New gig announced. We're done with Croydon. This time it's Hoxton. We're going to do all the ...ons. Wimbled, er...nope...can't think of any more.
Anyway, 'til next time...
a l e x m o k e
Thursday, 27 October 2011
Moving up...
New gig announced. We're done with Croydon. This time it's Hoxton. We're going to do all the ...ons. Wimbled, er...nope...can't think of any more.
Anyway, 'til next time...
a l e x m o k e
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
M O K E . . .
What a month! Busy as fuck, but all good, so that's OK then.
On Friday night of last week (Sept 16th 2011), Moke reformed for one night only, to play the old favourites for a small but select crowd of well wishers who just wanted to rock out. And so we did!
Now, yes, the gig was in Croydon, which is hardly the epicentre of cool, but then nor are we. And at the end of the day, a room is just a room, and a very fine one it was too. Ample PA, excellent drinks, friendly staff...what more could one want. Two very cool support bands in the guise of perennial gentle groovers, Wake, and the rather splendid The 23 Enigma.
In the build up to the gig, we managed to bother a few journalists...
...met again our instruments and amplifiers, some not seen for over a decade. Here's a shot of one of the rehearsals...
...reverted to being cocky little show-offs and generally made a din. This is us walking onto the stage, ready for kick off. The octopus on the left is in fact Suneil, our sound man, also the current choice of Rufus Wainwright and Snow Patrol. He's ace, the little dobber.
It was fun!!! And although I said we reformed for one night only, I think we next play Notting Hill Arts Club, at a point nearer Christmas. So we're complete and utter liars! Christmas may also seem a long way off, but when you've been waiting for over ten years, a couple of months is nothing, especially when there's SO much to be getting on with.
Songs to write, websites to build, recordings to make...
a l e x m o k e
On Friday night of last week (Sept 16th 2011), Moke reformed for one night only, to play the old favourites for a small but select crowd of well wishers who just wanted to rock out. And so we did!
Now, yes, the gig was in Croydon, which is hardly the epicentre of cool, but then nor are we. And at the end of the day, a room is just a room, and a very fine one it was too. Ample PA, excellent drinks, friendly staff...what more could one want. Two very cool support bands in the guise of perennial gentle groovers, Wake, and the rather splendid The 23 Enigma.
In the build up to the gig, we managed to bother a few journalists...
...met again our instruments and amplifiers, some not seen for over a decade. Here's a shot of one of the rehearsals...
...reverted to being cocky little show-offs and generally made a din. This is us walking onto the stage, ready for kick off. The octopus on the left is in fact Suneil, our sound man, also the current choice of Rufus Wainwright and Snow Patrol. He's ace, the little dobber.
It was fun!!! And although I said we reformed for one night only, I think we next play Notting Hill Arts Club, at a point nearer Christmas. So we're complete and utter liars! Christmas may also seem a long way off, but when you've been waiting for over ten years, a couple of months is nothing, especially when there's SO much to be getting on with.
Songs to write, websites to build, recordings to make...
a l e x m o k e
Thursday, 8 September 2011
Monday, 5 September 2011
LIVE TRACK...
To whet your whistle for the 16th - this is a performance of Sleepyhead whilst Moke were touring with The Black Crowes in 1999. This version is from a show at The Aragon Ballroom in Chicage IL.
Enjoy!
a l e x m o k e
Enjoy!
a l e x m o k e
Friday, 26 August 2011
Sunday, 14 August 2011
SW France...
...three weeks!
Green pool (now azure).
Many guests.
Intermarché.
Duck.
Cheese.
Goose.
Du pain.
Du vin.
Paté.
Pastis.
Strimmer fixing.
Chateaux.
Lions.
Joined circus.
Hospital stay.
Lots and lots and lots of driving. Mainly between Perigeux and Le Bugue.
Beardy.
C'est tout!
a l e x m o k e
Green pool (now azure).
Many guests.
Intermarché.
Duck.
Cheese.
Goose.
Du pain.
Du vin.
Paté.
Pastis.
Strimmer fixing.
Chateaux.
Lions.
Joined circus.
Hospital stay.
Lots and lots and lots of driving. Mainly between Perigeux and Le Bugue.
Beardy.
C'est tout!
a l e x m o k e
Thursday, 7 July 2011
Business...
Rrrrrrrrrrrrroight!
I'm experimenting with effects pedals today. I'm trying to build the ultimate bass pedal board for the newly reformed Moke.
Yep, you heard.
Business will be done at the mokesite and at the mokemyspace, both sites currently being overhauled.
It's been strange, trying to relearn three albums worth of material. I thought I wouldn't have forgotten the songs, but I have. I've also lost my feel. It's been over ten years since we last played, so I'm having to remember how to play like 25 year-old Alex. Weird.
But I'm getting my chops back, as well as my tone, and so far, no blisters, although my shoulder's rather sore. Those Fenders are MIGHTY heavy.
I plan to play a 1970s reissue Fender Jazz, sunburst with a rosewood block neck...
...into an Ampeg SVT2 head and 2x15 Cab.
Basically, about as loud and splendid a noise as you can get, and it's important to have an amp that's taller than yourself. Regarding my effects, so far, the order of pedals runs thus...
Boss TU2
Sexdrive
Octabass
Bass Overdrive
Big Muff
Tremolo
...and I've just bought a Mind Bender.
Excellente! Now I've just got to string them all together.
More soon...
a l e x m o k e
I'm experimenting with effects pedals today. I'm trying to build the ultimate bass pedal board for the newly reformed Moke.
Yep, you heard.
Business will be done at the mokesite and at the mokemyspace, both sites currently being overhauled.
It's been strange, trying to relearn three albums worth of material. I thought I wouldn't have forgotten the songs, but I have. I've also lost my feel. It's been over ten years since we last played, so I'm having to remember how to play like 25 year-old Alex. Weird.
But I'm getting my chops back, as well as my tone, and so far, no blisters, although my shoulder's rather sore. Those Fenders are MIGHTY heavy.
I plan to play a 1970s reissue Fender Jazz, sunburst with a rosewood block neck...
...into an Ampeg SVT2 head and 2x15 Cab.
Basically, about as loud and splendid a noise as you can get, and it's important to have an amp that's taller than yourself. Regarding my effects, so far, the order of pedals runs thus...
Boss TU2
Sexdrive
Octabass
Bass Overdrive
Big Muff
Tremolo
...and I've just bought a Mind Bender.
Excellente! Now I've just got to string them all together.
More soon...
a l e x m o k e
Monday, 27 June 2011
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
2011 - year of the rabbit
So here we all are. 2011. Year of the rabbit, apparently, which according to the Chinese means it'll be a quiet year, giving respite after the year of the tiger, whatever that was.
Who knows? Not I, that's for sure. Anyway...
TO BUSINESS!
The album is finally nearing completion.
It's been five months in the making, which I can't quite believe!
Here's the track listing...
..interestingly, the last one is Fleetwood Mac cover. You gotta love the Mac.
And after five months of pretty much exclusively staring at these three...
(...save for the odd visitor...)
...I think it's fair to say we're all going quietly mad.
In fact, that's complete nonsense.
Musicians?
Quiet?
HA!
No.
Noisily mad. Very, very noisily.
Case in point. Paul (48, Record Producer and Musician extraordinaire) has just torn Harry's trousers open.
At the crotch. Naturally.
And apparently, I've decided that wearing size 12 Uggs is perfectly normal look for a 38 year old father of two.
Hmm...maybe not.
Anyway, the record is sounding
A M A Z I N G ! ! !
Even if I do say so myself.
Until next time, hugs...your pal
a l e x m o k e
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