News  March 07 Update

Well it has been a while and largely due to medicinal problems I have been unable to provide much reporting on my favourite band.........So here is an update. 

The band have been very busy in their own lives and as such most of Jan and Feb were spent doing other things like playing families or holidaying.... (Neil went to NY with his wife and happened to watch Paul Weller four times...good timing Neil, bet your wife was pleased.) 

Chris has monopolised the south west's reserves of vegetable oil and is contributing more than the continent of America is, in helping the environment ; his car can be smelled coming to most gigs two miles away if the wind is in the right direction.  

Nick has binned the sat nav and now finds his way around the county via the art of road signs and has spent alot of time out the country with his family in France.  (In fact that should be his famile i think en France) 

Tim fresh from his and Neil's road trip to Monaco has bought himself a new and impressive bike and can be seen only by those with bigger and more impressive bikes.  He recently turned up to practice in tight leathers and managed to squeal out a couple of notes hitherto not heard from his well oiled larynx. 

Paul allowed his wife to cut his hair last July and has not looked back since, well he was able to look back for a little while but this must have scared him as his hair has grown back he is not getting it cut again, and is again unable to look back.  luckily his ability to play the bass is unaffected by the curse that sapped the strength of Samson. 

Amy is not letting the first year of marriage get in the way of her rock'nroll life style and in fact the band were proud to play at the very event, and occasionally Amy joined in as well, wedding dress and all. So big up to Mr Amy.  In fact there have been other moments where she has only played  occasionally. (thoughts turn back to the immortal lines of Tim on New Year Eve when the traditional tipple of something alcoholic played a large part in the joviality and led Amy to make a hasty retreat from the stage as her dinner made a hasty retreat from her stomach....." Suppose Love Shack is out then" says Tim as we all imagined loud choruses and verses of yuletide talking to God on the big white (may have been peach actually) telephone).  Anyway we enjoyed it! 

SO some good gigs, have been had; Lewis, Neil's 12 year old son joined in on the drums on Changing Man at Shrewton where a few hundred quid was raised for the school there last November.  The band played at Salisbury City Hall in December, great venue but not t he best gig of their career largely due to lack of set up time. Of course the Great Shrewton festival saw the rock'n'roll pinnacle of any band's career as Turtleshed supported The Wurzells (mind you they needed supporting 80 years old and saturated with zider no one can stand on their own). 

Last week the recent day of Lawlessness was marked by the Sheds supporting the great Lawless, and helped raise 8 grand in the event for the Fatboys charity.  http://www.fatboyscharity.co.uk/   check it out)

Spawned from this gig are two great video clips available on You tube.  If you're passing take a look, and if possible leave the band some encouraging comments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rwt3GazmJFQ   is the band doing I predict a riot this was the last song of the evening and a riot was had by all....gotta be seen just for the crowd, great bunch.......

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck2klRaPX0g   is Greenday's Holiday by the band.

It has now been a full year and more that Amy and Paul have been with the band and you would think they've always been there. Whilst Kate and Jo are missed (in fact Kate did step in for a couple of Songs at the Stagepost a few weeks back which was good) Paul and Amy really fit in well and have been a huge asset to the group, musically and socially.

This year will hopefully see an increase in pub gigs, check out the gig guide, but certainly coming up is 22nd March The Churchill West Lavington and 21st June The FOur Seasons Devizes.  So come along if you want a fun evening.  Hopefully more dates will be appearing soon and talks are in progress for a mini tour of Vancouver sponsored by some beer swilling swell guys Neil met in New York. 

The band also have a full time sound engineer now in the form of Marc, who has attended several gigs now and provided the very assistance which has been lacking so welcome on board Marc and let it rock!!!! 

So sorry for the lack of news I will endeavour to keep this more up-to-date.  Don't forget to give me a shout if there are any band info required or you want me ask any questions etc. keep the commentson the comments page coming, I think Chris has cleaned that up a bit so lets see a repopulation of that.................best of all lets see you at the gigs......I'll be the one with the beer and no cigarette you can buy me a beer and we can talk over old times over it and maybe go down to TJs afterwards....... (oh so 1982) 

Anyway I;ve been Sam, you've been great, They are Turtleshed, check them out...... 

SaM

19/3/07