Once Around the World
Discussion
Once Around The World is a fantastic album that I still play on a regular basis and never tire of. Their first, Big Lad In The Windmill had some great ideas, but lacked something (and the production was poor), but Once Around The World brought it all together, big ideas, big sound and fantastic playing, especially from singer/guitarist Francis Dunnery, who is an excellent musician. Tracks such as Old Man & The Angel, Plastic Dreamer and the title track are fantastically intricate tunes that have stayed in my head for 20 years. They were involved in a documentary (on Channel 4?) about the evolution of the electric guitar and there was some great footage of them at the Manor whilst recording OATW.
I think they lost the plot a bit with their third album where they went a bit ROCK and the vocals suffered. They are still playing (with a new singer/guitarist) but I have not heard any of their current material.
I'd love to see the band re-unite with Dunnery and do some new material, but I believe he lives in the US these days and so could not fit the band into his schedule.
I think they lost the plot a bit with their third album where they went a bit ROCK and the vocals suffered. They are still playing (with a new singer/guitarist) but I have not heard any of their current material.
I'd love to see the band re-unite with Dunnery and do some new material, but I believe he lives in the US these days and so could not fit the band into his schedule.
Marvindodgers said:
I'd love to see the band re-unite with Dunnery and do some new material, but I believe he lives in the US these days and so could not fit the band into his schedule.
Yes i have the first Album as well, .You are wright Dunnery lives in the States.What is interesting ,it allegedly appears you can book a private evening of song with him as well.I think he's comming over to the UK soon
Yes, Francis Dunnery does a lot of House Concerts these days..You might find this hard to believe, but he was at my house doing one 10 days ago! (I also had him do one January '07 aswell!!).
House concerts are awesome experiences. Brilliant musician and a brilliant fun-guy to hang out with! He possibly won't be doing much in the UK when back in europe in May, but watch out for his electric-punk Tall Blonde Helicopter tour in October!!
House concerts are awesome experiences. Brilliant musician and a brilliant fun-guy to hang out with! He possibly won't be doing much in the UK when back in europe in May, but watch out for his electric-punk Tall Blonde Helicopter tour in October!!
DinkyToy-boy said:
Yes, Francis Dunnery does a lot of House Concerts these days..You might find this hard to believe, but he was at my house doing one 10 days ago! (I also had him do one January '07 aswell!!).
House concerts are awesome experiences. Brilliant musician and a brilliant fun-guy to hang out with! He possibly won't be doing much in the UK when back in europe in May, but watch out for his electric-punk Tall Blonde Helicopter tour in October!!
Was it Good value for money, isn't he linked up to some worthy Charity ? House concerts are awesome experiences. Brilliant musician and a brilliant fun-guy to hang out with! He possibly won't be doing much in the UK when back in europe in May, but watch out for his electric-punk Tall Blonde Helicopter tour in October!!
Well, I'm not sure that VFM is the issue really, considering the uniqueness of the occasion!
As a host, it works like this.. You need a minimum of 30 people to turn up at your house, each paying typically £20. Whatever your 'door-take' is, thats his fee for the night. It doesn't cost you anything as the host, except the cost of putting a bit of grub and beer on for everyone! So you cram these people into your living space and he turns up at about 7.15PM armed with just an acoustic guitar and after a short warm up and tune up in one of your spare rooms, comes downstairs and does about 90-120 mins totally unplugged and unmic'd. It's an intense experience witnessing something like that at such close quarters, you can't help but coming away feeling you've attended something quite special and unforgettable!
He has set up a charity, in his deceased parents name, which raises money for various causes based around his hometown area of West Cumbria. The highlight of this work, is a charity weekend in Egremont, where he puts you up in a hotel for the weekend, organises a friday and saturday night concert, a charity golf tournament and sponsored walk on the sunday.. Last year 150 or so of us went round Ennerdale and raised about 20K I believe during the weekend.
More at www.francisdunnery.com
As for It Bites, as mentioned, they have a new guitarist called John Mitchell who is a great replacement. A new album has been almost completed and should be released mid-late summer.
www.itbites.com
As a host, it works like this.. You need a minimum of 30 people to turn up at your house, each paying typically £20. Whatever your 'door-take' is, thats his fee for the night. It doesn't cost you anything as the host, except the cost of putting a bit of grub and beer on for everyone! So you cram these people into your living space and he turns up at about 7.15PM armed with just an acoustic guitar and after a short warm up and tune up in one of your spare rooms, comes downstairs and does about 90-120 mins totally unplugged and unmic'd. It's an intense experience witnessing something like that at such close quarters, you can't help but coming away feeling you've attended something quite special and unforgettable!
He has set up a charity, in his deceased parents name, which raises money for various causes based around his hometown area of West Cumbria. The highlight of this work, is a charity weekend in Egremont, where he puts you up in a hotel for the weekend, organises a friday and saturday night concert, a charity golf tournament and sponsored walk on the sunday.. Last year 150 or so of us went round Ennerdale and raised about 20K I believe during the weekend.
More at www.francisdunnery.com
As for It Bites, as mentioned, they have a new guitarist called John Mitchell who is a great replacement. A new album has been almost completed and should be released mid-late summer.
www.itbites.com
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