I am Will from The Rocky Nest. I play trumpet and percussion (and maybe even a bit of funky drumming on future songs - watch this space). We done did a gig so I wroted a blog............................

Badges, stickers, sweets, Lego and a drawing competition: If it weren't for all
the booze, you'd think the Nest had regressed... but all this occured last night
at our gig in Sheffield.

It is as difficult to fit us all on one picture as it is to get us all on one stage.

That Dan from The Pete Green Corporate Juggernaut (ace band, google them) invited us to play at his Popomatic event. Of course, we jumped at the chance, and then spent weeks acting very middle-management-focus-group about the logistics of it. To be fair, if you have eight band members (plus myriad home-town fans who want to tag along), a stack of instruments and sleeping bags, and various requirements about who can't leave Hull until after a certain time or has to get back in time for something else, a couple of flowcharts and a board meeting are neccessary to work out who's in what car and make sure nobody gets stranded with no clean pants.

Keep an eye out for this Popomatic brand on future events if you like your nights out to take the form of a bit of disco cheese and vintage distilled all-time classics sandwiched between warm doorstops of fresh indie pop bread and butter. They also have free badges and sweets. Add to this a drawing competition with excellent prizes, and you have the makings of something just a little bit special.

Just to illustrate (geddit?) how awesome the evening really was, The Rocky Nest delegation picked up silver AND bronze in the competition to draw a robot. Hannah came 2nd and won a little wind-up robot toy, and I got the 3rd prize of a sheet of shiny robot stickers.

If that wasn't enough, those of us who didn't need to get back home that night all trooped round to Andy's house to continue the party. Andy is a Hull ex-pat with a Nintendo Wii and Guitar Hero, a couple of cats, several hundred gigabytes of mp3s, a greater volume and variety of alcoholic beverages than the venue we just came from, and a lot of floor space to sleep on.

Oh, yeah... he also has more Lego than anyone I have ever met.

We walked in to the living room and were confronted by a mini Taj Mahal. Upstairs there is an entire room full of completed models and a couple of tonnes of spare bits. It really is a breathtaking sight. Apparently there was more in the cellar but I didn't get around to looking. I was too busy trying to find some INXS to put on.

Funnily enough, on the way home some of us succumbed to temptation and got a Burger King at the Doncaster services. With my meal I was given a voucher for half-price entry to various attractions, including........... Lego Land. After last night I don't think I really need to bother.



Respect where it is due:

Dan the main man and cheese DJ (Prince and Cameo = correct, Jamelia and Daphne & Celeste = not so much, but each to their own...) and his partners in crime Roo and Cara

The sound guy (in job description and also general demeanour) who called himself Nought but was actually ten out of ten

Support band Japanese Sleepers who combined electronic with organic and fun with heartfelt

Andy for his boundless hospitality

And of course all the lovely people who came out to hear us play, some of them dressed as robots. It was great to see some familiar faces and also some new ones.



Sheffield, we will return...

Hello Sheffields!

May 13 - Hello Sheffields!

We have a gig tomorrow night, that's Friday night, in case you're reading this tomorrow.

It's in lovely Sheffields at Pop-O-Matic.

We're playing alongside Japanese Sleepers, and there'll also be loads of pop music played, I'm really looking forward to it.

Also, there's a lovely poster.

So yes, hope to see you there.

x

- Jonny Nest

What are the Rocky Nest listening to Right Now?

Hello, Salbo on tha RadeeeeeYO!

First of all I would like to apologize for not regularly updating you all with a massive list of what we have been listening to. This list is mostly out of date. This is why:

1. This list was what the Rocky Nest were listening to circa the beginning of April. The individual Rocky Nest members could change their favourite song every minute if they wanted to!
2. We have a new member! She is called Sam and she toots a toots on the flute! this is great. That means there are 9 of us, and i want the Rocky Nest to be like an orchestra. Anyway, she wasnt physically in the band at the exact point that i collated this info so she doesnt have a song.
3. I'm a bit rubbish when its study time. FYI i am learning how to do things that are so boring, people charge me a fortune to know this information so they dont have to bore themselves with it.

However, i would like to award the top winning prize this time to Will aka Trumpeteer/coolest dancer in all the land/omnipotent provider of kindereggs. He wins because he is just totally enthusiastic about this song of the moment thing, i get regular texts from him saying what his favourite song is. He wins because he has a good taste in music. His song submission is ONLY 4 DAYS OLD!! win win win.

okay heres the list.

1. Tom: Joanna Newsom - Good Intentions Paving Company


2. Paul: Talking Heads - I Zimbra


3. Johnny: The Fieldmice - Willow


4. Wendy: The Divine Comedy - Something for the Weekend


5. Hannah: OMD - Electricity


6. Izzy: Cinematic Orchestra - To Build a Home


7. Salbo: Deadmau5 & Kaskade - I Remember (Caspa Remix)


8. Will: guru (RIP) Ft Ronny Jordan - No Time to Play


Ciao! x

Volcanic danger

April 19 - Volcanic Danger

Due to volcanic danger, I'm sorry to say, through no fault of anyone, tada tátà will no longer be able to make it to our gig on Tuesday.

Volcanic ash has cancelled all flights and thus they can't make it over from Sweden.

The good news is we've added three more acts to the bill, Salbo Baggins, Isabelle Manley and Wendy Richards who will all charm you with a couple of their songs.

So now the gig offers five acts for the price of three - what value!

Please come along to join the fun.


Bigger poster

- Jonny Nest

Looking forward to playing live again

March 22 - Looking forward to playing live again.


Hey, don't strain your eyes unduly, larger poster over here

In real terms it might not be that long since our last gig (at the end of January) but it feels like a lifetime to me, and I am really excited to have another chance to play live appear on the horizon.

At the back end of last year we were probably playing at least two gigs a month in and out of Hull, and having a great time doing it. I think a few of the band - myself included - like to know where the next gig is coming from, and will happily put in calls and emails to make sure there is always something lined up.

We've calmed down quite a bit in 2010 when it comes to playing live. We've stopped making those calls and sending those emails - because for the moment at least we're making recording the priority.

Putting an album together is really exciting in itself, and I'm really looking forward to getting my teeth into that, but this doesn't stop me loving playing live.

Happily enough we do have this one gig coming up - largely because we'd already started arranging it before we started our self-imposed gig fast - and I for one am delighted that it's getting closer. Only a month to go.

Aside from the fact that I can't wait to play again, I'm extra excited about this one because I'm looking forward to playing alongside the touring band, I think they are ace.

I saw tada tátà play at Landet in Stockholm at the end of December. I hadn't been convinced that I was going to get to the gig - I had erm... plans earlier that evening so I was pushed for time, it was a very cold night, I didn't really know where I was going or who would be there, and I hadn't heard any of the bands before.

But once I heard tada tátà, I got excited about them very quickly.


tada tátà (ducks not actually in the band)

They have this fantastic clean, bright sound, catchy songs full of, hooks, beats and ace lyrics and (this last bit might just be me) the right blend of innocence and darkness to make the hairs on my arms stand up.

It turned out I did have a few friends along at the gig that evening, and I got swept along by it, in the best possible way.

After their set I asked if there was any chance I could lure the band over to Hull for a gig at The Adelphi - they were very much up for it.

Talking about this with Mattias of Cosy we decided the gig in Hull should be part of a tour of the UK, which is what they are now going to be doing.

I'm hoping that if you're reading this you can be enticed to listen to the band's EP on their Myspace page.

I think they are fantastic enough that once you've heard them play, you'll be wanting to come along.

I'm also delighted that we were able to convince the always wonderful Mammal Hum to come along to play on the night, as they really are one of my favourite bands in Hull. I always enjoy watching them play massively - they are great fun, and I know we're going to have an ace evening all-around. But then anyone from Hull reading this doesn't need me to tell them how great Mammal Hum are.

Visual aid - here they are now:



As you gathered from the above, it's also looking like the only The Rocky Nest gig for some time too, and we'd love to see lots of you along there.

Here are the Facebook and LastFM pages for the event, if they are any use to you.

Tuesday, April 20.
The New Adelphi Club.
De Grey Street.
Hull.
Doors at 8pm.
£3-£4

- Jonny Nest

Returning Home and thoughts of Clum.

March 20 - Returning Home and thoughts of Clum.

Hello there internets.

I've been away for a bit on my holidays, but I'll be back in Hull from tomorrow, and that means I'm thinking lots about that there Rocky Nest.

I'm very much looking forward to coming back and seeing my bandmates (among others).



Another thing I've been thinking about is Hull Album Clum.

Clum is a fantastic thing. Once a month a group of people from Hull get together for music-based fun. I tend to take part when I have time and think I could have fun doing the cover.

At the end of the evening each of those taking part puts an album name into the hat, and one is drawn out.

Everyone then has one month to cover a track of their choice, before meeting up again. The freshly-minted covers are listened to, drinks are enjoyed, and at the end of the evening a new album is chosen from the hat.

In the past I have done Erasure, and The Human League covers.

It's a lot of fun. Last month was Doolittle by Pixies - an album I love.

Anyhow, with me being away quite so much, I wasn't really planning to contribute this month. But then my choice, The Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs, was pulled from the hat.

As you can imagine if your album is picked from the hat, you are very much expected to contribute.

So I rushed off a clum track before I left. I'm not entirely convinced by what I have so far, but hopefully once I have fiddled around with it, it should be okay.

There is also the tradition that there is a new hat each time clum convenes, and everyone must have their picture taken wearing that month's hat.

It's also a bit of an odd one for me this month as usually I gather together other musicians to contribute to the track I am working on. Essentially my only musical ability is playing the bass. However, this month - largely due to lack of time and being far away from any musical kit - I have done everything myself, including 'singing'. I can't sing. It should be interesting.

Anyway, there are still a couple of weeks to go until the next clum evening, so hopefully once I have produced it within an inch of its life, it might be okay.

- Jonny Nest

The Rocky Nest sleep together

... and amuse each other with toys.




hI5IVE xx T