Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now...
Well, we survived another studio trip with all band members fully intact!
Twenty hours of studio time sadly dwindled to around sixteen due to an inconsiderate engineer leaving the studio equipment in a state completely unusable by anyone other than himself - leaving Mr David Carlyon (our engineer of choice!) having to rewire the entire setup, and the band to pace around like caged animals. Out of those sixteen hours, two were consumed by gear setup and mic placement, and at least six were required for mixing the session. To make matters even more urgent, due to personal circumstances one of our number could only be with us for four of those remaining eight recording hours! We had intended to get as much material as we could recorded, not necessarily all for promotional use, but also as a reference. You really would be surprised how much of the subtlety and texture of what each of us does is never heard by the others when we play live! However, given the circumstances, we decided to concentrate on the songs that we haven't recorded as SOULSIDE, and that we thought best showed our versatility and range. We aim to get everything down live. For us, this means performing each song two or three times, and picking the best take, rather than mixing and matching bits of takes, or recording every part separately and layering them. The end result was twelve songs, recorded in just four tense, clock-watching hours. This left us four hours to listen back to the material, select the best takes, and add the things that can't be captured in a live take due to the control over sound required in a recording studio. Obviously with the whole band set up and playing in one room (with all our singers recording behind screens with little windows in that very same room), you are going to get bleed from mic to mic (ie, the mic in front of the bass amp is going to pick up a little of the guitar amp, which in turn picks up a little of the keyboard amp...and EVERYTHING picks up the drums!), but to play a tambourine whilst recording the vocal in the same room for example, would render the vocal tracks unusable...and given that our vocalists are also our percussionists we had no choice but to record tambourines separately (and not forgetting the fine triangle solo from our bass player!) Four hours to listen to three takes of twelve songs averaging four minutes each, and record a couple of percussion tracks really isn't as long as it might seem... Still, not only did we do it, but we did it bloody well, and drank an awful lot of tea. Each song has it's own life and character, but still forms a comfortable part of the whole - much like the band members really! There is a vibrancy and energy generated by that urgency that really brings the songs to life in a way that studio recordings can often fail to do - after all, it doesn't matter how live you play in a studio, you don't have an audience, and THAT'S where most of the bands energy comes from usually! So really - the setbacks and constraints helped in ways no one would have predicted. Maybe next time we record, we'll just allow ourselves four hours to do twenty songs. That should pep us up a bit! The results of the session will be up on the site as soon as we have mastered them (and for those of you that don't know what this process entails or why it is necessary - go and Google it!). Until then, you'll just have to come and listen to us for real! Next stop - The George in Bradford on Avon, TUESDAY 21st Sept. Yes you read that right, TUESDAY! We are performing as part of the Bradford on Avon Fringe Festival. Are we Fringe? Don't think so... but what the hell! Until next time - love the one you're with. Blast from the Past
An old colleague got in touch with us recently, it was great to hear from him again. We had rather a sudden parting of the ways a couple of years ago, but it's great to see him go from strength to strength in his new band. Very pleased that friendly relations are fully restored - and your new band sounds terriffic, Pat!
It Takes Two...
...trips into Dorset in as many weeks before you truly appreciate how bendy some of those roads are!
Weddings can be hit and miss affairs from a bands point of view. Thankfully both of these were hits! The first was set in the beautiful grounds of Dudsbury Golf Course in Ferndown, and the band were requested to perform Take That's "Rule The World" as the happy (and frankly gorgeous!) couples first dance. We are finding more and more that adding the personal touch is really making a difference and helping to make each special day just a tiny bit more special. The set was well received and much fun was had by all, with the dance floor populated vigorously throughout. The second was set in the impressive grounds of Boveridge House in Cranbourne. Order of the day: keep off the Grade 2 listed grass! A small hiccup with the lighting did nothing to darken the spirits of either the band or the guests - the dancefloor being not only full, but also host to some truly magnificent shape throwing. The early departure of the bride and groom did nothing to curtail the party, the catering staff were excellent! We now have a week or two to prepare for our next studio visit, and are very much looking forward to it. Last time we were there was thoroughly enjoyable, but there was still alot of uncertainty. Our former management had decided to fold the band, and the anger and confusion that followed made the transition a shaky one. Some of us had worked with said management for many years, and it took some time for us all to agree to carry on regardless. Even on that first day of recording we weren't entirely sure who was actually going to turn up. Thankfully, we all did. It was such a refreshing experience - being able to record what we wanted, how we wanted, where we wanted - and it cemented the bond that joins us all in ways that were never allowed to happen before. Every single minute that the band spends together now is an absolute joy. No ego's, no hassle, and no problem insurmountable, and most importantly - none of us feels expendable and everybody feels appreciated. We are a band. We are a family. We are SOULSIDE, and there ain't no stoppin us now! All Night Long (All Night)
This was the weekend that the band really kicked back and let off some steam. And we got to play as well! Can't be bad!
The venue was a secret location in the heart of West Sussex. In a garden. A very big garden mind you, but a garden none the less. It was all to mark a Ruby Wedding Anniversary (no jokes about doing less time for murder please!) and we have no idea how many people were there. There was definitely a hog roast, and a free bar or two. The show was an absolute blast - great fun, and very relaxed. Given that the band were all camping for the night, we were free from our usual travel concerns, and had no designated driver. A few of us medically needed to let our hair down and de-stress, so we did. And we did it in style. Full marks go to our drummers impromptu break dancing extravaganza - and sincere apologies go to the people camping near Castle Grainger (a VERY big tent). We are sure they got some sleep eventually... To top it all off, we arrived home to the news that the band has been taken on by the Scott Jordan Entertainment Agency. There really are pots of gold at the end of rainbows you know! Anyway, we have some new songs in the works (including another special request for the next show - more on that later) and a studio excursion booked for early September, and are already accepting bookings for 2011. Our full entertainment package is going down an absolute storm (see the DISCO page), so don't wait until the last minute peeps - BOOK US NOW! 25 Miles From Home
...well a bit more than that actually!
It was a long weekend that's for sure. But GREAT fun! First stop was Dorking in Surrey on Friday for a wedding at the beautiful Wotton House. Great gig, with the happy couple looking just that, which is what it's all about. Not really sure who was happiest actually - the wedding couple or our girls when the chocolate fountain appeared. This gig saw the band perform a one-off wedding request - Do You Love Me? (without the Dirty Dancing, sadly) and it went down a storm. Who says taking requests is a bad idea? An overnight stay for some of us, a LONG drive home for the others. Up came the sun, and it was all systems go for the Toll Gate Summer Ball in Holt. Stage space required a different set up approach for us, but it was well handled and allowed for a different on stage dynamic than usual, which was nice. Very responsive crowd, many of whom danced all night (which wasn't easy in high heels, we can assure you!). And of course our very own resident DJ MArcus kept the night swinging after the band had wrapped, and to help us wind down after a looooong weekend, many of our number hit the dance floor! Another overnight stay for most of us, and a nice time to relax and reflect over a few drinkies :) To be honest, we were all a bit pooped. But it was well worth the effort, and we'd do it again in a heartbeat! In fact, we get a week to chilax, before heading back to Surrey next weekend for a 40th Wedding Anniversary, and another overnight stay! After a fair few years with this band, it's fair to say we have never enjoyed so many premium gigs, and had so much fun! Long may it continue! Now then... where's my bed?!?!? OHMS
So, what happened was, we went to Plymouth and snuck into the naval base, right, and disarmed all of the nuclear submarines, stole all the blueprints, and made it home just in time for tea, and M hadn't even noticed we hadn't attended that mornings briefing...
Oh OK - we were invited to HMS Drake to play a wedding reception. But the other bit sounds much more thrilling! The security was so tight that we could hardly breathe (ahem) and a jolly good time was had by all. It MUST have been a hot one though, because even the girls had a sparkle on! Gotta love that naval rum! A week later, some of our number played at the Woolley Festival in Bradford on Avon, as part of an ensemble group that performed the classic Beatles album Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band in it's entirety. People said it couldn't be done. Well people, you were wrong. It could, and it was, and more importantly it was received euphorically by a massive crowd! We really must do that again sometime... Anyhoo - SOULSIDE have a busy old year ahead of us, so we'll worry about that later - next stop, Surrey Take Me To The River(side)
Saturday saw the band play it's first public performance for quite some time, and it must be said, they went down an absolute storm! SOULSIDE played The Riverside Inn in Bradford on Avon to a captivated crowd, and stormed through 2 hours of set without even breaking a sweat. Part of that last statement may have been a lie. It was VERY sweaty!
We're all off to find our ID now, or we won't get onto the naval base for the next show... Oh by the way - best not sing that Edwin Starr song while we're there... TTFN Seven Days Is Too Long...... so several months is just inexcusable! A Dancer, Pianist, Band and R.A.B.I. walked into a Civic Hall...
...and much fun was had by all!
The venue was the Aylesbury Civic Centre. The Irish Dancers were well received, incredibly professional, and just a little bit cute. Elton Tom was equally well received, incredibly professional, and just a little bit camp. SOULSIDE were well received, incredibly professional, and just a little bit sweaty. And no complaints about who had the biggest dressing room either! (quite right too mind, there are ten of us!). The night was a triumphant success - and the 500 strong audience danced through it all with a collectively super-human show of stamina and alcohol tolerance. The venue (and it's staff) were absolutely superb, and it is such a shame that by all accounts the venue's days are numbered - the new Civic Centre is under construction a stones throw from the existing one, and will apparently hold half as many people. A travesty we tell you. A travesty. Anyway - our heart-felt thanks go out to all who organised, staffed, attended and performed at the event. It was a real pleasure. HAPPY NEW WHATSIT!
2010 was cheered in by the guests and staff at The Hotel Du Vin in Bristol as the band played on. Well, technically that's not true, the band stopped to hug eachother and the piper played Ol' Langs Malarky - but the band played either side of it, so that still counts as far as we're concerned. This was the 5th year on the trot that the band have played NYE at this venue - but this year was the best by far... atleast that's what everybody told us, and who are we to argue?
We won't share any tales of drunkeness and/or debauchery, because we are professionals and therefore there or no tales of that nature to tell ;) The band are now taking a week out before one of the busiest January's on record. Recession? What's that then? 
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