leona Lewis????

8pm So now my guitar rig is: Acoustic Guitar - Volume Pedal - Whammy Pedal - Kaossialator(via mini mixing desk) - DL4 Looper I tried to see what my old tele would sound like but it just wasn't working, couldn't seem to get close to an electric sound i liked. I've only been player acoustic guitar for the past couple of years but i'm having problems going back to electric, can't seem to muster the "ROCK". I'm jamming with some friends next week so hopefully it will work again then. I'm thinking of adding in some looped percussion by adding a mic in before the looper via the mixing desk (shakers, blocks, tambourine, hand drums and glokenspiel) and some melodica. Really looking forward to trying some new sounds... Jimmy Page and Leona Lewis to play Whole Lotta Love at the beijing olympics. Oh dear.... Watched this - a cool documentary about Hawkwind, i'm not a massive fan but its a great documentary. I was a bit partial to the Levitation album when i was 14. Norwich is flat..... Next gig is T-Birds finsbury park on the 4th Sept. Matt www.mattstevensguitar.com mattstevensguitar@btinternet.com

Post Norwich

The gig in norwich was cool - no more gigs for a while now. Apart from the first thing that happend when i got off the train was some idiot asked for 40p then called me a Twat. Not the best way to welcome you to a new town! Norwich is a nice enough town thou and the other acts were cool Focusing on getting the album out now - people was asking to buy it and I had nothing to sell. I spent the afternoon finding old TV trailers on You tube Automan (I Loved this) Genius Matt

Gig/Battles

22.26pm OK I'm ready - Practice done. Am I only person who is board of the Olympics?? Gig tommorrow here Norwich Arts Centre: and I found this on You Tube - the very wonderful Battles - Right Beer then Sleep... Matt Stevens www.mattstevensguitar.com

NORWICH -

A busy week Rehearsing for the gig in Norwich on saturday afternoon. Stressing about playing a new song called Blue Filter- I'll record a live version for the next podcast (should be out next week). I've been listening to Tom Tom Club this week bloody great. Visited the Storm wasisname bloke Pink Floyd art exhibition on the South Bank, I love floyd art and signed prints were from £100 - I can't justify spending that when I still need a new distortion pedal, bugger. We watched London Bridge open - an amazing bit of engineering action. We watched the guys working on the beach by the Thames making sand sculptures Mrs S made a wonderful veggie lasagne(with egg) The scary world of the locked tube exit Tottenham Skies And heres some bloody amazing footage of my favourite band the Mahavsihnu Orchestra Take it easy Matt Stevens www.mattstevensguitar.com

August Snow????

21.52 Hungover but I've had a great week. I've added a new song to the myspace, the sounds at the start are guitars looped faded in and looped to sound like synth pads. Played on Thursday at the Roxy SE1 with Datapuddle a fantastic band. Great guys and some really original ideas - watch this (visuals by the excellent Tom Munday): I found their stuff really inspiring combining samples with live guitars and vocals - check out the album its on itunes. When I played there were live visuals by Blinkinlab Tom and Satoko were amazing - truly inspiring. After a few songs i found myself defering the role of performer to soundtrack artist as their wonderful visual work was projected on to the cinema screen. They had really paid attention to the music and worked out stuff that worked with each song. We talked afterward and plan to work together in the future. Yesterday was my birthday I had a great day with Mrs S and my friends, Mrs S made me a wonderful Dalek cake (in line with my Dr Who geek obsession). I used the money I got to get a Kaossilator (more in the next blog) and Mrs S brought me a melodian for full on dub action. Thanks to everyone who sent birthday wishes. Take it easy Matt www.mattstevensguitar.com Outside the roxy blue men up the wall: Tottenham sunset Melodian New toy

TIME

22.37pm Time - spend so much time running around. I remember when i was a teenager being bored, I never seem to have time to be bored. Music I haven't time to listen to, you tube, blogs, myspace, facebook, etc etc etc When I was a kid all there was to do was play guitar, it was great! But the internet is awesome - i'm REALLY into this site now LONDON RECORDING a site put together by a few friends with some amazing connections in the recording industry - Jerry Boys(Buena Vists thru to the Beatles engineer) is on there!! Amazing site - brilliant place to promote music and speak to interesting people. Between that one and AF Collective have been keeping me busy. I think these niche sites are the future of social networking. I've been trying to connect my macbook to the TV- very complicated, running around London I brought Mrs S Sims 2 for her Mac. I've got Logic Express and a midi keyboard so i can work out the arrangements for the second album, i hope to start work as soon as the first is mastered(this week hopefully!). Can I get some feedback - do you prefer CD's or Downloads? Tring to work out how many to get printed up(500 minimum?)! Random photos Wards Corner - they are knocking down some lovely old buildings in Seven Sister Going Electric????? I'm playing on the 31st in SE1 London - hope to see you there!! Also big congratulations to my mate sonny, the Portico Quartet album he co produced has been nominated for a mercury music award along with the likes of Radiohead etc VERY COOL Matt

The Honeymooners

21.33pm Friday Thanks so much for all the wonderful messages wishing and my wife and I well. You guys are awesome... New song on the myspace player: West Green - a song about a street in Tottenham. The percussion is me banging on the guitar then looping it. The sounds at the end are us manipulating the guitar parts thru a Watkins copycat tape delay (mainly Kev the Producer). Watch the making of video here.... I really enjoyed recording this song. THE HONEYMOON..... OK - Scotland was amazing - a wonderful honeymoon (it did rain a lot thou). Great place Edinburgh - we loved it the Clan Cambell hotel was wonderful(fantastic break fast and free champagne for honeymooners!!!). Spent far too much money at the Fopp there, a brilliant record shop - got Bowie Low, Sigur Ros and completed my Radiohead collection. When Kid A came out I thought it was crap now I love it, Everything In Its Right Place is awesome fooking great. Cultural Stereotype? Of Course not....(I'm sorry DJ and all other Scots) Arthers Seat Wedding Photos soon.... Who else is excited about Doctor Who then??? I'm going to miss it - off watching Iron Maiden so I can't complain. Take it easy Matt www.mattstevensguitar.com