why I went?

A few things struck me when I was there.

1. He actually has a good singing voice. I know it kind of grates the nerves, however live he could really belt it out. So power to him and his pretty-much, pitch-perfect voice.
2. The venue was a stunning old church in Mayfair, it was such a gorgeous place; it was a treat to look around at all the stained glass and that sort of thing.
3. Did I mention there was a free bar?

It also really put some things in perspective for me. He's like a totally famous guy in a mainstream kind of way, he's got a major label behind him helping him to 'shift units' etc... It makes me wonder if anyone truly quirky or original will fail to break through because of the way the music industry is going these days.

Janis Joplin would have never made it through to the final round of X Factor. I'm not even sure Nirvana would catch an A&R man's ear in this day and age. Gone are the times when people sign acts like Kate Bush because they want to nurture an artist's career. It's all a get-rich-quick scheme in some last desperado attempt at keeping a sinking ship afloat.

I'm glad to be an indie chick. I'm proud to DIY it. What I want is to make music for years and years to come, not be some flash in the pan who gets dropped when there is a failure to go platinum or if I don't get enough synchs, etc... that being said, it would be fun to play in a posh church in Mayfair, with a free bar for friends and fans. Maybe one day, I'll do it my way.

xx
P

We are so darn excited!!

HI there, well we're just really excited that our album is coming out on Damaged Goods in October, see?
http://damagedgoods.greedbag.com/buy/jesus-wept

By all means come to our album launch party at the Lexington on the 7th of September
You can get tix here
http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user?region=gb_london&query=detail&event=403287&referral_id=tw_uk_buyat

Hope to see y'all there for a proper hoe-down!

xx
P

Wha happened?

Soooo much... maybe I'll work my way backwards.

I was out with The Other Woman women to talk about a secret project we are going to launch in August. Exciting isn't it? Watch this space for more as it won't be a secret forever.

The other night, me and two brilliant women went to see Patrick Watson at Tabernacle in West London. And really, it was one of the best gigs I've seen for ages! His voice channels Cab Calloway but he's in this scruffy, indie-boy package. The string quartet put a really marvelous spin on what are already good songs, his piano playing has a beautiful simplicity like Philip Glass, but what struck me most was the multi-megaphone contraption he strapped to his back before venturing out into the crowd acoustic style. It was otherworldly! Amazing!

Sunday was the 4th of July... the day of my people's independence. I guess I've been living in London so long that it slips my mind to buy fireworks and that sort of thing. But I did make a strawberry and cream cheese cake for Dan, because he's agreed to master my single (thanks Dan!). So my day was spent nursing a headache, baking a cake, doing housy things like laundry and cleaning and that sort of thing. Sometimes those days are good days, the days when not much happens, right?

My Sleep Thief went to Beirut so to busy myself I went to see A Midsummer Night's Dream with Barny and George and her friend Ian. It was great... because Store Street was converted into a pop up park. That was so neat! Then we went to the park near Buckingham Palace for Simon Roadshow's birthday party. They didn't close the park till midnight, and I wondered if drinking in the park after dark was a little like being a tramp? It doesn't bear thinking about because what's fun is fun!

I went to see Patty Smith in Hyde Park, which was amazing. She did all her famous ranting and the theatrics of her performance were mesmerizing. She's a bit of a living legend. Backstage before the gig I saw Morrissey! It was all I could do not to steal his wine when he got up, I wondered would it be a bit like communion, the body of Christ shed for you... so if you are what you eat/drink would I be a little bit Morrissey? I lost my nerve so we'll never know the truth. Sleep Thief was playing with Fionn before Patty Smith and I shed a small tear during their set. Foxy was with me, and he was silent too.

Before all of that was Glastonbury and Sleep Thief was gone for days. Some people think I'm insane to turn down a free, backstage pass to Glastonbury but I'm not the happiest camper and I had songs to stay home and write, people to see, cardigans to embroider with scenes from Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. So I choose my choice!

Wha happened to you? Long time no see.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SHRFhfeLgY
xx
P