A Vivid Experience

Just got back from another great day at Vivid Studios in Southampton where we’re recording our second album Ghosts of Wasted Chances . It’s going really well. We’re all excited at the way the songs are shaping up and we’re just enjoying being there together. We’re a sad lot – we all hang around drinking coffee and generally chilling as each band member does their ‘bit’! I’m the worst – I just stay there pretending to be useful, making endless cups of tea. I tell you, Justin’s lucky he doesn’t do b and b. He’d never get rid of us! First up was Keith – Mr Rock Solid drummer – putting down the rhythm. We all played live but only Keith’s drums were recorded. Then Alan did all his acoustic guitar parts; then Simon put down all the double-bass; then Alan came back and put down all his lead guitar and twiddly bits; next up is me to do the vocals tomorrow (it’s an early night for me then!); Steve does all his parts on Thursday; day off Friday (and anyway we’re gigging at The Manor Arms that night) ; then Claire and Penny do all their parts Saturday and Sunday. Then we take it away; have a listen; mix it; and decide on the running order. I think that’s going to be the hardest thing of all. Half way through the process and we are so pleased with the way it’s going. But then, we knew it was going to be alright because Justin’s studio is painted lilac and purple! (Claire took this as a positive sign.State of Undress regulars know the significance of this!)You know, some days I sit here in front of the computer with the telephone next to me wondering what I can do next to take this band and its music to another level; how I can make ‘something happen’; and some days I wonder what we’ve achieved so far. And then, we go into the studio, all seven of us, and I realise just how far our sound and our writing has come in the last year or so since we did our first showcase gig back in January 2004. We just can’t wait to get the finished product in our hands now. And Al’s working on some great artwork for the cover and sleeve notes which will tie in with the revamped web site. The new site should be up and running at the beginning of March and the album should be ready by the beginning of April.
Now back to the gigs … although we’re concentrating on the album at the moment, we’ve some cracking gigs coming up; our debut at The Railway Inn, Winchester on 30th March; back at Talking Heads on 7th April not to mention our Tsunami gig on 6th May. In fact, we bumped into The Delays outside Vivid Studios – they rehearse there and recorded their first single there – and so I cornered them to invite them to headline. Now, they’re due out on tour supporting the Manic Street Preachers but there’s an outside chance they could squeeze us in. They’re just checking the schedule. But come on, they’d have heaps more fun playing with us and if it comes to a choice between the Millennium Stadium and Hoburne Caravan Park, well, hey, no contest…! Anyway, we’re living in hope….!
Lastly, we’re making our debut north of Watford in June when we’ve been invited to play at The Horse and Groom Pub, Elm Street in Derby. This pub is fast becoming a fixture on the local music scene up there and gaining a great reputation as a music venue. We’re delighted to be playing there .. first Dorset, then Derby, then: State of Undress – the world tour!

See you soon
Charlie

Just catching up...

Hello everyone! I’m miles behind with the news. First of all let me tell you about the last few gigs. We had a cracking time a couple of weeks ago with ‘a lovely weekend of music’ as Claire put it. On the Saturday night, we had the world’s best time playing at The Plough Inn, Tiptoe. I tell you, the roof nearly came off. People were singing, dancing, standing on chairs to get a better look. What a fab evening. Big thanks to our sound engineer Rob Austin. We’d had a few technical problems before Christmas – just when Rob was off sunning himself in Spain. Very inconsiderate! But at The Plough, Rob tweaked everything to perfection. It was the first time that all seven of us (including Keith Fletcher on drums and percussion) had played a live gig together And all of a sudden, we were a band! It was brilliant. The next evening, we played Shenanigans at The Portman Hotel. This was only a short set, about 40 minutes, as there was an open-mic session beforehand with some terrific performers. Even though there was only a small audience, we really enjoyed playing and the Shenanigans engineer, Alan Williamson made sure we got a great sound So thanks to him and to Paul Burke for inviting us. Next up, was a little duo guest spot session at Bohemian Voices, Lately Nightclub, West Hampstead. Alan and I went up together – he full of flu, poor lad – but it was worth it for the great response we received. We did five songs – three from our current album, and two from our forthcoming one. Well, there were only about 30 people there but it’s such an intimate venue that that seemed really full … and thirty people hanging on your every note is a great audience. They sang and clapped along to ‘Morning Glory’ and one woman, who’d lost her partner, said she cried in ‘Wait on the Other Side’ and we sold a CD – yes! We hope Steve will invite us back again … soon! We’re only doing a couple of gigs in February (a duo guest spot at the Consortium on the 14th, and a full band gig at The Manor Arms on Friday 25th). This is because we are currently working hard on the new CD Ghosts of Wasted Chances . We’re keeping everything crossed that this is going to make a bit of a splash. I really don’t want to have to get a day job again! You’ll notice (very shortly anyway) that our website has had a bit of a revamp. Hope you like the new look which ties in with the new album. We do have a guest book so don’t be shy: let us know what you think. Big thanks to Al Stewart and Pete Green for their work on the web and on the CD artwork. Lastly, we’re also keeping busy with organising a big event to raise funds for a fishing boat and nets for a village affected by the Tsunami. This will take place on Friday 6th May at Hoburne Caravan Park, Highcliffe. We are indebted to Wayne Clarke, manager there, for donating the use of the venue and to Prestoprint, Christchurch who have already agreed to donate printing costs for posters, flyers and tickets. We are looking for a really special headline act – the venue holds 550 so it’s got to be someone who can pull a big crowd – we’ll keep you posted but put the date in your diary now. One fab raffle prize already received … loads of signed CDs, cassettes, programmes etc from the one and only, unmatchable Mike Scott of The Waterboys. I tell you, if I weren’t a happily married woman, he could be in big trouble ……!! See you at a gig soon.

Charlie