Sooooo, i did say this would be a Radom blog never regular and here we are again.
Been quite busy the past few weeks with both band and work. Christmas is a bit of a mental time in my day job as we actually close over the Christmas period so every customer has to double up their orders including Tesco and the like. All this has to be made and sent out before we finish.
On the flip side its usually a quieter time for the band as its usually Christmas party’s and covers bands but hey ho we were booked to play a festival in Troon (winterstorm) and a Christmas party in Galashiels.
Both were amazing in their own but very different ways, Troon was an early show 40 mins and over by 3pm, but with cirmcumstances our set was cut short but we had a blast, met so many nice people got absolutely hammered and met and seen in no order Kaned, Geoff Tate, The dead daisies, Bernie Torme, Toby jepson and girlschool. our hotel was fantastic too. And the Brucey bonus was its only just over an hour away from the boat.
Galashiels on the other hand is 3 1/2 hours from the boat and don’t trust your sat nav if you ever drive and although its a really nice drive through some wonderful scenery the roads it took us were very narrow. the venue in gala the mac arts centre is a converted church and the staff there were fantastic. Our hotel there, not that we seen much of it was great too and we would love to go back.
Home 7pm on Sunday evening and up for work for the last week before the Christmas break on Monday. So all n all a busy few weeks and cant wait to get off for a break, so beers with mates tomorrow evening, dinner and gig on Saturday night with friends and somewhere in there Christmas wrapping/shopping cleaning all has to be done so we don’t leave it all to Monday. Hope this finds you well whenever it finds you.
Thursday, December 20, 2018
Monday, November 26, 2018
MMMMM been a long time, been a long time so I thought I would do a wee update, have been quite busy lately my full time job has been quite a turbulent time as it was bought over and lots of changes, all of them positive i might add. So as timbuk 3 once said the future's so bright i gotta wear shades.
Took a wee weekend in Glasgow with the bride to see Within Temptation, stayed in a lovely hotel, went to a roller derby had a great bbq meal and a quiet saturday evening, then a dander around christmas markets and shopping centre before the gig on the sunday evening which we loved,
Since then been busing booking gigs/boats etc for trucker next year and getting sorted for a fest in troon that we played at the weekend Winterstorm in Troon and it was awesome. I had a 4am wake up call to get ready and collect the lads to be in Belfast for 6.30 for the boat and in a first We had the whole Trucker Team in tow which was brilliant. After a Team meeting on the boat sorting out who/what/where/when for 2019 and beyond we hit cairnryan and had a short jaunt up to Troon.
We arrived and got checked in, and after a short delay as a fire alarm went off we got loaded in and because of the delay were on before we had time to get even a line check, the first 1/2 song there was no bass but they soon had it sorted and the band played a blinder of a set to a pretty packed hall. We rushed off stage and stripped it in record time to try and help claw back some of the lost time the crew had to deal with.
After packing everything away the boys did an interview and then they had a few beers and we decided that Simon, Darren and i would go check in at the hotel and get a taxi back so we could have a drink together. That turned into a fantastic afternoon meeting other bands, managers, promoters all whom had great things to say about the band. We met amongst others Geoff Tate, Doug Adrich, Dean Costranovo, Kane'd, Girlschool, Wayward Songs, No Hot Ashes and more ive forgotten or was too drunk to remember but all were great craic. After a good night sleep for some!! got up had a great shower and breakfast and was told tales about the night before antics after i left for bed. We left our hotel for the short drive back to cairnrayn and the boat home.
All in all a great night away and as a wise man said we packed in 6 weeks of touring into 1 night in Troon
Took a wee weekend in Glasgow with the bride to see Within Temptation, stayed in a lovely hotel, went to a roller derby had a great bbq meal and a quiet saturday evening, then a dander around christmas markets and shopping centre before the gig on the sunday evening which we loved,
Since then been busing booking gigs/boats etc for trucker next year and getting sorted for a fest in troon that we played at the weekend Winterstorm in Troon and it was awesome. I had a 4am wake up call to get ready and collect the lads to be in Belfast for 6.30 for the boat and in a first We had the whole Trucker Team in tow which was brilliant. After a Team meeting on the boat sorting out who/what/where/when for 2019 and beyond we hit cairnryan and had a short jaunt up to Troon.
We arrived and got checked in, and after a short delay as a fire alarm went off we got loaded in and because of the delay were on before we had time to get even a line check, the first 1/2 song there was no bass but they soon had it sorted and the band played a blinder of a set to a pretty packed hall. We rushed off stage and stripped it in record time to try and help claw back some of the lost time the crew had to deal with.
After packing everything away the boys did an interview and then they had a few beers and we decided that Simon, Darren and i would go check in at the hotel and get a taxi back so we could have a drink together. That turned into a fantastic afternoon meeting other bands, managers, promoters all whom had great things to say about the band. We met amongst others Geoff Tate, Doug Adrich, Dean Costranovo, Kane'd, Girlschool, Wayward Songs, No Hot Ashes and more ive forgotten or was too drunk to remember but all were great craic. After a good night sleep for some!! got up had a great shower and breakfast and was told tales about the night before antics after i left for bed. We left our hotel for the short drive back to cairnrayn and the boat home.
All in all a great night away and as a wise man said we packed in 6 weeks of touring into 1 night in Troon
Monday, October 15, 2018
OCT 2017
So been a while since i've updated my blog so have decided to do a quick update, been a busy few weeks and with the nights drawing in(dark at 7.15pm) ive been rushing home from work and trying to get out on the bike when its been dry.
Work has been the usual mental stuff, and been trying to book gigs for the band for summer 2019, festivals tours etc. We did a acoustic sessions at Radio Nova in dublin last Friday night which was great all be it a long long day not home to 1.30am after a great session and interview with Tony, he had nothing but good things to say about the lads and Nova have been big supporters of Trucker for a long time.
Ive been doing Sober October and am 15 days in, not easy when people are offering you beers all the time, this weekend Trucker were in the studio recording 2 tracks for a yet undisclosed project so was up there all day on saturday and sunday, was very relaxing but long days but very productive.
Have no plans for the weekend coming so should be quiet and relaxing. Fingers crossed.
Work has been the usual mental stuff, and been trying to book gigs for the band for summer 2019, festivals tours etc. We did a acoustic sessions at Radio Nova in dublin last Friday night which was great all be it a long long day not home to 1.30am after a great session and interview with Tony, he had nothing but good things to say about the lads and Nova have been big supporters of Trucker for a long time.
Ive been doing Sober October and am 15 days in, not easy when people are offering you beers all the time, this weekend Trucker were in the studio recording 2 tracks for a yet undisclosed project so was up there all day on saturday and sunday, was very relaxing but long days but very productive.
Have no plans for the weekend coming so should be quiet and relaxing. Fingers crossed.
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
So after 9 days without a day off and sitting in a hotel bar all alone for a second night in a row I’ve decided to update my blog, lol not the best thing I’ve ever done but ya know what not the worst either. Full working week last week then 9pm on Friday evening in Belfast then all day sat and sun but at least I had the wonderful bride with me to keep me sane among the ravenous hoards to descend on the taste(less) fest every year. The traders all have a great sense of humour and make it worthwhile.
I then went to work on Monday morning and then flew to every little helps HQ on Monday afternoon for a training course on Tuesday morning, but couldn’t get a flight out until Wednesday. Hey ho worst things happen at sea! So after a pretty good day at hq I’m now sipping a GnT while watching footy on the box to pass the time while annoying ppl and arranging crimbo prezzies via text.
All I’ve heard all day is about Metallica tix for slane and are we going NO WERE FUCKING NOT as a friend pointed out we decided after our last donington disaster no more outdoor fests in these climates, we are old men, and some have early onset dementia it seems! So anyhow hope your having a great Tuesday evening as I’m slightly pissed nai and am gonna leave the bar before I order another gin!
Hire car for a few days
Great view from my hotel
I then went to work on Monday morning and then flew to every little helps HQ on Monday afternoon for a training course on Tuesday morning, but couldn’t get a flight out until Wednesday. Hey ho worst things happen at sea! So after a pretty good day at hq I’m now sipping a GnT while watching footy on the box to pass the time while annoying ppl and arranging crimbo prezzies via text.
All I’ve heard all day is about Metallica tix for slane and are we going NO WERE FUCKING NOT as a friend pointed out we decided after our last donington disaster no more outdoor fests in these climates, we are old men, and some have early onset dementia it seems! So anyhow hope your having a great Tuesday evening as I’m slightly pissed nai and am gonna leave the bar before I order another gin!
Friday, August 31, 2018
On a August bank holiday weekend
So as my ole fella used to say "when are you going to grow out of all that music shite", sometimes when i have to get up at 3.30am on a saturday night i wonder the same!
But back to the beginning of my wonderful August bank holiday weekend, not so early start on a saturday morning to collect a hire van, and pick up equipment from some of the band to make our life easier on a dark sunday night/morning, then off to set up a P.A system to D.J at a friends 50th birthday street party/BBQ.
The next thing i knew i was heading to bed at 8.30pm on a saturday night, 3.30am comes around quickly especially when you are waiting for it from 2. Up showered coffee made and on the road for 3.50 to collect the band and make our journey to dublin to catch a 8am ferry to wales. Our journeys are usually uneventful as we have made this journey so many times over the last 10 years together and this one was no exception plenty of laughs of the bevis and buthead variety, and straight to our hotel only a 2hr 15min drive with plenty of time to spare.
We are the headline act tonight so not on until 10.45pm so in reality dont have to be there until 9pm but you cant sell merch and make petrol money sitting in a hotel so after a great carvery lunch and a wee power nap, we all get ready and head to the venue. Greeted by the crew and organizers and a load of Trucker Diablo T-shirts we have a quick look around to get our bearings and then unfortunately have to temporary unload the van to get out the merch which was the first things put in. I get set up and nearly straight away start selling merch. There is a great crowd who have been rocking from midday and are loving the variety of bands.
We get to catch up with old friends and say hello to our new guitar tech Mandy, with a wealth of experience she really takes the pressure off the boys when we are doing shows like this and is on point all night on everything she does and loves her job. Its all too soon when its time to load in and set up the gear for a short 1 hour headline set so we have been on the go 18 hours for a 1 hour set, no wonder people think we are mental. Some fans have brought our frontman Tom a cake and we after speaking to the festival organisers we decide to cut into our set for a wee rendition of happy birthday which goes down a storm. And then its all over 1 hour gone in a blink of an eye breakdown to side of the stage and a few signatures and sales later its time to pack up and load the van, we are now old hands and this and its like a big game of tetris and with help we have it done in no time and i take the boys and Mandy off for a well earned drink.
We get chatting to our mates in Falling Red and Wicked Stone who hang around to have a drink with us but after about an hour i retreat to the van for a snooze to let the lads unwind. An hour later a rap at the window lets me know its time to head back to the hotel, 3.30am and its lights out for a 9.30am alarm call as we have to head back to holyhead for the ferry. All up and with a mcdonalds breakfast inside us we head back the route we came and as we made good time we stop for a wee shop in holyheads morrisons and i pick up some christmas presents and corn on the cob for tea. Back on the boat the lads have a few pints and its all plain sailing back to dublin and up the road to unload and i get home at 8pm sunday night.
So as you can see not all sex, drugs rock n roll.
DINNER DINNER DINNER TRUCKER
MY AMAZIN MERCH STAND
But back to the beginning of my wonderful August bank holiday weekend, not so early start on a saturday morning to collect a hire van, and pick up equipment from some of the band to make our life easier on a dark sunday night/morning, then off to set up a P.A system to D.J at a friends 50th birthday street party/BBQ.
The next thing i knew i was heading to bed at 8.30pm on a saturday night, 3.30am comes around quickly especially when you are waiting for it from 2. Up showered coffee made and on the road for 3.50 to collect the band and make our journey to dublin to catch a 8am ferry to wales. Our journeys are usually uneventful as we have made this journey so many times over the last 10 years together and this one was no exception plenty of laughs of the bevis and buthead variety, and straight to our hotel only a 2hr 15min drive with plenty of time to spare.
We are the headline act tonight so not on until 10.45pm so in reality dont have to be there until 9pm but you cant sell merch and make petrol money sitting in a hotel so after a great carvery lunch and a wee power nap, we all get ready and head to the venue. Greeted by the crew and organizers and a load of Trucker Diablo T-shirts we have a quick look around to get our bearings and then unfortunately have to temporary unload the van to get out the merch which was the first things put in. I get set up and nearly straight away start selling merch. There is a great crowd who have been rocking from midday and are loving the variety of bands.
We get to catch up with old friends and say hello to our new guitar tech Mandy, with a wealth of experience she really takes the pressure off the boys when we are doing shows like this and is on point all night on everything she does and loves her job. Its all too soon when its time to load in and set up the gear for a short 1 hour headline set so we have been on the go 18 hours for a 1 hour set, no wonder people think we are mental. Some fans have brought our frontman Tom a cake and we after speaking to the festival organisers we decide to cut into our set for a wee rendition of happy birthday which goes down a storm. And then its all over 1 hour gone in a blink of an eye breakdown to side of the stage and a few signatures and sales later its time to pack up and load the van, we are now old hands and this and its like a big game of tetris and with help we have it done in no time and i take the boys and Mandy off for a well earned drink.
We get chatting to our mates in Falling Red and Wicked Stone who hang around to have a drink with us but after about an hour i retreat to the van for a snooze to let the lads unwind. An hour later a rap at the window lets me know its time to head back to the hotel, 3.30am and its lights out for a 9.30am alarm call as we have to head back to holyhead for the ferry. All up and with a mcdonalds breakfast inside us we head back the route we came and as we made good time we stop for a wee shop in holyheads morrisons and i pick up some christmas presents and corn on the cob for tea. Back on the boat the lads have a few pints and its all plain sailing back to dublin and up the road to unload and i get home at 8pm sunday night.
So as you can see not all sex, drugs rock n roll.
MY AMAZIN MERCH STAND
Thursday, August 23, 2018
Mid life Crisis you say? W5 i say!!
So, i've thought about starting a blog, vlog, podcast etc for a while now, spoke about fellow collaborators but nothing ever came of it. So in true Baz fashion i've said F**k it and put keyboard to screen.
I remember doing some music reviews on Bebo (i think) anyone remember that? I did do 2 radio shows to see if i could after a friend suggested i should did it and never gave it to anyone as i didnt feel i had the time to do them in a frequent manor. Im not the most eloquent or wordy person, think i have a D in my GCSE english but thats not what this is about, i have been reading a friends blog and finding in amazingly inspirational and with the facebook remember this day last year/2 years/3 years making me smile everytime i read it i have decided to give this a go. Will it last i dont know, will anyone ever see it again i dont know but hey ho lets go.
No idea where to start this as i would say anyone whos reading this or has an interest will know who i am but a brief run down, i'm a 46 year old married father of 2 teenagers Ryan (18) Amy (15) ive been married to Kirsty for 22 years and apart from my family my biggest passion in life is music. From i was 15/16 i have hung around with bands, while i have no musical talent whatsoever i have a lot of friends who are amazingly talented, i did sing in a band but that was more because i would give it a go rather than could sing. I soon found that my talents lay in other parts of the music industry i have been working with bands from then booking gigs, carrying gear, artwork, liaising with bookers, record companies other bands etc.
I now manage a Band called Trucker Diablo along with 2 others and while we are not setting the music industry alight we all love what we do when we get the chance to do it. Being part of this band has brought us all some amazing opportunities we have travelled throughout the UK and Ireland meeting some amazing people along the way, played in France a few times and Ibiza once. I personally have made lifelong friends on the road.
So there you go a brief intro and ill try and get updating now and again, as i sit around and wait in some interesting places when im doing that thing i do.
I remember doing some music reviews on Bebo (i think) anyone remember that? I did do 2 radio shows to see if i could after a friend suggested i should did it and never gave it to anyone as i didnt feel i had the time to do them in a frequent manor. Im not the most eloquent or wordy person, think i have a D in my GCSE english but thats not what this is about, i have been reading a friends blog and finding in amazingly inspirational and with the facebook remember this day last year/2 years/3 years making me smile everytime i read it i have decided to give this a go. Will it last i dont know, will anyone ever see it again i dont know but hey ho lets go.
No idea where to start this as i would say anyone whos reading this or has an interest will know who i am but a brief run down, i'm a 46 year old married father of 2 teenagers Ryan (18) Amy (15) ive been married to Kirsty for 22 years and apart from my family my biggest passion in life is music. From i was 15/16 i have hung around with bands, while i have no musical talent whatsoever i have a lot of friends who are amazingly talented, i did sing in a band but that was more because i would give it a go rather than could sing. I soon found that my talents lay in other parts of the music industry i have been working with bands from then booking gigs, carrying gear, artwork, liaising with bookers, record companies other bands etc.
I now manage a Band called Trucker Diablo along with 2 others and while we are not setting the music industry alight we all love what we do when we get the chance to do it. Being part of this band has brought us all some amazing opportunities we have travelled throughout the UK and Ireland meeting some amazing people along the way, played in France a few times and Ibiza once. I personally have made lifelong friends on the road.
So there you go a brief intro and ill try and get updating now and again, as i sit around and wait in some interesting places when im doing that thing i do.
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