Update: El Greko 5th CD launch St Albans

Subject: Update: El Greko 5th CD launch St Albans
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 03:05 PM

With ten days to go (the "home launch concert" for "ORDINARY HEROES" is on Friday 29th October), only about a dozen tickets are left, and a mini-rush is expected from Herga-ites and Snorbanites at the last minute. Don't be left standing at the door! Book now by PMing either Breezy or myself (not both, please!).

This will be the only launch concert with a "full band" and backing singers (though only 5/9 the original one from the recording, due to circumstances). More precisely:

John SPIERS (Squeezy) on squeezeboxes (naturally)(*)
Amanda WHATLEY         on violin & octave violin (*)
Miranda SYKES          on double bass/vocals
Moira CRAIG            vocals
Johnny COLLINS         vocals
Graeme KNIGHTS         vocals
John BREEZE            vocals

(*) replacing Anahata and Saskia Tomkins
...and of course without Cloudstreet who are by now in warmer climes.

A very good night indeed is promised - well, I am going to have one for a start!

George

Subject: RE: Update: El Greko 5th CD launch St Albans
From: Ferrara
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 08:26 PM

Hope it's a grand occasion. So nice meeting - and hearing - you on your whirlwind trip to the U.S.

Subject: RE: Update: El Greko 5th CD launch St Albans
From: breezy
Date: 20 Oct 04 - 12:36 PM

Speakers = shed = overspill

Subject: RE: Update: El Greko 5th CD launch St Albans
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 21 Oct 04 - 12:12 PM

Subject: RE: Update: El Greko 5th CD launch St Albans
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 07:59 AM

Six tickets left...

Subject: RE: Update: El Greko 5th CD launch St Albans
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 10:14 AM

This is a GREAT CD, folks. I have been listening to "Ordinary Heros" since the Getaway and have already decided to try and talk George into letting me record one or two tracks on my next CD. Anyone who has the chance to hear this fellow sing his songs live should get tickets and sit in the front row. George is one of the best songwriters I have ever met.

Best wishes to you George. I know how exciting it is to debut a new recording. You've done a masterful job with this one.

Mike

Subject: RE: Update: El Greko 5th CD launch St Albans
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 11:50 AM

Thanks Mike - coming from you, such words are accolade indeed. Permission granted, hands down and eyes shut; you will improve them, I know!

(PS: The cheque's in the post)

Subject: RE: Update: El Greko 5th CD launch St Albans
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 07:52 AM

Minus seven cancellations, plus 8 new bookings = 4 tickets left.
The room has been cleared of unnecessary kit, to fit all the chairs, benches, beanbags and pouffs. Squeezy and Amanda has been practicing, Miranda arriving in 30 mins for practice. Illustrative posters ready for decorating the room. Dinner booked at the pub. All the kit loaded in the car.

Getting excited....7 hours to go...

Subject: RE: Update: El Greko 5th CD launch St Albans
From: HipflaskAndy
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 08:25 AM

All the very best for the launch El G.
CD is grand! Listened to it all the way home from your place.
Will be thinking of you - even though onstage this eve myself.
(me ol' acoustic band, then Robin Garside, then the leccie band - wi' Robin joining us for a big finish!)
I'll give yer CD a plug with the audience in Batley! (In readiness for your Northern tour!)
Hugs to all there - enjoy! - HFA

Subject: RE: Update: El Greko 5th CD launch St Albans
From: Jeri
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 09:05 AM

The CD is wonderful and fresh. I LIKE his singing and guitar playing. The arrangements fit the songs perfectly and embellish them, like the way a weaver creates a beautiful cloth from threads of different colors. NOT like someone glued on a bunch of glitter as an afterthought. The songs...oi. He's one of the best. I'm guessing that I'm preaching to the choir though.

Go forth, ye undecideds, and snap up those remaining tickets! I'll hope for a full report later on.

(Looking forward to the day when I can say "I met him, back before..." and nobody believes me.)

Subject: RE: Update: El Greko 5th CD launch St Albans
From: My guru always said
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 09:19 AM

Good luck for tonight George!!!
Will be there, though if the weather is rotten I may have to spend more time than usual in the circular car park.....
Hil x

Subject: RE: Update: El Greko 5th CD launch St Albans
From: The Unicorn Man
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 12:23 PM

Have a nice night George. Sorry I can't make it. See you soon.

Subject: RE: Update: El Greko 5th CD launch St Albans
From: Singing Referee
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 04:41 AM

Great evening George!

Of course we already knew the songs were brilliant, but the band; wow!

Flowers realy did bring a tear to my eye. The new arrangement is fabulous.

Bet you don't manage to wait until "late 2005" for the next one. What are you going to do with all those great songs you've written recently. (Sorry Vanessa and Robb)

More please!

Steve.

Subject: RE: Update: El Greko 5th CD launch St Albans
From: The Unicorn Man
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 10:58 AM

Went well then did it? Good see you soon.

Subject: RE: Update: El Greko 5th CD launch St Albans
From: breezy
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 01:29 PM

Congratulations George ahem! El G, one of the classiest CD launches I've ever been privileged to attend, all the songs from the album sounding as good as the recording does, plus a foretaste of things to come.

A big well done to all the band members , but especially to Moira Craig, who took 'Flowers' to a new emotional level for all of us.

I saw your eyes Steve.

I trust a few will turn up to hear you at Northampton on Tuesday and to The Spotlight in St Albans on Sunday 21st Nov

Well done my son.;-] Has the video come out?

Subject: RE: Update: El Greko 5th CD launch St Albans
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 02:25 PM

Thanks Referee, thanks Breezy. Normally the praise of friends has to be taken with a pinch of salt, but I know you both to be fair (and in the case of Breezy, stingy) judges, so this is praise indeed!

Moira does have a great voice, doesn't she? She was very critical of her own performance, and thought she could have done better, but hey, what's the difference between brilliant and even more brilliant? I know she wants to do "Flowers" on her own some time, and I am sure it will be a cracker.

Playing with the "Band That Never Was" on the recording was quite an experience - but I have to say, playing with them live was something else altogether; great fun, and I'd do it again like a shot. The consistency of the band was different this time of course, but that was not the reason - plus, we'd only rehearsed for 2 hours prior to the gig! I put much of it down to the new arrangements, and the man to thank for much (most) of that is Robb Johnson, whose vision when it comes to thinks like that far outstrips mine.

And everyone in "the band" had such fun!. Squeezy, Amanda and Miranda all said it time and again. And at the end, when we were singing "Watermelon Seeds" (rehearsal time: 2 verses or 90 seconds) we were dancing up there; and so was Moira and a couple of others in the front row that I could see.

For the first time I was preforming in front of company colleagues, including four ex-bosses of mine; not folkies in any sense. And it was nice seeing their tears and to see them joining in the choruses. One said at the end "I never had so much fun in a long long time", and that from a guy owning 2-3 houses in wonderful countryside, well-respected at work and with many friends, with a lovely family and who knows how to enjoy himself.

After 7 hours solid sleep this morning I woke up feeling as if I had run a Marathon. It took a further 5 hours sleep for me to feel human again.

Northampton, here I come...

Subject: RE: Update: El Greko 5th CD launch St Albans
From: breezy
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 02:34 PM

see you Monday at Herga charity night first, seeing as your absenting yourself tomorrow!!!!

Staines Folk Club Monday 8th Nov ? featured pest.?

Subject: RE: Update: El Greko 5th CD launch St Albans
From: My guru always said
Date: 03 Nov 04 - 05:45 PM

Haven't been able to stop hearing the 'latest' version of 'Flowers & the Guns' in my head. Just love the way Moira Craig has added to this, really enjoyed it!!!

Well done All!

Subject: RE: Update: El Greko 5th CD launch St Albans
From: breezy
Date: 04 Nov 04 - 06:08 AM

and the latest is

Graeme Knights singing, to George's accompaniment, George Papavgeris' own composition, 'Give me the Good News'

And it suits Graeme's voice very well.

I think this could be on Graeme's new CD due to be launched on March 4th in St Albans.

Bookings now being taken