Hey and welcome back to a "KT Tuesday" blog.
Its been a little while.
But honestly, it's great to be back and already there has been plenty of adventures, laughs and new memories made.
I could write a whole blog on why I have been away.. or why I'm back.
There is quite a story there and probably some of it too personal to tell.
But after some time away.. Grace and myself set a date and time and we sat down in a restaurant back in early June of this year.
A lot of honest words were spoken and we spent the night chatting,..then because of our talking we missed the cut off to order some food.
But it really didn't matter, it was just good to talk and crossing that burning bridge is the best thing I have done.
A few weeks later we climbed Mount Snowdon together and I think it was here we really cemented our friendship again.
You see friends are hard to come by, and throw being in a band together well you might aswell call each other family.
Yes you may not always agree, but if there is a spark there, a comman interest and hunger for music.. and a passion to make something special.. and if friendship is also there, well that really is the sprinkle on the cake.
Anyone who has been in band’s knows how much work and effort goes into them.
And I'm damn proud of the Wild Strays and everything that has been achieved.
So when me and Grace talked about me coming back the fold, i think my face said it all.
This time is different though. It just feels way different.
There is talk about a magazine that wanted a gritty interview with myself and Grace.
We are not sure if this is going to happen.
But we will keep you posted.
So, we headed back into the studio and I got to say, the energy was incredible. It felt like we hadn’t had the break and with the new members, the place was buzzing with passion and electricity.
If you been following the "News of the Wild" newsletter every week or social media then you will see there is a “New Wild Order”
I would suggest heading over to the members personal pages on www.wildstrays.com for more info.
Both Liam and Mike are the New Wild Order that we needed and the band has a good sense of balance, love, respect and fire in our hearts to hit the stages around the country in 2019 and onto the Festival stages in 2020.
So this leads us very quickly to the new songs and the Headline show in Birmingham.
We really wanted to come back with a bang and what better way than to put on our very own show, filled with roster of bands that span many genres and who are not only our friends but also bands that are there to have fun, support each other and bring great energy.
What happened was exactly that.
I bumped into our first act while playing at the Rigger in Newcastle under Lyme.
Her name is Kira Mac and I was instantly captured by her original material and country music flavour.
We spoke after her performance and when us Wild Strays sat round to talk about who could open the night.
I suggested Kira Mac would be perfect for kicking our Wild Night off.
Next up was Liam’s idea.
Because we are self defined as "Punk and Rock and Metal and Stuff" we knew we needed a punk band.
Liam's best friend Danny is in a band called The Leftovers and they are a punk ska band from Stafford.
Sounded good to us and I had also seen them in Silverdale with Liam a few weeks back.
They had a great fun energy and were a great choice for the night.
Next was to find a main support.
Now, I knew of this girl called Karly Snarly, we had been friends for over 3 years and she had recently joined a band called “In Plain Sight”
They are a hard rock band from Watford in London.
So I messaged her and asked her if she and the band would be interested.
She messaged back straight away and said yes.
So the stage was set.
Country, Punk Ska, Hard Rock and then the “Wild Strays”
We worked hard on the promotion of this gig, we even had a interview with Nicky Clifford from Northwich radio.
Infact so much has happened over the last two months since my first rehearsal back with the band and the radio interview that perhaps I will do a flash back series like before in my previous KT Tuesdays
But to the gig,
We put posters up in PMT in Birmingham, Robannas studio, The Flapper of course and even a tattoo studio.
Thanks Kirstie, from KTrew Tattoo.
We had a scream putting these posters up all over in fact.
Crikey there is so much to tell, also a quick shout out to Dirty Dave, Stinky Steve and Clean Pete.
You know who you are.
A late arrival one night at the Flapper as me and Grace invaded the pub after it shutting its doors.
We convinced them to let us in so we could stick some posters up.
So onto the night in question.
Everything was set.
Grace, Liam and Mike had the day off work, sadly I had to go to work so I left my amp, guitar and gig bag with them.
Load in at the Flapper was at 16.30 and sound checks were scheduled by Grace who I got to say organised and scheduled the timings like clockwork.
Not to mention her hard work and dedication on posters and marketing.
But alas.
I took my guitar to work along with a change of clothes and was due to finish work at 16.30 and I would then travel down to Birmingham from Stoke on Trent to make the gig.
I should have arrived around 18.30 all being well with Friday night traffic.
So I managed to leave work on time, and headed to junction 15 of the M6.
I proceed south and when I get just past Junction 13 my car temperature gauge starts getting hotter and hotter.
Past 3/4 and increasing.
Next is blue smoke coming out from the bonnet and I'm thinking.
Noo don't break down on the M6.
I managed to limp of Junction 12 and then spotted a dirt track on the right hand side.
Little did I know, this was a yard containing 4 lorries and the rescue boys who pull stranded cars off the M6.
Well my car was smoking and I pulled up and jumped out to then open the passenger door to get my spare guitar out and belongings.
One of the guys asked me if I was ok and if it was going to catch fire.
I wasn't sure so we stood back.
Thankfully it didn't but being mechanics.
They looked at my car and said it had totally had it.
So I rang Green Flag and they said they would have to send a recovery vehicle and that I would need to stay with the car.
I told them that wouldn't be possible as it was my first show back with the Wild Strays and there was going to be no way I was missing it.
Thankfully after messaging , a dear friend of the band Alan Hodgkins.
Who was coming to the show.
He said he would do a detour from Leicester and would pick me up and get me to the show.
I had another coffee with the guys who I learned thier names as Chris and Sponge.
Alan arrived and I grabbed a quick picture before we pulled off.
We arrived just in time to catch the last few songs of Kira Mac and then the night proceeded.
Quickly followed was The Leftovers who were superb and then it was time for In Plain Sight.
Everyone in the venue was in such great spirits and honestly the night was such a great night.
In Plain Sight smashed there set out the park and then it was our turn.
This was also Mikes very first gig.
Our new intro kicked in and the crowd started chanting.
"Wild Strays"
"Wild Strays"
"Wild Strays"
Well im stood there backstage with Grace and Mike.
I'm looking at them both and then to Grace as I said woah you hear that. Grace just looked back at me and said, yeah that’s pretty damn crazy, with a big smile on her face.
We were all blown away by everyone's warm welcome.
Honestly.
All the hard work, the blood sweat and tears to get get to this point.
As I say, there is a new order and new balance in the Strays and we hit the stage like an explosion.
We played nearly a hour of all original material and honestly it felt amazing.
I'm sure i could go into more detail but this blog already feels long.
But thank you to everyone who came down and supported us.
Who has been on our Wild Rollercoaster with us and marches onwards with us in our new wild order.
Catch you on the next KT Tuesday.
Love and respect,
KT
And remember ..
Keep it wild, Strays x