Well, here’s my final blog of 2012. Following on from the last one, the release of my album under my side project ‘Silent Voice’ seems to have been well received. As for MY new album, I am still far from close to reaching a significant sum of money to promote the album properly and so it remains on the shelf until I can reach my desired figure. I could just go ahead and pick a release date but I am sick to death of releasing EPs/albums that just fall on deaf ears. I’m confident it will see the light of day in the early half of next year and I will hopefully be in a position to promote it to the max. As well as this and a ‘Best Of’ album on the horizon, I plan to release an album of covers in 2013 too. It will be a fairly laid back, stripped down affair but will consist of some of my favourite songs.
A couple of nights ago I went to witness the legend that is Thin Lizzy in my home town of Middlesbrough. OK, so it can never really be Thin Lizzy without Phil Lynott but I have been desperate to see a good Thin Lizzy tribute band and here we go one better, a band that features original members. I was a little apprehensive at first. Before long I was blown away. My heart pounded like I could never have imagined, singing along to all the classics while witnessing Scott Gorham, Brian Downey and Darren Wharton in action. The other band members deserve credit but fair play to Ricky Warwick. Stepping into Phil Lynott’s shoes on vocals must have been a mammoth task but no one could have done better other than Phil Lynott himself and I feel privileged to have been a witness. I only envy those who managed to witness Thin Lizzy with the mighty Phil Lynott himself up front.
Before I leave I would like to wish James Arthur the best of luck in the X Factor final tonight. I am no lover of this show and it’s whole set up (to be honest I won't even watch it) but I won’t criticize anyone with genuine talent who takes a chance to better themselves via this route. James Arthur is a good example. Obviously NOT just an untalented fart who wants to gain an undeserved celebrity status, James’s passion is music. He’s clearly been writing and performing for some time and has talent. He decided to take a chance and it’s paid off big time. Whether he comes first or second probably won’t matter in the long run. I’m sure he’s done enough to earn a career in music, which many can only dream about. Some may frown upon him for going down this route but I don’t think he’ll lose any sleep over it. Playing to a crowd of thousands must feel so much more fulfilling than playing to one man and his dog as we all have at some point (I still do on a regular basis).
I’d like to finish by wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a successful, happy and healthy 2013.
Carl. xxxx
