zo-graphy

postscript

2011-02-14T23:11:00.001Z

future~pizza is real.

Here lies the body of po)))nies in webspace.

Thanks.

'where I'm calling from'

2010-10-21T10:30:00.007+01:00

Zo-graphy is on hiatus - indefinitely.

Feel free to email: fiercecapricorn@googlemail.com

In the meantime, the person responsible for ponies recommends the following:

http://postmodemism.blogspot.com/

http://innegative.wordpress.com/

www.myspace.com/badsuburbannightmare

www.myspace.com/newhawks

www.myspace.com/theexistenceofharveylord

Catch you on the flipside.

x

Pet Hates

2010-09-09T16:55:00.004+01:00

Today's chief ball chafer - people trying to sell me the untrue as true. Plain fuck them and theirs.

Let me stand with the man who can put both his feet in the fire.

I hit my head today.

Alic and I came down together on a hold and my temporal bone went right into her forehead.

Alic is fine. Right now I'm concussed and nauseous. Disinhibited (see above). Awaiting sinister results.

55% convinced that the fates are punishing me for my complete lack of empathy this past week - I've made bad jokes about the wrong people.

Who decides to write should have empathy at their disposal. Without it they can forget it. Do something else.

If you're reading this, you'd be better off listening to this person here:

http://www.myspace.com/badsuburbannightmare

Imagining Community

2010-09-06T10:10:00.004+01:00

After the SilentMark post this happened:

http://virtual-lancaster.blogspot.com/2010/08/flying-with-new-hawks-interview-with.html

... be the man you want to meet, always.

Wavves

2010-08-22T13:10:00.004+01:00

Played the Music Spot Friday. S. Hudson Tallulah? launch.

Wasn't there.

Can't be in it all the time, and when you're not you learn to ride it

like waves and Wavves.

- I would have/should have been a surfer. Nothin' else.

Incidentally, CP asked me what turned me onto Wavves. I didn't have an answer for him then but I do now:

Nathan Williams has trouble in his voice - like Rivers Cuomo.

Both melted down early on. Maybe it's a California thing?

These dope smoking kids are apparently hot shit right now says a cruel and irresponsible NME

(what is this, pot shots from the land of silence and darkness!?).

...

RS came out and told me he thought the music and poetry came together well.

It was nice to hear him say it.

... in the silence you don't know, ...

2010-08-04T11:08:00.006+01:00

July of this year, radio personality and comic SilentMark and I discussed some aspects of his career in a back and forth of scatty emails.

The results have since been published here: http://virtual-lancaster.blogspot.com/2010/08/silentmark-returns-to-diversity-fm.html

Friends of Ponies will know that Mark - along with Stuart Anthony - took a chance on the first Ponies recordings by playing them to Lancaster, Morecambe and weblistners via community radio stronghold Diversity103.5FM/www.diversityfm.co.uk.

Mark's also found himself in the curious predicament of being probably the best thing to listen to on breakfast radio. Or he was, before the schedule changed. If anyone has any suggestions as to what's worth listening to in his absence, please feel free to comment/get in touch.

'On the superiority of Anglo-American Literature'

2010-07-14T15:28:00.003+01:00

I'm changing this since I'm sick of looking at last January's trans-anhedoniac missive.

Harvey Pekar died. One of the big guys:

http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/harvey_pekar_1939_2010/

I sent a message to Daniel and May just now to check if they know.

When I have something to say I'll say it, otherwise it's just me and the terminal staring each other down.

Tom

Mean Season

2010-01-05T09:49:00.007Z

'When you're hot you shoot the works and when you're cold, lay off for a while'

Matt Dillon said that in Drugstore Cowboy. He did a fine job in that picture. In Rumble Fish too he manages to upstage Mickey Rourke. To Die For, Singles.

Sexy, wiley, clumsy, vulnerable, comic, resourceful ...

2009 started out good and for I while there I was shooting the works. Up end of May I like to think ponies got a run of good outings - "right there" performances warts and all. High points were the Book Room in Lancaster and Mojo's, Blackpool - both of these late Spring.

After Mojo's I got in a road accident and came back not too shabby, but if I'm honest that's probably the last time in recent memory I can think that I've enjoyed peddling this stuff.

Friends and well wishers often ask of ponies whether it's something I shouldn't be pushing to the next level. Whetever that may be is often some vague, shapeless intimation and probably involves some closer draw towards a professionalism that in any case is at odds with the project's aims and its origins.

I need to be clear, for myself, much of the time that the ability to sing and to channel this stuff seems closely linked to a kind of thriving, personally. It's up there at the highest point of need and follows an experience of connectedness, self awareness and fulfiling engagement across many a domain. I suppose the point I'm trying to make is that like much of anything, any kind of creative activity ebbs and flows and needs the right circumstances in order to flourish.

I've hit a black patch before, where nothing got through. Lasted about two or three years with no song or singing - or much else, from a 'creative' perspective. At the start of 2007 I had to learn to play the guitar all over again. In the process I got reminded that you can't be hot all the time, or cold neither.

'When you're hot you shoot the works and when you're cold, lay off for a while'.

Knowing how to roll with your punches seems to me a useful technique for staying involved in meaningful work.

So here's to Matt Dillon and

laying off for a while.

Tom

if you were wonderin if we wanted you to, we weren't wanting you to ...

2009-11-29T11:53:00.005Z

Barnbox show last nite at the dirty Dukes (sic).

Lookout summer!/If i don't.../Begin again, again/Who do you love? (Mcdaniel '56)/Some love's a ladder/Thieves.

Curlin' in for a while.

See you around.

zzzzz.

Ponty

2009-11-10T16:50:00.013Z

(J.G. Posada ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Guadalupe_Posada)

Lunching with H today - pretty sublime company. Easy flow conversation. Coffee (not so sublime) and danish (easy flow of caramel).

H tells me that he sees a tranformation in me when ponies is performed.

I hadn't thought about it too much.

He's a musician/player/writer etc. ... no wait, wait. He plays music, he writes,

as I do.

Only his stuff is more congruent I think. Sings in his own voice, in the literal and figural.

I wonder if in this transformative aspect, if it's a fair appraial (which on reflection I guess it probably is); I lose some sense of the congruence I've been looking for?

As a lank and younger pup, I figured to really succeed with a performance you had to empty out all the gimmicks. Kurt Cobain and Berthold Brecht.

But you know, Unplugged in New York is pretty damned 'gimmick'!

Like Dylan says man, everything and the piano man is a gimmick.

When a Proust writes his Albertine, it's in the present tense. Has to be. To put the reader right there with her.

A gimmick.

Good writing for me usually sees a writer/speaker reflecting their experiences acutely and completely.

To do this well maybies demands some transparency:

'To feel everything in every way,
To live everything from all sides,
To be the same thing in all ways
Possibly at the same time,
To realize in oneself all humanity at all moments
In one scattered, extravagant, complete and aloof moment' (de Campos - probably)?

Gilbert Hernandez can do it. Shakespeare too, maybies Joyce?

Contrary to this maybe certain aspects of a gimmick - persona perhaps, amongst other things, can rush in a fuck with the sale?

Kerouac and Tom Waits, for me, run the risk of falling foul of idiom. Where the trace is lost to some kinda rhetoric and

I'm not at the donut shop no-more, I'm at Tom Waits' donut shop. Everybody in there has his face, his voice and his gait.

One voice is easy. To be able to reflect many is the rub.

Maybies what I'm looking to describe here is something more like a becoming.

Becoming something other than you are ...

Outside of this I'm reading Roberto Bolano for the first time. It's good, good prose.

Bolano says of himself, 'my only country is my two children and perhaps, though in second place, some moments, streets, faces or books that live in me'.

For gimmick's sake, I guess transformation, I'd hope, would maybies illuminate similar private spaces, traces. Alone and far.

Going from some acute particular to the universal?

Jesus Mentioned

2009-11-05T17:57:00.008Z

(Ciseri's this))))

Hey,

November is upon us. Choppy out there today.

Since it is, why not warm your cockles come the 28th as Barnbox (www.barnbox.co.uk)present their annual feast to the great Pontius Pilate and his loving wife Cassandra?

Coptic's Delight will feature belting escapist-pop's finest Uncle Jeff alongside a venerable lord of hosts, Kr!ss Foster ...

Alright, well not really but hey, both these stella acts'll be throwing a colourful bash and I'll be there with ponies en tow. should anyone get rooty for the old world religions (mostly pre-Christian).

This show takes place in the newly furbished 'Round', round the back of the Dukes cinema (www.dukes-lancaster.org), Lancaster and will probably cost you about the price of ten and a half cigarettes to get in.

Probably.

After the big Christian blow out at the back of the year (Christmas), this ponies project will return on January 15th to celebrate 28 years of life on earth (in your face Cobain!) via a closing slot at Lancaster's Spotlight club (www.spotlightlancaster.co.uk). That's a ten thirty showtime if, like me, you respect precision.

Thanks to Rob Daniels (www.myspace.com/eftm) (recording) and T. Clutterbuck (www.myspace.com/homemadelemonademusic) (mastering); a ponies cdr can be made available in time for XXXmas shipping!

The pomp heady 'Thief in Fire' throws in eight tracks recorded live in Lancaster during the short hot Summer of 2009. Not to mention novel audience contrubutions from some of its music community's finest and fyne-est!

If Dylan's Christmas album is one snowball too many, why not heat things up with a bit of rough?

Drop a line, not a dime etc. to fiercecapricorn@googlemail.com

That's the best update I got.

Confidence blows hot and cold. But mostly cold this time of year.

There's a dozen, maybe more songs that needs to be cleaned up a bit before they can walk out on their own.

Shows 'are coming slow but at least slow motion better than no' etc.

Feel free to be in touch

All the Best

Tom

tuna on white/guns all nite

2009-10-03T12:24:00.006+01:00

Last night in Lancaster - Storey Creative Industries Centre (!?)

Friends and colleagues from http://www.diversityfm.co.uk/ layed on 'Fresh Jam'.

ponies songs performed:

pony in the prize

If I don't ...

Lookout! Summer

Begin again, again

Hammer

With much thanks to Chris, Kara and the ever impressive Mark R.

Best Wishes to all at diversityfm.

[and thanks to Frances for the pictures]

Tom

Ma Better Blues

2009-09-30T21:12:00.003+01:00

As promised, Tristan Clutterbuck (Homemade Lemonade) and I went up to The Dukes Theatre & Cinema, Moor Lane Lancaster to work out 49 minutes (clock 'em) of free improv c/o solo guitar and Max/MSP for their "Chill Out Tuesdays" event.

With thanks to friends and well wishers who stuck it out with us.

I had a pretty good time.

Listening to the playback this afternoon, seems we got some interesting tones and passages. Tristan's clearing up the same right now and as and when he gets done I'll be sure to amend this post with a link to a full recording of the event.

Thanks to Andrew Carruthers for the invite and Kriss for the guitar loan.

Regards

Tom

Coup Devil

2009-09-29T11:51:00.006+01:00

Last Saunday in Lancaster saw a celebration of local songwriting via Gegson Open Mic.

A full review and subsequent discussion can be found here: http://thelunecyreview.wordpress.com/2009/09/28/lancaster-songwriters-night-at-the-gregson/

I couldn't be there. Like Woodstock, and Not The Lancaster Jazz Festival - but I'd like to give thanks for Moll Baxter, Idiot Johnston and me old mates Kriss Foster, Tristan Clutterbuck and Robin Williams for their unsolicited representation.

Like Ablomb says, 'my heart burst' when I heard about it.

In other news - Tristan and I are getting togther tonight for a set of improvised music at the Dukes Theatre and Cinema, Moor Lane, Lancaster.

Last time I took ponies up there made for a bad fit.

For anybody unfamiliar with 'Chill Out Tuesdays' events, once a month the Dukes set up a corner of the bar for performers to lull the pre-show crowd into submission. Last December I reckon I was less than congruent bashing out the usual grief and grime (see image above) in a relaxed, festive atomosphere. I grit my teeth, took the money and ran. It didn't very feel good to do it, but I did it anyway.

Earlier this year, when curator Andy Carruthers invited ponies back it felt like an opportunity to try another way around.

Tonight's set up is gonna see Tristan utilising Max/MSP software and myself plunking solo guitar. No songs, no voices. In the spirit of the late Derek Bailey's play, we'll see what happens.

http://www.dukes-lancaster.org/music/chill-out-tuesdays

Black And Not Black

2009-09-26T12:23:00.004+01:00

Totally Wired/Storey Creative Industries Centre, Lancaster last Saturday 19th Sept.

Bramhall - solo acoustic/voice and mouth organ.

Lookout! Summer

Dear Paul

Strive!

Thieves

Illustration by Stuart Anthony.

R & R

2009-09-08T17:42:00.005+01:00

Radio yesterday - guest appearances via "Silent" Mark Read and Reza "The Real Alternative" Mills.

Bookends: hacked out a shoddy 'Lookout Summer!' and tapered off with a tapering 'Thieves'.

Feel free to email for mp3s of the same (fiercecapricorn@googlemail.com).

Dare to listen again Sunday 13th Sept. 21:00 www.diversityfm.co.uk to hear the above plus much pontificatin' on Dan Haywood's New Hawks, Silver Jews, Fugazi, Lou Reed et al.

Thanks to Mark, Reza and diversityfm. Congratulations on two solid years work on air and wider stream'.

Best wishes.

Hummer

2009-08-01T18:48:00.003+01:00

Yorkshire House, Lancaster 31/07/09:

... s'not often I'll use the words 'dog' and 'toss' together to describe something I'm on with, but on this occasion ... ;-)

Rough time spent selling bad merchandise:

pony in the prize
If I don't
Begin again, again
What you can ...
Poison River
Need to/Feel you
Thieves
Little Light / Crocodile Rock (John/Taupin, 1972)

All the same, congratulations to Uncle Jeff on their success with the 'Sun Might Shine Bright' launch. You played up a hailstorm, what!?

Regards

Tom

Lancaster August 1st 2009.

Sometimes They Come Back (Again)

2009-07-04T21:59:00.004+01:00

Richard Davis

Thursday 2nd was a hot one. Work was tough but fair and I played the Homemade Lemonade cd launch at Lancaster's Yorkshire House.

All things considered, I think it went pretty well.

I give my arm six out of ten, an A plus for effort and maybe my voice held out until the last couple of songs? Some new number crept in and all parts of ponies2 were shifted.

So more to follow, I guess?

When I got done The Existence of Harvey Lord were there to cool me down. Niamh Starky was sorely missed though.

Please check Homemade Lemonade's Myspace profile (www.myspace.com/homemadelemonademusic) to learn all about them and how you can pick up their epic disc.

Lune nights are being increasingly blessed by The Maginificent James Knight and his fine host and poetry. Be sure to check him out (http://www.myspace.com/animalwrites)

Thanks to Robin, Tristan and Kev;

Simon, Erin, David, Robert and Kate for driving up

and to Richard 'Totally Wired' Davis for taking some nice pictures (see above).

Fondest Regards

Tom

ponies songs performed:

pony in the prize

If I don't

Start of Love/Wild Is The Wind (Tiomkin & Washington, 1957)

Now He's Gone (sort of)

Thieves

What You Can

Need to/feel you

There's a house

Triumph (in two parts)

2009-05-21T12:16:00.001+01:00

ACT ONE: in which the hero reports on successful voyage

Last weekend Andy Craig and I took the ponies project down to Mojo’s café & restaurant, Blackpool for BPM’s (www.bpmcic.org) Recovery Room event, and - in spite of early roughage c/o my sunken icebreaker - enjoyed two thirty minute performances spanning new and familiar fare (plus a duet on Andy’s That Summer…):

Pony in the prize
Hammer
If I don’t …
Now he’s gone …
Thieves

Going home (Bramhall/Craig)
Down to the river (arr. Craig)
That summer of love (Craig)
What you can …
Begin again, again
Orphee

Circulo Maladetti’s Benjamin Hesford was kind enough to chip in on percussion too - so mad love to Ben.

Both Mojo’s and Recovery Room comes well recommended - check the link above.

Some fond observations from this guy: mix-tape swap box, informal/intimate performance set up; fine and reasonably priced coffee and plenty of air and light.

So great thanks to Buzz Bury, John Tree and colleagues.

Best Wishes with all operations at BPM present and future.

ACT TWO: something choppy

On the way to work Monday morning I took a fall on my motorcycle. Wet road, poor judgment; an accident.

Fortunately not a collision, and I thank the saintliness in JB for her kindness in stopping to assist me by the road.

I’m typing this with one hand. The other is in cast. I didn’t get a clear diagnosis of either sprain or fracture, though my trapezoid (apparently) is worth another look - watch this space.

I’ll try not to catastrophise …

I don’t know what this means for me, for working life and ponies alike beyond the immediate time. I’m looking at a two week minimum in plaster alone.

However, concerned parties should be assured the lord came down harder on the bike - and even there, the venerable techs at Buzzinmotos (www.buzzinmotos.com) concede the damage to be “not that bad”.

To occupy myself with anything beyond the present isn’t likely to do me any favours. My efforts right now are being channeled into good faith and recovery.

Feel free to stay in touch.

Your pal,
Tom (- taking ‘Dylanesque’ to a whole new level) Bramhall

Lancaster, May 20th 2009

With Friends, again

2009-05-09T13:14:00.005+01:00

Robyn Williams

As alluded to in a previous blogspiele, much of the material recorded 10th January 2009 had been intended for a split with Durham's Discount Hourse Records (http://discounthorserecords.googlepages.com/).

At present it's looking as though this project may be set back slightly due to respective needs/circumstances.

In the meantime, a second full length ponies cdr should be ready by the close of the month, compiling Janurary sessions and live performances at Lancaster's Gregson Centre from September 2008.

The disc will also feature a new recording of With Friends - wrestled back from its void and given new life in a full band rendition with members of Home Made Lemonade (see Recommended Readring) and the venerable Jo Gillot (www.myspace.com/jogillot) contributing graciously, kindly to the ponies project across April of this year.

The picture up top sees the addition of drums to the mixture - thanks Robyn. ;)

As and when I have this to pass about, I'll be sure to shout about it.

Next week sees the ponies project hitting up a rescheduled date for Blackpool Promoting Music (http://www.bpmcic.org/) with contributions from The Charming Drunk, this much upstairs at Mojo's Restaurant, Back Church Street, Blackpool. This is a free, all ages event with performances from 14:00.

Best Wishes

Tom,

Lancaster, UK.

dan le noir du temps

2009-05-09T13:01:00.004+01:00

Richard Davis

Monday 27th April saw Totally Wired launching their wares at the Book Room shop (http://the-bookroom.co.uk/default.aspx) on Meeting House Lane, Lancaster. This ponies project were represented alongside Moll Baxter, Stephen Hudson, Jo Gillot & Mikey Kenney. A review of the evening and subsequent discussion can be found here:

http://thelunecyreview.wordpress.com/ - you may need to scroll down a piece.

Totally Wired can be reached here: http://www.totallywired.org.uk/

where there's info on the organisation itself, links to all the featured artists/performers, pitures and a video of Mr Kenney delivering his goods on the night.

Patchwork Mill videotaped the wholenightsworth of performance, so look out for that shortly.

Songs as performed for ponies:

Saturday Night at the Bookstore [Bit] (Dicks, 1997)

Now He's Gone ...

Thieves

Dicks (1997) 1980 - 1986. Alternative Tentacles. CD

'No Depression In Heaven'

2009-03-23T13:56:00.004Z

Community radio friendly unit shifter

Previous blogspiele’s mentioned the remains of 44 Ponies/ponies (2008) cd-rs having shifted themselves at the Yorkshire House, Lancaster March 12th. This was the second run of an eleven track comp which followed on from the lovely, haptic handmades assembled by May Simargool & Chris Wilson for LS6’s To the Drifters, Summer 2008.

After this, ‘there shall be no more’.

Since much has moved on and developed since last year, and after two cd-r runs; in addition to featured songs appearing on various hand distributed samplers, the ‘hammer plus three’ cd-r, community radio and Myspace rotation alike, it feels like a sound time to let go of those songs/recordings and ease into new spaces.

So with thanks to anyone who took one of those home. Your support, as ever, is invaluable.

Muley Graves

On January 10th 2009, this ponies project pulled up to the Jack Hylton Suite at Lancaster University to record a crop of newer songs ready for a forthcoming cassette split for Durham based Discount Horse Records (http://www.discounthorse.tk/)

The project is set to feature Sal’s Paradise, Short Term Effect and Winona Forever and will include three new/ish compositions from camp ponies as recorded by Homemade Lemonade’s (www.myspace.com/homemadelemonademusic) Tristan Clutterbuck & Robin Williams.

In other news

In other news: there’s some new dates been added to the performance roster (http://www.myspace.com/poniesetc) including a revised date for Blackpool Promoting Music.

Proud to announce anyone who hasn’t tuned in yet that Diversity 103.5FM’s ‘Health & Wellbeing Hour’ is now broadcasting Fridays at 11am & 6pm, with Alex Addams and myself covering mental health & wellbeing matters. Outside of the Lancaster & Morecambe area interested folks can stream from www.diversityfm.co.uk

Jo Gillot has self released an excellent 6 track EP and found herself well received on both national and local radio (www.myspace.com/jogillot).

This season saw two new zine & review spaces casting a hand over Lune and surrounding estuaries - Hot Hat Handclaps (www.myspace.com/lahandclaps) and The Lunecy Review, who provided written commentary on recent Ponies et al adventure (http://www.thelunecyreview.wordpress.com/).

Cosmic sound explorer Dan Hrekow is in the process of self releasing a first serving of 'heartbreakcore' via his Bad Suburban Nightmare outfit, ponies will certainly be looking forward to hearing the same develop in 2009 (www.myspace.com/badsuburbannightmare).

The Charming Drunk featuring Andy Craig will be in full effect at Blackpool’s West Coast Rock Café on April 24th and finally,

former KOTM (http://www.myspace.com/kotmpauls) member Ben Hesford is now lending his ore and ears to the deep weight of Blackpool’s Circolo Maledetti (www.myspace.com/builtoftheatom)

Both of which is recommended reading from this camp.

So, with Spring rites & Best Wishes

(and Happy Birthday SJAD x)

Tom
Lancaster, March 20th 2009.

they shoot horses don't they?

2009-03-02T19:32:00.004Z

A brief missive, sadly - personal commitments have seen this ponies project take the slack this past month.

Last Friday (27th Feb) saw an appearance at Richard Twine's L.A.W.M as scheduled.

songs performed:

If I don't

Pony in the Prize

Hammer

Shame

Begin again, again

Orphee

Show Me Love

With thanks to Wes Martin for the image above.

'her mouth is full of honey'

2009-02-01T13:46:00.003Z

- the good and well versed mister Reza Mills of Diversityfm's 'The Real Alternative' (http://www.myspace.com/therealalternativeshow) has been kind enough to blog a review from last week's Britannia 101 show with Andy Craig & the Moll Baxter Band. Interested parties can refer to

http://powerpopfanatic.blogspot.com/2009/01/ponies.html

to read Reza's blog, or else visit

http://www.diversityfm.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=15&Itemid=51

for more reviews and to get a look around the Diversity FM website.
With muchos thanks to Reza, Diversity and all their fines wares.
x

'Her voice is full of money'

2009-01-27T17:51:00.002Z

(In non-ponies- related news) - for folk yet to become aware of the fine work Lancaster & Morecambe's Diversity 103.5 FM are doing, please visit:

www.diversityfm.co.uk

Likewise please feel free to tune in to the station this Friday 30th January, and Fridays to come for the stations health and wellbeing programming; where Alex Addams and I will be exploring a range of topics relevant to the same.

This Friday's topic will be 'Hearing Voices' - and features interviews with Asylum Associates/Hearing Voices and Paranoia network speaker Peter Bullimore, some words from Lancaster's v. own voices group in addition to a health diary extract from fellow volunteer Kate Thompson.

There's also fine music from Phoenix, Dan Haywood's New Hawks and the Silver Jews all inclusive.

That's Fridays at 11:00am and repeated at 18:00. You can listen on FM at 103.5 within Lancaster/Morecambe or else via www.diversityfm.co.uk

Feel, as the saying goes, free ...

Best Wishes

x

birdland on the wire

2009-01-25T14:26:00.002Z

This ponies project got a mention 'On The Wire' last night:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p001zrkr/On_The_Wire_24_01_2009/

in a summary of all things happening via Blackpool's Mojo Restaurant and the fine work of one Blackpool Promoting Music (BPM):

http://www.bpmcic.org/interested parties feel free to note up-coming ponies performance for the same Sunday 15th February, Mojo Restaurant, Back Church St. FY1 1HA :

http://www.blackpool-stay.co.uk/restaurants_in_blackpool/120/Mojo-Restaurant.html

w. thanks to Buzz and colleagues

and Best Wishes

x

hoarse platitudes

2009-01-24T13:00:00.004Z

2009's live circuit began Thursday last w. Andy Craig, Moll Baxter Band and this Ponies project return'd to Britannia 101, Ullswater Rd. Lancaster. Fine performances from both the Moll Baxter band and esteemed colleague Andy Craig. I enjoyed myself throughout:

If I don't...
Pony in the Prize
Hammer
Where's the friend?
Shame
Begin again, again
Orphee
Show me love

Ponies had the pleasure of performing/recording at the Jack Hylton Room of Lancaster University Jan 10th 2009 c/o v. talented engineers/Homemade Lemonade: Tris Clutterbuck and Robin Williams. From several songs culled three to appear on a projected split with Michael Bridgewater's Short Term Effect and Winona Forever for North Eastern independents Discount Horse.

At present songs to include :

Begin again, again

Where's the friend? and

Show me love

www.myspace.com/discounthorse

www.myspace.com/winonaforeverever

www.myspace.com/shorttermeffectmusic

much happening in the world, and the world of Ponies presently, please feel free to keep checking the boards.

w. thanks again to Tristan & Robin, to Amy Holmes & colleagues at Britannia 101.

Best Wishes

Tom

2008-12-07T15:16:00.002Z

Pack Horse (Leeds) show last Friday. Songs performed:

(What You Can)

Hammer

If I don't ...

Pony in the Prize

Amazing Journey (Townsend, 1969)/Some O' These Days

Begin again, again

Orphee

There is a House/Mo' Better Blues (Lee, 1990)

Show Me Love

More parts of ponies/ponies (2008) CD-Rs were shifted. Little Hero mastered a beautiful scene and I got introduced to some very talented young men and women (see links below). Strong performances all around.

So with loving thanks to all parts Simargool and Wilson. Thanks too to Alex for his soundwork, and all providing Gold Star support throughout.

Moll Baxter and I will be hitting up the Dukes, Moor Lane, Lancaster this Tuesday night (09/12) from six, for "after-work" blood sweat and tears. Bring loved ones if you've got ones'.

http://www.myspace.com/salsparadisemusic

http://www.myspace.com/fortymillionmexicans

tough nuts

2008-11-06T14:10:00.002Z

Was mighty pleased to have played with The Adventures of Loki last Saturday (Novmeber 1st), though sadly distracted throughout; spent the duration of thirty minutes pushing bad merchandise. Hope to be shooting straight again by December 5th when Pete 'Little Hero' Rawlinson and I go Live at Leeds. So with thanks again to the Lokis, and to Kev Baxter.

Yorkshire House, Lancaster 01/11/08

Doin' Lord

Hammer

Pony in the Prize

If I don't...

'begin again, again'

(I will) Sea Change

Orphee

red & green

2008-11-03T18:24:00.002Z

Britannia 101/Lancaster 23/10/08:

Doin’ Lord

Hammer

Pony in the Prize

If I don’t

w/o name (‘begin again, again’)

Orphee

Going Home (Bramhall/Craig)

To Get to You (Bramhall/Craig/Scott)

Down to the River (Craig/Powers arrang.)

Show Me Love

Devil in her eyes (Bramhall/Craig)

There is a House/Mo’ Better Blues (Lee)

Moll played an excellent rent from her own songbook. Andy was on fine form too.

With thanks to Amy Holmes and colleagues. And to Dan H for tech-support at a late hour. The three of us will be back at the Britannia early next year.

In the meantime I’ll be helping Andy out at a show of his own next Thursday 6^th November at the Oxford, South Blackpool. Moll and I have a Dukes Playhouse performance coming up, details to follow on that one.

(Community) Radio Friendly Unit Shifter

2008-10-16T13:45:00.004+01:00

Some ten parts of the 44 ponies/ponies (2008) full lengths got shifted at last Monday’s L.A.W.M performance.

Tips for future veterans - a point of donation display is unlikely to hold sway against the pros. ;-)

Misty’s Big Adventure upstaged me slightly with their full deck.

Needless to say, street team applicants and interested distros should email the address to the left. Alternatively, you can contact tothedrifters@hotmail.com to get a mail out copy of the comp.

To evaluate some of the strengths and shortcomings of cd-r culture, why not take in:

http://rawkblog.blogspot.com/2006/05/ambient-series-ilyas-ahmed.html

http://www.echocurio.com/Exhibit-BottlingSmoke.html

http://www.digitalisindustries.com/about.html

http://www.incusrecords.force9.co.uk/

- 'root for the underdog, no matter who they are'

VOID (for its purpose)

2008-10-16T13:37:00.004+01:00

L.A.W.M Monday last went okay; some highs and lows. Gave one of the newer compositions its first airing and slipped Bill Lee's (1990) 'Mo’ Better Blues' into ‘There is a house’, slowing it down a pace. My hands locked on some high end picking and I missed a couple changes. All things considered though, it was fair affair.

High praise/validation came by way of an old friend from the old country (Blackpool, Lancs - for the fan-club), who drew attention to the space and silence in these new arrangements.

Oddsocks were in full reprise the night after a five months hiatus - much to crowd approval. Best wishes in Finland guys. You played great.

With thanks again to messers Twine and Baxter, and those kind folk what voted ponies onto the L.A.W.M board last year.

Moll Baxter and I will be playing Britannia 101 next Thursday 23rd - the venerable Andy Craig in attendance also.

Take Care

Yorkshire House, Lancaster 13/10/08:

Pony in the prize
Hammer
Devil in her eyes (Bramhall/Craig)
If I don’t …
‘Begin again, again’/‘you are loved’
Orphee
There is a house/Mo’ Better Blues (Lee)

Say It (over and over and over and over and over and over again)

2008-10-12T15:08:00.006+01:00

- spare us the c(l)utter!

As modelled above, there's some 44 cd-r edition ponies/ponies (2008) ready and waiting for those interested. Payment shall be by donation. This collection compiles ... Drifters session recorded March of this year (see blog 17/08/08), and three taped recordings from 2003-2007. Lyrics and linear notes provided. For now, I expect the best means of handling the same would be to catch this ponies project tomorrow night at Richard Twine's L.A.W.M affair, or else throughout the coming months;

pleased to announce forthcomin' performances with The Adventures of Loki Saturday November 1th and Moll Baxter next Thursday 23rd. Details to the left (to the left).

In other news, Mr. Richard Turner's Opposite of Robot night is now back in full effect over Lancaster - interested parties to the weblink below.

Full progress report to follow.

Best Wishes

http://www.lawm.co.uk/

http://www.myspace.com/molliebaxter

http://www.myspace.com/oppositeofrobot

http://www.the-adventures-of-loki.org/

Biz Marquis

2008-09-27T12:37:00.002+01:00

Carabas fundraiser last Wednesday 24th at Gregson Inst. Lancaster. With thanks to Bethany, Mike and Jack for their hard work and hospitality. Set list for the event features below. Moll Baxter was in attendance that night and played a fine set from her newest latest ep 'Whispers in the Well' - would recommend anybody catch her live show if and when they can. To learn more about Moll visit: http://www.myspace.com/molliebaxter

ponies - 24th Septmeber 2008

Pony in the Prize
If I don't
Orphee.

x

If You Knew/Let It Be Me

2008-09-23T10:33:00.003+01:00

Further to the last post, a recording of 'If I don't' is now up and running on the Myspace player (http://www.myspace.com/poniesetc). With thanks again to 2/3 of The Low Countries. Dawish and Celan displaced respectively. These line breaks may need to be revised. Shall see. Would be glad to read any thoughts on the same.

If I don't/

If I don't
Have you
What is in my life? And

If I don't
Have you
Who's gon' turn the knife
Inside? And

Who's gon' paint the night
Beside me?

And do I know
What trouble is and
What it's good for
In my mind?

When I think it doubles
I am not mine:

One is always lighter
Than the other
For to carry them

When it's over dead
And done

Become
Become become;

The world is gone
I must carry you

- push your hands up the wall!

I'll do anything
Right now

What begins with a call
Ends in no reply

Darhma & Gregson

2008-09-12T22:00:00.006+01:00

Last Sunday 7th I put in an appearance at the Gregson Open Mic slot, on Moor Lane, Lancaster. A recording of 'Orphee' from the night is now up and playing via their eventspace (http://www.myspace.com/gregsonopenmic). Anyone in the area with any interest is sure to find a welcome atmosphere and terrific sound care of Nigel and Wes (The Low Countries). With thanks to them both.

x

'the forces are displayed'

2008-08-31T12:41:00.020+01:00

A press pack is in assembly with a view to making Trojan this ponies for live music events in Lancashire and beyond. Please enjoy this bitmap study for the same. I'm aiming to distribute the finished piece with the recent spat of sampler cd-rs. The colour scheme owes much to Nickelodeon circa 1993. Autumn de Wilde is also well implicated. DS and DB deserve photo credit. The typeface is May Simargool's.

"That's progress" reporting this Sunday, August 31st 2008;

Best Wishes

lion rock

2008-08-31T12:20:00.005+01:00

(this ponies project) was in Full Effect last night at the Golden Lion, Lancaster opening for Uncle Jeff. A. J. Craig was in attendance and lent his art to three of eight numbers performed - two writ. in collaboration and the other a Craig/Powers arrangement on traditional theme. I whet my end at electric guitar playing for the first in five years and debuted 'if i don't...' complete with pomp and dischord.

Uncle Jeff played two halfs of their fine US/UK indie-rock synthesis (- feeling appropriated? ;-)) to much enjoyment. Thanks to Stephen and colleagues for the third invite of the season. Yr support is most appreciated.

Folk interested can catch the next ponies performance at Richard Twine's L.A.W.M event taking place 13th October.

Information on Richard's L.A.W.M events can be found @ http://www.lancs.ac.uk/staff/twine/lawm/

Uncle Jeff can be heard here: http://83.98.28.10/music/myband/unclejeff

tript'

2008-08-29T11:07:00.004+01:00

Kate 'Anarkeeks' Doran was kind enough to send these pictures from the These Unites States/Ampersands show back in July. More thanks is due to Benjamin J for his admin duties.

Kate has her own artspace at: http://www.myspace.com/kikitats

rain dogs

2008-08-28T11:26:00.003+01:00

As predicted. Kriss Foster & Stephen Hudson's La La Lancaster festival came off a treat last Monday 25th in spite of the Gods. I spent the day damp and chill under much rainfall. When I got home I had to dry my Martin save it swell. The show itself was no less than a pleasure.

Thanks to Mia Bleach for the picture.

And to everyone that took part.

x

ferrogosto)))))

2008-08-24T20:25:00.006+01:00

Tomorrow's Bank Holiday Monday should see an appearance at the live music event taking place in Lancaster's Williamson Park.

In addition to ponies there's likely to be performances from organisers Stephen Hudson & Kriss Foster, One Chip Potato, Ruby in the Dust, Moll Baxter et al.

This event is free to the public and gets started at 14:00.

I'll be closing this post with some best wishes for my brother - nineteen years young today on God's great Earth. Up above is his picture taken several Augusts past

- with love.

best laid plans

2008-08-20T19:22:00.003+01:00

As the world’s turned again I’m feeling ready to draw a line under the past year and start thinking about how best to approach the next batch of songs. Hoping to draw on the strengths from the first recordings, whilst sharpening some interests that perhaps didn’t come across as well as I'd like. I’ve gotten more interested in recording the spaces a performer enters into. Silence integral.

Several tape sketches have been assembled! and working titles from August 2008 are:

Where’s the friend?

If I don’t …

Show Me Love

w/o. name #1 (‘to show the lord a chair’)

w/o. name #2 (‘what without ...’)

w/o. name #3 (‘you are loved’)

FU (when nothing else will do)

Cy Tx (revisited)

Tx (after Fog)

Faithful too

Plans to begin arranging next slew of songs with guitar/percussion etc. come Autumn.

Ponies, 'Ponies' etc.

2008-08-17T12:15:00.021+01:00

ponies first collection of songs was self titled and resourced by Chris Wilson for To The Drifters http://www.tothedrifters.com/. Written and recorded for the most part between April 2007 and March 2008, this collection features contributions from Lancaster entertainer Kriss Foster and Canada's Nikol Harber and showcases an interest in folk, blues and gospel idioms; together with confessional approaches fast becoming a staple for the ponies' output.This past month, Chris has teamed up with Leeds based May Simargool and put together a clump of handmade (see picture above) CD-R packages complete with lyric sheet and linear notes. You can reach Chris via his website or else by emailing tothedrifters@hotmail.com regarding those.