Izdihar - Magic Kingdom Escapology

It's an unlikely combination I grant you, but with the third of the bands' rehearsals now under my belt, these two are coming closer together. It's fair to say that the former are winning out in the track count so far as we gradually construct our set. I'll not list out the actual tracks here, so as not to spoil the surprise for any who might turn up for the first of our many-times rearranged gigs. As it's on VH1 at the moment though, I can confirm that we will not be attempting Tina Turner's 'Nutbush City Limits' - good thing too...

Despite having had guitars in my possession for the best part of 30 years, this is the first time I've ever been even remotely close to being in an actual act. The first time was absolutely terrifying, but I did just about get away with it. I did though rapidly discover that playing along with other flesh and blood musicians is not the same as playing to the original artists CD. The subtle shifts in tone and arrangement of a familiar tune are rarely there when trying to make yourself heard against the massive reverb of an empty rehearsal space, and the lack of balance between the instruments that come out of this.

I'd also not appreciated how difficult it is to pick up the language of a practice session. For some of the others, who have been doing this for perhaps 20-30 years in some form, it's second nature, whilst I must look utterly bemused by is all. I know what the words mean (mostly), but I haven't a clue how they relate to an actual track, which I don't de-construct as I'm listening to them in terms of verses, choruses, bridges and so on. An instruction telling me we're going to pick up two bars before the 2nd chorus is most likely to leave me thinking "Oh fuck! I've been found out!". The may as well drop me off in Gorky Park and ask me to find the Kremlin - no doubt I'll get there in the end, but it ain't going to be quick, or by the most direct route - don't speak the lingo you see.

All said an done though, it's beginning to come together, though I've not really settled myself into a regular structured practice routine away from the band rehearsals. Better an hour a day than 7 hours cramming over a day at the weekend. What is going to be nice though will to be get some of the guitars I have out of their pristine home in my bedroom studio and out in front of an audience, an audience that wishes to be entertained and will probably be more than forthcoming on what they think of us. I'm sure it be fun when it happens and I'm hoping that someone will capture some photographic evidence of it all. It would be nice to be thought of as someone who plays guitar and not just owns a few, after all, any old idiot with some ready cash can do that can't they.