You've already heard how my sanity band "Cheese Mechanics" could play delicate, subtle and elegant blues.
That was our Doctor Jeckyll side.
Put us in front of an audience and we were another animal altogether.
Here's a mouldering slice of stinky blue cheese from a typical Cheese Mechanics' gig.The phrases: "Cheese Mechanics' gig" and "shambolic cacophony" were born conjoined twins and this song is no different, with Neil shouting for a key change after the guitar solo and me being the only one to hear him. It takes Steve and Michael a couple of majestically dissonant bars to catch up with things.
That was the peril of never rehearsing anything and making it all up as we went along, but that was also the pure joy of it all.
Right at the end, Steve yells "We're gonna slow it down a little bit." Which was usually his cue for a Ramones-stlye ONETWOTHREEFOUR and the band slamming into something ridiculously fast and loud.
Sure, we were crap; we were shambolic; we were as rackety as an old motorbike engine but we had so much fun. That's what a sanity band is all about.
Neil (seen here in a quieter moment with Old Dive) is singing and blowing harp on this one. Or rather he's having a good old shout.So: Racket number twelve: Cheese Mechanics' cacophonous, lumbering stumble through "Any Way You Want".
18 comments:
Have decided to get up in the middle of the night and try and listen to one of your songs - this silence of on a Thursday is driving me nuts!!!
Nice teeth work in the bottom photo Dive. Great shot - you look so happy..... or high?????
Happy? Moi?
This is a weird photo because Neil and I have the reputation among Norfolk's musicians of being the most grumpy, unnapproachable and snappy pair of curmudgeons in the county.
Which is probably why we get on so well together.
One day, when I get bored with all of this I may well make the whole "Racket" series available to download, Jules.
But then again I may not. I have my grumpy reputation to keep up.
Hee hee.
OH HOW FUN!! Funny how musicians get all concerned about two-bar train wreck, but no one in the audience even notices a problem.
I agree with Jules—you look so happy in that second photo. It's a great one. I think your mother has held that one up for us before.
how delish, sugar, and perfect for this morning! this is the kind of music that makes you smile no matter how low you feel xoxox
groovy baby.. I so love Thursdays. I wanna come and play with "Cheese".
Just what I need to get my butt out of bed this morning! And I have to keep reminding my self that you're grumpy and unapproachable. Coulda fooled me!
Musicians never worry about musical train wrecks, Robyn. The laugh in the second photo was probably caused by Neil and myself making just such a mess.
Savannah: I do hope you never feel low. I'm glad this brought a smile, though.
Prudence: You can come and play with the Cheesies whenever you want, though make it quick because three of us have retired and another one's in a wheelchair.
God, we're old …
Katie: I am such a curmudgeon. Don't believe the smiling face. I have a permanent scowl and I eat small children.
...the most grumpy, un*approachable and snappy pair of curmudgeons in the county... Can keep it coming...
Wonderful, mon vieux.
We all look forward to download day. We will then all be happy and grumpy ...
I'm more Sneezy and Sleepy at the moment, Doc.
Old Dive, you look like you are in heaven! Or Nirvana. Or Limbo. Or la-la land. Or whatever it is you believe in.
Woo and Hoo! That was fun Dive. So love the laugh on your face Mr. Snappy. I love Thursdays. Have I mentioned that?
Katherine: I think I was in Norfolk, a place that's difficult to believe in, sometimes.
Thank you, Mme. A love of Thursdays is actually a notifiable medical condition. You may be able to get treatment.
Now that's what you call an appreciative audience, I don't blame 'em, what a ferocious guitar solo that was - fantastic stuff!
Cheers, my friend. I must confess that it is rather nice when whoever does the recording remembers to put an ambient mic over the audience.
Great post here dive. I just may start taking seriuos as a musician now.
Never take me seriously, Rich!
Well, snap, pop and crackle me. That was FUN.
Hee hee. Thank you, Maria.
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