Hit the North

.

As we're gearing ourselves up for our 1st gig in northern England in over a decade, excitement at the cave is reaching peak levels.

There's always that heightened sense of freedom and possibility when you hit the road with your band, and leave behind all that heavy burden of worries and petty concerns, that constantly conspires to grind any possibility of life happiness to a halt - We say no to that - and armed with our ol' bass guitar, a homemade pedal-steel and a set of discounted fairy lights - we intend to Hit the North with our shameless desire to play a little music and have some fun.

Have the best memories from gigs up north - the Manchester Union, which we played year after year, often to no more than 100 people, the Leadmill in Sheffield, the Lomax in Liverpool, and so many others - all shared one thing in common: audiences that were 'up for it' - and that's just how we like it.

There's always an element of 'unpredictability' at our gigs, not sure where that comes from, if from a bottle of wine, or childish desire to break our own rules and not follow the setlist all the way - but one thing is certain - we may be a little older now, but time has not dented in the slightest our spirit and passion for music, if anything, it has added depth to our character and strengthen our commitment to play straight from the heart.

So c'mon all you good people of Yorkshire and beyond: the Drugstore doors are wide open - all you got to do is step right in.

.

massively important ps: and oh, behind this mini drugstore starlet, a group of very talented, awesome musicians and really good people too, the best we've had since the gran restoration - it is thanks to them, that our music is still here. salut!

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Aquamarine single / homemade video

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A few weeks ago I came across some archives of criminal mugshots and crime scenes - pretty fascinating stuff, in a twisted sort of way - like when you see a car crash, you don't want to, but you can't help but look.

One face stood out, this man bearing the longing stare of someone whose life had derailed so badly, that the only road ahead was a lonesome bottle of cheap vino.

I fell in love and decided to finally give him the break that had so eluded him in his life, and made him the star of our little video.

I'm no videographer and only have at my disposal my crappy PC and an old copy of windows movie maker, but I think this mini-vid captures something of the sadness of the characters in the song, and their sweetness. (I'm getting a bit tearful, now - don't know why).

The single is out on apr 2, the last outpost from the Anatomy harbour, and probably my last for sometime.

enjoy. we're still here.

. .

----------------------------------------------------------------- Aquamarine mini-vid extra footage source credits:

* 'lonesome cowboy on the beach' - Sydney Pollack 1969 'They Shoot Horses, dont they?'

* 'dance teaser' - 'Sheree Tiger Dance' - vintage erotic film / public domain

* 'blue water horse legs' - aquapacer horse rehabilitation machine

There is a wealth of clips/footage and effects freely available to everyone /one of the cool things of our digi age, all you need is a little bit of time and effort to source it out.

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postscript - In conversation with Jeff Buckey - the clouds within

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In reference to the post below, 'in conversation...', it was prompted by a recent review of a Drugstore show - brazilian journalist was watching us for the 1st time - wrote a really nice review, but..., here we go, he was surprised by how upbeat our between songs' banter was, given that a lot of the material was so sad.

Well, amigo, I say, guess you caught me on a good day, and as far as I'm concerned, whenever we're onstage, playing music, is always a good day.

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In conversation with Jeff Buckey - the clouds within

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I have always avoided mentioning Jeff in interviews for a number of reasons:

First, 'cause it's not cool to name-drop at every opportunity - two, 'cause I still find it hard to talk about him - and thirdly, as he's not available to reply, we have to apply utmost care and diligence when citing his name.

Jeff was one of the very few people I made a connection that went way beyond the tour schedules; but if anyone here is hoping this story is going to be filled with gossip of a personal nature, don't bother reading further, for the trust of friendship I had with him was sealed absolute, and that will never be broken.

But I wanted to share a conversation we once had, as it does have some bearing on my own anatomical life as an artist, and therefore, has still some relevance today.

I will be drawing a few parallel lines between us, but I must stress: strictly of a non-musical nature: for Jeff Buckley, in my view, was the brightest of all stars, profoundly talented, and this shabby isabel monteiro - (no capital bold here), just a 5ft meteor lucky enough to hit his path.

But I will draw attention to some idiosyncratic personality traits we shared, this being the topic of the conversation in question.

-

Anyone who's met Jeff will surely remember him as I do: a really, really funny guy - I mean, he was one of the funniest people I've ever met - sharp, witty, with an incisive sense of humour, always on the money and spot on.

But one could easily see that beyond the jokes and crisp remarks, there lurked a pool of great sadness and disquiet.

In this respect, I believe, we were very much alike.

We were talking about our personalities and moods, and how annoying it was that most people often made the wrong assumption that our 'sad side' was somehow 'more real' than our 'funny side' - which we both concluded it was a mistake, 'cause from our perspective, all those aspects made up the full picture of who we really were.

Then Jeff came up with this beautiful metaphor, one that stayed in my memory, he said:

'You know, it's like we've got this weather system trapped inside us - in the pit of the stomach, the clouds are always forming and waiting to rise. Even when everything's sunny, the clouds are always there, brewing. And every now and again they rise up and it pours for days, sometimes weeks; then it dies away, the sun comes out and the whole thing starts again. We're stuck with it, the clouds within.'

This struck me as such a pretty and lyrical way to describe the complexity of our souls, and it brought to mind this wonderful image of artists going round the world with clouds in their stomachs. poetic.

But then, the implication of what he said hit me , so I asked him:

'But...that means we can never be happy?!'

'Yeah, that's right, people like us can never be happy.'

-

The last time I spoke to J, sounds quite surreal now and hard to believe, but we've been talking about recording/writing a little acoustic album together in NYC - whole thing was gonna be quite simple, country-esque and gospelly - this now sounds so far-fetched, almost in the realm of fiction - but it didn't then.

I had a few tours booked ahead with Drugstore, but was planning to fly out to NYC once the promo/tours etc were done.

When I got back to London, I checked my voicemail, which at the time was one of those retro BT machines, that had a cute mini-cassette tape inside, remember those? To my surprise Jeff had left lots of little messages - each one under a completely different guise/voice - and very funny they were too.

People may not know this, but he was also a master impersonator - he could do voices, any voice, really well.

The messages ranged from Homer Simpson to Nigel Tufnel, via Al Pacino - each one was funny, quirky and very lovely (in one, he said I should soon be travelling to the US on Concorde 1st class, as the royalties from him singing Alive and No more Tears would soon kick in - though he needn't worry, knowing that he liked my songs was the greatest reward.)

By the time I called him back, he already had travelled south and was stuck in the studio, working on his new record, so I thought it was best to pursue our own little project later down the line, once his album was done.

I never had a chance to speak to him again.

The years went by and, sadly, I lost track of that BT answering machine, (probably deemed obsolete during some last minute flat move).

In this life, I've been given a lot of really expensive crap that had no intrinsic value to me whatsoever, from Cartier to Rolex - all met the same end: a cheap desperados' pawnbrokers in East London.

But if I could have something back, I would choose that little tape with Jeff's messages in it - I'd be very happy with that.

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Drugstore MUSIC RECORDING TIPS .

Here's a short compilation of tips and tricks I've picked-up along the way whilst recording our latest album.

So you don't have to make the same mistakes I've made.

Read it here:

Drugstore MUSIC RECORDING TIPS

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Aquamarine, earlybird 2012 tour dates

Just the antidote needed for the post new year cobalt blues: a measured dose of Drugstore gigs to light up the way.

I love booking gigs, it all gets a bit frantic 'round the cave, and I have to keep checking and double-checking I have the 2012 calendar in front of me, and not some obscure byzantine almanac.

I'm a bit shambolic and all over the place, granted, but, no one can dispute the fact that I do get there in the end, and like my dear mum used to say:

'The difference between a Rottweiler and Isabel, is that the dog, eventually let go...' - woof woof.

Very pleased we got 3 really nice venues, friday night gigs, which are great for the fans (and band too!) - so all we got to do now is pray real hard that the fanbase are still alive and kickin...

Go Drugsters Go!

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COWBOY CEMETERY - 3 Dirty Tales

A few crazy stories about how I ended up killing so many good cowboys / video masterpiece trailer is here:

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Cowboy Cemetery, 3 dirty tales

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Anatomy / album press reviews

You can find a few reviews here: .

Anatomy album reviews

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Xmas video message:

Behind every minor Drugstore xmas single,

a major musicbiz disaster.

.

Wishing a super-happy xmas and a cool new year to everyone out there who's been supporting us on our mini-life adventure, and let's also include all the strangers too.

May the craze season bring a little joy to all of us.

x

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Sócrates, the Great

One of Brazil's most formidable footballers and personal hero of mine, has died.

A real phenomenal guy who transcended his natural flair and great talent on the pitch, and went on to become a beacon for fair-play and justice.

An unlikely athlete, skinny and almost clumsy, famous for his trademark 'back-flip', who left many a gringo looking fool stranded on the green, an unashamedly heavy drinker and smoker, who'd light-up a ciggie at half-time, and to top it all off, a doctor by degree: smart, funny and articulate to the bone, who spoke openly against injustice and actively for democracy.

Humanity could not have designed a cooler sporting hero if it tried to.

The Brazilian world cup squad of 1982, which he captained, is considered by footy connoisseurs, to be our best, surpassing the talent and heights of the classic 1970 squad;

But it's an unfair comparison, for if 1970 was the best 'old skool' team, when the game was still quite slow and players would keep a good mile away from each other, it is the 1982 squad that marks the beginning of modern football as we know it: fast, furious and shameless - It's a turning point, just as the ugly efficiency of muscle building science and the advertising magnets are taking over and turning the sport into the billion-dollar consuming monster that it is today.

Brazil's 82 World Cup squad is the last bastion, a hallmark for individuality and flair, and Sócrates, the leader personalising the spirit of that wonderful team.

The most appealing aspect of his story, one which I think we can extend to every single field of human endeavour, whereas in arts or sports, is that talent this bright is not a product of 'hard work' and learnt technique, no - it is something way more powerful and out of control: it is a natural gift, randomly scrambled and falling perfectly into place.

Sócrates was like that, effortlessly talented.

He liked staying up late, smokin 'n' drinkin' and would often skip practice - because he could.

He would stride lean and horse-like onto the field, beautifully. This gentle giant without a hint of arrogance, almost like saying: look, look at me, there's this thing I can do without even trying to, it starts in my head, grows in the groin and lands on my feet. It's no big deal, really.

That's just who I am.

pure genius.

About a year ago, a journalist who follows me on twitter, aware of my passion for the Great Doctor, sent me Sócrates' personal email address, as he was gonna be in London for a week. I had every intention of contacting him and get him to speak a few words on a new footie song I'd written. But I never got in touch, the days went by and I completely forgot about it.

Whether we would have met or not is now immaterial, as the idea that we could have met will now live in my imagination.

Here's a Youtube tribute to that great 1982 squad - featuring some dodgyo over-melodramatic muzak and nasty graphics - it worked for me: had to drag emergency box of Kleenex out:

Brazil 1982 - the most Artful team in history

and make sure to take a good look at the team line-up before the match: every shape, colour and size: each one, a unique little talent, and how unlike the pathetic and uninspiring pasteurized muscle-inflated billion-dollar corporate ad selling machine of today's modern players.

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Time Out

Back under the starry sky of the Drugstore cave, having spent a pretty emotional month, overwhelmed by personal stuff.

Wasn't it Lennon who said that life is what happens, while you're busy making other plans?

I guess, sometimes, that pretty much sums it up.

Just as we were gearing ourselves up for a grand finale to our lovely year, with a xmas party extravaganza at the Scala, my father was taken ill - and my life overtaken by a tsunami of events beyond my control.

I try very hard to keep personal/family/work and lovers-life quite separate from the public Drugstore sarabande, but every now and again, and inevitably, the lines get crossed and boundaries blur-up.

So, the Scala gig was put away, as it simply didn't feel right to be celebrating under the circumstances - (needless to say, the few hundred who bought tix for the show, will be refunded) - and I took a few weeks away from this Drugstore life, to hurdle-up within my broken family circle.

I think it was the right thing to do - I just needed a little time and space for some life-atonement.

Funny isn't it?, when you're in your 20s, death is an impossibility.

Then, in your 30s, you start to casually worry about it, but think you got it under control by swapping 'sugar-puffs' for organic muesli.

Now, in your 40s, as your next of kin start to crumble, you do see it for the first time - just beyond the horizon, on that deserted beach where all souls stand upon:

the dark dark light that will soon engulf us all.

.

message from your leader:

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Beachpod acoustic session

We got back from Kent with about 6 hours of footage to sift through.

Needless to say, 95% consisted of mindless banter, silly jokes and good performances where, predictably, band were 'out of shot' - classic.

Still, managed to pull out 2 or 3 good takes and it's nice to have a record of some of the Anatomy songs played stripped-down and live.

Have some budget saved for a 'proper' vid for Aquamarine, which we're hoping to release as a single, sometime within our lifetime.

Here's some outtakes, left-overs from the beachpod session:

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Kent video shoot and the madness of the music industry .

A few weeks ago we shot a super lo-fi vid, as a preview for our upcoming single 'Standing Still', for the NME online.

We did it in a hurry, as a fun little thing, shot it on my tiny 3mgpix camera, and I confess, was pretty darn pleased w/ the result.

But, as it was shot in small rez, by the time it got uploaded, and published twice as large, it did look a little too low-rez and fuzzy for viewing consumption.

Long story short: a fan decided to donate some cash towards a better video - craze, isn't it? to think that someone out there cares as much as we do, still rattles my heart.

So, last 2/3 weeks we hooked up w/ a few would-be video makers, met production companies - but things started to turn ridiculous pretty fast, in a way that they can in the musicbiz - like: they wanted an 'americana feel', ok, we like the sound of that - but then they mentioned 'old Chevy's' 'neon lights' and the dreaded 'american diner' - hold your horses right there - that doesn't sound good at all - our 'americana' is slightly more subtle than a bloody pair of cowboys boots (hate'em, by the way).

When I heard them discussing what I was gonna wear, probably something long and floaty, that was it - I had one of those 'inner voice' moments, when a big bunch of people around you are telling ya: 'yeah, its gonna be great', but little voice inside shouts: 'no, no, it's not gonna be bloody great. get out, isabel, get outta of here and take your beloved little band away from all this silliness'. and so we did.

I'm keen on collaborations, really am, but you gotta hit me with a great idea - doesn't have to be big or expensive, indeed, some of the best/coolest and most engaging videos have very little to do with size of production, it's all about a strong 'idea'.

Nothing worse, in my book, then to spend the graciously donated cash and end up with yet another run-of-the-mill, generic, meaningless video.

So, we've decided instead to just go to the seaside and do some shooting ourselves. No mega ambition here, just wanna end up with some nice footage, a record of this Anatomy moment, and do something simpler, but meaningful to us.

At this stage of our mini-mouse-career, we're really not trying to achieve anything, hit the bright lights, nothing like that; in fact, that the record is out there at all is the achievement - all I hope is that we stick to our small guns and just keep doing music we wanna listen to, and film stuff we don't mind looking at ourselves.

that's all, really.

-

Found pretty cool'n'cheap beach-pod on the Kent coast, and we're gonna be close-hauled up there for a few days - taking a decent HD camera along, a bottle of Tequila and a variety of ponchos.

we got our video masterplan.

.

ps1 - that miss m is taking sunglasses to grey Kent coast, is proof of enduring optmism:

.

. ps2 - this is where we're heading: . ps3 - le beach-pod: . ps4 - and here's the lo-fi homemade preview we did for Standing Still:

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Acoustic sesh / weds 14th /Broadway Market

As a replacement for last month's cancelled RoughTrade instore, 'cause of the riots, we'll be playing a mini-acoustic sesh, nxt weds at the Cat&Mutton pub, in Broadway Market. Sesh is hosted by BBC6Music's Chris Hawkins.

Free entry, so come along and buy us a well deserved round of drinks - ta.

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La Berliner

Due to the extra-cool response Anatomy has been getting in Germany - and the increased probability of band doing a few dates over there - I thought we should share 'La Berliner', which was originally published on the 'Secret Black Blog', as part of the Anatomy Pledge Project, with the rest of the known Universe.

You can read it here: (hides *)

La Berliner

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A-live and kicking

Bands usually hate their own performances. That, I believe, is an essential genetic trait all artists share, and it is the only tool that any musician can and should use to propel you to aim to do better: your own criticism.

One of the things I've grown to dread about the digital age is that, although it's great that so many people help plug your work, on the other hand, I have no control over it (never a good thing in my book) - and inevitably you end up with a heapload of uploaded pics and videos that you desperately want to delete/delete/delete and erase from google's implacable cached memory.

(bloody Iphones, even 5 year olds have'em).

The day after the St Giles gig, I was kinda dreading seeing the footage back, too many things could have gone wrong: 1st gig w/ new line-up and only 8/9 rehearsals, weird church acoustics, new guitar, pressure to get vino/merch and tix stand ready, and so forth.

Delighted that one of our fans, Gary Simpson, quietly shot 'Lights Out'. By no means perfect, but I think it captures the evening's intense atmosphere really well, and no, Drugstore didn't do too badly either.

I think I can live with this one. just. .

'lights out' shot by Gary Simpson /St Giles Church, Anatomy album launch - 18/08/2011

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Auto-review / Drugstore @ St Giles gig

memorable. .

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St Giles in the Fields gig - survival guide

Order of Service:

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Dos and Don'ts:

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map:

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Setting the carousel in motion - prepping the St Giles gig

Church gig. Album launch. New cowboys. Party Competition. Handmade tickets... bloody maradona, what have we taken on?

Getting the church gig together was a mega undertaking;

Don't think we could have done it without everyone else chipping in.

From Nick sorting out the Alleycat, Jimmy nicking the wristbands, Pete tasting and approving the wine, to Phil doing, well, a mountain of stuff.

St Giles was a challenge that many a promoter would have shied away from, but stubborn we are, and now, as we finally see the last few items on the 'to do list', our hearts on the verge of precipice, where all this effort will glide into notes and little melodies, and slides and subtle beats, and smiling faces, bottles of wine and songs of sorrow and hope

I feel real touched that all this people have made such an effort to deliver a little drugstore nite music.

And as mentioned earlier today, probably my most profound twit:

let's rock!

-

hundreds of little anchors kept miss m awake into the wee wee hours:

...and the files and folders kept multipling: -----------------------------------------------------------------

Panic in the streets of LDN - Rough Trade Instore Cancelled

What a craze, craze weekend.

Our beloved city turned into a makeshift mini-war zone.

Subject too complex to digress, and still feeling a bit under the weather, having witnessed more disturbing tv clips than brain can digest.

As a result, and concerned that situation, although now under control, still a bit edgy, we decided to postpone our instore appearance at the Bricklane Rough Trade shop.

It's always a bummer to let people down, but Monday evening Police asked all the shops 'round the area to close earlier - as our instore would have been at 7pm, we felt that there was a small, but possible chance, that we might be putting our fans, crew and band in a vulnerable position - and that's never worth the risk.

For everyone who bought the album at RT store and a wristband, expecting to see the band, we promise, we'll either re-schedule the instore or come up with some other alternative.

It's disappointing for us, but real heartbreaking for all the cool/good/innocent people who found themselves caught in the middle of such volatile situation.

All of our tiny fingers are now crossed, hoping that things will cool off, and our minds and hearts are dead set on delivering a heart-warming performance at St Giles Church next week.

stay cool.

x

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St Giles gig - thu/18/aug - VIP post-gig bash 11-30 pm at the Alleycat Bar

We'll be holding a post-gig VIP bash at the splendid Alleycat bar, on legendary Denmark street, literally a couple of minutes walk away from St Giles church - from 11-30 pm onwards.

To get in you will need a WRISTBAND, as limited places due to size of venue.

To get a wristband, you will need to come up with the essential DRUGSTORE COMMANDMENT:

Thou shall not.......................................?

Answers please to: drugstorevip@yahoo.com

1st 60 spaces will get the coveted wristband and the opportunity to chat band up and buy us a drink!

We've already received some er... interesting suggestions.

Bring it on, drugsters, bring it on!

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Drugstore Film Club - we recommend:

* GOMORRA * by Matteo Garrone

Winner of the GrandPrix at Cannes 2008, this is a compelling, incredible film, that left me shaking and reeling.

Full synopsis + info on the wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gomorrah_%28film%29

Set in the harsh and moral-free world of a mafia controlled Naples' suburb - the film tracks down the slippery and crooked paths of different characters trapped in its underbelly.

Don't be put-off by its mafioso setting, this is a far cry from the Godfather's velvet clad glamorous set-pieces: it's as fast, brash and dry, as Sicily itself. It feels and looks very real indeed.

From the island that gave us both Bellini and Pirandello, director Mateo Garrone lays bare the putrid entrails of humanity at its lowest.

Essential viewing.

you can get it on Ebay: Gomorrah dvd

x

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Tinkle tinkle mini-mouse star - (yep..., another Ebay fuck-up)

I love Ebay, it's a treasure trove for the financially challenged bargain hunter.

An adventure that often starts with 'ink replacement+HPF380', but somehow ends with a 'commit to buy - vintage Snoopy bottle-opener'.

Soooo cute (ebay lingo), how can anyone resist?

There, all in favour of the impulsive, the superfluous and the ridiculous, rise and bid NOW.

Band just started getting a live set together and I was looking for some bits and bobs of percussion.

Find out what happened next...

(it looked alright on the picture - it did - it did!)

x

.

el seller-bastardo never listed the true size of his balls. coward:

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Anatomy album + single - * pre-order * -

The time has come for all our drugstore lovers to put their hands where their broken hearts are and get hold of the ANATOMY album.

It's available to pre-order on pretty much all formats, excluding singing it live in your bedroom wearing only fave kimono (although, I'm sure that could easily be arranged too).

Instead of having a 'big naff comeback release', we've decided to do a limited edition CD single with a couple of album tracks, as a taster.

You can pre-order both the single and the album online or get it direct from the Rocket Girl website. It's also gonna be available on most independent record stores, after the official release date.

As you know, Anatomy is a simple, homemade record, no big production or frills, and I hope it captures some of the moods and stories of life in the cave, the dark places my heart got to, in an unpretentious, occasionally drunken, but totally dead-real way.

I don't expect whole world to love everything about it, but kinda hope someone, somewhere is gonna find a track or two to treasure.

love to the world, all the boys and girls, love to the fishies in the deep blue sea.

love to you and me. x

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A thing of beauty - hole in the heart

Vinyl arrived - for once this sub-Camille Paglia motormouth is speechless, literally. It's just perfectly pretty and all washed up in blues.

Been incredibly busy, people would be amazed at how many little things need to get done, even at our homemade level.

The St Giles gig is now sold-out, thanks to our word-of-mouth lovers, and already a little over-subscribed. It's gonna be craze, but hopefully a nite - (why have I started using 'nite'?, that's twitter for you, condensing thoughts into monosyllabic rants and raping the language) - anyway, as I woz (ay caramba...) saying, hoping St Giles will be a night when the heavy load of our labour will be lifted away into the church canopy, and together, communion-style, we'll lose our souls in music. Looking forward.

As it's now becoming a habit, just as we're gearing up for a live show, I'm shaking the line-up a little, looking for that elusive perfect fit.

People may think I'm crazy and argue that there is no such thing, that in life we need to learn to negotiate with the imperfect. But I would argue back that I cannot help but strive for what I once saw in a dream; and as the band moves forward, little by little, we're getting closer and closer to the non-vanishing point.

Release date is upon us, AUG 8th, won't flee the country, but hide in the cave and say a little secular drunken prayer to everyone who's been helping along the way.

The empty space in the core remains, but now greatly uplifted by a piece of vinyl with its tine hole in the middle and subtle grooves in translucent light, as pretty and pure as that incredible moment, when the heart of everyman beats for the first time and strikes forward filled with infinite possibility.

Oh, what joy.

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