Free Stuff

This week I've been mostly putting together packs to send to radio stations and to get gigs. Nothing too exciting, just a Sampler CD a piccie and a sheet with some basic info. In the course of doing this I usually end up with a few CDs that are "seconds", that is to say they didn't quite print right or the songs aren't in the right order. Rather than bin them I usually take them to gigs and give them away, but since I have friends and fans who can't often make it to gigs, I thought I'd see if anyone fancied a free CD. If you do just email me an address to music @ darencallow.co.uk (you'll need to remove the spaces) and I'll post a CD to you. All I ask in return is some nice words about me on your Blog or (if you don't have a Blog) just to the people around you, ha ha.

Apart from pimping myself, I've also been to see a screening of Laurie Anderson's latest video work and got to see her in person doing a question and answer session. Very interesting and amusing person - I was very impressed. Talking of the art world, I'm also playing at the Whitstable Biennale with my friend Frog Morris on June 29th. This is actually quite a big deal in the UK art world, so I'm looking forward to it.

I'm also playing at the Notting Hill Blag Club on May 28th... but more on that later. The next gig is this Sunday at Cross Kings in King's Cross... 8pm.

Dxx

The Fool I Am - Demo

Here it is then in a more complete form. It's still just a demo, mind you. It needs real drums, real trumpet and a bass line of some description, but I'm pretty happy with it so far and thought I'd share. Hope you are having a good weekend!

The Fool I Am - MP3

Dxx

You Win Some...

I played the Duchess again last night, it went well... there were two other acts worth checking out:

The Bee's Niece - all the way from Norway, via Manchester. Lovely delicate songs with very well thought out lyrics. Lovely girl too!

Simon Andrews - great songs and now, with the lovely Katie, gripping harmonies. Well worth a listen.

My set went okay, The Fool I Am is proving a winner, and Obsession and I Need Your Love went down well.


On Wednesday night I went to see Laurie Anderson play. Now, I always get a mite suspicious when I see musicians sitting down to play... but fortunately Laurie was standing and despite my seat being a bit uncomfortable it was a very mesmerising 2 hours of playing. The songs/pieces veered from funny to thought-provoking to sublime. Very interesting and entertaining, if occasionally quite hard going (it's not exactly Pop you understand). I came away very inspired, albeit with a numb bum.


Hoping to record The Fool I Am very soon, if not today. Curiously I noticed that my song I Can If You Can contains the line "If you want me to be a fool, then I am", I hadn't made the connection before.

Next few chances to see and hear me play:

11th May - Cross Kings, Kings Cross
15th May - The Duchess, Battersea
29th June - Whitstable Biennale

plus, I'll be at The Montague Arms, New Cross next Thursday lending my support to Second Thursdays.


...And You Lose Some

I really hope Boris doesn't get in. He's a funny guy and all that, but running the most cosmopolitan city in the world... please god no! As Will Self put it, I'd rather have a lizard in charge than a clown.

Manning The Bar

Last Thursday I tramped up to Mannings Bar in Hendon with my guitar to play a set. I had been looking forward to this gig for a while as it was the first time in a bit that I'd had the chance to play a full set. The venue itself is a small stage and PA in the bar and myself and the other act were well looked after by George who hosted the night and did the sound. Initially it was myself and two bands but one act had pulled out so my set got even longer. They had been hoping to stream the concert via the internet, and I excitedly texted a few people I knew to check out www.theshowliveonline.com but in the end they couldn't get the streaming working so nothing got broadcast. Shame, but they should have it working for next time so that will be exciting for my far-flung listeners, plus I have a copy of the video on the way to share with you. My set went pretty well from what I could judge and I felt confident to include Vulnerable, which I only tend to play in more intimate venues. The new song The Fool I Am got a second airing too, check out the post below to hear a rough version of this tune.

My full set was:

All I Want
Do Your Want To Dance?
Obsession
Lightkeeper
When The Snow Fell In Denver
The Fool I Am
Vulnerable
I Need Your Love

The act after me were Skeleton Gun who had schlepped all the way down from Manchester for the gig. Despite the lead singer having a cold (and them having to beg, borrow or steal a few instruments, including my guitar) they played a great set. The singer was so on form that at one point in their set I found myself standing next to the bass player and drummer at the bar! They were good lads and even put up with me telling my Ian Brown story again (well the lead singer was wearing a t-shirt saying "I Happy Slapped Ian Brown" so what can you expect?!).

Looking forward to the next gig now, and the video from this one, so I can enter the YouTube world once again.

Love to all,

Dxx

P.S. Thank you sooooo much to all those who came down to support me... I owe ya one!

Go Or Stay

I've written a new song, which I've been battling with for a long time. It's got the best melody I think I've ever written and it's taken a long time to get a structure and a set of lyrics that match. I think I've managed it, but why not come down to Mannings Bar tomorrow and be the judge yourself. Btw, it's actually not about anything at all, but rather an example of a song which is just about strong writing. Having said that I'm hoping it will resonate with people's lives if they've ever had to make a decision.

I'm still trying to decide what to call it... the choices so far are Go, Go/Stay or The Fool I Am... any preferences?

Go
==

Go if you want to go,
Stay if you want to stay,
Just don't expect me to be waiting here endlessly.
Life is a mystery, to everyone including me,
I don't pretend to know the rules,
Just don't take me for the fool I am.

They all let me down,
My body that is failing me, the words escaping me,
They crumble to the ground,
And lie there soundlessly.

But I'm never tongue-tied
I've always got something to say,
But not today so...

Chorus

It all drags me down.
The decades of misery that stained indelibly.
And left their mark on me, there for the world to see.

But I know my own mind,
Surely I'm okay if you're okay, thanks but not today so...

Chorus

Go. Stay. Go. Stay.

I don't know what I've done.
I just know someone has to pay, but not today so

Chorus

Stay if you want to go,
Go if you want to stay,
You know that I'll be waiting here endlessly.
Life is a miracle it created me it created you,
I don't pretend to know the rules,
Just don't take me for a fool,
I don't pretend to know the rules,
Just don't take me for a fool,
I don't pretend to know the rules,
Just don't take me for the fool I am.

(D. Callow 2008)

Random II

Ostriches
I saw some Ostriches today in a field near Chesham. They are quite amazing creatures from a different time and space, they used to be dinosaurs dontchaknow. They can make the most amazing sound by inflating their necks - it sounds a bit like a didgeridoo.

Near Death Experience
I cut through a live power cable. It went pop, like someone popping a crisp packet. It burnt a 2mm hole in my metal clippers. The RCD in the house fuse box tripped. I didn't feel a thing.

Radiohead
I'm doing a remix of Radiohead's new single Nude. Lots of people are doing it. I think it's kinda cheeky that they charged us 79p per track to download the individual stems.

BBC6
I've put my name forward to appear on Tom Robinson's unsigned band podcast and show on BBC6. My friends Wayne (Fit & The Conniptions) and Victoria & Jacob have already been played. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Floorspot
I will be at The Duchess in Battersea Park tomorrow night to do a floorspot. Come along from 8.30 and join in the fun. Mine's a Guiness.

Love to all,

Daren
xx

P.S. Two new songs on the way too!

Live in North London

Next gig:

24th April 2008, 8pm
Manning’s Bar, 73-75 Brent Street, London,NW4 2EA

Sign Me Up!

I've been working hard on new mixes and songs for my demos this week. Finally I feel that they are completed enough for public listening. I've also produced some artwork to go with them, so I hope you enjoy the whole experience. As I'm hoping to use these demos as part of a package to get gigs and management / recording companies interested so I WOULD APPRECIATE SOME FEEDBACK!! Lay it on me... anonymous posters can do it too... your thoughts are very useful to me as I'm very close to these songs and sometimes I really can't hear them... anyway, here we go.



I Need Your Love
This is a song that was on my very first Air demo!! But it's evolved a bit since then and with a bit of multi-tracking I've come up with something in-your-face, yet fun. I hope! Stick with it as there are good bits all the way through to the end. Check it out, and don't be shy with the volume:
I Need Your Love



Obsession
Another song with a few versions kicking around, but I'm really trying to display a range of ideas and sounds, so I'm pushing this sparse version again. The ticking clock is actually a metronome, and the clinking sound just before the vocals come in is ice in a glass of whisky (really). Ideally I'd love someone to pay me to record all these tracks with real drums, they would sound so much better, but in the absence of that (or until I save up enough cash myself) then the Garage Band drums have to suffice.
Raw Obsession



Minneapolis Hungover Tired Awake
A more recent song that I've tidied up for public consumption and added a little percussion. Let me know what you think. Btw, can you spot the references to the Pet Shop Boys in this tune?
Minneapolis Hungover Tired Awake

That's it for now. I really hope you hear something you like, and if you fancy helping me out then please tell your mates, download the track to your iPod and generally pimp me around. Thank you!

A few gigs coming up soon too:

7th April, TBC
The Sun, Clapham Common
Open mic spot

24th April 2008, 8pm
Manning’s Bar, 73-75 Brent Street, London,NW4 2EA
An unplugged night at this North London venue.

11th May 2008, 8pm
Cross Kings, 126 York Way, London, N1 0AX
Featured slot at this wonderfully eclectic open mic night

26th June 2008, TBC
The Duchess, Battersea Park
A full set at the prestigious Duchess Showcase night

Love to all,

Dxxx

If They Were Looking Down, What On Earth Would They Make Of Us?

Another busy and somewhat surreal few days. On Sunday I played a floorspot at a night hosted by Brett Gowlett at the Cross Kings. It was entertaining in several ways, firstly I managed somehow to hook my guitar onto the wrong hole in my strap so it was hanging about 20cm lower than normal. Of course this doesn't sound like much, but when you are used to it being a certain position it makes it a bit more interesting than it should be to get your hands to go to the right places. Anyway, I think I got away with it.

Immediately after me there were two female stand-up comedians asking us to "flick our bead for Jesus". not me personally you understand, but the fellow girls in the audience. Their images of Jesus as a pin-up hunk are etched in my mind!! After them was a series of other performance artists and poets who swam in a paddling pool, recited strange poems (and a truly hilarious version of There Was An Old Woman Who Swallowed A Fly) and recited weird and wonderful facts about the world! Needless to say the usual gaggle of white male middle-class singer-songwriters who performed in between were somewhat nonplussed. Brett is hosting another evening at the Hobgoblin in Islington on the 7th April if any of this takes your fancy, I'm hoping to play there too.

On Monday I went to see the Barbican's current art exhibition - The Martian Museum of Terrestrial Art, which is supposedly a museum of art as curated by visiting Martians. In fact it was a really enjoyable and absorbing modern art exhibition, which has been rightly praised by critics and public alike. I felt very glad to have seen it on a quiet day as I took the time to view every piece and was really taken by it. I don't think I've ever seen modern art in such an accessible and thought-provoking context, so I can't really recommend it enough.

Last night I sat and watched a video tape of Level 42 live at Wembley. It reminded me of a time way back when my friend (and my brother's best man) Andie, who was friend's with the band, threatened to get me an audition as their new guitarist. He was deadly serious, but fortunately it never came to pass. I was immensely relieved as I was scared shitless at the thought! Anyway, the video brought back loads of memories, and served once again to reinforce my belief that you should never let keyboard players sing!!

Currently I'm still working on a new recording, but I'm confident it will be finished enough by the end of today to get an airing. I'm also off to see my friend Jack Stafford play at the Troubadour tonight if anyone is at a loose end.

Okay, that's enough ramblings for now - back to the recording desk.

Dxxx

It's All Just So Unwrong

I had great fun yesterday afternoon. I was taking part in an afternoon of music, poetry, art and comedy hosted by Frog Morris at the Sun & Doves in Camberwell. It was part of a big month-long extravaganza loosely co-ordinated by The Guy Hilton gallery.

The afternoon didn't get off to the best start as Frog hadn't got a lead long enough to allow his Mac to be plugged into the PA. So he left to go to buy one and fellow performer Theo Morris took the opportunity to tune the Stylophones (!) with his friend Tom. Eventually Frog returned with a lead that was almost long enough, and with the aid of a table and a chair managed to get the laptop connected. The entertainment then kicked off with Theo Morris, (occasionally accompanied by Tom on Stylophone and air guitar, and Frog on vocals) performing songs about a goose, an overly large sofa and an angry badger.

The main event of the afternoon was Frog and Mark Quinn's Unwrong quiz. This is a great fun event in which there are no right or wrong answers and the audience are encouraged to submit surreal or funny answers and prizes are given out liberally. I tried to get into the surreal mood by answering all the questions in white pencil on a sheet of white paper, but I think I may only have been sabotaging my chances of winning a prize, as they couldn't read my answers. I did somehow manage to win two prizes over the afternoon, including writing the question for the answer "Sombrero" for which I wrote, "What is the saddest hat?" - Sombre-ro.. geddit?! Okay, so I'm no comedian... just as well that I was playing music then.

My real contribution to the afternoon was three sets of my own songs, starting with All I Want Is You and a new version of The Chosen One (which I will be recording next week). The second set was longer with Do You Want To Dance, Obsession, Lightkeeper and I Need Your Love. Since this was an art and comedy event, I also performed my Summertime Sing-a-long song - It's Summertime - which went down very well, with adults, bar staff, children and fellow performers all singing with gusto!! Thank you all so much for joining in.

More tunes from Tom, Theo and stand-up from Frog and Mark followed and the quiz answers became steadily more drunken. Towards the end of the afternoon I think Frog had a bit of a break-down as he decided to not be outdone by previous performers at these events. As the audience watched in horror he stripped to the waist, produced meths, cigarettes and large kitchen knives and then proceeded to stand on a chair blindfolded threatening to gut a small fish!! Common sense finally prevailed and with the help of his fiancé and three random small children he was talked out of it and ran crying from the pub! We hope he recovers okay.

Well this was certainly a different and entertaining afternoon, and if you fancy joining in something similar do check out Second Thursdays at the Montague Arms in New Cross, where Frog, Theo, Mark and myself are regular performers. You never know quite what might happen.

In other news one of my songs has been playlisted on IAC's Pretty Darn Good radio station and the new recordings are proceeding well. Also, do check out my brother, Haydn, playing drums in my Dining Room.

Love to all,

Daren
xx

It Would Be Wrong To Miss It

A New Look

A few weeks ago I had great fun doing a photoshoot with music photographer Kris Gruber. It was very enjoyable to hang out with him for a couple of hours and getting used to being in front of the lens again. It was freezing cold, and I only had on the jacket and t-shirt that you see in the pictures, but we managed to surpass the vision I had in my head for the pictures, so I was very happy.

Getting the disc with the pictures spurred me on to redesign the website, so please head over there and take a look:

http://www.darencallow.co.uk

My music has stepped up a level in recent weeks, with radio play, better gigs and new songs on the way so it's great that the website can match up to that.

Talking of gigs, don't forget that tonight I'm playing two sets at Finnegan's Wake in Ealing Green (W5 5QX). This is a great venue, and although the weather is supposed to be lousy tonight, I can assure you that it will be well worth the trip. So come along and hear me in the flesh.

More songs, more pictures and just generally more... on its way.

Daren
xxx

COMPETITION: A free CD with tracks of your choice (my tracks that is - cheeky!!) to anyone who can work out where we are in the pictures.

Goodbye Old Friend - II

I was never quite sure how it would work out when I realised that the guy who wanted to buy my old mixing desk was in Slovenia... but somehow it did. After about 30 emails and much tooing and froing we made it and the package left my house on the 12th and arrived in Ljubljana today at 3pm. Check it out here on the FedEx site.

I've had it for at least ten years and it's seen valiant service with many live acts and a few recordings across London, and now it has a new lease of live in eastern Europe. I'm hoping I might get to visit it some day.

Three Chances To See Me Play

There are three great chances to see me perform songs live coming up:

Tonight! 13th March
3 songs acoustic floorspot at the wonderful Duchess Bar in Battersea Park - 8:45pm
The Duchess, 101 Battersea Park Road SW8 4DS

Next Thursday - 20th March
Full acoustic set and extra songs in the round at the sublime Finnegan's Wake, Ealing Green - 8:30pm
Finnegan's Wake, The Green, Ealing, W5 5QX

24th APRIL 2008, 8pm
A full acoustic set at this new central Hendon venue - great for all you North London folks.
Manning’s Bar, 73-75 Brent Street, London,NW4 2EA


Plus, a fourth way to hear me play is to check the new podcast

Have fun, and see you all at a gig soon - or drop me a comment!

Daren
xx

DARE8 - The Lullabies Podcast

Okay, here it is, podcast number two. This one features the three songs I recorded for my Lullabies From The Wheels Of The Bus* project. You can download fuller versions of these songs from my website (see link above), and if you like any of the tunes please do spread the word and link to this blog or to the podcast.

DARE8 - The Lullabies Podcast

You can now subscribe to my podcast now by using this RSS link.

Once you have listened, then open your diaries and make a note to come and see me play on 20th March at Finnegan's Wake on Ealing Green.

Daren
xx

* Many thanks to Alex Staiger for the title of this project, and the album artwork.

Random

I have been tagged by (the highly readable, and ever so slightly addictive) Having My Cake to write down seven strange facts about myself...


The rules are as follows:
1. Link to the person who tagged you
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Share seven random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog.
4. Tag seven random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
5. Leave a comment on their blogs so that they know they have been tagged.

Okay... not sure any of these are weird, but hopefully they are random.

1) For years I couldn't spell vacuum. I just refused to believe that a word could have two "u"s next to each other.

2) When the book Communion came out I became very scared of aliens invading my house. I couldn't even look at the cover it spooked me out so much, although ever the gluten for punishment I bought the sequel too.

3) I have a (these days mild) phobia about using the phone.

4) I once came second in a fancy dress competition with my brother (in 1977 at a Queen's Silver Jubilee party) dressed as St. George and the dragon.

5) One of my songs has been played on BBC Radio 1 (by DJ Steve Wright). My first band was called Air, we still get confused with the French band of the same name - although since we formed in 1986 we kinda beat them to it.

6) My surname means naive and innocent. In the book of Star Wars, Luke Skywalker is described as a callow youth.

7) I have been onstage with the Pet Shop Boys (in a white forensic suit wheeling a huge wooden cut-out of Neil Tennant's head during a very literal stage show for the song You Were Always On My Mind).

Which leads me nicely on to the fact that I'm recording a new podcast this afternoon... this time featuring the three tunes from Lullabies From The Wheels Of The Bus. Stay tuned - should be on-line by about 5pm.

Oh yeah, and I tag, Peach, Vi, Nobby & Me and Clarrisa - although it's a kinda soft tag, as I don't actually mind if you want to be tagged or not - your choice.

Daren
xx

P.S. My song Vulnerable is play listed on two US radio stations: Radio KWSS 106.7 FM in Arizona, USA and Paridize Radio - do swing by their sites and put in a song request... thanks!!

P.P.S. I hope the photograph is suitably random for you. Hee hee.

Ealing. Sober. Excited. Finnegan's Wake.

It's a fair old trek to Ealing Broadway from Crystal Palace, but well worth the trip. Thursday night saw me making said journey to appear at a showcase at Finnegan's Wake on Ealing Green. It was a really fun night with a small (but attentive) audience and three really good other acts. As seems to be the case quite a bit these days I was on first, but really enjoyed playing All I Want Is You, Obsession, Vulnerable, Do You Want to Dance and Lullabies. Although I had intended to play Home, but I had a mental block and couldn't actually remember the chords?!

Up after me was Rebecca Cross, who had actually come over from San Francisco to play (which is actually the biggest trek any of us had). She played a very soulful and enjoyable set. She was followed on stage by Victoria & Jacob, who have an eclectic mix of acoustic guitar, xylophone, melodium and sleigh bells. Victoria has a great vocal style, and their set was mesmorising and sparse.

Finally Jack Stafford took the stage sporting a fantastic moustache (the facial hair quotient on stage was very high, with my goatee and Jacob's full beard) and played a very entertaining and clever set. He'd come from Amsterdam, and Victoria & Jacob were from Cambridge, so we really were a far flung crowd.

Not only were all the artists great performers and entertainers, but they were also thoroughly nice people, and we all had a great evening despite the small crowd. Many thanks too to Tristan who did the sound and hosted the evening.

I'm working on two new tracks this week, and hoping to get another podcast recorded on Tuesday this week. Stay tuned!

Live At Finnegan's Wake, Ealing

Do come along tonight for a great acoustic evening of entertainment.

Doors are at 8.00pm and the show starts at 8.30pm

Full line-up:
VICTORIA & JACOB
DAREN CALLOW
REBECCA CROSS
JACK STAFFORD
5 MINUTE POP PROMO

****INTERVAL****

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE 2ND HALF OF THE SHOW WILL BE ENTIRELY ACOUSTIC AND CANDLELIT IN THE ROUND WITH EACH ARTIST PLAYING A SONG EACH IN SUCCESSION UNTIL 11.00PM

Finnegan's Wake, Ealing Green, Ealing W5 5QX

You Are Not Alone - Update
==========================

The deadline has been extended to March 9th... so get your submissions in and help support the Warchild charity.

Full details
here.

Round 'Em Up

It's been a busy week. After my podcast debut on Sunday I ventured out to Kentish Town on Tuesday to see three excellent bands at the Bullet Bar: My Federation (very tight performance and some interesting hooks - very silly website too, check it out), Drookit Dogs (bags of raw punk energy and attitude) and perennial favourites Fit And The Conniptions (Wayne has been having a tough time busking and broke a string in this gig so do visit his website, download a song or two and lend him your support).

Friday saw another trip to the Montague Arms in New Cross. This time as the filler in a rather odd pub quiz sandwich. It was strange to play to the drunken Friday night crowd rather than the (more attentive) 2nd Thursday's art crowd. There was a fair bit of heckling, but thanks to the two girls, Mark's friend and the sound guy who led a clapping fightback from the front. I actually enjoyed it immensely and played a full set comprising:

All I Want Is You
Lullabies From The Wheels Of the Bus
Obsession
Minneapolis. Hungover. Tired. Awake (complete with vintage Boss BF-2 Flanger!)
Do You Want To Dance?
Vulnerable
I Need Your Love

Thanks again to Frog Morris and Mark for letting me play, looking forward to the next one.

Next on my to-do list is to record some stings for broadcast on NAB - "My name is Daren Callow and you are listening to NAB radio..."

I'm also heading to St. Albans again this Sunday for a floorspot at The Horn and next Thursday I'm at Finnigans Wake in Ealing. See you there!

P.S. I am desperately looking for a bass player and drummer to become permanent band members, check out the Gumtree ad here and pass the word on.

DARE5 - The First Podcast

Okay, here it is. Best not to say too much, but let you download and enjoy. Please do leave your comments so I know what you all think. You'll find three songs on this podcast - All I Want Is You, I Need Your Love and Do You Want To Dance?

Enjoy,

Daren
xxx

DARE5 - The First Podcast (9.5Mb) - 13'52