Thursday, 26 November 2009
Saturday, 21 November 2009
The Grace North Strum (featuring Hal on ToyBus)
My talented kids! all original music, (except for Harry`s contribution).
Learn something new,
Mark.
Learn something new,
Mark.
Friday, 20 November 2009
Christmas ideas...for the partner!!!
Evening Strumpets.
Here`s a list of great/brilliant Auto/biographies to buy Hubby/wifey/partner for Christmas regarding Film`s.
Pimp`s, Ho`s, & playa Hata`s: john Leguizamo. Brilliant.
Hollywood Animal: Joe eszterhaus. Inspirational.
The Godfather Book: Peter Cowie. Informative
Clips from a life: Denis Norden. Funny.
The Kid Stays in the Picture: Robert Evans. If you only get one from this list, get this one, it`s magnificent
My boring ass life: Kevin Smith. If only for the support he gives Jason Mewes story.
Born Standing Up: Steve Martin. This guy is my God!
Easy Riders Raging Bulls: Peter Biskind, Enthralling Seventies/Eighties non-fiction.
Withnails: Richard.E.Grant. As close as you`ll get to movie sets.
If I don`t Write it noone else will: Eric Sykes. Dad shared an office with him. cool.
Very Naughty Boys: Robert Sellars. British Film Industry at it`s best and worst!
Wiseguys: Nicholas Pileggi. Am I here to amuse you. the original gangsters.
Here`s a list of great/brilliant Auto/biographies to buy Hubby/wifey/partner for Christmas regarding Film`s.
Pimp`s, Ho`s, & playa Hata`s: john Leguizamo. Brilliant.
Hollywood Animal: Joe eszterhaus. Inspirational.
The Godfather Book: Peter Cowie. Informative
Clips from a life: Denis Norden. Funny.
The Kid Stays in the Picture: Robert Evans. If you only get one from this list, get this one, it`s magnificent
My boring ass life: Kevin Smith. If only for the support he gives Jason Mewes story.
Born Standing Up: Steve Martin. This guy is my God!
Easy Riders Raging Bulls: Peter Biskind, Enthralling Seventies/Eighties non-fiction.
Withnails: Richard.E.Grant. As close as you`ll get to movie sets.
If I don`t Write it noone else will: Eric Sykes. Dad shared an office with him. cool.
Very Naughty Boys: Robert Sellars. British Film Industry at it`s best and worst!
Wiseguys: Nicholas Pileggi. Am I here to amuse you. the original gangsters.
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Monday, 16 November 2009
This is real!!!!!
Evening Strumpets,
My wife Louise saw this and immediately told me she wants one for Christmas. Click on the image for a good look, It just keeps on giving!
Sunday, 15 November 2009
Jolly Boys Nov `09
Evening strumpets.
Ooh I`m not feeling too clever, just got back from a jolly boys to Whitby, and I have to accept that I am never going to be 18 ever again, Blimey, I`ve only got about seven months left of being 38.
A great weekend, and a big thanks to all the lads for making it so.
Whilst there Carl and I had a little play with the instrument, and this is one of the outcomes. It`s written By Carl, and is called "Johnny Merde". Apparently a play on it sounding like a Johnnny Marr tune written for a French film (should a thing ever occur). I think it`s quite lovely.
Ooh I`m not feeling too clever, just got back from a jolly boys to Whitby, and I have to accept that I am never going to be 18 ever again, Blimey, I`ve only got about seven months left of being 38.
A great weekend, and a big thanks to all the lads for making it so.
Whilst there Carl and I had a little play with the instrument, and this is one of the outcomes. It`s written By Carl, and is called "Johnny Merde". Apparently a play on it sounding like a Johnnny Marr tune written for a French film (should a thing ever occur). I think it`s quite lovely.
Thursday, 12 November 2009
one picture and one post
Evening strumpets, One last version of cripple creek, and a lovely picture of us having a laugh with the kids learning the joys of Humour, in the bath.Wednesday, 11 November 2009
A rare and precious gift.
Evening strumpets.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank one Strumpet in particular. Michael in Oklahoma has not only sent a really generous donation, but also a collection of American folk songs, along with classical pieces played, amazingly on the old drum on a stick.
The time and effort which this must have taken Michael to complete fills me with a warmth that only pure generosity of spirit can do.
Check out his website, it`s quite wonderful.
http://michaeltiger.wordpress.com/
he has also introduced me to this chap.
what a talent. Thanks Michael.
Learn something new.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank one Strumpet in particular. Michael in Oklahoma has not only sent a really generous donation, but also a collection of American folk songs, along with classical pieces played, amazingly on the old drum on a stick.
The time and effort which this must have taken Michael to complete fills me with a warmth that only pure generosity of spirit can do.
Check out his website, it`s quite wonderful.
http://michaeltiger.wordpress.com/
he has also introduced me to this chap.
what a talent. Thanks Michael.
Learn something new.
Friday, 6 November 2009
remember remember the fifth of November
Evening strumpets.
if you thought it was hard work geting Harry into the Spider costume for Halloween (Much wailing, and gnashing, and "No Daddy No, it will bite me"), it was nothing compared to trying to get him to stand outside for more than two minutes whilst the fireworks were whizzbanging away.
At one point I thought he was going to try and dig a hole in the floor with his teeth to get away from the aerial theatrics. We eventually got him to play with a sparkler, but that was the best we could hope for. Maybe next year then Hal?
if you thought it was hard work geting Harry into the Spider costume for Halloween (Much wailing, and gnashing, and "No Daddy No, it will bite me"), it was nothing compared to trying to get him to stand outside for more than two minutes whilst the fireworks were whizzbanging away.
At one point I thought he was going to try and dig a hole in the floor with his teeth to get away from the aerial theatrics. We eventually got him to play with a sparkler, but that was the best we could hope for. Maybe next year then Hal?
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
For Folk`s sake!
Evening strumpets,
So me and Northern Banjo Boy himself aka Andy Dalton, decided it would be a good idea to play at an "open Mic" spot which a friend of Andy`s had suggested, Andy mentioned it on the night of the October jam, and it`d been a while since Id got up, so i thought it would be worth a shout.
After finally finding Andy`s place (or rather him finding me after twenty minutes of driving aimlessly around his hometown, and half a dozen calls on the hands free resulting in "I`ll be stood at the roundabout waving")we were off on our adventure.
Both nervous, the journey to the Pub was interesting. It just kept going and going. We eventually pulled into the Village of Ainderby Quernhow (no that`s what it`s called) and found the Pub. The Black Horse Inn. The night was wild, blowing a gale, and pitch black, and into the Inn we walked. Neither of us were prepared for what we found.
There were maybe twenty people in there, and amongst the customers was a table surrounded by musicians. Proper musicians. Proper folk musicians. Proper good folk musicians. We were greeted really warmly by Stephen, who`s brain child the evenings are, who bought us drinks and told us to take a seat with the musicians. The banjo`s weren`t even out of the bags before we`d informed everyone present that we`d only been playing eighteen and ten months respectively.
The group played a folk song, and we noticed a guy appear who had a couple of extraordinary traditional Mandolins. This guy was a serious Professional, with an amzing voice, called Iain Glover. This was hardcore Folk Muso`s. Andy and I looked like mice who`d accidentally walked into Felix the Cat`s Stag Do. "Time for the banjo players" somebody said. And off we went with Cripple Creek.
We weren`t half bad either. Fiddle, Mandolin, and Accoustic six String joined in, and we got through it pretty well. Even got a round of applause. Then we decided to try Foggy Mountain Breakdown, a song which takes at least half a dozen practices before sounding even remotely wrong most nights. we murdered it,to quote Blackadder, "If not very nearly dead, then very really dead". At this point Andy felt the need to go for a pint, and discretely dissapeared into the snug.
I enjoyed playing along with the other musicians, even attempted Duelling banjo`s, which is very difficult when you`re duelling with a fiddle. And of course whilst there was a lull in the proceedings felt the need, almost Tourettes like, to ask "Does anybody want to hear a pop song"?
Whic is how I found myself on a wild and windy night, in an Inn in deepest darkest North Yorkshire, In front of an open coal fire with the wind battering the Moors outside, playing S-Club 7...on the banjo....to a bunch of seasoned fantastic folkies.
Went down rather well I thought. Then it was time for Curry and Rice, or sausage and chips (all free), and a chat with the others. Turns out they`re really good people who just enjoy playing and listening to live music, at any level. We`ve been asked to go back, it happens on the last Sunday of each month.
We`ve been asked to go back, and I can heartily recommend the night. WE may need to practice a bit more though. Having said that, Do you fancy it again at the end of the month Andy? (awaiting comment of No! any minute).
Till the next one, keep smiling,
Mark.
So me and Northern Banjo Boy himself aka Andy Dalton, decided it would be a good idea to play at an "open Mic" spot which a friend of Andy`s had suggested, Andy mentioned it on the night of the October jam, and it`d been a while since Id got up, so i thought it would be worth a shout.
After finally finding Andy`s place (or rather him finding me after twenty minutes of driving aimlessly around his hometown, and half a dozen calls on the hands free resulting in "I`ll be stood at the roundabout waving")we were off on our adventure.
Both nervous, the journey to the Pub was interesting. It just kept going and going. We eventually pulled into the Village of Ainderby Quernhow (no that`s what it`s called) and found the Pub. The Black Horse Inn. The night was wild, blowing a gale, and pitch black, and into the Inn we walked. Neither of us were prepared for what we found.
There were maybe twenty people in there, and amongst the customers was a table surrounded by musicians. Proper musicians. Proper folk musicians. Proper good folk musicians. We were greeted really warmly by Stephen, who`s brain child the evenings are, who bought us drinks and told us to take a seat with the musicians. The banjo`s weren`t even out of the bags before we`d informed everyone present that we`d only been playing eighteen and ten months respectively.
The group played a folk song, and we noticed a guy appear who had a couple of extraordinary traditional Mandolins. This guy was a serious Professional, with an amzing voice, called Iain Glover. This was hardcore Folk Muso`s. Andy and I looked like mice who`d accidentally walked into Felix the Cat`s Stag Do. "Time for the banjo players" somebody said. And off we went with Cripple Creek.
We weren`t half bad either. Fiddle, Mandolin, and Accoustic six String joined in, and we got through it pretty well. Even got a round of applause. Then we decided to try Foggy Mountain Breakdown, a song which takes at least half a dozen practices before sounding even remotely wrong most nights. we murdered it,to quote Blackadder, "If not very nearly dead, then very really dead". At this point Andy felt the need to go for a pint, and discretely dissapeared into the snug.
I enjoyed playing along with the other musicians, even attempted Duelling banjo`s, which is very difficult when you`re duelling with a fiddle. And of course whilst there was a lull in the proceedings felt the need, almost Tourettes like, to ask "Does anybody want to hear a pop song"?
Whic is how I found myself on a wild and windy night, in an Inn in deepest darkest North Yorkshire, In front of an open coal fire with the wind battering the Moors outside, playing S-Club 7...on the banjo....to a bunch of seasoned fantastic folkies.
Went down rather well I thought. Then it was time for Curry and Rice, or sausage and chips (all free), and a chat with the others. Turns out they`re really good people who just enjoy playing and listening to live music, at any level. We`ve been asked to go back, it happens on the last Sunday of each month.
We`ve been asked to go back, and I can heartily recommend the night. WE may need to practice a bit more though. Having said that, Do you fancy it again at the end of the month Andy? (awaiting comment of No! any minute).
Till the next one, keep smiling,
Mark.
Sunday, 1 November 2009
Halloween, and something really scary!
Here`s a couple of pics of the kids in their Halloween get up.
Even scarier, I`m going to play in an open mic spot in Thirsk tonight, supporting Andy dalton aka Northern banjo Boy. I have no idea where the pub is, what songs we will be playing, or which instruments I`ll be playing. Whatever happens, it`ll be emotional.
Wish us luck!!!!
Mark.
On the Fiddle
Evening strumpets,
Earlier this year, My Mother in Law (the lovely Nana Mal to you and the kids) dug out her old violin from the loft. It was stringless and in a far from pristine condition, but I thought why not clean it up, and restring it. After putting the strings on I realised just how hard it was to tune, so i`m ashamed to admit, it began gathering dust on the top floor. As the Dalton boys were popping around the other night for a `Jam`, I thought I`d give it one last go at tuning. Miraculously it got to a place maybe not in the centre of tunesville, but certainly not far from the suburbs.
So here`s me twenty four hours later, killing Cripple Creek stone dead.
Hope you enjoyed it, Things can only get better!
Learn something new,
Mark.
Earlier this year, My Mother in Law (the lovely Nana Mal to you and the kids) dug out her old violin from the loft. It was stringless and in a far from pristine condition, but I thought why not clean it up, and restring it. After putting the strings on I realised just how hard it was to tune, so i`m ashamed to admit, it began gathering dust on the top floor. As the Dalton boys were popping around the other night for a `Jam`, I thought I`d give it one last go at tuning. Miraculously it got to a place maybe not in the centre of tunesville, but certainly not far from the suburbs.
So here`s me twenty four hours later, killing Cripple Creek stone dead.
Hope you enjoyed it, Things can only get better!
Learn something new,
Mark.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)