Good audiences and not-so-good audiences

Things didn't start terribly auspiciously today. First of all, there was no hot water from the shower. So I psyched myself up to go to a local exercise class - something I've been meaning to do for ages and which had absolutely nothing to do with wanting a decent shower - only to find it was cancelled when I got there. Hmmph. Then, to top it all, people have been renovating next door, making all manner of noises. I can't write a hit song with that racket going on! Keeping the muse has been a challenge.

That said, I did pretty much finish one of the many songs I have started recently. And listening back to it on my crappy dictaphone, I think it's all right. Just a few rough edges to tidy up and I'm nearly there.

Apart from all that, there've been numerous outings of a musical nature since I last posted. In my quest to check out ever more acoustic / singer-songwriter nights in town, I went to see my friend Kaz Simmons last night at the Bullet Bar in Kentish Town. I know Kaz from the jazz scene, but, like me, she's been writing some of her own material lately, on the classical guitar. It was a nice place and she did a great set, fortunately at the beginning, while people were still remotely attentive. What was really annoying was that one of the other acts, who'd brought a bit of a crowd, talked through all the other acts. And the singer had the cheek, in his set, to evil the audience when there were one or two people speaking at the back! Some people, eh. I think it's a shame when the other acts on a bill disrespect their fellow performers like that.

In contrast, when I went to Power Down the other week at the Islington Arts Factory, the audience were a complete joy (yes, I know I was one of them, but hey). We had to be, because there was no amplification - the concept behind the gig was to be as carbon-neutral as possible. So there was no electricity - just a brilliant atmosphere in a beautiful old building with great acoustics. And everybody listened.