Oct 28th Nashville Skyline


I think of all the places that I've been lucky enough to see thanks to my guitar this has to be one of the most special. Nashville is a haven for songwriters both successful and "budding" all competing for a shot at the title trying to capture life and all its pretenses in or under three and a half minutes. Guitar bands and troubadours alike start playing in bars and venues here in the early afternoon and they'll go on to the wee hours; we like this, we like this a lot. My shows went down really well - it can be a little daunting playing tunes in a new tune - especially this one - where not a lot of people have heard of you before. At the same time though, it's the best acid test for a song so the audience's response in usually an honest and instinctive reaction to that song they've just heard perform for the very first time. Luckily for me both my sets where very well received and two new tunes that i wrote this week on the road got the best response so the challenge was a fun one and , if i may, i've earned myself a little merit badge : ) Should be going to see the Gibson factory here in Nashville today; think Augustus getting into Willy Wonkas chocolate factory and you'll get an idea of where my head is at right now. Back to New York tomorrow for some more shows. More shows; always more shows.
xx

Oct 26th Texas



Another week and the miles keep rolling here on planet gtgt. Made my way down to Texas for the first time, had a few shows in Houston and Austin which all went down a storm. It's a pretty special feeling playing my songs a million miles from home and having people in the audience singing the songs back to me. It's a trip being "on the road", I love it so much it's the whole point of writing tunes in the first place, well maybe not quite but i do like it :)
Highways. There's lots of highways in Texas. Big six lane intimidating creatures inhabited by monster trucks that I dont think would even fit in London streets. It's fun though and i'm soaking it all up and the tunes keep coming. Nashville this week. I'll keep you posted.
fx

Oct 19. NYC

Always a huge pleasure to be here in new york city. I've been hear many many times trying my luck with one thing or another. It's always very good to me and I'm left with a feeling of overwhelming goodness. And this time round has been no different. The show at the Living Room, was, if I do say so myself, a huge success :) A good oppurtunity to play some brand new tunes that were very well received as well as a few of the better known tracks. good people. good times!! I thought that putting in some more miles while I'm here would be more productive than staying round for CMJ so I'm off to Texas today..Austin, Houston then New Orleans followed by some shows in Nashville and back to New York for a couple more shows.
The songs keep coming and lists are constantly drawn up / scrapped / drawn up.. and so on.. but there's a recording session booked with my band in London soon as I get back there so I need to make my mind up about which songs are going on the record!! I've written two records this past year and scrapped them both. Third time lucky.
Alright, I'll check back with you very soon. be good.
franc
xx

Oct 10. a good week.


good week. definitely a good week. i'm somewhat spent from playing 7 shows in as many days; one more tonight and then beautiful SLEEP before New York next week. I played my biggest show this week to 1000 people at Koko in London supporting Joshua Radin. As far as "things to do to feel fucking great about yourself" goes; playing your songs to 1000 people that've never heard you before ranks , i'd stay definitely top 3. The other 2 are best not mentioned here I think. Although, me being me..and luck being what it is..what happened when I went on stage..the battery in my guitar dies!! NO! There and then , i felt not so good but luckily Joshua's guitar tech Sean was better at reading the + and - signs on guitar batteries than me :) Thank you Sean and thank you Mr Radin and your band for having me on your tour.
The Water Rats show with the band on Wednesday was great too but they cut the sound off half way through the last sound. What the fuck, I ask you, is that all about!?!? Not good, apologies to the stage manager for my articulate phrasing when we spoke after the show but , well, scrap that, I take back my apologies. fair and square.
Met some lovely folks after the show at Manchester Academy on Thursday; thank you all for forking out your hard earned cash to buy gtgt cds and tshirts; it all goes towards making the new record which will be out in february. your support is hugely appreciate. virtual drinks to you all through cyber space.
Alright, I have another show tonight i need to get ready for ... cannot wait to get to texas the following week after NYC for a week of shows and then up to Nashville. Nashville! I cant wait.
peace and love and all good things to you all
franc
xx