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