Photo a day 2012 (7/366) - nostalgia

Photo taken in my bedroom.  I was having a trawl through some cupboards and found a few things from my past like my first digital camera (a Canon Powershot A40).  It's probably about 10 years old but still works, and still takes great pics.  I might use it to take some of these photos this year, it's got some pretty nifty features for its age, like manual shutter control (up to 15 seconds).  I see some long exposure shots in my future...

Also I recently discovered a recording of my second gig with Panda Eyes back in 2009 and was playing some of the songs on the bass I used most during my time with the band, ahh the memories :)

Gigography for 2008-2010

Happy new year everyone!  Being very much between things musically, I decided to look back at all the times I have graced the stage armed with a "big guitar".  Not prolific by any means over the past few years but here goes:

Me@The Lemon Tree 03/04/09 - photo: Andy Thorn

• 09/08@The Music Club (Open mic).  Personnel: Me, Jayne, Karel and Charlene.  Bass: Squier Bronco
• 04/10/08@The Tunnels with Sound System.  Personnel: Me, Jayne, Scott, Karel, Rich, Ben.  Bass: Squier Bronco

 

• 03/04/09 - @The Lemon Tree with Panda Eyes.  Personnel: Me, Marie-Claire, Jan, Chris, Carol.  Bass: Epiphone Les Paul Standard
• 22/04/09 - @Cafe Drummond with Panda Eyes.  Personnel: Me, Marie-Claire, Jan, Chris, Carol.  Bass: Epiphone Les Paul Standard
• 07/08/09 - @The Lemon Tree with Panda Eyes.  Personnel: Me, Marie-Claire, Jan, Chris, Carol.  Bass: Gibson G-3
• 30/08/09 - @The Tunnels with Panda Eyes.  Personnel: Me, Marie-Claire, Jan, Chris, Carol.  Bass: Gibson G-3

Panda Eyes@The Tunnels 09/04/10 - photo: Ryan Simpson

• 02/10 - @The Tunnels with Panda Eyes.  Personnel: Me, Marie-Claire, Jan, Chris.  Bass: Gibson G-3
• 25/03/10 - @Snafu with Panda Eyes.  Personnel: Me, Marie-Claire, Jan, Chris.  Bass: Gibson G-3
• 09/04/10 - @The Tunnels with Panda Eyes.  Personnel: Me, Marie-Claire, Jan, Chris.  Bass: Gibson G-3
• 29/05/10 - @The Moorings with Panda Eyes.  Personnel: Me, Marie-Claire, Jan, Chris.  Bass: G&L Tribute L-2000
• 02/10/10 - @The Tilted Wig with Mr. Flaxman and Friends.  Personnel: Me, Jayne, Mr. Flaxman.  Bass: Epiphone Les Paul Standard
• 09/10/10 - @The Tunnels with Sound System.  Personnel: Me, Jayne, Karel, Scott, Neil.  Bass - G&L Tribute L-2000
• 27/11/10 - @The Tilted Wig with Flaxman and the Hollowmen.  Personnel: Me, Jayne, Mr. Flaxman, Mr. Long Hair.  Bass: Danelectro Hodad

I make that 13 appearances on stage so far.  Oh well, I hope to get something sorted out in 2011 and add to that number.

RIP Panda Eyes - 2006 - 2010

Cutting a long story short, Panda Eyes is no more.  No drama, no name calling, no eyeball scratching, Jan the guitarist decided he didn't want to carry on with it.  As part of the core creative duo in the band, it isn't really appropriate to continue with Panda Eyes as an entity or use the songs.

It's a weird time.  Panda Eyes was my first band*, they took a chance on me and I like to think that I did a reasonable job.  I've gone through a number of states since it happened; sadness, anger, emptiness, numbness, resignation and finally thankfulness and hope.  I feel sad for a few reasons, not least the last gig we did I thought it was the best I had ever played.  I joined Panda Eyes because I liked the songs, and ultimately it'll be the songs I miss most. 

Well, the songs are still linked at the side of the blog there. It still makes me a little sad to listen to them but mostly I feel proud of how far I've come along in the one and a half years I played in the band.

Here comes the the hope!  Marie-Claire the singer has asked Chris the drummer and I to start something new with her and we quickly agreed.  New people, new songs, new direction.  Watch this space for developments...

*not counting the one-off ska band I played in mere weeks before my wedding ;)

Gig tipoff: Hijak Oscar, Thee Zu, Panda Eyes, Evil Neill

When: Saturday 29th May 2010
Where: The Moorings, Virginia Street, Aberdeen, AB11 5AA
Doors: 8pm
Tax: £3

We're back on stage and we've got some new songs to try out on you.  You should come down anyway, the Moorings is an awesome place, great range of quality beverages to sample!

http://www.myspace.com/hijakoscar
http://www.myspace.com/kalamazoomusic
http://www.myspace.com/pandaeyesaberdeen

last.fm event: http://www.last.fm/event/1532439

Gig reminder: Three Blind Wolves, The Form, Panda Eyes @ Snafu

Just a quick reminder that Panda Eyes will be playing at Snafu tomorrow night (25th March) at Snafu.  Doors at 10, we'll be onstage about 10.30. Hope to see you there :)

Gig tipoff: Three Blind Wolves, Panda Eyes

When: Thursday 25th March 2010
Where: Snafu, 1 Union Street, Aberdeen, AB11 5BU
Doors: 9pm TBC
Tax: £3 (go to The Athenaeum upstairs for a pre gig pint and you might get a free pass...)

It's the Dirty Hearts Club at Snafu and time for a shameless plug for a Panda Eyes gig, of course!  We're leaner, fitter and betterer after a bit of time off and a warm up at a friend's birthday party a couple of weeks ago.  I've never played at Snafu before, really looking forward to it :)

Three Blind Wolves sound like a decent band too, have a listen on their MySpace.

Panda Eyes: http://www.myspace.com/pandaeyesaberdeen
Three Blind Wolves: http://www.myspace.com/threeblindwolves

Last.fm event: http://www.last.fm/event/1451209