Yesterday I went to support my friend (& bassist) Jack Bird at the Seven Stars in Bristol. It turned out to be an excellent afternoon of music and I fortunately got to catch up with a lot of the people whose gigs I had to cancel lately - so it was an opportunity to explain myself. For those of you that weren’t there (and may I say a big thank you to the Get Well messages I’ve received over the 4 months I’ve been out of action) thought I’d use this space to dispell any myths that seem to be making the rounds. I stopped gigs (against my will) because I was physically too unwell. In chronological order (with overlaps): Flu; Chest Infection; Pleurisy; Gastro-entiritis; Shingles; Anaemia; Kidney Stones (PAINFUL!); Arhythmia. . . These things happen, eh.

But I’m back now - not that easy to kill off, me!  ;-)  Forgive me though if I take my foot off the gas for a bit - there’s a reason my body broke!!! It’s understandably quite hard to appreciate sometimes I know, but even when it doesn’t look as though I’m doing anything at all the fact is I never stop working. Picture a duck on the surface of a pond, to the eye serenely floating about when in fact he’s paddling like mad underneath just to stay afloat! The same is true of many of us I know - we are all the same. I guess the message here is Don’t Paddle So Hard You Forget To Stop And Get Your Plankton!

Lol.

Gigs are starting to pile up from May onwards - I’ll let you know about these nearer the time - including some interesting side projects … And of course the mythic Album is due to become reality very soon. I have been writing a hell of a lot lately too so there is plenty more new stuff on the way. I’ve got back to work with my band also (Benita Johnson & Company) - who have all been very stoic

This weekend was, I think, the start of the Chinese New Year (Tiger). Since Western New Year wasn’t so hot for me I’m taking this as the point where I review where I’ve been and make resolutions for where I’m going. Change takes time. Overall I’ve invested a lot of time, effort, ££ and heart into the music side of things. If you believe that your rewards are always in proportion to your investments, stands to reason that nothing is for nothing. I believe that.

x Bj x

Happy New Year everybody! Best of health & happiness to you all!

Once again gigs are cancelled for January and the forseeable future (not too long hopefully) until my own health has returned … I will keep you posted.

Well I guess there will be times like these… another gig cancelled (Label 5 this Tuesday in Bristol).

This time it’s because I have  swine-flu.

Hopefully all better in time for our gig in Frome the following week … I’ll keep you posted

I just wanted to take the time to say a big thank you to everyone who attended my gig at the Piano Bar, Old Bath Arms in Frome on Thursday.

CONGRATULATIONS especially to the happy couple who are tying the knot this weekend! And a special THANK YOU and YOU’RE WELCOME to LEE.

DAVID it was very good to see you too and I wish you all the very best. Hope you like the CD. :) 

Thanks also to Poppa Shep (Terry) and his band Liquid Earth for taking the time to say hi and for being so appreciative.

Thanks also to Anna, as always for putting the night on and to Matt for the pix.

Well, now here’s a thought! Since “Staying In” is the new “Going Out” ‘n all, maybe you’d like the gig to come to you!
You could book me to play at your place and sit around in your slippers with your mates, listening to some totally different new music, you wouldn’t hear unless you spent a packet on taxis and booze going to some club to find that you couldn’t hear anything anyway because everybody’s talkin to loud … and then you get home and you half wish you never went cos the bar staff were really something (or was that the beer-goggles??) but now you’re being sick everywhere and you’re sure you musta lost some dough somewhere cos you really couldn’t have spent all that ! …

I guess staying in might not sound as much fun, but y’know one of these days I’m gonna be a household name and you’ll be able to say “she sat right here in my living room you know!” pointing lovingly at the dent you’ve never smoothed out of the sofa where my arse was once (allegedly) parked … well, yes - don’t hold your breath! Lol!

Still, as I say - it’s a thought! Isn’t it! And the real beauty of it is that, although I can’t do it for free, I’ll accept whatever you can afford
Think about it why don’t you.
Send me a message when you’ve decided, and we’ll go from there.

B

Well where do  start? There’s been a lot going on …

First of all with the Recession & everything my plans for funding and getting this to come together full-time have fallen flat so I’ve gone back to the day job (which isn’t at all bad as day-jobs go) & got a kind of a promotion in with the bargain, hence securing my ability to further invest in the music side of things - Nice! So it’s not all bad

Second I’ve been back in the studio … You’ll hear some new tracks recorded with a mate on my myspace site (www.myspace.com/benitajohnson) … but the main work I’m doing at the moment is on an album. It’s proved to be a tricky process - it’s fair to say I do everything the hard way! But we’re making progress and it’s sounding good. initial estimates were that I’d be done by Christmas - right now though, I’m not thinking about a deadline. I don’t think that’s helpful.

And gigs - yes, now there’s a story! I’ve been doing a fair few of these - and some of them unplanned, which is always nice as I really miss it if I don’t have any to do for a while… And, do you know! I was verbally assaulted at one last week! shock horror! I was playing (musicians take note) at the New Inn, St Owens Cross, Hereford and a) they weren’t really sure what they were doing with the whole live music deal b) the locals weren’t prepared for such as me it seems! I was basically told I couldn’t sing for shit, they didn’t want me there and I should just fall off the planet and die!!! … lovely. I had a few choice words of my own to give out …. I did the gig and I got paid but it made me a bit mad… But I guess it was a reality check too - just shows that i’ve got very comfortable with my usual haunts …

Played a couple of gigs in Bath this week too. One at the Porter Cellar Bar I really enjoyed, so I hope they have me back …

And writing - loads of this going on feeling especially inspired at the moment … though I think it’s gonna cost me !! x

Thanks to you folks for checking in and reading my waffle. Please feel free to Comment - it’s a more reliable way of contacting me at the moment as my site email is full of spam!

x Bj

Next gig 27th June at the Thunderbolt, Totterdown, Bristol. (tbc)  

On the subject of gigs, I recently played The Olde Bath Arms in Frome. It turned out to be a really rewarding night and I hope they ask me back sometime … If you’re ever out that way, it’s well worth checking out on a Thursday night as they have a collection of singer-songwriter types playing and it’s a gorgeous place - with excellent food! (although, if you’re veggie, I hope you like artichokes!).

I’ve also been doing some rock-duo work with a friend of mine  (we call ourselves Label 5 - it’s a long story, and you’d have to have been there) … so we debuted at Alfie Kingston’s Acoustic Afternoon last Sundayat the 7 Stars pub in Redcliffe, Bristol … we went down really well so we’ll probably try to do more of the same over the summer… so if you see LABEL 5 entered on the gigs calendar that’s what I mean…

That’s all for now - fingers crossed for the 27th! If anyone’s stopping by the Thunderbolt any time soon, maybe chivvy them up for me?? Much appreciated xx

This blogging thing is quite a stretch for someone who doesn’t really say one hell of a lot. Which shouldn’t be confused with not having anything to say. Far from it! Want to know what I think? - What I feel? My songs should tell you that - all you need to know anyway. But since I HAVE a blog, I guess I oughtta use it … :) 

So I was recording Wednesday, did this open mic last night and a gig tonight on a boat - not my first time (that was another boat - the Thekla, a few years ago for Ladyfest) … I had spent the day surrounded by two-dimensional people and swiping at some phantoms from my past … it just got too hard to smile. Nobody likes that. People like people to be happy, and mellow and reasonable. Any display of true emotion, or frustration or (God forbid) anger is liable to get you hurriedly swept away by some giant social-cleansing dustpan. . . Days like this make it ever clearer to me how important music is in my life - and not just the gigs but everything that goes with it - especially the people.

I like genuine, real, multi-dimensional people. I might not like them very much - or I might not like what they stand for. But it’s not against the law to state preference and it’s a free country. But I respect their honesty, their conviction, their ability to stand true. I can’t stand anyone who just isn’t who they are. And I really find it hard to understand anyone who makes too many compromises … it’s fair to say, I probably didn’t like myself for a while there then! These last couple of nights, I have spent amongst some solid crystal characters. (not just the artists). You can’t fold them into the cartoon-strip of your daily grind and expect them to follow the script. I guess that’s something Music does for people - and not just the people who make it. A captivating tune, a lyric, a sound that grabs at your soul can take you anywhere you want to go. You can’t put a price on that!

I had a conversation with a guy recently who was trying to tell me how fortunate people like me are that we have this means of expression, this gift, this outlet … it was cringeable stuff, but he didn’t have to tell me, I know. Of course, he’s right - though it comes at a price, I think. Not that you’ll hear me complaining!! I wouldn’t have it any other way. I am certain that the same can be said for the folks I’ve shared the stage with recently… Check out Catherine & The Owl at www.catherineandtheowl.com Also Google “Amelia Tucker” and “The Funkinsteins”. And go to www.myspace.com/jackbirdjackbirdjackbird and last, but not least, go to Rita Lynch.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

There is so much out there! Get out of your box and start listening!

Bj

Wrote this this week. Don’t know what I’d call this one - any ideas anyone? I thought “My Old Addiction” but that’s been done already …

XX bj

As requested, here’s the latest: I’m sifting through what I’ve put down for the recording so far and priming myself to be brutal about it … A couple of the original songs probably won’t make the cut - luckily i have a few more up my sleeve :)  I’ve done this, following a bit of a break, which has helped me get perspective, I think.

I wasn’t prepared for what a tedious business this recording thing is - when you do it properly. I’ve had a false start at doing an album before - I learned there that it is possible to lose control of something by taking too much (apologies to the bemused folk who got swept up in that) … lol … Apart from that I’m just used to traipsing into a mates studio somewhere, rattling through some songs - badda bing - badda bam - and there you have it! This is not the case anymore. Now I have to do it like a grown-up (sigh).

Also - though there’s nothing wrong with ambition, (in my humble opinion x) - I have to accept it’s important to be realistic - at this stage anyhoo. Lets save the exhibitionism until the day Warner Bros foot the bill! I very much want something I can take on the road when I’m done, and (alas) I can’t fit a Wurlitzer in the back of the Mondeo!

That said, tedious or not, it’s all worthwhile when all of a sudden, as I’m sitting there chewing my nails & practising facial contortions, I stumble across some shimmering gem of a sound - and I get chills for the rest of the day… There’s a few of those it’ll be interesting to see if you can spot them when it’s done!

But I can’t take all the credit … I’m working with some fab people on this, and I thank them now (as I will continue to do) for their talent & patience.

xxx Bj