Hello everyone,

It’s been a while since I’ve posted….I’ve been cruising along with mostly solo gigs and a few band shows here and there. DV8 has been trying out some new songs live and we still don’t have a studio mix on our new songs yet so we’ll let you know when that happens. Our next DV8 show is at Warners at the Bay on New Years Eve and then on Australia Day January 26th we’re at the Mark Hotel.

Lot’s of solo shows are happening (please see the gig guide) and I’m very happy to be playing up at Ballina Hotel after Christmas on Boxing Day and also on the 27th.

We had our Rosie’s School of Rock Christmas party at Adamstown bowling club playing barefoot bowls and then everyone came on down to my gig for a jam at the Mary Ellen…lots of fun for all and some videos on FB of the jamming.

Have a great Christmas with all your family and friends 🙂

We’re still working on mixing our new recordings but it shouldn’t be too long now. Since then we’ve also come up with another new song which we’ll unveil at the Wicko on Friday November 13th. The song is very much based around Trav’s drumming style and is a fresh injection of inspiration for us.

November is a busy month for us starting with the Wicko on Friday 13th (hope you’ve still got your Halloween outfits handy) and then Saturday 23rd we’re back at the Gunyah for all you guys from Belmont/Swansea area. Sunday 29th we’re at the Premier which is our last show until New Years Eve at Warners at the Bay.

What an exhilarating gig at Mavericks on Sunday….I felt the love from the audience in a big way….thanks to all the crew who came up from Sally Tav and all the local Nelson Bayites who came especially to see me…I’ve been trying out a bunch of new covers and a few different Hot Yogis and DV8 tunes lately and each show feels fresh, new and fun for me. It was also a great gig playing with Trav on drums at Jesmond on Saturday…we had lots of funky jamming time.

It’s a big week coming up for solo gigs with Tuesday 3rd at Cardiff RSL for Melbourne Cup , Thursday evening at Honeysuckle, Friday at the Mark Hotel and Sunday at Toronto. Saturday night I’m heading up to the vineyards to see Neil Diamond for the first time ever.

I’ve been recording some new solo originals with Robbie Long lately so stay tune for more news on that.

Moving into October and the warmer weather is fantastic…DV8 rocked the Mark Hotel last Sunday over the long weekend along with our friend Dave Forbes jamming..it was thrilling to see such a big and enthusiastic crew of happy smiling faces. We have our next DV8 show at Dora Creek Workers on Saturday Oct 17 from 8pm. Would love to see all you western Lake Macquarie dwellers out for the rock show!!!!

Lot’s of great solo shows have been happening too…this coming Friday Oct 9th I’m at Swansea Hotel from 8.30-11.30pm and Sunday I’m at the Mary Ellen from 6-9pm…the solo recordings also continue at Robbie Long’s studio this week….there’s some nice versions of new and old tunes starting to emerge.

It’s been a really satisfying few weeks of gigs…DV8 had a fun night at Warners at the Bay the weekend before last with some extended jamming thrown in to the mix. Our new song is almost finished being recorded and mixing will happen this week. Our next show is at the Gunyah this coming Saturday September 26th.

The solo gigs have been rich and varied. Stroud was amazing last Saturday with lots of dancing action…( I’m gonna wear out my stomp board)….I really do enjoy pumping out the DV8 songs with just an acoustic guitar. Next solo shows are at the Criterion in Carrington Friday Sept. 25 and Town Hall at Waratah on Sunday 27.

 

Hey Everyone!

It’s been a few weeks since I posted…lots of gigs have been happening. DV8 at the Wicko was a blast! As was Hot Yogis…and heaps of great solo gigs including last weekend at the Criterion and Duke of Wellington as well as Dora Creek Workers where I did an extra set because people wanted to keep dancing.

DV8 is in the studio at the moment recording a rocking NEW single along with some other tracks. The Marshall and Blues Deluxe were turned up full for a huge authentic DV8 guitar tone. I had so much fun jumping around the studio doing wild guitar solos. Stay tune for more news!!!!

I’ve also been working with Robbie Long in his studio on some solo acoustic tunes which are on the more warm, relaxed side of things. I’ll keep you updated!

 

We have a big day coming up this Saturday August 15th with Hot Yogis. Firstly we have an in-store promotion at JB HiFi at Glendale to promote “Under The Wire” our CD. It begins at 12.30pm with some kids from Rosie’s School of Rock doing an acoustic performance for 20 mins and then the Yogis will play from 1pm for a half hour or so. After that we’ll head off to the Wicko for an arvo gig between 5-8pm.

DV8 played the Premier last Sunday August 2nd and our friend Trevor Dare came along to add some keyboards to such songs as “Under a Long Black Cloud”, Hitchhiker” and “Dry Your Eyes”. The keyboards really added a rich atmosphere to these tracks. Thanks Trev!!

We’ll be playing next at the Wicko on Friday August 21st and are looking forward to that with the new stage and PA.

In other news we’ve written a great new celebratory rock song that we’ll record soon and release as a single. Stay tune!

It’s been a rich and varied couple of weeks with lots of different gigs. Today at the Mark Hotel with DV8 was lots of fun and great to see lots of faces that we haven’t seen for a while along with some enthusiastic dancing . Last night solo at the Stroud Central Hotel was also a great night and I’ll be back there again soon. I spent some time at Stroud checking out the general store where my mum grew up. Her mother was a great piano player who played lots of local dances in the area back in the 1940’s so it’s a sort of a return home when I go there. My Grand parents and Uncle Jack used to own and live in the heritage home of Alderley House nearby as well and I used to visit them there when I was a kid. Stroud School of Arts was also one of the first gigs that Meccalissa ( the name of the band before DV8) ever did. My grandmother’s photo is below. She’s standing in the bush near Girvan which is close to Stroud holding a violin.

I’ve written a few new acoustic songs over the last 2 weeks and I’m starting to sprinkle them into the sets. There’s some new Hot Yogi songs and DV8 songs coming along too.

Saturday 18th I have a duo with Len Samperi at Wests Leagues in the Marble Bar.

Such a great last night at the Gunyah. My new amp combo is sounding magnificent. Such a pleasure to play the old ’72 Tele through the Twin and Blues Deluxe. So many people and lots of enthusiastic dancing. Our next show is not until Sunday July 12th at the Mark Hotel at Lambton. I’m solo at the Mary Ellen tonight Sunday June 21st and next week all solo gigs at Criterion, Swansea and Stockton Bowlo.