Love songs for Travellers

One interesting thing that you may not know about the Balustrade boys is that neither of them has a car! Part of this is because they live in Bath and so have no need for a big motor as there is no where to park it! But the main reason is because they live in Bath and so cannot afford to get one as they spend all their money on council tax and looking after the listed Georgian townhouses they live in and so cost ridiculous sums of money to look after because Jane Austen may once have rustled a corset near it at one time or another. The upside to this though is that both lads have thighs like tree trunks from hiking up the many hills of Bath as well as having an encyclopedic knowledge of the British Transport system (both are proud holders of Young Person's Railcard despite neither being able to be accurately described as young!).

Which brings us indirectly to the prupose and title of this post. As a result of their love of all things transport (combined with Mr Carter's slightly confused love of all things Mojave 3-based) the lads have set about a song writing challenge this week. Taking the title of this potential new song from a slip of the tongue by Mr Carter when referring to the aforemnetioned acoustic indie threesome's album 'Excuses for Travellers' both fellas have embarked on a mission to write a new song for the album. Initial results were promising as Mr Carter produced an 99% complete masterpiece of jangly indie goodness all about firelight tales and memorable angles, while Lex turned in a particularly alt.country song about travelling to Bristol and staring at wierdos on the train!

We'll keep you posted on how the competition progresses, however for now, Love Songs for Travellers Parts One and Two have been pencilled on to the initial track list for the album which now includes the final track, Zaire, a plinky plonky acoustic number which will nicely close the album out (OK, so we know that for an A to Z of the West Country it is a bit of a cop out to have the final song called Zaire, but the only other Z we could think of was Zoo as in Bristol Zoo and that isn't a particularly cool name for a song - especially after Welsh chav-rappers Goldie Looking Chain have already name-checked the West Country's penguin purveyors on their novelty hit, Guns don't kill people wappers do!).

Tsunami

After the devastating events in the south pacific, Balustrade joined forces with a number of local Bath-based bands this past Monday to raise money for the Tsunami relief effort. A star-studded line up at Bath's premier indie club Moles was headlined by Balustrade's close personal friends (and Mr Carter's former sewing buddies) X is Loaded. First-rate support was leant to the X-ers and this great cause by local battle of the bands winners, A Doubtful Guest; a blues rock country band who, in 6 months time, wil be viewed as borrowing heavily from the Balustrade-style (but for now made the lads heads nod in redneck unison); and The Girls, who were a bit pants to be honest! Last but not least were Balustrade who provided more than admiral support for the X-ers by even going so far as to pay for their own tickets - a first at X is Loaded gigs! At least it was all for a good cause and meant the boys were out past midnight on a school night (another rarity!!)

Back to school

After the excitement of Christmas, New Year and local derbies, it was back to business as usual for the Balustrade boys this week. Arriving for the new term, Matthew was all spick and span with his neatly pressed shirt, pencil case brimming with all new pens and pencils (including a very shiny new protractor) and his name tags sewn into his gym kit. Lex on the other hand was frantically trying to get the last of his christmas homework done and was still scribbling song lyrics on the back of his new McFly ring binder right up to the very last minute all the while trying not to get ink on his new stripy christmas jumper and failing miserably!

With the unsuccessful attempts by the boys to play live before Xmas behind them, it was with renewed vigour that they revisited the set for the first run through of the new year. As well as playing through the old favourites, some even older favourites, such as The Wolf and Rivers were brought out of deep storage, dusted off and given a new lease of life and will soon be finding a place on the album alongside new smash-hit, West Country Blues - a song Lex worked on while making his way back from Dorchester and took shape during a particualry long lay over at Westbury for the trains from London-village to make their way through this sleepy little junction. Whether these songs will feature the musical plinking and plonkings of Carter's rather spiffing new mandolin is a surprise that you 'Strade fans will just have to wait to hear the album to find out - however for now we can scotch all rumours that the boys will be looking to do an alt.westcountry version of Maggie May any time soon!!

HAPPY NEW THINGY!

Hello 'straders!
Carter here, to wish you a Happy New Year from myself and the other one...
I hope you all had a Balustrade Christmas. I know I did.

So, as we enter a new year, what do we have to look forward to from the alt.westcountry pioneers in 2005?

Well, new songs, new instruments, a new album (maybe), new clothes, new haircuts, new and interesting facial hair, and all kinds of exciting goodies!

January is going to be a month of song-writing. I've got a few ideas going through my mind, and as soon as they form into somehting more concrete, you'll be the first to know.

Until then, I take my leave of you: Team Bath v Bath City in the ultimate Townies v Students battle to end all battles. Dirty student filth. If City win, expect the Balustrade album to be filled with beautiful madrigals and rainbow-tinged melodies. If we loose, it's a load more murder-ballads I'm afraid. Grrhhnnnhhal.