End of year ramble - 2010

It has been an interesting year for Crush and the Mighty Rhythm. If you remember, this time last year our handsome trio had just been into the recording studio to record a monster 10 track demo with the intention of putting it out for the attention of public ears in early 2010.

The lads were pretty pleased with their efforts by the time they left the studio in the late hours of 4th December 2009. The music that was played back through the studio speakers seemed to represent what they were after, and they slept soundly on a few beers content that they’d done a good job.

The analysis that followed in the weeks after realised errors and minor niggles that would only eat away at the ears of the lads the more they listened to them. The more they did listen, and compare them to the original tracks Crush had recorded on his 4 track, the more they realised they had somehow recorded something too remote from the intended direction they thought they had followed…..and so hatched a plan to take the raw recording files and develop them in home studios to strip them back to the sound they had intended to make.

Months of overdubbing, editing and arranging followed but it was becoming clear that the recordings simply weren’t meeting expectation and were going to have to be re-done. The latter part of 2010 has been largely centred around experimentation with recording techniques and styles to try recapture the sound Crush originally created in his head. The early part of 2011 will see Crush, Stuart & Phil taking time to re-work the songs with the hope of releasing something in 2011.

On the gig front there were a good number of festivals that the lads enjoyed playing, particularly those on the back of a wagon, or where free beer was involved. Pub gigs have been quiet mainly due to closure of some originals pubs in the economic climate, but appearances alongside some of the regions top covers bands have generated great feedback and interest as to who Crush and the Mighty Rhythm are, and what kind of stuff they play.

A headliner at the Hop, Wakefield, in a local battle of the bands proved worthwhile as it led to an audition for Sky TV’s “Must be the Music.” The lads travelled down to London on a rainy day in May and gave a shortened, but blistering, version of ‘Lovely Dayc' They took a great deal of satisfaction from the positive feedback given by the Sky Music producers at the end of the audition but there was something in the way they said goodbye that made them think they probably wouldn’t be hearing from them again.

As conceited as it may sound, the lads thought they left London having shown they were more than capable of delivering what the show promised to deliver – ie, a band that was all about “the music” and not just your next “one true voice”…….er who??…..yeah exactly.

In reality, though, disappearing youth and good looks were always going to be a disadvantage for CMR on a programe such as “Must be The music”………no matter how well they played….and if any one did actually watch the Sky One programme, then they’d probably have breathed the same sigh of relief that CMR did on learning that they did not get through the early qualifying rounds to actually appear on the main show. It was…after all….just another ‘X Factor’ with loads of wannabees happy to make total arses of themselves for the sake of 5 minutes air time on TV. Erm – does anyone remember who won it?…….what have they done since?

September and November saw some great gigs at the Cross Keys, Morley and a chance to play for charity and alongside more local bands and mates. Christmas is approaching and recent weather has put pay to regular rehearsals but allowed time for Crush to start penning new songs. The lads are playing a bit of catch up now and the first part of 2011 is going to be a bit hectic.

Merry Christmas everyone – and a happy new year !
CMR