Hello !

Well, it’s been busy busy just lately, with Jam Night last Thursday, plus the first of the new Jam Nights on Tuesday !

The Riff Raff CD took another step forward when Ian came over on Wednesday to record some more stuff. And I’ve put a few more tracks together on another solo project I’m working on. When will all this be completed ? Who knows – there’s still a way to go yet.

On the sporting front, I played cricket last weekend – my first game since my knee operation last August. Thursday was 5-a-side,  Friday was 7-a-side. I came through it all OK but in truth still struggling a bit. I umpired the second innings of our home league game yesterday. It was an enjoyable game which we won !

So, there we are – a brief round-up of what I’ve been up to lately.

So,until next time,    BFN,    Rob.

Hi folks !

I’m sure you’ll be pleased to hear that there’s a new Jam Night to start very soon.  Thanks to Gavin, this new Tuesday Night extravaganza will be happening at :

Ruislip Social Club, Grosvenor Vale, Ruislip HA4  6JQ

starting Tuesday 28th June,  from  8 till 11 pm

*Everybody welcome    *Musicians of all sorts    *Backline and PA provided

*Free Entry

So don’t just sit there doing nothing on Tuesday evenings – grab your instrument of choice and get down to Ruislip Social Club … or just come and have a listen !

See you there.    BFN, Rob.

John - left the tea at home !

The news today, that QPR had massively hiked up their ticket prices for next season, came as a big enough blow, but what happened last night was even more devastating.  John left the flask of Russian Caravan on the table, and left home for the studio, without it. Calamitous ! !  As you will no doubt have read in my previous item, Russian Caravan is John’s tea of choice for a Riff Raff rehearsal and with the intensity of such sessions, it’s pretty damn crucial. So in the absence of our ‘half-time’ refreshments which John very kindly prepares and shares with his fellow band-mates, we resorted to the in-house Tesco tea ! Not bad actually – Good enough to save John from the ultimate in rock’n’roll punishments .. forcing him to learn a Coldplay number.

Anyway leaving all that to one side, it wasn’t a bad session, especially when you consider that we hadn’t played most of the songs for many a blue moon ( I think that’s a song too, as it happens – not one that we play though – luckily ! )

So, with no gigs on the horizon ( except for the much awaited annual ‘Robfest’, of course ),  it looks like I may soon have a load of Riff Raff coming round, barging into ‘Shabby Road’ to continue the recording of the ‘own stuff’ CD.

Oh well, at least they’ll all  be guaranteed copious cups of PG … It is indeed the taste ! !

BFN,   Rob.

It’s been a long time since we rock’n’rolled !

Riff Raff

Last night saw Riff Raff back together in covers band mode for the first time for some months, taking a break from the recording sessions at ‘Shabby Road’. John played host to the practice session, in which we went through some new numbers and refreshed our memories on songs now well established in the Riff Raff set.

All this was sparked by the prospect of two forthcoming gigs ; one at the end of May and one in August.  Sadly, in the space of the last two days, both gigs have fallen by the wayside. Still, at least the annual ‘Robfest’ extravaganza is still a goer.

Anyway, back to last night, the Russian Caravan was flowing too. “What’s Russian Caravan ?”  you may ask.  It’s not the name of a new song we’re doing. It’s not the name of the CD that some of the Riff Raff boys have been recording in the ‘Shabby Road’ sessions … It’s tea.  Russian Caravan has a delicate aroma, with a very palatable flavour to match, thoroughly recommended by all the Riff Raff boys, making a change from my personal favourite, PG Tips.  It’s the taste !

We’ll be rehearsing together again next week too, turning up the volume in the studio.

In the meantime, early preparations for ‘Robfest’ are now underway.

I’ll be at Jam Night on Thursday at The Middlesex Arms, so hope to see you there.

BFN,      Rob.

Hi Folks.

Happy Easter. Hope you’re enjoying the weather we’re having at the moment – pretty damn good.  Oh, and it’s St. George’s Day today, so Happy St. George’s Day. A good day for slaying dragons, especially Welsh ones ( a little cryptic QPR joke there ! )

New CD by Rob or Riff Raff ?

Jam Nights at the Middlesex Arms are going well, and thankfully, there seem to be no more rumours doing the rounds about closure or any such rubbish !

I’ve spent quite a lot of time over the past few weeks recording a few tracks on my computer studio, aka GarageBand.  Things are developing into a pretty major project now, although it wasn’t intended as that from the outset.  It seems to have grown into a full 12 track CD project.  From little acorns and all that, eh ! ? !  It all  just started off with me recording a few of my own numbers, written over the course of the last couple of decades or so, as a solo CD.  Having got things under way with my recordings, those Riff Raff boys started jumping on the bandwagon. The cheek of it all.  Tut Tut !  First,  John got wind, and he came round and started to record a few of his songs he’s cobbled together over the last four decades.  When I say John got wind, I don’t mean flatulence, but that he got to hear about it – just thought I’d clear up that rumour ).  Anyway, before you could say Liberace, Ian jumped two footed onto the bandwagon clutching his keyboards and I’ve ended up recording a load of musical gems which have emanated from his pen down the years too.  So, what started off as a solo project,  seems to be quickly turning into a Riff Raff CD, without a cover version in sight and not quite as pre-planned. But, it’s turning out to be an enjoyable project to work on and it’s all good stuff !  As the recording and editing is being done round at my place, which resembles a recording studio much of the time, it’s now been nicknamed  ‘Shabby Road’. That may not be original, but who cares !

Anyway, today’s a day off from all this recording and editing stuff. There are more important things to turn my attention to. If QPR beat Cardiff City in today’s tough table-topping encounter in the lunchtime kick-off, promotion will be assured and I’ll have to find some way to celebrate. With the weather as it is as well, it could be a good day. Fingers crossed !

BFN,    Rob.

Jamming at Jam Night

Yes friends, the Thursday Jam Night at the Middlesex Arms was back last night after a one week break.

It’s now on every Thursday from now on,  so make sure to get down there and be part of the fun !

See you soon,  BFN,  Rob.

Jam Night will not be on next Thursday 31st March – for one week only, due to a private function.

Also, the planned building work which was due to take place has been cancelled.

Jam Night will therefore take just a one week break and then it will be back … forever ! … Marvellous ! !

Cheers,   Rob

Hi Folks !

Just a very quick round up of the latest …

… I’ve been doing a fair bit of recording lately … I’ll be at Jam Night tonight, cos it’s on … and … I’ve even started playing the odd game of 5-a-side too.

There … Quick enough for you ?  Anyway, must dash, still loads to do.

See ya soon,   BFN,   Rob.

I’ve just heard that Jam Night will carry on till 24th March !

So, next week won’t be the last one before the break after all !

Cheers,   Rob

Greetings pop-pickers.

Action from a recent Jam Night

There’s an important up-date on the Jam Nights page explaining what’s planned at the Middlesex Arms and how it will affect Jam Night.

The main gist of it is that Jam Night will be on next week and will then take a temporary four week break.  It will then return !  Jam Night is not coming to a permanent end ! !   For more details click on Jam Nights … now !

I will continue to post prompt up-dates here to keep you informed if there are any further developments.

See you at Jam Night next week … Marvellous !

Cheers,  Rob.