Well I have just returned from a very enjoyable bottle of wine at the Groucho Club courtesy of an old business colleague. Had a BRILLIANT session last saturday with Martin (tenor sax) writing songs for our next album. We really got loads done. We started with a very pleasant lunch at L'orolei which is one of those very typical Soho restaurants which tourists wouldn't look at twice. It is on Bateman Street which runs between Greek Street and cuts across Frith and Dean Streets. From the outside you just see condensation and rubber plants... it isn't clear what sort of restaurant it is and when you get inside - unless you already know- you have to bring your own wine so tourists immediately will leave when they see the non-alcoholic menu ( apart from a bottle of beer) It is Italian and you can eat a LOVELY pizza and side salad and perhaps have an avocado or smoked salmon starter.
A real 70s feel- tables and chairs from the 70s and mural to match but that is fine with me and even a Luncheon Vouchers sign - you don't see those any more.
I only found out about it from a fellow resident of Soho. Otherwise I would never have ventured in there.
Anyway we then returned to my studio in Old Compton Street and forged ahead with "Bad Wine" . "Paint the Town Red" "Mr Dynamite" and "You Ain't Got the Blues".
These will be tracks on the next Red Stripe Band album.........so keep reading this blog and you will be able to follow the progress thereof.
I can let you into a secret that we are planning to do a Madonna cover- "Hanky Panky" from 1990 - a real goodtime song - suits us down to the ground
I must add a photo to make this blog complete and it is one from our second visit to the Kirkcudbright Jazz Festival which we will return to this year
I had just jumped off the bar and hence the state of my hair !!!!!
Must dash I have some fat free yoghurts waiting.......
4 comments:
Glad to see you are still swinging your way across Europe..whatever happened to the fat ladies picture from Peru. I'm settled in Rotterdam now with my dutch bloke. Are you any nearer to meeting Jools yet? All the best.
Hi Lisa
Good to hear from you !
As you might have read , I am now living in Soho and still have the fat ladies picture (s) - although there aren't enough walls in my studio flat to display it ! I spoke to Jools in the summer on the phone and have been in touch with his manager so it is a matter of time before I meet him....
The band has had its most successful year ever. I quit accountancy for good six years ago and now do the management/marketing myself which has made a big difference.
I am really glad to hear you have settled with your dutch bloke - must be a few years now.....
If you are ever in the West End (of London) please give me a call - would be great to catch up. Hope your mum and dad are ok
Cheers Neil
it's not the same dutch bloke I originally moved to The Dam (Amsterdam) for - he did the dirty on me and so he got the boot in the end. I ended up going out with my client and haven't looked back since. Dennis is his name - not so dutch ha ha! Been living with him in Rotterdam now since Jan. How's your lovelife? You're probably enjoying the joys of the music biz heh!! Funnily enuff, I will be in London from 14th - 18th Dec on my way back from Barbados, and no doubt will show Dennis Soho area. Enjoying being an ex-marketing slacker at the moment, not working and loving it. Must start job-hunting soon. What's your news Mr Radio interviews...And how do you find living in Soho?
Toodle oo, Lisa
Last time I met you I think you were between jobs - in fact I was also just leaving mine I think and you were advising me on my severance package ! I may well be in town that weekend - well 14th anyhow. I am doing my annual Blase Xmas Hootenanny on Wednesday of that week on 17th . Keep in touch . I have been dating a charming young lithuanian girl for three years now.....
Living in soho is pretty full on but it is a hotbed of life. I rented an ex brothel for the first year I was up here - the name of the erstwhile inhabitant is featured in a song I wrote on our last cd "Ada Watson"
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