Hi folks, John here, hope you are all well and in good mood… Some of us Trashcans were involved in a project called ‘Generation X’ recently. Here is an article with details

Still time to make music

Wednesday 25 June 2008 There are still a few free spaces for any budding 14-18 year-old musicians who want to take part in a project to rework hits from some of Scotland’s greatest bands. The three-day course at East Kilbride Arts Centre is run by musician in residence Brian Docherty who over the two years has been working with groups of young people to work on tracks donated to project Generation X by artists including Belle and Sebastian, Del Amitri, Shirley Manson, King Creosote, The Bluebells, Malcolm Middleton, The Delgados, The Skids, Teenage Fanclub and the Trashcan Sinatras with Eddi Reader and re- record them at Chem 19 Studios. This course will involve the reworking of the last of ten tracks on this exciting music and new media project. Musical knowledge and ability is desirable but not essential. If you play an instrument, feel free to bring it along! To book your place on the course which runs from Tuesday 1 - Thursday 3 July (10am-2.30pm) please contact the East Kilbride Arts Centre on 01355 261000. It includes a half hour lunch break so please bring a packed lunch or make alternative arrangements. Our involvement was recording an acoustic version of ‘Weightlifting’ at Chem 19 studios. Stephen on percussion and glockenspiel, me on acoustic guitars, Frank on bass and vocals and Eddi on heavenly harmonies… all went well and a great day was had. The tapes of our recording would then be passed on to ‘the kids’ for their input… I’m looking forward to hearing the results… We were all interviewed for a DVD that will be released with the eventual album… the interview was based on our school experiences of music and the writing process/themes behind the song. I will let you know when we hear about release dates.

Hi all,

I would like to draw your attention to our ‘fan cover’ section. You can find it via the multimedia link on the front page. They are all interesting in various ways… I’m sure you will find something you like/hate. My favorites, at the moment, are Eddi Readers sublime “Wild Mountainside” , “Iceberg” by Beckalina and a recently received gem by The Goodbye Notes from Australia.  A waltz time rendition of “Weightlifting” that is just beautiful. I love the instrumentation… double bass, brushes on the drums, acoustic guitars and a wonderful singer (and an appearance by a Gecko on the first chorus that is strangely fitting). check it out and let me know what you think…

love,

John

Hi all…We are days away from leaving Marthas Vineyard and finishing our recording. Our days and nights here have been filled with beautiful sunrises, blood red moons,  ocean views, crystal clear night skies, snowstorms, wild deer and rabbits… and our songs floating through the air … songs that appeared here, songs born at home, songs that became clearer here… the silence and beautiful isolation of this place has been great for the general muse.Last night, during singing breaks, we moongazed with the telescope, watched the fishing boat lights out near the horizon, and eventually watched the sun rise as we harmonised…. All the while sipping on hot cocktails… and thus..

My recipe for this blog is for an “Engine”. A Marthas Vineyard cocktail created by Rudyard Lee Cullers in early 2008. Take a half glass of hot herbal lemon tea (remove teabag), add half spoon of honey, add some apple and pear slices soaked overnight in Quantreau, a decent measure of Canadian Whisky.  Stir and sip slowly through the night, singing until the sunrises over the Atlantic……….. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

John x

Well…. here we are in 2008… so glad you made it. How was our 2007 ? Low key is one way to put it. After the previous few years of touring the U.S.A., Australia, Japan, Ireland and the U.K. with our ‘Weightlifting’ masterpiece, we needed some time at home to recharge the batteries, rejoin our families and get back to normality. Most of the year was spent at home in Scotland. Writing was done, one new song was released on the “Ballads Of The Book” album, a concert was broadcast on Australian TV, and three shows were played. Those are the bare facts… between the lines our musical journey continued apace in a small rehearsal room behind the Bay Horse Tavern in Shawlands, Glasgow. We grew into a six piece band. Davy Hughes could not join the fold due to family/work commitments. Grant Wilson ( A friend from Kilmarnock who has played with us at various times over the years when Davy could not make it ) picked up the bass. Stevie Mulhearn (A friend from Troon who also played with us a few times in the past) joined us on the keyboards.

The room was made comfortable with coffee machine, ashtrays, kettle, cups and atmospheric lighting. We would congregate most weeks and jam the latest songs that were written or just jam whatever riff/chords/feel that the mood brought. Some days were hungover, some days were paraletic, some days were straight… the music was always evocative. We had decided to change our working habits and being ‘in the moment’ seemed to be the answer. No slaving over guitar parts or working out exact arrangements of songs. The groove became king. If the ‘feel’ was good then we were happy boys.

After a Spring and Summer of this lovely behaviour, we decided to leave the room, (Autumn had kicked in and dampness arrived), and head to New York to record. Paul got married and the party of the season was had in the Hunting Lodge, Kilmarnock….just across the road from our old Shabby Road studios. Pauls best man was Jody Stoddart, and old Kilmarnock friend and the finest guitar slinger in the west. Paul had the inspired idea of asking him to join us on our New York recording sessions. So six became seven and the air fares increased… but so did the good times. We finished 2007 in the best of moods…. 3 weeks in Glasgows finest son… New York City. The results of our trip will be released sometime in 2008. It is our finest record so far… the songs are top of the range, the band is rockin’ …. 2008 looks like it will be ours. All the best to you and yours, we shall see you on the road somewhere soon.

Love,

John xxxxxxx

We are off to New York City soon to record our next album. In tribute to the city and to set the mood for our visit, here are some of my favourite New York inspired moments

The Strokes/Jack White “New York City Cops”

“Taxi” title sequence

The Sex Pistols “New York”

A scene from the fantastic “Fisher King”

Georgie Gershwin and Woody Allen

Stephen Fretwell “New York”

Chelsea Hotel Documentary

The big fella.

“Kojak” title sequence

“On The Town”

My favourite NY subway song, ” The Ride ” by Joan As Policewoman.

We will be recording our very own New York inspired song in these upcoming sessions. All our magical songs cannot wait to escape into the world via the beautiful city. Wish us luck, friends.

John

Here are some of my current favorite links…I’ll add more as we go along…

* Australia’s only unusualist (shadow artist)
* Chili Gonzalez with Feist - groovy dancing and costume change half way though
* Sinatra and Jobim
* Dylan (”Restless Farewell”) - from Frank Sinatra’s 80th birthday show. This song requested by Sinatra… Beautiful lyric.
* Dylan in Japan - with orchestra singing “A Hard Rain’s A Gonna Fall”
* singing site - put in some text and it will be sung back to you
* Ooh la la, Scotland v France
* Full Larry Sanders seasons here
* Kanye West’s “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” - hilarious video with Will Oldham
* the Clash - live 1980 “White Man In Hammersmith Palais

Enjoy…let me know what you think.