These times in which we live...

Good evenink,


  When most people begin a blog with the words "I'm taking a risk writing this..." it's because they are writing something controversial, possibly about a potentially 'hot topic'.  I am indeed taking a risk in writing this, although purely because tonight I am hosting an open mic night in about an hour and a half, and I have yet to book train tickets for my gig in Leeds tomorrow, cook dinner, think a little bit about my set, perhaps (I am still umming and ahhing over whether to take my DADGAD-tuned acoustic as well as my standard-tuning guitar, it would be a difficulty to say the least, travelling, as I am, alone, so I'm erring on the side of not taking it - I actually made that decision whilst typing this, so thanks for being there with me).  In short, I've got a lot on and so shouldn't really be sitting down to write a blog.  But here I am.  Writing.


  I shall tell you for why, dear readers - happiness.  As many of you will be all too painfully aware, I follow Twitter.  I like to be aware of the tides of it, the moods of it, the general feel of the people whom I follow.  At times like this, when our government is doing everything they pretty much can to systematically dismantle the things which we hold dear (pausing only to attempt charge us through the nose for things that we essentially need as functioning people in the 21st century), at times when openly racist attitudes are being uncovered in parts of both in America during the presidential election campaigns, or in the UK through hostile tweets from unthinking fools as a young footballer is resuscitated during a televised match (some of the most amazingly regressive attitudes have been shown to me this week - apalling), and at times when we have had as much as we can take from all sides, I'll be honest, the mood is low.


  Twitter often shines, it is a lifeline through the darkness when I am feeling down (and there has been a fair bit of that as we've emerged from winter), and it still is.  But a shadow has fallen across some of it as the Conservatives privatise everything and the Lords & Lib-Dems, against all odds, vote in favour, and as the press decide not to say much about things such as the NHS Bill but focus on instead on royal visits (I'm not against them, but y'know, priorities?).  I see a darker gallows wit currently, and it weighs heavy.  I still love Twitter, and speaking to all the people therein, it is a comfort, especially during long evenings & weekends of alone time, I have made friends that I value and many that I would love to meet in an actual room & shake hands with/cuddle.  I did such a thing yesterday with a really nice chap, who is embarking on a meet/greet/photography project, and we spent yesterday afternoon shooting the breeze, talking about our respective pasts,views and interests, and by the time we'd finished eating dinner, we realised it had turned 10pm (not the 8-ish we were expecting), and hadn't taken a single photograph.  (We did get some photos done in the end, and I look forward to seeing them, and seeing how his project develops, if you'll pardon the pun.)


  See what I did there?  That paragraph started horribly, but ended on something good.  I want to write good things, happy things, things that when you read them, remind you that the world essentially is a good place, with good people in it, that barely hear about on news/current affairs, because by heavens, it doesn't make for proper reporting or keep the nation in check under a tarpaulin of misery.  If you're reading this and nodding, then you are a wonderful, positive person who can see the good in things and move forwards in your life with that in mind, because as long as you're breathing, there is no way that you can let yourself be beaten down by people who ain't too bothered so long as there's money coming in.  Yes it's unfair, yes it's unjust, but the only thing that'll keep them banging in coffin nails is darkness.


  I don't talk about "current affairs" that often, because intellectually, I don't feel qualified to, I lose the confidence to talk about such things in any kind of way, but the thing I can do is be positive, be there for people, and make them smile.  Which is what I'll continue to do.


Erm, right.  This blog is perhaps a bit short, perhaps a bit nonsensical in places, and I'm sure there was more I wanted to say, but this has taken half an hour to write, and I have a powerful need to eat before being massively late to an event I'm supposed to be running (I won't be late really, just so long as I stop typi

Acoustic Music Jolliness

Good evening, O watchers of Blog,

As is often my way, I am yet to do a dinner and am, constantly, thinking about writing to you lot.  It's a blessing and a curse, really, because it means I end up with a rumbly tummy and a heady surprise when I stand up, but it does mean you get a big nuggety chunk of info to read, which you then have a glorious task of finding amid the nonsense about tea, Chunky KitKats, and the funny noises I just heard outside my window.  (My street is generally quiet, or at least doesn't let outside noise in - next door, it has a ball with, but that's another issue - but every so often, golden moments happen.  For instance, last night I was tweeting to my friend Josie, just as someone parked their car, got out of it and tripped over some bins.  Or this morning, when a postie delivered a special package to next door, but when he knocked on, the sound travelled something mighty & three other people came out to ask if it was their door he was knocking on.  Such is the joy of terraced houses.)

The gist of this ramble is that I am a bit hungry, despite a very filling pub lunch with my family in a bid to beat the Mother's Day rush that would ensue if we had gone out tomorrow.  My family is cunning.  One cup of tea, a BBQ Chicken burger & chips, a half of Guiness (happy St. Patrick's Day, I'm having a quiet Bailey's later, on my own, with the DVD of my choosing), and eight hours later, I'm ready for another scoff.

I feel a bit bad that my last blog to you, while full of witter, bamboozlement and nonsense, was, really, a big advert for my EPs in disguise.  So this one is about nothing in particular.  Actually, before that, I have concertedly not looked at my EP sales this week, as it was all I did in the first week I put them out, and that could drive one mad.  I have looked just now, and I can confirm that there have definitely been some sales.  This makes me happy.  All of you who have purchased my early efforts at songmaking, I cannot thank you enough.  Slap yourselves on the back and give yourself a chocolate (or, if you can't eat chocolate, or are off them for Lent, pick the most appropriate treat that it is possible to award yourself and consume it heartily).  If you haven't perused my EPs yet, there they stand, timeless, suspended in digital downloadery, patiently awaiting your attention.  Go for it.  There's no rush, but there's no time like the present either, so hotfoot it over.  I shan't type the linkage again though, I've done enough of that to last me a lifetime thankyouverymuch, all the information you need is on the blog previous to this one.

This week I have been readying myself for next week, for I shall be a bit busy.  It's a week which I have, mostly, booked off from my day-job, and will be songifying.  Tomorrow I am playing at a pub in my hometown, 'The Old Brown Jug', for an event that has been named 'Song Club' - a night of acoustic music jolliness.  On Tuesday I am meeting a friend from Twitter & pouting/batting my eyelashes in order to assist him in a photography project upon which he is embarking.  He's an ace chap, and it will be lovely to meet him.  Wednesday night will see me hosting the open mic at The Rigger while the manager/host is on holiday, which will make for an interesting evening.  Thursday I will be journeying to Leeds to play a set once again at the Verve Bar.  It was a hoot last November, and this time around I won't be dashing from work in order to get there.  I am very much looking forward to playing again, and also not getting lost/traipsing the city for what seems like hours/being misdirected by ridiculous hotel staff.  I'd like a fun gig, to meet nice people, to wander the city unhampered, and then to come home un-knackered on Friday.  Please.

What I should follow that up with (apart from the inevitable "Details on my website! www.wix.com/mrjohnmacleod/music!") is that if ANY of you are in or near the Leeds area, I would love to meet you, so do get awn down to this Leeds gig if you can.  Likewise for the gigs in Staffordshire.  I would love you to be in the crowd for a gig, it's my natural habitat (apart from chattering like a gibbon on here like I'm doing now - that comes worryingly easily, I've noticed).  So yes.  Gigs.  Please come. 'Twould be lovely.

As I continue to type, I see that time marches on like a homeward-bound drunk being lead by the forward momentum of his ever-heavying skull.  As it does this, I am reminded of my rumbling tummy, and I just know that standing up will make me realise how hungry I am [swipes at stars circling head], so I had better go.  I will speak to you all soon, blogwatchers, and let you all know how the gigs went.  Although if you're there for them, I won't have to, will I? ;~P

Take care, be good & speak soon,

Love,

John xx

EP Releases Imminent - Important Info!

Good day to you, blog-watchers!

  As you're all no doubt painfully aware by now, my EPs are out tomorrow!  That's right.  I can't let you folks go unrewarded for being all nice and reading my blogs/tweets/posts, and so, as you've taken the time to read this, when the EPs are out tomorrow, I have made a couple of discount codes available for you.  There is NO expiry date on these codes, so if you can't get them tomorrow, you can buy them whenever and still get the discount (so long as you still have the code, obvs).  These discount codes will give you 10% off each EP, and when you come to purchase, you should (all being well) see this screen:

Now - see where it says "have a discount code?"  That's where you will enter the following codes:

Volume 1 - avidreader

Volume 2 - keenlistener

That should give you 10% of the price of each EP.  If you experience any problems with any process, let me know and I will get on the case.

Also, I know I said I was hoping to arrange a deal for getting both EPs at once, but I can't seem to find an option for that, despite extensive searching.  I did try.  In the meantime, thank you for your support, and I hope you enjoy these releases.


They will be available at http://mrjohnmacleod.bandcamp.com

I hope you enjoy them, thank you in advance.

Love,

John xx