Busy weekend!

The Robin 2, Bilston

27th Jan 2011

Hello hello, how are you today? Good. Its been a busy weekend in Green Head Land having as we have two gigs back to back. An enjoyable one too.

We started off on Thursday with a support slot at the Robin 2 in Bilston. We are not really a support band in as much as we do not do it and haven't done it as a unit since the current line up of Green Head Man was formed. This gig represented a chance to let the owner see and hear us ahead of our headline there in April (did I mention we are playing on the 27th? I did? oh).

This being the case we had forgotten the woes of a hard working support band and arrived dutifully, on time as per contract, for our get in and setup. Par for the course of course the headline band had not even fully arrived as the clocks ticked on 10 minutes after we were supposed to soundcheck.

There *were* doing however an amazing three piece Jazz set that you really had to be there to believe!

Nik Turner Jazz - Nice!

They were great of course - Space Ritual - what a lovely bunch of people. Nik Turner made a concerted effort to get soundchecked and off the stage to let us do our noise check before 7:30 when the doors open. We managed it, in fact we got on stage, setup and soundchecked in 15 minutes which is quite a record! This hit our guitarist the hardest as he has a lot of gear to setup and check on a regular basis (as he also plays his space guitar via a Juno60 synth).

Actually we had brought our cutdown equipment to this venue and I was pleased that we had. We lost the acoustic guitar, didgeridoo and piano for fear of lack of space. It was a real fear!

Soundcheck over, just in time!

The doors opened and the room filled up. By the time we went on stage at around 20:15 there must have been 350 nice people in the room and the atmosphere was great. We had to hit the stage running, a half hour set doesn't give you much time to get into the groove That said I think we pulled it off, there was plenty of positive ad libbing and we ensured that we played the majority of our original songs to a largely appreciative audience who clapped and cheered. Thank you.

Then as soon as it had started we were off again, unpack straight away. Do not pass go, do not leave the stage for a breather and out to the stage door exit.

an enjoyable if rushed experience but hopefully we were able to give Space Ritual's audience a snapshot of what we were able to achieve and that was job done.

Next step was our own headline the day after at the River Rooms in Stourbridge.

Nick

Cracking Gig Grommet!

The Hop Pole Inn, Bromsgrove

15th January 2011

Hello Folks!


How are you this year, feels like a year since we last spoke :-)


We we asked to perform a stealth gig at the wonderful Hope Pole this weekend. It was a short notice affair due to a cancellation and we though it an excellent vehicle for preparing our new live set (thinking of course that mid January would be a very quiet night out). We were wrong - more on that later.


GMT of arrivals still in force we turned up at 19:00 to rig for the gig. Nick Tunes was already in residence and he kindly added an extra 2 Optikinetic Solar250's to my light show to turn the gig into a full on psychedelic event (see above for swirly patters and general craziness).


Setup was good, we were sporting our new chopped down equipment for these smaller gigs; Little Dave without Acoustic or Dij, Big Dave without extra HH Speaker and myself without the Electric piano. Timmy even managed to get by with one amp and just the two 4x10 bass cabs.

Ron there sporting and excellent 60's Paisley design!

So we got setup without the usual GHM technical hitch took my view from the stage banker and sat down for a pint, all of us together - and that's nice when that happens. We are busy guys personally and professionally and we run with clockwork precision (sometimes) so its nice to let the (grey in my case) hair down and chat with mates.

Banker View from the Stage shot

Moving to the set, the band were tight - this is a reflection on the effort that we have been putting into working our new songs through for both the Space Ritual Support on the 27th Jan and the River Rooms gig on the 28th (as well as the other gigs to follow). We have 4 or 5 new songs in the set and judging by their reaction on Saturday they are going to stay there!

We stuck to script, mainly, with regards to the set in that we didn't play many songs that we hadn't planned to. Inside those songs however, it was the usual cosmic free for all and telepathic psychedelia that we are becoming known for and really enjoyable to play.

Notable high points were when we went into an impromptu jam of the phrase greenheadman dot com (something you should all sing to yourselves on a regular bases - go on do it now, I can wait....). We played this to a Chuck Berry (I'm gonna tell you how its going to be) kind of rhythm and we even managed to stop at exactly the same time at the 'end' of the song only to hear little Dave solo (as part of the improv lyrics) "WE KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE".


Intermission and I took the opportunity to have a look at some of the literature and posters that were on offer instead of heading for the bar:

Space was at a premium and how I didn't hit Timmy's headstock with my head is a mystery but we pulled off another excellent gig - Although this gig was hardly advertised GHM did the trick again of stopping people from moving onto the next pub and by the end of the night the place was rammed - well done all of you !

Second set went like a dream, the first few songs were exactly as the Space Ritual support will be and a good method of trying them side by side in a live environment, they worked. It was nice to see the young bar staff singing the choruses and tapping away to songs that they had never heard before, that was a real confidence boost for us!

The Dance Commanders

Sorry about the quality of the above photo but in my defence I was playing Lucifer Sam by Pink Floyd at the time!

That's it for another week, we will be back coming in your psychedelic ears on Jan 27th Supporting (ex-Hawkwind) Space Ritual and the day after at the River Rooms in Stourbridge will a headline set full of belters.

You see if we won't!

Layters,

Nick

Black Cross, Bromsgrove

4th December 2010

Heeeeeey! How you doing?

Another Green Head Man outing (this is getting into a habit) happened last week at Ye Olde Black Cross in Bromsgrove, West Midlands. Particularly special this one as this is where I spent my formative years getting "overly refreshed" on a regular basis so it was good to return and play the old haunt. Fair play to Ian and Dee the owners, they have made every effort to transform the dreary lounge that I used to drink in in the early '90's and turn it into one of the areas best gigs.

 

So, to the load in; this was half six a full half hour before the international load in standard but I was keen to record the gig as we had a few new and original compositions in the set and I wanted to see how they worked and were received (very well as it went).


As a band we are really keen to make each show, now matter how big or small, really special and this inevitably involves us bringing all of our best equipment, FX and ideas to the table. Lots of cars and lots of space taken up but hopefully this results in the audience having a unique experience and that is something that we think is special and that will encourage people to come to more and more of our gigs.

Always searching for the sound Timmy this week bought just the 2 bass rigs and ran them in stereo

Setup took a while; mainly because of the added complication of recording but also, as above, we had an acoustic guitar, Didgeridoo, Space Synth, 2 bass rigs, 2 oil wheels and Fairly lights to install and sound check as well as the rest.

A freak shaving incident meant that Little Dave had the same facial hair as Timmy

It was also so hot in there until I found the radiator valves and cranked them off. I was not wearing my gig clothes and in a scruffy big jumper, I swear I lost 2lbs just setting up!

Sound check was brief and the gig ensued (a little later than we expected at 21:45). The sets went well despite having a poor on stage sound and listening to the recordings things unfolded rather nicely, which is how we liked it.

You gotta love the fairy lights!

We performed the Greenwich Meant Standard two x one hour sets (1 x 64 minutes and 1 x 71 minutes) and finished some time after midnight. The audience were nice and appreciative and after a quick chat with friends the setdown began.

Green Head Manning

It's good to play. We are now back in the studio working hard on the originals, battling the snow and ice and trying to get them into good shape - its looking good!

Out next outing is on the 18th of December and then we (as a band) have Christmas off to look for fresh inspiration and spruce off the set for 2011. Many gigs already booked for 2011 including 3 notable ones:

Jan 27th at the Robin2, Bilston, West Mdlands where we support Space Ritual (Hawkwind)

Jan 28th at the River Rooms, Stourbridge, WM where we headline and then

Apr 27th at the Robin2, Bilston, West Midlands where we get a first full headline there!

as Little Dave said, next time we will all have facial hair!

See you laters,

Nick



A sneaky peek into the life of a bass player

Dairy update

Hi folks,

November has been an expected quiet month gig wise-but for good reason. Firstly and importantly Ron has recovered extremely well and is as strong as Ox again so Green Head Man are ready, willing and able to bully off for the final chucka in December and on through the new year.

Whilst we have been 'away' we have been busy writing and working up fresh music into the set and I have to say we are all pretty excited about it too; Human Zoo is turning out to be an instant fave and we hope to be able to offer a studio version of that to you soon. Other new songs include Moths to the Flame, Rise up, Golden and Fly Away. A few of these at least will make it into out next gig; please do let us know what you think of them.

We have ten or so gigs booked already for the new year so things are looking promising. Notably we start again this Saturday the 4th of December at the Black Cross in Bromsgrove and that's been a long time coming for us, especially as we were forced to redefine our last gig there due to illness.

Then after a stop off at the Stagborough Arms in Stourport on the 18th its into 2011!

We are playing our regular gigs throughout the year with a few notable additions; we have been asked to play three dates at the 300+ venue the River Rooms in Stroubridge along with a brace of gigs at the, frankly massive, Robin2 in Bilston (one support one headline).

We can nearly announce the support gig but are just waiting to have it finalised but lets just say, for the moment, that the headline band are RIGHT up our street and have been around for a very long time (not only that, one of the cover versions that we play in our main set will have to be omitted for that gig - hint!)

The River Rooms is on the 28th Jan please do come to that but if you can't then there is also the Robin2 on the 27th April, See Here for details

Can't wait until this Saturday, See you soon!

Oh Yes!!

Katiefitzgerald's, Stourbridge - 30th October 2010


Ooh I am getting out of practice in many ways. I nearly forgot the view from the stage shot, and in a departure from the usual behind the Hammond vibe (and because the stage was so small - more on that later no doubt) I ended up taking this gem from behind the drum kit - the stage entrance of choice.

Hello you!

How are you all doing? I don't want to come over all Sinead O'Connor but its been quite a few months since we all got together and had a bash and met you all again, and jolly nice it was too. Great to see faces new and old and on this frankly bizarre occasion .

So its was Katie's and it was the Saturday before Halloween - a good combination. Ron was and is still recuperating well and it was time to start the GHM machine up once more after the enforced break. The last time we played together was 3 months ago and we were concerned about rustiness, bum notes, muscle wastage and flatulence. (the latter is an on going concern)


I love the effort the staff put into the gig and they are always so happy and upbeat about their job and meeting us.

Arriving at the Greenwich Mean Time of all gig get ins, 19:00, we entered the tube that is the venue. Instantly we all commented that it was even smaller than we remembered (we had already brought the cut-down kit - no acoustic guitar, smaller bass drum, no piano and only the 2 bass cabs and 2 bass amps)

Getting on the stage is a difficult affair, I need to get the Leslie speaker in at the back before the Guitar amp can go in front of it, the Bass amp needs to be in to show Ron how much space we are working with so its a struggle of an operation. We got it all setup in the end and the only way I could get to the Hammond was either on my hands and knees (presenting as it were to the audience) or from the other side past the bass amps, mind the cables on the floor, tilt the hi hat, over the drum seat (admiring the padding), over the floor lights and into position (Leslie*).What a laugh.

I was pleased also that Canadian Dave brought his stunt keyboard along and managed to wedge it in front and to the side of me.



This machine makes all the difference in our stage show I feel and takes us another step closer to the unique end of the spectrum (probably. Well that's what someone told me on the night anyway!)

Having agreed the set,printed it and then lost it I had spent the previous evening hand writing set lists out that we promptly tore up after 4 songs when it was clear that Ron was going to be able to make it! After so long away I just wanted us to play the first note and then I knew it would be fine and god was it fine. I am continually astonished at what this band can achieve and that the sum of the parts is a million miles away from the whole - but enough of that. Silly.

The set went well it was un-fathomably tight (when the team have their backs against the wall I think we produce our best work), there were moment of brilliance (ahem) and there were straight forward cock-ups but on the whole it seemed to work really well. Its good to have the space to explore on stage and at one point (while Canadian was 'exploring') I had enough time to snap this photo of him (above).

Then, cue the snare drum explosion and an impromptu performance of Gloria (G.L.O.R.I.A), something always explodes at Katies, I don't know why - next time: My Liver!

The set was tight, the buttocks were clenched but we needn't have worried, we pulled off a professional and consummate performance with Ron only losing his stamina on the very last song and cutting it slightly short - very impressive work seeing as he was still in hospital in August!

You guys were great, a lot of you were in fancy dress and had really gone the extra mile, my favourites were Where's Wally and the Mummy but the rest of you were great too.

We are all fired up and we are back. Well ish, November will be spend getting the 3 new and originals firmly in the set after the break and also working on more new ideas that we have and then its onwards and upwards to Bromsgrove and Stourport in December and then The River Rooms in Stourbridge in January.

Come and see us on the road, say hello, ask for a free and exclusive Green Head Man dot com badge and join our Facebook revulsion (sic).

We can't do it without you, well we can but we won't, we'll wait for you, but not too long, don't take the mick now



















* Crap 90's Vic Reeves reference.

Where HAVE you been?

Well nowhere really...well out and about...the odd curry...you know

The holiday period is over and so is the enforced break. I am pleased to say that Ron's operation was a complete success and the boys are rehearsing again. Short rehearsals to start with just building up the stamina for our return gig at Katiefitzgerald's on the 30th October.

The break has allowed us to work on Green Head things that do not involve Live playing and I think this has been beneficial:

Ron and I have been frantically trying to get wider reaching Gigs - more on that later - whilst Timmy and Little Dave and Canadian Dave and Little Dave (still following me? good) have been writing and recording. My piano has been upgraded to firmware release 2 - yes you heard me, release 2 - Wow!!


The recording session we did was a little fraught as it turns out, we really didn't capture what we wanted to capture that day, added to that a few technical recording difficulties unfolded - more on that too later. Still, we persist and work on the recording. In tandem we are trying a recording technique used by many a rock star (!) whilst Ron recuperates. In essence we are in our own studios adding our own parts to a song that starts with a timing click. Little Dave performs his guitar and vocals and emails the tracks to me and Timmy, we add Piano and Bass and forward it on to Canadian who adds guitar, space guitar and backing vocals and then - strangely - we add drums at the end. Only way we could do it timing-wise but lets see how it goes. As far as the acoustic track that it currently is its a killer and the drums are going on this week. Very happy about that.

The object of 2011 is to play bigger and better gigs whilst retaining our feet in the pubs and clubs that continue to support us and live music along the way. We already have a gig on the 28th January 2011 at the River Rooms in Stourbridge (please come, go on please) which is a dedicated gig holding up to 350 people. We can also announce that we now have a gig at the Robin2 Club in Bilston (please come, go on you know you want to) on the 27thy April 2011, yup Easter break. Now, the latter is a 700 seater and we need all the supporters that we can get in order to show the admirable Mike (owner) that people really do want to hear psychedelic rock and soul these days.

So the gig getting is going well, we have 12 or so for 2011 already and with a decent recording of what we do (we have never really hawked our wares to get gigs but usually receive calls asking us to play - which is extremely nice of everyone) but now we are going out for the assault of the festival circuit in 2011. Wish us luck!

Canadian Dave and Friends performed the originally scheduled Green Head Man gig last week at the Black Cross in Bromsgrove and pulled off an excellent tribute to John Lennon's birthday - featuring the great Mike Bannister from Slowburner and Stepping out on guitar (everyone's left handed these days!). Ron got up for two numbers with Timmy and the GHM borg briefly connected for the first time out since July. We really can't wait until the 30th October. (You getting it now? 30th October. I'll slip it in later just in case).

Oh and I went to Cornwall this year for my holidays:



So to recap:

Drummer = Well
Rehearsals = On
Gigs = Oh yeah
Recordings = On Sale soon
Cornwall = Wet
Onwards and, at the very least, sideways = Oh go on then.

Thanks for reading,

Nick x

30th October!!

Summer Hols...

Dave just wanted to say hi. Hi!

Green Head Man are on an enforced break at the moment due to an operation that Ron has had. He is fine and is recovering pretty well - I know this because he is already itching to play the drums again!

A couple of the band are on their Summer hols and things have quietened down a fair bit since the frantic and really enjoyable first half of the year. More to come too!

So we are chillin', but anyone who knows me knows that I can't really do that! Before the op we went into the studio (see earlier blog) to record a few songs. Canadian Dave and I have been having a listed to the film equivalent of the "rushes" (whatever that is) and are quite optimistic that there is some scope for a few nicely laid out songs. We want to maintain the vibe so are pushing for limited overdubs if possible.

Keys are pretty good (even if I say so myself) with only 1 notable gaff but we are not sure if that song is going to make it onto the EP yet anyway.

We recorded 4 songs at the session, 3 compositions of Little Dave's and a cover by the Open Mind. Watch out for "Human Zoo" that's going to slay you! (I hope, ulp).

So now its mixing and all the things that this entails. there is a little too much overspill due to the live record environment so we may reproduce the awesome acoustic track again with the gorgeous Rode mic to get the warmth out of it that we want.

I popped over to see Canadian last week and it was great to have a chat about everything, as he points out two thirds of the time we spend carrying equipment and the other third playing so its good just to talk a bit of crap (and fix the odd laptop for him) once in a while :-)

So, we're here, we're still psychedelic get used to it!

New CD EP our this side of Christmas, Ron on the mend, gigs booked from October onwards, venues ringing us up for more dates in the new year, new Piano operating system and sounds library just waiting for me to install, so we are as happy as we could expect to be whilst not actually gigging.

Hopefully people will turn out to see us play after the break??

Lets hope we still have our Mojo (if not a Sherbert Dib Dab)

Nick