Since I had the opportunity to speak at Spiegel Online’s panel on music copyright at Re:publica, I’ve learnt more about the structure of the PRS and the German equivalent, GEMA. Before you fall asleep in front of your screens, let me tell you one thing: Copyright is everybody’s business because we are all now creators …
Continue reading “PRS & GEMA – you get to pay but don’t have a say”
“I tell you there are no problems, only solutions” (John Lennon, watching the wheels). Copyright was one of the most prevalent topics at this year’s Re:publica conference in Berlin. However, the common denominator of most discussions around the subject was the lack of solutions and concrete suggestions for moving forward. We are all familiar with …
Tails from the rails now back on British soil with a show at the Ritzy Cinema Club in Brixton. Unchartered territory for me: As a north Londoner, I can count on one hand the number of shows I’ve played below the river… My friend Patrick from the band Heart Kill Giant hosted the event. I …
Continue reading “Tales from the Rails part 11: Harps and sunsets”
‘Tales from the Rails’ now reporting from above the clouds. It’s Monday and I am London-bound after a fantastic weekend in Berlin. On Saturday night I played at a new club in town called “T” and it was, in many respects, one of the best shows of the tour and equally the most stressful. As …
Continue reading “Tales from the Rails part 10: Berlin Basements and the Time Bandits”
The yellow taxi turns onto the Reperbahn, passed the “Sex Cinema: 3 Euro” shop. It’s full of men and the radio’s blasting out: “She works hard for the money, so hard for the money”. I’m in Hamburg, it’s a Friday night and I’m on my way to today’s home, but the whole trip was really …
Continue reading “Tales from the Rails part 9: Sex, bunnies and rock n roll”
I’m feeling quite hazy, the sunshine warming the window of the train, coach A, from Manchester to London and my mind is at ease, knowing that all it needs to think about is home, at least for a couple of hours. Yesterday’s gig was awful. Truly. I mean, really horrible, but in a funny kind …
Continue reading “Tales from the Rails part 8: Shock Radio and Acoustic Drum and Bass”
I’m on the train from Coventry to Manchester and am making the executive decision to combine Birmingham and Coventry into one “Tales from the Rails West Midlands” post – so here goes! On Thursday evening I played at student hideout ‘The Soak’ in Selly Oak, Birmingham. Unfortunately students were as sparse as rowdy locals were …
Continue reading “Tales from the Rails part 7: The Grey Road to Star City and Sparkly People”
It’s an uphill struggle. Glasgow and in general. I’ve caught a cold and am feeling groggy in the sunlight; the suitcase feels heavy, as does my guitar and my head. This feels surreal, the crass slopes of the city, the New York like grid, the concrete, the flyover and the uniformed girls, playing tag on …
Continue reading “Tales from the Rails 6: the many sheep and the uphill struggle”
After a full English including black pudding, which I don’t touch, It’s back to Lime Street Station and onwards: Off to play at the End of Spring Festival. Change at Birmingham and here we are in very sunny Cheltenham just a few hours later. Although it looks like quite a long way on my trusted …
Continue reading “Tales from the Rails part 5 – End of Spring and Saturday Shenanigans”
With every trip there’s a moment before arrival where I fear the magic will one day wear off, but it never does. I arrive at Liverpool Lime Street station and feel uplifted – this city may not have that effect on everybody, but it does on me. Once upon a time (or maybe twice – …