Summer Is A Going On

Hot Diggidy Dog, The august month of August hoves into view and we're sluicing flood debris out of the back doors already. Global warming? 'tis more global wetting. I had a great time supporting and listening to Geraint Watkins and Robbie McIntosh the other week. Google the guys and feast your ears on some fine playing. Stackridge, for various reasons, are off the scene for a month or so, but fear not MSB are up and at 'em at various locations (see gig guide on this page) and I'm doing a few gigs with friends. On these occasions rather than batter your senses with my own material I choose to destroy the good works of others (Tom Petty, Paul Weller, Norma Shearer, et al). If you have the misfortune to be in my viscinity on one of these shows take pity and hand me a pint of Staropromen and try not to look too disappointed - I bruise easily. Yoiks, and futhermore, Tally-Ho! Mutter

Another Month Another Fist of Hangovers

Bonjour mes braves, How's it going? It's been a bit full on in the land of Slater I can tell you. The old lager support system (ie work) has reached the inevitable seasonal fever pitch: weddings here, school commems there, and burials thither. The gigging has picked up too with the solo stuff, MSB and Stackers. The Stack album ( A Victory For Common Sense ) is due for release on the 13th July and we await a galaxy of stars in magazine and paper reviews (we've got 4 in August's Mojo already so we're well on the way). It took me much too long to get to Ruislip and back in the car and Druidstone was no better, anyone out there with a teleportation system up for grabs give me a call, I'm your man. Mutter

Blimey 59 on Sunday!

Yes folks, That's right the old duffer has made it thus far without too much mishap. It must be the way I've looked after myself: I treat my body like a temple, I always keep my shoes on the outside. The more perceptive among you may gather from the gig list that MSB are at The Hope & Anchor, Bridport this Saturday (June 6th) the eve of the afore-mentioned momentous event. It could get quite messy after the gig! This is a not so dry run for next years 60th - assuming we get that far. Mutter

The Story Thus Far

Hello again. The weekend of backing Errol Linton has rapidly evaporated in the psyche. Errol is a great harp player and a greater human being. Every gig went down a storm despite my guitar playing. Look out for him.
You may see on the recently updated gig list that I am doing some solo supports for Geraint Watkins and Robbie McIntosh. If you don't know who they are then just Google and goggle at the spew of credentials. I can't say how much I'm looking forward to sharing the bill with the two of them and their band. Pigs in manure don't even compare in terms of rapture.
The new Stackridge album 'A Victory For Common Sense' is released on Mon July 13th and there are plans to batter the music world into acquiescence with promotional sledgehammers and orgiastic launch parties. Be very afraid Radio 2.
Mutter.

Onwards and upwards

Busy week with Stackers this week, starting at The Globe, Cardiff on Wednesday from there we head progressively northward culminating at The Inn at Athlones, St Andrews on Saturday night. The mind boggling, ass numbing mileage will be spent with all ten of us (band plus Mike the manager and Dave the sound) sharing the fetid air in the front of a van, the rear portion of which will be rammed to the gunwales with gear and luggage. James brings a suitcase; what it contains I have no idea as he always seems to wear the same misshapen apparel day after day. Think of us and muse on the folly of the life we have chosen. Pip! Pip! Mutter

A Good Good Friday

An extended Bank Holiday weekend, WHOO-HOO! What makes it even more savoury is the fact that there are 2 MSB gigs in the offing too. Tonight (the good Good Friday alluded to above) at The Rock Gardens, Weston-Super-Mare. A new venue to us so we hope to deliver the goods in no uncertain style and get a re-book (not a rebok, something entirely different). Tomorrow (even better Saturday?) we repair to The Old Ship, Upwey, Weymouth. This is almost home turf for us as we rehearse in The Old Ship's skittle alley/ function room most midweeks. We hope that we can attract a sizable crowd to help repay Pam and Kev for their support.

Mutterings from Bridport

Yo! Dudes and Dudettes,
The Stackridge album (A Victory For Common Sense) is now in the home strait of the mixing process, but things have overrun for the last release date, July is now being mooted. This gives us plenty of time to get the pressing? burning? mastering? or whatever right and make sure that any photos have been lavishly airbrushed to way beyond recognition.
MSB continue to rehearse and add to the arsenal of Mutter songs. Talking of which I wrote a chorus in my sleep the other day (saved for posterity by scooting downstairs and getting the guitar out to work out the chords before i fell back to sleep) to which I have now added verses. Just a bit more music and a damn fine lyric and another one will have been hatched. I can't shake the feeling that my 'dream chorus' is something from the 60's though, no one has recognised it yet though.
Hope you are all well,
Mutter