To Heaven and back again

Evening Strumpets, I`ve kind of found a tune, but getting it out into the open can sometimes be a bit tricky. it wouldn`t be the first time I`ve written something which is too difficult for me to play. Great north Strum being a prime example. This is where, if you`re made of the stuff of insanity which is brollied beneath the generic term "creative", you drive your partners/families/friends nuttier than squirrel faeces. Because you will not stop until you find it properly. And you repeat the same fricken thing over and over and over and over till it makes Pye look like a lightweight. I`ve done this too many times and left the instrument only to have completely forgotten what i`d been playing, the day after. So I`ve recorded me doing the aforementioned psychotic tendency to give you an idea what it must be like to be a "non Mark" Davies at these times. They truly are so patient with me. This may lead to something it may not. The words " Take me to Heaven and back again, Take me, I know there`ll be reckoning, Take me to heaven and back again, I know that it`s beckoning. so please come by and..repeat" stuck to it. I actually like it. There might even be an E Flat in there which is the banjo equivalent of a fart in a frogsuit, but what the hey. At least i won`t forget it.

listen to ‘to heaven and back again’ on Audioboo

Till the next one, learn something new, Mark.

Tramp the Dirt Down

I was lucky enough to get to se elvis Costello and The impostors last Saturday, in my old hometown of Nottingham. Nottingham has changed so much since i was last there, nearly twenty years ago, but Mr Costello`s talent hasn`t changed one little bit. He announced this song by saying that he wished he`d never have to sing it again. Till the next one, Learn sonething new, Mark.

Billingham Synthonia.

Evening Strumpets,

Well it`s been quite a crazy week. The Charmers were lucky enough to be asked to play the inaugral "Branded" show for BCT events in Billingham. BCT is a community company who look to support all things recreational.Profits going directly back into Billingham and the Surrounding Area. I have to admit i didn`t have a clue what to expect, so i was incredibly impressed when I turned up and found a proper elevated professional stage.

We were greeted by Michael and Paul, who are a couple of fellas who i`ve worked with on a couple of other occasions. These chaps are two of the nicest and hardest working people you could ever wish to meet. They really do love their music and their community. Bob the sound guy just told us to get on the stage and play what we were going to be doing, and he`d do the rest. Which he did with a professionalism I`ve not yet encountered. This was by a mile the best sound The Charmers have ever had. The monitors were absolutely perfect which meant that we could hear what we were doing. Fantastic.

We started of as usual with Andy`s "Apple Scrumpy" which always gets the night off to a good start. We were doing a couple of new songs, well new for our set anyway. Big River by Johnny Cash, and John Henry by just about everybody else. They both had Andy singing lead. He`d admitted being nervous prior to doing it, as it was the first time he`d sang solo in front of a crowd. He absolutely nailed it. Just brilliant.

We finished the set and witnessed a Charmers first. An encore!!!!!!! Unfortunately, we didn`t have an encore ready, so we did Cripple Creek again. There was much hilarity and mickeytaking of yours truly, prior to the gig as we`d been billed as "The Alice Charmers...Featuring Mark Davies". Nothing to do with me, but try telling them that. If it was up to me we`d be called "Mark Davies`s Alice Charmers"! Honestly though, that night was the best we have played, and we enjoyed it so much it reminds you of why you want to get up in the first place and basically be ripe for being shot down. We`re a good group of mates, who have been given this chance to experience playing, mostly, our songs for lovely people. It doesn`t get much better than that. Till the next one, learn something new, Mark.

Back in Blog.

Evening Strumpets, Well, it`s been quite a while hasn`t it. I`ve been really rather busy with a few personal things to post anything recently, and when I have attempted to do some stuff, my rubbish Lap Top crashes. Good news is that in a couple of weeks time I`ll be buying a new PC. So thanks for waiting and welcome back.  Here`s a load of stuff that the Charmers have been up to over the past month or so. Here`s a couple of vids featuring Harry and Grace from my tribe, and Tommy from Andy`s. And here`s a rough first version of Whiskey in the Jar. We`ve been booked to play at Ripon Museum on June 4th, as part of the HeArt Festival. It`s going to be acoustic, and has to feature standard folk stuff from yonder years. So we`re learning loads of new things, and a rare outing on mandolin for me! I`ve also been fortunate to be able to write a regular column for a brilliant website http://www.exne.co.uk/ . I`m there if you click on the "Strum Und Drang" Icon.  It`s a bit more adult content, so be careful if easily offended. There`s also an interview with The Broken Broadcast on there as well. Hope you like the vids and column,and they`ve rewhetted your appetite for all things Strum. Till the next one, learn something new. Mark.

The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat. The Broken Broadcast Remix.

Evening Strumpets,

Have a look at this, I honestly can`t think of anything to write about how good it is!



We have a Single available (Good Afternoon Mr Moon)on Itunes i think http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/mr-moon-single/id516296258 , if anyone`s interested, but if all else fails try , we`re supporting Mark Morris at the "Stockton Calling" Stockton Weekender Festival this weekend at The Vault. http://www.stocktoncalling.co.uk/tvlineup.html

Come along, It should be a belter!

Till the next one, learn something new,

Mark.

In Memoriam.

Evening Strumpets,

Earl Scruggs passed off into the great beyond earlier this week, which coincided with the passing of another genuine lovely talented man (more details when appropriate for this amazing fella). So here`s something I went out into the back garden, worked out properly, and for those who know, played to the night skies.




Thinking of you Charming chaps,

till the next one,

(just like him), learn something new,

Mark.

Big River

Evening Strumpets,

The Charmers have been having a crack at the Johnny Cash belter "Big River". Carl and his Dad have stated that I resemble Mr Paul McCartney on the bass, not the playing, but the (frankly) appalling dancing. Whatchyagonnadoo!



Now if we could only figure out how to finish the bloody thing!

Till the next one, learn something new,

Mark.

Doc Browns Part 3, The Road, the Creek and the Longlands.

Afternoon strumpets,

here`s the third and final video from last weeks gig at Doc Browns,

Hope you like, please let me know what you think,



Till the next one,learn something new,

Mark.

Alice Charming with a cowbell!

Evening Strumpets,

Here`s a further vid from our adventure at Doc Browns the other night. The Sound fella realises i`m taping, and you can see more of the Charmers as a result, and we add cowbell into the mix for the first time! MORE COWBELL BABY!!!



Hope you like, please leave comments, it really means a lot!

Till the next one, learn something new,

Mark.

Good Afternoon Mr Moon: The Broken Broadcast.

Evening Strumpets,

Here`s a chance to see the video for The Broken Broadcasts forthcoming Single. Available to buy 2nd April. Unfortunately i wasn`t able to make the shoot, so Alas i`m not one of the masked folks, but I think it`s brilliant. Directed, I believe, by Ian Dixon of The Purnells (a band to definitely catch of you get the chance!)



Till the next one, learn something new,

Mark.