The Reegs release from 29th June via Blue Apple Music and iTunes

The Reegs New album on sale from the 29th June

For the first time, a definitive collection of The Reegs back catalogue, featuring all of the tracks from their two out of print albums 'Return of the Sea Monkeys' and 'Rock The Magic Rock' plus b-sides and alternative versions, including a brand new recording of Bosnia, with Dave Fielding on lead vocals. Also featured are two tracks co-written and performed by Manchester street poet Reckless Robbie..

The Reegs were formed in 1988 following the break-up of The Chameleons, when guitarists Dave Fielding and Reg Smithies joined up with vocalist Gary Lavery to create a new band. With their smoldering guitar lines and haunting melodies, The Reegs picked-up where The Chameleons left off; dreamlike and ethereal but still packing an almighty punch.

This is a must have release for all fans of The Reegs, The Chameleons - or indeed, any of the many bands they inspired..

The 2-cd set is presented in a super-jewel box with brand new artwork by Reg Smithies. Booklet includes song lyrics. Full track-listing is as follows:

Disc One: See My Friends / Is There A Mother-in-Law In The Club / Savage Garden / Chorus Of The Lost / Pond Life / Start To See / These Days / Turn It Up / All Tomorrows Parties / Jesus Came To Manchester / Snooker Hooligan / In Disbelief / Oil And Water / As You Leave / Out Of Body Experience.

Disc Two: JJ180 / Blind Denial / Goodbye World / The Dream Police / The Nasty Side / The Dolphins Enemy / In Disbelief (radio session) / Oil And Water (radio session) / Running To A Standstill / The Nasty Side (instrumental) / You Told Me Before / Bosnia 2009 / Subject To Status / The Last Time .

Available via Blue Apple Music and iTunes from June 29th 2009.

As with all Blue Apple products, this is an official release, with the full support and input of all band members.

Buy The Album:

http://www.blueapplemusic.co.uk

Myspace with songs:

http://www.myspace.com/thereegsdefinitivecdset

Here is a fantastic video with an excellent sound of The Reegs last performance in The Duchess of York in Leeds 2nd May 1998

The Reegs double cd compilation release summer 2009

Reg Smithies&Dave Fielding&Gary Lavery

For the first time, all of The Reegs recordings available on a 2 cd set. All the tracks from the band’s two out of print albums ‘Return of the Sea Monkeys’ and ‘Rock The Magic Rock’ plus b-sides and alternative versions.

The collection also features a brand new version of BOSNIA, recorded in Spring 2009, with Dave Fielding on lead vocals. And sadly missed Manchester street poet and pool champion, Reckless Robbie, joins the band for a raucous rendition of ‘Snooker Hooligan’ and the previously unreleased ‘JESUS CAME TO MANCHESTER’ [I' ve heard the song and its ace!]

A rare pic of the sadly missed Robbie Malone, Manchester poet and pool champion.

Artwork is by Reg Smithies.
I don't think there will be many copies printed so if you are a Chameleons fan I will suggest you to be fast. I've also been told the packaging is great!

The compilation is due for release Summer 2009, via BLUE APPLE MUSIC. To join the mailing list for advance details, just click on the link below to go to the Blue Apple Music mailing list page and then enter your email:

http://www.blueapplemusic.co.uk/maillist.html

New The Reegs Myspace with songs:

http://www.myspace.com/thereegsdefinitivecdset

The Reegs - JJ180 (Lilistar Mix) from. Rich

Here is a slide photo show made by our friend Richard of the song JJ 180 from 'Rock The Magic Rock' Thanks Richard

Exit Calm live Polish Club -Barnsley Yorkshire England 1st May 2009

Rob Marshall taking off [Photo courtesy of Cath Aubergine]

And yet another fantastic performance of EXIT CALM on their hometown in Barnsley. Without a doubt probably the best I ever seen from the lads. The show was sold out and ' The Glavins' and 'Mourning Becomes Electra ' were the supporting acts.

Simon Lindley

There was a fantastic atmosphere and loads of people turned up from all over England: Southampton, Lincoln, London, Manchester and me coming from Spain of course!

Nicky Smith-Exit Calm

Here is the set list:

Hearts&Minds [Amazing intro!]
We're on our own
Reference
Forgiveness [new song ace!]
Higher Learning
You've got it all wrong [Immense]
Atone
All on you
Don't look down

It was also great to meet loads of friends, mostly from the Exit Calm message board, Sean, The Wigan Kebab, Cath&Nick, Cath&RobS, Tuggers, Jolly, Alex-Big Clive, Tone [Lefty], Gaz, Nicko and a long etc....nobody wanted to miss it.


There was a special atmosphere on the air before the show, like if something immense and very special was gonna happen......like being in Manchester ready to watch Joy Division on their very early days....something like 'I was there!!'
Legendary night. Nothing less. Shame the photos didn't come up very well, mainly because there wasn't much light on the stage so not many chances really to experiment with the crap pocket camera I've got. I also managed to talk with the band before and after the show and they were highly motivated for this gig.


The only bad news is that seems the album release is being postponed until the end of the summer or probably early Autumn. We will have to wait then!
They are currently touring in England with the Sunshine underground and hopefully there will be more shows added for the summer.

Here is a quiet good audio recording of the show [I even got mentioned!]

Download :

Exit Calm live Polish Club -Barnsley England 1st May 2009

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=PIVYTWTN

Exit Calm myspace: http://www.myspace.com/exitcalm
Spanish Fansite: http://www.myspace.com/exitcalmfansiteespana
Exit Calm message board: http://www.exitcalm.net/forum

All photos by Pedro Vila

Rainbow-Spring 09

I took this photos last weekend after a storm in Barcelona in the Maresme area just 4 miles from the beach. Top rainbow!


I hope next week to upload photos from the Exit Calm gig in the Polish Club in Barnsley-Yorkshire. Cant bloody wait

Dave Fielding THE REEGS new double cd release!

Dave Fielding Loch Ness 1982!

Some exciting news!
For the first time, all of The Reegs recordings available on a 2 cd set. All the tracks from the band’s two out of print albums ‘Return of the Sea Monkeys’ and ‘Rock The Magic Rock’ plus b-sides and alternative versions. Its been a long wait, but its finally here!

Dave Fielding&Reg Smithies The Reegs

The collection also features a brand new version of Bosnia, [Cant wait to hear that!] recorded in Spring 2009, with Dave Fielding on lead vocals. And sadly missed street poet and pool champ, Reckless Robbie, joins the band for a raucous rendition of ‘Snooker Hooligan’ and the previously unreleased ‘Jesus Came To Manchester’.
Artwork is by a genius called Reg Smithies.

The compilation is due for release Summer 2009, via Blue Apple Music. To join the mailing list for advance details, just click on the link below to go to the Blue Apple Music mailing list page and then enter your email.

http://www.blueapplemusic.co.uk/maillist.html

The Reegs new myspace with songs:

http://www.myspace.com/thereegsdefinitivecdset

Reg Smithies and Gary Lavery

Im hoping to see Dave next week and get more details on the release .
Go and get it before its sold out!!

EXIT CALM on tour May 2009

Exit Calm will play a full tour in England supporting The Sunshine Underground next May.
They will be also playing in Barnsley Yorkshire the 1st of May at the Polish Club as a warm up. gig for the release of their new debut album this year. I'll be there to full report about it with loads of photos I hope to upload on here.
Mourning Becomes Electra is the opening act, they are very good too!

Here are the dates:

12 Apr 2009 20:00	NEWCASTLE - Cluny	NEWCASTLE
22 Apr 2009 20:00	LONDON - AC30 5TH BIRTHDAY - wilmington arms - clerkenwell	LONDON
1 May 2009 20:00	BARNSLEY - The Polish Club	BARNSLEY
2 May 2009 20:00	BRIGHTON - Coalition - 16+ - w/ Sunshine Underground	BRIGHTON
3 May 2009 20:00	PORTSMOUTH - Wedgewood Rooms - 14+ - w/ Sunshine Underground	PORTSMOUTH
4 May 2009 20:00	GLOUCESTER - Guild Hall - 14+ - w/ Sunshine Underground	GLOUCESTER
5 May 2009 20:00	OXFORD - Academy 2 - 14+ - w/ Sunshine Underground	OXFORD
7 May 2009 20:00	STOKE - Sugarmill - 14+ - w/ Sunshine Underground	STOKE
8 May 2009 20:00	YORK - Duchess - 16+ - w/ Sunshine Underground	YORK
9 May 2009 20:00	BARROW - The Canteen - 16+ - w/ Sunshine Underground	BARROW
10 May 2009 20:00	DUNDEE - Dexters - 14+ - w/ Sunshine Underground	DUNDEE
12 May 2009 20:00	DUNFERMILINE - Velocity - 14+ - w/ Sunshine Underground	DUNFERMILINE
15 May 2009 20:00	MANCHESTER - THIS FEELING - MOHO	MANCHESTER
16 May 2009 20:00	COVENTRY - The Warehouse - 14+ - THIS IS NU-GAZE	COVENTRY
21 May 2009 20:00	LONDON - Scala - w/ Sunshine Underground	LONDON

King kong, in cannes, on a date with spiderman,
dan dare's sitting there, scared by the killerteddy bears,
down town, mini mouse is slippin micky's in the famous grouse,
while big bird spreads the word,
anybody with a heart votes love.

judge dredd, found dead, face down in snoopy's bed,
outside, tweetie pie's, getting itchy on more supplies,
meanwhile, snow white getting ready for work tonight,
turning tricks with crystal tips,
trying to make the best of its absurd.

puppy dogs and pussy cats in suspect suicide attacks,
captain kirk from planet earth, fights it out with papa smurf,
some phony little ponies, preying on the old and lonely,
making friends, robbing them, the x men taught them everything.
betty boop, tired of life, took vows, became a bride of christ,
while tin tin's been playing him at caesar's palace live on ice,
babar kumbayahs with the mighty morphin' movie stars,
as big bird spreads the word,
anybody with a heart votes Love

Madrid Sunset February 2009

Madrid sunset

I took this photos from a sunset in Madrid last Saturday. The colours in the sky came as you see on the photos, no filters or photo shop at all, just a simple pocket camera.


Behind the buildings there are the Mountains near Madrid called 'La Sierra'.
Winter sunsets are great, and this city is got brilliant ones.

Sundsvall, fågelberget Sweden

Sundsvall Forests

Just got this photos send by my friend Susann from the north of Sweden in a small town called Sundsvall. Apparently the temperature yesterday was -12ºc. The area looks like a great place for skying indeed.

Thanks Susann

Illinois Countryside

Wild deer

That's the closest I could get, as soon they see you they ran the fuckers!

Old Factory

Frozen lake sunset. Temperatures below -15ºc and more!

b/w

Some black and white photos next!

Pedro Vila

Chicago U.S. Downtown- The Night

Chicago Skyline

Here are some more photos from Chicago impressive skyline in city center at night I took from the Sears Tower, 442 mts and over 100 floors [Fastest elevators I ve ever seen!].
I found it much more impressive than other places like The Eiffel Tower for example.

Chessboard

At the bottom in the darkness we can find Lake Michigan

Look at the streets down there!

We were even above other high skycrapers

Not recommendable if you are scared of heights

Deer in Illinois park

But of course Illinois State its not only about concrete as it has beautiful parks and a pretty wide range of wildlife. More photos to come on the next days!

Chicago U.S. Downtown The Day [Part 1]

View from the lake Michigan Piers

I took this photos of the impressive Chicago downtown Skyline on Christmas time.

Sears Tower on a blue skies day

I took some more photos at night and also from the top of the Sears tower. I will upload them the next day

Sears Tower

Those twin towers are a car park, believe it or not!

Despite the blue skies the weather was freezing cold!, a pretty common thing all across the Illinois state in winter time.

More from the car park towers

I also took some more photos on black and white. That will go on part two.

Exit Calm With Angels. Live@Moho Manchester Nov 08

Here is a raw recording I did on mini disc from the last Exit Calm show in Moho Manchester. I have also some video, so I will try to edit it on the next days and over dub the mini disc audio
.
The new song is called 'With Angels' although Nick voice wasn't good that night so unfortunately they had to cancel half the show. Thanks for try anyway mate.

Exit Calm-'With Angels'-Download:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/1wvd2l

Rob Marhsall sound check

Manchester Nov 2008

Rob Marshall Moho-Aftershow Manchester

What a fantastic time in Manchester, very cold though but warmed up by all the mates and people I ve meet during this short but intense weekend.
I attended Exit Calm gig at the Moho on friday and a charity gig in Salford's King Arms pub, and on saturday Night&Day 17th birthday party, one of my favorite spots in Manchester city center.

Exit Calm single 'We are on our own' full signed!

Manchester Night&Day where I used to hang out a lot on the mid 90s, right 10 years after!

Manchester Northern Quarter in the morning, it was freezing cold!

I will upload some photos and a full show review on the upcoming days.

Exit Calm Live Manchester

Exit Calm are playing live The Aftershow in Moho Live bar, Manchester on Friday 28th November. Expect loads of photos and, if I manage to figure out how the hell it works, a mini disc recording too which I hope to upload here next week.

Black/White photography

Santa Creu d'Olorda. Collserola Mountains Barcelona. August 08

Fireman's tower

I have been practicing recently with some b/w photography. I think they are another world compared with the colour ones, somehow gives a wider perspective for experimentation and artistic purposes. Not that is better than colour but different. But you obviously need the proper equipment [Which I haven't], but there you go a few of some B/W photographs I took on the last few months o the last places I've visited:

Pere Lachaise Cemetary Paris, Aug 08

Graveyard, Rugby England Sept 08

Sant Pol de Mar Train station Oct 08

Plaça Virreina, Gracia neighbourhood -Barcelona Oct 08

Manchester city center old channels

Talavera de La Reina, bridge over Tajo river, Sept 08

Talavera De La Reina

And here are others I took of some friends in b/w too:

Jordi Felani- Montserrat Barcelona Sept 08

My friend Simón Madrazo in Gracia. Legend! Oct 08

Jordi Felani n Guillermo Azofra in Sta. Creu d'Olorda in Barcelona. Aug 08

Beatriz Suela-Talavera De La Reina

Simón Madrazo

American Beauty

I just love the end bit of that film. A great soundtrack of Thomas Newman too. Check it out.

Exit Calm single release

Nicky Smith Oldham Sept 08 Photo by Pedro Vila

Exit Calm 2nd single 'We are on our own' is released today.

Single, limited pressing CD version and 7". Exit Calm new single We're On Our Own (edit), with Atone (Acoustic)



http://www.clubac30.com

I had the pleasure to hear 'Atone' acoustic already and is immense.

Go and gerrit!

There are two more shows in Manchester in Nov and Dec from their 1st major tour in England and then the band will go to studio to record and deliver their 1st album early next year.

Ta

Exit Calm Live@The Castle Oldham [Manchester]- Sept 08 [The Night]

Rob Marshall genius!

Hearts and Minds new tune intro

Band came on stage before midnight. Simon, the bassist player suddenly points me out a t shirt hanging from one speaker. I look at it and to me surprise I realize it was an 80's Barça T shirt, my fav team!

That was class! Thanks bro.

Nicky Smith Exit Calm

They started with 'Hearts and Minds' again like the night before in Rugby. We had a few tracks to hear from their upcoming album, but god, they get better and better. I ve uploaded a video in youtube for anyone to hear it.

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=wO-TrLxP14E

Rob Marshall-Exit Calm

What an amazing trip

Sound was much better and had nothing to do like in Rugby. And also a bit of a lighting was there too, which helps a bit to the show and me photography. Although Nicky voice wasn't 100% due to technical sound problems the night before, as he couldn't hear himself at all although he gaved his best to almost break it.
What a night!.

They try to teach me to be alone, when I believe that we are on our own

They are more and more skilled every time I see them [And its been a few already] and also getting their own style and personality, which is what really amazes me about this band. They are unique.
I get special feelings with Exit Calm, something hasn't happened to me for a long time with any other band, and I ve seen hundreds of live acts on the last 20 years.

Ladies and gentleman, the rather fabulous Exit Calm

Nicky is getting more and more skills, he has the right dose of Charisma a front man needs.

Scott drumming was again sublime again. Unfortunately both nights he was dark and couldn't make good photos of him.

Rob Taking off.

He makes it sound like if there are 4 or 5 guitars in there.


Simon Linsdley shines bright, very bright.

They are on a national tour at the moment and I'm just hoping they get back to the studio soon so we will get the most anticipated 1st album from the lads very soon. There is a lot of expectation about it, reviews from independent and indie sources are rather good. Its been 4 or 5 fuckin years since Lyca Sleep and its about time we get a full studio album. And also hopefully in the future a quality dvd recording , as the snippets we can see in youtube does not do justice at all.
They sound massive!

Pretty Sharon and Nick aftershow

The Castle Oldham, backstage room

Here is the link to Cath Aubergine blog in myspace with some photos too. The best regular read to anything happening to indie and Unsigned bands in the Northwest and other weird Villages you ve never heard before all around England.

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=59983142&blogID=438283214

Me and Rob Marshall before the show .photo by Cath

Thanks Cath!

I hope to see them live again very soon. And, why not, to play here in Spain next year!

All photos by Pedro Vila

Exit Calm Live The Castle Oldham [Manchester] Sept 08 [The Day]

Saturday morning I woke up in Aubergine Towers, me mates Cath&Nick place in Manchester city center.

Cath in Manchester city center

Near Picadilly Manchester

Despite I had quiet a few pints and Corona beers the night before I was not hang over at all. It was rare sunny Manc day and I wanted to make the most of it, so about noon after a nice breakfast in Night&Day [One of my fav places] in the norhtern quarter and a top walk around city center [God, how much Manchester has changed on the last 10 years!] me and Nick went to the nearest newsagent to get two more 6 packs of the mexican delight with lime and chill out a bit playing Grand Theft Auto 3 on the PS3.

Oldham street near the Afflecks Palace

Later on the afternoon we gathered with Alex [Big Clive] and some other friends and we watched Arsenal getting thrashed by Hull on the pub. I found funny how much all the crowd was cheering and supporting Hull. I guess the londoners get the same sympathy that Madrid or Valencia teams can get in Barcelona.

This is fuckin Manchester!

Night & Day Manchester

I used to hang around a lot in Night&Day on the late 90s

After a few more beers, it was time to call a Taxi and go to Oldham. Its been a long time since I went there the last time on the late 90s, but hasnt changed much unlike Manchester city center although The Castle was a venue I have never been before.

Breakfast beer

Our friends Ness and Gaz from Lincoln were driving all the way to meet us, and also Pretty Sharon and Ian 'The Dirty Voyeur' with another friend. We were a bunch!

Meeting point was the pub nearby the Castle. Where we had a few more and even witnessed Big Clive doing a Karaoke performance of a Sparks old song!
Big Clive Rocks!
Pub atmosphere was funny, it was like taken from TV series 'Shameless' chapter. You could not get more mancunian than that.

I missed the supporters 'No Tokyo', but we all had a great time sitting on the Castle terrace with all the mates over a nice drink. Also Rob Marshall came and gave me a T-shirt of the band. Thanks a lot mate. I havent wear a band t shirt since the old 'Metallica Justice for All' or 'Janes Addiction' Nothing Shocking days, but be sure Im gonna wear this one until it fades away and until everybody asks me 1000 times 'Who they are?' [Which people has done here in Spain already].

Exit Calm was due on stage soon, so I went to the Backstage and wished the lads the best of the shows.

End of part 1

All photos by Pedro Vila

Exit Calm Live Style Bar Rugby. Sept 08 [The Night]

Style bar Rugby

7.20's

The 1st band on was 7.20's and they were Ok. But to be honest I didn't pay much attention when they played as I was busy chatting with EC band members and some other people popped up to say hello.
As a weak thing the place didn't have a great sound that night and lacked of lights on the stage, something I noticed pretty soon and was starting to worry me for all the photos I wanted to take later of Exit Calm. I love me photography.

The mighty Alex [AKA Big Clive]

So photos do not make justice for the sonic trip we all were going to experience later that night.

Next on were Dogfight revolution. As a curious thing I was told the singer of this band played once with local members of the band 'Spacemen 3'. Very good.

Dogfight Revolution

And finally Exit Calm came on about 11:30. The sound like I said was not brilliant. Nicky mike wasn't working at first and for a minute it seemed the band was left alone there and with no support at all. Rob was doing some funny faces sometimes too, meaning that he wasn't impressed with the sound and neither he couldn't hear a bloody thing.

Plenty of these

Nicky Smith-Exit Calm

Even Big Clive had to warn the sound guy to warn him about the technical problems. I guess they want the best to give the best on their performance and their quality professional style doesn't really clash with amateurish equipments and dodgy sound boards but to be honest they managed to make it through and the whole show was amazing!!......I wasn't really bothered about minor tech troubles as I was in heaven, and I think I can speak for everybody there...we all were!

Nicky Smith. The man is got Charisma

Rob Marshall

I couldn't take any quality photos really as, blame the drink or the poor venue light [Probably both] so It was a very crappy night only when it comes to photography, so I shut a little few but with flash.

Next night in Oldham was going to be a very different night :-)

It was a fantastic show, they rocked the place and also played a new tune 'Hearts and Minds' as an intro. It leaved everyone jaw dropping there.

Nice lasses on the crowd

Rob was again massive, and Simon performed another excellent set.
Scott, the drummer ended up sweating like if he just finished a 12 round boxing fight. Ace.

Although at the end of the night I could tell Nicky was struggling with his voice again, because as he later said, he couldn't hear himself at all.
The band weren't enjoying 100% perhaps, but we all did! The room was packed and also some pretty girls could be seen on the front.
I really hope in the future they get the full tech support they really deserve, although considering the low budget equipment they have now they still sound rather fabulous!

Ladies and gentleman, the rather fabulous Exit Calm

As a funny note I asked Rob if he liked his guitar as he normally plays with the same one, and he said that he hated it! but he had to play with it because he could not affort a new one.

Go and figure the day he plays with a guitar he likes!!!

When show was finished I went to Manchester with Nick, Big Clive and Cath and crashed there for the night, or what it was left of it really.......but waiting already for the next night to happen.

Oldham....here we go!!

All photos by Pedro Vila

Exit Calm Live at the Style Bar. Rugby 26th September 2008 [The Day]

On the way to Rugby England

Nuneaton down to Rugby

Last Friday got an early plane and flew from Madrid to East Midlands airport. I had planned this weekend before summer holidays, and my intention was to see the band in Oldham Manchester on saturday night, but one night more was added on the whole tour so went to Rugby to see them on friday night.

View from the train

The route was a train through Leicester, Nuneaton, Coventry and then Rugby. It didnt took me more than 1:30m.

Rugby Church

Local Pubs

I got on Rugby pretty early, in fact it was too early, around 11 Am, and band wasn't on until 11 night so I spent the whole day wandering around, visiting the city and having a pint here and there to test fine local breweries and also enjoy some of their beautiful parks. I was very lucky with the weather as it was a blue Skies days the hole weekend. Those bloody English always complaining about the weather...

Rugby field in ....Rugby!

Rugby is a nice place, at least it looked to me. It was the first time I was there, another place indeed for my list of villages/cities visited on the past in England.

In city center there was a street market in the main street and an old church near from there too. There was also a Rugby field [What else!] with a big old school inside. It looked a bit posh to me and also uniforms were a bit weird if you ask me. Rugby school I guess.

Rugby school

I was also later told that Rugby is the hometown of some member of the missed 80's band 'Spacemen 3'.

There was also one thing I needed to do, which is normally the first thing I do when I get in England...and that was to get some Chips& Curry!
love it!

More local pubs

The Merchant Pub

Sometime around the afternoon I went finally to the venue where the band was supposed to play and I started what it was gonna be the first of a long list of Corona beers for the whole weekend.

Park with graveyards

The club was some sort of design bar, hence the name 'Style Bar', with big black comfy leather sofas and it had a back terrace with heaters and a room downstairs with a small stage and also a tiny backstage room. Terrace was very handy for smokers like me. It feels weird to be watching a live band and not been able to skin up. I fear that is gonna happen in Spain pretty soon

Rugby streets

Style bar. Pint before shows

Sometime about 7ish the Exit Calm folks turned up, it was fantastic to see Rob and the lads again. I was so excited to see them live again that It seemed like an eternity since last time in the Leadmill in Sheffield last June.

Three bands were on the bill that night 'The 7.20s' and 'Dogfight revolution' as a supporter acts and then Exit Calm.

Style bar Rugby

After some chat with the chaps and sound check we went to the back terrace to have a smoke and say hello to all the people was turning up for the night. Nick and Cath from Manchester, Alex [AKA BIg Clive] and some other friends too.

It was a great atmosphere and everybody was so excited!. Everyone was commenting how good the lads are and how confident we all are that Exit Calm are gonna go to bigger things.

I can always say that I saw them when they started in small venues like with many other bands in the past.

Cant stop to thank to me mate Sean from Barnsley to let me know about them 4 or 5 years ago. A man of a fine music taste indeed.

End of part 1

All photos by Pedro Vila

Photos Trip Barcelona-Paris [Part 2]

Once I had a little ride through Toulouse, which looked like a very beautiful city, I got the motorway and drove towards Limoges, which it was my last stop before to get to Paris. Things got a bit mad here. I wasn't on a rush really as I was on holidays, but for some strange reason I wanted to get to Paris ASAP, so I drove pretty fast on this last part of the trip, which was about 3 or 400 Km away.
One of the greatest things about was that french speed radars do not affect spanish plates [As long you are not stopped by the cops of course] So I am pretty sure there will be good laughs somewhere when they see my photos giving a middle finger.
A great oportunity to test the motorbike and also the brand new tyres Michelin Pilot Road 2ct. They were ace!, fantastic grip.

So after booking another hotel and stay a night in Limoges, the very next morning I got in Paris. I was clueless to drive there [Its a huge city], but I remembered on my last staying that there is a sort of circular road 'Periferique' which surrounds all Paris city center. One way or another would get me to the first thing I wanted to do, which it was a photo with the Eiffel Tower behind. [Yes silly.] Its obviously a place easy to spot, as you can see it from many parts of the city. So it wasnt hard to find it.

Look at that Bugati! Fucking cool!

Right after I took a couple of photos, I did notice that my motorbike chain was literally hanging!. I didnt feel anything on my way there, so it probably got streched on the last few hundred miles
One thing was for sure, I couldnt drive back to Barcelona like this, so I needed to sort that out inmediatly.
At first I didnt know what to do, I knew fuck all of Paris and also didnt know how long I couldnt drive on this conditions.

More 'bloody tourists' pics

Suddenly I saw this cop passing by and riding a huge motorbike, so without hesitate a second I wave him and told him what happened to me. I wasnt expecting much help really although I knew that despite being a cop, he was still a motorbiker!

And I was right, he pulled over and looked at the mess and very kindly told me he would take me to a main street not far from where we were, where I could find all major motorbike brands shops. Suzuki, Honda, Kawasaki, Ducati you name it. They were all there! It was a funny ride, the cop was stopping the traffic to let me passing by, sometimes even we drove on the wrong direction. It made me feel like a celebrity haha ...

Look at this Ducati. Great!

More silly touristic photos

Once we found the Honda shop. I thank the cop for his help and I was told by the staff that there was no problem to change the whole chain kit, but they needed a day to sort it out which I guess it was the time to get the spare pieces delivered. A great relief!

French countryside

I didnt have a problem with that. What else could I do?. I had a place to leave my bike and plenty of time to visit Paris. So I checked in the nearest hotel I found and got the tube to visit some of the Paris main attractions.

Thats a famous bridge over the Senna river, but I dont remember now why its so famous

Hotel wasn't cheap really, but it was very well located in city center, near the Arc de Triomphe and the bonus is that I could also see the Eiffel tower from my window [Which was full of lights that night I think due to the Olimpic french medals]. The area looked posh, with loads of expensive cars with private drivers waiting on the outside. Ferraris, Jags, Rolls and the likes. Pretty much like the ones you see sometimes in London city center.
After some visiting of Paris that afternoon, and some more the very next morning [Pere Lachaise], I accomplished everything that I wanted to do there. So once my motorbike was ready on the afternoon, I drove south again to Limoges, stayed there one night in the same hotel I was in on my way up, and then back in Toulouse and the French coast again.

Banyuls sur Mer

Ready to go!

Weather was great all the way, although near Paris was a bit more cold. I only had my old 70s leather jacket with me as a 'luggage' but so far I was very lucky with the weather because I got all the way was nothing but Blue skies.
But as soon as I hit the south french coast you could tell that was much warmer again than the north.

But there was one last thing I wanted to do before to get in Barcelona.

I saw this little shark in Port de La Selva. It was dead, probably thrown by the local fishermans

Cala Tamariua-Port de la Selva

Once I passed the border, I didnt wanted to finish my trip without to swimm again in Cala Tamariua in Port de La Selva. A beautiful unspoiled spot in the heart of Costa Brava.

Cala Tamariua. Pristine clear waters

Is it any more relaxing thing than swimm in cristal clear waters with plenty of fish around?

Its was a shame that my holidays were over soon. Like I said before the trip wasn't planned, but If I had another extra week instead Im pretty sure I would get more upnorth than Paris, Holland or maybe crossing the channel to England.

Thats definately a must for the next year!

All photos by Pedro Vila

More photos trip Barcelona-Paris [Part 1]

Montseny mountains near Maresme Area

So here we are with a few more photos of my unplanned, fully improvised trip to Paris. The one above is from The Montseny mountains where everything started.

Port de La Selva sunset

Then I drove all the way from the motorway towards Costa Brava- France, although I went to Cadaques first and Port de La Selva later to stay a night. I didn't still knew I was going to get more further up.

Cadaques

The photo above is from Cadaqués. A nice pintoresque small village not far from the French border. I initially wanted to stay there for a day or two, and visit the small beaches [called Calas here] around, but due that it was August it was a bit over crowded so I decided to get to the next village 'Port de La Selva', which is one of the last towns before you get to France.

Cadaques

Leaving Cadaqués

Port de La Selva

Port De la Selva is a nice small fisherman village right in the heart of Costa Brava. The area is pretty unspoiled and it has a nice clean waters to swimm and do some great scuba diving. Cala Tamariua near the village is one of my favourite beaches. You hardly find people there and is got one of the cleanest waters I ve seen on my entire life. In fact all the area has.

Sunset

Serenity

At this point is where the idea to get to the french side started to go in me head. The south east coast in France is a brilliant ride, with plenty of curvy roads. In fact France has one of the best roads-motorways system of Europe. Nothing to do with the ones we get here in Spain really.

Once you cross Port Bou, last town in Catalunya, then you find all along the coast the first French Villages. Cerbere is the first we get on the 'other side' which it isnt a special place really. After Banyuls Sur Mer next village is Port Vendres and then Colliure.

French border

In Colliure I stopped to get something to eat. Its a nice village with a big castle right near the beach. By the style and architecture of this little villages you can tell you are not in Spain anymore. I couldn't tell how, but they look different.

Port Vendres, France

After leaving Colliure, my next destination was Perpignan. Once I got there I bought a french map and start looking for possible destinations.
The first option would be to carry on along the french seaside and get to Nice, Monaco or perhaps go to the Italian border.
The second option was to drive to the main land, go to Carcassone, Toulouse and go up north.
Paris sounded like a great destination. Despite having some relatives there, Its been a long time since I was in Paris last time. First option was much shorter, and second meant about 2.500 km. But what the fcuk! , on the most spontaneous way I choose to get to Paris.

Colliure. Home of thespanish poet Antonio Machado

Colliure Castle

Weather was great so far. A very important fact for motorbike riding. I checked on the local newspapers and the forecast looked pretty sunny for the upcoming days.
Once I passed Carcassone I took the motorway to Toulouse. The countryside here started to get really beautiful. There were loads of green fields and forests with beautiful Castles all the way near the roads. They were very well preserved. I was stunned about how beautiful the French countryside is. It has really nothing to envy to England for example, in fact I believe is got more forests and trees than UK.

Toulouse and Limoges were my next destinations.

End of part 1

Exit Calm headline tour

Rugby show poster

By the time you read this I'll be flying to England to see Exit Calm performing live in their first headline tour all over the country. I am sure it will be their last warm up gigs before they go into the studio to record the long awaited first album which is expected to see the light earlier next year.
I will see them live in Rugby [Style Bar] and Oldham Manchester [The Castle] in what I believe it will be one of the last chances to see Exit Calm in small venues. Although I hope it doesn't happens for a while because when it comes to sound, proximity and good vibes, big venues or arenas will never beat the feeling you get seeing bands in small halls.

'We are on our own' new single. Oldham poster

I have been through this before with other smaller bands I ve seen on the past that have now have become major acts. And it is not the same.
But being honest I would love to see the lads playing one day in Wembley or Glasto, who knows? Time will say.
Which is sure is that they all have the quality and class to achieve that one day.

17-19 Rue Beautreillis Paris

Bastille Metro station, its right over the river!

So leaving Pére Lachaise cemetery, I walked down to 'La Bastille' station.
La Bastille is a quite big square, and going by one of the streets that ends there, about 4 or 5 crossroads I found Rue Beautreillis. 17-19 It is a small narrow street, pretty similar to many streets we can find here in some cities in Spain. I couldnt avoid thinking how it would feel like for an American citizen used to live in Los Angeles that was then living in Paris.

At the start of the street we can find a liquor store. I thought to meself that it probably was very handy for Mr. Morrison considering his regular and very often drinking habits.

Rue Beautreillis street

Right at the middle of the street we can find the house itself. The main gate looked different from the old photos I've seen on the internet before.

The block looked posh to be honest, being on city center I guess it wasnt a cheap flat to rent.
I think the place was lend to him from a local french model at the time called Zozo.

Not much else can be said about the street really. I took some shots on the main gate and I also saw some people getting in, some looked like residents I guess and some others looked like if they worked there on an office.

The door was open, you only had to push and get inside, but to be honest I wasn't really bothered. I assumed that people there was a bit pissed off about tourists and peepers lurking around.

This street plate was few yards beside Jim's block lol

Some stories came recently about the strange death of the Rock n roll star. Until the date the most convincing theory said that Jim was found on his bathtub one summer morning by his all time girlfriend Pamela Courson. But this year the landlord of a well known club on the 70's called 'The Rock 'n Roll' circus' Sam Bernett, where Jim Morrison used to hang around, said that he overdosed on the bar toilets the night before and therefore they carried the dead body and through a rear gate they took it to his flat in Rue Beautreillis where they tried to reanimate him with a hot bath, which is apparently the thing you do when someone overdose with Heroin.

One of the last shots from Jim Morrison in Paris early June 1971 taken by his mate Alain Ronay

This guy seems has kept quiet until now because the french law cant re open files after 20 years have passed.
There are so many people this last decades trying to cash in writing books with some Morrison stories, which makes hard to believe any other new conspiracy theories.

Rare early photos late 66 early 67 perhaps

To be honest I don't think we will never know the whole truth and thinking about it I doubt its relevant anymore.

Links :

Paris guide for Morrison fans:

http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/palladium/1409/jimparis.htm

An interview with Gilles Yepremian [A french bloke who seemed meet Jim coincidentally in Paris].

http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/palladium/1409/gilles.htm

Père Lachaise Cemetery Paris

Pere Lachaise cemetary Paris

Pere Lachaise graveyards

Père Lachaise is one of the most popular cemeteries in Europe. I think it was set by Napoleon at the start of the XIX century, and it was the last one allowed to be built inside the city of Paris.
It is located on the 20th arrondissement which I guess means in french district or neighborhood.

The place is quite big, and it has a few different entrances. You can get there with the tube and is got a couple of close metro stations, one named as the cemetery itself.


There are about 300.000 bodies there but Père Lachaise is known for some of the famous people we can find there like Balzac, Chopin, Maria Callas, Delacroix, Edith Piaf, Oscar Wilde, Miguel Angel Asturias, Honoré de Balzac and Bizet amongst many others.

Pere Lachaise Gardens

One morning this August while I was getting my motorbike chain fixed in a garage in Paris city center I decided to pay a visit to the place. I couldn't really be arsed to see the other personalities mentioned before.

All I wanted to do was visit Jim Morrison grave.

For a long time now I have always being interested to read biographies of the 'ol Jimbo.
I haven't been a big fan of The Doors music really, I don't even believe there was much virtuosity on their music, although I like a bunch of their songs [Riders on The Storm and Strange days amongst my favorites], but I have being more interested on what the band and more particularly the singer did represent on a baby boom and very conservative America back on the mid 60s.

Jim Morrison 1966 promo shot for their 1st album

Lets say the rebel side of the famous singer and, lets say his personal struggle to fight the back then establishment and strict society.

Wandering around a ....err...cemetary

I believe the fucker was punk rock 10 years before it was invented!

He had a story to tell and I believe he certainly achieved the goal.
Jim Morrison was The Doors.

I've been in Paris a few times visiting my family but never had the chance to go to Père Lachaise before. To be honest I understand graveyards aren't a common placed to visit when you are traveling abroad, are they?

Love what It said there

check out the skulls!

But I personally always loved graveyards, mainly for photography purposes, wherever country I traveled to before, like in Scotland or Ireland for example.

I've read some stories about the place before. Jim Morrison grave in Père Lachaise is apparently one of the most popular tourist destinations in Paris. Due to the big hords of visitors it seems like there is sometimes a french police officer there to try to keep the place quite.

Also the grave itself is surrounded by metallic fences.

I was expecting to find loads of people there and even more considering it was summer holidays.

Near the cemetery there are flower shops where you can purchase a map where they tell you the exactly location to find the celebrities. I find it a bit stupid when you can get free maps inside.

Once you are in you can tell the graveyards are very old. Some were pretty cool.
The place is split in different sections [Divisions] and I knew I was looking for the 16th one.

There are also nice streets with very big trees around. It was like a small village, but instead houses there were tombs.

That was a massive grave!

I felt a good atmosphere to relax walking and enjoy a nice smoke. To be honest the place remained very quiet and not much people was seen around.

Pere Lachaise has streets inside, its huge

The weather was great, we had a fantastic blue skies, pretty different of how is Paris during other times in the year, lets say more Grey and cold.

It didn't took me too long to find the exactly place where Jim was located, after asking a couple of visitors there. Once I found Jim's graveyard the first thing that shocked me was that it was a bit hidden behind other bigger graveyards. Not very easy to see it.

Jim Morrison grave

Metallic fences around and no one to be seen...mmmm...

There was only a few people there, mainly American tourists I guess and the tombstone was indeed, as I've heard before, surrounded by metallic fences.

I thought it was a funny thing. All your life singing about 'Break on through' and freedom and you end up like this for the rest of your days.

And the best of it, no police was seen on the area at all.

Aside of the simplicity of the graveyard itself I noticed that it was too small and short, even more for a 6 foot bloke.
I stayed there for about 5 minutes and when I saw that all the few people who were there was leaving I thought to meself 'Fuck fences' so I decided to jump.

Break on through...to the other side

'Jim Jim, what did you died for?' And Jim says 'Nothing at all'.

'I am interested in anything about revolt, disorder, chaos-especially activity that seems to have no meaning. It seems to me to be the road toward freedom... Rather than starting inside, I start outside and reach the mental through the physical.'

right.....

Not Yet man...

Isn't it the grave too short?

'Death makes angels of us all and gives us wings where we had shoulders smooth as ravens claws.'

'This is the strangest life I've ever known.'

We cant blame you Jim, can we?


'All our lives we sweat and save, building for a shallow grave.'

Well, thats probably one of the most accurate Jim quotes taken from 'The Soft Parade' lyrics.

On the grave plate we can read 'Kata Ton Daimona Eat Toy' which in greek means something like 'True to his own spirit', but I think the meaning changes a bit depending if it is new or ancient greek. I ve heard Demons can be changed by spirit. I think his dad made the plate.

Sometime after it was time to go, after a few photograph shots I felt I already accomplished what I wanted to do.
So then I got out through the main entrance and nearby I saw a bar-restaurant decorated with Jim posters on the outside. It was the better place to relax and have a beer.

It said 'Brasserie' on the plate and the street was called 'Rue du Repos'. Proper name really

Inside the bar

I'm aware there are The Doors fans gatherings there from time to time, but mainly the 3th of July the day Jim died.
Once inside I asked the bar man if he knew the tube station where Jim Morrison lived in Paris. He gave me some directions and explained me how I could get there.

It wasn't really too far from there and due that I had still some time off left I walked towards 'Rue Beautreillis' which it was pretty near like I said. I only had to go to 'La Bastille' square about 15-20 minutes walking.

But that belongs to the next chapter.

Photos by Pedro Vila

Exit Calm-'We are on our own' single release

Exit Calm@Leadmill in Sheffield this summer

They are my favorite band at the moment. I cant bloody wait for the release of their new album at the start of next year. Its been 4 years wait but its gonna finally happen.

Rob Marshall Exit Calm. A good soul and extremely talented guitarist

Photos by Pedro Vila

Here is the video of Exit Calm new single and some photos I took on y last trip to England last summer in the Leadmill -Sheffield. What a nite!!

We are on our own-Directed by James Sinclair Smith

Available on AC30 Records - ITUNES - CD - LIMITED 7" VINYL - OCT 27TH

7 inch.

a. We're On Our Own (edit)
b.
Atone (acoustic version)
CD.

1.
Were On Our Own (edit)
2.
Atone (acoustic version)
3.
Were On Our Own

'were on our own'
recorded by Patrick Byrne
enginereed by Mark Neary
produced & mixed by Ulrich Schnauss
mastered by Ian Cooper @ Metropolis

edit by exit calm & Ulrich Schnauss.
'atone (acoustic version)'
recorded by Scott McCormick
mixed & mastered by Ulrich Schnauss

art direction & cover photography - 'eyre street' by Salvatore Fiorello.

www. myspace. com/exitcalm
www. exitcalm. net

To try to teach me to be alone when I believe that we are on our own

Simon Lindley. Amazing bass!

Legend

They are headlining a tour in England at the moment. The dates are:

18 Sep 2008 NORTHAMPTON - Roadmenders
19 Sep 2008 WAKEFIELD - Escobar
20 Sep 2008 DONCASTER - Vintage rock bar
21 Sep 2008 LEEDS - Cockpit
23 Sep 2008 HULL - Lamp
24 Sep 2008 DERBY - The Venue
25 Sep 2008 LEIGH - BAR BLISS
26 Sep 2008 RUGBY - Style Bar
27 Sep 2008 OLDHAM - Castle
1 Oct 2008 WOLVES - little civic2 Oct 2008 BLACKBURN - The Hub
3 Oct 2008 NEWCASTLE - Other rooms
5 Oct 2008 INVERNESS - Mad Hatters
6 Oct 2008 ABERDEEN - Cafe Drummonds
7 Oct 2008 GLASGOW - ABC2
16 Oct 2008 SOUTHAMPTON - Orange Rooms
17 Oct 2008 HERTFORDSHIRE - The Horn
18 Oct 2008 LONDON - Camden Roundhouse - MYHOUSE FESTIVAL
19 Oct 2008 WINDSOR - The Fire Station
21 Oct 2008 LONDON - Hoxton Bar and Grill - club AC30
22 Oct 2008 BIRMINGHAM - 444club @ The Rainbow
23 Oct 2008 COVENTRY - The Tuns
24 Oct 2008 PETERBOROUGH - Met Lounge
25 Oct 2008 TUNBRIDGE WELLS - Forum
26 Oct 2008 GUILDFORD - Boiler Room
28 Nov 2008 MANCHESTER - Aftershow

The last gig in November in Manchester sounds great, see if I can arrange flights.
Oldham here we go!!

The Highlands -Scotland

Isle of Skye

Scotland is definitely one of my favorite places in Britain. I have been there lots of times and the Highlands are indeed a place not to miss. I have traveled all around the coast line a couple of times, visiting the most remote small villages in tiny islands in the north and west coast.

Sunrise and dawns are amazing.

The sky seems painted with colours I have never seen before in my life. I scanned this photos the other day I didn't remember I had them. I took them with a Pentax manual camera, right before I got into digital photography. I cant recall the name of the places now, but I think the sunset ones are from the Isle of Skye.

I will upload some of the photos of me trip to Paris in the next days.

Trip Barcelona-Paris

Triumphant!

So here we are after summer holidays. The last week of August I traveled from Barcelona to Paris all along the coast to Perpignan in the french side and then Carcassone, Toulouse, Limoges and finally Paris. Everything was done on the most improvised way, no luggage, no route, no plans.... just the motorbike and me. I couldnt even imagine, when I started my trip that I was going to get that far.

Port de La Selva [Catalunya]

It was a fantastic ride, great roads and motorways [French ones are supposed to be the best ones in Europe] , blue skies all the way and the best of it useless speed radars. The bikers paradise.

Pere Lachaise cementary Paris

I drove through many villages and visited some interesting places in Paris that I will keep uploading the next days. I also went to make some photos in the Pere Lachaise cementary where we can find the graves of Honoré de Balzac, Georges Bizet, Maria Callas, Fédéric Chopin, Eugène Delacroix, Oscar Wilde, Moliere and Jim Morrison amongst many others. It was something I wanted to do since a long time ago.

Rue Beautreillis Paris. Here lived Jim Morrison before he died in July 1971

Banyuls sur Mer France

Port de La Selva Sunsets

Almost 3.000 Km of fun with a Honda CBR 929 RR.

I will upload more stuff of my trips this August on the upcoming days.