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babayaga
06-20-2008, 09:42 AM
Morning all.

Just thought I'd give you a bit of an update as I'm conscious I'd gone a bit quiet of late (still recovering after the US tour!) :-O

If you check out the link below you'll get the gist of things...

http://www.noddyspuncture.co.uk/

I think the 'Graham's Biog' page might be a bit of a giveaway, but just to summarise....

Thanks to my mate Scottys's helpful prodding, I contacted Tom Szakaly to discuss the possibility of me joining himself and Steve Roberts in the band and had a very productive and enjoyable meeting / jam session with him. That was around 5 weeks ago now (seems like an age!), but after a few extra sessions we've decided to give it a go and I'm joining them full-time (full-time in its broadest sense of the words - e.g. day-job allowing!).

Since Steve is living in south Wales, I've been working with Tom to get up to speed with the bass and guitar parts in the ELP / Nice numbers. We've made good progress each week, and I've been making efforts to practice at least an hour (more often more...) a night. The plan was to work on the numbers gradually and then I'd slot in when ready.... however, last Sunday an early morning phone call changed all this. The guy who had been going to help out at their next two gigs had pulled out, and we were left with a choice of cancelling the gigs or with me covering on bass and vox instead...!

The proposed setlist is as follows: Hoedown, Peter Gunn, Touch and Go, Romeo and Juliet, Jerusalem, America, Affairs of the Heart, Lucky Man, (Medley) Tarkus (Eruption) / Knife Edge / Aquatarkus, (Medley) Fanfare for the Common Man / Blues Variations, (Medley) Nutrocker / Honky Tonk Train Blues / Show me the Way to go Home / Tiger in the Spotlight, (Finale) Rondo - (Encore) Watching Over You / Pictures (Great Gates of Kiev - The End).

Of the above I'd reckon the following are okay... 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19. The others, (e.g. more complex pieces, either for bass and/or singing at the same time) I'm still working on.

Check out the gig list for details, but our first gig will be in August at the Hungarian Club, Rochdale. The following week we're playing two nights at the Six Bells pub in Chiddingly, Sussex, Keith Emerson's local.

Sorry if all this has interfered with EMP's Liverpool output, but I promise it'll pick up again shortly!

I just wish you could all be there! Wish me luck!!

Take care all - G.

MarkE
06-20-2008, 11:44 PM
Thats all very exciting Graham. Man....thats a big work load. its a lot to learn and perfect given the time frame involved. its worth it though. I'd love to get involved in something like that here. It would certainly be worth the effort.

Please keep us posted on how things go. We are all pulling for you Im sure

Also, dont worry about us. David is off doing his thing, MarkD is working his ass off (and so am I), and the rest of us are working videos.
MarkE

SilverHamer
06-21-2008, 01:38 AM
Wow Graham! Talk about a full plate! Yours is overflowing! This IS a very exciting thing to be involved in, even though your are sort of being thrusted into a fair amount of it ahead of the planned schedule. I think it's really great and wish you all the best on this.

Like MarkE stated, don't worry about us for now. You have a lot to work on there. At least you're getting in on a gig which involves a bit more than self-gratification. Sounds like it's an excellent opportunity to excel! Whenever you get to the point of having a bit of time on your hands, we will be here. :D

babayaga
06-23-2008, 09:55 AM
Thanks guys... I'll keep you posted as to how it goes.

Tom was practising the piano for Benny the Bouncer when I arrived yesterday and I was unpacking the bass I started singing along with Greg's cockney twang - it really worked well. Within a half hour or so we had the bass in as well and the song worked right through...that's another to add to the list! We also worked on From The Beginning although I need to bone up on the 'proper' chords a bit...

Mark - I recall we had Benny lined up for EMP I think didn't we? How much of it has actually been recorded? I can record the vocal to it while I'm practising if you like...

Take care - G.