Bass-icly it's a toy

Present: Ad, Eg, Fea, Tom

Venue: Winchcombe School Headmaster's Office

Apart from an unblogged practice with Eg, Tom and Fea two weeks ago, this was the first Loopy practice for two months.

There are reasons, of course, for this lack of pop-making. And these reasons include a trip to Africa, a trip to Scotland, a very ill mother and moving house. Now it's up to you match the excuse with the band member.

In the meantime, it is probably sufficient to say that it was good to have everyone in the same room again, guitars in hand, melodica in mouth, ladies practising self-defence in the assembly hall down the corridor etc.

A new album is taking shape. Working title: Chubby Little Loser. Don't worry, working titles always get changed. Usually at the last minute.

And the boys (Tom and Ad sporting non-Movember inspired beards) ran through all the song candidates.

Twice.

Post-Practice Pub Prattle

Fea found someone at work who's having boiler problems; Tom's been off work to commit crimes against DIY; Eg's been getting those computer virus scam phonecalls; Loopy purchase acoustic bass for Ad to use from eBay via Tom's mobile phone - post-purchase analysis of the description seems to indicate it's a child's toy; New Zealand; where to hold this year's Loopy Christmas Do.

Deep, Posh and Sexy

Present: Ad, Eg, Fea, Tom

Venue: Valley Studios, Winchester

Seems to have been a week of bad news. Which makes this weekly occurrence of pop purveyance even more significant in the lives of the lads.

While they record the Portugal v Spain World Cup match in their respective homes for later viewing the Loopy boys turn up to endure the hot, hot, hot sweatiness that is the studio. Half way through a break was needed in the cooler air outside for a while.

Ooh, it was hot.

Post Practice Pint Piffling Prattle:
The Willow Tree had closed early again tonight so the boys begrudgingly trudged up the road to the First Inn Last Out and sat out on the pews in the garden.

"You can ask at the bar for the Bibles" called one jolly lady.

Eg recounted his Glastonbury experience - The National were the ones to see apparently; Fea's radio interview; England's miserable showing at the World Cup; It was Rhodri, not Rodney; Sziget being eagerly anticipated by everyone accept Fea who hasn't done his homework and won't be coming even though he won't actually officially say it - probably makes him feel he's still part of it; Ad is off to Zimbabwe then Zambia; And finally, causing most of the laughter for this evening...

...according to Tom, he's got a deep, posh and sexy voice.

Or so he's been told.

So much so that he's actually signed up with a Voice-over website.

The England Flag and the Barmaid

Present: Ad, Fea, Tom

Venue: Valley Studios, Winchester

Ben's found the band a potential drummer to help out. The details were handed over whereupon nothing will happen until the paper on which the details have been written turn up disintegrating in a pocket of a pair of Tom's newly washed jeans.

For some strange reason the Willow Tree pub, now famous in the local press for having an enormous England flag draped over one side, has taken to closing early on a Tuesday night leaving our boy band gasping for refreshment before toiling home. Tonight their luck was back in.

The barmaid that was befriended last week was awarded a copy of Doing Somersaults [sourced by Tom, presented by Ad]. This seemed to make her evening. She'll be on holiday next week. Going to Cornwall.

'Just make sure you switch off the lights and the water fountains before you go.'

Post Practice Pint Piffle:
The stress of work and looking for new jobs. Fea's forthcoming radio interview - something to do with his school. Nobody cares.

Drag Me To The Liberty Ballroom and get served by a former pupil

Present: Ad, Fea

Venue: Head Teacher's Office, The Winchcombe School, Newbury

Uke and a guitar, that's all you need.

Fea discovered some lyrics in his Loopy folder on his laptop.  Neither Ad nor he knew where they had come from.  So, based on some chords mined from World Party's 'Put The Message In A Box', they came up with a brand new song.

A second new song was born with the words 'Drag me to the Liberty Ballroom'.  Before going down the pub which the band used to frequent when they regularly rehearsed at Fea's first Newbury School. 

They walked in on a Pub Quiz and were served by one of Fea's former pupils.

Where Do You Go when it's Tom's Birthday

Present: Ad, Eg, Fea, Tom [later]

The evening was dedicated recording a new song called Where Do You Go.

Ad laid down the guide ukulele and vocal and Eg added a piano intro before putting down his lead vocal.



Fea added guitar using his niece's 'baby acoustic'.

Birthday boy Tom and Bex [still both unmarried] turned up after their celebratory meal in Winchester.

Tom added a distinctly non-choppy piano to the proceedings and Bex refused to add her backing vocals which had earlier been heartily cocked up by Tom and Fea.

Eg and a double-tracked Ad saved the day there.

Overall, a rather good evening's work.