HAPPY NEW YEAR - AND HAPPY NEW BAND MEMBER!!

Can we just be the last to wish you all A Happy New Year?!

We hope 2014 brings you everything you want and a belated thanks to everyone who came and supported us during 2013 - as ever, we are incredibly grateful that you take the time to come and join in the fun, and we hope that you enjoy it half as much as we do. We look forward to seeing you during 2014, once we start to tread the boards again!

On that note, 2013 finished on a real high at The Windmill just before Christmas; although it was a bittersweet evening, as we said goodbye to young Matthew (or Professor Simpkin, or Dr Tweedy McTweed or whatever other name he is known by!), it was a brilliant night, and a fitting finale to Matt's time with us. As we've said before, he will be missed, and we're sure it's only Adieu and not Farewell - at the very least, we expect a steady supply of artisan bread!

However, time moves on and, like bread (and beer!), Dazed & Confused never sleeps! We are pleased to announce that we have a NEW Bass player! Lord Montague of Duncalf (or Mon to his friends - seen left with his partner Sam) has agreed to throw in his lot with us, and so the next few weeks will be spent in frantic rehearsal, learning new stuff, bringing Mon up to speed with some of the old favourites, and generally polishing up our act so that our normal high standard (oh yeah!) is maintained! We've already spent some time with Mon (including a great social afternoon/evening at Chrissie's over Christmas), and he still doesn't seem to be put off, so the future is looking bright! In view of the need for Mon to familiarize himself with the material, and because Paul is off to the antipodes during February, it is likely to be the end of March/early April before we're out in public (we'll try and set up some "secret" gigs in friendly pubs!) - we'll keep you posted on progress (on here and via the FB page) so, hopefully, the withdrawal symptoms won't be too bad!

Until we get a new band photo done, you'll just have to put up with the old one with Mon's head superimposed on the banner photo for this blog!

THE WINDMILL IS ROLLING OUT THE WELCOME MAT, AND WE'RE SAYING GOODBYE MATT!!



 As the good old Walrus in Alice in Wonderland said, "The time has come..." and next Friday will see us bidding a fond farewell to our extraordinary (for a number of reasons!) bass player, Matt Johnson, who is heading to pastures new to become a master baker (just checked the spelling of that obviously!) and is showing a singular lack of commitment by refusing to commute from Lancaster for band practice and gigs!

Matt has been with us since 2007 (I know, it seems a LOT longer), and his history with the band is littered with experiences - most of them achingly funny, and some of them downright scary! Here is not the place to recount them in detail, partly because you just had to be there, but to give you a flavour, here's a bulleted list of some of them:
 

• Matt "forgot" that we were booked to do a live appearance on Canalside Radio back in 2009; in fact, he forgot so badly, that we had to go and pick him up from work and transport him bodily to the studio, arriving about 5 minutes before we were due "on air"!
• Matt made his debut for us in 2007, at The Bruce; the first number in the first set was "Don't Believe A Word" - a slow song that starts with a bass intro (a bad move on our part, I'll admit!). Matt launched into his D&C career playing his intro at around 3 times the speed it should have been at, leaving the rest of us to decide whether to let him carry on solo, try and match his frantic pace, or rugby tackle him to shut him up!
• We played a gig in Hertfordshire, and Matt was scheduled to get a lift home with Chrissie who, unfortunately, left without telling him! Luckily, Matt managed to blag a lift off 2 kind people who were coming back to Bolton. Unluckily, even though Macclesfield is en route to Bolton (well it was last time I looked), they decided to drop him off at the Sandbach junction of the M6, leaving him to thumb his way home from there!
• When we played in Bristol, Matt shared a tent with our former guitarist Frank (not known for his love of outdoor living!); their "settling down" at the end of the evening was, apparently, like a cross between The Waltons and Brokeback Mountain - no wonder Frank left for home about 5 in the morning!
• Finally, Matt is renowned for his love of all things tweed, and is rarely seen dressed in anything else - however, his decision to try and purchase a tweed bass case was perhaps a step too far. Fortunately, it doesn't seem to have seen the light of day yet.

All these things, and more, and especially his brilliant bass playing (apparently he'd never played one before he joined us!), have made us love him like a brother, and we'll miss him enormously - even if getting him to remember gig dates and turn up to practice on time has been a never ending chore!

We hope you will all come down to The Windmill at Whiteley Green on Friday 20 December to give him a great send-off AND to kick start your own Christmas celebrations. It's always a great atmosphere in The Windmill, and we'll be taking a cruise through all the old favourites, just to see if Matt can get them right for once!!

A newly shorn Matt playing at Goosfest in October!

 

PHEW, WHAT A WEEKEND!! TIME FOR A BREATHER?

Well - what a weekend! First "double header" for some time and, although it was hard work, both gigs went off really well, and it was great to see so many people having a good time. Only fair to summarise what went on, for those who weren't lucky enough to be there, and for those who were, but can't remember!

 

On Friday, we were at The Wharf which, as many people know, has been lovingly developed by Chris and Jane into one of the best beer and music venues in town - even winning the CAMRA Cheshire Pub of the Year accolade a few weeks ago! On checking our previous gig calendar, it turns out that it was April 2012 when we last played there - a gig that was memorable not least for the amount of condensation that was running down the windows, walls, mirrors and pictures by the time we finished! It was obvious, while we were setting up on Friday, that it was going to be another warm one, although I think Chris must have sorted out his air conditioning because, although the place was rammed by the time we started at 8:45, the liquid to hard surface ratio was significantly less this time round!

 

As I said, there was almost a full house by the time we kicked off, which is always a good sign, and the cross-section of people was equally pleasing; it looked like there was a Tytherington High School reunion in progress, as well as some more "mature" friends (and I use that term advisedly!), and it was an added bonus to have our former bass player Matt Rose there taking a break from the punishing world tour that his current band have been on (a little known beat combo called The Virginmarys!). Apparently, they are off to the USA in a couple of weeks, followed by a UK headline tour  - which of course, is nothing, because we're playing Holmes Chapel in November! Matt was there with  the rest of his family, and it was a joy to see several generations of several families in the room.

 

The gig itself was the normal mix of mayhem, and seemed to be very well received, judging by the amount of jumping up and down that went on! We were due to finish at 11:00pm, but Chris very kindly let us put in a couple of encores - even so, it was difficult to work out how, with such an early finish, it was still gone 1:30am when we got home (in the pouring rain!) - I'm sure the fluid replacement at the end of the evening had nothing to do with it!

 

A special mention to Jane (the landlady) who is about 14 months pregnant, and managed to avoid producing Child No.2 despite our best attempts to get her to deliver during "Sex On Fire"! Not sure if anything has happened yet, but all the best for your happy event Jane (and Chris!)!

 

Less than 24 hours later, the dirty white tour bus pulled up outside The Cock & Pheasant in Bollington for Round 4 of our Autumn Tour. We set up in a corner of the pub which gave the audience a better chance of seeing what we were doing but, unfortunately, was a bit "cosy for us! Cramming 6 of us into a space that was only a little roomier than a telephone box would have taxed the most expert space designer, but we did it (although Matt did complain he could only see the back of Paul & Chrissie's heads and 2 people beyond - oh how that boy suffers for his art!).

 

There weren't as many people in on Saturday (or maybe it was just they were round corners and we couldn't see them!), but Kevin & Fiona (stalwart supporters) showed just what gluttons for punishment they are by turning up for the second night in a row (oh, how we love you two!)! Also great to see other old friends Pete (who stopped in on his way to work), Roger and Ian (who'd driven back from Stratford on Avon) there, as well as former band members Frank & Paul.

 

Again, the set list was designed to provide something for everyone; little did we know that Hugh's rendition of "Come Up And See Me" and Matt's piece de resistance "Chasing Cars" would reduce one lady to tears! She said it was because she loved them so much (which was very good of her), but I did say, at the time, that it wasn't the first time our singing had made people cry!

 

So, all in all, a hectic and exhausting, but extremely enjoyable weekend, and now we have a couple of weeks rest before the next onslaught! Rounds 5&6 of our Autumn Tour see us take on another "double header" over the weekend of 15&16 November - this time for 2 very worthwhile charities. On Friday 15 November, we are playing for the What Women Want Ball in aid of The East Cheshire Hospice at Cranage Hall. This is already a sell-out and, if what the organisers tell me is correct, the venue will be more appropriately named CARNAGE Hall! We've had previous experience of these type of events (Congleton Ladies Circle you know who you are!), so we maybe lucky to escape intact!

 

The following evening, we will drag what's left of ourselves into Manchester to play at the Masquerade Ball in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. This takes place at the Manchester Monastery and, again, promises to be a wild night; the venue is an old church, which has had the interior maintained as it was, and a couple of us went over there to check out the acoustics - WOW!! The place is VAST (97 feet from floor to ceiling), and it looks like a fabulous place to hold events; the photo below is of the stage - yes, that's right, we're playing in front of what was the altar! For a sense of perspective, just check out the little human figures at the bottom left!

 

 

Finally, here are some links to photos taken at our Goosfest gig, a couple of weeks ago; again, a brilliant gig and, after worrying whether there would be enough people willing to pay £10.00 to see us do what we do, it was fantastic to see 100+ people jumping up and down and dancing like there was no tomorrow!

 

1. The Band

2. The Band (again!)

3. Chrissie

4. Paul.

5. Hugh (he's in there somewhere!)

6. Matt (handsome brute!)

7. Andy (best Rock God pose!)

 

THE AUTUMN TOUR JUST GOT BIGGER!

October is starting to look like a good, if busy, month! As well as the gigs already planned in for the 5th (at The Old Ship), the 11th (at Goosfest) and the 18th (at The Wharf), we're delighted to confirm that Charles has invited us back to play at The Cock & Pheasant in Bollington on Saturday 19 October.

This will be the 3rd or 4th time that we've done the good old C&P, and it always tends to be around this time of year; if previous gigs are anything to judge by, it should be a brilliant night - the good folks of Bolly really know how to enjoy themselves so, if you are in the vicinity, a warm welcome is guaranteed!!

This Saturday takes us to the Old Ship Inn on Beech Lane, where we're anticipating much jumping up and down and, if Ali Unwin turns up, no doubt there will also be much climbing on shoulders and scraping of heads on the ceiling! Looks like the weather is going to be a bit suspect for the rest of the week, so why not take the opportunity to come in for a warm, and shake whatever maquerades as your booty?!

Talking of masquerades, Matt and I will be toddling off to Manchester Monastery on Friday to check out the acoustics for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust Masquerade Ball that we're playing there in November. It looks like an enormous place, so we want to make sure we can be heard - although it remains to be seen whether the assembled gathering will appreciate that! It's looking like a really good night for a really good cause, and I believe that tickets are still available, if anyone fancies joining us. Contact Lara Rigby via the Cystic Fibrosis website for details.

Finally, a word of congratulations for our very own Matt Johnson, who completed the Macclesfield Half Marathon last Sunday! Matt maintains he used to be a bit of a runner in his youth, but even that doesn't explain why he attempted to run 13 miles with no training at all - except shaving off his beard to make him more aerodynamically sleek! Suffice it to say, that he completed the course (in 2 hours 40 mins), AND he didn't finish last!! Matt has asked that, if anyone would like to recognise his, not inconsiderable, achievement then donations to the East Cheshire Hospice would be gratefully received. To prove that this is not a figment of anyone's imagination, here's a photo of Matt (dressed as Tinkerbell!) in full flow (come in No.508, your time is up) - it's pure coincidence that it says SLOW on the road, and he did have TWO legs when he started!

ALL THE GIGS YOU NEED - AND MORE!

It's almost the season of mists and mellow frutifulness, and it's the time of year when a young(?) man's thoughts turn away from holidays (well, not quite yet!), and towards how to occupy the increasingly long and cold evenings; well - we have just the thing for you, because the Dazed and Confused post-Summer/peri-Autumn/pre-Christmas Tour dates have just been released!!

Once again, we have had to fight off the demands of numerous agents and other music ne'er do wells, as we have considered the many offers that have flooded our way. It hasn't been easy, and it took us all of about 30 minutes to pull the final list together in between pints of Storm Brewing's finest the other week! Of course, we have had to factor in the remaining holidays of the year (well, we do deserve a break!), and other demands on our time, but we put together probably the most eclectic list of gigs that we've ever done, comprising festivals (yes, only the wimps do summer festivals!), a selection of pub gigs at some of our favourite venues, and a couple of private "dos" that should be a lot of fun - more of which later!

Our first outing is on Saturday 21 September, when we return to play Kingsley Beer Festival. Our debut last year was met with critical acclaim (as much as that can happen when everyone has been drinking for hours on end!), and we were invited back there and then! Like all good bands, we have put our "rider" together, and this contains only 2 requests - free beer for the band, and heating on stage! Last year, it was so cold, that Andy had to warm his hands on the lights, but we've been promised that there will be some form of heating this year (even if it's only fingerless mittens for Andy and Matt!). Details are in the poster above, and no doubt there will be more info appearing on their Facebook page. So, if you fancy a late Summer sojourn to the outskirts of Delamere Forest, we can highly recommend it - it's a delightful spot, and a really friendly crowd.

Saturday 5 October will see us return to The Old Ship Inn on Beech Lane in Macc. Those who read the local press will know that there was a threat of the Ship being closed and sold off for housing development, but a campaign by the locals has given it at least a stay of execution, so it's great to be going back there (for what must be the tenth time, if not more), to celebrate its continued existence! No doubt both fires will be burning fiercely, and there will be much shoulder surfing going on, if certain members of the D&C Massive are in attendance!

The following Friday, 11 October, we are making our debut at Goosfest, which is the local festival held in Goostrey. We were asked to play there last year, but diary conflicts prevented this happening, so it's brilliant to have been asked this year. I don't think any of us had ever heard of the festival before, but it's a really big week-long event, and includes all sorts of art and entertainment. The headline act this year (on the Sunday) is Kiki Dee but, if I were you, I would pop along on the Friday to drink in the atmosphere, and listen to some great music! A detailed programme of events is available on the Goosfest website. and to quote the website piece on our gig - "This promises to be a high octane and enjoyable night so come along to let your hair down and dance the night away!" - no pressure then!!

On Friday 18 October, we're back at The Wharf in Macclesfield. Chris has built this up into a cracking beer and music pub (including winning CAMRA Pub of the Year), and we're privileged to be on the list of "turns" that get invited back. Chrissie suggested we should do a "stripped back" gig, so that the neighbours don't get too upset - we looked at her blankly, and asked what she meant and, now that she's explained, we'll probably end up doing what we always do! Either way, it's always a great night in there, so we're really looking forward to it.

After a couple of weeks rest, to let us draw breath, we've got a whole weekend of gigs for deserving causes! On Friday 15 October, we are playing at the "What Women Want Ball" (now there's a name to conjure with!) at Cranage Hall in Holmes Chapel, in aid of the East Cheshire Hospice. As regular "readers" will know, we're big supporters of the Hospice, because it does fantastic work for the local community and, although this event is a major fundraiser, we are assured it is not at all "starchy, and what the women (and men!) really want to do at this event is have a lot of fun! If anyone would like to support the Hospice and come along to the Ball, the contact is Jane Carter and she can be found on 01625 614193.

 The following evening, Saturday 16 November, we will be steering the dirty white tour bus (i.e. the Brewery van!) out towards Manchester, where we will be entertaining the guests at the Cystic Fibrosis Red Hot Masquerade Ball. Once again, this is a major fundraiser for a tremendous charity and the icing on the cake is that it is taking place at Manchester Monastery! Some people may remember this venue as Gorton Priory but, for a number of reasons, the monks left some years ago, and the Priory started to fall into disrepair. However, because of the architectural significance of the building, the new owners were given a grant from a World Preservation Society to convert it into a conference and events venue, on condition that they maintained the previous appearance of the building There are a couple of photos below to show what it looks like - needless to say, we can't wait to perform there - the acoustics should be amazing!! More details and photos can be seen on the Monastery website.

 

The last date on our current list is our regular pre-Christmas thrash at The Windmill in Whiteley Green on Friday 20 December. Our twice-yearly appearances at the Windmill, have become a bit of a tradition, and the end of year one is always special, because there is usually a big crowd, who are happy to let themselves go at the end of the last working day before Christmas (for most people anyway!). There will, no doubt, be more of that as we approach the time but, as it's still over 3 months away, let's park it for the time being, shall we?!

 

So there you have it - something for everyone over the next few weeks - so get your diaries out, and put the dates in, before you forget! Seems a bit daunting when you look at it written down but, no doubt, it will pass in a flash, as ever! We hope to see loads of you at one or more gigs, and don't hesitate to come and say hello - not that anyone ever does hesitate - because we're always pleased to see familiar faces!

IT'S NOT A GIG - IT'S BAND ON A BOAT 2!!



Captain BirdsEye and Roger the Cabin Boy

 



 A bit of explaining to do here, I think!

A few weeks ago, Andy enquired whether we would be able to play at The Unicorn in Congleton - a fine establishment with a growing reputation for good music, on Saturday 22 June. We all duly said that would be fine (we've not played Congleton for a year or so), and wheels were put in motion to confirm the booking (Andy's job), sort out publicity (Paul's job) and generally get ourselves into shape (not easy when holidays and the like had to be accommodated!).

Things were seemingly going OK, except for the fact that The Unicorn were apparently oblivious to the fact that we would be appearing there! There was nothing on their Facebook Page - in fact, they were billing up another band to appear on that night, so there was a real risk of either a multi-band event, a coin toss for who played the gig or (at worst) a big fight in front of the pub! When this was pointed out to Andy, he seemed completely unfazed saying "Don't worry, I'll talk to them, it's all OK". Unbeknownst to Paul, who was getting a little perturbed by the lack of action at the Unicorn end (to the extent of posting on their FB page to tell people that their entertainment had changed, and that D&C would be there, rather than the other band!), a plot was being hatched!! To celebrate his birthday, a replay of the famous "Band on a Boat" trip of a couple of years had been arranged and, when he was told of this at 7:45am on Saturday morning, it almost precipitated a heart attack, stroke and nervous breakdown all at the same time! Sure enough, on arrival at Macclesfield Marina, the whole band, partners and friends were assembled - except for Chrissie and Pete who were late, because they live 50 yards from the marina!

Notwithstanding the shock, it was a fabulous day - the weather held out, there was a big spread of food and drink AND Andy had frantically rung round telling people who had arranged to go to the gig (and The Unicorn!) what was going on, so all's well that ends well! We did consider going on to the Unicorn to heckle the other band, after we'd parked the boat (I think that's the right nautical term!)but decided, in view of level of refreshment that had been reached, it probably wasn't a good idea! So, big apologies if we wrecked anybody's plans, and the same to The Unicorn if we messed them about - we are hoping to actually turn up and play there sometime in July, and that will give us the chance to make amends properly!

So, onto this week, when we ARE actually playing! We're back at The Windmill in Whiteley Green, which is always a great night, and we'd be delighted to see old and new friends there. As it's Paul's actual birthday on that day, that's also a good reason to come and see if the addition of another year has taken its toll!

STOP PRESS - 2 MORE GIGS!

Well - I obviously spoke too soon! No sooner do I say that we don't have another gig until the end of June, than the "London Bus" syndrome strikes and TWO more come along at once! both of these are "public", so you don't need to worry about smuggling yourself in under the hem of someone's bridesmaid's dress, or disguising yourself as a waiter!


The first one is this SATURDAY 1 JUNE at Porter's Ale House on Roe Street in Macclesfield. It's a while since we've played there, and it's changed hands, but we're sure it will be a good night and, as Summer officially starts on 1 June, no doubt the sun will be cracking the pavement (except that it will be 9 o'clock at night when we start!). So come along in your shorts and flip flops, and we'll have a good old summer knees-up!

SATURDAY 22 JUNE sees us breaking new ground - we've been asked to play at The Unicorn on Holmes Chapel Road in Congleton! Apparently, mein hosts at the pub are trying to generate a worthwhile music scene in Congleton, and we are one of the first to get it going (of course, it will all be downhill from there!) so, if any of our Congleton readers are at a loose end on the night, why not come along and see what you've been missing all this time - of course, everyone else is welcome too!  PS: I couldn't find a photo of the pub, so here's a photo of a Unicorn!