"That's OK, I suck at life too"

nobody@vox.com(Indieboy) — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:31:01 +0100

Was the response to my chosen gig buddy of last night after I explained why I was an hour late for the Grammatics gig.

I really like this band. Their music is quite quirky and I hear a lot of different influences in there. Production-wise the stuff I've heard is quite 80's/cure-esque I think. Have a look at their page. The Vague Archive and Shadow Committee are great to listen to.

Missed the last tube so went to the chill bar thing around the corner for a while and watched some jazz/triphop thing. Then went for a wander and bought some cider (classy). Eventually went cab hunting which was unsuccessful. But managed to get into an Ibis hotel foyer for half an hour whilst we waited for one. Luckly a nice scottish bloke let us borrow his pass to get through the door. I had to spend half an hour looking like I was sort of queueing to get a room/sort of playing with my phone. My mate drank cider and took advantage of the free internet I think.

I'm off to see Goldheart Assembly at the Troubadour tomorrow as I came across them a while back and have been meaning to see them for a while. What gigs have you got coming up at the mo? I've had a shortage of 'We're playing here' emails. I'm out again tonight and on Satuday too I think. I should start cycling to venues maybe? That could be disasterous though I guess.

I've got a Columbia A&R meeting today where I'm going to really push an act I've mentioned before (but can't mention now ;-) in advance of meeting our Chairman. Got some really good stuff to present, most of which has come through here so I'm hoping to get a second blog signing some time soon. But that may take a bit of time I guess.

The reason I was so late for the gig was I got my new bike yesterday. The sales bloke looks exactly like Eric Idle and sounded like him too. Anyhoo, I got changed into my completly non-waterproof cycyling gear (monkey magic t-shirt and canvas shorts).

CHopper

It's the first time I've had proper gears, the whole shimano thing is at least 10 years old but I'm a bit behind. I was used to gear changes on the cross bar like on my chopper (it was my brother's actually)

I sort of had an idea where to go, so headed over putney bridge for barnes, came through Barnes, got lost and didn't know where I was until I re-appeared pretty much outside my ex's house. Would have been difficult to explain why I was there so I managed to pedal a bit harder and get to the Thames in record time.

Again, I got lost and it was embarrasing as to how many other cyclists zipped past me at high speed. Probably with a snooty expression on their face but I only got to see their lycra-clad arses disappear into the distance. Hmm, I wonder if I should go for the lycra look? :-)

Eventually I had the "Ahh, I'm here" moment, shortly followed by the "Oh f**k, I'm here!!" moment. I'd overshot by a few miles and had a long trek home. 2 hours later I made it. According to tfl's website it should have taken 35 mins. Shite.

Hope all is tranquil and easy to find with you.

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Getting things moving.....

nobody@vox.com(Indieboy) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:07:21 +0000

Jujitsu was excellent last night. Did more excapes from garotting, though now I have rope burns on my wrist and a couple of scratches on my back. Hmmm. Sounds dodgy but was all in the name of getting my blue belt. Bit battered and stiff today though. Decided to join a gym as I'm eating too many pies.

Although we have sent the message out that we don't accept physical submissions, they keep coming in. I asked the postroom to forward them onto me so I can send them a message getting them on here. However, I've not had time for a couple of weeks and now they've mounted up. I've got loads to get through. It's going to take me ages. I'm going to have to do a pile a day or something as there's too much to sort out.

Ok. The media player, the first and easiest idea to start on. The spec I'm working to so far is:

Sidebar embeddable
30 Track Playlist (20 Playlisted 10 Wildcards - changed weekly - best of get added to playlist)
Can Be embedded on other sites
Each track has link to artist's Vox homepage
Artwork window at top
Play/Pause/Skip/Random Play Buttons

That's the spec. I'm going to approach our digital creative dept to start work on it unless there's anything screaming out at you that needs adding?

Artist services - Well the gigs thing could work. After all I've already started working on my own thing. So if that works out maybe it could be taken larger scale? We'll have to see how that works. The distribution thing is a whole other matter which will need a lot of talking about.

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Gigs 31/10/2007

Busy one tonight for Hallowe'en, you doing it in fancy dress?

Worldview is doing an acoustic set @ The Purple Turtle (Oxford) from 6pm

Our friend Susie Wilkins is returning to the Troubadour tonight, though the actual stage time has been sketchy. I'd say get there for 7 and you'll be fine.

Angular Electro Pop outfit Molloy are celebrating Hallowe'en at 93 Feet East which should be a good laugh. 8pm. Be sure stop by Beyond Retro. It's one of my favourite bits of London around there.

Right, I'm going for a quick sit in the carpark whilst it's sunny then onto the mountain of demos, emails, letters etc.

Hope all is well with you.

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A&R, Development and I broke my card dammit

nobody@vox.com(Indieboy) — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 11:52:47 +0100

Just sent off my new A&R list to the labels, will get onto them this afternoon and hassle them to see what they think. I treat the lists as almost my own personal best-of's. I will start publishing them once this platform has been running a year I think. I'm in with RCA tomorrow so will be able to show off my wares there aswell.

I was meant to go to the Fox Cub's gig last night but as it took me about an hour and a half to get home to drop my stuff off, and I couldn't get any cash out because of this...

23102007102.jpg

..I couldn't make it. Damn. I had to scrounge change from around my room to make it to work this morning.

It's such a hassle but it will probably stop me spending for a while which isn't a bad thing.

Anyhow. I've forwarded on the results from the discussions happening around the development of the A&R platform to my boss. I also mentioned to Ged the recent activity and he was pleased to hear of the input and has been having a look around I believe.

Rather than put a poll up, which is what I thought about doing in the first place. I'm simply going to investigate every option to see how feasable it is first then see if I'm in a position to implement them. If it's something fairly easy (like the new media player) then we might aswell just do it. The more complicated ideas, like co-branded nationwide gigs, may be a little harder to acheive. But I will have a look nonetheless.

Big apologies to the Fox Cubs, it all got a bit much once I got home. Will have to catch the next one. Did anyone go to the Claire Toomey gig? I'm curious to see what she is like live too.

Tonight Shortwave Fade are playing at the Charlotte in Leicester. They've been in the community a while and are worth checking out. I really like their track Stay As You Are, take a listen if you get time.

Hope all is well with you, keep on adding the gigs and as soon as I've glued my card back together I'll start getting out and about again.

Hope all is well with you.

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Music Industry Debate and Gracie Jiu-Jutsu

nobody@vox.com(Indieboy) — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 12:46:18 +0100

Roger Gracie2

I'm in a lot of pain today. Everytime I bend my right arm it feels like someone sticks a screwdriver in it. Rubbish.

I went to the Graice Barra Jiu-Jutsu Academy last night. It's run by Roger Gracie, 3 time world heavyweight ADCC (amongst others) champion and he beat Ron Waterman in MMA who was about twice his build. Really good demostration of technique over a massively powerful wrestler who never lost to a submission hold before or since.

It was a great place, really amazing. The students are of a really high calibre. Some of which had moved from other parts of Europe just to train there. Meeting Roger was quite impressive too. He's HUGE, I felt like some kind of midget stood near him.

BodogFIGHT: Roger Gracie vs Ron "H20" Waterman

It was wierd trying to find the place because after a while I recognised exactly where I was. The academy is next to Eastcote studios where my old band recorded it's first music video. Wierd. Even stranger, on leaving the academy and ran into an ex from 3 years ago who I met in High Wycome. Bizarre coincidence as her yoga class was next door. I dunno, what are the odds?

Anyway, the columbiademos debate is well underway. I asked a couple of people I know through here to have a look and comment as their input has been really good and their background invaluable. You can't guess or research people's feelings, you have to ask them. As a result more attention is being drawn to the ideas being generated. Big thanks to those who've contributed so far!!

It's Friday!! I just realised, fantastic. An excuse for a pub lunch. Today is going to be a long one. As is this evening as I think I've agreed to go to about three things, but it was weeks ago when I was asked, so I never remember. Must use that diary of mine.

Oh yes, I have to say, the hug a sound engineer idea was a complete flop. You're rubbish, officially. The CD's that I've had have just gone over to Blue Peter so there. However, if I get some interesting picture that I can publish I'm sure I can get something together to send out. I'll give you a couple of weeks. ;-) It'll be a bunch of albums and a massive poster or something.

I'm off to get some algepan for my arm-barred elbow and prepare for the pub. Then it's just an afternoon of sat in my sunny office listening to new submissions and working on the new A&R list for the labels. Today is a good day.

Hope all is well with you.

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I'm just a bum really

nobody@vox.com(Indieboy) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 17:57:21 +0100

All a bit strange... well not really but I thought I should start the post with an air of enigma.

Friday was quite slow until the afternoon. Marc_A&R_Scout introduced me to a chap from a management company who was dropping by to say hello and show his wears I guess. He took an interest in the way we handle submissions so I suggested he set up a page and stick his acts on there as they sounded quite good.

That ran quite late but managed to catch up with a friend for a late lunch which was really good. A wonderful conclusion to the week :-). Collected my stuff from the office and went home to listen to some submissions. Some of which are really good that I've contacted, some of which were frickin terrible.

Got restless around 9.30 so headed up to Camden to see Chalky and ran into CaptainZappa and had a chat about this n that which was nice. Then I headed over to some wierd bar next to Mornington Crescent to catch up with a friend. She was at her mate's leaving do though, so I must have looked quite random as the only person there who didn't work with the company. So I had the whole party crasher thing going on. Sat in a corner, trying to look cool on my own when my mate vanished from time to time.

Sunday was a continuation on the theme. Although I did cock-all through the day except listen to music very loud and vaccum, I went out on the night to meet my good friend Tony. Saw the rugby in a Irish pub and headed down to 'The Queen Boudica' in Angel.

Been there before for a gig once. A strange place as the clientelle tend to be a bit odd. When we got there one half of the pub was taken over by a wedding reception. Certainly an interesting choice of venue. Anyhoot, by the end of the evening I was stood in the wedding side, tucking into a rather delicious buffet with piles of pancetta in each hand (I'm not exaggerating, I looked gross). In fact, it was quite reminiscent of that buffet scene with Dan Aykroyd from Trading Places.

Just got back from Columbia's A&R meeting, met the new head today and he seems a really good chap, very receptive to a broad range of music. Today we listened to electro, two different songwriters and a couple of really decent bands. Looking forward to presenting more stuff to him.

Anyhoot, sorry for the late post. I even got a text to chase me up which was funny.

Still haven't seen any hugged sound engineers.

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Sort of robbed at knifepoint, though asleep

nobody@vox.com(Indieboy) — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 11:45:20 +0100

Grrrrr. Had a rant yesterday and must have one today. Though it will be my last rant for a while. I prefer happy posts.

Got my mobile stolen on the nightbus. In a bizarre clothing assault.

DSC00268.JPG

Whilst asleep on the bus (yes I know, stupid thing to let happen) some nobhead cut a hole in my jeans, through the pocket lining and then robbed my phone. They spent the evening calling international numbers and I didn't cancel the handset until this morning. Crap. £200 I would have liked to spend on something else.

It was kinda ironic that I was on the way home from Jujitsu. I like to feel prepared and such but I never thought about defence from attack whilst asleep. I will have to invent the 'sleeping drunkard' style for those who are verging on narcoleptic like myself.

Anyway, class was really good fun, lots of new people to play with.

Musically, there's a gig on tonight that I wanted to see of that Jono chap I was telling you about. Will tell you more about him as I find out, he's set up a blog and will let you know the address once I find it.

Got a really excellent Friday planned and already looking forward to it. There are a few good gigs coming up and maybe will have another bbq if the weather is good. Listening to some really good submissions this morning aswell, don't know why but quality has stepped up a notch over the past couple of weeks again. I've sent a list around RCA and Columbia of some tracks that jumped out for me. I hope to follow these up next week.

So, did anyone else have an interesting evening last night? Hopefully not as expensive as mine, if it was I'm hoping it was worth it. ;-)

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I'm having a nice afternoon

nobody@vox.com(Indieboy) — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 17:57:49 +0100

Not got that much to write, but I'm feeling quite chilled out, the sun is shining and I just had a great lunch. This is the first good afternoon I've had in a while.

New guy started today and seems like a good chap. Knows what he's talking about and got really good experience. Might see if he'd be into the blogging as he'd knock out some interesting posts I think.

Plus, I think I'm happy that there's actually someone in my office. I work in a large open plan space. No one else in it bar one person at the far side of the room. Plus I sit facing a wall. Rubbish. Started feeling like I'd been a naughty boy or something.

I must've look quite miserable after reading joamo's post, as I instill guilt into passers by it seems. Be sure to visit her and leave a comment of how distraught I've been that she hasn't been blogging. ;-)

Just had a quick A&R meeting with Columbia, it's RCA's turn tomorrow. Forwarded on my wears just now and will demo the stuff tomorrow aswell. I'm starting to feel a bit like a door to door salesman with a suitcase of artists.

Got a lot of homework to do tonight, no going out for me plus I've managed to spend myself through my overdraft and don't get paid till the end of the month, damn. It was fun though.....

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Howdy doody,

nobody@vox.com(Indieboy) — Fri, 11 May 2007 12:17:43 +0100

Hello,

What's happening out there then? What are you all up to? I need DETAILS.

Off to visit the folks this weekend. Just got my train ticket. Except when they're packed, or I'm sat next to a nobhead, I really enjoy train journey's. It gives me the opportunity for a bit of reading, listening to albums I haven't heard in a while, bit of sketching. Anything like that really. Plus I'm always going to somewhere I really want to be when I head out by train. Manchester, Brighton, Nottingham (bear with me, it's who's there rather than the place) and such. Reading Michael Palin's diary at the mo. Excellent stuff.

Be sure to check out the RCA and Columbia label blogs today. There are a few artists featured on there. In fact, I should feature some here. So here we go:

The Beat Poets - Got in touch with me a while back and they are very busy boys. Have a listen to Post Pop War, has a teeth-grinding pogo anthemic quality. :-)

Lightningtype - Met one of them in a toilet at a gig. Wasn't pushing my wares, but whilst having a pee I was whinging about the band that was on, the state of the music industry, how Lion bars have gone crap/smaller and how I wanted to move to Canada. One of lightningtypes chaps contributed to my rant and subsquently got in touch. Luckily their music is pretty damn good. Listen to Pressure, Message Waiting and Poor You. Any band that has a lyric like "I like you like cannibals love people" is great in my book

Hansolo - Not a fan of the name, maybe I'm a starwars purist and want to hear refences in their music. Dispite the lack of Yoda quotes, I Could Be Wrong is a really decent track. I hear a Robert Smith quality to his voice which is probably what initally caught my ear.

So there you go, what you all listening to? This time tomorrow I will be stuffing my face full of bacon sarnies freshly prepared by my mum and heading off to Afflecks Palace. Will share the experience no doubt.

Keep the stuff coming in, it's getting really good. PM's an comments welcome as usual.x

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Happy Chappy...

nobody@vox.com(Indieboy) — Wed, 02 May 2007 12:21:17 +0100

And hungover. :-(

Was meant to do jujitsu last night and ended up in the pub. It's my own fault, all self inflicted. I don't endorse binge-drinking in any way (but it seemed like a good idea at the time). I have learned from my experience, never buy a big round of drinks as that's how many you're going to consume before the evenings over.

Anyhow, work. Thanks to those who noticed my obscure film reference on my shirt from the new pic. I'm a big ND fan.

The Map has worked really well I think. Some great pics have ended up on there too. Keep up the good work on that front. If you want to see the pics just click on one as they appear. Or use the side bar thing. It's good fun, though I have proven I am a bit of a nerd.

My Columbia meeting is today, I'm looknig forward to hearing what the other chaps have got hold of. I will be making my presentations from the online community also. Some great stuff has been coming through.

I'm also going to see a couple of acts from the community perform live soon aswell. I will post the content I get from the gig as I get it.

If I get chance this afternoon, I will post an update as to what's going on with everything. Not enough time again, it would be easier if I didn't have to sleep.

PS. if you hear a great track from another artist and it really floats your boat, blog about them and maybe they'll do vice versa.

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Alright... I'll get on with it

nobody@vox.com(Indieboy) — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 14:15:56 +0100

Gosh, I couldn't get my post up quick enough today, I've had complaints on the lack of update (thanks Nic, here it is :-)

I can't describe how much I've got to do. I thought it was tough back when I worked in artist royalties, but at least I knew everything I needed to do in advance back then!

OK, first thing, CHECK OUT THE AUDIO PLAYER BABY! :-)

I've been working with Vox on ways to make listening to the music and getting to know the bands much easier. Well here it is. It's very basic, but does the job nicely. There's no recommendations, ratings or anything like that. But you can go to each tracks' artist blog via the link arrow. These players are on both label blogs too. Oh yes....

I was meant to be meeting with Columbia today to present my findings from the community and bring them up to speed on what's happening with all this generally. Guess I will have to do that next week, I will let you know how it goes.

Ok, some bands/artists to listen to.....

Have a listen to Herdwhite's track All Out Agression, as you can tell from the title it's hardly a poodle pop ballad. I like the production on this and what he's done with the vocal.

Next is the Real Be Easys' track Life With My Knife. A tight outfit serving up a healthy portion a heavier rock sound sitting on top of some stompy alt. funk beats. Can hear a strong influence from the Chili P's on this one.

Last for this post is The Chemistry Set, have a listen to their stuff which is a nice mix with a good sound.

I'd be interested to hear what you have to say about the above. I will be posting more about the acts in the communities. These chaps are what I've been listening to over the past couple of days. More will follow.

Hope all is good with you.

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