RPM Chicago Listening Party

Thanks to Josh for playing us at the RPM Challenge listening party organised in Chicago at the Perfect Cup coffee house last week. Sorry I couldn't be there to meet the rest of the crowd as well!

Goodbye US of A

Time for just one more snowstorm to look at out the window as we head back to the the UK. So, representing Karmadillo I've played in San Francisco, New York, Boston and Chicago, and although we didn't manage to organise any full on gigs in Las Vegas there was a decent nights karaoke and video footage shot for a couple of songs. I guess on the video front there is the Heart of Glass video that was shot too.

Many thanks to the people who helped - firstly Brian in Chicago. For the music in San Francisco there the Hotel Utah and Black Voodoo Lounge Club to thank, Dave from the Furious Sleep, Kelly from the Besties and Chris from Fontana's get kudos for Manhatten fun and frolics. Also in Chicago the folks at Kaffeine and the Hearltand Cafe and in Boston the thanks must go out to Beth, Sridhar and the Acoustic Club on Harvard Square for making my stay there so hospitable.

First RPM works up!

Here is the link to our RPM page - the first demo is up there. Also uploaded a video to there - a kind of doucmentary thing.

The songs have been written and mostly recorded (bar one of them anyway). Plans to send them back and get basslines put on them by James have been stifled by the fact I've been a bit rubbish and didn't tell James about it! 11 more days to go!

RPM Music Challenge

I also signed up to the RPM music challenge which gets bands to write, record and submit an album within the month of February. I never know if I spell that month write. Anyway - I've decided decided to call it 'An American Ode E C' and write songs about people and situations I find whilst over here. Fingers crossed it all works out!

State of the Nation

So the US trip has been going well so far.

The open mic in San Francisco was great apart from the fact that just as I was about to start someone told me to hold on for a second as the news had a breaking story about a man wielding a gun running round the streets. 'Thats only half a block from here!' someone else exclaimed. Great - its bad enough having stage fright. Luckily it turned out he was only carrying a knife.

After the open mic set the guys at the Black Voodoo Lounge Club then very kindly asked me to do a fuller set as I was only go to be there the once and the other performers were accomadating as well - thanks a lot guys! I especially loved the esoteric Chicken Cat.

The night after at the Hotel Utah was great as between 50 and 100 people showed up - this night is quite popular. The mad women behind the B-cups were the stand out from the other acts.

The New York gig was a bit of a downer as the gig got booked on the same day as the NFL final which the non sports loving promoter hadn't realised was on. Given the NY Giants were playing the other bands all pulled out so there was just me and one other guy on stage playing that night. Afterwards I got to see then end of what was a pretty good game that I got caught up in. Its the first time I've started to appreciate the sport!

OK so everything

Heart of Glass on video

A new charango!

So first stop in the US was to pick the charango that I'll be playing this side of the pond. Andys Music Store in Chicago was a pretty special kind of world music store. I'll put up a full gallery of all the stuff I saw out there, but before that here is a piccy of the old fashioned armadillo one I found.

Although I'd been after an eletric one, the ones I tried weren't as nice sounding as the double necked one I had got off them two years ago, so went with another acoustic jobby. Now to take away its concert virginity!