Tuesday 30th

Soundchecks are dull, but fortunately I travel with a macbook and can literally blog on the road. Except that i'm the driver, so more just to the side of the road really.

I had been very nervous about the Tin Angel gig, which I cannot believe was less than a week ago. I was nervous going to bed. I was nervous for most of the night, which lead to not much sleep. I was nervous driving down the M1 (a road I have officially seen more of than I have of friends or family over the past 6 days). I was nervous driving around the Coventry ring road, though any who's attempted that will say that is only justified. On ramps merging with off ramps = very bad design. Still frightening if you learned to drive in Coventry, which I did. I was fairly panicked pulling up outside the venue, not aided by my 15 minute tardiness. One band had pulled out, but I'd beaten the other there, so I think that counts as arriving on time as far as musicians go. It counts less when the other band simply fails to arrive. After 2 hours of waiting, I went on. As the opener. And the headliner. And that slot in between.

OK, so Manchester blew. Having got into the city in plenty of time for soundcheck, I had not been told that the road leading to the venue had been closed for roadworks and that the only alternate route was by driving the wrong way down a one way street. Having driven around the same 2 blocks for over an hour with an ever increasingly frustrated GPS, the bus directly in front of me crashed into a wall as it was attempting to drive around a corner. I was shocked. Surrounding pedestrians were shocked. The glass-covered people inside the bus got out their camera phones. Clearly this is how the world works now. I missed soundcheck.

The next day was the front-to-back (yes, myspace, I've nicked your idea) performance of the entire album, plus a B-side for good measure. My second gig in twenty four hours, it turned out to be an outdoor gig. On flagstones. I, of course, perform barefoot. I lost all feeling in my toes. Other than my extremities turning a pale shade of blue, it was an awesome gig. A two year old boy bought one of my CDs. The box was almost as big as he was. Well, no, OK, not really, but it still looked amazing. It was so cute it caused me actual physical pain.

A day off and lots of practical things to sort out to do with the single and blah blah blah. I was so tired. And pretty sore - it was like every part of my body knew I had a day off and decided to show how much I'd pissed them off. I'd actually managed to pull my intercostal muscles. Still no idea how I did that. Lots of good intentions turned into sleep.

Today I am in Leeds. For the first time on this tour, I have not been lead astray by my GPS (why can't they tell left from right? Isn't that what we pay them for?). Some terror on the M1 (see?) due to massive downpour, but all par for the course. Here and alive, which is really all I'm looking for. I've been looking forward to this gig. For once I knew in advance who else was on the bill and was able to myspace them (is "to myspace" a verb? Like "to google"?). They really don't suck. So far the only issues are space (3 bands with lots of gear plus little old me, who can easily hold her own in the ridiculous amount of gear stakes) and duplication confusion (I have counted so far: two glockenspiels, two microkorgs, three macbooks, three identical keyboard stands, two P90s, two melodicas - suddenly I feel so much less special!). My paranoid self is already working out a marking system.

Tuesday 23rd

I haven't blogged for a while because I've been trying to sort my head out, followed immediately by the heads of everyone around me (all of which have pretty much exploded over the last few weeks). I thought it was time to throw out another hello and thank you though.

Thanks to everyone who's been to show/bought CDs/sent your lovely kind messages. It's really keeping me afloat.

I have some absolutely amazing gigs coming up in the next few months which I'm really excited about. Many promoters have been very kind. The list (which is growing pretty much daily) is up on the main page. I'd love to see you at one. I will probably plug each regularly, but for now:

24/9/08 (tomorrow) - I'm playing at The Tin Angel. You have no idea how much that means to me. I played in public for the very first time there a very long time ago and the venue has always held a very special place in my heart. They always put on amazing people and have a wicked record label championing those people who really should be championed. I insist you check them out.

27/9/08 - The Manchester gig RESCHEDULED from the August 10th gig that got pulled last minute. My apologies again to anyone who was hoping to go to that one. Nothing to do with me. Hope you can make it down.

28/9/08 - A very special home gig. I will be playing the entire album start to finish, plus B sides. There will also be free cupcakes.

30/9/08 - I'm so excited about the gig at Royal Park Cellars in Leeds. You need to check out the headliners: http://www.myspace.com/armsandsleepers

I for one will be right at the front watching them rock out.