Tue 20 May
IPO Festival
The Cavern Club, Liverpool
More gig info here
Alun Parry Blog
Farewell to 07
Just to prove that I'm full of original ideas (as if my band's name didn't prove it already!) here is my review of 2007. I bet I'm the only person doing THAT at the moment eh?
Thanks to everyone who helped shape this year. It has been hugely eventful and mostly exciting, interesting and positive.
Looking back through my notes and gig records, I find myself constantly surprised with the thought "Wow was that THIS year!?" Everything somehow seems further away intime.
The band begins
The biggest wow of all was the realisation that as 2007 began, there was no such thing as The Alun Parry Band - simply little ole Alun Parry, on his ownsome like. It was only in mid March that there were two of us when Chad (bass) came on board. And it wasn't until mid May that The Alun Parry Band was officially born, with the arrival of Howard on drums.
It feels like I've been with these two forever, yet its only just seven months. My first thank you has to go to Chad and H for their friendship and skilled musicianship over the course of this time. We've played so many gigs together already, and of course produced a CD of music celebrating Liverpool's 800th birthday. It's an understatement to say that Chad and Howard make me sound better than I otherwise would alone.
They are also cracking good company on those long distance gigs. H of course is like a human radio. He can talk for hours on almost any subject and is a mine of weird and wonderful information.
Both have now largely mastered Parryspeak, my odd way of getting across ideas during rehearsals. Remember the really decrepid old man from The Fast Show, who would end every monologue with "I was very, very, very drunk!" ? Remember how animated he would get at various parts of his story and so descend into mere sound effects? That's a bit like me at rehearsals conveying a musical idea.
Chad has even got used to my penchant for changing the key of my songs after he's learned them. Oh I do love my capo!!
A big thanks to those other musicians who have guested with us for live performances this year, such as Martin McGuffie, Thomas Western, Barry Briercliffe and Stephen Winstanley.
First some lows
The year has not been without its disappointments of course, so I'll get those out of the way first.
One of the biggest was not getting to Athens for the European Cup Final. Having been in Istanbul two years earlier, my disappointment cut deep to not be there again. Betrayal is something I don't handle very well, and in truth my view of football is still coloured by this. I recently lambasted it as a game owned by asset strippers and played by mercenaries with little care for the fans.
I still love football of course, but the game is so blatantly corporate these days that I don't have the same excitement about it that I once had. Plus the prices are such that I can foresee a day very soon where I'll have to stop going simply because I can't afford it.
I still don't understand how it's £9 to see Bayern Munich, £5 to see Monaco, about £15 to see Real Madrid, but £36 to see Liverpool draw 0-0 with Birmingham City. Maybe in 2008 somebody will explain why that is.
Another disappointment was the Summer weather. It put pay to a cracking tour we had around various folk festivals. We got to play several but the floods this Summer wiped out a fair few, and even drove the organisers into financial hardship which wasn't good to see. An act of God so we're told. God clearly isn't a fan of The Alun Parry Band it seems. (I hear that he's really into Judas Priest and Marilyn Manson so maybe my stuff's just not his thang!)
Musically, there were not many low points. The worst of them tended to involve other bands acting in a way which was counter to my own philosophy of mutuality. I always find this disappointing when it happens. Thankfully it's rare. So I'll choose to salute all of the many musicians who it was a joy to share a bill with this year. To the few who are self centred, or think that a 2 hour soundcheck is for your band only and sod everyone else, or to those who vandalise venues that we've booked, a big fat raspberry in your direction!
High Points
It's always good to leave on a positive and so onto the high points, of which there have been many.
The main one has to be the success of the Liverpool 800 mini album, released to mark the city's 800th Birthday in August. It was a big project completed very quickly but with much difficulty and plenty of graft. Thanks to Jon Withnall who recorded it for us, and to Clint from Nightshift who mastered it. Thanks to those friends who offered calming advice too at moments of panic and self loathing (ha ha), such as the ever tremendous Gareth Dubbeling (and his friend Chris Leckie too!)
It's funny how people think the songs on this album were written just for the event. That's not how it was though. I kind of wish that I could write on demand like that, but I can't. All the songs apart from Neptune were in fact already written, and already inspired by this fab city. It just seemed logical to stick them together into one compilation. I wouldn't have forgiven myself if I hadn't.
I want to thank everyone who helped make this happen financially. This album was paid for by our fans and supporters who forked out in advance in exchange for a mention on the sleeve notes. Big thanks to the people at est1892.co.uk for not only putting up with my moaning about LFC after each match, but also for coordinating a lot of the donations. Particular thanks too to Iain of Panacea for a humungous contribution.
A big shout out for the excellent promo work on behalf of the album by the good people at Another Media who leafletted and lobbied with unswerving good humour. Cheers to Dave, Johnnie and the team.
Thanks too for the excellent photography on the album from Joe Neary, Chris Stirrup and Sharon Dobson (the latter has become almost our official photographer!). And thanks to micktheclick for the superb design of the album sleeve itself. I stretched his patience to the very limits at times and am beyond grateful for his efforts, diplomacy and skill. Thanks are definitely in order too for Kopdan who managed to make the Alun Parry Band logo a reality with his computer artiness and guile.
Of all the praise this album received I was probably the happiest with the praise from Eric Lynch of slaveryhistorytours.com. Eric's tours of Liverpool's slave trading past was the direct inspiration for Under Neptune's Hand. Without Eric, this song would not exist. I look forward to meeting him again in the New Year.
The launch gig for this album at The Casa was terrific and a definite high for the year. Despite being unadvertised, two hundred people turned up for the show. It was definitely one of our most enjoyable gigs of the year. Great displays too by support acts Michelle Strahan, The Good Intentions, and The Mono LPs!!
Our two bank holiday gigs at Virgin Megastore to promote the album also stick in the memory as hugely enjoyable.
Other work
In other work, my weekly showcase Acoustic Slice was named by Liverpool.com magazine as by far the best acoustic night in Liverpool - a fitting tribute to the many wonderful musicians who have graced our stage at 3345 Parr Street.
The Christmas Special of old favourites was a particularly great night and deserves a place in the highlights of the year. But a major thanks to everyone who has made the night a success, either by playing, or giving the event a venue, or turning out to support it, or by working behind the bar serving everyone drinks! Special thanks to the superb Barry Briercliffe who has been my guest host on the few occasions I couldn't make it myself.
Likewise, (almost!) everybody who played at Payday Playtime deserves a big thumbs up. These nights at The Casa formed a core part of our year so if you came along I hope you enjoyed them as much as we did - and a big thanks to everyone at The Casa for their hospitality.
By the same token, my podcast Acoustic Playtime (which I sadly no longer have the time or resources to do but the back catalogue remains online) launched in February. Thanks to those who agreed to be played and thanks to those who listened. I was always heartened by how many listeners there were from overseas. The aim of the podcast was to promote Liverpool music and knowing that so many listened to it across the world was really satisfying.
Jade
One of the high points for Liverpool musically this year has, in my view, been the arrival of Jade Wright over at The Echo. It's really tough for up and coming acts to get coverage in the major media. It helps a great deal if they have a champion who is genuinely enthusiastic about grassroots music. We have that in Jade.
Since her arrival the vibrant acoustic circuit in Liverpool has been awarded the spotlight that its significance on the local scene deserves. From the moment she arrived in her post she has put herself at the very heart of local music, building contacts, listening to acts, and promoting them like billyo in her newspaper and internet pages. As a result of her conscious focus on local music, countless Liverpool musicians have received support and publicity as a result of her efforts and innovations.
Buskernomics
Buskernomics was launched this year of course - and was quickly copied by Radiohead. I wonder if they saw my "pay what you like" scheme and decided I was onto a winner? I reckon not, but hey you never know!! Either way I was thrilled. I had been hoping to convince others to go down this route. My mate from Glasgow Dave Hughes was one of the grassroots musicians who followed my lead (check him out for some political punk folk).
Super gigs
Of the "non album" related gigs there were a few real highlights. I'd pick out the folk festival in Derby as one of them. Derby County just been promoted to the Premier League and the town was still in revelry mode, and it was such a fun gig to do.
The gig at Carling Academy was terrific supporting Will Tang and we enjoyed that enormously.
The gigs at The Cavern where we were sole support for the Official 40th Anniversary Sergeant Pepper Show was great, especially the late front stage performance afterwards!
Also, supporting Claire Mooney at M19 in Levensulme was a genuine honour. Not only was it a great crowd to play for, but to sit back and then be so royally entertained by the wonderful Claire was an absolute treat. If you've not been to a Mooney show, get yourself to one pronto. And bring plenty of smiles with you - you'll definitely use them!!!
Headlining the poignant Celebrating Liverpool Life gig at The Picket is another that was among our very best memories of playing in 2007. The event raised around £5,000 for cystic fybrosis. But as well as being in a great cause, it was also a fantastic night with a superb crowd to play to. Congrats to Clare, Jen, Kate and the gang for such a great show.
Finally, I just loved the solo gig I did with Al Baker to support the Mexican Teachers Strike at Next to Nowhere. And I was honoured to play the Karen Reissmann fundraiser this month too, especially as Karen herself came and delivered an astonishingly passionate and heartfelt defence of the NHS, without any notes whatsoever.
Radio
I've been interviewed on the radio lots this year, and played a few live sets too which is also nice. A huge salute to BBC Radio Merseyside - an avid supporter of Merseyside music.
And speaking of BBC Radio, one of the year's most fun thing to do has to be hosting my first national radio show for BBC Radio 4. This was recorded just the other week. Janet the producer was fab and it was lovely to meet her. You can hear the results on Jan 10th at 3.45pm! It's all about Liverpool music so tune in!
Reviews and stuff
I've been lucky to have had some wonderful reviews this year where I've been called everything from a folk God to a Scouse treasure!! I'm really grateful for anyone taking the time to listen to my songs, never mind take the trouble to write about them - especially so kindly! I'm also grateful to a bit of a mixed review I received in May because it helped me out. It was positive, yet was critical in places too but constructively so, and it has made me a better performer as a result.
My favourite review probably comes from Myspacer Suzie Flynn who watched us at the Liverpool Peace Festival and commented enthusiastically that we sounded exactly like we did on the album - something I regard as a huge compliment!
I spent a lovely afternoon this year in the company of Sandra Gibson and her delightful partner Geoff, two adorable people from Crewe. Sandra is a writer who wanted to interview me. The resultant interview is on this blog and is one of the reasons why Janet from Radio 4 decided I'd be the ideal person to present her show. But even without that, the tea and biscuits and conversation were wonderful in and of themselves.
I also enjoyed meeting Dr Brett Leshua, the coolest Doctor I know. He's a drummer and a musical historian currently putting together an exhibition on behalf of the Institute of Popular Music about contemporary music in Liverpool. It will feature in the Liverpool World Museum in 2008. I'll be looking forward to chatting some more to Brett in the New Year. He's a fantastically interesting man.
Super Shaz
I'll close with giving a special mention to Shaz. Even a serious car crash hasn't managed to dent her spirits, even if it more than dented her car and had her in hospital for over four months!! Shaz is one of our most ardent supporters and plays a key role for the Alun Parry Band. Every band needs a good street team and Shaz is the head of ours doing everything from offering counsel, being our sound engineer for the album launch party amongst others, being unofficial photographer, and even hunting down gigs for us.
Thanks and Happy New Year!!
Other than that, thanks to everyone who has made 2007 so successful, and thanks to all the wonderful musicians and people I've met throughout the year. Music has led me to meeting so many nice people that I now happily call my friends.
All the best to you all in 2008!!
1:10 PM | Permalink
Previous posts
- Extended Alun Parry Interview by Sandra Gibson
- Photo Fest: Album Launch - Are You Pictured???
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- M19 Fun Last Night
- Aaaaaaaaghhhh! We're Doomed!!
- Defend Jammie Thomas!
- Radiohead Adopt My Buskernomics Idea
- Jade Backs Venues Campaign
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Alun Parry is regarded as Liverpool's most respected radical musician.
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Hey Al,
Have a great Hogmanay and hopefully our paths will cross in 2008!
Dave
Posted by
Dave Hughes |
Monday, December 31, 2007
What a lovely remenisance of the year. It really has been a good year. :) Thanks for your support of acoustic for emma appeal. Matt Swift
Posted by
Matt Swift |
Tuesday, January 01, 2008