2023 – The first year with Blue On Black has seen two line-up changes and three amp rigs, and now we are moving ahead as a four-piece. Without any other full-time melody instruments to hide behind, it’s time to face the music and dance, mes amis! Over the Christmas season, amongst other things there will be practise to get the hands match fit and the mind connected. I think I have the new amp rig (Marshall SC20H/212 cab and a Fender Blues Junior IV) together with some awesome tones – to clean up the amp area, I’ve moved the reverb plumbing for the Marshall down to a cute little pedal board alongside my tap tempo button. The reverb is always on, and matches the onboard spring reverb in the Fender, which also has a mid boost switch (to the right of the main board). It’s quite luscious. After a few sittings with the rig, I have found a few tones that are the stuff of which vertical arm hairs are made.
All the guitars are freshly serviced and playing perfectly, so basically, if I screw the pooch in 2024 I have no excuses – it will be, as my dear friend Pez would say, an “operator issue”. As body and mind are healed and strengthened, so shall the soul be realigned with purpose and truth. My tribe has my back, and I am facing forward. On we go. Peace to you all.