only Girl In The Van

So I've been blogging on our band myspace for a while now and I've always felt like it's for special occasions only, an overview of a recent tour or a specific event in the band. I wanted somewhere I could ramble on as much as I want without it feeling irrelevant or mundane. Because the truth is, for every exciting moment and milestone within being in what I hope is an emerging band, there is a always a comedown, a period where you don't have a clue where the next high is coming from or if it's coming at all. But it is never boring, which is what I want to share with you, as the only girl in the van.


So since we came back from New York in September (see myspace blog, that definitely counted as a VERY exciting moment!) it's been pretty non-stop which is the best feeling in the world. You find yourself living for the next trip away and spend the few days at home in between feeling completely lost as you realise you've completely abandoned your social life. I've been away since Friday when we drove up to Manchester for a gig at Roadhouse which was part of the In The City festival. It was our first gig there and I was prepared for an empty venue but thanks to John Kennedy from XFM who organised the night and has been playing our single on his evening show it was not only busy, but full of people who seemed genuinely excited to be checking out new music.

Saturday morning it was off to Glasgow for a few days in the studio. Our album is still very much a work in progress and you find yourself wanting to go back and re-do things as the songs grow and change with every live performance. There is also the matter of our next single, the pressure is on and two days of banging our heads against a brick wall may have eventually led to something magical. That's the problem with writing to a schedule, you're creativity doesn't give a fuck about deadlines.

My favourite part of the weekend was going to my first ever football game. I was prepared to hate it and though I'd ruin it for everyone else by moaning how cold and bored I was for two hours but quite the opposite happened. I found myself jumping up and down, going mental when they scored and after a very clear injustice singing along to all the chants. now this was the passion and spirit I was looking for! People from all over united in something they really love, the relief to their week, their one true belief. So feeling revived it was back in the studio to try, try again...

Saw- Orphan Boy at In The City. 3 piece from Grimsby. Dark, very Northern and very poetic. Prolific set with frontman on harmonica, keyboard and guitar. Check out their album 'Passion, Pain and Loyalty',

Ate- Macaroni pie at football. Pasta in a pie. Genius.

Heard- Dee Dee the scotty dog bark every time we recorded a vocal. Shut up Dee Dee is not a good chorus lyric.

Bought- Reading glasses from from poundland. Not fashionable, not ironic, very useful.

Felt- frustrated, elated and sick from pie.