Sam Isaac

Thursday 17th Jul 2008

category: convoy to cape town

testy test

Posted by Sam at 2:14pm

9876 comments.

Monday 14th Jul 2008

category: general

Hey,

so yet again a busy week has passed. Me and the band all converged on Malvern (that's where I'm from folks) and rehearsed in a private boys school that Burt went to. Its not really a boys school (it had girls too) but I like saying that because it seems funny that Burt went to school with just boys. We did a really tedious week of nitpicking, changing the tiniest things in songs ready for album recording and generally getting us live as a band closer to where we want to be. "A Cinematic Low" could be making a comeback too. We tried it with me playing electric guitar and also adding all the various backing vocals in as well. Its so difficult to play as a band. It (probably) won't make an appearance at any of the festivals but we shall see for the Autumn shows. I do like the song, its just an arse to play!

I'm now sat back in the studio in London Bridge fixing/changing Sticker. Si is here to do some more drums and we're going to do a bit more guitar and synth. The artwork for the EP is almost finished and its looking pretty. Cam Steward, he is good good good.

Black Kids. Have you heard that song on the radio? I can't get it out of my head. I thought I might really like the band as I'm a sucker for cute American pop but then I went on the myspace and everything sounded exactly the same. It was kind of sad. But the single is SO great. It is. Yesterday we watched coverage of T in the Park on BBC Three. And saw our friends Barney and Seb (ex-Luke Leighfield Band) in skeleton costumes running around on stage for the Hoosiers (they play horns for them now). It was really bizarre. I still don't like Vampire Weekend. Why are they good? I just don't get it. There's no heart.

I'm buying a van hopefully. Its an old post office one. Which means that it is red. WOW.

Sam

xx

Posted by Sam at 2:19pm

2 comments.

Sunday 6th Jul 2008

category: general

Hey,

so yesterday me and the band went to play Zoo Festival 2008. It was literally the biggest mess of a music festival or event I have EVER been to. Beforehand my booking agent had advised me not to go as apparently Zoo hadn't paid anyone's deposits (including mine) and some agencies had pulled out their acts as it was looking unlikely that they would get paid. Apparently the night before Mark Ronson had been paid a substantial amount of his large fee in pound coins. Like black bin liner bags full of pound coins. Wow. So we arrived. We'd been told to secure payment before playing, so we spent at least an hour going from portakabin to portakabin trying to find someone who knew something or anything about what was going on. Loads of people were rude, no-one knew anything about what was going on, and they all told us to go somewhere else. When we got to our stage we met one of the only nice people there, Charlie the stage manager. He said that our stage had been cancelled for the day as Gallows had played there the night before and had actually damaged the structure of the tent meaning it was unsafe. So all slots were cancelled and we wouldn't be playing anyway! So then we went to the main stage and spoke to the stage manager. We'd heard that Frank Turner had pulled out because of the money thing. So we mentioned to the stage manager that we'd be interested in taking his slot. But the festival was such a mess that he didn't even know Frank wasn't playing. So I essentially told him that - about 30 minutes before Frank was due onstage. Anyway, we successfully managed to get his slot, rocked up on the main stage (which was fun) and then got given a tour of a zoo! And then, miracle oh miracle, got paid. So we went to the zoo with British Sea Power. And we stroked several rhinoceros. Saw weird animals. Did you know a rhinoceros horn is worth like £30,000? Amazing. Not so much for the rhinoceros.

On Friday I went to Alton Towers. Burt got sunburnt and it follows the line of his hair fringe. Oh no.

[image1]

[image2]

We rehearse all week in Malvern, Burt having managed to blag us some free space at a private school in Malvern. Winner. I'm looking forward to being home rather a lot.

The All New Adventures of Us tonight at Kingston Peel. Amazing!

Sam

xx

Posted by Sam at 5:24pm

25 comments.

Thursday 3rd Jul 2008

category: general

Wow. I'm at Amy's house in Shrewsbury at the moment. Just bought a new tambourine for Simon to use on his drums. Its red, but has a complete set of jangly mini-cymbals so it will sound better. Also it is a richer red. Also, it is shinier.

So we did the recording of the Sticker Ep a few weeks ago now. It was the new Annie, Numbers and Lines, Carousel and then a re-recorded version of Sticker which will be the lead single kind of thing. Now everyone who's involved in whatever way says they don't like the new version of Sticker. Which is sad. And now I'm listening to it. And I think I might not like it. And it kind of makes me just want to record something else instead. But I know we're just going to go back into the studio and rerecord the drums and add acoustic guitars and synths and stuff to make it more like the original and then put it out. But gah! I don't know. It just feels so crap just attacking and cutting up your music all the time. I really want to record Come Back Home Tonight. I feel that could be a single.

I am going to Alton Towers tomorrow. Though I am scared of Oblivion. But nothing else. I think Oblivion is just fear for the sake of it rather than actual fun.

Sam

xx

Posted by Sam at 5:27pm

1 comment.

Monday 2nd Jun 2008

category: convoy to cape town

Hello,

still in South Africa. Haven't been at a pc for a while so going to try and catch up with what's been going on!

On Saturday we were in Durban again. We spent the day at a what was essentially a shantytown called Kato Manor in Durban. We played a show outside a community centre to about 300 people. It was great. There were loads of local acts on before us. One act who were basically like the South African Take That and even mimed along to a CD. Which was weird. Because they're probably the most incredible singers. But then there were also traditional Zulu dancers which was amazing. They did lots of stamping which was loud and they can also kick their legs up really high. So they touch their noses. And when they do it they look straight up. Its cool. And there was a Zulu family band with a drummer who was like 7 years old and really good at the drums. And then all the British acts played afterwards, and everyone went down really well and I had people clapping along to Carbon Dating. It was fun.

On Saturday evening we played a gig at the Willovale Hotel in Durban. It was a really seedy hotel, and the show was different because there was more of an indie crowd it seemed. I played four songs again, and played a new song I've written called "Come Back Home Tonight." I got some of the lyrics wrong but obviously no-one really noticed because no-one had ever heard it before. After I played I proceeded to get incredibly drunk (the beer is 5.5% - I got it all wrong) and was generally loud and a state. I think it was fun, but I can't really remember a lot of what happened. I do remember the show going off somewhat though, with everyone dancing.

Sunday I awoke still drunk, and got a shower and headed straight to the minibuses. We were now setting off for Cape Town from Durban. I hadn't realised, but this was the start of a 3 day journey. Because South Africa is just that big. So with the worst hangover in the world I sat concentrating all day on not being sick and trying to keep my headache under control. It felt bad bad bad. However, we were travelling on the "Garden Route" along the coast and through the most amazing scenery. It all stretches out for as far as the eye can see. Its all completely stunning. So I basically spent the day listening to Death Cab and staring out of the window. Apart from the crushing hangover, it wasn't the worst way to travel. Also on the bus we changed all our song lyrics to include 'processed cheese,' as we eat it all the time as part of our packed lunches and breakfasts. That was fun. We arrived at a lovely backpackers hostel for the night and Alfred And Emma cooked an amazing dinner. I had great amounts of meat and specifically sausage. Yes! Then I went back to my room whilst other people played table tennis and finished writing another new song. This one is called "Oh, Calendar." I think it will be nice.

It is now Monday. I am in a backpackers hostel in an area called Wildernis and its really nice and in the country and the forest kind of thing. We awoke this morning to the most beautiful sunrise. Our room had decking outside, and I got up and went outside with an amazing view of the sun rising over the beach and great big waves. I was up by 7.30am, and everyone met down on the beach at 8am and we played football on the beach, with the sun glistening off the sea. It was brilliant. At 9am we were all in the minibuses, ready for another day's travelling. This one went quicker, due to the fact that I didn't have an awful hangover. I've just had a great dinner, seen a massive spider in someone else's room and I'm going to the bar for a beer. We're getting to Cape Town tomorrow, finally. After 3 days of travelling. I can't wait.

Sam

xx

Posted by Sam at 9:58pm

No comments.