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