TDF last few gigs in small venues this year

If anyone want's to catch TDF play some small venues, now is the time!

Last few this year are happening soon. Next gig:

Copperface Jacks, Manchester, October 15th.

Ensemble Craft tracks now on youtube

They're not videos as such, they are just the audio, together with the album cover, but 3 Ensemble Craft tunes are now on youtube:

Minstrel Party

The Legacy of Philbert the Frog

Tiddlywinks

Contemporary Guitar Performance Workshop and Ensemble Craft facebook pages

Facebook seems to be taking over the internet at the moment and since I can hardly complain as I'm on it a lot, I felt that I should probably have my projects better represented there too:

Contemporary Guitar Performance Workshop:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=105356476188725&ref=mf

Ensemble Craft:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=140240376015246&ref=mf

Turquoise Noise page/group on it's way....

Latest 'This Devastated Fan' tour dates

Wigan/Manchester dates:

13 Aug:
The Boulevard, Wigan

21 Aug:
Satans Hollow, Manchester

South Wales / North Devon dates:

22 Sep:
BRFM TV/Radio (97.3 FM in South Wales, or online at www.brfm.co.uk)

23 Sep:
The Duke, Neath

24 Sep:
The Patriot, Crumlin

25 Sep:
The Crown, Lynton

26 Sep 2010:
Hog & Hotspur, Pontypool, Gwent

London date:

27 Sep 2010 20:00
The Purple Turtle, Camden, London

Were also trying to get as many people to join our myspace and facebook pages which can be found here:

http://www.myspace.com/thisdevastatedfan

http://www.facebook.com/pages/This-D...8881733?ref=ts

Any and all interest, myspace/facebook page joining etc much appreciated!!

Political Pre-Determination

As I'm based in the UK, we're building up to a general election at the moment and the respective campaigns to build support for each of the three main parties is evident everywhere. For the first time, there has also been televised debates between the three main party leaders with no scripts or preparation, and no advance knowledge of questions that they are likely to be asked. All interesting stuff and a good step forward in my view so people can see how two potential new prime ministers (in debate with the current prime minister) handle questions on important issues under the pressure of live televised coverage.

Unfortunately, one of the most interesting although simultaneously one of the most paradoxical and destructive aspects of peoples behaviour which comes out at these times is their thorough reluctance to listen and potentially change their views. People seem to have an admiration for democracy which is totally at odds with the fact that they will spend their whole lives voting for the same thing no matter what! I don't know whether or not I listen to too much and read a lot about what parties say they will do and vote on those ideas (influenced as ever by how much I believe them), but not very many people seem to do this and where not very many people seem to do this, where is true democracy? I have voted for different political parties at different times based on what they have said and how much I have felt they would make the most positive contribution and difference, but where people vote 'habitually', where is the real "choice of the people" where they have no real idea what they are voting for and it's all boiled down to colours and labels? Where a large portion of the vote is based on nothing but habit, I have a fear that the proper virtues of policy and character being criteria for voting are in grave danger of being tragically lost, and once they are gone, they are very, very difficult to get back.

Guitar & Bass magazine this Month

I'm in guitar and bass magazine this month!

While at the Newcastle Guitar Show with Mr Rich Atkin (of Stormshadow guitars and Fryette amps), I was playing his unbelievable "Eat 'em and smile" David Lee Roth guitar with possibly the best paint finish I've ever seen on a guitar. So good in fact, that the guys from Guitar and Bass Magazine considered it worthy of taking a photo! It's part of an article on the Northern Guitar Shows which I'm usually involved with in one capacity or another, playing and demonstrating stuff. It's a great photo of the guitar though. If anyone is interested in high quality paint finishes on a guitar, Rich Atkin's DLR guitar is the standard by which others can be measured.

Heroes and Influences: Rob Dainton

I’ve been assembling my thoughts and ideas about inspiration and the music I find myself attracted to, together with the people who create and facilitate it. I’ve been exploring all the usual heroes and influences, but at one point in considering this list, I came across a truly immeasurable, inspirational man, who didn’t fit any category, or who could even be considered in any way comparable to anyone else. Where better to begin an exploration of your heroes and influences than with this man?

Rob Dainton is an exceptional musician, a true gentleman, and someone I’m proud to call a friend. I don’t see him anywhere near enough these days, but at one time I played guitar in a band with him, and it was one of the hardest working and serious bands I’ve ever been involved with. Where heroes and inspirational people are not normally considered to be amongst people who we consider our friends, Rob qualifies as one of these people for a number of important reasons.

Rob plays the drums as if he was conducting an orchestra and the drums are actually just in the way! I’ve seen and heard him get some sounds out of a drum kit that are astonishing. He is resourceful enough to successfully convert almost anything into a useable tool that he can assimilate into his drum kit (so long as it makes the sound he requires), I’ve watched in amazement as he’s used these improvised instruments, breathe on cymbals to create the effect he wants, using sticks, brushes, small rocks, cloth, anything! The man is a bottomless well of ideas, packaged into moments of freely improvised genius. Spiritually absorbed in what he plays to the extent that he is absolutely immersed in a state of ‘contribution’, his drum stool is his church. He is one of the most (if not, the most) resourceful, sensitive, creative, and expressive musicians I have ever known.

Beyond his incredible musical skills, I found him to be an inspirational man in as much as his drive and unshakable focus on the direction he wants to take his music are absolutely formidable. Although how else can such an individual carve their way in the world? As the expression suggests “To be different in this world requires great strength. Let a budgie fly out into the open and the sparrows kill it”. He is a man of immense strength, vision, and resolve.

If you ever want to go and see something beyond any gig you will have seen before, or want to see a totally uncompromised performance of absorbed and passionate genius, look up where Rob Dainton may be playing next, and check out the gig.