Concert for OGA – Thanks To One And All!
Hello - Overall a great evening of music and spirit! Thanks to everyone who attended and generously supported the evening.
Your support was greatly appreciated - you raised 300,000 Japanese yen (about $ US 3850) for OGA for aid http://www.ogaforaid.org/en/.
Concert For OGA
Belfast
It has been a busy recently with a few acoustic guitar/vocal style gigs with "Deportee" (John Montgomery and Phil Matz) in Naka-Meguro. In addition lots of rehearsal time with the "Cool Hand Band". Very enjoyable to play with great musicians and people: Takashi Nakajima (drums percussion), Robert Collins (keyboards) and Kazuhiko Hotta "Hotta-san" (bass/vocals). Upcoming gigs are: Nishimachi Food Fair - October 9th and COSMOS CAFE in Shibuya - October 10th. Following that I am off to visit Belfast for a week to see my brothers and sisters - it has been a while (almost 5 years) since I last visited. Lots of new songs written since San Francisco. The break in Belfast should give me some breathing space and I hope to see and play some music whilst there.......
November/December brings a few more gigs with Deportee and the Cool Hand Band. I shall be organizing and playing with various musicians, including the Cool Hand Band, in a benefit concert for OGA for Aid: http://www.ogaforaid.org/es/
OGA is an organization supporting earthquake/tsunami relief efforts for the people in Minanisanriku. Come and join us on that evening!
Date: December 2nd (7-10:30 pm)
Venue: CRAWFISH in Akasaka: http://crawfish.jp
Tickets: 3,000 Yen
Some Songs on YouTube
Here are two songs from playing at the King George in Omiya last year - Enjoy!
Mark of Cain:-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFALUrqmTp0
Johnny (You Were True):-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ5-4ClBtag
Summer 2011
Hello - A very busy May, June & July.
June saw a fine second Cool Hand Band performance with Takashi, Hotta-san & Robert Collins in Tokyo.
Most of July was spent in California (San Diego, a very hot day in Palm Springs, LA & San Fransisco). Played lots in SF (check out a live performance of Johnny at the historic Hotel Utah:http://theutah.org/myutah. Played at the majestic sounding St. Lukes Church on Van Ness - a great place for performers - the acoustics and welcoming reception were outstanding. Finished and played "San Franscisco Days" at the unique Melt Cafe in North Beach area). Saw some great singer songwriters, met a lot of funky people and musicians, in particular Byron Rynes who played great all around guitar at the Swig Sunday night blues jam on Geary. Observed a lot - wrote quite a few songs and had much enjoyable reflective time.
Now back in Tokyo - gigs lined up include playing with "Los Gatos" (John Montgomery and Phil Matz) on Sunday, August 14th 6 pm @ the Baird Meguro Taproom and with the Cool Hand Band - Wednesday, August 24th, 8:30 pm @ Cosmos Cafe in Shibuya.
Great to be back in Tokyo!
Spring
A fine acoustic session with Mutiny at O'Carolan's last Friday evening followed by a great band rehearsal with Nakajima-san, Hotta-san, Robert Collins on Saturday past. Thanks guys!
Spring has now arrived in Tokyo. Several Earthquake Relief benefit gigs in the coming month:
1. Thursday, April 21st @ 57 Tokyo (7 - 10:30 pm) with Jon Kirkwood and a variety of musicians - Terry Christian Band debut performance!
2. Saturday, April 30th @ the King George, Omiya (7 to 11:30 pm) with Mark Cratchley & others......
3. Sunday, May 1st @ Yokohama International School with "Two Tone Deluxe"
4. Saturday, May 7th - Chikura Music Festival Acoustic Evening/Session (7 - 10:30 pm)
5. Sunday, May 8th - Chikura Music Festival 3 (12:30 - 4:30 pm) with "Jimi on the Beach" & "Roger Sherrin"
6. Saturday, May 22nd - Red Cross Fundraiser @ Ikebukuro Station, Tokyo (9 am - 5 pm) with Mark Cratchley & others......
Onwards To Spring
Yesterday's Omiya Earthquake fundraising event was a great success with about $3000 being raised and donated to the Japan Red Cross.
Thanks to Mark Cratchley, Morena and all the musicians for their efforts. About 100 copies of "Broken Hearts" were distributed during the event. It was good to jam with Jonathan Bojarzin, from Canada, who in addition to playing a fine solo set of music also, played great harmonica during my second set. Thanks Jon - hopefully we can jam together again!
I hope to during April get back into rehearsal with Kazuhiko Hotta (Bass), Takashi Nakajima (Drums and Percussion) and Robert Collins (Keyboards) soon!
Japan Earthquake Relief Fundraiser 1 – Saturday March 26th (9am to 6pm)
I am performing, along with Mark Cratchley and many other Tokyo based acoustic musicians, at Omiya Station. My first acoustic set is at 13:40 to 14:00 and thereafter sometime again later in the afternoon.
75 "Broken Hearts' CDs will be freely available to the first 75 people who donate anything for the relief efforts during my sets.
In addition Donations for a T-shirt from the Japan Red Cross will also help with the relief efforts: http://www.nisseki-service.com/e-commex/cgi-bin/ex_disp_item_detail/id/5720-0
Slow but Steady
Hello - A very quiet January and February with travel/work getting in the way of rehearsals. March should see renewed activity-watch this space for further news!