Thursday, January 28, 2010

Music career low-lights
A couple of career low-lights that popped into my head yesterday:

Playing with the Hemingways at the Glasgow Garden Festival: no audience apart from a small train that would pass by every 10 minutes

* Playing big gig in King Tuts Wah Wah Hut - probably in the mid 90s: drums pounding as part of our dramatic big intro; me bouncing around with coiled energy and intent, ready to launch into opening power chord; swing arm for dramatic start; nothing; guitar isn't plugged in.

All the best,
Jim

After the recent article in the Clydebank Post about 'the butterfly song', I got an email from Peter Daldry - who stays in Santa Clara, California (he had read the story on the Clydebank Post's website). Peter grew up in Clydebank; in the same street as Hamish and his family. Hamish was mentioned in the article as a major inspiration for the song.

Peter was keen to be involved in some way with the fund-raising for the memorial garden - for all those who have taken their lives from the Erskine bridge.

Peter is a singer songwriter himself - so I suggested he play on the song - and I sent him the tracks. He was in the studio at the weekend, so I'm looking forward to hearing the results. Check out Peter's Myspace at www.myspace.com/peterdaldry

Gigs

* The Liquid Ship (with Dinny) - 22nd January. That's this Friday.

* Celtic Connections Open stage in the Royal Concert Hall (with Dinny) - 26th January. That's Next Tuesday.

*I'll also have a slot at Haiti Relief Fundraiser at Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church, on 30th January.

On recent gigs Dinny has been providing backing vocals on some of the songs. Our voices seem to work will together - so - I'm hoping to continue this collaboration (assuming Dinny is good with that). Great to have someone with such a great voice involved both in my gigs and recordings. You can hear some of Dinny's music at www.myspace.com/dinnysounds.

Be good to see you at one of these gigs.

The Bluesbunny reviews last nights Liquid Ship gig:

"The tone for the evening was set by Jim Byrne as he brought comfort to the soul with his eloquent and mellow songs. Showing commendable dexterity on the acoustic guitar, he made the time pass in an amiable manner with the cherry on the cake being the intertwined elegance of the harmonies when Dinny joined him on stage."