London, day1 rehearsal

In London, that it be!  The Royal Wedding.

It's difficult not to get swept up in the pomp, ceremony and nostalgia of the wedding while I'm here in London. The feeling of joy in the streets has become quite tangible.

When I was younger, and knew much more than I do now, everything was black and white. I was completely convinced there was no value in the monarchy.

Everyone has an opinion, much of which consumes more of their life than it probably should. The interesting point is that I have met so many people interested in displaying their complete lack of interest in the wedding. That is interesting in itself. And yet, there are people here so interested in this interesting event that they have sat for 4 days alongside the road, waiting to get the prime view of the newly married couple, William and his chick (whose name escapes me at the moment). These people have formed little communities where they interact and share together, even though a few days earlier they were complete strangers. (Shame on them for wasting their lives in such a matter.) My cabbie declared his complete "disinterest" in this. Surely he was receiving much financial gain at this time?

Those uninterested in the wedding describe these people as being anything other than sane. They are calling forth the Tower of London guards to promptly arrest them so they can be sent to an asylum. I, of course, agree with them…….And now , for a more noble use of my time, I'm off to watch a soccer match in a stadium. I'm going to view a little white ball through my binoculars, and scream at people I don't know when that ball doesn't go in the direction I think it should. And I'm going to yell even louder at those folk next to me who think the ball should go some other way.

Now that I'm older and know less than I used to, to be black and white on anything seems to me rather foolish and naive. But thats what happens when you get older.

I can see my friend Emma now, cross-legged sitting in front of the TV in her Basso townhouse,  cheering with raised arm and fist at every glimpse of the Royal couple. I too, will join in and wipe a tear from my eye, seeing people happy for no particular reason at all, but just enjoying being part of the event, and living.

Oh yeah, I think I'm actually meant to be talking about London rehearsals with Yusuf (Cat Stevens). I've re-acquainted myself with the band today, and I'm slowly getting my tool kit together. I'll be setting up the workbench tomorrow to modify and setup Yusuf's guitars.

kevinnitrovane on twitter

Next week I'm off to Europe to join Yusuf (Cat Steven's) tour as guitar tech. I'll be visiting lots of cool cities including Stockholm, Paris, Copenhagen and Munich, and also heading to Morocco. I plan to tweet about it while I'm away, so if you're interested you can follow along on twitter @kevinnitrovane
In this photo is Alun Davies tuning up side stage pre-concert in Sydney. Photo courtesy of Aminah

http://www.twitter.com/kevinnitrovane

Wheels and Dollbaby

In this photo I am performing with Mark McEntee at Melanie Greensmith's (in photo) Wheels and Dollbaby fashion show. I am using a 1968 Gibson Les Paul with P90 pickups. Also in the photo is Roddy Radar, formerly of Hoodoo Gurus and Paul Mulreany, formerly of Primal Scream. You can see the live footage of this event if you follow the link:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ialvzF-CcIk&feature=fvst

The Basement Birds

Last night I visited the Basement Birds as they prepared for their show at the Perth Art Gallery. This was to do a few running repairs on Kav's 1967 Beatle bass, and a few re-strings for a few of my favourite Australian artists. In the photo is Kevin Mitchell, myself, Josh Pyke, Kav Temperley and Steve Parkin. This was to be their last show for now, as they all have other projects that they are embarking on. Ben Witt from The Chemist also did a set beforehand.

Apparently the Basement Birds and the Birds of Tokyo were going to join together to do a show in Japan. I believe they agreed to call themselves "The Basement Radioactive Birds of Tokyo" (or maybe not).

famous guitar players called Steve

I've often wondered why so many of the world's most amazing guitar players have got Steve in their name. At the top of my list is the incomparable Steve Morse (see photo), and a close second (also in the photo) Steve Leeder. I first heard Steve Morse many years ago with an album called The Introduction. I then went on to buy every possible Steve Morse record, including those by the Dixie Dreggs and the Dixie Chicks. I asked Steve if he thought the Dixie Chicks would get back together again. His reply was that he had no idea as he was in the Dixie Dreggs. My Dixie Chicks records have been sent to swap meet.  For me personally, he has no equal: a modern day Mozart who inspired me to keep playing. If you haven't discovered Steve Morse before, I would recommend that you buy any of his albums that you can get hold of.

Anyway, back to my list of famous guitar players called Steve: Steve Morse, Steve Vai, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Steve Lukather, Steve Howe, Steve Marriot, Steve Hackett, Steve Miller, Steve Leeder, Steve May, Stevie D, Steve Bergyl, Steve Beck, Steve Clapton, Steve Page, Steve Blackmore, Steve Stevens, Cat Stevens,  Darren Stevens, Samantha Stevens, Tabitha Stevens, a guy I met at lawn bowls called Steve who reckons he's pretty good and who happens to be a friend of Bernard, who also plays guitar and has offered to change his name to Steven if it'll make things easier for my list.

Luthier's dream request

Every Luthier has there funny requests. This particular one comes from the nutbar variety assortment package. I was asked to install a Floyd Rose type bridge onto an acoustic guitar. The photo attached is a mockup for illustration purposes only and strickly for those who are unable to produce there own mental image of the requested product. The image left of here should only be glanced at, so as not to burn too strong an image into the synapses of your brain. It may never leave it….

No one has asked me  to install a rosewood acoustic bridge on their  IBZ  Stevie Vai  Jem ,…….Yet

As it has turned out it is simply just too funny a request to not carry out. Im making a second one that i hope to present to Neil Diamond on his current tour. " Crunchy Granola Suite" will never be the same. Good Lord! 

However, to all you musos out there with to much time on there hands , who are thinking of requesting me to make another. My answer is as follows...

" Fitting a tremelo bridge to an acoustic guitar is like glueing a moustache on a donkey. Very time consuming and utterly pointless" Kevin Nitrovane..
P.S. Does anyone remember Wheatus?

Rickenbacker !2 string

A couple of years ago, Mark McEntee asked me to trick guitars for him on the last Divinyls recordings which took place at Kingdom Studios with a sat link to Las Vegas. He needed to trick up his Ricky 12 string that he'd owned for donkeys yonks. It was atrocious. After stripping the frets and a half inch of two pack paint off the fretboard, I refretted it ( JD 6105 frets) and gave it an experimental custom AAA service.

I was quite apprehensive, because it was the first time I'd performed this work on a 12 string. However the results were astounding. Having a 12 string that plays in perfect tuning is a joy to listen to. I toured with Mark a few months later as guitar tech and side stage player. I played it side stage on the new song Mark had written called "Asphyxiated".

I've since borrowed Mark's Ricky many times for my own recordings. However I thought it was time to get my own. This I've upgraded with a AAAA service. I would have liked a stereo one like Mark's however this mono one was the only one i could find locally. Jeff Martin has since borrowed it for his latest recordings. And why not.......Looking on again is Gertruda Beugenhaggen making her now familiar, casually bemused appearance.
Comment for the week… " Ive got a good idea to join the club and beat you over the head with it" Groucho