Monte Carlo

Yep, yep… christmas, etc… food, yep.

There we go.

I have some recently completed paintings to put up on here as soon as I get the pictures off Luke’s camera. I’m very pleased with them.
Enough art talk though eh?

In other news i’m off on tour drumming in 2 bands, yes you heard right… 2 bands! wow.

The Steal are going on tour with Our Time Down Here and Hot Damn for 9 days across the length and breadth of our fine country. The Steal and Hot Damn are all packing themselves/ourselves into one van with Owen Richards KOP in tow too… 9 MEN IN A VAN. Jeez louise it’s exciting. I’m looking forward to – The Cold, Loading and Unloading the van, Massive Blisters, then Leathery Hands, and The Smell.

No, really. Come see the extravaganza! (fyi – the later shows will probably be better as the steal haven’t rehearsed since that Radio One session. whoops)

1 Jan 2009 The Fighting Cocks, Kingston
2 Jan 2009 The Joiners, Southampton
3 Jan 2009 The Cowley Club, Brighton
4 Jan 2009 Retro Bar, Manchester
5 Jan 2009 The 13th Note, Glasgow
6 Jan 2009 The Cooperage, Newcastle
7 Jan 2009 The Packhorse, Leeds
8 Jan 2009 The Cavern, Exeter
9 Jan 2009 Sigma Bar, Swansea

Good stuff.

Oh and, Happy New Year! May all your dreams come true.

36 days 3000 quid

I recently found this portrait I did of my good friend Oliver Kristian. I believe I finished it around 2005 or something… It’s one of the paintings i’ve worked on longest as it’s the only time i’ve ever done a portrait just from life. We were both extremely busy I seem to remember and would only get to meet up every couple of months, I was off touring a lot and Ollie was working hard in London rarely having any spare time. Although we both took time out from our lives for ‘the painting’ the actual canvas became fairly arbitrary to the process and I always looked forward to the fact I could sit in a room with one of my best friends, talk and listen to records. I’m glad I stumbled across it again as it reminds me of something good in fairly strange period in my life. It also reminds of the fact that Ollie cannot sit still, not one little bit.
It’s also good timing as I recently went to see Ollie’s new band The Leisure Society at a small venue in Brighton and had an amazing time, I had an internal glow of pride watching him multi-instrumentalise and generally impress everyone in the room. oh yeah.
Make them number one. Please… I mean THREE versions of hallelujah on the radio?! Not necessary at all.

The Moon and Goldmund

The HOT DAMN 7″ test press arrived the other day…it has had approval and things are happening people. The hope is to have them ready for the tour we go on at the beginning of the year… this is as they say in the industry, “cutting it fine”. We’ll see…
Despite that it sounds well good, thanks to a fine mixing job from one Mr. David House and it will also look brilliant, thanks to a painting done by my brother, Herr Robert Phoenix.

We’re releasing it ourselves through At Home. Details on how to purchase it will be forthcoming. (oh and for all you analogu-a-phobes there will be a free download with the record… oooo).

IN OTHER NEWS. Pavey did all the glow in the dark Steal shirts the other day. I popped down the studio to do a spot of painting, he was there working away, tells me to switch the light off, lo and behold… shit loads of glow in the dark shirts! Really, they actually work! hahaha. They’re GLOW IN THE DARK. Unfortunately if you didn’t order one, you have now missed out big time, you loser. Even I ordered one and i’m in the band, i know it’s not cool or anything but i think the fact that they’re GLOW IN THE DARK negates any of that. ok?

IN OTHER OTHER NEWS it’s only a week till christmas… ack.

IN OTHER OTHER OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS the Antelope LP ‘Reflector’ is amaaaaaaazing. Thanks LAC.

Never see me again

Just finished a commission for my friend Melanie. Had an extremely tight timeframe to do it in but from stretching the canvas to the last brush stroke in under 10 days isn’t bad… So yes, Mel your mum will have a Christmas present this year…

DJ Dave

Currently doing some mobile disco-ing for ‘the kids’, involving lots of driving, technology. gaffa tape and ridiculous dancing. You know it’s been a good day when for a while you and someone who is a third your size are the only ones dancing in a  school dining hall at about half 2 in the afternoon.

News and Events.

+ This Thursday the wonderful Light Sleepers are playing with the equally wonderful Vivian Girls at the Freebutt in Brighton. I’m looking forward to it. Are you?

+ The North Pole are playing a free show this saturday at the Hobgoblin. It is fancy dress. prepare to be amazed… or disappointed. A reminder that our CD, Exposition Vol. 1 is now available, it’s like £4 for a bunch of songs and lovely hand-made artwork. According to banquet records, “it rules”.

+ I’m not working on friday night! Yes!

+ The Hot Damn 7″ test press has been shipped. Yes!

+ ALSO this saturday The Art Is Proof Press are having an open house in Hove. I went to it last weekend and would highly recommend going along, the work on show is real good, it’s actually affordable (it is christmas after all kids…) AND there’s free tea and biscuits. BAM.

On the first day of Christmas