Sid Smith's Postcards From The Yellow Room: Goodbye John Martyn

Sid Smith's Postcards From The Yellow Room: Goodbye John Martyn

Gig/Fripp

20.58 Great quote from a punter at a Robert Fripp gig: “Forty minutes of an old man, playing pretty much the same thing over and over and over again, strumming once every 10 minutes and then fiddling with knobs for the rest of the time.” Fripps playing in may with Theo Travis I really want to go if i can get it into the schedule. Still Practicing for the gig tomorrow - still want to get it 100% - not quite there yet, its the first gig i've done since Sept last year and the first since the album came out. The gig is here:

Also confirmed at Spratton Folk festival on the 2nd stage - i played last year on the village stage: It was a great place to play and wonderful people. Back to practice.... Matt Stevens www.mattstevensguitar.com

Brighton

Stuff that Inspires me Jerry Goodman: Genius Mrs S and I spent yesterday in Brighton - have a read of my twitter feed to hear me going on about it.... I'm really enjoying Twitter at the moment as its so much easier to have a real conversation than on many social networks. Genius. It looks like 2009 will be the year of Twitter in the same way 2007 was myspace and 2008 was facebook - also i'm using it to develop some collaborations... Brighton Photos:] Sunset A wonderful day, Mrs S battled the grabber machine (and lost, although shes the only person i've ever seen win on them). Home via the south bank via London's most disgusting pubit smelled of Poo and Eggs Next gig is this Thursday in Ealing - better rehearse.... Matt www.mattstevensguitar.com mattstevensguitar@btinternet.com

Am?

15.53 West green early Saturday Morning: Rehearsing for the gig on Thursday - still not quite up to full gigging speed on the terrifying Am Arpeggio run at the start of one song. This one: Microsoft have release their new Tunesmith Program that creates music from melody lines. Its rubbish - check out how horrible it sounds on this Billy Idol song: I'll stick with Garage Band. Spent yesterday wandering around central London. A trip to Hamblys toy shop: The new Kevin Feazey action man doll. Picadilly Circus Fortnam and Masons window: A faustian pact: Covent Garden busker Take it easy Matt Stevens www.mattstevensguitar.com

Some Sites worth checking out

22.53 A couple of sites worth checking out This is Kev of Pinna who produced my album http://www.kevinfeazey.com/ click Its a frogs life acoustic podcast http://podcast.itsafrogslife.net/ clicky Features 2 of my songs (on an MP3 I thought I'd lost!) - someone from the Dubzone podcast gave Graham an MP3 of the song West Green Loft Dub and its played here - thanks guys Also have a free song on me - download Dolls House off the player below on my site - click: All i ask is you join the mailing list, Thanks Matt Stevens www.mattstevensguitar.com

Blog Astoria Podcast?

14.44 So the Astoria one of my favorite venues has closed sad news - I saw At The Drive-In there it was AMAZING- great band - this is from the gig I was at: Watching that makes me want to play noisy rock again - just incredible. Check their band after ATDI the Mars Volta who are also bloody wonderful. Mrs S and I visited the South Bank on Sunday - although the Tourists were out in full force it was great to wonder by the Thames. Mrs got a new Capo and I got a book on California, research for our trip to Santa Cruz for later in the year if everything comes together to play the looping festival. Have you ever noticed all the "kids" skate boarding there are my age? Found a great cake shop (may I recommend the Liqourice/Chocolate muffin). Spent today getting my Hair cut and visiting Sonny and Kev at Pinna: Talking about the future of the music industry... I've been featured in a couple of great pod casts: Is This Thing on Nick Tanns Podcast at - here check out Nicks music a very talented Singer/songwriter. Its a Frogs Life - (2 songs - thanks Graham) here Both top notch. Matt Stevens www.mattstevensguitar.com

Be Seeing You

21.34 Finished practicing the set for the next few gigs: Flies In the Basement Dolls House Spencer Park Blue Filter Big Sky Burning Bandstands Some songs off Echo plus some new songs. Started the contacting everyone plan today got as far a December - still another 26 months to go but I'll get there. Sad news the Astoria closed today I saw At The Drive In and numerous other gigs there - a wonderful venue. Patrick Mcghoohan passed away today I love the Prisoner: I am not a number... Some photos from today behind the railway tracks North London: You wouldn't believe you were in London really Be Seeing You Matt Stevens www.mattstevensguitar.com

3876-1

22.37 Todays daft idea is - I'm going to get back in touch with everyone whos commented on my myspace in the last 2 years. Now this could be a big job as there are at time of writing 3876 comments. The way I see it if someone made the effort to get in touch its worth staying in touch(I delete any spam type comment ie Check out the Screaming Cheeselets etc) and I might get to talk to some interesting people. There are some who have commented a few times and the people who I've become friends with via myspace etc so its not quite that many but hey its worth a go. I 've received some really nice messages since my album Echo was released on itunes - always great to hear from people and it gives my a great new perspective on the music. I'm also going to start sorting out my facebook site http://www.facebook.com/pages/Matt-Stevens/15850653643 any ideas? Some recent photos: Strange lights in Stoke Newington: Dinner at Kev and kats a wonderful veggie Lasagne(2 portions): A great cook: Take it easy Matt Stevens www.mattstevensguitar.com mattstevensguitar@btinternet.com

Short post this!

My Album Is On itunes.... WWW.MATTSTEVENSGUITAR.com (THANKS)

Rushden

Hello! A weekend away in Rushden. An excellent Curry(Kebab for starters - fantastic) with some brilliant friends - much discussion of Matt Smith being the new Doctor Who - he looks too young but we'll see. He's younger than me! I did my mind reading act: Mirror? Oakley arms boarded up: Stuart audio where I brought my first 4x12 speaker cabinet (a 70's blue Park) Spencer Park on a Sunday Morning montage: This painting on the Spencer Park sign shows Rushden Hall, The War Memorial and St Marys Church - I think the Oakley was a much more important monument myself. Rushdens Woolworths closed on Sunday - tragic for the staff and lovers of Pick and Mix. Off home laden with bags (loads of presents!) I've just had an interesting offer to do a gig in the USA - more soon. Take it easy Matt Stevens www.mattstevensguitar.com

mrs S's guitar

Hello So this is what Mrs S got for christmas a lovely Tanglewood guitar: Mrs is also busy with this at the moment: Whats this ear? Now I'm researching Telecaster replacement pickups for recording with for the electric stuff. Matt www.mattstevensguitar.com