Rockin’ with the Angels!

It’s taken me a while to get the time to write this, but finally I have time, so here it is. In October a really cool place in phuket town called Rockin’ Angels, which is a blues cafe put together a weekend of jamming and musical sharing in an attempt to raise money to help the victims of the terrible flooding that has hit most of Thailand.

I watched in absolute horror at the pictures I saw on the TV and it hasn’t really got any better a month later, so when Patrick, who runs the Rockin’ Angels cafe and leads the house band said he wanted to do something about it I gave him my support right away, as did loads of others in the Phuket music community. Just two days after Patrick had voiced his intention to organise a charity jam, the first Flood jam night was in full flow and what a success!

It was great to see so many people showing up to pledge their support, both Thai and international musicians and music fans. It was very inspiring and I am proud to have been a part of it. It was also the first time I have played live since I came to Phuket and the first time I’ve played live since about 2007 or something… too long!

I don’t know any cover songs or standards, but I got up to play anyway and winged my way through a few – I remember Superstition being one song I massacred! Although the house band – The Rockin’ Angels Blues Band did a great job of keeping the song in one piece, so my cat-strangling guitar playing didn’t stick out too much!

At the end of the first evening Patrick asked me to come back the following night to play one of my songs. I was really chuffed about that, because I much prefer to play my own songs (I know them better) but only just. I am so unrehearsed that I was actually quite nervous, but the next night I brought in a sheet of paper for the band to see the chord progression of the song and we rocked through "What I Got" from my first album.

The band did a great job. It was the first time I had ever played it live and the first time the band had heard the song, let alone played it. They’re great musicians, just check out the bass player – she’s a natural.

Anyway that was my first foray into live playing in Thailand and I hope to step that up a level, especially with the other project I’m involved with "Dark Fiber". Enjoy the video.

A Fulfilling & Worthwhile Project

On 17th March 2011 I was out of town and received a call from my friend and co-songwriter/producer Gary. Following the disastrous events that had just taken place in Japan, he had been contacted by a committee set up to organize a benefit concert in Phuket to raise funds for the victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

Gary called me to say that he had agreed to be involved in the project and had volunteered me as well, which I am very glad about!

The benefit project is called Love Aid Phuket, a "Live Aid" style concert and a "Band Aid" style charity single put together by the people of Phuket. Since it’s inception there have been numerous twists and turns. The original show was scheduled for 2nd April, but was postponed due to unseasonal extreme weather in Thailand. It has not been reported as much as the event in Japan, but dozens of people in the south of Thailand died in landslides and floods and thousands lost their homes and their livelihoods, so Love Aid Phuket is now aimed at helping those people too.

The new date and venue for the concert is still being confirmed, but in the meantime you can buy the charity single "Shine a Loving Light", recorded on 24th March at Gary’s studio: Legend Music.

You can buy it on CD or download, either directly from the Love Aid Phuket Song Download page or via Bandcamp (player is in the sidebar).

"Shine a Loving Light" was written by Gary and myself, we are very proud of it and I want to thank all the talented and generous people who came along to perform and participate. It was a day I’ll never forget. Thank you all!

I will also be playing at the benefit concert as part of "Dark Fiber", a Disco/Rock band. Check it out Dark Fiber on Facebook.

Enjoy the song and if you can, please buy it. There are a huge amount of people who’ll be eternally grateful to you.

Peace all.