Whiting the Wrongs

Bloody Snow.

What is it about booking the Dead Jerichos in On a Thursday gigs and having it snow? It was the reason our first attempt to bill them got cancelled and seemed to be a major reson behind the second time (where they actually got to play) the show was sparsley attended.

The white downpour started (and started to settle very quickly) about an hour before the doors were due to open, and only when we actually started the first band did it finally stop. It didn't last on the streets fr long, but was enough to keep people away and, as a result, no-one really came to the first FLM performance since London (and the last ever FLM performance under that name), and the only people who saw the Dead Jerichos were already there from seeing the Empty Vessels or were in or with one of the other bands.

That's a huge shame because I felt that while we made a few minor mistakes, the performance was fine and a good one to break Jim into the band for his first live show for years. Not only that but both of the other two bands were incredibly good. Although I didn't get to actually see the Empty Vessels play due to being on the door, I heard every note and it was tight, solid and performed to a very high standard. They deserve their BBC Introducing airtime and whatever accolades are sure to follow. Dead jerichos also proved that they are in it for the long haul because, despite playing about 4 million gigs in the coming and past months they had bundles of energy and got the albeit small crowd pumping and in many cases, dancing too. They're young lads but they've got a lot of professionalism and were a joy to put on stage.

Next time we book them, it's going to be in the summer so it doesn't bloody snow.

It was refreshing to see people from the local music press coming down to check out the bands though. It made me feel like On a Thursday is going to become a mainstay of the Oxford music scene for quite a time to come, and with more bands interested in the upcoming dates we've got some huge strides forward coming up.

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Truckin in the free world

I was reading the Truck Festival messageboards fairly recently, and someone on there was complaining at the fact that this year it costs £80 for a weekend (and another £15 if you want to pitch up on Friday).

Yes, this is expensive.

Yes, this is a lot more expensive than last year.

But my first festival I ever went to was T in the Park 2003, which was also a 2-day festival at the time, over seven years prior to Truck 2010, and that cost me £90. I KNOW they had "bigger name" bands and it's a "bigger" festival, but I can guarantee that Truck 2010 will be just as much, if not more FUN than T 2003 and as a result I still consider it very good value for money.

Not only that but a burger and chips at T 2003 cost £6 which, unless you're really really bad at valuing a pound, is extortionate. Thus Truck 2010 is going to be brilliant and economic. So ner.

On a Thursday

After the false start of the snow-covered "On a Thursday" night in January leading towards Dead Jerichos and Serotonin both cancelling on the day, and family events meaning that the night on the 21st January were never really ever going to take place, the third attempt at putting on a bands night for myself and Grundy went down an absolute treat.

Fedeterra, a group of 16-17 year-olds who mostly looked like a young Cure were a lot better and a lot more mature than any of us had ever thought. Upon sending them the email that they were being considered for this night I knew they had loads of potential, but when they turned up and opened the night with a series of Fall, Joy Division and other bands of that era covers they seriously impressed the growing crowd at what they were able to accomplish.

Occasionally it was a little out of tune, and one or two of the drums lost time a fraction, but overall it was an energetic and honest performance from a group of people who are of the age group whereby most people want to be in Arctic Monkeys copycat bands. Excellent start to the night.

The New Moon were nearly over before they began seeing as we had an issue with a missing cable during the soundcheck, but a fix was sorted out and when they began playing their subtle blend of semi-acoustic psychadelic rock, they managed to chill out and warm up, but never bore the room. Everyone was hanging off every note this group were playing and so they should. When we found out that On a Thursday were the only night they were getting their proper drummer due to a hefty commute from Canada, we knew they would go all out to make their set an excellent one, and they certainly didn't disappoint. Personally, I loved it. I found the whole thing very pleasing to listen to and feel particularly happy that this group of musicians were gracing the stage.

Then came Age of Misrule. A pretty new band by all accounts, but packing a punch from the get-go with a dirty heavy-rock set that never ever gave up on its audio assault. Frontwoman Caroline Sperko was on top form as she owned the stage (well, the bit just in front of the stage) throughout the remaining 40 minutes of the evening letting the now not-far-from-capacity crowd know exactly what AOM were all about. The whole thing, the whole evening just all seemed to click into place from the very beginning and nothing much seemed to go wrong.

Not only that, but we were only 20 people from a capacity crowd. It was a slow-burner but by the time Age of Misrule started their first note the room was packed and Grundy and I were grinning from ear to ear.

This is what made us dabble in the world of Music promotion. It's not about the money for us. We're in FLM and while we are playing the next event, it's not even about our band either. It's about every single person coming through that door and having a good time. I know it's a bit sloshy to say, but I'm glad that I was a part of something that so many people could enjoy, and for that reason alone, I went down to the main bar and booked another two nights in March and April, and between myself and Grundy we already have two acts almost confirmed (one for each night) .

Everyone walked away smiling, and that's the way I like it.