Current mood: tired
Category: Parties and Nightlife
Having a blast at the Casa De Rodriguez Hat shop on Stanton Street NYC
Scotch Mark tells us all that its not a piano Im playing but a Guitar.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmocMuB41..v0
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Category: Music
Im just back from an eventful week in France.
I have been recording with fellow Smouldering Sons 'Dominique Metz (Drums) & Franck Bedez (Bass)
After a drive up to London to finalise tracks & Ideas, myself & Dom set off from St Pancreas station on the Eurostar dragging enough guitars, Percussion & amps to fill a small Barn.
We were to Record at Christal Studios just outside Strasbourg in northern France.
The Live room is Fantastic, large and is perfectly tuned.
I also discovered that opening a door out of the amp room that went into the high cieling hallway gave a ridiculously good ambiance when the Guiatr amp was remotely miked.
This worked extremely well when I played my old Les Paul through a ancient souped up 'Impact' valve head flat out. A truly Neanderthal organic sound.
"She like's to Hurt Me" has at last been given the full treatment.
Another track was a new song called "Road Dog".
A very Rhythmic acoustic folk/Rock track.
Franck who was producing the session worked me hard to get the acoustic guitar part exactly right, and exactly in time!!!
He has ears like a Bat when it comes to precise detail.
He put Dominique through the same mill, but as Dom isnt half as scruffy as me and plays in bands regularly, he got through his percussion tracks far more quickly than me.
Fab Tranzer also dropped by the session and is gonna put put some slide guitar on some of the tracks. He's a cracking player visiting from Missisippi. I cant wait to he what he does on his parts.
Not sure when the new tracks will be out there but Im already very pleased with what we have achieved.
My Thanks to Antony Bedez for his expertise and patience with the engineering.
Will post some pics up soon.
Love Robert
Friday, February 20, 2009
I had a real blast this weekend recording with two fantastic musicians and friends in the middle nowhere in the beautiful county of Suffolk.
Time was tight but new tracks were laid down live in a room all being able to eyeball each other.
Dominique Metz & Franck Bedez are Smouldering Sons who are the best rhythmn section I have worked with.
"The Smoke from her Cigar, Persistance of memory" are two songs that have been long on my wish list to get recorded.
The Icing on the cake for me was Getting the the song "She likes to Hurt me" played & recorded in a 3 piece band setting.
Once we have a mix of the session I will post this track up on the player. I cant wait because it Rocked big time!
Love Robert
Calling NYC friends. Manhattan Gigs in March 2009
Current mood: adventurous
Category: MySpace
This is to all my NYC myspace friends
Just to let you lnow that I will be playing some shows in Manhattan in March 2009.
As you all know that once Im on the rd I hate being idle. I am aiming to be playing every single evening of my trip. As well as full shows I will be filling spare evenings up with open mic slots, Floor spots & support slots.
If any of you guys & Gals know of a cool place that I should bring my guitar to then send me a mail.
The Sidewalk Cafe will be the first shows played on the 16th & 17th of March 2009.
Also if you are in NYC and want to come to a show, please feel free to mail me and say hi!
I hope to see you all soon.
Love Robert
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
New demos for new album
Current mood: contemplative
Category: Art and Photography
Hello Everyone
Well Ive finally started to get knuckled down and started on preproduction work for the new album.
Ive a feeling that this album will be quite eclectic with old traditional English songs Ive arranged next to new Robert Brown Originals.
The trouble with playing live all over the country is that the repotoire grows & grows. And certain numbers have been continually asked for to be included on the next album.
Ive come to the conclusion that the album will almost sit over two halves. Either that or bring out 4 or 5 EPs so people can take their pick!
Ive just put the new arrangement for "Ocean of Stars" on the music player. Im going to live with this version for a while to see how I like it. Its all live with a added vocal in parts & a tanpura drone box.
Just to let you know that the new songs EP will be given away free with every purchase of the Debut album "Falling from a great height" which will be for sale at the club tent on friday & after the 10.45 performance.
It will be at the special festival price of £5.
The tracks on the EP are Lord Franklin, the Smoke from her Cigar & a full tilt boogie band version of "mother knows best".
See you all at the show
Love Robert
Monday, July 21, 2008
Cambridge folk festival
Current mood: content
Category: Music
Hello Everyone
Just to let you all know that the Cambridge folk festival is just over a week away & that yours truly will be playing a short show in the club tent courtesy of the Cambridge folk club.
Many new songs to choose from that will be on the new album and one or two new "old traditionals". One of which is "Lord Franklin" which was played & taught to me by the Master Nic Jones while we were jamming in a CGCGCC tuning.
Im not sure what time I will be on stage but suspect it will be later in the evening on the friday night.
I will be selling albums on the day with a special festival EP with some of the new tracks I will play on the day. These will be free when someone wants an album.
Looking forward to seeing you all there. Remember the real festival revolves around the club tent (Its the only tent with a bar!)
Love Robert
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Touring & Time out.
Current mood: content
The last two months have been madly busy playing shows from Robin Hoods Bay in North Yorkhire to Penzance at the tip Cornwall. As usual the rest of the year is going to be crammed with shows up and down the country.
But Im glad to say that this year the touring has been more structered regarding both logistics & venues. Last year it seemed I was getting blown about by the wind at times. But then again it was my very first UK tour on my own without a band behind me, and its always tough starting from scratch.
In the gaps between tours Ive managed to fit in two trips to the Atlas mountains and a few concerts, one of which I have to mention.
For many years since I started in music I have always had respect and admiration for Neil Diamond. His voice and the songs that he has written. Upon hearing that he would be playing the O2 Dome in London I immediately decided I was going to see him live.
Neil Diamond has always seemed to balance inbetween cool & cheesy depending upon which song you are listen to. All I can say to the sceptics is...See him Live!
Only when you see someone like this live do you realise how good they actually are & how poor most of the new offerings of bands & artists we have to endure today. In a show of over two hours I was never bored and watched & learned from a real professional at work! I was amazed at how many songs he sang that I knew & he even left out "Red red wine, Hello again & America"! Friends have told me that the O2 has very poor acoustics for live bands so I was very interested to hear how the show would be presented(it has a very high ceiling). Diamonds voice was well on top of the bands volume level which was excellent and you could hear every word. overall it was one of the quietest concerts I has ever been to. Perhaps this is the way of dealing with a venue not really desinged for live music.
His voice & stage presence were amazing. It could be a long time before I hear a live show as good..
Love Robert
Thursday, June 05, 2008
First 60 shows completed
Current mood: content
Category: Music
Hello Everyone
Just to say that the spring part of the tour is now over and the summer one is just begining. With 60 shows under my belt already I cant wait for the reat of the tour.
I had a really nice time visiting new people & places, and Im chomping at the bit to get out there again after a week off.
See you at the shows.
Love Robert
Monday, November 05, 2007
170 date Tour coming to an end!
Current mood: accomplished
Category: MySpace
Its been a long road since April and many thousands of miles have been driven, but the end of the tour is now in sight.
October saw me play a mammoth 28 shows which has to be a record for me. I only have around 25 shows left to play till the end of the year on what has been to date my longest tour. Look out 2008!
Its been a wonderful experiance & Ive seen some incredible places & met some amazing people along the way. Nic & the Jones family were a top bunch of peeps & can rustle up a mean Chilli!
Im looking forward to some time off over the winter to record some new material for 2008. Watch this space for any news of a forthcoming release.
A big thankyou to all the people who have made a difference & helped me along the way of this massive UK tour.
See you at the shows next year!
Love Robert
Splish & splashy Glastonbury 2007.
Hello Everyone
Well it was wet muddy but it was far from uneventful.! I hope you didnt all get too bored of having to watch the drivel that the buisness wanted you to see & hear on the TV. Away from the main stages you will find the true Glastonbury in all its wonderful splendor.
from arriving Wednesday I knew it was going to be diffrent. I felt a vibe in the air that was very positive. I gave up coming to Glastonbury 6 yrs ago because I got fed up of having to search the small stages & tents for a talented act. Well this year I found many such artists who would put nearly all the named acts to shame.
Since I last came there have sprung up small venues all over the festival. My favourite of all of these was the Ban Yan Tree tea tent that ran a 24 hr open mic stage. Great people & a great atmosphere. You never knew who was going to get up next. One particular guy who came up was "Splish". Playing guitar & singing he was one of the most original & off the wall acts Ive heard from a long time. Suffice to say we hooked up and by early Sunday monday morning (4am Slot) we had put together a band and played a show at the Earth Heart Tent. Good going really as the evening before, myself & Splish were part of the House band at the Jazz World Stage party. Me Guitar & Vocals, Splish playing acid jazz piano and Rap mongering. Was Brilliant fun & got to shmooze with all the acts.
I think all in all I played over a Dozen sets over the 4 days in Venues ranging from the Jazz lounge, Croissant Neuf bandstand, Jazz World Stage Lounge, Earth Heart, Tiny Tea Tent and best of all the Ban Yan Tree Tent. My thanks to Bob & the rest of the team for running the best small venue in the Green fields. To all the new people I met & the new friends I made, including the muddy but beautiful Amwyn from the vallys! Will look forward to seeing you again next year.
My thanks to Sally & Andy from Croissant Neuf who gave me the Chance to come & play.
Love Robert
Glastonbury Festival performances
Hello All
Due to a very late and jammy call from the Croissant Neuf Tent At the Glastonbury festival. I havent been for 5 yrs as I got a bit fed up of the pop acts they insisted on putting on.
I Will be performing each day and night at the Croissant Neuf Cafe & Bandstand.
Please check timetable at the Tent.
Will be playing first performance on Thursday Night.
Will do my best not to be remotely pop!
Gonna make it a heavy set.
She likes to Hurt Me
Hello all
Just back from my travels in Morocco and I feel full of life and anticipation. I got to see some old friends who are the greatest Berber musicians I know. Visit the Djemaa el-Fna Square in the old City of Marrekech and look for the two Hassans who play Banjo with 5 incredlble percussionists. They Rock!
On another note, there is a new song on the myspace player "She Likes To Hurt Me" Recorded at the Rock N Roll Kabaret in March 2007 with Dominique and Grinder on Bass. Its a bit rough at the edges but this was the first time all three had ever played a gig together and guess what? no practice! Straight in and play no pissing about. For me it was so much fun playing that song electricly with a band. I hope the enthusiasm of the performance cuts through the bum notes.
Im about to get under way with a heavy May schedule which Im really looking forward to.
tired
adventurous 
contemplative 
content 
accomplished