Stuart O'Connor

My penultimate show on this tour and my final farewell to Goga and Callum who have shared many billings with me whilst out in Tokyo. (please see mention of them in previous blogs)

This was one of those shows that stretched out through out the whole day. Soundcheck was about 3pm and the show wasn’t till half 10. With the time between I hung out with the other bands which varied from Japanese fusion rock to Scottish singer/songwriters to American noise experimental improv.

20,000v Setlist

For my set I performed new tune’ Time Lost Tradition’ for the first time aswell as older material like ‘Designed To Stop’ which can be heard in the recording above. I extended the middle link section to include loops and use of the drum kit onstage.

By this point in the tour I was feeling the fatigue and it had been over 18 months on the road. Nearly time to call it all to an end as there was only one show left outside the UK.

Shibuya in Tokyo in two days time.

Well what with today being the 4/4. I think it seems fitting that I give you a first speak peek of where I'm at with my 4th album.

This song is very much a work in progress and features Leon Camfield and Dave Smale.

I hope you enjoy.

http://soundcloud.com/stuart-oconnor/album-4-work-in-progress

I'll be appearing briefly from my hermit world in the studio to perform 4 free entry shows in the next 2 weeks. 

All the details are on the shows page.

So since my last studio diary I’ve had many days meeting up with Chris Hollis.

Studio Shot 1 - Resonator and Acoustic Guitar Taken by Chris Hollis

We’ve taken on the mammoth task of trying to sift through material for the 4th record. At my last count the number of potential songs sits at over 50. I seemed to find plenty of time to write whilst on the road and off. This is the polar opposite to my experience going into the 3rd album where I simply had 12 songs in mind and that was what ended up on the record.

Many say the 4th record is the one where things tend to go wrong for many bands and artists. I remember once sitting with a good mate during a long night of jovial conversation. We put the theory to the test and found many bands maybe did seem to falter. But in the end it’s all subjective mumbo jumbo and why I’d feel the need to put pressure on myself with superstition I don’t know.

Studio Shot 2 - Musical Mess taken by Chris Hollis

The material is a real mixed bag. Some songs come directly from the road. Often out of live improv and loops. Some have been in the set for over 6 years. Never feeling right or ready to make the cut for previous releases. Some songs are fresh and loose. No specific route to send them; This can be a good and bad thing. Some songs are sparse and delicate whilst others have ambitions of grander and multilayered arrangement. Some feel very throwaway whilst others have such specific and personal intend that it feels like my deepest priority not to fuck them up.

Studio Shot 3 - Playing my Dad's old nylon string guitar. Taken by Chris Hollis

Being back off the road has given me many opportunities to play with other instruments and even other guitars. Like one left to me by my Father. This is also the first guitar I ever picked up and the guitar I’m holding for my first album cover.

The subject matter as a writer has felt strangely urgent yet as a person I feel a little less starry eyed and naive.  A little more wisdom coupled with the sense of awareness that time is more limited than ever juxtaposes itself personally (as pretentious as that sounds to say it).

I’m aware that I may sound like a broken record if I keep singing about the same things. But the truth is my life hasn’t changed too much over the last couple of years. I was on the road most of the time and most of the time for the 4 years prior to that. New places have of course brought together many new experiences but in a way it all becomes one big mess of random. So the songs themselves I guess are reflecting that.

Studio shot 4 - Getting Folky with Mandolin and Banjo

I hope the material will be a little more stark and honest and a little less cryptic than it has been previously.

In the end having the time to come off the road to make this record has worked ok thus far.

Although how I’ll feel when it’s done and what the end result will be is still a mess I’m hoping will unravel over the next month or so.

The gig that turned into what will be one of my most joyous memories of the Tokyo leg.

For much of my duration in Tokyo I’d been lucky enough to be housed by my friend Callum Grant. A legend of a man who is a budding musician himself. Many post show rituals would involve a quite whisky or two whilst the world would slowly be put to rights. Often we would bypass some of the issues considered to be pressing by some and the debate would stray into more personally urgent matters. For example the pros and cons to weather or not a zombie should be entitled the right to run.

Running Zombies - Weird or Wonderful?? It's an epic debate only underpinned by global warming and one or two other things

Anyway aside from Preparation for Zday. We had a show together in the wonderful Cafe Mignon located a short bus ride from Callums apartment. There we were joined not just by Eric Gebow who is a steady drummer and experimental effects wizard but also Adam Erdossy who has joined me multiple times with his Baritone Sax.

Brett Gillen (Samishi Cowboys)

And to add to the mix was Brett Gillen who opens the night with a short but very entertaining set. He plays as a part of the group Samishi Cowboys and has been actively writing and performing where ever his work takes him.

Callum Grant (Callum's Whisky Tales)

Next up was Callums Whisky Tales. Well Callum and Eric to be precise. Now about 2 3rds of the way through recording their debut album and fresh off of a host of recent shows in Tokyo the band have developed to be super tight. The atmosphere in the cafe was really intimate and the  audience are so closely involved in the performance that Callum’s ukulele songs really worked wonders for the atmosphere. Callum also embraced the intimacy well and invited audience member Shoichi to contribute to the songs on Guitar and a self made recorder looking device.

Eric Gebow (Callum's Whisky Tales)

Erics playing on his pre war vintage kit were tasteful and methodical yet spontaneous enough to work in audience clap alongs and at one point a duet with Shoichi with he and Eric both playing Omnichords.

Shouichi Tomomori - Guitar, Omnichord, Flute

By the time it came to my set I was honestly overwhelmed with the turn out for the show and with the feeling that a great collection of people were crossing paths and that I was lucky enough to be a part of it. Member of the audience included Kodo Drummers who were in town with their own performances.

Eric joined me on the kit for the first couple of songs before Daniel Karras stepped into improvise.

Daniel Karras

I blasted through a couple more numbers with Daniel and we were then joined by Adam. Shouichi was also a guest musician for the duration of my set adding lines and textured to my set on a host of various instruments.

Adam Erdossy

The set was mostly older material in order to give the guest musicians  the possibility of having a slight if only distant connection to the material.

Cafe Mignon Setlist

A brief moment or two of the night are captured here from Callums iPhone. You can get a perspective of just how small Cafe Mignon is and also you see that the entire night was a dreamscape soundtrack for Adam’s baby son who managed to sleep right through the whole thing

A Clip of ‘Map of Shibuya’ From Cafe Mignon

Taken at the Hoxton Bar & Kitchen. Hackney, London – 22/2/2012

Into my final week of shows in Japan I once again return to Club Goodman.

I again hear my friend Goga play who is awesome with his style and l loops. We toured in the UK together and to hear peoples reactions to his shows was always fun as two very different cultures would clash.

Gogatech in Action - Reunited after our time on the road together in the UK

For the final show we did together in the UK. Goga joined me for my encore and I threw him a curve ball of playing an instrumental in the Key of D. We jammed it out and for me personally it was a nice moment.

I hadn’t touched on this piece again until I had some time to focus on completing it. This time came earlier into the Japan run and it was with this performance that I was able to open with the song now titled ‘World is Plenty’. Of course it was dedicated to Goga.

Club Goodman Setlist - Only unreleased material except one song.

For any folks who have not heard of my other band Here’s a a bit of info and some videos:

My Pet Junkie 2005. ( L to R) Julia Bell - Bass, Keys, Vocals. Leon Camfield - Drums, Electronic Percussives, Vocals. Myself - Guitar, Vocals. Photo by Ben Gom

We formed originally in 1998 with Leon Camfield, Richard Porter and Scott Harrison. In late 2001 Julia Bell joined what became the line up that still exists today.

We released our first 4 track EP in 2000.

Can You answer This 2000 Artwork by Kevin Chang

Our second EP got released in 2001 and led to us getting a deal with RiverRun Records.

The Interstellar Conspiracy Theory 2001 Artwork by Al Maceachern

RiverRun released two discs with us. The Single ‘Overhanging’.

Overhanging 2003 Artwork by Julia Bell

And The Album ‘When You’re Not Busy’

When You're Not Busy 2004 Artwork by Geoff Budd

You can hear live recordings of us on HERE and HERE

This weekend we will share the stage together at Arcfest.

Arcfest Line up.

My Pet Junkie will finish off the first day.

Having rehearsed for the first time in a long time today I can honestly say I can’t wait

If anyone wants any of our music please message me and I’ll endeavour to send you some mp3′s.

Sangenjaya Area Tokyo

Sangenjaya was my next destination in the South Western Quarter of Tokyo where the culture of the area leans away from the businesslike emphasis and the traditional temples and shrines.

Instead we are seeing examples of the art and alternative culture side of this great city.

A Fine example of the unique landscape separating the South West of Tokyo apart. This is on the road between Sangenjaya and Shimo-Kitazawa. There's a girl in his outstretched hand.

Not located too far away is Shimokitazawa where I have played many shows during my times in the country. I regard Shimo as to Tokyo what Camden Town or Brick Lane would be to London. A mecca of venues and cafe’s and clothes and music shops. So Sangenjaya still has hints of that itself.

The venue is located on the very top floor of a building concealed behind the main parade of shops. It is owned by a very cool couple who love the bands and are actively musical themselves. This will be my 3rd time playing here and I feel so fortunate to have made friends with such a cool place.

In side A-Bridge. On the stage behind where I'm playing is a lush view of the Tokyo Skyline.

My set is prodominantly new material. Just one song from my 2nd and 3rd albums.

A - Bridge Setlist

I was really happy with the attendance for this night as many people who had seen me on previous show in Tokyo shows up to support me and hear me again

Onstage during the show - Photo taken by Satoko Ando

This is my second time sharing the stage with Genz. They are signed to the label owned by the man who also owns the venue.

Genz Performing at A-Bridge - Another example of the City Backdrop

On the whole I felt it went. After the show I was only my own trying to get back to my friend Callum’s place in Shimokitazawa. He was nice enough to give me a roof but unfortunatly I was not forward thinking enough to plan in advance. Despite being a reletivly simple trip with only a couple of train changes I nearly didn’t make it to my last train on time.

Sangenjaya Train Staion - The start of my confusing return journey

Eventually I all turned out ok but despite how comfortable I think I’ve become travelling around the City. I can still VERY easily get lost.

But that’s all part of the adventure.

And so back at Toppers. A place run by musicians for anyone with a love for live music.

A saviour for anybody in this field of work.

For this show tonight I had the pleasure playing with Steve Marcotte on Bass, Graham Taylor on Tenor Sax and towards the end of the night we were also joined by Eiji Hayashi on keys.

Below is a video of a song from earlier in the night of us as a trio performing a song from my 3rd album ‘Good Times With Evil’. This song is called ‘Sleep Tight’.

Live at Toppers

Things became most interesting towards the end of the 2nd set when the script was thrown out and everything steered towards improvisation.

Toppers Setlist

I always get so relaxed playing Toppers and it was great fun to really mix up the tunes on this night. Including the odd Happy Birthday

Whenever it is I next tour Japan. I’d love to return there to visit and play to the wonderful community of musicians and music fans.