I have been thinking about doing this flashback series a while, especially when it’s quiet in between gigs.
I enjoy keeping the KT Tuesday’s a regular weekly feature and so, the Flashback series is going to cover the meeting of the band members and some of our early gigs.
The old gig posters and the people we have met along the way, who have become our friends and some of the bands we still look forward to sharing the stage with today.
So sit back, close your eyes. Well maybe not close your eyes because we don’t have an audio version of this.
And relax...
Twas the year 2016, a previous band.
I knew we needed a Lead Guitarist, as I had only been playing guitar a few years and to play and sing was always going to be a challenge.
I put an advert on joinmyband.com and this person messaged me and said they would be interested in an audition.
Her name was Grace Hale and she was... and I can’t quite believe I’m saying this. But was quite shy.
Awww to be fair, she is a little shy sometimes, but she more than makes up for that with the noise of her guitar on stage...
Anyway.
We arranged an audition at Robannas.
Now I may need to slightly side track here because of this awesome studio Robannas in Birmingham.
I came by Robannas after trying to book a practice with some friends and the normal studio we practiced at was fully booked.
I called Robannas and spoke to the owner Rob Hoffman. A super lovely, friendly guy and I’m sure he won’t mind me saying but slightly crazy like the rest of us in the music business.
You can catch him smiling and singing and both me and Grace have danced in the lobby, with him dancing behind the counter when he has the music cranked up to some eighties pop or rock, or what ever he is playing that day.
Honestly it’s brilliant.
Anyway I digress. He sorted us a room and we were so happy with the studio. I mean, this building is dripping with history. Black Sabbath has practiced here among many other huge acts like Anthrax, Robert Plant and UB40.
Without me doing my homework and I’m already late getting this KT Tuesday blog up, but there is lots more acts I have missed out in that little list.
Anyway, from that date on we have always used Robannas. It is a great studio to practice and record which I’m sure we will cover in this Flashback Series.
So back to 2016 and we arranged an audition and I said to Grace. Text me when you are here and I will come out and meet you, and take you to the room we rehearsing in.
I introduced her to the band and she set up her gear.
Long story short, but this girl nailed her audition. I was smiling after the first song.
It was a yes from me straight away and after a few gigs we quickly decided that myself and Grace shared the same hunger, passion and drive to write more original songs and to get out gigging on to bigger venues.
We had both been in bands before and it was kind of inevitable we would spilt and form The Wild Strays.
So in the April the following year we left and in May 2017 The Wild Strays started to take shape.
We started working on some original songs; I think one of the first ones was The Beast Inside quickly followed by Guilty of my Innocence.
Of course all we needed now is a Bass player and Drummer.
But that’s another story.
Until next time,
Keep it Wild x
To be continued....