Heyyy. Exciting times, as my finger has healed 100% and we’re rehearsing for some gigs. We’ve done a couple of low-key but very cool gigs in two of Chris Evans’ pubs, which we loved and are looking forward to returning to soon. Next up though are a few more rehearsals, a one-off gig just outside my home town of Farnham and then a Spring/Summer of playing music.

For those of you who know my band, it’s hello again to Ian (drums) and Dan (bass), but a fond farewell to Paul (guitar). We have a new fella on the gee-tar, a good friend of mine Mr Luke ‘Shredderz’ Edney. Edderz is 18, and has the musical maturity of a legend, in my opinion. Not only that, he can do some fiesty backing vocals and also indulges in onstage banter. We were doing the tender and exquisite (ahem) first verse to ‘The Butterflies‘ in Sussex recently, and I look across and see Edderz miming the actions to the words, a cheeky look on his face. Welcome Luke, and just you wait…!

So what can you expect from our new gigs? Well, we’re still looking for a cool pianist/keyboardist, so if you know anyone. However we’re working on new stuff, and in an hour set you can expect about 8 from the album, 2 or 3 older ones that aren’t on there, plus 2 or 3 brand spanking new ones. To reveal a lil’ snifter of info, one new one is called “I’m The Glue (in the hullabaloo)“, and aother is called “So You Think…”

2009 was a pretty fristrating year, musically, to be honest. Obviously snapping my finger tendon was a bit of a git, but the disappointement of the Hong Kong/China tour falling through (which had I been on I wouldn;t have busted my finger playing dodgeball). More than that though, my tour to Canada in March last year was the final straw for me. Having been promised a lot by my management at that time, only to realise half of it was bullshit, and the other half wishful thinking, was a bitter pill to swallow. A lot of effort and investment went into Canada, and frankly I learnt that sometimes to get stuff done, you have to do it yourself, so at the moment we’re managing ourselves until we find someone who we can really trust and who is a doer and is passionate about the music. I met some great people there, and would love to return sooner rather than later, but this time with it properly sorted.

Other than that, I have been spending a lot of time on my new business venture, Dodgeball UK. Go check it out at www.dodgeballuk.com… It’s a lot of fun, and hard work too, and provides me with another platform to be creative and also put my business mind to the test. I watch Dragon’s Den a lot  (how f*ckin cool is James Caan), and I reclkon I can do this entrepreneurial thang! This time next year, Rodney…

My other big change is that I am back living in London, Putney to be precise. I love the buzz and the sense of possibilities, but on the other hand it can be a lonely city, but it is up to me to sort that out.

That’s all for now. Please join my Facebook Fan Page if you haven’t already, I am often on there having a bit of banter. You can find it at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Andy-Stedman/9285419524

Cheers
Stedders
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