What's The Frequency, Kenneth?

Right then, what's going on here?

What is the frequency?

I keep asking myself that question and keep coming up empty. "The Project" was the driving force behind me getting out there, playing with other people, getting in a band, the whole nine yard, and, AND, if I don't finish off this sentence sooner or later I'm going to...

Okay, so the other day Tim said something to me which I took issue with, though, on reflection, there was a core of truth to it.

I mentioned what a cheeky sod Col, over on Axe Victim dot com was for linking here with the tag line: "Kenny’s lame old blog that he can’t be bothered to keep up."

[...you gotta love Col's directness, eh?]

Tim said that he agreed with Col and that the difference between him and me, apart from the CHASM between our ages and waistlines (sorry, Col, couldn't resist!) was that for him, music, playing, writing was a serious business. For me [here comes the sucker punch] it's just a hobby.

Now, I'm a Leo. Whilst I don't subscribe to all that horrorscope (sic) crap, I do admit that I have a bit of a stubborn streak and I don't take criticism well.

[...especially if it's justified]

I don't see it as a hobby. I see it as a path. A path that, recently, I've wandered off. Now I'm staggering around, lost in a desert.

So, at the end of The Project I was in a band, or at least playing with other people. I was having fun. I was starting to feel plugged in. Air was moving. Then along came politics and incompatibilities and it all went to ratshit, as these things do, I'm told.

After that, I decided to take a break from 'other people' and concentrate on my own 'material'. Didn't happen. Itchy fingers. Click-click-click... Gumtree... Party Sounds... the lot. I ended up meeting a few people. Nothing clicked 100%, though.

So, that didn't work out. My fault, not anyone elses. Life happened. Shit, meet fan. Splat. I haven't touched Red in ages. I haven't found... made the time.

It's been a right old pity-party at Fillmore Heights lately.

That has to change.

That will change.

Just wait and see, eh?

Balls

I need to dust off my guitar and amp.

The Beeb are coming around to film us 'at home' doing 'what we do'.

Luckily they'll be around late morning as opposed to late night. That might get a little too 'Channel 4' for most people.

It's this Own Art thing. They think we're 'interesting'. I bet they ask me to play something on Red.

F**K, F**K, F**K, F**K

Damn you, British artists
Damn you, Interest Free Credit
Damn you! Damn you! Damn you!

Does anyone want to babysit a Les Paul for a few weeks? That way I can say I'm not sure exactly where it is... [insert churlish giggle here]

As an aside, I'm 99.9% certain I'm starting a new job soon. Hopefully I'll get more time to pull my finger out. I'm not certain yet but I may have a new project coming on.

But Is It Art?

Right then, after a couple of delays, the Beeb are definitely sending a researcher/director combo round to our flat this evening to have a chat about our use of the Arts Council's Own Art scheme.

We do collect a bit of art here and there. We're not exactly Satchi & Satchi, but we have a few pieces, two of which were financed through the AC's scheme. The one that the Beeb are interested in, primarily, is by Kuldeep Malhi. We were initially drawn to his 'Poldactyl' series, but ended up getting selected ceramics from 'Blush'. If you want to check out his stuff, he's exhibiting at the Steps Gallery in Pimlico right now.

So, what's this got to do with The Project? Well, one of the items purchased through the scheme was Red, my Les Paul. Interest free credit! As such, he's currently on display in our flat, rather than being hidden away in his protective case. I have to say, though, that I feel like a bad father. The stand he's on has neoprene buffers which could, over time, damage the nitrocellulose laquer. Whilst I doubt a period of a few hours would make any impact, I'll admit I'm not comfortable with it.

Please god, don't let them ask me to play him! Apart from setting him on the stand I've not touched him in a month. As I did pull him out, I noticed he's badly out of tune, too. Must fix that!

Another Post

Will this be about music or more whining? Let's find out.

First off, a little whine. Indulge me. So, we got back from hols all tanned and exhausted (too many late nights) to find our builder had pulled out of the house mods we've been planning forever. Not a good situation as we were all gung-ho to get moving.

Surely nothing more could go wrong?

Well, yes, there is one thing that could go wrong. Our architect just emailed (nice) to say that she's exhausted her list of builders she's willing to work with and hence she has no option but to withdraw from the project, too! Now, I've heard about clients firing their architects, but have you ever heard of an architect firing the client?

We do like to be different.

Advance to Old Kent Road, do NOT pass Go, do NOT collect £200.

Not fun. We're feeling a little shafted.

Fortunately for us, the BBC crew who want to interview us about the Own Art scheme postponed. We're now only in partial chaos. Lots more work to go before the place is habitable. Marigolds at the ready.

At 11pm last night, after an evening of tidying, I picked up Blackie (my Ovation acoustic), played briefly, then put it down again. I was amazed to find that I remembered where the notes were! Amazing. Thank god for finger memory, eh?

We have (much) more cleaning to do. I think the BBC are now coming on Friday. I think. I'm not sure. The place is still a pit, but at least it's not the disaster area it was.

Music? It's not very rock 'n' roll, but here's the playlist on my iPod right now:

"Work", Kelly Rowland (Freemasons Radio Edit)
"I Kissed A Girl", The Real Booty Girls (PH Elektro Remix)
"Jai Ho!", Pussycat Dolls
"When Love Takes Over", Airi L (Ronnie Maze Club Mix)
"Release Me", Agnes (Extended Mix)

Okay, so there's more, but I'm going to stop there. What we're talking is a whole buttload of Big American Vocal dance music. Summertime fluff for booty-shakin'. Kenski the sun-lovin' podium-dancer is in full force. Lasers and strobe-lights at the ready.

As they say in the Jerry Springer Opera... I Just Wanna Fucking Dance.

One day I'll get Red out again. One day I'll plug him up again. One day I'll WAIL.

But not today.

Virtual Insanity

Alright. You asked for it. You begged for it. Now here it is. A post!

Life. What's that about then? How do you quantify chaos?

Okay. Holiday? Good. Very non-relaxing. Returned home exhausted from seeing the sun come up too many times. Musical news from the trip? I like the new Placebo album. It's a grower. Michael Jackson died. We were told at 4am outside a club, by a drag queen of all people. We thought she was joking! We had tickets for one of the O2 shows. Might still go. You never know, do you? MJ has a habit of turning up when you least expect him.

I haven't touched a guitar since my last post. I'm not sure I could find one in our flat at the moment. We have so much washing to do but our machine exploded. Need to find time to go to a launderette. When was the last time anyone did that?!?!

Both under and on top of all the clothes is a thick layer of dust and grime. Two weeks before our vacation we stopped cleaning. Why? We thought we might have builders in, demolishing the place. What happened? We got shafted. The builders pulled out, deciding to take on a more lucrative job, probably.

We're living in chaos. The place is a dump. I wouldn't house a homeless person in there.

And...

In a strange twist of fate we have the BBC coming round next week to interview us about our use of the Arts Council Own Art scheme! We've used the scheme for a few purchases, including my Gibson, Red. I hope to god they don't bring a camera crew.

Who is going to clean the flat before then? No idea.

Who is going to turn the garden from an overgrown jungle into something resembling order? No idea.

Who's going to figure out which packing case the 'Own Art' stuff is in?!? That's a damn fine question!

Don't get me started on work. Before our trip I was offered a new position. I turned it down. Not certain why! It would probably have been a good move but the timing was bad.

I need another vacation.