The White Noise Festival is an event organised by the guys at Maybeshewill and the Firebug. It features some simply awesome bands with a mix of post-rocky and musically unusual performances. It’s surely Leicester’s music forte.

Like I’ve already said, the highlight for me were Herra. I’ve been following this band since they we’re in college, and their brief split last year broke my heart.

You have to check them out- Here’s a link to their MySpace. I truly recommend you turn up to one of their shows, because my shit copy-writing skills can’t do such an epic performance justice.

There were other very worthy bands playing too, but these guys scratch my musical back just the way I like it.

I reinforced a lesson I’d learnt after last Thursday’s Brick gig – always be prepared.

My main points are strings. If you go on with month old strings, no matter how often you tune during a gig, they’ll sound flat. I’ve also gigged with strings fresh out from the packet. This has a similar effect though, as the strings need to be a little warn to your guitar first :P

So I recommend re-stringing on the rehearsal before the gig.

A few more points too, always bring spares! A spare guitar or just strings, a spare power adapter if you’re using effects, or spare batteries if you’d prefer.

On Thursday I wanted to gig my new Tele (blog post to follow :)). I guess I saw the gig as quite a casual affair. This is such a bad mistake to make. You should always treat every gig as if it’s your last, if not for your own enjoyment. I didn’t take any spares, as you may have guessed!

Half-way through the set, during our song “Friend or Foe”, I went to smash into a pounding loud chorus. I’d hit the effect pedal, and I picked on the low D-string (we play drop-tuned). Nothing happened! The string had bust.

So I had to go through the rest of the set, playing one of my favorate songs “Seven Questions” sans D-string. Such a shame.

On the plus side I’ve always wanted to state to someone

Yeah, when I snap a string, I keep going because I can compensate

but the truth of the matter is, you can’t for a low-D string. I was always inspired from a performace Gary Moore did with Phil Lynnott. He bust his string and kept going strong. However, I’m not playing blues solos, I needed that extra string!

So lesson learnt (again!) – awlays be prepared! :)

Once we got there and met the promoter things started to calm down. It was a casual event and the atmosphere was chilled – very pleasent after a busy week at work. Our nerves soon calmed down.

We didn’t know what to expect. I knew it was our fisrt gig in a while and I wouldn’t want to experiment infront of a larger crowd but because of the bar upstairs it seemed empty before we got on. We were waiting for a crowd to build but didn’t see one.

After the first song that all changed. People want to see what goes down when they hear things. It’s quite inspiring when this happens :)

It felt good to get on that stage again. This is the set we played:

• Friend or foe
• Confused
• Romeo
• Seven questions
• Perfect cure

It was the first time I got to use my new kit live on stage. It’s amazing beyond words. I didn’t hit all the sweet spots with the setting but I’ve got a much better idea of what to do next time and that was my aim.

We were a bit jumpy at first but soon picked up amazing pace. All I could think of afterwards was how much we’re gonna rock next time :P

I’ll get some photos up when I can find them.

On Thursday 24th September my flagship band will make a comeback. King Brick have a gig scheduled and it’s going to rock!

It’s been one long break and if I’m honest I’m shitting myself about it. I haven’t performed with this band in ages. We’re a little under-rehearsed, but that’s to be expected with us. It seems we don’t put the work in unless we have to. Now we’ve got this gig it forces us to get good quick.

The show is at The Sumo Bar in Leicester’s Braunstone Gate. I’ve always wanted to play there :)

It’s a fiver with a flyer. If anyone reading this is able to, please come down! It’s going to be one hell of a good night.

Mid-January, I managed to catch a Laney VC30 112 valve amp just before they near-doubled in price, from around £250 to £400. I was later told by the guy that sold it to me online that mine was the last of the stock at that price. I had a bit of trouble paying, as I wasn’t going to bother with the amp till my next pay packet. But in light of the price hike I thought I better.

Earlier in the month I decided to get a load of Boss pedals, thanks to eBay. I’ve got the TU-2 tuner, the DS-1 distortion, the OD-3 overdrive and the MT-2 metal. I also got the pedal board that goes with them, the BCB-60. It’s a £100 peice of wood. But it saves me hassle. Last year I aquired a PW-10 wah-wah from a mate at music college too, so I’ve got a good line of effects to get going. However, they are all essentially overdrive/distortion pedals…

I’m still new to the gear, and I’m still using my PRS SE. The VC30 is a subtle amp. It doesn’t make vulgar and nasty noises like the Spider. I’m still tweaking the stomps, deciding if I should use the loop or just plug it straight in etc.

Actually using the gear is amazing. I’ve had the amp on two, nearly three. The metal zone pedal gives so much boost to the dynamics with a rediculously stupid level of control. I like the DS-1 but I wish it would boost more. The OD-3 is pure bliss. The only issue I have is how noisy these things are. If you whacked a few of the pedals on, especially with the PW-10 behind them, the hum is silly. My only complaint though.

The pedals allow more for musical expression, rather than just instantly pleasing. I’m sure it will take me a while to get right and I still need to save up for a delay. I’m also considering a looper, but I’m not too keen. Just because I’m the only guitarist in the band and I want a bit of rhythm and lead. We’ll see…

Next in line is a Korg Electribe and this sexy Fender Tele 72 Deluxe. I’d probably get it in sunburst. Why go humbucker? No idea. It’s all I know. I’d be scared to change my instrument so dramatically.

Still, look how sexy this stuff is…

19 January 2009
I took to the M69 and the M6 to visit Birmingham for the second time. This time I had Luke with me, who was less good at navigating. Still, thanks to Google maps I knew exactly where I was going. Even if I did get in the wrong lane and headed the wrong way, I knew where I was.

Luke really isn’t into metal. He hates the stuff. I’m not a zealot, but I like any music that makes me feel good. I was in a shouty, screamy, angry mood, so I couldn’t wait to get the shit kicked out of me in a mosh pit. First impressions were okay. It was in the balcony area, presumably the gig hadn’t sold that well. The support came on, right out of Wales, and they were good. The Haunted were well recieved. I felt bad because I’m not a fan of the band or the heavy music that I couldn’t appreciate how good it was. Still, the best was to come.

All That Remains rocked. They opened with “The Air That I Breathe”, one of my favorite ATR tracks. I dived in to get closer. Because the place wasn’t that busy, it wasn’t hard to do. I was kinda mocking the whole metal crew for being kids and geeks that didn’t wash or cut their hair. I told Luke it was an image, and that they’re just a bunch of wusses. After the song ended I headed back again, because the smell was starting to make me hurl. At that point the next song kicked off and the audience went mental. I laughed. I’m glad they felt the need to stampede and kick the shit out of each other.

They saved the best till last. They played “Two Weeks” off their new ablum that I wasn’t that aware of. It was amazing. It’s a melodic tune with an amazing pulse. Even Luke aproved. They then opened the riff to “This Calling” and everyone loved it. Amazing band.

Links
All That Remains blog post on Birmingham Live! 19/01/2009
All That Remains photos for Birmingham Live! 19/01/2009

The band playing on Thursday was Paspatou. I know Graham Dale from the band because he taught me vocals and musicianship at college. The guy’s a genius – and the this was clear in the perfomance. World fusion it was. I know it well…

So I kinda twisted my existing plans to see if we could make it. We headed down The Musician and the gig was amazing. Jesse Wright (also an ex-college mate) and her farther supported the band. Her dad plays spanish classical guitar really well. They were also mind-blowing.

It was also nice to redescover The Musician. The setting was really chilled – maybe a little bit too romantic for my taste! Overall, Ali and myself were glad we bothered to make our way into town for it – even if the trek from the car to the pub was a little unnecessary! (Sorry Ali!)

We’re definatley making a return to this place soon.

8th December 2008 Me and Ali headed down the M69 to Brum – my first time driving on a motorway. And what a way to loose my motorway virginity – seeing the legendary Slipknot.

Needless to say the gig was amazing. 15,000 people Corey said. The set was truly amazing – the show they put on was equal to the awesome back-log of tunes they played.

We were seated because it was a last-minute decision to go – but even on my arse it was truly intense. These guys didn’t get their epic reputation for no reason!

Despite my Grandmother’s concern we were perfectly fine out there in the big wide world. Didn’t make one single wrong turn – thanks to Ali I have to say!