My Year...

2012 has now truly begun and I think it could be a good year for me. The latter year was a rather mixed affair but with a positive gradient I felt. There were a number of life-altering events that may well have some drastic effects on this year. But I do have an inkling that the outlook could be one of greatness.

I thought I would recap and reflect on the past year. Below is my abridged 2011...

January -

• Had the last of my Sno!Zone shifts in Xscape, Milton Keynes. Have yet to be asked for more hours.
• My band after returning from playing a festival in the Maldives and a new guitarist joining we began booking shows for the year. 
• Being single is balls.
• Anniversary of my late much loved Grandpa.
• Back to University (penultimate year)

February - 

• Video shoot for the second Lecarla single, 'Bruises' in the coldest of barns available in the country.
• More gigs played.

March - 

• Perform with Does It Offend You, Yeah? Biggest support slot up to this point.
• First tour of 2011 with Lecarla. Began 10th March with Arms of Atlas. Venturing into new lands such as North Wales, Crewe, Peterborough...
• Release of second single, 30th March.

April - 

• Tour continues until 17th April with a band named Violet joining the bill.
• HUGE LIFE CHANGER! 3rd April, Lecarla play a matinee show on Mother's Day in Croydon, 20 people present, the promoter walks without paying us, random man gives us his number because he thought we were good...
• Later that month, receive a phone call from producer of Led Zeppelin/Thin Lizzy - Nick Tauber, who entreats for a meeting with us at a studio in London.
• Met Nick and his partner Jack Rustin, they love us and look to get us management, booking agents, PR...
• 26th April, have a rather drunk night out in Milton Keynes and met a girl...
• Begin touring with Jody Has A Hitlist.

May -

• Continue touring and watches the Royal Wedding celebrations.
• Break up from University for the summer. Second year is over.

June - 

• 2nd June, I have a new girlfriend.
• Gigging and industry showcases start to pick up. Get a PR man on board.
• 30th June, CMO Management (roster of Gorillaz, Blur, Grace Jones) come to see us play at The Peel, Kingston...

July - 

• 2nd July, I reach the age of twenty. 
• Attended Sonisphere Festival and realised that screamo is horrendously poor.
• Play a festival with Ed Sheeran.
• Meeting with CMO Management in London and begin to work together.
• Experience my first Cambridge Folk Festival.

August -

• Braved the London riots.
• Attended my fourth Reading Festival.
• Further gigging...

September -

• Eight show tour with Thousand Autumns.
• Voted one of the top 10 Unsigned bands in the UK by Kerrang! Magazine.
• Girlfriend goes to University in Norwich.
• I commence my final year at Westminster University.

October - 

• Talks of heading into the studio to begin work on Lecarla's album.
• Witness Charlie Simpson live at The Waterfront, Norwich.

November - 

• First seven days of recording begins in Chichester's Old Chapel Studios. All expenses and recordings paid for.
• Christmas shopping begins...

December -

• A six month celebration.
• Last Lecarla gigs of the year, ending with a homecoming show.
• Recording for another five days again in Chichester. More recording to come.
• Christmas spirit is high this festive season for me. A trip to the Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland, the making of Mulled wine and Cyder with a Y. Christmas was exceedingly special.
• New Year in Norwich, rather subtle but was just right.

A somewhat erratic year one might say. But it definitely turned out well in the end. Who know what this New Year will bring. I look forward to experiencing its many trails and tribulations. We'll see how things pan out...

Yours Joe

x