Every Night Has A Soundtrack

Remind me to start a new blog:

I need one.

REDWOOD CITY

London this weekend was eventful.
Felt strange playing acoustic on stage again, thanks to those that came to watch.

We got to London on Friday late afternoon and checked into our hotel.
Simon and myself went to the Roundhouse to check out the Friday lineup and saw Zane Lowe & BeardyMan on the main stage, which were both pretty great. The DM stage was a great room and they'd put grass down covering the whole place making it feel like a night time festival, was a really cool experience.
I took us on a short cut on the way back that added an extra hour onto a 30 minute walk. I wouldn't advise it.

Yesterday we went to Harrods in Knightsbridge then to Piccadilly Circus and then eventually to the Roundhouse to sign in.
We went backstage for a while which although had two nice big rooms was spoiled by every other act that was around acting like they were the next big thing. I've honestly never seen anything like it, London is full to the brim of diva's.
Most of the acts we saw were manufactured, awful music.
After I played we realised that we'd already missed seeing Bashy play, which was pretty much half of the acts that we wanted to see. Sam and Simon went to see Tinchy Stryder (or Stryderman) while I sorted out the expenses and then we all watched Natty (the other act we wanted to see). I've played on a lineup with Natty once before in London and he's a really talented guy. Definitely prefer his acoustic sets.
We left after that while Dan Le Sac was getting set up so that we could get an early start on the way home.
Had another Domino's and set off.


We spent most of the motorway journey listening to Bill Bryson's travels across small-town america audiobook, to Simon's original distain which soon turned to approval, and using his flash gun from his camera to make cars think they'd been caught speeding when they overtook us, which is extremely satisfying if not a bit dangerous.

We were almost in Northallerton when the car gave in and we had to call breakdown to come and remove the exhaust so that we could get home safely, at 4am.

All in all it was a long weekend and I'm home now, thankfully.
No more trips to London please.


Jack

Swine

I'm finally getting back into making music for myself.
Currently, I'm starting the process of putting together a band.
It's not really anything like the kind of stuff I've made before, definitely more electronic based but I don't want to give you any bad ideas of what it's really going to sound like.
I won't be playing under Jack Summer anymore, I'm done with that now.
Maybe I'll come back to my deeper thoughts on who "Jack Summer" was one day.


All of a sudden I was selling merch again, and I still have no idea why.
Out of the blue I was getting a lot of show requests from promoters.
I've turned down all but one, next Saturday (9th May) Camden Roundhouse @ The Turning Point Festival - I'll be doing an acoustic set, and it will be my last ever (ever) show playing the songs I've had from the past.
It's been a venue I've wanted to play for as long as I've wanted to play big venues, so I feel okay in coming out of 'retirement' for one last show there.

Currently listening to:

Mickey Avalon, Iglu & Hartly, Matisyahu, Massive Attack, Postal Service, Feist, The Lonely Island.

Strange and Untrue

Everything is quite mad right now.
Don't know where to start.
I need a holiday...

I never thought I would be saying this but - you people are still buying my albums?
I get more sales now than I ever did, even of my first album.
Completely weird! - thank you :)

I'm living pretty comfortably and keeping busy.
I played my first show as a drummer last night @ Newcastle Academy and also hosted my first club night ever.

Working on lead guitars for my own stuff too but it's taking a long time to work through, I'm very tired these days.

Another thing I never thought I would say - Check out "Detroit Social Club", I'm blown away ....

Jack Summer LIVE at the Academy - Saturday 31st January 2009_003

Jack Summer LIVE at the Academy - Saturday 31st January 2009_003
Originally uploaded by Jazzy Lemon

I've been doing lots of recording this last week!
Feels nice to say that again, I think I owe at least part of this re-inspiration to my girlfriend.

I've started work on Champagne Charlies debut release (again, they're useless).
I've recorded up to rhythm guitar, bass and drums for my new band The Grace (two songs, no one's heard them at all yet).

ALSO, Started work on four new (ish) Jack Summer tracks.
So far I've recorded acoustic guitars and drums for them. I got to play the drums myself on my own tracks for once which sounds sloppy, but nice at the same time.... wholesome even.
Should be tracking the bass guitars for those songs tomorrow.


The photo posted is of my last show, Jan 31st '09 @ Newcastle Academy.

Sinking Feeling

This did start off as a blog following my music career prospects but it does seem to have lost it's way (much like my music career prospects).

I've got a hell of a lot happening and just haven't found time to work on any of my own music (other than rehearsing and writing with my new band "The Grace" - for whom I play drums).
I finally got around to setting up the studio software again on my laptop after my hard drive failed and had to be replaced, taking with it a lot of important work.

I made a Flickr account if anyone's interested (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jacksummer/)

Trying to think of what else to update you on...

I feel a bit ill, tired, stressed. Have rehearsals later tonight and then must pull an all nighter to finish the Nikki Naroz o2 work that should have been done ages ago. Putting on a lot of shows as well as some other interesting nights.
I just spent £430 on a new powered mixer. I'll soon be working on a book with a good friend of mine!
The Blackberry Storm is rubbish. I have no qualms with the new Facebook.
I have a new girlfriend.

Think that about wraps it up.


See you soon!


JS

Twit

------------->

Someday you'll understand that everything is A-OK

I woke this morning and realised that I'd been losing who I was supposed to be.
I quit playing shows for partly a silly reason but I don't regret it.

I got more done work wise so far today than I have in a long time.
In many ways I'm as my laptop is right now; Broken, but like it will soon be fixed: so will I. I don't need to live for anyone else, and I have some of the best friends you could want.

I'm blessed and inspired.

Trojan Horse

I've been busy, I've been stressed.
Lots on my mind and I'm trying to figure out where music leaves me.

My laptop is in the repair shop so I can't record at the moment.
I can write.

The last show

Thanks so much to everyone who came along on Saturday night, I loved it.

Look out for new recordings coming soon

x

Because AMG is the devil of the Newcastle music scene ..

They are an all powerful corporate force, which is probably what I will one day be.
When that day comes I will put Academy Music Group out of business, though because of my previous work with the grassroots level (among other reasons) my company will be hailed as the saviour's of the live music industry.
Which of course we will be, because we know how it feels to be the little guy.

AMG does not care about the little guy.
HeartRock Music does.

To make this more interesting

I'll start posting pictures and videos. I've been meaning to but I just never get around to it.

I'm working from home today (until the HeartRock show tonight).
Spent this morning calling up companies that the previous tenant of my studio owed money to so that they don't come along and take my stuff.

Going to be working on another Niki Naroz project tomorrow, this one is an animation called "Pencil Tree" that's going to be used by the BBC. It's a great piece of work and I'm looking forward to penning the soundtrack.

I'll also be finishing off (hopefully) some recordings of Champagne Charlies EP tomorrow.
It's going to be great, and I'm not just saying that because I'm their manager, or the producer ....
They really are ones to watch.


Jack

Reser-vol-ution

I made one new years resolution which was to make £50,000 this year.
I'm now making a second;

Stop being late ALL OF THE TIME, and letting people down.
Really, stop.

Last Jack Summer Show

It's 31st of this month at the newly renamed "o2 Academy", Newcastle.
It'd be great if you could be there (if you're in the area).
It's also the last show for my friends Fall Short! Conform! & To Save A Soul and there's more support from The Mephisto Club and Kaikoura so it should be a great night.

If you'd like a ticket then please speak to me, or pick one up from the Academy venue. Their website is also selling tickets via Ticketmaster.


As it's my last show we've put together something different as a band lineup and had our first rehearsal yesterday.

Dean Duncan and Liam Bushby from Fall Short! Conform! are playing drums and piano respectively, Dean helped with my second album and they've both spent a lot of time on tour with me over the last few years.
Michael Barber is playing bass as he was in my first band, Infected.
Michael Webb from Champagne Charlies is going to be providing the lead guitars.

Will be playing a mix of all the classics, so don't miss it.


I'm also toying with the idea of releasing a compilation of bands I've worked with under the HeartRock imprint but more on that as it develops.


Later.

The Grace and o2

You might see me around drumming in a new band called The Grace, or you might not.
If I am then it probably won't look like me, or look like drumming in the way you're supposed to drum.

At the moment I'm also working on a project with animator Niki Naroz which is great and you may see it on your TV screen sometime in the future.

Just for everyone who's asked if I'm "giving up".


Jack