Now-I-Know-That-I've-Been-Lost

Every Night Has A Soundtrack

2009-10-22T07:34:00.000-07:00

Remind me to start a new blog:

I need one.

REDWOOD CITY

2009-05-10T04:52:00.000-07:00

London this weekend was eventful.
Felt strange playing acoustic on stage again, thanks to those that came to watch.

We got to London on Friday late afternoon and checked into our hotel.
Simon and myself went to the Roundhouse to check out the Friday lineup and saw Zane Lowe & BeardyMan on the main stage, which were both pretty great. The DM stage was a great room and they'd put grass down covering the whole place making it feel like a night time festival, was a really cool experience.
I took us on a short cut on the way back that added an extra hour onto a 30 minute walk. I wouldn't advise it.

Yesterday we went to Harrods in Knightsbridge then to Piccadilly Circus and then eventually to the Roundhouse to sign in.
We went backstage for a while which although had two nice big rooms was spoiled by every other act that was around acting like they were the next big thing. I've honestly never seen anything like it, London is full to the brim of diva's.
Most of the acts we saw were manufactured, awful music.
After I played we realised that we'd already missed seeing Bashy play, which was pretty much half of the acts that we wanted to see. Sam and Simon went to see Tinchy Stryder (or Stryderman) while I sorted out the expenses and then we all watched Natty (the other act we wanted to see). I've played on a lineup with Natty once before in London and he's a really talented guy. Definitely prefer his acoustic sets.
We left after that while Dan Le Sac was getting set up so that we could get an early start on the way home.
Had another Domino's and set off.

We spent most of the motorway journey listening to Bill Bryson's travels across small-town america audiobook, to Simon's original distain which soon turned to approval, and using his flash gun from his camera to make cars think they'd been caught speeding when they overtook us, which is extremely satisfying if not a bit dangerous.

We were almost in Northallerton when the car gave in and we had to call breakdown to come and remove the exhaust so that we could get home safely, at 4am.

All in all it was a long weekend and I'm home now, thankfully.
No more trips to London please.

Jack

Swine

2009-04-30T07:54:00.000-07:00

I'm finally getting back into making music for myself.
Currently, I'm starting the process of putting together a band.
It's not really anything like the kind of stuff I've made before, definitely more electronic based but I don't want to give you any bad ideas of what it's really going to sound like.
I won't be playing under Jack Summer anymore, I'm done with that now.
Maybe I'll come back to my deeper thoughts on who "Jack Summer" was one day.

All of a sudden I was selling merch again, and I still have no idea why.
Out of the blue I was getting a lot of show requests from promoters.
I've turned down all but one, next Saturday (9th May) Camden Roundhouse @ The Turning Point Festival - I'll be doing an acoustic set, and it will be my last ever (ever) show playing the songs I've had from the past.
It's been a venue I've wanted to play for as long as I've wanted to play big venues, so I feel okay in coming out of 'retirement' for one last show there.

Currently listening to:

Mickey Avalon, Iglu & Hartly, Matisyahu, Massive Attack, Postal Service, Feist, The Lonely Island.

Strange and Untrue

2009-04-14T18:08:00.000-07:00

Everything is quite mad right now.
Don't know where to start.
I need a holiday...

I never thought I would be saying this but - you people are still buying my albums?
I get more sales now than I ever did, even of my first album.
Completely weird! - thank you :)

I'm living pretty comfortably and keeping busy.
I played my first show as a drummer last night @ Newcastle Academy and also hosted my first club night ever.

Working on lead guitars for my own stuff too but it's taking a long time to work through, I'm very tired these days.

Another thing I never thought I would say - Check out "Detroit Social Club", I'm blown away ....

Jack Summer LIVE at the Academy - Saturday 31st January 2009_003

2009-03-27T18:55:00.001-07:00

Jack Summer LIVE at the Academy - Saturday 31st January 2009_003
Originally uploaded by Jazzy Lemon

I've been doing lots of recording this last week!
Feels nice to say that again, I think I owe at least part of this re-inspiration to my girlfriend.

I've started work on Champagne Charlies debut release (again, they're useless).
I've recorded up to rhythm guitar, bass and drums for my new band The Grace (two songs, no one's heard them at all yet).

ALSO, Started work on four new (ish) Jack Summer tracks.
So far I've recorded acoustic guitars and drums for them. I got to play the drums myself on my own tracks for once which sounds sloppy, but nice at the same time.... wholesome even.
Should be tracking the bass guitars for those songs tomorrow.

The photo posted is of my last show, Jan 31st '09 @ Newcastle Academy.

Sinking Feeling

2009-03-17T07:52:00.000-07:00

This did start off as a blog following my music career prospects but it does seem to have lost it's way (much like my music career prospects).

I've got a hell of a lot happening and just haven't found time to work on any of my own music (other than rehearsing and writing with my new band "The Grace" - for whom I play drums).
I finally got around to setting up the studio software again on my laptop after my hard drive failed and had to be replaced, taking with it a lot of important work.

I made a Flickr account if anyone's interested (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jacksummer/)

Trying to think of what else to update you on...

I feel a bit ill, tired, stressed. Have rehearsals later tonight and then must pull an all nighter to finish the Nikki Naroz o2 work that should have been done ages ago. Putting on a lot of shows as well as some other interesting nights.
I just spent £430 on a new powered mixer. I'll soon be working on a book with a good friend of mine!
The Blackberry Storm is rubbish. I have no qualms with the new Facebook.
I have a new girlfriend.

Think that about wraps it up.

See you soon!

JS

Twit

2009-02-24T05:46:00.000-08:00

------------->

Someday you'll understand that everything is A-OK

2009-02-18T08:40:00.000-08:00

I woke this morning and realised that I'd been losing who I was supposed to be.
I quit playing shows for partly a silly reason but I don't regret it.

I got more done work wise so far today than I have in a long time.
In many ways I'm as my laptop is right now; Broken, but like it will soon be fixed: so will I. I don't need to live for anyone else, and I have some of the best friends you could want.

I'm blessed and inspired.

Trojan Horse

2009-02-16T07:21:00.000-08:00

I've been busy, I've been stressed.
Lots on my mind and I'm trying to figure out where music leaves me.

My laptop is in the repair shop so I can't record at the moment.
I can write.

The last show

2009-02-03T05:40:00.000-08:00

Thanks so much to everyone who came along on Saturday night, I loved it.

Look out for new recordings coming soon

x

Because AMG is the devil of the Newcastle music scene ..

2009-01-21T04:31:00.000-08:00

They are an all powerful corporate force, which is probably what I will one day be.
When that day comes I will put Academy Music Group out of business, though because of my previous work with the grassroots level (among other reasons) my company will be hailed as the saviour's of the live music industry.
Which of course we will be, because we know how it feels to be the little guy.

AMG does not care about the little guy.
HeartRock Music does.

To make this more interesting

2009-01-14T04:50:00.000-08:00

I'll start posting pictures and videos. I've been meaning to but I just never get around to it.

I'm working from home today (until the HeartRock show tonight).
Spent this morning calling up companies that the previous tenant of my studio owed money to so that they don't come along and take my stuff.

Going to be working on another Niki Naroz project tomorrow, this one is an animation called "Pencil Tree" that's going to be used by the BBC. It's a great piece of work and I'm looking forward to penning the soundtrack.

I'll also be finishing off (hopefully) some recordings of Champagne Charlies EP tomorrow.
It's going to be great, and I'm not just saying that because I'm their manager, or the producer ....
They really are ones to watch.

Jack

Reser-vol-ution

2009-01-13T03:31:00.000-08:00

I made one new years resolution which was to make £50,000 this year.
I'm now making a second;

Stop being late ALL OF THE TIME, and letting people down.
Really, stop.

Last Jack Summer Show

2009-01-11T04:23:00.000-08:00

It's 31st of this month at the newly renamed "o2 Academy", Newcastle.
It'd be great if you could be there (if you're in the area).
It's also the last show for my friends Fall Short! Conform! & To Save A Soul and there's more support from The Mephisto Club and Kaikoura so it should be a great night.

If you'd like a ticket then please speak to me, or pick one up from the Academy venue. Their website is also selling tickets via Ticketmaster.

As it's my last show we've put together something different as a band lineup and had our first rehearsal yesterday.

Dean Duncan and Liam Bushby from Fall Short! Conform! are playing drums and piano respectively, Dean helped with my second album and they've both spent a lot of time on tour with me over the last few years.
Michael Barber is playing bass as he was in my first band, Infected.
Michael Webb from Champagne Charlies is going to be providing the lead guitars.

Will be playing a mix of all the classics, so don't miss it.

I'm also toying with the idea of releasing a compilation of bands I've worked with under the HeartRock imprint but more on that as it develops.

Later.

The Grace and o2

2009-01-09T03:59:00.000-08:00

You might see me around drumming in a new band called The Grace, or you might not.
If I am then it probably won't look like me, or look like drumming in the way you're supposed to drum.

At the moment I'm also working on a project with animator Niki Naroz which is great and you may see it on your TV screen sometime in the future.

Just for everyone who's asked if I'm "giving up".

Jack

Growing less and less poetic ...

2008-12-18T04:46:00.000-08:00

but £175 to fix a windscreen wiper?!?!?

Come on? Give me a break.
It's Christmas.

Tonsillitis

2008-12-14T13:47:00.000-08:00

I meant catch it without sticking your tongue down someone's throat, which I now realise, you cannot and I didn't have it.

END.

Today is or is not the ....

2008-12-08T07:06:00.000-08:00

Finish that sentence ....

I had a fortune cookie last night and it said ... appropriately "You will be successful in your work", I'll take that any day over "Have a good meal and have a good day".

This morning I woke up realising first that I had an incredibly sore throat. Then instantly clicking on to a conversation I had last night with Webby about the tonsillitis he's suffering from.
I don't know if you can catch tonsillitis from someone who has it but if you can then I bet I've got it.
I have a cold too, a bad one so I'm drinking Lemsip Max Strength.
I just made copies of my documents to send off to my estate agent which will go out now.
I have to go to the bank.

Later.

DEATH

2008-11-23T05:39:00.000-08:00

Just kidding, I'm not feeling that deep this morn...afternoon.

I only just realised how long it's been since I posted here and how much things have changed (1 month or so?).
I haven't seen 3/4 of the rest of my band in this time, I've done things that I won't do again, I've done things that I definitely will do again, I've been on a date, I've become my own business, I'm moving into premises mid December, I've played a few shows, I've snapped a few more guitar strings, I've bought a sampler, I've done jury service, I've learned about bankruptcy, I've began managing a second band, I've learned to hate the sound of my own voice saying "Hi, I'm the promoter".

There's other things too, things I'm not ready to think about yet.
I miss playing my own music right now.

I don't miss living in my car.

Goodbye Sheffield! Hello new life!

2008-10-13T05:31:00.000-07:00

After Saturdays onslaught of the Carling Academy (with my new favourite type of Subway, The Subways) I played in Sheffield yesterday, at The Boardwalk.
Was my first time there and I really enjoyed it. Thanks to Century Kids for having me as their main support and thanks to all of the people that stood at the front and watched my set. It made the trip down more than worthwhile.

On my way to the venue I stopped by Yellow Arch Studios and had a vocal lesson with Ali Heath Cook.
It was the first vocal coaching session I've ever had and I think I really learned a lot, at least now I have a better idea of how to practice and warm up/down. I even learned my range, which I'm going to continue to push to expand.

All in all, an amazing weekend.
Thanks to Si for making the trip with me.

I'm planning to start tracking new acoustic demos today or tomorrow.
If you want to watch check out stickam.com/jacksummer
I'm probably going to do the whole thing live on webcam.

Myspace.com/JackSummer

These days are not grey, but blue.. with clouds.

2008-09-22T08:29:00.000-07:00

I used to associate myself with GREY. Not because I felt I was boring, infact I find the colour grey to be something else completely. Now I see a blue sky clear ahead, there's still grey clouds in the distance but when wont there be?
As I have come to realise, "Baby likes a blue sky", and of course, I don't mind if it's going to rain on me sometimes.

There's a lot of things that I learned a long time ago, things that I believed I was putting into practice ... or practicing what I was preaching, but maybe I wasn't. Things I don't need to run away from. Everything can now be, more or less, peachy.

There are a LOT of new songs that I'm getting ready to record. I understood today what each album I've done in the past has represented. They've literally been the soundtrack to the years of my life.
If you've in any way been a part of the last year of my life then there's something in this next record solely about and for you.

The third album is sometimes the best...

Rash decisions are not WISE

2008-09-04T16:59:00.000-07:00

There's been a lot of upheaval in my life and in the lives of those around me recently. This week infact there's been a huge upheaval in my own city. I still haven't figured out where this all leads me in the grand scheme of things.
Something that this upheaval has brought to my mind is the use of my own name.

Almost everyone in my life knows me as Jack Summer, and that's something that now unsettles me.

I've come to the decision that I no longer wish to link my life to my music.
I feel that there will be a time when I don't want to play the music that Jack Summer is all about, but I'm sure I'll still want to be involved in the creation of music. If your music is your own name then you can't separate from that. What happens if I want to split up? For instance.

Maybe I'll resolve this issue in my mind, Maybe I'll reinvent myself, Maybe I'll cease to exist.

What is new?

2008-08-29T13:30:00.000-07:00

Well the last couple of days I've been recording the Champagne Charlies, 3 tracks that are sounding great.
We'll be recording the rest of the guitars and maybe the vocals on Monday and you guys will get to hear them soon enough.
I'm enjoying the production side of this job a lot as well as working with a group of really funny guys.

This is my first Friday night off in a long time, I just wrote another new song and I'm going to play with the keyboards again now and see if I can come up with another totally useless tune that no one will ever hear :]

My business is still going really well (HeartRock Music for those of you that don't know) and other than all of this work I'm planning to get the band back into rehearsals to work on a new live set for some of the upcoming shows that I'm booked for.

We'll just see how everything goes.

I'd give it back, but it's more than I have.

2008-08-15T06:21:00.000-07:00

Looking back on my last post -

I WAS RIGHT!

All is grand, well pretty much.

I wrote a new song today, well, completed a song that i've been working on for a while.
I'm thinking about recording maybe next month. I have a lot on so it's just finding time to work everything through.

Other than this I'm anticipating the start of the new football season, little pleasures.

The luck of Jack

2008-07-31T16:50:00.000-07:00

I'm going on holiday in a couple of hours. A good thing too because I really need to chill after this last month.
I honestly have the worst luck in the world. Honestly.

That's okay though, the broken back window of my car can be fixed when I get back. My ears will work again when I get back and I won't have to listen to this constant white noise much longer. I'll find myself much less stressed out by the extra work I've put on myself to get my business off the ground. I'll get to work on new recordings that will push me further than I was ever meant to go.

So it's cool. Don't worry about it, I'm not worried.

Well maybe a little.

Food poisoning man !!

2008-07-15T10:24:00.000-07:00

I spent two hours waiting to be seen in the shittest NHS hospital in Britain last night & today I feel even worse, more calm but worse.
I hadn't been sick since my bout of illness last Easter when I was found to have Gilbert's syndrome flaring up so I guess I was due a bit of ill health.

I'm anxious to work on some new recordings because the songs I'm coming out with are the best. I'm still not fully prepared to take them to studio though. I have a lot of different ideas I want to work with and I've got to get my head around that.

I'm getting bad reviews for songs that I didn't want reviewed at the moment. Apparently I rely on session musicians on my recordings because I'm not good enough to do it myself. Shame people are so small minded to consider that maybe I do - do it all myself. I've found that working with a label is just as much a curse as it is a blessing, I'm ready to go it alone again.

Nothing like bad press to lift the spirits.

I've changed a lot - again.

Fuck it, more soon. Again.

On Tour: Norwich

2008-06-25T07:32:00.000-07:00

We're at a sleazy internet cafe in Norwich now.
That's about it.

Bright Future In Sales

2008-06-20T03:30:00.000-07:00

MY SECOND ALBUM "THE MAJOR AND THE MINOR" IS NOW UP FOR PRESALE

and if you live in Newcastle you can get it at my album launch tomorrow night. It's £5 plus £1 worldwide shipping.
I only heard the finished product last night and I'm super pleased with it. I hope you will be too.

Take a chance and support independent music?

C'mon

We're getting older, son

2008-06-05T02:28:00.000-07:00

First off I'd like to say that it's not my birthday, but this is something that's just come into my mind and I'd like to share.

It's understood that very young people (I'm talking between say ... ages 4-18) get excited about the occasion that marks their birthdays, with good reason.
It's also understood that the general population above this age bracket get to feeling quite saddened by the fact that another year has gone past that they'll never see again. I guess they have good reason too - because no one wants to feel like they're getting closer to death?

It seems to be the truly intelligent human that can live in a middle ground of quiet acceptance and simple joy. My theory on the matter (now that I think of it) is that if you live right, know that you arent't wasting time, know that you've actually done something worth doing this year - and I mean really worth doing, then you can look forward to the next year of your life and wonder misty eyed what the year ahead holds for you. My "belief" is that there'll be a moment as I pass through these years where I can finally accept that I will die, and live out the rest of my life in the best way of all - without the fear of regret.

The hardest way to make an easy living

2008-05-22T04:26:00.000-07:00

Everyone's always looking to get a contract, forget that!

I was really looking forward to seeing The Streets this Monday but the need to make a living has prevailed and I'm stuck with more important things to do.
To make up for it James and myself are planning a pilgrimage to Edinburgh to see Tom Waits in July.

Thursday coming I'll be playing @ 13th Note in Glasgow (hopefully with my band in tow) so let me know if you're from the area and can make it.

Team Sheet

2008-04-30T16:35:00.000-07:00

I sit here with the tracklisting for my second album "The Major and the Minor".
Narrowed down to 10 simple songs from a possible 18. How would I feel if I didn't make the team? I doubt there's an easy way to let the others down and let them know that yes, they'd come a long way but they didn't quite make the final cut. We're sorry, better luck next time. I can say however that they each hold a special place in my heart and that though they may be gone they are most certainly not forgotten.

The game that I'm fielding this team for isn't a cup-final, nor is it a 1st place decider, nor for that matter is it a relegation battle. In my eyes the team that these songs play for are simply looking for a playoff place, a chance to be a part of something greater.

More often than not, it's down to the decisions that the manager makes that pushes the team as far as it can go, and like any good team It's bigger than it's individual players.

Scouting for cash

2008-04-28T06:41:00.000-07:00

I'm here rooting around trying to find things that I can sell rather than thinking of the usual crazy schemes to make money.

Today I figure having less is having more.

Hit the ground running ...

2008-04-22T02:57:00.000-07:00

I learned a lot about myself in the last twenty-four hours.
I learned that I'm here for the long haul, and I'm not about to go running away now.
I'm here to stay, and with more motivation than ever.

So then, when you know that - and you can say it to the world:

What more is there to say?

Back for a day

2008-04-03T01:26:00.000-07:00

I got back home late last night and I'll be leaving again tomorrow morning for the Scotland dates.
So far, tour has been amazing. I love being out there and meeting so many new people.
As always I have plenty more stories to tell (but I'll save those for a later date).

I'm really worn down, it's not easy eating right on tour and I think it's catching up with me.
Thanks so much to everyone that's given me somewhere to sleep or food/hot food while I've been away.
It really helps me to remember that there are a lot of good people out there.

The "Tonight Becomes Today" video should be around pretty soon. Keep an eye on my myspace page and it'll be there.
The next single that comes out with the album will be a song called "I loved life, I lost". I dunno, maybe the title will change for the single but that's what I'm calling it as an album track. The day I got home from tour I'll be leaving again to go down south where that track is going to be remixed at a better studio. Something I'm quite looking forward to 'cause I haven't had a chance to do that in the past. The day after that we're shooting the video for it in Hastings. I love that place.

On with Scotland, if you're in either Paisley, Glasgow or Edinburgh this weekend then it would be great to see you at a show.
Hitz radio are coming along to Glasgow through the day to do a video interview and acoustic session so that should be fun.

Laterz

x

Touring

2008-03-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

I'm packing to go away on tour for another three weeks.
I don't feel excited or anything. I can't remember how I'm supposed to feel or how I felt the first time I went away like this.

I'm playing the Mixtape for Mellisa gig in Sunderland tonight then I'm in Nottingham tomorrow. I just snapped a string on my guitar while getting ready and I was a little worried that I wouldn't be able to get a spare in time for the gig tonight with it being bank holiday but it's cool.

Everything's cool, I think.

The closest of calls

2008-03-17T18:13:00.000-07:00

The entire last year of my life flashed before my eyes.
I'm still finding it hard to take it what's gone down in the last six hours, but I'll try my best to put this into words.

It was a complete fluke accident and I can't even blame myself (really).
Those of you that are familiar with who I am and what I do will probably know that I do all of my own recordings and that I've been recording my second album since the beginning of November. I do my recordings on my Apple Powerbook which is cool because I can take it with me wherever I need to be. Well tonight my laptop had the mishap of being involved in a run in with a glass of coca-cola (like I said - it was a fluke accident and could not have been forseen). It went dead instantly along with the complete masters of my new album and everything else I've recorded in the past year.
Spending hours trying our best to come up with a solution made me question everything I've ever believed in and ask myself some pretty big questions which I guess I can share:

1: What did I do to have this happen?
2: Am I going to be able to get the last year of my life back?
3: If not, how long will it take me to do this again?
4: DO I REALLY WANT TO DO THIS AGAIN? Or AM I GOING TO?
5. Where do I go from here?

The answer to question four was no. Something that I've been stuck with all night.
It was the first time in my life that I've actually felt like I needed to justify doing what I do.
I knew that I certainly wasn't going to record this album again. If I did still do an album it would be something new and completely different, but even then, I don't feel like I have it in me right now to write a new album.
So I went back to where I was a year ago. Do I leave and go traveling? Maybe, I do.

Several hours and two car journeys later. The laptop is internally dry and we've narrowly managed to salvage the masters of my album onto an external HD. I have more on my mind now that I've gone through this tonight.

Where should I be? And how much faith do I actually have in what I'm doing?

All I can say right now is that I believe that time will tell.
What else can it do?

This aside I'm looking forward to going out on tour next week. Maybe I'll find some truth's there.

A conscious decision

2008-02-28T17:26:00.000-08:00

It has come to my attention of late, how much I currently use of the world's resources and how little I actually give back.
With the time I'll be spending touring this year (polluting the air in our Fiat Punto) I've made a conscious decision to go vegetarian, for at least the time's that I'm on tour and from now until I do go on tour. I'm going to start slow and give myself time to adjust (it is a big step for me!).
There are a lot of other things I'm planning on changing in my routines but I'll leave that for another day.

So if you see me eating something that isn't vegetarian, feel free to ask me why?
Or kick me.

Jack

06:50 & Plans

2008-02-19T22:49:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was pure class.

I agreed to help out at our local YMCA building supervising a group of about twenty - 8-11 year old kids smashing hell out of a bunch of drums and guitars. I don't remember the last thing I did that felt that rewarding. Enthusiasm is something that should never be taken for granted.
Every one of those kids had something to bring to that group and they all knew it. It was no place for shyness, and I'm proud to have been a part of that.

I have lots of plans at the moment, hopefully most of them will come in to fruition.
I'm going to make this a pretty exciting time to be alive.

Music Video Shoot

2008-02-14T06:39:00.000-08:00

It looks like a damn "Top of the Pops" show.
But it was actually pretty fun to do.

It's for the single I Have out on March 25th. There should be more and more footage from it going up soon.
The finished video should take a good few weeks, but I reckon it'll be worth it.