Google's New Street View.

Google has a new feature on their map page, a "street view", where you can see certain places from the ground in a 360 degree view from the road. It's limited to larger cities at the moment, obviously London, and other places like Leeds. Most of America seems to have it, it's good fun to look around an area from the street, spy on people and see what they were up to when their picture was taken. All the faces and number plates are blurred, unsuprisingly, but you can have a good look in people's gardens and cars!

One of the Google Street View Cars, Smile if you see one!

It'll be good when the majority of places are photographed and uploaded, you could see your journey before you made it, making sure you don't get lost or confused when your satnav dumps you at the post code you entered. 

Our gig on Thursday went really well, small crowd but they loved us, weirdly one of the drunkest blokes there was the nephew of the owner of the Rose and Crown, a pub about 10 feet from the car park of our flat in Godalming, awesome. He said he'd have a word and try to get us to play in there. I think I might go over and have a word anyway, it'd be great to do a gig that close rather than trecking it all the way to Reading, which can be a pain, as Will found out on Thursday! He was lost for a fair few minutes!

Speaking of Reading gigs, we've got a couple lined up, one at Deja Vu again, the date of which hasn't been confirmed yet, and a gig with some indie record company people on the 11th April. That should be amazing, I'll let you know where it is when I know, if we impress there Reading is basically ours! :-D

Have a good week, and enjoy the weather!

Delayed Gig Review.

Sorry this has taken so long, it's just been difficult to get around to it!

The gig on Sunday, in basic terms, went ace. A bit of trouble with my kit (One of my tom mounts managed to thread a screw and it all fell apart) and a bit of rudeness from certain people didn't tarnish it one bit. I was on gear duty, of course, and I managed to fit ALL the gear and a drummer in my car, the drums in the boot and the guitars and amps on the back seat. I changed the front head of my bass drum before we set it up, which may not have been a good idea, it

 sounded awful! I think it was because the skin I used was a batter head, it rang too much and had a horrible tone. I managed to fix it by pushing the towel against it more, and by tightening it. From what I could hear when Will was sound checking. For some reason though, when the next band sound checked it sounded horrible again. I blame the drummer, he criticised my kit when I went up to fix the sound of the bass drum. I didn't much like this and may have been rather rude to him for the rest of the night.

Here's a video of Will sound checking my kit:

The wait from sound check to our actual set was around five hours but it went very quickly, I think the excitement was building, before I knew it the last band was on their last song and we were up next. Awesome. I love that bit! The host introduced us, spoke about our CD and we walked on, big time! I can't wait to be walking on infront of thousands, I won't be happy till that has happened in my life.

We played a blinder of a set! I felt the crowd were hooked from beginning to end, a really well planned set I think. Here's the set list:

You Didn't Let Me Know

Jennifer

Deciduous

I Wouldn't Move To London For You

I Believe In You

Dissever

Feeling Sore

You Break My Heart Everyday

Easily Led

One Up On Me

Walk Home

Walk home was an epic ender again. I love that song. And so did my mates from Five Aces Black apparently. The were asking if it was on the EP after they bought it.... I had to tell them it's not... never mind. I told them it'll be on the next one! 

The highlights for me have to be the new ones, especially Dissever, I managed to keep on track all the way through them! I'm rubbish with new songs. One Up and Walk Home were also great, I love the ending of Walk Home, it's just a big jam for as long as we want, and a great finish!

We got home rather late, of course, and I was dead. For some reason my legs really sodding hurt! It felt like I'd been running for hours! I guess it was all that dancing like an idiot.

Anyway, I'm led to believe that the set was filmed, pretty much in it's entirety. I'm really looking forward to seeing it, I'll post a couple of the best tunes up when I've got them. for now you'll have to do with the pictures. (see more on Facebook).

I tried to set up Geoff's Ludwig kit on Tuesday, with minimal success. I don't have all the hardwear I need, I've got no tom mounts at all, or the legs for the floor tom. This is quite annoying, I was looking forward to playing it, knowing Geoff it will be tuned to perfection. I'd love to record it. I really want a studio, set up all the time so you can just walk in and record what's on your mind. I find all this Guitar Pro writting I do really stagnant, it doesn't inspire me at all. I need to record my tracks properly. I'd be able to do something if I had Cubase but I think Jof's lost it :-o Nevermind, it'll show up. Probably in a CD case at home.

Last minuite reminder, we have a gig tonight at Deja Vu in Reading. I think we're on first but we get a long set if we're popular. I'm looking forward to it. It's just what I need after Sunday's success, a little booster to keep the gig feeling going a little longer! Hopefully with our new EP (www.myspace.com/johnnyarrow) we'll be able to get more gigs.

See you soon :-)

IOW And A Big Day Today!

It was an odd, rare occassion on Friday, Rachel had the day off and I had no plans what so ever. So we decided to go somewhere. I suggested Portsmouth and Gunwarf Quays, the train that passes through Godalming goes straight there so it was nice and easy. During more research of what we could do once we got there gave me the idea of the Isle of Wight. I thought this was a great idea, mainly because it meant we could go over on the hovercraft, ideal! I do love odd transport, and it doesn't get much odder than a skirt full of air.

So we did it, got up nice and early and headed to the station for the 9.34 train to Portsmouth and Southsea. It rained on the way down, which had me worried it was going to be a typical Rach and Simon rain sodden day out. It cleared up in the end, and actually ended up rather warm when we were in the Zoo.

We arrived in Ryde with no idea of what to do, so we picked up some leaflets. I wanted to go on the steam railway, sad I know but I've already expressed my love for transport, however, it was shut until next weekend, annoying! So we took the electric railway to Sandown, where most things seemed to be. This train was the oldest, noisiest, bounciest, funnest way of travelling! It looked like it had been built in pre-WWII times, infact it wouldn't suprise me if it was. It bounced along the track and was much more enjoyable than the modern day train journeys!

Once in Sandown I realised I'd been there before, the road from the station, and the station it's self were very familiar! Obviously memories from childhood holidays. By this time it was lunch time and we were starving! We found a nice cafe on the pier and had fish and chips, yum! The place was empty, obviously because it was a week day in March. It felt like we had the island to our selves! We decided to go to the zoo, just a short walk from where we were, although it was longer than we expected, we had a Mr. Whippey Ice Cream on the way to keep us occupied. The zoo is tiny, but with the biggest cats I've ever seen, the roaring lions were just amazing. We visited the "Jeepers Creepers" section and, because we were the only people in there, one of the keepers got a royal python for us to hold and look at, it was incredible! 

We got home at around 7, just in time for Rachel's TV. It was a brilliant day out and I would recommend it to everyone! We were lucky with the weather!

You may have noticed, if you are a user of Facebook, that I have been madly promoting the Johnny Arrow and the Cheap Day Returns gig tonight at the Wilde Theatre in Bracknell at 7.30.

Well it's no different on this site either! It's our EP launch and a big gig for us, it will be brilliant, you should come and buy a CD and/or a badge. We're donating £1 of each CD sale to Thames Hospicecare in memory of our late, great drummer Geoff. 

I can't wait for this gig. The last time we played at the Wilde Theatre was last year with Geoff on drums and was the best gig we had played up to then, and still the most memorable for me. The stage is huge! Great sound too.

Anyway, I better go and get ready to go to sound check. I've got a whole drum kit to set down, pack into my car along with the amps and guitars and drive it all the way to bracknell for 3.30. Then I've got to set it all up again.... I love this stuff!

See you tonight then hopefully! You'll be missing out if you don't come!

Excitement Building...

Gig on Sunday, Oh yes! I can't wait. The fact it's an EP release just makes it even more exciting!

I hope it's a good turn out, I really want people to see us! To enjoy us! That's what we're all about, a good time. I came home from a busy night at work tonight just rearing to play. I really wanted to play drums to some Soundgarden, shame it's so late, I'll have to save it all up for tomorrow. Sometimes I feel college drains the enjoyment out of playing drums but when I'm playing the stuff I love I realise I still love it just as much as I always have.

I've come up with an idea for a music video for the band, I won't go through it now but I thought it'd be pretty good. I sent it to Jof, never know, it might be out by the end of the year! :-D

So, it would be awesome to see you there on Sunday, and I would really love it if you did come.

Here's the info: Sunday 15th March, The Wilde Theatre, South Hill Park, Bracknell, 8pm till late.

E-mail me for more info, or go to http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=135033950455

:-D

Another Set List!

We went to another Bluetones concert on Friday, by "we" I mean Rachel, Jof, Jenny and me. This time at ULU. Rachel and I went into London early for some dinner before we headed off for the gig. We had to change at Leicester Square anyway so we stopped there and chose a restaurant from the plethora available. We chose the Angus Steak House, lovely food, quite expensive though! 

We headed off for Russel Square for the gig, if you've ever been to Russel Square tube station you'll know that it's a rather deep one. There are a couple of lifts but they were crammed full of commuters so we decided to take the stairs. We didn't know how long this winding staircase was until Rachel's legs were pretty much falling off! (I was fine by the way :-p Gutted Ray!)

I had no idea where we were heading when we got outside but we eventually found the place. It was sold out, by the time the 'Tones were on the place was packed. The last Bluetones gig I went to the tiny place was empty! The support band were pretty interesting, a bit preachy but a good show, appart from the annoying bloke with a load of hands stitched to his jump suit... You had to see it really.

The Bluetones were on form as per usual, it was part of their Expecting To Fly tour, their first album if you're not aware, and if you're not, you should read up and buy their albums! After the interval they played a few B-sides, like the awesome Colorado Beetle, which contains one of my favourite lines of all time: "And when, at last, you sleep my love, I'm gonna smash your lying head"

Awesome. Jof and Jenny unfortunately had to leave a bit early because they were staying at Jenny's mates house. I thought this was a bit odd, I wished they had stayed till the end, Jof would have loved to have seen Devil Behind My Smile. At the end I stayed close to the stage and asked one of the roadies to get be a set list from round the back, behind Ed's drum kit. I have three set lists now from Bluetones concerts, one of which is signed by all four members, ending up on their tour bus was the most amazing expericence! Now of course we've played on the same bill as Mark Morriss, how big time! :-D

Here's a pic of said set list, 6th March 2009, ULU.

I went round to Mum and Dad's Today for Sunday lunch, not the normal roast, to Rachel's horror, but a lovely stew, and some Pear and Cranberry muffins Mum made! Mmmm! I also went round to Elaine's house to pick up Geoff's drum kit. Pretty emotional but I'm so greatful. Geoff's kit is beautiful and rather expensive, such as the DW 9000 double pedal. I can't wait to get the kit set up, i remember it sounding amazing, Geoff kept it tuned imaculate.

Back to college tomorrow, to the pointless lecture with Jim Jamoa in which I never learn anything. I've been using it to write my essay for that subject, a better use of my time I think.

Have a nice week. :-)

Busy Busy Boy!

Good lord what a busy boy I have been today!

I've been busy working my little hands off re-doing the Johnny Arrow MySpace page. I added one of those header thingies, made it all black and white and replaced all the tunes with the 6 brand spanking new ones from our up-coming EP. It's not finished yet, but it's an indication of things to come! We need some more ideas for it.

Check it out at www.myspace.com/johnnyarrow

All that HTML makes me reminicent of Computing lessons at Farnborough 6th.

....Anyway, does anyone know of a cheap site where I can get a custom bass drum skin made up, and not customskins.com, £90 for a skin?! I'm a student!

I've been reading this while working away, it is rather funny, and probably indicative of the style I'm writting in now, I'm quite easily led by the style of the stuff I read. It's the rider for an Iggy and the Stooges gig. Now I hate Iggy Pop, he annoys the hell out of me and his adverts on Sky One, Two and Three make me reach for the switch (or "remote"). But this is funny, written by one of his roadies. Check it out...

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/backstagetour/iggypop/iggypop1.html

Funny Stuff.

Cheap Day's EP launch on the 15th March at the Wilde Theatre in Bracknell. You should come, and you should bring your friends. Honestly, we'll be great. We're having a practice tonight just for it, imagine that!

Any-hoo... Have a nice day!

Healthy Bastard!

I impressed myself today. After a great lesson at Uni I drove home and remembered we needed milk. So I parked up at the flat, got my bike out and cycled! I know what you're thinking; "no way Simon, I bet you just drove there and sat on your arse when you got back!" Well arses to you nay-sayers! I enjoyed it too. I would love to start cycling everyday, I'll have to find a route in the woods and countryside. I could even take my bike to the Devil's Highway, it's great there, loads of space, just a bit shit that you have to pay for parking. I miss the days when I would cycle to Mike's or just go into Tibet woods for a ride. Awesome.

March Already!

I know, I know! It's been a very long time since I updated on here! I just needed something to talk about!

Last weekend was a very eventful one, the Amphlett siblings and respective partners went to Jongulers on Thursday for some comedy, it was ace, I think I should do that kind of thing more often, I need to find some closer ones. 

Friday night Rachel and I went to the University of Reading Student Union to see my mate's band, Five Aces Black. They were brilliant, they've really improved since Farnborough 6th Form, they're tighter and much better at their instruments. Rachel liked them too, she even bought an EP! She really liked the last band, The Quotes, they were good but... I dunno... There's something I don't like. I know the drummer of that band, he sat next to me on Higher Diploma last year, he was really good!

Saturday night I went out in Reading with Jof, Jenny and all their mates. Jof's flat is awesome, really modern. That night was crazy. We started drinking at Jof's and moved on to After Dark. What a great club! Hidden away on a quiet street, makes it seem more special some how. It was a mix between the Agincourt and Plug and Play or something, and as it was 80's night the music was pretty enjoyable. We stayed there until we got kicked out at 3am. An obligatory trip to the kebab shop on the way back to the flat and we continued for a bit at Jof's place. Until people started falling asleep! Next morning I had to move my car from the Oracle, it was good to have a walk in the morning, I think I might try to do it more often. We had a fried breakfast from Spoons and I headed back to Mum and Dad's for Sunday Lunch, awesome! Their new TV is huge! I had great fun plugging my laptop into it and playing games on this massive screen. I was going to go to another gig in Reading on Sunday night but I was too knackered from Saturday's shenanigans!

I think if I had the choice I'd like to move to Reading. It's cheaper than Guildford, it's nicer than Guildford and there's more going on. I could hang out with my brother more often and be closer to home too. Although I do love Godalming, it's nice and quiet and I love the countryside that surrounds it, just a five minute drive and I'm in the middle of nowhere. I love that. Reminds me of "home" I guess.

I've got to get off my arse. I want to get out more, I guess it's hard because of the time of year but I love going out, especially in the country as I've said. I need to get cycling again. I'd love to run a marathon at some point in the next couple of years, that would be such an achievement for me. This new project with Mike is brilliant for me, I've never been in a band where it's basically just what I want to do. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love all the projects I'm involved with but it's nice to see my own grungy ideas being played on proper instruments. It's great to be doing something with my best mate again.

Anyway, I'm gonna go find something to do. I might even go out for a wander, find some field to enjoy like the country boy I am.

Cheers guys, hopefully it won't be as long this time.