A very completely awfully frightfully horrendously stupendously belated Happy New Year to you all...

I know we're nearing the end of the first month, but like all things in life, I never see moments from anywhere but behind.  Which reminds me, got this new album the other day by an up and coming band called Blur, have you heard of them?  Jolly good what what...

Too much has happened to put in this post, and too much ensues for my fingers to type it, so here's a brief run down of past, present and future.

Past
The last gig of my tour last year was 20th Dec in Manchester, leaving me 3 days to get everything sorted for Christmas.  All I really wanted to do was shimmy around the house in a worn out dressing gown eating cheese and mumbling to myself until I regained my equilibrium.  Between Sept and Dec 09 I must have driven over 20,000 miles what with the Tori tour then my own tour and Joanne's show in Aberfeldy and weddings in Ireland etc etc.... by the 21st Dec I was in a bag!  I didn't want to think about traveling for at least a month, but alas I had a mere 4 days...

We hopped a plane headed for the green green grass of home on Boxing Day, followed by a blur of Guinness, open fires, turkey dinners, hellos - farwells, more Guinness, another wedding, games of pool, even more Guinness and some Bushmills.

We arrived back in London on the 4th Jan 2010 (do you say 2000 and 10 or twenty ten? ...I think the latter is far superior, don't you!) and again I was reaching for my dressing gown and again, to no avail....4 days till blast off.  We went stateside for a music cruise, organised by Delbert Mcclinton.

Tired or not, nothing was keeping away from this!

I used to be in a soul band in Belfast and we would cover Delbert tunes.  One time his Austin city limits gig was shown on a late night TV slot, or else someone had the video, I can't remember, either way we all were knocked sideways by it at the time.  He'd start singing like it was 9 in the morning after a heavy night of whiskey and marlboro, and we'd be thinking 'how on earth is he gonna hit that high note before the chorus...and then...whooop....out she'd pop clear as a bell and full of force. 

He still has that effect on me. 

Undoubtedly one of the coolest men I've ever met.  Not only that, but he'd call our room to see if we had everything we needed... "anythang ah can getch y'all?"
"Bit low on towels Delbert" says I
"Am onna get'em faw ya... y'all sit tight..."

That last bit didn't happen...but it could have....

I also hung out with some other really great people and musicians (there's a distinct difference), but those stories will have to wait for another post...

Present
Well... I'm writing this ampta-nat*

*Norn Iron-epedia Definition

Amptanat -double negative

/Original form - Aren't I not/

1 to assure someone that this is the case
2 a superlative bolt on to the end of any sentence

See Also:
Won't I not - don't I not and didn't I not

Origin
Fudsey 1903



Future

I'm playing in Glasgow on Wednesday.  I'm sorry you're only hearing about it now, details are up on the site...there...look...just there...can you see it? You should be able to, for I'm only after putting up there amptanat....

I'm also playing a gig in London on Friday at the IndigO2 at the O2 arena for Tony Moore from the Bedford.  It's a fund raiser to help him with a musical showcase at SXSW in Austin Texas (South by South West) this March.  There are a load of artists on the bill, all there to support a guy who endlessly supports us and anyone trying to make music.  He's got a real knack for putting on great events so it'll be a very worthwhile night for those of you that can come along.

Get your tickets here...roll up roll up...

I'm gonna be in the studio (which is where I am now) solidly working on songs for my upcoming records.

I'm taking a break from my own studio in a few weeks to head out to the states again. This time it's solely to write.  I want to find an old shack somewhere in Nashville or Austin, lock myself away and just write.  There's something about changing your surroundings that opens doors you didn't know where closed.  The air feels different and smells different, people talk different, drive, cook, eat, curse different.... it may not help some people but it sure helps me.

Maybe it's an Irish thing with me.  Over the centuries it seems that all the best songs and poetry regarding Ireland were writing by Irishmen that had long left Irish shores. It's easier to write about the things you love when they're not sat there in front of you...well it is for me anyway. So, I think getting away and getting lonely for a week will do me the world of good.

Well, from a song point of view at least.

Right, I reckon that's enough for now don't you?  Good... now brush your teeth, say your prayers and get into bed, tomorrow's gonna be a long and eventful day....good night John Boy!