Diary Archive 2007

Hello All

I'm going to New York on Friday so thought I'd spread a little love and merriment before I off.....

Quick sum up of the last month or so, thank f**k I have found a fabulous drummer, we welcome Dom Chandler to the family with open arms, the troubles of earlier in the year seem to have lifted and with the addition of David Simon on piano also things couldn't be much better, I hope I'm not singing a different tune next year as we played last Sat night & it was such a great show...leagues ahead.....I was blown away!! I've been wanting to get keys in live for a while, most of the new stuff was written with piano and although the guitars have done a great job...it just works so well on some of the tracks, I also have the luxury of having singers in the band now, I have a bloody choir!! Jesus I am happy....please let it stay this way!!!!! I will prey to the god of rock every night!! )

I am of course waiting for the bubble to burst, something has to go wrong... doesn't it?? Stef, Steve & Nik are also doing a grand job & the chemistry is there completely....fingers crossed this is the line up that finally does it.

We're playing in Soho on the 3rd Jan, I will have just got back from New York and I hope to see some of you gorgeous people there....we have to keep the live thing happening or you will have no choice but to stay home and watch X Factor!

Nik, Stef & I have just written a new track, it's called "Tell me why", played it for the first time last weekend and it's a beauty, I'm going to get the new stuff all wrapped up and ready as in //ALBUM// early next year, that is not an idle promise...twill be done.....and I can't wait.

Have a blast & if you don't have a paint brush...use your arse.

(my new artwork will be worth million one day)

Love & peace (?)

Tracie Hunter xxxx

So, since we last spoke there has plenty happening in the TH camp, we played a support slot for Eddie and the Hot Rods early September in Putney, I was at that time relatively happy with what had been happening in rehearsals however as we played our first song it became apparent that the new drummer was not up to the job and frankly, the rhythm section is the back bone of any band & without it... you're screwed, we played ok but I knew that it wasn't up to standard, so this was comforting as I had flights booked for a gig in Stockholm two weeks later and a London show the week later, not only was the drummer lacking in any consistency he also turned out to be a complete dick...what is it with drummers? ...I don't like to make generalisations but... Jesus. You know who you are if you're reading this... stay away from the stage!

It's so bloody funny when I look at the last diary & then I look at this months happenings & just when I thought I had it sorted, it all comes crashing down again & frankly, I'm glad it did... I think, although it's difficult to focus on new material & recording when I am constantly having to find new players.

One of the best drummers I ever knew Lior lost out to the authorities and had to leave the country at the beginning of the month, (I'm not even going to begin my rant on what I think of our immigration laws)... this was most unfortunate, this was very sad & I wish him well, I believe he will have a fabulous career playing, he deserves it....I just wish it was here with us.

I did get a replacement in for Lior for our Riga show on 8th August & then got a call a few days before the show that the guy had got pissed on his birthday & abseiled down a huge banister in a club and buggered up his leg...and people think I'm joking? So, I am left with little choice but to do the gig acoustic. I'm sure Dave at the Riga thinks I'm cursed.

All seems OK, the support band are doing acoustic anyway & I'm confident we can do a great show this way, after-all we are all professional & know our art.....so, the one guitarist, the one I least expect to let me down, arrives to the gig a total wreck, a total self induced wreck... there ensues a very average gig & me ready to kill. I don't want average gigs, I want amazing gigs.....& how drugs bore me in this business.

So, one guy leaves & one guy gets kicked out & they get replaced & here we are.... At least the visual doesn't get disappointing, for me or the audience.

It's not easy though... keeping this thing going, the rewards are amazing when they come but the amount of disappointment & bullshit one has to tolerate really make it hard sometimes.

So, I'm quite excited about playing with Eddie and the Hot Rods again on the 8th, that will be a night well worth seeing. It will be the first night for the new guys & I know it's gonna be great, later in the month we're off to Stockholm to play for the first time....all in the garden is rosy.

Lots more dates coming in, possibly a tour in November & then off to New York in December. Who knows what the future holds....I kinda like not knowing....

Love TH

Hello chaps..

I'm just back from a week in Spain, did nothing? Sat on the beach, bobbed about on a lilo... searched for inspiration, none came so I had Sangria ..didn't find it there either. I dunno what you're supposed to do in those places, it's ok if you're gigging but doing nothing is really hard to do when you really like doing something. I have brown & white bits & Flamenco dress & that's that. I was afraid the world would pass me by while I was doing... nothing! I worry about things like that, I worry.

Anyhow, I'm back now & I am doing heaps! Plenty of gigs coming in & a possibility of a couple of tours later in the year, possibly gonna do Europe also which will be a gas & much needed.

Our new guitarist Justin is fitting in beautifully, we like to call him Savvy Spooge as a gesture of our love & respect for him.... now, if anyone can guess what that means the whole band will dance naked at a place & time of your request with fifty pound notes hanging from our arse cheeks. Answers on a postcard.

We played with Eddie & the Hot Rods last month, they were bloody great.... you gotta see these guys if you get a chance, couldn't find Eddie though. Was nice to see the Riga packed to the seams, the guys that run that place deserve a full house every night, they actually still love & respect live/original music & musicians as opposed to some ridiculous soul-less clowns without an ounce of integrity.... (AKA tributes)

I also just saw Patti Smith at the Roundhouse, Jesus the sound in there is incredible, no matter where you are. She was phenomenal... I hadn't heard her spoken word stuff and she went off on a rant about Prozac being shite and at first I thought she'd lost the plot, she speaks in such a slow drawl... I was thinking.... "no, Patti...move it on...." but then she had us captured, it was so good & no script. She's right as well, I'm sure some of us need Prozac to replace our serotonin for whatever reason but a third of us are on it, the Dr's are handing it to everyone trying to keep us quiet, it's crazy...get up on Hampstead Heath and get primal I say, don't give in!!.... The band was great & she was in fine voice, I'm looking forward to my turn on that stage, hearing my songs coming out of that PA... yep, can't wait for my turn.

The Glasgow show went great, nice venue the Classic Grande, sold a fair few singles & now need to sell many more so my blood & tears will be rewarded with a chart entry!! I've paid my dues!!!! I will keep the site abreast of news on the release down here, it is available on line from www.arkade.com which does count for chart but once the distribution does it bit there will be many more options, like shops!! The old fashioned way....

We need a lovely young wife for my drummer, please apply on line. He's quite a catch & by all accounts... the original sex god... (this is not from personal experience......;)

(yet)

Saw my dads acoustic shows, loved it & his new album "Shrunken Heads' has charted here... so come on, let's get it up there, imagine proper music on your radio for a change?

We're going back in the studio later in the month & there's quite a few gigs coming up, few wee festivals coming in... all good. If you get the chance to see us soon... do it...

Love TH

Morning all...

Lior Dar ... a god amongst the drumming community!

So, I believe the last diary ended with auditions taking place.....mostly it is reminiscent of having teeth pulled, it's a funny thing coz you know within 30 seconds whether the person is right but you have to go through the motions, maybe I should be a bit more Simon Cowell about it? American idol is on the TV....I'm turning it off, what utter homogenised crap.......

Where was I...oh yeah...auditions, well we lucked out on the drummer front, we saw a lot of guys & none of them were right & then Lior Dar walks in & effortlessly steals the show...bloody perfect in every way & funny as f**k. This is important, personality is important, you have to spend hours on buses with these people it's crucial that it's a pleasurable experience, unless of course you're Metallica, then it's ok if you hate each other because the millions of pounds you will procure each time you get together will make it all bearable. Lior has great groove, he's creative & solid, I don't have to worry about him...there has been a few since Steve that have been a little inconsistent, what am I saying?? "since Steve"...haha, you never knew what was coming next with Steve either, anyway...I'm thinking aloud and I must stop that, Lior is the shit, the Ganja & the Mary Jane & he's staying!!

Not quite so successful on the guitar front, we thought we had the guy...and then it became very obvious that we didn't, so once again...we are auditioning, although I think we have the guy in mind that we want.

We played in Manchester, all good except the PA squealed through half of the show & we had to do half the set twice, you gotta laugh or else you cry!! I liked it though, nice venue...Hark2towler, nice vibe about the place.

The Classic Rock gig in Rotherham had no such trouble, great lights & great sound, those who were there certainly got their money's worth, we played great as did Krybygrinder, excellent band and well worth checking out. Thanks Martin & Allistair.

The hotel in Rotherham was indeed a shitehole & that was possibly one of the funniest nights we've had, Lior was pissed & unbelievable comedic value, I wish I'd had a video camera that night, go Eddo go Eddo..........just so I could share a little with you.

We also played the Limetree again, great crowd & great hospitality (cheers Telvis), similar PA issues to contend with and an out of tune guitar, wasn't my finest or happiest hour but we gave good. Nik has become such an asset to the band, originally he stepped in to help out on Bass as a temporary measure as he has his own band (Cavilry) but now he's an integral part of the line up, his BV's are sounding great & he has such presence onstage, great energy & of course he's funny as f**k so big up the Nikko......

Marianne Faithfull - check out her website www.mariannefaithfull.org.uk

Probably my finest rhythm section for many reasons.......let's hope the bubble don't burst too soon.......

Taunton was good, was slightly light in the audience department but we knew it would be on a rainy Sunday night but we played so dam well....we really had an amazing gig, Cheers Tank..

The single will be released on May 13th, you can pre-order if you get in touch, the official launch will be at the Classic Grande in Glasgow at a very special midnight show....we can't wait!!

There will also be a London show, should have that date up soon.

I saw Marianne Faithfull at The Pigalle in London last Monday, I was blown away...I always loved character vocals, perfect voices bore me, they say so little but when Marianne sang those words it penetrated my very soul!! And such songs/Lyrics....I was totally inspired & I remain a fan. I also saw Marcella Detroit at Home House a while back, she was doing Billy Holiday songs, she has a four and a half octave range, Jesus...only dogs can hear her top end. That was a good night also, my mate Ian won the raffle and is now the proud owner of a years worth of Viagra......mate I said.

That's about it chaps, gotta dash...songs to write & gigs to book & wine to drink.........(washing to do!)

TH

Hope this finds you well, me personally...i think January sucks, nothing fantastic ever happens in January, actually something amazing almost happened... but then it didn't, so like i said, nothing ever happens in January. Next year, I'm going to make sure something fantastic happens, so i can't write such predictable tales of January woe. And the rain, the bloody bastard rain never stops, all very well for the sodding reservoirs (though we will no doubt still have a ban on toilet flushing) but very bad for my psyche. There is a tendency to stay beneath the covers as long as possible, i suppose it is inspiring in as much as it's miserable & misery, the utter kind being a good state of mind for song writing but generally... shite.

Went to see Nik's band (Cavilry) play at the Bull & Gate last night, was an excellent show, best I've seen them. I was amazed by the Bull & Gate. We did one of your first ever gigs here years ago as a full band & i remember it feeling massive but it's actually pretty small. I suppose that may have been something to do with the fact that there was probably only our mums in the audience at the time. Not bad though, no bad at all... most of the smaller venues spend about 30 quid on some shitty PA which leaves your average punter thinking the band sound shit when actually it's the sound system that sucks, but it was OK in there.

Christmas in the States was lovely, shopped myself stupid & had fun with the family, the weather was beautiful, a bit cold but really sunny, cold days which i love... puts a nice wee blush in ones cheeks... all of 'em.

By the time you get to read this i should have the line-up sorted, if the gods & stars of rock'n'roll are all aligned, the guitarist that i so desperately seek will hopefully walk into the auditions that are being held tonight, let us pray. Also, hate to bring the old cliche about drummers to the table again but "Why the F**k does it have to be so difficult finding a sane, honest, addiction free, GOOD, player?" There is a reason for the jokes ya know (Mick J, you are the exception darling but you live 500 miles away!). The last one took a holiday to South America and has never been heard of since.

His loss, big time (assuming he's alive).

Ginger's (Wildhearts) new album "Yoni" is now on general release, if you want to hear my truly gorgeous backing vocals rush out & buy it! It's a good album, possibly not what you'd expect but i like that about him. It's pretty eclectic style-wise but hook laden & a definite grower. I'd be interested to hear your opinions if you do get it.

Right, i'm off to rehearsals....assuming all goes well tonight, the gig diary will fill up pretty quick, so we should be in a town near you soon... apparently the single will be ready for release at the end of Feb so hopefully things will liven up considerably then.

Gosh, the graveyard of ex TH members is getting pretty full!!

Ha, TH x