"O Danny Boy.."

I find myself in Dublin, feeling rough. I was kidnapped last night after the show and forced, yes forced, into drinking white wine and sambucca. And now I feel amazing. Anyways, the Irish shows have been a lot of fun thusfar, although Derry awaits this evening, and judging by what hapened last time I was there this could be my last post for a while... Touring with The Holloways was a blast, and my own shows have been great to. Thumbs up all round.

An update on the guitar situation: I got a new one, a little Takamine, which is great, but this is merely a stopover before I become the proud owner of the mother of all acoustics. More details later, when the beast is actually in my hands. I guess sometimes good things can come out of shit situations, huh...

Also in the pipeline: a new EP! It's going to be called "The Real Damage EP" and it's going to be coming out at the start of May. It'll feature said song, and three new tracks as well, and maybe even some enhanced content if we can figure out how to do that. There's a new video and a new tour in the pipeline, so watch this space for updates.

I'm going home on Saturday, and to be honest I cannot fucking wait. I haven't really had any decent time off this year so far, and I'm knackered and a little ill. Having said that, in my week off before hitting the States I have to shoot a video, do some artwork, mix and master some tracks, start planning a tour, and that kind of thing, but 48 hours in my pants in front of the telly won't go amiss.

God Motherfucking Dammit

I seem to have pissed off some tetchy deity recently. After a kick-arse UK tur (thanks again to Dive Dive, Jay Beans On Toast, Graham, Stix and everyone at the shows) I headed out for some shows in Finland. And just as we were checking out the venue in Porvoo, for the second show, shit happened.

My guitar, which has been with me for every single solo show I've ever done, on which I wrote every single solo song, and quite a few MD songs too, with which I recorded countless guitar parts over 5 releases, got fucking nicked from the car outside by some fucking cunt.

I'm at a loss to explain how shit this is. It's not the money (though it must be said that finding finance for a new guitar right now is far from easy), it's the sentiment. That guitar was like my soul, my brother, the only one that has witnessed every triumph and defeat, particularly in the last two years. I'm so pissed off.

Jokke, the promoter in Porvoo, was a saint about it all and still has all his friends on high alert, has called every music and pawn shop in the town and in Helsinki too, alerted the police and even got me interviewed by a local journalist who is going to run the story on wednesday. So you never know, I might be reunited. But I can't say I'm that optimistic.

Not a good day for me. These things are sent to try us, I guess.

I need a Bath

So I'm in Southampton on the penultimate date of this tour. I say that, but then of course I have a show the next day in Ipswich, then two in Finland, then to Ireland, so it's more the passing of a phase than the end of something... Nevertheless, this tour has been amazing, the line-up (with Dive Dive and Beans) has been great, the crowds have been awesome, we're all but out of merchandize, and the London show last night was special. Thanks everyone.

A few bits of news: first up, you can help me choose what the next single from the album is going to be. There'll be a video and so on, and a bunch of unreleased B-Sides (new songs) to keep the faithful happy. So go on and vote! Ta.

Also, we've got an online shop in the process of being set up at the moment, so you'll be able to order T-shirts online, internationally. Which should keep you lot happy for a little while.

Finally, there's more shows being firmed up on the horizon, in the UK and Europe. Keep your eyes peeled, just because this tour is done doesn't mean I won't be scaring militant Christians in your neighborhood any time soon...

Alphabetical Fuckpig

I sit and write from the back office of Glasgow's Nice n Sleazy. Soundcheck is done and Jay (Beans on Toast) is about to hit the stage. We're almost half-way through the tour, and all is well, with the possible exception of me having a sore throat that's taking an age to clear up. It might have something to do with getting wrecked with old friends after most of the shows... who knows? Safe to say that much fun is being had by all. Having a band out on the road makes such a difference in every respect. It's not maybe what I'll always do from now on, but it makes a refreshing change from the past 18 months of touring. Jay is bringing the fun too - he's got a black mini called "The Ninja" and a boot full of laughing gas. Trouble ensues regularly.

Some news for y'all... The wonderful Rachel Brook has finished her little documentary about me on the road last year, entitled "Toil & Peaceful Life". There's going to be a special screening in Newcastle on March 2nd at the Side Cinema - more information can be found here. It'll be getting a proper release sometime later in the year.

No rest for the wicked: I'm heading out to Finland for a few shows at the end of this UK stretch, details to follow shortly. I'm also hitting up Ireland, and then of course there's the states, which is going to be amazing. The dates are pretty much all confirmed now and up on the gigs page.

The album is selling really well, which is great. Keep telling your friends though, world domination awaits and there's still more than 59 million people in the UK who don't own a copy. At the moment we're discussing a new EP for the early summer, a new video and all that kind of jazz.

Uh-oh, Jay is just starting, I'm heading down to catch his set. Fuck the smoking ban indeed. T'raa.