Friday 22nd June 2007
"What up fools?
Been away for a bit but I have been crazy busy. Dalit Freedom have started gigging, The Reaction have had a run of gigs, I mastered the album which is just being printed as I type, released the lead off single for the album, I am in the middle of the run of a play I'm in, Jessops have (yet again) asked me back to help out for a month, Phillipa came back from her antipodian travels and, AND... (drum roll) Dad's account was settled! Huzzah! I can now pay for the album and finally get the drum kit I've needed for a year or so, among other things. Oh, and I have a new phone.
Rock and roll? Oh yes!
I am feeling back on track for the rest of the year. After we finished the album everything seemed to derail and got a bit 'heavy' but I'm feeling confident and positive for the rest of the year. I am very over excited about the album launch and I'm definately going to get the whole photography business going. I am also going to New York with the Reaction at the end of August. So in short it is all GO, GO, GO!
I hope everyone is well and keeping fit. Enjoy the summer and Glasto which is this weekend and sounds like it's going to be bitchin' cool.
Let us know your thoughts on the single which you can download via MySpace (link on links page)
Listen to Kate Nash, Regina Spektor and The Queens of The Stone Age or else.
"I never forget a face but in your case I'll make an exception." - Groucho
Word."
Leo


Monday 2nd April 2007
"Well, March is over and what a hectic month it was!
I spent roughly three weeks of it in the studio recording three seperate records; a demo for a new band called Dalit Freedom, finishing the Psychotic Reaction - EP and recording my own album. In short it has been a VERY expensive month and when you are un-employed that is no joke. I also realised whilst I enjoyed every minute of it I didn't have a day off all month and was wondering why I was so exhausted yesterday. I spent most of today in something of post-natal depression. Having given life to 3 seperate entitys I feel a bit lost now I have nothing else to do. Don't get me wrong I still have a lot to do but it was the crushing realisation that I'll probably not do anything like that, that is as much fun, for a while. Instead I have to return to un-employed life until someone decides to read one of the millions of CV's I sent out and offer me a job. Or someone hears one of these many recordings and offers to make me rich. We live in hope...
In the meantime, Powley is living with me for the moment until he can get himself back on his feet. At least he has a job. Don't know what I'm going to do now. Something will turn up I'm sure. But being Desperately Single and Miserably Lonely doesn't help me much either.
I know, this is really depressing isn't it? I suppose you can't have that level of a month long High without a crashing Low. Oh well. I'm sure I'll live.
Listen to bird song and the wind through the trees this month as Spring is well and truly here and worth savouring.

"He's like Jimi Hendrix, on Crack!"

Monday 5th February 2007
"Happy New Year! And all that... Hope you are all well. As the more frequent/perceptive of you may have noticed, the site went down just after Christmas and you may now notice a few subtle differences to the site. Such as it is completely different! Different music, brand new gallery, Biog has been updated and few other nips and tucks. We've lost the links page for the moment but that'll comeback soon. Hope you like it. Let us know what you think, e-mail me via the site or just leave a notice on the message board, I check things fairly regularly.
The new year brings with it great promise. The Psychotic Reaction are already a gigging monster, I've been hired as yet-another drummer for Stan "The Riff Man" and THE ALBUM looms for Leo & The Mane. I'm very over excited and once dates are arranged, payments settled and other pre-production crap is out of the way, it's go, go, GO! 2007 smells like a good one to me and though I may be un-employed (yet-again) this time it's so I have time get my plans of world-domination... er I mean... Global Stardom underway.
I am also looking forward to a few jaunts abroad. Namely Australia, Paris (I want to finish that sodding trip!) & (hopefully) New York. Only as long as I have some of the money left after the Sergeant-Pepper-style-behemoth that will be the Mane album. We'll see...
In the meantime, I've hit the ground running with the newly over-hauled website and pestering e-mails/letters/promo-packs sent to various companies/labels. So, in short, it is all Cylinders Firing Captain! Warp Ten and no slowing down!
Keep coming back as things are changing quickly and remember, tell your friends.
Randy Newman, The Meligrove Band & Ed Harcourt are all life-changing/affirming musicians with songs for all moods. You will develop a bigger brain and become more handsome just by listening to these amazing Piano-led troubadors.
"That's a good thing! 'Walking on Sunshine' sucks wet noodles!" - Bender, Futurama.


Thursday 7th December 2006
"Christmas approacheth with haste. I can tell. There's a certain magic in the air, a joy in everyone's heart, scent of pine on the air and bloody adverts being shoved down my throat to buy my loved ones a plasma HD ready TV from comet. Bah Humbug! I do love Christmas but there's an awful lot I don't like about it. I was looking forward to some gigs but there doesn't seem to be any out there at the mo.
I finally obtained my dream Guitar. I always wanted my Brother's Sheraton so I bought one. All I need now is a (better) amp and the Blues project is a go! Watch this space.
My good buddy James lent me his kit ages ago so I could play it for the Reaction and god love him I would have been scuppered without it. But it is a pile of crap. The Bass Drum pedal is leather (seriously), the cymbal stand is held together with gaffer tape, the high-hat stand keeps making a bid for the floor everytime I hit it and it has all the tonal quality of a hosepipe. I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth but by god as soon as I have two penny's to rub together I am getting a new kit with such luxuries as, good cymbal stands, responsive pedals, tight skins and maybe, just maybe bags! With handles so I can carry them around... (sigh) a man can dream......
In other news, the new album carries on apace. Funds for studio hire (as well as that new drum kit) are, albeit slowly, on their way and I can't wait. I am hastily piecing together songs and formualting arrangements. The hardest part is deciding what is to go on the damn thing. There are a couple that have to go on it, (What A Day, Wanting 2 Be There, At The Park and Seeds Of Change the main culprits) as I want to record 'definative' versions of them. All the other recordings of these songs I have had to sacrifice certain things normally due to pressure of time or money but this time they won't be as much of an obstacle so I can finally get backing vocals sorted, stops in the right places and that damned string drone at the end of Wanting 2 Be There. But other than them I'm flummoxed. With a back catalogue of... well lets just say way too many, songs, I'm not objective enough to see what would be the most 'commercial' or what 'should' be on there. If I was to put on my favourites it would have to be a Stadium Arcadium style double Album. I'd love to finally nail Her Smile as that's probably my most personal song but I'd need that String Quartet and whilst I have a budget its not that exorbitant. Ho-Hum whatever the outcome of the material I know a couple of things. I will be Producing, hopefully with Chris (I haven't asked him yet) and it will be largely recorded 'live' in the studio. I am currently ploughing my favourite albums and tracks absorbing arrangements, instrumentation and production style. I am hoping for a Glyn/Ethan Johns sound, ie open, lots of air, an audible room, hard panning of certain instruments, nice warm tone, the Brown Sound for the kit (circa the Band, Led ZepII, The Kinks Arthur, I know, I'm living in the 60's). It's going to be a long haul and probably a lot of work but its going to be great. We should hopefully be recording early next year, February/March. Watch this space...

Sunday 3rd September 2006
"Really shit day today. My piano gave up the ghost and died on stage in the middle of the Faversham Hop Festival. So LEO & The Mane and anything else involving me and a piano is indefinately suspended until such a time as I am able to fix/buy a new keyboard. Along with me being dragged back to Jessops (a job I hate) part-time my life is slowly sliding down the toilet. And after all my protestations of "things getting better". What the fuck do I know? I'm going to bed to get up and face another nine to five piece-of-shit day job once more. In the words of my good Pal Alex Williams, "Something Must Turn Up"......

Wednesday 9th August 2006
"I forgot to take my Library books back. That's how exciting my life is at the moment. The only thing of note is that I handed some library books back a day freakin' late! I'm in a pit. I've stopped writing material (which is a major sign of trouble, I'm normally very prolific) as no inspiration is hitting me. I'm practicing the guitar and Bass a lot but little creative is coming out. I turned 22 last week and realised I'd been living at home with mum for a year been un-employed for over a year. No gigs coming my way. No band members willing to get off their arse other than me to get paid gigs (hint, hint). Can't get arrested for work. I send my CV's out and here nothing back. All I do is go to the job centre come back and then stare at wall for a few hours, go to bed and then do the whole thing again. And to top it all I am feeling very lonely (cue loud "Aaaahs" from audience). So in short, I'm bloody pissed off and depressed. Still, they say the darkest hour is before the dawn. Or some such nonsense....
I'm sure life will pick up but until it does I appreciate any and all help.
See y'all soon."
Leo

Tuesday 20th June 2006
"LEO & The Mane Performed their first gig! Huzzah! And this time it actually went ahead...Will wonders never cease.
The Heavy Beatings were on first and rocked! They were a very tight unit and were very loud. They had a lot of energy which made me smile. Some good material too, they know their stuff. Anyway I was suitably impressed and I think the crowd were too but it may have taken them a while to get over the shock. Then we were up. After early apprehensions of not having rehearsed and the guys not knowing what the hell they were doing I decided considering I knew the entire audience by their first name it didn't matter so I performed a couple of songs on my own then the band came up and to my un-ending surprise, were tight! The band sounded great and despite the odd hiccup and my decidedly dodgy vocals (in my defence I could hear neither the piano nor my voice) we meandered shambolically to a close to rousing applause and performed 2 encores! One of which, we were joined by the promoter Shoaib on guitar. "It were greet". What was best, upon listening back to the gig on a video my mate James took, was that the songs I wrote actually sounded like proper "Songs" when played with a band. I watched the video and thought 'this is actually a band I would like to go and see and enjoy' which was ideally what I wanted so I'm very pleased all-in-all.
Sadly the night did not end well. The complete C**t Martin who f***ed us over last time, refused to pay the bands and it all got ugly and as such the Heavy Beating were not pleased and Shepz will no longer be doing a night at Alberry's, which is a shame. In short, boycott Alberry's and come and see Shepz nights at Tonic Bar in Canterbury where we've been offered a gig in July. A bit of a sour end really but I don't care. It was a good laugh, the audience enjoyed it, we got another gig out of it and I achieved my goal of sounding like Ben Folds Five. Win-Win!
Listen to Emma-Lee, The Black Keys and Big Boss Man and your life will seem better all of a suddden.
"I came here to be probed, injected and humiliated. Not insulted!" - Homer Simpson
Stay cool y'all."
Leo

Thursday 25th May 2006
"My arm hurts. I just had a blood test and it feels like someone's punched me in the arm and seeing as I have a gig in which I am drumming tonight, this isn't a good thing. Yes the Psychotic Reaction are the 'filling in the Luke Smith Sandwich' tonight, a vision that makes me feel quite nauseas.
I went to see Ocean Colour Scene last night and they were most excellent. And I am going to see Ed Harcourt at the Union Chapel in Islington next month. I am looking forward to that one!
LEO & The Mane have a gig...at Alberry's! The kind Mr. Shoaib gave us the gig after I let him know of the problems we had last time. Check out Shepz.co.uk and myspace.com for info. And I have had it confirmed so don't worry. We are supporting a band called Heavy Beatings who are a no-messing bunch of Altenative-Rockers, you can check out their website too on myspace or via Mr. Gig.com. I think perhaps The Charm Offensive might sit better as a support but LEO & The Mane are my priority at the moment so, Gigs ahoy! We are also playing as part of a friends film screening this will either be at Orange Street or the Christ Church student Union. Keep an eye on the music page for updates.
Other than that, I'm still un-employed and bored so not much news to tell.
Listen to Ocean Colour Scene, Spencer Davis Group and The Small Faces (you'll notice a theme in these bands) because they are all excellent.
"LOUD NOISES!" - Brick Tamlan"
Have fun."
Leo


Tuesday 9th May 2006
"Well you are reading one pissed off motherf***er! We arrived at Alberry's on Monday May 1st AND!....It was closed. I was not impressed. Heads will roll.... So we endeavour to find another venue for our debut gig and we hope lots of people will turn up like last monday, even though there turned out to be no gig. Grrr.
In other news check out the revamped Links Page, it has lots to offer. Myself, Michael and Alex have created the ultimate Rock Power-Trio. We've been mates for 11 years and never done anything more than muck about with music which is kind of stupid really isn't it? Seeing as Michael plays guitar, Alex plays Bass and I play drums. Bit of a no-brainer really isn't it? So we had our first ever jam/rehearsal at the Horsebridge Centre in Whitstable which went very well. The space was excellent. I highly recommend it to any and everyone who needs a rehearsal space. It's not really expensive, soundproofed to a certain level (we were fookin' loud) and has an amazing view. And there's a Cafe in the building! What more could you want? We now just have to find the time and money to do it again. We are also hoping to get singer/songwriter/showman/all-round great guy, Josh Hyland to sing and front for us as he is currently in France and is itching to get gigging.
At any rate I am fit and well, if a little pissed off. I hope you are great too.
I'm digging on Tom Waits, Boards of Canada, Graham Coxon and 22-20's. You should too.
Quote for the day: "Anyone can be a father but it takes someone special to be a Dad" - Superman. (It's probably not but that was where I read it last night)
Keep up the good work you crazy kids!"
Leo


Saturday 22nd April 2006
"My newly migrated mate Alex has told me I need to update my site more often so here I am...
Spring has well and truly sprung! It's amazing what a little bit of sunshine will do isn't it? I feel so much better now it's out on a regular basis, it lifts the spirits. Life's treating me okay at the moment (I'm still un-employed but what do you do?) and I'm playing a lot on a lot of different instruments. I seem to be rehearsing on an almost daily basis too, which is nice. I'm still trying to sort out what to do with my life at the moment, not as easy as it sounds. Being a raging hippy, I'm a big believer in letting life show me and give me hints as to what to do. I seem to be heading in a very musical direction these days but things keep coming back to film making too. I keep getting asked to take photos as well which is all very lovely but because I'm a mug I never ask for money and never promote myself. I'm thinking music is a good bet to follow, I'm not a terrible Musician but I don't know. My Dad tried for half his life and got nowhere and ended up not enjoying it and died just when he'd found his true calling. Sad. If anyone has some sage advice who isn't my mum or my sister who frequently tell me to "get a fucking job!" it would be much appreciated.
I am sitting at the computer on a lovely evening with the rather wonderful smell of my mothers cooking wafting in from the kitchen and listening to an Ed Harcourt song called 'Last of the Troubadors' (available through iTunes). It's very nice and reminds me of being a kid as I hear the newly migrated birds twitter outside. "And I think to myself, What a wonderful world".
After having been paralysed with fear about Monday 1st, now we've had 2 rehearsals with 2 more to go before the big day I am really looking forward to it and by the sounds of the guys it's gonna sound good too, so be there or be square!
I watched Stand By Me, The Faculty and Dead Poets Society in a row last night. In my opinion a classic selection of films. I haven't seen Stand By Me for years and it made me blub like a twelve year old with a leech chewing on his knob. It was great! The life of the Un-Employed, eh?
I also have a Nemesis as my good buddy's Alex, Mike and Kev pointed out the other day as I totally lost my rag at a chat room. I will not name or even hint who they are, needless to say the person is more than worthy of such hatred but un-fortunately all my friends know how to push my buttons now and get me angry very easily (not something I am prone to I might add). Anyway, this person will be the first to die when the revoloution comes...
Well, Mum's just called me for dinner and Ed Harcourt has finished so I'll catch you on the flip side dudemeisters!
Respec'!"
Leo


Saturday 18th March 2006
"Yeehar! Played a stonker of gig (albeit to 6 people... but you've got to start somewhere) in Ripple (Where?) with Mark and Al. We called ourselves "Wing and A Prayer" for the night because we had only about 5 songs of our own to play so I quickly educated the fellas in the ancient art of the 'Busk'. We played about 2 hours of twelve bars and any other 3 chord songs we could think of. Admittedly it was a tad repetative and the pub was empty and we were in the middle of nowhere but I had a whale of a time. Firstly it was great playing a whole gig on another instrument (ie the Bass) and secondly it was great playing with people roughly my age. We had far more of an energy than in every other band I've played with, largely because evey band I've played with think they've done it all and are very cynical about it all but Mark and Al leapt on it with a nervous energy that brought my game up a mile. 3rd best gig I've ever played, no contest.
In other news as the Reaction and Mark get me more gigs I' m trying to leap on the same band wagon with my band and will hopefully be doing some gigs with LEO in the near future. Keep your eyes on the Music page for details. Me and the lads have been working on 'All in the Life of Us' Scripts and ideas what we really need is some funding (hint, hint any production companies that may be reading...). I genuinely think the idea is sound and we can pull it off we just need a bit of cash to get moving and a slot on Channel 4 would be nice too! Anyway, we're going to try and make it money or not. Check out the Film page for updates...
In the meantime, stay cool groove cats and recommend the site to friends.
Peace y'all"
Leo x

Thursday 9th March 2006
"It's 6:38 in the morning and I've just finished mixing and mastering my new album 'Go!'. It should now be up on the music page so check it out on the Jukebox. It's a very silly album. Whilst it has some serious moments, because I had more time, I could muck about so there's lots of strange stuff on there. Even a Rap! But don't let that stop you, I'm actually quite proud of it. I'm going to see if I can get a buying page on the site because everyone keeps asking where they can get all my stuff. It's a good idea seeing as I now have 3 albums, a DVD and a portfolio available. We'll see.
I'm very over excited. My bassist and best mate Alex is on his way back from Kiwi land and I can't wait. It's going to be great to see him again. It's sad that when you're single you have to make do with hairy New Zealanders.
Check out The Boy Least Likely To, El Presidente and The Kingsbury Manx. They're my bands of the moment.
Alex from Psychotic Reaction and I have been getting together regularly in preperation for some upcoming gigs. I let you know what's happening. I've been rehearsing with Mark and his brother Al recently to as we've our first gig in just over a week at Mark's local pub. Gonna be good! Other than that it's been fairly slow. Hope to see/hear from you all soon.
nuff respec' to y'all"
Leo. X

Friday 20th January 2006
"Howdy folks! This is my first diary entry so be gentle with me...
I left work at Jessops yesterday and am looking forward to a bit more of free time. I've hit the ground running this year and have a lot planned for the months ahead. Films, albums and photographs galore I hope.
Reccomendations: Joanna Newsom, Regina Spektor, Cat Power and Jose Gonzalez. Dig it groove cats!
Got a gig at the Pier Bar in Herne Bay coming up with Essential soon. Check local listings as dates change but be there or be square.
Still recording 'Between 1 thing & another', doing the piano on Sunday hopefully. We might even get some gigs out of this one! We live in hope...
Cleaned up the Super 8 and it's working grand, have some film on order so 'It's A Small Town' is set to go ahead in the next couple of weeks. Get in touch if you're interested.
Hope that's of interest. Sorry there's not much but I'll keep you informed and up to date. In the meantime keep coming back and tell your friends. Spread the word.
Favourite Lyric at the moment: "Time may fly and dreams may die."