Pets Corner

www.goodaboom.com

I've never been a real pet lover, nor successful with them as a child. Incidents such as the rabbit my Dad found that died from Mixing his Toasties to the Budgie that escaped are recalled with a shudder. Less Doctor Doolittle, More Doctor Mengele methinks. However, to bring us,albeit circuitously, to the point. Dogs. Never had one. Too much trouble. Here in Spain, there is still an insidious percentage of people, who, when fed up with their animal, simply take it out and hang it from a tree. The brits are no better. It goes something like this.."Ooo darling lets move to Spain and have a better life.. and let's get a dog and everything!"
Six months later, the money runs out, the dream drowns in a sea of San Miguel, and its.."Ooo, I miss me pint down the Cog and Sprocket!" Oh yeah, so keen are they to return to the green and pleasant land, THEY LEAVE THE DOG BEHIND. (You know the type,check out my Poem, "Brit Abroad" in The Mighty Pen section)So, that said, there may be a number of explanations for the large pile of Dog Poo outside Mine and Miki's lovely Gallery. It may have been left by some poor stray who's former owners knew no better. But its likely that its owners (and pardon the pun) just don't give a sh*t where there doggies do it.

It reminds me of a story from my childhood..Up the road, a lady used to run a nice little hairdressing salon from her front room. It was a bona fide business, and was presented well. In the street where we lived dog walkers regularly brought their pets to do their business. Funny, I always thought the sign at the end of the street said Portland Close. I now realise I must've been mistaken. It said "Toilet".
After a number of unfortunate deposits.
The salon lady had taken all she could take, She observed a woman blatantly allow her dog to "ease" (I borrowed this from a Michael Palin book, a beautiful expression!)itself right in front of her driveway. After the woman left, she hurried out, scooped the poop into some tissue paper and followed the woman home. Upon ascertaining her address, she promptly posted it through the letter box! Now, I'm telling you people, THAT IS STYLE! and I for one, am getting perilously close to doing the same if I catch who's doing it round these parts.
There's only one message from Pets Corner today. If you don't know how to look after a dog, DONT.BLOODY.GET.ONE.

Don't Shoot me, I'm only the Phil Lynott impersonator!

www.goodaboom.com
You Tube. Mmm... In conjunction with the recent crop of videos we are now featuring on our site, they also can be found on that very same worldwide phenomenon.

The viewing figures are rocketing up daily, but now the comments come! Specifically, aimed at my Stars in their Eyes appearance. They are not, it has to be said, overly malicious, but quotes like:

"ahaha, this is funny sh*t!"
and "the dancers are okay"

fail to set my soul alight. But, I'm a fair and reasonable man, and with advancing
years comes a quiet consideration that keeps the indignant rage at bay (just)
The fact is, if you purposely stick your head above the parakeet..(I'm sorry that should read parapet.) oh, hang on, a parrot IS a pet isnt it? But I digress...
Where was I? I can't remember...I don't have an alibi! It wasn't me guv'nor!

Part 2- Kev returns after a lie down...

Er..yes, if you stick your head above the parapet, you should expect some wag to chuck the verbal equivalent of rotten tomatoes at it. so i did. and they have.
I shall however, gird my loins for the coming onslaught secure in the knowledge that Eric Bell, the original Thin Lizzy Guitarist and mate of the late Phil, saw my Stars effort, and said..."Phil surely was looking down on yer, and shouting Jaysus! I tort I was dead!"

A Brief History of Mine

www.goodaboom.com
How strange, rediscovering your past by unravelling miles of slowly oxidising videotape....You will see the burgeoning collection growing on Goodaboom almost daily, as I sort through the good, the bad and the most definitely ugly in an effort to give you all a taste of my journey through a musical life.

Much more to come, higher rarity value I guess, but diminishing quality! Some of these things haven't aged well, and I don't just mean the hairstyles!!

But...perhaps, having discovered my screen gems, you may hunt a little harder and find Mikis! She is notoriously camera shy, so much so, she makes the Yeti look like a publicity seeking junkie! Not only does she turn away from the cam every time its pointed anywhere near her, but when the videos HAVE been uploaded, she hides them away and doesn't publicise them! Hah! Well, the game's up my girl! Just check out Miki's Frame by Frame section, where she makes the occasional, albeit reluctant appearance on film!

I should think her cinematic career will stall at first base however, as she has just assumed the role of a schoolteacher, launching Goodaskool, an online alternative drawing and painting class. Mmm....I think the pertinent question I should be asking is; How the hell is she going to find time to make my coffee????

Wind and Wuthering

www.goodaboom.com

Well, everything that hasn't been nailed down here in Albir has probably blown away over the last few days. Miki and I have paid little mind to the gale force conditions outside however, as we have been hard at work integrating our videos into Goodaboom via YouTube. It has been a fascinating journey into the past for me, as I revisited concerts. old friends and musical companions via the clips. We will be expanding the selection week by week, so keep checking in for new additions! There is also a direct link to some of the posters in The Postermanium, with relevant videos of the live shows they advertise!

I was struck by the variety of styles I've been associated with over the years, and the standard of musicians also, such as guitarist Dave Sargent (see photo)Check out his soloing with THE HIT LIST!

I think it's helped me become a better player. We've also begun to make films of Miki's art, and also our travels, you can be sure there will be more to follow! We will also be making an experimantal promo film of one of my new songs, the psychedelic flavoured "Strawberry House". By the way, look out for the new Song of the month in three days time, "A Cat Called Caramel".

In the meantime..we will ride out the storm. It brings to mind my poem inspired by Miki's painting...."How wild the wind, the leaves are playthings in its grasp."
Why not listen to the poem in our 3D Brush with Poetry Gallery?

Bulls on the Playa

www.goodaboom.com
So, following my show at Rayo Del Sol in Mojacar on Sunday, I spent Monday relocating Miki's popular Bullfight Exhibition from the town of Vera to the Allegria Restaurant on Mojacar Playa. Run by Belgian Couple Erik and Anita, it serves a mix of Belgian and Spanish cuisine, not to mention a massive English Breakfast! (I told you not to mention that:miki)

Anyway, after much thought, the Bulls were arranged in their new corral..Anita was delighted as I managed to cover a few holes in the wall, where it appeared an epileptic builder had been drilling with a blindfold on!

The tradition of the bullfight in Spain has long been a contentious issue, and is the subject of pressure from the European courts..however, I sense that, as with the attempts to tell the Spanish they have to abandon the siesta culture, it will all come to naught. There is a very strong part of me that comes out against the continuation of the bullfight. But how do you remove such deep-seated traditions overnight? As a boy, reading encyclopedias to learn about countries around the world, it was their differences that fascinated me, and the richness of the Flamenco and Bullfight culture defines Spain.
Furthermore, working with Miki, and seeing her create her "Corridas" at first hand, seeing the movement and grace through the Artist's eye, I acknowledge their beauty.
There is one thing I know for certain. Her Bullfight paintings stir something deep down in people. They touch them deeply.There is something primal and fascinating about man and beast in beautiful, violent and graceful harmony.

Return to Albir

www.goodaboom.com

So I finally arrived back in Albir early yesterday evening, after a busy but productive few days down in Mojacar. My show at Rayo Del Sol went well, and I had many compliments, and indeed, questions regarding my guitars! One guy came over and wanted to know what my 5 string was. I said, "well, it's a bass."
"But basses have 4 strings!" he replied.
Well, to the uninitiated, I guess they do, and I'm sure all the musos out there know this already, but it struck me that the general public might not be so aware.
The 5 string bass came out in the 80's, with a low "B" to satisfy the demands of live work when it came to reproducing some of the deep notes of synth-generated dance music. Indeed, 6 string basses are now not uncommon, I believe that masterful player Nathan East uses one. The fretboard resembles a 6 lane highway!
My first 5 string, which I still have, was supplied to me by Fernandes in Japan, with whom Graham Olivers Saxon, who I was playing with at the time, had a deal.
I used to alternate between that and my Fender 4 string, but often forgot which one I was playing in the heat of the moment, getting some strange notes out of a string I had forgotten was tuned to B instead of E! So I quickly dispensed with the 4 strings altogether, and got a Music Man 5 direct from the U.S. with the help of my friend Barry who runs The Bass Centre in London, and what a beauty it is!



I played "A Cat called Caramel" one of my own songs, for the first time this weekend, and was pleased with how it was received. I may well feature it as song of the month for February, so you can see for yourself! I also dug out even more memorabilia, so The Postermanium and The Discography will be getting updated.

Oh, and the 4 string bass is about to make a reappearance...but that will be a whole new article....watch this space!

When Saturday Comes...POSTERMANIA!!

www.goodaboom.com


Well, the days have flown by, and its time for me to take my wheels down to Almeria province once again for my show in Mojacar on tomorrow.
I've been rehearsing all week, trying to get a few different numbers in, as much for my benefit as the audiences! So there's a couple of originals by me, plus some classics by various artists such as Joe Walsh, Carol King and Jimi Hendrix. Now THATS variety!

Yes, a busy week it's been, as Miki and I have been working on our newly completed
Postermanium. It is filled with stuff from my own archives, and to this end, Miki instructed me to dig around at my place in Turre last week for suitable posters to include. A number of other things turned up during my search, (besides old socks)and I'll be sharing some of them with you over the weeks. Today, I want to include probably the earliest known photo of me performing. I began on drums, and to my left in the photo is a bespectacled Fos Foster. We are both around 9 years old I think, and we have continued to play together ever since, through many bands, including Christie and Tubeless Hearts.

Please have a look through The Postermanium , it has a wide variety of posters from concerts all around the world, and most are accompanied by anecdotes from the time.
More from me when I return on Monday, including a gig report!

There and Back again

www.goodaboom.com




Greetings! As you've probably noticed, this is my first diary entry for a few days, the reason being my trip south to Almeria province. My reasons for the trip were various. On Monday, I had a show in El Marchal, a small hamlet near the only slightly larger hamlet of Lubrin, a white-knuckle ride over the mountains from Bedar.
Upon easing my car out of the stygian gloom, I found the welcoming lights of Bar El Paniajo, and a good crowd, many of whom had braved the same mountain roads as myself!
The venue is run by Jessica and Ann-Marie, and they have a very popular restaurant section, judging by the smiles of the customers emerging from their tables.
The atmosphere was warm and friendly, and I performed intermittently between 8 and 11.30, with a small cat curled up behind me by the wood-burning stove that served as my backdrop!

The next morning, I headed to Las Bouganvillas, where I was to mount our Sport for All exhibition. (Check out Miki's diary and also of course, our 3D Gallery of the event) It took some time to get everything how I wanted it, but I was happy with the results. I also found time to reminisce with my friend, drumming legend Keith Webb, about his Paladin days, and his friendships with various rock luminaries, such as Lee Kerslake from Uriah Heep, and Mel Galley from Trapeze and Whitesnake.

I called in at one of Miki's clients, or to be precise, the recipient of a gift of a portrait from one of Miki's clients, a well-known local lawyer. As I went into her newly refurbished offices to leave some of our publicity, her secretary informed me the painting of her children had now become the screensaver on all of the office computers! I also found time to visit Allegria, where our bullfight exhibition moves next week, and I managed some pre-publicity for my show in Rayo Del Sol, Mojacar pueblo, next Sunday afternoon.



The village of Mojacar has always had a kind of magnetism for me. I have been associated with it, on and off, for around 20 years.(I first performed there in 1986 with the bass player from The Ivy League)
Situated as it is, seemingly glued to the mountainside, with its natural mountain stream servicing the beautiful Fuenta Publica, its narrow alleyways and walls could tell a thousand tales.From the roof of my apartment in nearby Turre, you can see the vilage at night, its lights twinkling like a fledgling galaxy, on its maiden flight to join its celestial brethren.

So, with publicity in place, exhibitions planned, and mounted, friends visited and concerts completed, I headed back up the motorway, the lights from the procession of cars turning it into the imaginary silver thread that connects Miki and I at all times. Only the length ever varies, and as I drove,the sun setting behind me, I imagined it drawing in, getting shorter and shorter, until we were together again in Albir.

The Work Verse

www.goodaboom.com

So, today Miki and I decided to forego the Street Gallery on account of:
1) Her being ill
2) Me being ill (still the dodgy ankle)
3) Possibly the effect of watching 2 complete Inspector Morse episodes in one night
4) Oh, yeah, and LOADS of stuff to prepare for tomorrow!

I have a show down in Lubrin, Almeria tomorrow night, and over the next 2 days I shall be updating the exhibition at El Capote in Vera and mounting the new "Sport for All" exhibition at Roly's in Las Bouganvillas. So today alternated between a little bass practice, and the careful wrapping of all the framed paintings that I have to take with me on the three hour drive tomorrow. Paintings do not travel well, and the way we pack them is most important.

Im also going to take the opportunity to check out another possible venue for both my show and exhibiting. Miki assures me that, far from lounging around and waiting for my return, she will begin work on the new portraits. (See her article)


Given the strenuous day ahead tomorrow, I think I will opt for a double helping of Pizza, and a single helping of Morse this evening.....

Instru-mentality

www.goodaboom.com


"There's a many a good tune played on an old fiddle." or, in my case, perhaps that should be - "There's many an OLD tune worth fiddling about with."
Let me explain....
Miki has been busy creating her new 3D Gallery on our site, giving you the chance to "wander" around our virtual art studio! She wondered if we could have some background music as you enjoy the paintings. "No problem," I confidently announced. Over the past few months many ideas have been recorded, half-finished ideas, things to work on later, or just a riff or two worth having around. I recalled a track I'd named "Tears and Death" with a view to putting lyrics to it at a later date.I thought it would be perfect for the 3D gallery, so I finished it as a full instrumental, featuring a lengthy bass solo. The title now? "First Bass" geddit? The current exhibition has a sports theme, so I thought.. its a first bass solo, and in some sports, you have to reach first base, right? Yeah, I know, I could've called it "On me 'ead, son!"

Anyway, whilst we're talking about the studio, we have activated my Song of the Month feature, which this month is a small sample of "Ring the Changes".You may remember me mentioning this some days ago in the diary,(See Problem with the Prolific) its one of those "done in a day" songs. Click on the song title to have a listen.Hope you like it !!

Cross My Palm with Acrylics

www.goodaboom.com


So...the diary...as those of you have already discovered these hallowed pages know, much fun is to be had amidst the ramblings of Miki and I.We became concerned that, as the diaries have grown into an essential part of our site, they were not occupying a position of prominence. What to do? we thought.

Well, first thing, get the diaries up on the tool bar. All well and good. But then we are faced with a new page THE DIARIES. What should we fill it with? At this point our adult selves left the room, and the naughty kiddies proceeded to run amok.
"I want to paint my hand with lots of colours!" said naughty little Miki, and so she did, brandishing her kaleidescope extremity with childish glee. Naughty Kevin sulked for a while before declaring "I want to as well!"
Within moments Miki had turned his fingers into piano keys as he lay his five-fingered chord across the pages...and so, as you see, we have brand new photos to introduce our diary pages to the uninitiated. The adults returned and locked the kiddies away without pizza for a week..but with a half-smile on their faces.....

Street Life

www.goodaboom.com



Well, "Once more into the breach, dear friends" as some nineteenth-century cannon fodder once remarked, (probably moments before eating a cannon ball)and Miki and I are "dans la rue" again.
It was with great interest that we exhibited Miki's latest Bull painting, (see Fighting the bulls) as we wanted to see the peoples reaction. Well, from the second the wild bulls were let loose on the street, they had a steady stream of admirers! For us, unbelieva-bull, that the public found them so immediately love-a-bull!!!!
It fascinates me, the way Miki's paintings captivate people. They stop, abruptly, and are then slowly drawn in, as if by some Star Trek inspired invisible tractor beam! One lady, Norwegian I think, stopped in front of it and exclaimed, "wow".
She then told us she had just finished her first ever painting, a watercolour, to which Miki replied, "and this is my last!" The woman's husband looked round in horror-"You mean you aren't going to paint any more?!!" He'd obviously never met Miki before, you'd have to put her in a straightjacket to stop her painting, and then she'd probably do it with her hair!

Anyway, enough about the artist, I need to defend the musical corner of Goodaboom!
We are launching soon a new feature where you can preview my latest works, it will be accessible from the Home page. The first snippet in a week or so will be one of the songs I have written with Jaki Graham in mind. Feel free to check back every few weeks or so when I will be showcasing a different original song from my archives.

The Problems of the Prolific

www.goodaboom.com



Today I had intended to go straight down into the studio (following a hearty breakfast of course) and resume work on two of my songs, "Miss Hollywood" and "The Heretic's Song" , and possibly finish mixing "Baby Paints The Stars". I am somewhat behind with my original compositions, and they are rapidly filling the hard drive, so I thought, today's the day! I had just finished the two songs for Jaki Graham yesterday, and sent them over for her to have a listen. I sat in my chair..and...fatally..I picked up the guitar! That was it, I was off on another idea. Suffice to say, by the time this writer emerged from the studio not twenty minutes ago, I had written, recorded and mixed a brand new song called "Ring The Changes".



I tell you all this, because, it is fair to say, pre-Miki I was suffering from the Mother of All Writer's Blocks, and post-Miki, well, I can't stop! It's a blessing and a curse really, because if I don't get something finished, I'm off on the next idea. I feel I'm shimmering with so many ideas my self is becoming indistinct. (See Miki's computer art)It's like I am frantically making up for lost time somehow, and it's almost as though the ideas were all in there, "backed up" in some inaccessible part of my brain, just waiting for the key to unlock them. The key, of course, is Miki, and the mythological notion of The Muse is brought to life, in her.I seem to be evolving into a beast with many heads, trying to get all these things done at the same time! (see Miki's final computer art illustration) Some days here I can only describe as frantic, brushes and guitars painting symphonies of light and sound, the ideas positively vibrating the house to its foundations. I guess you could say the moment of critical mass as our arts collided was indeed GOODABOOM!

Blue Skies

www.goodaboom.com


Another lovely day, 2007 starting well weather-wise here in Spain. Miki and I have been hard at work over the last couple of days, Miki in her own personal hell creating a large piece on canvas. (I keep out of the way!) For my sins, I've been down in the studio working on a second track for Jaki Graham. No, the first one's not finished, but Miki suggested I sent two possibilities in different styles, so this one has a slower, more laid back groove. It also gives me some distance from the first one, so when I go back to it, I can listen with fresh ears. It's a common thing in recording, your ears are like any muscle in your body, you overwork them , they become tired.When I was younger, we used to do marathon recording sessions til late into the night, in order to get a song mixed and finished. Invariably, when we listened back the next day, it sounded horrible, because our ears had given out the night before! So, having matured into the quietly studious and considered individual you see before you, I now take a less frenetic approach. By the way, we will be creating a kind of "scrapbook" page shortly, where I will post audio samples of some completed but unreleased original songs, or curiosities such as the Spanish version of Just a Memory, and songs written by me performed by my daughter (with a little help from Dad)The music from her early teens was more dance-oriented, but you can check out Hollie's Metal band Theft of A Doll (see photo) by clicking here

Exhibition at Year's End

www.goodaboom.com


So, a beautifully sunny final day of the year, and Miki and I were up early and off to prepare the Street Gallery for the brave souls out for a stroll on this fine Sunday morning. And great in number they were too. The gallery was busy for most of the day, with the weird and wonderful cross-section of society we have come to know and love during our time there. However, my good early morning mood was shattered by a diabolical discovery. The previous week, I had left my self-designed and illustrated Drain cover in place over the drain in the street. (It helps combat the somewhat less than Twentieth Century Spanish attempts at Sewage Odour control) Of course, I worried little, secure in the knowledge that such a trifling object would not figure high on the list of the vagabonds and thieves of Albir. But I thought wrong. It had been stolen! I was apopleptic with rage! How dare they! I know it was a rather beautiful black and luminous yellow striped object, and I had had the foresight to sign it, but...REALLY! I'm, not vindictive, but I hope the drugs the miscreant who stole it managed to obtain with the (I'm sure not inconsiderable)sum of money from it's sale, were contaminated and that he died a horrible death in some backstreet gutter with a needle in his arm. I can't say fairer than that, can I?
On a lighter, and entirely unconnected note, a couple of old Norwegian ladies spent some time examining the paintings and I engaged them in conversation. I asked where they were from, and they answered, "Oh,the North". I get this often, particularly with Scandinavians. I spent two years living and working in Denmark, Norway Sweden and Finland, and have played in virtually every town in Norway and Denmark you care to name.
Most assume, understandably, that people will only be aware of Oslo, if that.
I coaxed them further.."Bodo" they replied. "Ah! I lived there for a month!" I exclaimed. Scarcely regaining their composure, they asked the only sensible question,"why?" I went on to explain my days there in a band, and that I had also performed for their Queen. They left quite shell-shocked, I think, after inviting me to their home the next time I am there.
In any event, later that day, we found an unlikely ally in the form of a Belgian chap who walks his dog past the Gallery every Sunday. He sympathised greatly with our Drain cover loss, and was extremely vociferous about his hatred of Spanish Sewage and Drainage, he even offered a dubiously festive and quite frankly bonkers form of reprisal...receding down the street, dog in tow, he shouted, "Send the three wise men to the council with 25 bombs!" Yes, I thought. That would do it. would they be made of Gold, Frankincense, or Myrrh?

A Happy Ending: Well, this morning, the first day of 2007, and my beloved drain cover has miraculously reappeared in Miki's computer.(see photo)Apparently they haven't quite succeeded in putting out the fire at the Council House yet.....