"Spurning acoustica, The Sky Is Blue stamped deliciously crunchy riffage, though after [Rachael] Dadd their verse-chorus-bridge shapes had machine-cut outlines, and the lyrical metaphors were six-inch-nail brutes."

Last Wednesday according to Venue!

Well, that was really good fun. A really enjoyable gig all round. Our set went down well, and so I'm feeling rather confident. Funny how one mid week gig can banish fears and doubts. At least for now!

Others on the bill were cool - Smith opened, didn't get a chance to see much of him unfortunately, but liked what I heard.

Next on was Rachael Dadd - I loved her set last night, much preferred it to when we played on the same bill at the Folk House in January. Back then she played with an ensemble including harp and cello and things but last night she was solo - I reckon her stuff works best simple and unadorned. Well, I say simple - it's not. It's deceptively complex music. Great stuff.

Elliot's headline album launch slot was very assured and accomplished - definitely the most confident I've seen him. And well done to our Mark for providing some sterling work on the bass! Elliot's lyrics get me every time. He has a way of looking at things and transforming what he sees into these lovely, slightly disturbing songs. Observational post-folk pop folk pop post-drone pop folk. Or something. Am listening to the album now, is sounding good to me.

Anyway, we were pleased with the reactions we got to our set - and the newer songs seemed to go down the best which is heartening. Onwards and upwards, as they say.

So, the Louisiana gig fast approaches. Rehearsals have been unusually tough, of late. Set lists, arrangements, tempos, hot weather. I'm confident that we'll be sounding very good on the 12th, and this is important to me cos I see this gig as being something of a redefinition of what we're about. We've been recording rehearsals and then having big listening and thinking efforts about stuff.

I spent a good while recently worrying that I was losing my way to an extent and that The Sky Is Blue was turning into something it was never supposed to be, but I've got through that and am feeling pretty optimistic now. I'm glad we're moving away from our acoustic roots - even though acoustic instruments and lightness of touch will always be an important part of the sound of the band.

To be honest I don't really relate to most of the music trumpeted as being acoustic/folk music I hear in Bristol (with several notable exceptions including Elliot Hall and Rachael Dadd who are also playing on the 12th), and although it seems to be talked up quite a bit locally I can't see all that much value in belonging to an acoustic 'scene'. What does that even mean? There isn't an 'electric scene' is there?

Of course, me being me I could change my mind completely again. And I'm contradicting myself anyway, probably.

But I'm looking forward to next Wednesday, if only because if I leave it too long between gigs I start getting a little twitchy. It's mostly what it's about for me, I love playing to people. The recording process I could live without if it meant I could just play lots of gigs and get heard that way. We'll see.

I dislike posting a blog entry without a picture of any kind, so have this one of me and Mark by the sea in Malmo, Sweden.