Okay the film still doesn’t have distro but at least you can see the trailer. Director Roger Spottiswoode needed an upbeat poppy number a la Taylor Swift for a sequence in the middle of the film. I was cheaper. He liked the song so much he put it in the trailer as well. Sung by Bree Sharp and produced by Don DiLego.
Either Side Of Midnight
BACK TO NORMAL? /
It’s over a year and a half since I’ve shared any news here. I wonder why. Ah yes, the pandemic.
I’ve been so much luckier than most. I’ve even been able to enjoy the lockdown at times. Lots of new songs and scripts, plenty of walks, and (mostly!) quality time with my five year old daughter. Enforced home schooling took some getting used to but, luckily for me, my daughter was a good teacher. I might have learned some patience.
Also, the film of my feature script - Either Side Of Midnight - was edited and entered into festivals. I’m still digesting the journey I’ve had with it. I’m simultaneously thrilled the film got made and disappointed with its progress. The producers haven’t yet found a proper distributor. The main reason is that there are no recognisable stars. Still , the director and producers knew that going in. Is the film quite good enough? If not, is that due to some unwanted changes and additions made to my script? Of course, I’m the writer so you already know what I think. Like the narrator of many of my songs I dwell in a limbo of ambivalence. I’m simultaneously frustrated and grateful. Who knows where the journey will lead?
Much as I love films and hope that more of my scripts get made, nothing compares to the catharsis of music. More than anything else I’ve missed the experience of playing my songs with other musicians. I’ve particularly missed rehearsals. Some of my favorite memories are of working on new material with my Enemies. My little ditties suddenly put on a whole new suit of clothes. I can’t believe I haven’t seen the band since late 2019. It’s been far too long.
Thanks to the coming London visit of my good friend, Matti Muller, I’ve booked my first gig since March 2020. I’ll be playing as part of a quintet at The Green Note on Tuesday, August 17th. That’s the largest combo I’ve played with in England: Matti on guitar, Jonny Gee on bass, Joe Bickerstaff on piano, Moonsauce on percussion, and myself on schizo-romantic vocals plus the occasional strum. Rehearsals have been unbelievably therapeutic. Still, I’m weirdly nervous about the show. It’s been so long. Please come and calm me down. It will be… amazing! There are still a small number of tickets left. They need to be purchased in advance for Covid compliance reasons.
Matti Muller, Spott, Jonny Gee
Photo by Clare Elliott
If you live north of London you may prefer to come to The Twinwood Festival near Bedford on Saturday, August 28th. I’ll be playing two very different sets on the Moonshine Glade stage: an acoustic quartet set at 2:15pm and an electric quintet set as The Deadly Lampshades at 4:50pm. For my own safety each set will have an Americana slant in keeping with the flavour of the festival. Otherwise I’ll be lynched by a posse of angry Brits in vintage derby hats.
On the road again. Hope to see y’all soon.