Passing ships launching missiles! (One of my top 8 pet hates)!

people who randomly bump into you on the street, then rant, 'Hello stranger, so you can't pick up your phone then?'

Wow, what a statement! 


So presumptuous, so ignorant, so arrogant! It wouldn't be so bad if they had called a couple of times and left messages, I am not talking about those ones. I am referring to the ones where neither party has been in touch, or made any form of contacted for several months, or even a year or two! 


My virtual translation in subconcious mode, goes as far as.. 


'Gavin! I was just the other day wondering when I would get the chance to politely put you in your place for not treating my like the royalty that I am! I mean, you haven't called or anything! at one point I thought you were expecting me to pick up my phone and call you so we could catch up, but then, we both know that I am so far above you that I would never dream of doing that!'


"Er, yeah.... I should have called my Lord!" I'll say no more on that! Case closed, end of discussion, and needless to say, I won't be calling them any time sooner! 

My Top 8 pet hates..Diary of a London Soul! (part 2)

Mobile Phone 'BAD-WUD' syndrome!


Ok so you are angry, had a bad day, your girlfriend lost your ipod on the tube, and to top it all off, you got offended when she told you that someone gave her a wink. But come on, does the whole world have to share in your anguish? 
Since mobiles have become a part of our eveyday life, we are all the more surrounded by conversations to an imaginary second person. Just sometimes however, everyone and thier dog somehow becomes privy to the whole picture, because the conversation gets very ugly.
It really does feel uncomfortable listening to a random bloke effing and blinding down his samsung without no regard for his surroundings. The problem is nowadays you dare not ask for them to tone it down, just in case the guy pulls out a little toy to do you severe damage with!


I am probably sounding quite old school here, but when children are around, certain language and behaviour should not be displayed in my opinion. 


While I am on the subject of phones in public, what happened to the days when we used to use headphones on the bus? I know loudspeaker is cool when you need to multitask, but come on, must everyone hear what you want to blast?


I do appreciate the value of community and sharing, of course, but most of the time, the songs are so crude and aggressive I spend the time in shock, wondering which part of the tune they are enjoying, because I really ain't feeling any of it!

Yes, mobile phone abuse. Definately one of my top 8 pet hates!

My Top 8 pet hates..Diary of a London Soul! (part 1)

I don't have time for the box' so get over it pal!

When people get unpleasantly surprised when they find out, that I don't care to watch 'Big brother', desperate housewives or even 'American Idol'!  
This is one of those things I guess only the die-hards' will understand. When you want to do something really badly, and do it at the top level, some things just have to give. In other words, to do what I do, TV viewing really has little or no place in my diary!


This is fairly acceptable to me, and perhaps many others; but somehow it seems to frighten and disappoint the living daylights out of some! It's almost as if the fact that I don't watch it, lowers me to some low life status, of which they would rather not be associated with; and in their anguish, they need to find a way to show me that this is really not a good look!

Yes I admit, I can be a bit of a hermit at the best of times, with recording schedules and deadlines to meet, or even when the creative juices are flowing and I would rather not break the flow I am in, but if I lived any other way, then perhaps instead of people complimenting on the quality of my production, musicianship, composition and songwriting, they would of course be able to enjoy a good old chin wag with me all about who slept with who behind who's back on the latest episode of Eastenders!.. er, could be quite cool, but I think I'll go with the first option thanks..

Yes, condescending TV addicts are indeed one of my pet hates!


PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD YOUR TWO PENCE TO THIS BLOG POST, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS! 


MUCH LOVE

My Week on tour backing for Stevie Wonder, (Part 8).

After waiting for over an hour for the coach, due to some confusion with the call time, we board the coach, destination - Manchester arena.


The journey is somewhat more subdued than the rest, but not at all down to lack of enthusiasm. There were a few changes in personnel due to work commitments, but the journey is very much enjoyable. I am really taken back by the pleasant nature of everyone involved!


On arrival we are asked to be on standby for sound-check/rehearsal. Stevie and his band are playing through songs and having a laugh, in fact, much like any other band. However, Stevie is very much the one commanding the general direction of things, along with the production manager.


I am in awe of the gift Stevie possesses, it's almost as if he is at one with the sound of music, similar to the way we all are generally at one with our own natural breathing!


The band are obviously noticeably honored to be there and you can see the professionalism they constantly display . As we wait for our moment to participate in the sound-check, Stevie's playful character is very much on show, with jokes and accents flying over his Mic during random outbursts!


After soundcheck, which sounded incredible actually, we all head for dinner. The catering was tremendous! Everything had just the right amounts. I am sure that Stevie being blind gives him a greater advantage with the other senses, including taste! So, t's no wonder as to why this catering company has been touring with Stevie's crew for many years now! 


We are then told that we are able to take one group picture with Stevie, which is not what I wreckon we would have preferably opted for, but it was never going to be frowned upon by any of us!


The pic came after a lengthy wait, and was once again very surreal. As he came out, what immediately struck me was the size of this man!! He was towering over me ,and even some of the taller guys of the choral! He was there in front of us, and we were there in awe of him, everyone wondering what to say, and somehow not sure how to tke the moment in, knowing that he could see none of us, and even if he could, it would probably have been the last time for many of us! As he held his hand out, I stretched forward to shake it and noticed the firmness of his grip, which was aided somewhat by the fact that his hands are also huge!
I explained what a pleasure it was to finally meet him, and we took the picture together, which I am sure you will agree looks great!

Looking back over the experience, I remember having a talk with Emily during the soundcheck, as we sat in the front row of Manchester arena, and she like me concluded, that there is this aura about Stevie that is ever so reminiscent of our father, Barnet 'Ron' Holligan.  


They are indeed less than a year apart in age, but it was just his playful personality, his authoritive presence and his graceful gentleness, as well as facial features that very much felt like home to us both!


Anyone who has heard my music and its nature, especially songs like 'It's Over' and Beautiful Tale, and even seen my pictures on myspace will testify that my sound, and at times general style and appeal could quite easily at times find it's origins in a classic Stevie album, such as 'Talking book' or 'Songs in the key of life'!
It was for this reason, I took the opportunity of approaching Stevie's Tour Director, who I have known for many years prior to eventaully ending up backing him. I gave him my EP and pleaded with him to play it to Stevie, with the hope that he would simply identify and perhaps even enjoy knowing the influence he has had on my craft as I writer!
Whether he has heard it or not remains a mystery, but I guess that only time will tell. 


Then just before we left the arena, the choral sang happy birthday to me, Stevie wonder style of course! 


On the way home I was once again left in very surreal place, on the coach having just finished a UK tour performing with a true Genius, the eve of my 30th brithday!


Inspired to the hilt I began to dream even bigger than before, of just what is possible, when you really trust the Great Script-writer, and leave things in His hands!


Thanks for taking the time to read this blog, Feel free to reply or leave comments, and be sure to stop by in the near future, as I will be revealing more true stories from my travels and exploits!

My Week on tour backing for Stevie Wonder, (Part 7).

So we are on the way to Glastonbury, I have had very little sleep over the past 72 hours, for obvious reasons, and I don't sleep well on coaches, let alone noisy ones, especially when England are playing Germany in the World Cup competition!


When I am tired I either go quiet, or really nutty. This time I went for the quiet mode, though I was at one point very actively engrossed in a conversation with Muyiwa from Riversongz, about Celebrity circles, business affairs and trying to maintain a level of integrity, with both of our backgrounds rooted in all three!


When we arrive, we get to briefly engage with some of the band, who I can recall watching a few times with Stefano in Italy last year, on the 'Live at last' DVD performance at the 02 arena. Once again the energy amongst the choral is electric, even despite England's dreadful exit of the World Cup.


Stevie goes on to perform and the show is even bigger this time. As we step on stage, the thing that blows me away is the sheer size of the audience. As far as I could possibly see, there were people, all crammed together might I add, and even still I am sure there were just as many there that I couldn't see!!
The performance was incredible and the high after the show was second to none! 
I am not sure which my favourite song of the set is, but it's a close call between 'Living in the City'and 'For once in my live'. I am convinced that Stevie's voice is even better live than on record!!
But even after the weight of the second night, the best night was yet come...


Find out why in part 8!! 

My Week on tour backing for Stevie Wonder, (Part 6).

Day 1, Hyde Park,


After arriving home at 4am, a really stressful 48 hours lead up and an early start in the morning; I arrive at the meeting point in Victoria train station, greeted by many of my family and friends, and pleased to know that the choral are a really cool bunch of people!
The coach journey is short but surreal, and the energy on the coach is fresh, which I assumed it would be. Some faces I know and some I don't, but what­'s really on my mind is, 'what are we singing, and better still what is my part!?!'


As we pull up to Hyde park, I am suprised to see so many old friends and faces I have worked with, all obviously playing with some of the other various artists. 
Still all feeling very surreal, you can feel the egos bulging and tension swelling around the place but nothing suprises me these days!
An hour before we go on, we all get changed and have a quick run through of the songs, and everything is sounding lovely.
We are then told that we can go side stage to watch the performances, which everybody is only to happy to do! As I am walking towards the stage, Amy Winehouse pops up from nowhere, and is walking up the steps in front of me with a friend. 


Here I am, minutes  away from stepping on stage with the worlds most celebrated musician and singer, watching hundreds of thousands of people being blown away by the most amazing songs, and I am taking it all in, standing side by side with Amy Winehouse, stage left! Just so surreal!!!!!


Stepping on stage, the first thing I notice is the intensity of the lighting, as well as the composure of this man, who can see nothing, yet is controlling everything - from the band, to the mood, to the audience, all in a natural effortless way!


We sing two songs, and after coming off stage, I am flooded with phone calls and texts, by people who know me that were watching in the crowd. "Gav, am I right in saying that you just came off stage with Stevie wonder? woooahhh!!!!!"


I can certainly relate to what Erikah Badu once said, "What a day, what a day!"


Find out about the Glastonbury experience in part 7!

My Week on tour backing for Stevie Wonder, (Part 5).

Thinking quick has now become a part of my make up, and there was no better time to execute this skill than now. So in order of events, my first thought was to text Silvia the guitar player of the band,  who had just dropped me to the airport, asking her to call me, as I had limited credit left! She called me and after explaining the situation, she called Stefano, typically regarded as the 'Father figure' of the band, who called me back in seconds. After talking the whole thing through with Stefano, We agreed that the best thing to do was to check some flight options within the next 48 hours. After 15 minutes Stefano called me back, on my Italian mobile, which was now nearly dead, with a list of options, none of which were ideal! The one that sounded most suitable was the flight that was supposedly booked up, according to the check in attendant! Stefano suggested that airlines may reserve the last tickets for online purchases, so even though the flight is declared as fully booked, they may actually still have some seats available to online customers. After little thought and deliberation, I asked Stefano to go ahead with the online booking, fearing that the other stranded folk may actually be trying to do the same thing as me. I thought it would be safer to ensure my chances of being back in time, as opposed to feeling sorry for myself for being in this position! Stefano did the deed, I was once again relieved, this time being that the online transaction went through and I was still going to be there to partake!


There was of course the other small issue of how to get back to my Italian home from the airport because my flight was not until the next day - with no car and very little Italian vocabulary! However I somehow found my way, being the hunter that I am!
 The other problem was that I was supposed to be attending a rehearsal with my band as well as doing  a Michael Jackson tribute performance the day after my original flight booking, but would now still be in the air on my flight home because of the cancellation. Of course, none of this was able to cloud the fact that come Saturday evening, I would be standing behind Stevie Wonder singing along with some of my favorite songs with such a great legend!


Find out more about the tour in part 6 ...