Hello to everyone, welcome to my first blog for The Soviets. I first met these guys after I had played an acoustic gig at the sage in Gateshead and was then invited to see a band playing at The Cluny. Straight away I knew I wanted to be a part of The Soviets and therefore after practising like mad, many drunken nights and persuading the guys it was a good idea here I am, ready, willing and able. I would also like to mention and thank Iain Crummie for giving me the first initial help to get me into the groove and want to wish him all the best with his new wife. Cheers Iain!

 

I feel it is right to let you know about the monumental night we had in London playing at The Water Rats on Saturday 3rd May. If you missed it, fear not, we’re due back there on the 15th May to headline. It’s going to be more special for us as we will be the main act!! Anyone wishing to join us can simply contact us via e-mail at info@therecklessgeneral.co.uk and let us know.

 

After arriving in London on Saturday afternoon and performing our soundcheck, making sure Elliot had the appropriate amount of tea to operate the small office he builds next to his drum kit, we headed off to The Big Chill House. It was a strange thing to witness in that bar - it started off as just the band ordering our chicken burgers with four chips and marvelling at the vibrating coasters which tell you get up and your food – and then out of nowhere we’re swamped with The Soviets entourage all beaming from their shopping trip in Camden and perfecting their “Landan Look”. We were lucky enough to be joined by Hattie Murdoch, who managed to scrape the spare five minutes she gets these days, and her lovely new bag which she claims smells like fish. Personally I think she went to the wrong market stall!

 

As the topic of shopping started to lose its power (five minutes for the boys) Andy Mackin and myself decided it was time to have a wander. Leaving Hattie and her odorous bag, the now very London looking girls and Steven ‘probably writing a song in his head’ Cochrane, and about 100 other adoring fans, we headed out to gaze at the bright lights of London before calmly arriving at the venue ready to perform. It was a gig like no other, I have to admit this, it was awesome. The fans in London have a great way of losing themselves in the music.

 

It’s a powerful thing to be a part of. You stand on stage and out of the speakers you can hear the start of our next single “The Waitress” creeping out…then the band kicks in together waiting only for Micky Cochrane to open his submarine-like lungs. The crowd starts jumping up and down and it’s that moment you’re thinking “I’m a Soviet…I’m a god damn music loving Soviet!” The band continued with our set ‘No Love’ then ‘This is Who We Are’, ‘Turned On’ all just as strong as the last, my fingers are burning but I can’t stop, the music won’t let me! My full respect goes to Steven Cochrane for writing these tunes - they’re unstoppable! Then for our last song ‘Become the Sunshine’ it’s god damn euphoric, please stop me but being a part of it is an amazing feeling. We all had that feeling after the gig where you look at each other thinking... You were awesome mate; Absolutely awesome.

 

It’s like we are fans playing songs for fans! Maybe we owe a lot to Micky for not letting us drink any alcohol before the gig (I think I was responsible for that idea after being a bit tipsy at our last outing - which I think is going to be televised!).  But let me leave you with this….if you want to feel like I do, get involved, jump aboard and let this ship sail!

 

Russ