Doll And The Kicks Make An Album

DATK are now making an Album which is being self financed as it will be needed for a major tour to be announced pretty soon so they can't wait for a record company to pick up on them.

I just HAD to get down to The Levellers studio in Brighton to take some pictures of me pretending to twiddle the knobs and dials and to see how its all done (slowly is the answer to that question). How wives/girlfriends of band members could go down and hang around the studio all day watching a song progress at that speed is beyond me.

A few 60 minute sessions were enough for me as a different language is spoken (I think its pulling a bit sticks in my mind) and heaven knows how anyone can understand what to do with the program on the Apple Mac and the huge desk with a hundred dials and slides on - it can all get a bit confusing for an old fart like me.

Still I heard a great song that Doll And The Kicks don't normally do during their live set and despite (to me) the slow pace it was interesting understanding how all the pieces fitted together to create the perfect recording. This week it was the drum and bass, next week the guitar and vocals. The band even offered to record me using on a triangle to put on one of the records but I was too shy.

All 4 of them are working flat out 10 hours a day to try and get it finished as soon as they can and all the songs are great tunes, but the name of the album has yet to be decided upon.

I came away from the studio really happy with my visit but with 2 unanswered questions.

Why was there an electrical extension lead in one of the toilet cubicles and do all recording studio toilets smell of vomit?

It starts to get really interesting.

So things are happening for Doll And The Kicks, more so now than at any time since they formed! Its getting really exciting and I have had some real benefits of being a groupie Dad, it looks like there may be more to follow.

First there was the VIP pass for Glastonbury in 2007, yes it was a mistake that we all got passes that gave us access to all the stages and bars, but who cares. Also somehow for that Festival there was a DATK sticker on nearly all the VIP toilets and mirrors. (The same happened to 2008 Glastonbury VIP toilets when I went with one of my other daughters and her 5 girl friends but that's another story). Even the weather didn't detract from the enjoyment and it was great to see them play on the BBC Introducing Stage, although I got a bit worried I might get stuck in the mud driving their equipment through the fields.

Then there was the backstage pass for The Beachdown Festival, where we camped behind the main stage. Bumping into most of the performers was pretty crazy. My chat with Orlando from The Maccabees embarrassed Hannah (Doll) when I told be telling him that she had called him "ridiculously talented", which he is. Their second gig at the festival went a bit mental with people climbing over the crash barrier to get nearer the stage.

Jump forward to the last few weeks and I missed the 2 gigs when Morrissey came to watch and meet up with them, and the one that Janice Long from radio 2 came to, what a disappointment that was! Especially for Graham who works with me and is a huge Morrissey fan. These visits from the man led to a couple of airplays on Radio 2 and a really great endorsement from fellow scouser Jancie Long.

But at their last London gig - the Vibe Bar on 13th November - their new friend from LA turned up for a curry before the gig plus a few drinks during and afterwards. Chris turned out to be the actor who played Fogell McLovin in Superbad, which led to jealous phone calls from my youngest daughter who at least managed to have a chat with him. So from the list of "things to do before I die" dinner and drinks with a movie star is well and truly ticked.

So what next? There are a couple really exciting developments on the cards including a single release and a major tour but its not yet confirmed.

Who knows I might end up as a the oldest inexperienced roadie around.