General News

I am still alive people!

Posted on Leave a Comment

Hey all,

I’m sorry I’ve been crap on the posting front. I have been on holiday in Greece for the last little while. It was a nice little break that turned out to be more carnage than relaxing getaway.

I’m back now though and nearly recovered from all the 20 pint a day massacres. I now need to concentrate on the swim and getting myself ready for recording and the new football season.

I’m back in the studio with Guy Page and the lads on the 16th to start work on track number two of album number two. Adrienne is already recorded and mixed so that’s a positive start.

This record will sound very different to the last one but hopefully not so different that you won’t ‘get’ it. So much has happened since I released ‘It gets Worse At Night’ that to be honest, I hardly recognise myself. I am no longer that naive, positive, “everything will be alright” kind of character. I am twenty nine and am well aware now that it won’t be alright. BUT…that doesn’t mean I won’t give it my all to ensure it’s as near to alright as possible.

Positivity minus denial. That could be a good album title if I didn’t already have it chosen.

I stepped back in the pool for the first time since holiday yesterday and banged out a pretty rapid 50 lengths just to get myself warmed up and back into it. I swim on August 13th so the date is fast approaching.

I thought I’d be a lot more nervous than I am but I feel pretty calm about it. I am not taking it for granted and I am well aware just how difficult it will be. But I’ve beaten harder things than a 9 knot rip tide and I have no intention of becoming a failure any time soon.

Please check out the swim page and be as generous as possible. Click here.

I have my first pre-season friendly of the season tonight. I’m not sure 8 days in Stalis was great preparation.  I’ll whack some pics at the bottom and you can be the judge.

Also, I have a couple more shows booked so check out the Gigs page!

Peace. x

 

 

 

Holiday.

Posted on Leave a Comment

Hey all,

This will be my last post for a wee bit as I’m off on holiday tomorrow. I think it’s my first holiday for about 14 years.

I have travelled a lot with football and music, but always been busy doing those things. This time I am going to Greece to be a sloth. I’m even going to be so lazy (hungover) that I will avoid the rioting.

But as soon as I return, I’m straight back into the firing line. I’m back into the studio to record another tune for the album. Plus I’m playing a couple of festivals, not to mention SWIMMING THE SOLENT.

No rest for the wicked people!

I hope you all have a lovely few days without my annoying input.

Stay lucky. x

This is what happens when I’m left alone…

Posted on Leave a Comment

Hello all,

My Mrs is away tanning herself in Greece, so I’m left alone to my own devices. Now normally what you’d expect is for me to take the time to write new material and concentrate on productive things to keep my mind from wondering.

A mans mind does crazy things when his Mrs is out of reach. I think at about 4am this morning I was picturing her making love to another man while laughing at a photo of me. I am insane.

So…my album is written and currently being recorded so no productivity needed there. Instead… I’ve built this…

Note the big TV with FIFA, the small portable with TV on, the laptop set up, an Xbox chair, and just out of shot, a bottle of red wine.

While this is somewhat lonely, I bet you fellas are a little bit jealous!

x

Ryde Regatta & Beach Soccer Party…

Posted on Leave a Comment

Alright bum faces!

I’m playing Ryde Regatta tomorrow between 1pm and 2pm. It’s only a chilled out acoustic set but there is beer, and it’s free. Not the beer by the way. Don’t get too excited. You could break a hip.

In the evening I’m playing the IWBSA party down at Appley. I’m on at 7pm.

For a man that “doesn’t really gig on the Isle of Wight”, I’m doing alot of gigging on the Isle of Wight.

It doesn’t count though as I don’t actually enjoy it. 😉

Be safe. x

Album number two is underway…

Posted on Leave a Comment

Hello all,

I went back into the studio today for the first time in over 2 years. That’s a scary thought!

Since I recorded ‘It gets worse at night’, I’ve been busy touring, writing and setting up the G and Tippers Radio Show. I’d pretty much lost my way a bit and found myself being torn in a million different directions. A bit of a Jack of all trades, master of none sort of thing.

I have my head in gear now and have written the 13 songs that will make up my next record. Some mellow, some upbeat, some angry…all the typical emotions we all go through every day. Or in my case, every 15 minutes.

Today we got down about 90% of ‘Adrienne’. It’s a song about the fear of failure in your youth following you into adulthood. But it’s pretty upbeat and driving. I’m hoping you’ll like it.

I’ve been lucky enough to have Guy Page and Claydon Connor recording with me. They are a pair of seriously talented buggers.

Anyway, I best do my radio show now. x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A third placed finish isn’t bad…

Posted on 1 Comment

Hey all.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend.

I was over in Italy competing in the Cervia Beach Soccer Championships. We lost the first game 5-3 then won 7-3 and 4-3.

Sandown Sociedad in Italy...

In the final game we were 3-0 down before clawing our way back into the game. I managed to save two penalties in the final minute of the game to hold on. On a personal level I was pretty happy with my performance. Especially as I was competing against fantastic beach soccer players with a cracked rib. If it wasn’t for the painkillers, I’d have never got through it.

I arrived back in the UK last night to hear the news about Ryan Dunn dying in a car accident. Very sad news. The guy was a bit of a ledge really. 34 is no age. Still, it teaches us to live for the moment. We really have no idea what the future holds, if anything.

I’m clambering my weary body back into the pool today. With the exception of Beach Soccer, I’ve done nothing for weeks. I feel like I’m pregnant with a food baby. Plus, I really need to get my training back on schedule if I’m going to complete my swim of the Solent in August.

Remember, you can donate at www.gandtippers.com/swim. Any pennies you have will be greatly received.

Be safe all. x

Italy, Solent Swimming & Painkillers…

Posted on 1 Comment

Hello all,

I sit here at my desk, slightly bricking for a couple of reasons. I’m off to Italy straight after tonights G and Tippers Show to compete in the Beach Soccer European Cup. While that exciting on one level, on anther level it’s terrifying.

1. I am not a good flyer. How the fuck those things stay in the air is beyond me.

2. My ribs haven’t healed at anything like the rate I hoped they would. So my plan is painkillers and booze.

Syndol...Yuengling...

Painkillers and booze. Basically the staple diet of an 80’s hair metaller. Or ‘c*nt’ as I like to call them.

Cunts...

On the brightside, after Italy, I will be getting straight back on the swimming mission. Even if it kills me, I am not failing to swim the Solent. If I do, I have to walk down the main high street of my home town completely naked. That’s not something I’m paticularly happy about doing! Well, unless I have a fluffer on scene to make me look less like a child.

Yum...

You can donate to my swim attempt by visiting www.gandtippers.com/swim or by paying via Paypal to the email address garethicke@hotmail.com.

Check out tonights radio show on www.vectisradio.com. We’re on air from 7pm to 10pm British time.

I love using pictures for some reason. 🙂

Much love. x

What a weekend…

Posted on Leave a Comment

Hello all,

I hope you had a lovely weekend. The festival was great fun and despite the rain, it felt good to get back out there.

I even got a nice 10 second clip on Sky Arts. I don’t normally last 10 seconds so that was a record for me. Maybe it was all the cider I was consuming all weekend.

Isle of Wight Festival

I’m back to reality now getting ready for Italy next weekend. From boozy musician to European Cup standard Beach Soccer player in 24 hours. I’m not sure it’s doable!

x

New Album Recording…

Posted on Leave a Comment

Oi.

I’m starting work on recording my second album on Thursday 23rd June. I know it’s been a long time coming and I am sorry for the delay. Hopefully it will be worth the wait!

I’ll be playing new songs of the record at this weekends Isle of Wight Festival. I haven’t confirmed times yet but it should be Friday and Saturday evening.

Peace. x

Frank Turner is turning me back into a musician…

Posted on Leave a Comment

Hello everyone.

I hope you are all very well and happy and smiling and all that stuff.

I’m smashed off my tits on Codeine while listening to Frank Turners new album. That’s not me trying to be rock and roll. I’m genuinely smacked up on painkillers just to be able to breathe properly.

I stupidly played two games of Beach Soccer at the weekend and ended up back at the hospital yesterday. For some reason I believe I am immortal. It simply isn’t the case unfortunately.

I have been told that I’m not allowed to do anything for a minimum of three weeks. I have even been banned from sex by my doctor. I reckon he just threw that in there to piss me off to be honest. Maybe he isn’t getting any and so doesn’t fancy letting anyone else have any either.

“Oh that is a nasty nose bleed. So sex for three weeks”

“Eh?”

Seriously though, I’m not allowed to get out of breath. I wanted to explain that I don’t normally last long enough to lose my breath. But then I figured that since he was holding a pot of my urine, he probably knew enough about me as it was.

Checking my urine for kidney damage. I took quite a smack in the ribs people.

This weekend I am playing a few slots at The Isle of Wight Festival. All I know so far is that I’m playing Friday evening and Saturday evening. I’ll let you know exact times as soon as I have them.

I really should get rehearsing this afternoon. I’ve just done 75 pages of spread sheets in one day so I reckon I’m on a roll.

I might even write something new. Something happy. Something so not like me.

x