Musings...

16th September 2009

Alchemy are back in sunny ol' Blighty ! There was a lot of Italian road rage, searing heat, sand upon sand, antics in the sea and a metric f**k tonne of pizza.....oh, and a few gigs too. Overall, our live performances went down very well with the locals and many good friendships were formed. We witnessed some crazy ass traditional Sardinian dancing and pipes (see youtube and search 'launeddas'), Frodo befriended an octopus, then ate it, Felix attempted to take a drunken shower using a bidet (??!) and Pete consumed too much olive oil and slept a lot.

So after 3 weeks of cramped, hectic travelling (never again...) in a laden skoda through Europe and round the mountainous island of Sardinia we're keen and raring for gigs aplenty. The blower is red hot so watch this space for upcoming performances in the local vicinity or get in touch to book our crazy asses for your venue/party/baby shower...

Nwe (Welsh?!) songs are cooking in the 'lab' (pete's house) and plans are hatching like warm eggs for recording, merchandise and festive fancy dress shindigs. Tangy equpiment is still being purchased, there are attempts to run off the pizza in the pissing rain and F-man dizzle Felexo cashvagio remains a roll-a-holic, puffing away and generally wrapping up warm against the British climate in a desperate attempt to cling onto what remains of his suntan. If you've got some free time then check out these books: 'In The Heart of the Sea' (N.Philbrick), 'Flashman' (G. MacDonald Fraser) , 'Idristan' (N.Weldon) - they'll blow your mind out the back of your head !

See you all soon at a gig near us !

30th July 2009

Wow! July's already here (when the hell did that happen?! Ah well balls to it, who gives a shwod. Look it up, it's a word). The vegetables are becoming gargantuan, Pete has been sailing in challenging conditions, Graham has been running stupid distances through mud and Felix is smoking like a Victorian chimney.

But I digest....Alchemy are preparing for their epic voyage to Mount Doom through Europe for some crazy gigs and a quest to destroy Frodo's self esteem. Sylvia the skoda is being primed with the finest oils known to mechanics and tangy equipment is being purchased in a hasty and random fashion. Before this there will be shennanigans at Bideford festival in John Ridgeon's Yurt involving some serious folk/funk party antics. Bring on the fresh vegetable soups, stews, beards and real-o ale-o aplenty-o. Tickets are here if there's any left... Come down and shake your bangers !

Come down and shake your bangers also at the Queen's Head (literally) on the 16th of August, from whence Alchemy will be departing to catch the 4.00am ferry at Dover (What twat booked that ferry? Is there a 4 in the morning? Graham thought time stopped at 1am and started at 11am. Felix sits quaking in a corner in frightened anticipation). We'll be playing in a few bars, at a wedding, a 6 year olds birthday (in clown costumes), doing some sailing, snorkelling, diving and tanning. Graham will attempt to drink the Sardinians under the table and fail miserably then doubtless injure himself in a scooter accident; Felix will get himself into a shotgun wedding with the Don's daughter. Pete is going to join a betting cartel, win the Italian football pools and live out the rest of his days on a yacht in the mediterranean. If anyone is in the vicinity of France, Sardinia or Italy between the 17th of August and the 10th of September get in touch to make good times!

Alchemy - the pied pipers of party carnage...

28th June 2009

We've had two more great gigs this month, back at The Chequers and The Barn. Thanks to all of you who made our gig at Marios's wonderful establishment last weekend so special, an unforgettable evening! The Gents were on stunning form - if you didn't manage to catch them check them out online - www.myspace.com/visitthegents. We're looking forward to collaborating with them in the future, exciting times!

The new recordings have just been mixed - we completed a 3 day session at Nick Weldon's beautiful converted shoe factory in Rushden, Northamptonshire. We are most indebted to him and Andra Sparks for their hospitality! In between some epic X-Box 360 sessions during which Felix and I saved humanity from the Covenant's twisted plan to overrun Earth with zombies, we re-recorded some originals and also put down some covers as well, with a view to hussling some gigs!

Nick is a marvellous pianist, bass player, composer and author, and it was a real joy to have him play some bass with us. He also gave us one of his songs to arrange, charmingly entitled Geezer Birds, which documents the lamentable state of femininity in Modern Society. We'll let you know as soon as it's ready. Check out his website at www.nickweldon.com.

While Graham is on the case trying to get some gigs close to home, I am in Sardinia organising venues and dates for our Summer Tour which will be taking place between the 20th of August and the 20th September (anyone with any ideas for venues at home and abroad, or publicity please feel free to get in touch!) As for Felix, my best guess is that he staggered back to Brixton today after consuming a skinfull at the Farnham Carnival Street Party.

I'll be updating the new site as we go, any contributions or ideas are always welcome, particulary any photos...

I've been reading The Music Lesson by Victor Wooten - a stunning book which i highly reccommend to anyone with an interest in Music. If 'n' you do nothing else, GROOVE!

See you at The Chequers on the 10th of July!!

It's time to get down with your bad selves...

Pete