Links
Archives
Diary of first time father Alan Beck (previously Gasolineros guitarist)
Monday, April 19, 2004
Boom boom
Back into rehearsal tonight. Thunder outside. Rock within.
Musicchoice FC won the league on Sunday. We'll be taking the trophy on an open-topped bus sometime soon. I think they leave every hour from outside Green Park station.
Back into rehearsal tonight. Thunder outside. Rock within.
Musicchoice FC won the league on Sunday. We'll be taking the trophy on an open-topped bus sometime soon. I think they leave every hour from outside Green Park station.
Thursday, April 15, 2004
Little people, big people
The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain is widely regraded as the finest amateur orchestra in the world, and I'm proud to say that my dad has been coaching the French horn section for nearly 20 years.
Last night at the Barbican they played the overture from Wagner's Flying Dutchman, some Mahler songs called Ruckert-Lieder and Strauss Alpine Symphony and it was thrilling. Tiny people making a very big noise.
By way of contrast, I met an ex-member of the orchestra, Liam Duffy, who'd been seconded to play in the stage band. Liam is now 6' 7" and has a plastic knee-cap due to a spell at Lancashire with Freddie Flintoff and a delivery stride accident that would make Syd Lawrence wince. His party trick with the bottom of a pint glass is a big noise from a very big man. Don't try it.
The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain is widely regraded as the finest amateur orchestra in the world, and I'm proud to say that my dad has been coaching the French horn section for nearly 20 years.
Last night at the Barbican they played the overture from Wagner's Flying Dutchman, some Mahler songs called Ruckert-Lieder and Strauss Alpine Symphony and it was thrilling. Tiny people making a very big noise.
By way of contrast, I met an ex-member of the orchestra, Liam Duffy, who'd been seconded to play in the stage band. Liam is now 6' 7" and has a plastic knee-cap due to a spell at Lancashire with Freddie Flintoff and a delivery stride accident that would make Syd Lawrence wince. His party trick with the bottom of a pint glass is a big noise from a very big man. Don't try it.
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
...and we're back
Apologies to my reader for the break in transmission. Things have been a little hectic with Easter mucking schedules around, and sometimes you just gotta pay the rent.
So what's been going on? Well, Robin Proper-Sheppard's Sophia were superb at the Islington Academy. The rich sound of quality musicians honed by touring - from languid, dreamy beginning to shattering finale, they were never less than compelling.
Ray, it should be said, was utterly compelled and had a good chat about it with the bouncers afterwards. It was a robust, if inconclusive, exchange of views, but I think Wales won on points.
Now we're looking forward to The Garage show, with Mark back from Oz on Thursday, and our Italian film connections are moving apace.
More news soon
Apologies to my reader for the break in transmission. Things have been a little hectic with Easter mucking schedules around, and sometimes you just gotta pay the rent.
So what's been going on? Well, Robin Proper-Sheppard's Sophia were superb at the Islington Academy. The rich sound of quality musicians honed by touring - from languid, dreamy beginning to shattering finale, they were never less than compelling.
Ray, it should be said, was utterly compelled and had a good chat about it with the bouncers afterwards. It was a robust, if inconclusive, exchange of views, but I think Wales won on points.
Now we're looking forward to The Garage show, with Mark back from Oz on Thursday, and our Italian film connections are moving apace.
More news soon
