3
Status.
Hi everyone,
I cannot believe how long it's been since I posted anything on here. So i thought I'd give you a quick update on what I'm doing etc, as if anyone really cares, but still - venting process and all that.
I've been living in London for almost a year and a half now. I managed, almost immediately, to land a pretty amazing job in a guitar store over here called Hanks. For those of you unfamiliar with Hanks, it's probably in the top 5 acoustic guitar shops in the world. I'd heard of it even back in NZ. Only about 5 people work here and almost every day I serve, deweyeyed, some kind of musical hero or film star extraordinaire. The shop is on Denmark street in London. Nearly every shop on this street is a music shop. Before they were music shops they were publishing houses. Before that they were music studios. Studios where the Rolling Stones recorded their first album, Hendrix, the Beatles, you name it. the Sex Pistols squatted at number 14 or something. It's packed to the rafters with intense history. Pretty preeeetty cool.
Other than that I have been doing NOTHING. Probably played 20 gigs since I arrived. Done very little traveling too. In saying that, I'm off to climb Machu Picchu in Peru in 8 days. Pretty exciting, but it also means I've spent the most amount of money possible on tramping gear i will probably never use again. So someone invite me on another whirlwind trek somewhere else in the world. I arrive in Santiago first and had planned in my head to meet up with Izsil, but of course he's in Australia and we will JUST miss each other.
In my last blog many years ago I noticed I mentioned $20,000 to make an album. In the end, as it was from a modest couple, I decided not to take it. I only used a wee bit to make that EP, that's all paid back now anyway. So I'm saving on my own now to record my first full length album. Saved about £3000 so far. My ideal would be to somehow convince (in this order) either Jon Brion, Ethan Johns, Nigel Godrich or Tchad Blake to produce my album. It'll never happen, but surely a man can dream.
Actually - I'm aware it sounds exceptionally self involved, but would be a massive help - if you have any thoughts on what would be good album tracks, if you could tell me, then I could compile a median of the songs that will most likely work in an album context. I'm so concerned with it having a flow and a sound of its own. Restricted amounts of instruments used, sparse production values etc.
On another note, here's a video of Where The Problematic Play from this concert I did at the end of 2007:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfTKcrcerRs
I wish Bandamp chat would start swinging again! I keep entering a void of emptiness.
- Chester
I cannot believe how long it's been since I posted anything on here. So i thought I'd give you a quick update on what I'm doing etc, as if anyone really cares, but still - venting process and all that.
I've been living in London for almost a year and a half now. I managed, almost immediately, to land a pretty amazing job in a guitar store over here called Hanks. For those of you unfamiliar with Hanks, it's probably in the top 5 acoustic guitar shops in the world. I'd heard of it even back in NZ. Only about 5 people work here and almost every day I serve, deweyeyed, some kind of musical hero or film star extraordinaire. The shop is on Denmark street in London. Nearly every shop on this street is a music shop. Before they were music shops they were publishing houses. Before that they were music studios. Studios where the Rolling Stones recorded their first album, Hendrix, the Beatles, you name it. the Sex Pistols squatted at number 14 or something. It's packed to the rafters with intense history. Pretty preeeetty cool.
Other than that I have been doing NOTHING. Probably played 20 gigs since I arrived. Done very little traveling too. In saying that, I'm off to climb Machu Picchu in Peru in 8 days. Pretty exciting, but it also means I've spent the most amount of money possible on tramping gear i will probably never use again. So someone invite me on another whirlwind trek somewhere else in the world. I arrive in Santiago first and had planned in my head to meet up with Izsil, but of course he's in Australia and we will JUST miss each other.
In my last blog many years ago I noticed I mentioned $20,000 to make an album. In the end, as it was from a modest couple, I decided not to take it. I only used a wee bit to make that EP, that's all paid back now anyway. So I'm saving on my own now to record my first full length album. Saved about £3000 so far. My ideal would be to somehow convince (in this order) either Jon Brion, Ethan Johns, Nigel Godrich or Tchad Blake to produce my album. It'll never happen, but surely a man can dream.
Actually - I'm aware it sounds exceptionally self involved, but would be a massive help - if you have any thoughts on what would be good album tracks, if you could tell me, then I could compile a median of the songs that will most likely work in an album context. I'm so concerned with it having a flow and a sound of its own. Restricted amounts of instruments used, sparse production values etc.
On another note, here's a video of Where The Problematic Play from this concert I did at the end of 2007:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfTKcrcerRs
I wish Bandamp chat would start swinging again! I keep entering a void of emptiness.
- Chester
First off all thank you for this great song on the video. Gave me a nice vibe inside.
Second I couldnt resist to introduce your musical potential over here in Germany in our little Café. So I decided to play and sing your song "All that I can be" almost every sunday on the piano. It's up to you to complain before the (small) audience does.
I can see this song on your album
Second I couldnt resist to introduce your musical potential over here in Germany in our little Café. So I decided to play and sing your song "All that I can be" almost every sunday on the piano. It's up to you to complain before the (small) audience does.
I can see this song on your album
That is literally the most awesome thing I've ever heard, nobody knows me but I'm already being covered! Where abouts in Germany are you? It'd be great to come over and we could do a gig together somewhere? I'm only in london afterall...
- Chester
- Chester
We are living and working right in the middle of Germany in the south of the Harz mountains. The city is called Bad Lauterberg. Since I lost my job end of January this year my wife and I opened a little Café and wine tavern.
So if you can find the time for a trip around here, be sure you'll get a very warm welcome. Don't care about bed & breakfast. A gig together would be cool but it needs some preparations and scheduling
Carsten
So if you can find the time for a trip around here, be sure you'll get a very warm welcome. Don't care about bed & breakfast. A gig together would be cool but it needs some preparations and scheduling
Carsten