Foreward

To me music is life. Slowly and steadily I have been gaining more and more momentum in my passion for music until this summer I've reached a sort of fever pitch. I'm at a gig every week, sometimes several a week. I thought to myself why don't I start reviewing these gigs and providing a blog that reflects what the musicians on the unsigned circuit are doing?

I'm not officially a music journalist although my day job is as a writer and deputy editor on a yachting magazine. I'd love to write more about music although I appreciate that it is extremely difficult - you have to really know your shit and write in an imaginative and lyrical way. It's totally different to the kind of journalism I'm used to so the blog will be a way to explore this new style of word-smithery.

Having spoken to some friends who's bands are really taking off several of them told me they were none too keen on mainstream music journalism. They explained that many of these journalists are failed and embittered musicians dishing out savage criticism from ivory towers. They also mentioned that these journalists often think as a herd unwilling to accept a band that might be considered uncool.

I am not a failed musician although I do have a pretty good musical ear (god bless that middle class upbringing with the forced upon violin and piano lessons). I've also been known to belt out a few numbers in various musicals although I'm pretty loathe to admit this now. So I do have some concept of music with which to guide me on my new mission.

I want to let all the musicians I review know that whatever I may write about you I admire you immensely and wish I had the courage to perform like you do; with guts, determination and brio. I know you're all working so hard and it seems spectacularly unfair that there just aren't enough record deals to go around. This blog is dedicated to all of you. You rock my world.

Jude Benning, August 2009