Chris Gill and Bands: Journal

I got a lot on...I wish sometimes I could just take my head off fill it up with cold water , and just tip it out again. Hmm what am I on about now?
I have so many music projects on again...Tis good as they always do seem to happen, but I really do want to do the next Band of Rain album. I am in to it, and have made a start but there is never enough time..But we all suffer from that dont we.? The more labour saving devices we have , the less time we got.
I had a great time at The Restoration gig. Met Nick May and Harvey Bainbridge, two real gentlemen.I am looking forward to seeing the film they shot of us. We had a 45 minute slot but it seemed to dissapear really quickly...I felt like we were just getting warmed up when we had to go Whimwise were next though and they were on the button. I will go and see them again for sure check em out if you haven't already.
Harvey came on last, after blowin us away for about 45 minutes with his mastery of electronica...He started singin ! He was singing about " It might be day it might be night..." It was great Harvey...You are a champ!
Well I can smell the toast burning...There goes the smoke alarm....

Band is getting together on the 15 August for a dust down and blow...I am really looking forwrad to that...hmm perhaps I should buy a new guitar what do you think?
I have so many ideas going round in my head...in fact there is an album in there on top of the one I am working on.
Thanks to all you lovely people who read my rantings...I am sorry I haven't put anything here for a while.
All is good, but I have been very busy performing bits and pieces of other peoples albums. The rest of this year and the first half of next will be dedicated to Band of Rain, I think that something good is going to happen.

Tony...my dear brother if you read this...I miss you its great when we get together we really should do it more often
i am going now ..thank you more later and more frequently

Love

CG

Yep
Started again on saturday and it went great. Don't think it will be long before we are playing live again.
All we got to do now is hope that there still may be some places left to play...the old industry is not what it used to be. Getting tough now so most bands are getting day jobs if they didnt have one already!
4th album is taking a bit of time, but then I suppose we are not working to deadlines etc, it is underway however.
I will let you know a bit more about that when its a bit more "whole"

Got quite a few other projects on the go at the moment, but I like to be under pressure thats how it works sometimes.

Well off to the doctors now to find out why I keep getting cramp in my elbow.Hmm any suggestions, email em here huh ?

Thanks for watching...good night everyone

CG

Another bit of time goes by and its still happening but slow. I have been in the wilderness abit but getting back now. I took on a lot of work, musically and while I have enjoyed doing it all, it kept me busier than I thought.End result is I have taken part in several projects that will result in 4 albums being released in the next 8 months that I have been working on, albeit with other titles than Band of Rain...
Putting a new thing together now and think that it will be more metal than befoe, I srtill find myself drawn to metal, even though I haven't really been there before.Going now though hehe

I will try to get the live thing going again too, I really want to play live again, but as you know the venues are all closing down and such, still you never know.

Hi
Just to let you know I'm still around...still not really sure what to do, so not doing mush really for fear of screwing it up. I have always (with hindsight) rushed in to band line ups, so going to get it absolutely right this time. It is important to note however, that the people I have worked with up till now have been a delight, but there were just complications .I have recorded so much music in the last 12 months, but frankly I have trashed most of it...just not going the way I want it to. I also like so many find myself with less and less time these days, but that will only make me work harder. I frankly do not see much happening this year, regards Band of Rain, but you can be sure we will come out fighting in 09!

I am personally doing a lot of recording with other people especially Mooch, I thoroughly enjoy the Mooch sessions, and fingd myself singing a lot more these days.So there is still a lot going on even though it does not seem so on the surface...trying to make the next album very special..
bye for now

CG

You know sometimes I really wonder at myself...wvwn I don't know where i have been for the last couple of months...but I have got my head together now.
BOR lives again and we are all happy about that.We have a great band and brand new songs coming along, as well as looking to get in to rehearsing a lot sooner than we thought.
I am trying to find the time to get some new photos of myself and Andy but ...well you know?
I am spending every spare moment in the studio and hopefully what comes out will form the basisi of our new music.
Thanks for reading this
Byee
CG

Well got a new line up and working on new music.Things seem to be going well.
I wish I could find a little more time!
Well chuffed with the people in the band, I think this will be something special!
CG

Hi
After a lot of soul searching, I felt it was time to close down band of Rain. I need to move on personally, and while I have enjoyed what we achieved, I need to start again and with all new music.The only way I could get closure was to do this.
I am looking forward to getting back in to the studio again, and will bedoing that sa soon as the dust settles.
Keep you all posted as soon as I figure out what to do next!
CG

Those of you who have been keeping track of the ever changing situation, may not be too suprised to hear that the band has split up again...
Graham jumpaed ship first followed one by one by the rest. We had done a couple of gigs at least this time.
I find myself alone agin, though Sharon will probably be back to do some more vocals later.
I am goin to go it alone for a little while, and concentrate on getting the 4th album out by mid 2008...I will probably play all the instruments myself, as I did on the first 2...
If the next album comes out ok then I will see about putting a band together again to go out and play it live, right now though I am taking a bit of time off. Adios for now
Cg

At last we are playing live. Kinda like the last bit of the puzzle coming together.

We have done 2 gigs now, and they actually went very well, we had 2 encores at The Peel in London which was our first gig, and it really got us in to it.

The drummer has proven to be a very nice guy as well as a great drummer. The rest of the band did their bit and we all enjoyed it very much.

I am still wrestling with my gear specially the pedal as I keep making adjustments all the while and I should just leave it alone.

Started to use a Wolf guitar that I bought off Graham, its great but I prefer my Yam SG 2000 S. Its gone off to be repaired and hopefully it will be back with me for the Classic Rock Society gig on Nov 24th.

Bumped in to Tim Walker at The Tamworth gig, it was great to see him again.
My good mate Steve Palmer and Amanda came to see us at The Waterfront...he's such a great guy and very prolific at the moment. I will be doing some vocals for Steve on his upcoming album 1967 and a half. 60's music with a twist, really looking forward to doing that.

Looking to get some more T shirt designs done soon.

Poor old Sharon moved here to Wales but has had to move back to Suffolk...its a shame it would have been great to be able to work more closely on new stuff with her.

Went up to the peenines for a week got back Saturday, had a great time up there really chilled out.

Got 3 days coming up again soon, but thety are reserved for dentistry as much as fun hehe...

Well better go, would be great to see some of you at a live gig, please come and say HI...I know there are quite a few of you that read this!

Take care

CG

Had a great audition yesterday with our new drummer Andy .
He fitted in right away and I couldn't be more chuffed.
I really dont think this guy will let us down.
We really can get on with things now. Do you realise I have been putting a live band together for over 2 years now!
We are changing the set list slightly as well as writing new stuff. We have put 2 new songs in to the set list that no one has heard yet.
Anyway gotta gfo just wanted to note down about the new drummer, if he sticks with it, I think you will like him a lot
CG

Yes another month has gone by so we must need a new drummer he he..
John has left us, after a really great rehearsal on Saturday.
Well good luck John and thanks.

Extremely pleased with the way everything else is going...

I still cant decide whether to use my Korg AX 1500 pedal or just the Marshall footswitch?
I just seem to get so much feedback all the time with the Korg.
It has to be me as everyone else seems to get on ok with em.
I was delighted today to find that we will be headlining the gig at The Peel with the great Crimson Sky in support.
If you can make it, it will be a great night.Nov 3rd Kingston on Thames.

CG

Right
we have all had holidays etc, so its time to get back to it.We are about to go in to the last round of rehearsals before we go live and I can't wait!
I have been polishing my guitar quite a lot lateley and hoping for more now at last we are back together again.
The floods have subsided (we personally got off very lightly) and all the local farmers are getting the winter feed in.
Even the sheep look a little more cheerful!
Bye Bye for now
CG

All going well so far!
John the drummer has proven to be a great drummer and a nice guy to boot.Rehearsals are going ok I just wish we could have more of them. But we all need a holiday so...
Started getting gigs now, that feels good, just agonising over the set list, there are over 40 songs including the new stuff coming thru, and we dont have enough time on stage to be able to do half of them!
We have survived the drenching so far, though we are completely surrounded by floods.

Finally spent some time in the village hall with my gear and managed to turn it all up full blast, and get my sound to a point where I was happy with it.

I would really love to get back in to the studio. I feel very creative right now, but just dont have the time! Time! its a bugger, where can I get more of it?

CG

Well another audition on Saturday for a drummer. I feel very positive about this guy but thats all I'm saying or it will be the kiss of death...
I am so happy that the 3rd album is out at last. We are on i tunes at last with it too.
Its going down well so that is good.
We have parted company with Richard on keyboards. He is very good etc that was not the problem, it was the fact that there was no room for the 3 of us within the music, so we are going to have to re arrange some of the songs slightly for live, but thats ok they will remain true.
Been shutting myself away a lot lately trying to get a new and interesting sound on my guitar, but its hard to keep doing as your ears get tired and the best way to tell the difference between the sound you had and the one you are moving to, is to go away and come back later.
I have more or less ditched my effects pedal now, and will be going stright in to a Marshall 100watt, its got some great tones on it, and built in effects.I am going to try to play guitar without using mega effects. Nothing wrong with those that do...but thought it would be nice to back to how I started out.
I love using my yamaha sg2000 still, but the frets are seriously wearing now and will need a re fret soon, or I may hang her up and get a new one.
I have an Aria Paul jobby that is actually very good indeed it reaaly suprised the shit out of me!
I also like the look of some of the Schecters...they are really turning out some superb guitars.
Anyway bla bla
Catch you later
CG

Hi everyone! We are on a roll, Chris and i have ideas popping out everywhere, We are working on the fourth album, entitled 'THE CRAFT'. Going to be some great collaborations on this one, will let you know as soon as things transpire. Arts and Allurements has been well recieved, you can check out a review by Duncan Glenday (Sea Of Tranquility) on our Reviews/interviews link. Bor T'shirts are going fast, so for those of you who haven't already ordered one, well what are you waiting for BUY ONE!
Want to say a big thanks to all of you who have stuck by us, in the rough and the smooth, your loyalty is much appreciated. XXX
Live band is coming together, sounds awesome.
LETS ROCK!
Sharon.xx

We are getting through rehearsals ok, in fact the last one we had went great we are actually going through the set list ok...sure theres a few teething problems but.

My biggest problem at the moment is trying to get a drummer that will go the distance. We got a guy coming along to the next one who at last I think is going to do it. BUT..thats all Im saying right now as everytime I open my gob something goes wrong know what I mean??
Sharon and I have already got one song finished for the new album, and I am in the middle of putting together a second called "Grey Mary"
It is going to be spooky ...the other one we have finished is called "The Tower of Sin".
It is going to be a very ethereal album, can't wait I love ethereal.
I have also been getting tons of feedback at rehearsals from my gear..it has been doing my head in because I thought it was due to my incompetence (hard to believe :- O )
but thanks to Sharon, I found out that it is due to the windings on the pick ups.
That means that I have another excuse to give to the Mrs that I need a new guitar hee hee I want a twin neck 6 string and 12....I think I can swing it now.
Thanks oh loyal readers....thanks for being there.
Keep yer posted.

CG

Well, today is a proud moment for me.We have a big fan in Virginia USA who has started a fan site dedicated to Band of Rain.Her name is Angelita and I am so grateful to her.

I only wish my Dad were here to see it...he died just before I finished the 1st album so he never got to see all this....he bought me my first guitar too, thanks Dad.

There is a link to the fan site at the top of the links page if wanna go look.

We have Graham Elks back on board again. He is a great guitarist and I look forward very much to working with him again.

We ahd a great time at the radio station they are really nice people.

The 3rd CD is out at last it is such a feeling of closure, now I truly feel that I can move on.

We got a well hard rehearsal place...well chuffed with it.

Meeting a lot of great people on my space.

Got to go get you later
C.G.

At last the 3rd CD is out and available. We also have a few gigs lined up but more about that soon.
It has been a long while this 3rd CD but it will have been worth it.
We had a great time at rock 247 on line yesterday . They made us feel very much at home...
CG

Well what a difference a few weeks makes. Now we got a great new live band, the 3rd CD is going to be out at last.
We will be launching it on rock247online radio Sunday 6th of May from 2PM GMT.
We will be giving away t shirts and stuff too.

Mooch (Steve Palmer) sent me a good mix of the song I sang the main vocals on, for his upcoming album. I have to say it sounds really good..he has done a great job of making my voice work.
Looking forward to hearing the whole album...I'll keep you posted.

Yipee

CG

Oh yeah happy St Georges day!