What a year, and we're only just half way through it! A brand new site, exciting new projects, and a bunch of talented new folk on the team to play with.
Working now in earnest with new agent, Bruce Solar, of the Agency Group, and his assistant David Strunk. Touring plans through the summer are shaping up very nicely, and more dates will be posted when they are finally confirmed. There's a very good chance we'll be playing near you if you live in US or Canada, sometimes more than once!
Lynval Golding has played his first tour with us now, and the reaction has been fabulous. With him on guitar, and Wayne Lothian on bass, people have been telling us thay have seen the best shows and crowd responses ever. And, now having finished his schooling, Fernando is back on Sax, with a a beautiful toned Selmer Mark7 Sax, just like Saxa used to play. It all sounds delightful.
We've put a load of new "oldies" in the set, as requested from the front of the crowd, and with a handfull of Specials songs also, we are now playing over two hour sets. No set list, but a menu to draw from, depending on the vibes and the shouts from the crowd. Keeps everyone in the moment, and on their toes. I think I'm enjoying it more than I can ever remember.
And how great that there seems to be another Ska Wave forming out in the bay! We have people from 16-60 dancing together in front of us. Wonderful! Lynval remarked that we started off trying to get the races together, and now it looks like we're doing the same for the ages! What an honour and pleasure it is.
Playing mainly headline shows and festivals over the Summer, but are intending to launch a Two Tone bonanza in Sep on the eastern seaboard, when we tour with The Selecter. Perhaps this could be the start of a bigger Two Tone get together next year, if everything goes smoothly? Ssshhhh...that would be telling!
I will let out one bit of juicy news though. Roddy Radiation of the Specials might also be joining us for the the September tour, so you'll get to hear another handful of Specials songs! Special Beat service indeed!
Say hello to the folks at Chaser merchandise. Ricky, Robert, Jeff, and Kristine do a great job of combining pop group merchandise with the retail fashion requirements of the day. Already, people at shows are raving about the comfort and cut of the new tee shirts at gigs. Tell me what you think of the new stuff, and let me know if you have any ideas about other things you'd like to see.
Weather was brooding here in California all Spring, like something was waiting to happen. Sometimes, with all the changes we've been going through, it has all seemed a bit too much, but I've chugged on, and now it seems we are suddenly looking at a bright, brand new Shangri La. So now, I'm trying to adopt a more " I was never really worried; I knew it would all be fine" kind of attitude! But it does still feel like the world is tightening up, and the atmosphere is becoming more survivalist. I suppose that's the natural result of the subtle and insidious effects of living continually in fear? Can't see it winding itself up much more before something pops? Right, moving on....
Now that I have my brand new spiffy site, I'd like to deck it out a little more. Send photos, recordings of shows, anything you think would be interesting, and we will start to construct a Library. Also, I've been pondering a small "Other Stuff" section so other topics could be discussed seperately. You know I'm happy to talk about myself all day, but even I like to take a perspective break every now and then, and discuss other stuff! I am particularly interested in stories about people who have made a difference through kindness and determination. Maybe some kind of resource so that we could share the details of charities and worthy causes that we are involved in?
Before I leave you to marvel at the new site, I would like to send a big thank you to sirlou and PDubb for their tirless energy in getting everything just right. It always thrills me when computer guys or music biz folk compliment me on the site, which they often do. I, of course, absorb all the praise like a thirsty sponge, but in the back of my mind I do make a note about just how lucky I am to be working with two such kind and talented friends.
Cheers,
Dave
x
