I’ve been back in the UK for nearly three weeks this month, longer than my usual stint. The extra time was packed with music-related plans and nonstop catch-ups with friends, probably more than I've done in years, and it's worked wonders for my soul.

(Me @ Stationhouse Recording)

A 20-Year Wait: Botch Reunion 

I started the trip off with kinda a religious experience: catching one of my all-time favourite bands, Botch, on their Reunion tour in Manchester. They split in 2002, after releasing the legendary "We Are Romans," album. I've been waiting over 20 years for this moment and they didn’t disappoint. 

(Botch - New Century Hall in Manchester)

Botch was everything we aspired to be back when we were playing in Errander: noisy, a brutal assault to the ears, angular and avant-garde— They were just way more talented than us. It felt like most of the room was filled with former bands who I'd once recorded, and we were all there to pay homage to our patron saints of noise. So glad I got to witness this with around 100 friends who I’d not seen in over a decade.

Getting Glitchy: From Green Screen to Gigging

(New Mighty Morphin Power Rangers movie)

Next up: switching to music-making mode instead of listening to others play it. We hit the practice room with Toronto Blessings to shoot a music video for our third single from the 'Big Wins' album, a track called "All Updates Failed." 

True to its name, we wanted the video to be glitchy and chaotic. The concept was to use glass prisms in front of the camera lens, in front of a green screen, distorting the images, layering ourselves to create a visual frenzy reminiscent of Queen's 'The Miracle' album cover but souped up on whatever those bodybuilders abuse. The Single should drop next week… I think.

(Toronto Blessings @ The Red Shed in Wakefield)

Then it was straight into practising as we had a gig lined up in Wakefield at The Red Shed the following weekend. True to its name, The Red Shed was indeed a red shed—an old Labour members club with some eye-opening wall hangings revealing just how many pits the Tories had closed down. Which even caught me by surprise, I didn't realise there were so many.

(Never forget just how bleak Thatcher’s Government was)

From Studio Walls to Wax Nostalgia

Seeing old pal Jamie Derelict from JD & TheFDC's at that show was a blast. He brought me a vinyl version of the rereleased 'Recognize' album—this was the last album I worked on in my old studio, right before I took a sledgehammer to the walls and left with an extended middle finger pointing back at the place. Finally holding this thing on wax feels really nice and brings back some good memories. 

I was also back at StationHouse recording studio in Leeds, laying down some drums for my buddy Dan's band, Palace Watson. Working in James Atkins' former police station studio is always fun—the live room sounds massive and he’s a true gent. This time, we experimented with reamping the snare drum to push even more ambience out of the room sound. 

I also started work on mixing Balgura’s up and coming EP, this one is super heavy.

Minimalist Dreams & Realistic Goals

So spring has sprung, and I've been on a decluttering spree, parting ways with things I no longer need or items I've accumulated but never really used. While I admire those who embrace a minimalist lifestyle, I've kinda accepted that I'll never quite achieve that level of simplicity. I probably have way more cables and gadgets than necessary! Nonetheless, clearing out the excess feels incredibly refreshing. Here’s a link to my eBay store for a few things that are left if you're interested. I’ll probably put more up in the next few weeks too, get in touch if there’s something you’re after.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/podcasttechltd

From Monkey Bikes to Creativity

Revving up some nostalgia, I've been jumping back into the adrenaline-fueled world of Moto-X lately. For me it all started with that Tears for Fears music video featuring a trike tearing through the sand dunes and me begging for a bike. Christmas Day '88, my motorhead Dad surprised me with a Honda Z50r Monkey Bike. By age 10, I'd traded up to a proper bike and was tearing up the tracks in schoolboy amateur motocross competitions.

Even though money was tight, my parents went all in to support my passion. Weekends meant loading up the caravan and driving up and down the M1 to a race meeting, rain or shine. Whether it was a muddy field or an abandoned quarry, we’d be indulging in the scent of 2-stroke 

oil and the taste of hotdogs.

Naturally, with motocross being such an expensive sport, it meant passing on the latest fads my classmates obsessed over. While they concerned themselves with flaunting the latest trendy gear, what bag or football boots the cool kid was wearing, I happily traded them for literal bigger boots to wear the coming weekend.

I believe this was my first encounter with nonconformity, relishing in the idea of not fitting in. While my peers revelled in team sports, I found solace in being the odd one out. This mindset has since shaped every creative endeavour I've pursued.

After digging out my old VHS tapes recently, I'm planning to attend the Motocross of Nations event this October, a fitting tribute to my dad who passed away last year. It's like the World Cup of motocross, with each country showcasing its top 3 riders on a global stage. This year, it's back in the UK, a rare occurrence since my last visit to Foxhill Park in 1998.

France or USA will probably win, but there’s always some fingers to be crossed for a repeat of ‘94 when UK took the win. If you're up for joining, let me know!