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.
Saturday, 31 March 2012
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
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.
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.
Wednesday, 7 March 2012
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.
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.
Saturday, 3 March 2012
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.
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.
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.
Friday, 2 March 2012
Oh what a night!
Evening Strumpets,
We played our second gig proper last night at Doc Browns in Boro, and it was fantastic. The crowd were brilliant, but then they always are there. Dancing, singalongs, and just sheer joy was had by all. Well the first two definitely happened. Mark said to me at the end "People keep coming over and saying how much they loved our songs, and I`m waiting for them to laugh, but they`re deadly serious" One chap even enquired whether we had a CD out! Just a great night, and made even better by knowing that you`re playing next to and with your mates! here`s our view of the night.
I`m so chuffed to say that not only did the Bloggie camera I bought last year, and which I have to say has let me down on so many occasions, worked a treat. unfortunately, I managed to place it directly behind the "Sound" fella. Don`t worry, he realises and it gets better later. But to get the songs we`ve written out there and get people dancing, and for a couple of minutes enjoying themselves, well, to quote Eric Morecambe, "That`s smashing". here`s the first two songs, Apple Scrumpy and By the Fire. More to come over the next couple of days.
We played our second gig proper last night at Doc Browns in Boro, and it was fantastic. The crowd were brilliant, but then they always are there. Dancing, singalongs, and just sheer joy was had by all. Well the first two definitely happened. Mark said to me at the end "People keep coming over and saying how much they loved our songs, and I`m waiting for them to laugh, but they`re deadly serious" One chap even enquired whether we had a CD out! Just a great night, and made even better by knowing that you`re playing next to and with your mates! here`s our view of the night.
I`m so chuffed to say that not only did the Bloggie camera I bought last year, and which I have to say has let me down on so many occasions, worked a treat. unfortunately, I managed to place it directly behind the "Sound" fella. Don`t worry, he realises and it gets better later. But to get the songs we`ve written out there and get people dancing, and for a couple of minutes enjoying themselves, well, to quote Eric Morecambe, "That`s smashing". here`s the first two songs, Apple Scrumpy and By the Fire. More to come over the next couple of days.
Monday, 13 February 2012
The ol` Joanna.
Evening Strumpets,
I`ve done a rare recording of me playing the piano in our house. i thought the song "walk with me" would sound nice on it. Not sure about the "Bohemian Rhapsody" rip off in the middle eight, don`t know where that came from, it just happens sometimes.
Let me know what you think.
Till the next one learn something new,
Mark.
I`ve done a rare recording of me playing the piano in our house. i thought the song "walk with me" would sound nice on it. Not sure about the "Bohemian Rhapsody" rip off in the middle eight, don`t know where that came from, it just happens sometimes.
Let me know what you think.
Till the next one learn something new,
Mark.
Saturday, 11 February 2012
Walk with me and Patchwork
Afternoon Strumpets,
Here`s a couple of rough and ready demos of a couple of songs that I wrote this afternoon. Hope you like, please let me know what you think. Ta!
This one hasn`t got words yet. Please feel free to send any in, if you wish
Till the next one learn something new,
Mark.
Here`s a couple of rough and ready demos of a couple of songs that I wrote this afternoon. Hope you like, please let me know what you think. Ta!
This one hasn`t got words yet. Please feel free to send any in, if you wish
Till the next one learn something new,
Mark.
Saturday, 21 January 2012
200.
Evening Strumpets,
So here it is, The Great North Strum`s 200th Post. Well let me personalise it a bit more for you, it`s Mark Davies`s 200th post. Me. Mine.
I`ve been looking for a grand gesture for the 200th, and many suggestions have been made, most of which are inspired and will without a doubt make up the next fifty to a hundred posts, including an absolute bona fide interview with a personal legend of mine. For those intrigued, he`s probably the finest Radio 1 DJ that John Peel and John Walters shared an office with.
However, This Blog would not have ever appeared if I hadn`t run the daft idea of completing the Great North Run whilst playing a banjo, past Louise. And when I asked my beautiful wife what she thought I should do, she just said "well thank the Strumpets who have supported you over the past few years."
So in no particular order,
Andy Dalton; By a massive fluke you decided to learn to play the banjo about a year before I did. You then set up the amazing Northern Banjo Boy Site http://www.northernbanjoboy.com/and have been a source of inspiration, amazement, and let it be said, non provider of drum brushes ever since. You came up with the name of my blog and for that I will be eternally grateful. Cheers Andy.
Mark Dent; A brilliant guitarist, but a human metronome on the old drums, who has helped me to "pace it a little" for Christs sake. I am and will be forever, one of Dave`s Pups. If ever I`m getting idea`s above my station, one look from you, and I`m back down on Earth. Thanks Denty.
Mountain Spring California; I have no idea who you are, but you keep on checking the blog! if you could let me know who you are that would be wonderful.
Mr Benjamin Harrison; An amazingly talented fella who has had to put up with a lot of tragic events over the last couple of years. He designed the GNS logo that sits atop the blog. Massive thanks Banjoman.
PeeBee Guttenburg; For confidential reasons, I can`t tell you this fella`s real name, but his support, contribution, talent, and downright PUNK spirit has kept mine an so many else`s blog`s voraciousness tickling the uvula of the Muse from which we profit. (spoiler alert!!!!) Cheers Brian
Carl; My Glitter Twin. The person who made me want to play the guitar, and who has continued to do so for the last thirty years. Blood Brother (literally) and main role model (my family included) for my adult life, I can`t think of a single time we`ve been together, and not been smiling by the end of the reminiscence. You are, and always will be, Dalton. My Dalton.
Stephen; My Brother from another Mother. Mr Didlick, you and your amazing family have never ceased to surprise me in your generosity of spirit along with the support and, ahem, constructive criticism which has been a constant in guiding what I have hoped to achieve with the blog. Plus your knowledge of Springsteen and Andy Kaufmann has always helped. Cheers Dids.
Louise; She`s the absolute love of my life. She make`s it great to be me. What more can I say. I love her more than a football in the Park loves kids.
And finally Mary Lydia.
Mam bought me my first guitar. She encouraged me to go to the perceived mental places (Tom Waits, Lowry, etc), she told me "know the game before you learn the rules"
Most importantly she told me the most important thing about art, and being an artist. It`s the one rule I impart upon Harry and Grace and I implore you to teach your kids, and that rule is.......
Know when to stop!
Till the next one, learn something new.
Mark
So here it is, The Great North Strum`s 200th Post. Well let me personalise it a bit more for you, it`s Mark Davies`s 200th post. Me. Mine.
I`ve been looking for a grand gesture for the 200th, and many suggestions have been made, most of which are inspired and will without a doubt make up the next fifty to a hundred posts, including an absolute bona fide interview with a personal legend of mine. For those intrigued, he`s probably the finest Radio 1 DJ that John Peel and John Walters shared an office with.
However, This Blog would not have ever appeared if I hadn`t run the daft idea of completing the Great North Run whilst playing a banjo, past Louise. And when I asked my beautiful wife what she thought I should do, she just said "well thank the Strumpets who have supported you over the past few years."
So in no particular order,
Andy Dalton; By a massive fluke you decided to learn to play the banjo about a year before I did. You then set up the amazing Northern Banjo Boy Site http://www.northernbanjoboy.com/and have been a source of inspiration, amazement, and let it be said, non provider of drum brushes ever since. You came up with the name of my blog and for that I will be eternally grateful. Cheers Andy.
Mark Dent; A brilliant guitarist, but a human metronome on the old drums, who has helped me to "pace it a little" for Christs sake. I am and will be forever, one of Dave`s Pups. If ever I`m getting idea`s above my station, one look from you, and I`m back down on Earth. Thanks Denty.
Mountain Spring California; I have no idea who you are, but you keep on checking the blog! if you could let me know who you are that would be wonderful.
Mr Benjamin Harrison; An amazingly talented fella who has had to put up with a lot of tragic events over the last couple of years. He designed the GNS logo that sits atop the blog. Massive thanks Banjoman.
PeeBee Guttenburg; For confidential reasons, I can`t tell you this fella`s real name, but his support, contribution, talent, and downright PUNK spirit has kept mine an so many else`s blog`s voraciousness tickling the uvula of the Muse from which we profit. (spoiler alert!!!!) Cheers Brian
Carl; My Glitter Twin. The person who made me want to play the guitar, and who has continued to do so for the last thirty years. Blood Brother (literally) and main role model (my family included) for my adult life, I can`t think of a single time we`ve been together, and not been smiling by the end of the reminiscence. You are, and always will be, Dalton. My Dalton.
Stephen; My Brother from another Mother. Mr Didlick, you and your amazing family have never ceased to surprise me in your generosity of spirit along with the support and, ahem, constructive criticism which has been a constant in guiding what I have hoped to achieve with the blog. Plus your knowledge of Springsteen and Andy Kaufmann has always helped. Cheers Dids.
Louise; She`s the absolute love of my life. She make`s it great to be me. What more can I say. I love her more than a football in the Park loves kids.
And finally Mary Lydia.
Mam bought me my first guitar. She encouraged me to go to the perceived mental places (Tom Waits, Lowry, etc), she told me "know the game before you learn the rules"
Most importantly she told me the most important thing about art, and being an artist. It`s the one rule I impart upon Harry and Grace and I implore you to teach your kids, and that rule is.......
Know when to stop!
Till the next one, learn something new.
Mark
Monday, 9 January 2012
An email from a Pal O` mine.
Belated happiness in your New Year strumpets,
It`s been a bit hectic round here lately, and along with various other projects I`ve not had much time to post`s things Strumtastic. I hope you had the Holidays that you deserved, and that all your strummings were ultimately fulfilling.
My really rather wonderful friend Stephen Didlick in Bedfordshire sent me an email regarding the previous post.
" Hello mark, me and Zoey have just been listening to the songs posted on the blog and really impressed with apple scrumptious, pal 'o mine and especially cowboy waltz. could you post the lyrics along with the audio? it might be my hearing, you could be a bit michael stipe-ish or it could simply be the producer."
So for Mr and Mrs Didlick here you go.
Pal O` Mine.
Music and words by myself.
Pal O` Mine, tell me why you`re so lonely?
Pal O` Mine, tell me why you`re so lonely?
wel there`s a feeling hidden deep
it`s there for me to keep
Pal O` Mine, tell me why you`re so lonely?
Pal O` Mine, tell me why there`s a danger?
Pal O` Mine, tell me why there`s a danger?
Well there`s something I can`t say
thats why I feel this way
Pal O` Mine, tell me why there`s a danger?
Pal O` Mine, tell me why you`re frustrated?
Pal O` Mine, tell me why you`re frustrated?
Well it`s all within my hands,
you wouldn`t understand.
Pal O` Mine, tell me why you`re frustrated?
Apple scrumpy.
Music and words by Andrew Dalton.
Sit beneath this apple tree with me sweet Ida Red,
Sit beneath this apple tree with me sweet Lilabet,
Sit beneath this apple tree and drink some apple crush,
Irish Peach, my sweet Maiden's Blush.
Lets make apple scrumpy, Lets make love tonight,
Lets make apple scrumpy, till the morning light,
Lets make apple scrumpy, right here on the ground,
Take a swig, feels alright, take your time it'll last all night.
Sit beneath this apple tree, Annie Elizabeth,
Sit beneath this apple tree ans let me taste your flesh,
Sit beneath this apple tree and curl up on the ground,
Norfolk Beauty, your Sweet Billy Bound.
Sit beneath this apple tree with russet in your hair,
Sit beneath this apple tree until the trees are bare,
Sit beneath this apple tree and hear the autumn call,
making scrumpy while the apples fall.
Cowboy Waltz
Music by Carl Dalton, words by Mark Davies
I`ve had children to various women,
none of them know my name, it`s true.
They`ve other laddies
that they call their Daddies,
You may feel this a shame I`m sure.
Not for me the childhood dream,
that`s for other folks.
Not for me the goodnight kiss,
that to me`s a joke.
I have travelled, the States have unravelled,
Too many things I have seen and done.
They are my ladies
and they are my babies.
They`ve allowed me to have fun.
Have I regretted, when all is considered,
My many splendid faults.
I can say clearly,
I`ve enjoyed it dearly,
This dance was my Cowboy Waltz.
So there you have it. Lyrics to the songs.
i`ve recently been messing about with the banjo in a ragtime/bluesy downstroke (Or as Eric Morecambe might say a "RUMCHUCKKA RUMCHUCKKK") manner. This turned up. i really am rather taken with it.
Very Demo by the way.
Till the next one learn something new,
Mark.
It`s been a bit hectic round here lately, and along with various other projects I`ve not had much time to post`s things Strumtastic. I hope you had the Holidays that you deserved, and that all your strummings were ultimately fulfilling.
My really rather wonderful friend Stephen Didlick in Bedfordshire sent me an email regarding the previous post.
" Hello mark, me and Zoey have just been listening to the songs posted on the blog and really impressed with apple scrumptious, pal 'o mine and especially cowboy waltz. could you post the lyrics along with the audio? it might be my hearing, you could be a bit michael stipe-ish or it could simply be the producer."
So for Mr and Mrs Didlick here you go.
Pal O` Mine.
Music and words by myself.
Pal O` Mine, tell me why you`re so lonely?
Pal O` Mine, tell me why you`re so lonely?
wel there`s a feeling hidden deep
it`s there for me to keep
Pal O` Mine, tell me why you`re so lonely?
Pal O` Mine, tell me why there`s a danger?
Pal O` Mine, tell me why there`s a danger?
Well there`s something I can`t say
thats why I feel this way
Pal O` Mine, tell me why there`s a danger?
Pal O` Mine, tell me why you`re frustrated?
Pal O` Mine, tell me why you`re frustrated?
Well it`s all within my hands,
you wouldn`t understand.
Pal O` Mine, tell me why you`re frustrated?
Apple scrumpy.
Music and words by Andrew Dalton.
Sit beneath this apple tree with me sweet Ida Red,
Sit beneath this apple tree with me sweet Lilabet,
Sit beneath this apple tree and drink some apple crush,
Irish Peach, my sweet Maiden's Blush.
Lets make apple scrumpy, Lets make love tonight,
Lets make apple scrumpy, till the morning light,
Lets make apple scrumpy, right here on the ground,
Take a swig, feels alright, take your time it'll last all night.
Sit beneath this apple tree, Annie Elizabeth,
Sit beneath this apple tree ans let me taste your flesh,
Sit beneath this apple tree and curl up on the ground,
Norfolk Beauty, your Sweet Billy Bound.
Sit beneath this apple tree with russet in your hair,
Sit beneath this apple tree until the trees are bare,
Sit beneath this apple tree and hear the autumn call,
making scrumpy while the apples fall.
Cowboy Waltz
Music by Carl Dalton, words by Mark Davies
I`ve had children to various women,
none of them know my name, it`s true.
They`ve other laddies
that they call their Daddies,
You may feel this a shame I`m sure.
Not for me the childhood dream,
that`s for other folks.
Not for me the goodnight kiss,
that to me`s a joke.
I have travelled, the States have unravelled,
Too many things I have seen and done.
They are my ladies
and they are my babies.
They`ve allowed me to have fun.
Have I regretted, when all is considered,
My many splendid faults.
I can say clearly,
I`ve enjoyed it dearly,
This dance was my Cowboy Waltz.
So there you have it. Lyrics to the songs.
i`ve recently been messing about with the banjo in a ragtime/bluesy downstroke (Or as Eric Morecambe might say a "RUMCHUCKKA RUMCHUCKKK") manner. This turned up. i really am rather taken with it.
Very Demo by the way.
Till the next one learn something new,
Mark.
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