Drugstore Anatomy

2012-01-21T19:10:00.008Z

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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2012-01-06T15:07:00.007Z

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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2011-12-29T17:37:00.005Z

COWBOY CEMETERY - 3 Dirty Tales

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

Cowboy Cemetery, 3 dirty tales

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2011-12-21T16:31:00.002Z

Anatomy / album press reviews

You can find a few reviews here: .

Anatomy album reviews

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2011-12-18T19:49:00.002Z

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.

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2011-12-07T16:22:00.021Z

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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2011-12-02T21:05:00.011Z

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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2011-10-07T09:03:00.006+01:00

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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2011-09-06T07:19:00.011+01:00

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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2011-09-06T07:12:00.005+01:00

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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2011-08-28T12:07:00.010+01:00

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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2011-08-21T13:53:00.003+01:00

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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2011-08-19T18:04:00.001+01:00

Auto-review / Drugstore @ St Giles gig

memorable. .

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2011-08-17T11:28:00.004+01:00

St Giles in the Fields gig - survival guide

Order of Service:

Dos and Don'ts:

map:

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2011-08-16T23:48:00.005+01:00

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: -----------------------------------------------------------------

2011-08-10T23:16:00.006+01:00

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.

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2011-08-04T15:50:00.012+01:00

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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2011-07-20T19:18:00.007+01:00

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

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2011-07-17T18:00:00.006+01:00

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!)

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

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2011-06-29T15:59:00.002+01:00

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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2011-06-25T22:22:00.008+01:00

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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2011-06-08T17:34:00.002+01:00

Pictorial report of CorkXsouthwest .

Snapshots of our 1st international jetsetting adventure:

Cork X Southwest photo-journal ----------------------------------------------------------------------

2011-05-30T20:51:00.013+01:00

* ALBUM Launch GIG - ST Giles Church thu 18th Aug *

Drugstore are thrilled to announce the Anatomy album launch with a gig at the beautiful St Giles in the Fields church, on thu aug 18th.

We really wanted to do it somewhere special to match our excitement at having the new record out, and the opportunity for everyone to come together and praise our crazebabyjezus and share the joy!

We're planning an evening of joyous singing, storytelling and merriment all around.

Quite a challenge setting up a gig at the church - we're hiring everything: the PA, the lights, sound engineer - but I believe it will be worth it.

Having exchanged many a pleading email with the church warden, we will be allowed to have drinks at the churchyard (but defo a 'no-no' inside the church) - so what we're planning is this:

Tickets will include a complimentary glass of wine on miss monteiro.

The evening will kick off with wine drinking at the churchyard, at 6pm.

We're asking everyone, in the true spirit of the whole Anatomy project, to bring some extra wine along (if you wish, or some lemonade, or tequila if you prefer), and share with other fans.

We'll provide the stylish plastic glasses.

The church does not allow the sale of any alcohol/so no bar, but they're happy for us to drink whatever we bring along - (bless'em).

Church doors will open at 19:30 and our hand-picked support band, SWEET SWEET LIES will do their beautiful thing.

(this is the band we stumbled upon at SecretGardenParty Fest and were quite taken by their calexico-esque/tindersticks-esque lovely melodies - we think you guys r gonna like'em too.)

Once they finish their set, there will be an INTERVAL of 1/2 hour - to allow everyone to get back out in the churchyard and refuel on vino and have a smoke.

We'll then play our set, with the usual improvised selection of old favourites and a good bunch of new songs from Anatomy.

Then, we'll all head for club/bar across the road - for post-gig drinking/flirting shenanigans.

If by 3am I'm asking the bartender to marry me(or worse...) someone kindly put me inside a cab w/ directions to Kew Gardens, thanks.

We just can't wait and really hope you can all join us.

It's gonna be an evening to remember.

Tickets available from wegottickets: .

ps1- we advise getting tix sooner rather than later, as church does not allow the cramming of bodies too closely together, so limited number of tix.

ps2- St Giles church is 5 mins walk away from Tottenham Court Rd tube station.

ps3- bring cushion/jumper to sit on, church seats warm on feeling/hard on bum.

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2011-01-12T20:54:00.007Z

day 547- Anatomy Album Blog

Starting the album Blog today.

Last Rehearsals this week - on weds 19th we hit the studio.

Got shootloads to organise, but have album pretty much sketched out in my head.

Wish I had a little more time off, but feel we're ready to do 'it'.

In retrospect, I think we could/should have run the Pledge a few months earlier, coz it really felt like too many things were spiralling down the little funnel all at the same time, and at one point I was tempted to get the cash out of the band account and do a crazy runner.

But, we got everything done (did I say 'we'?! - wait a second, be fair miss m, the lonesome ranchers did all the posting, and during xmas week!), and it was totally worth the effort.

Shame things didn't work out w/ Mike, of course, goes without saying, intentions were good on both sides, and we all hoped for the best.

But, onwards and forwards we move, towards that sacred moment when that little red button that says: REC is gonna be pressed.

can't wait.

The Anatomy Album Blog is here:

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2010-12-12T16:54:00.010Z

day 516- Pledge - Last Day Party

This month has been craze-busy, due to the unprecedented success of our PLEDGE Project - 3 weeks= nearly 300% - amazing.

Today, the last day, I'm still a little overwhelmed by the positive response, the money raised and the many emails and cool messages, (and a few weird, but wonderful offers too!) received.

You guys did not disappoint, that's for sure, and we're totally grateful for the help, we needed it.

The cave is in a complete shambolic mess. The central heating is down, I haven't had time to check my post-box in days. There are boxes everywhere, paper, bags, drugstore goodies scattered around the place.

But, I can't remember a time when I felt so mind-numblingly happy. Getting up super early to get the stuff done, like a kid eager to greet Santa on Xmas day.

It's been really wonderful and I'm a little proud of having pulled off the project, the packaging, the mailing out, everything beautifully done.

Just like it's supposed to be: a special thing, made with love.

Next 2/3 weeks are strictly portastudio time, as I will try to demo all the songs, or as many as possible, that I'm hoping to get recorded at the studio.

The list of stuff I need to get done is still looming, but now, the world, british gas bill and everything else can wait:

it's all about the music, nothing else matters.

I'll leave now to celebrate our joint Pledge effort with a little whiskey I still have left, and a homemade lo-fi xmas vid.

Power to the People!

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2010-11-18T16:32:00.006Z

day 492- Pledge Phase I goes LIVE:

http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/drugstoreanatomy

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2010-11-13T16:02:00.110Z

day 491- Pledge Preview

The RocketGirl rec deal was a much needed diesel injection. The label will be paying for the studio (25 days), and release of the album. How brilliant is that?

But we still need to raise a little extra cash to cover some of our expenses, so I'll be setting up a Pledge fund, as a fun way for fans to get involved in the project and be part of the adventure.

Not planning on any ridiculous expenditure, and here are some of the things we'd be using the fund for:

extra rehearsals.
sesh players: mariachi on 1 track + strings on 1 track (only!).
zones 1-6 travelcard for all - (studio is miles away from central London and quite expensive to get to)+mike's flight from LA.
a few days off work we might need to take during the rec session.
food and drinks: there are no shoppes on the island, but would be great to strike some deal w/ a couple of take-away places in nearby Hampton, so we can get a pizza or something delivered to the nearest bridge each night - (surreal, or as Yuuki said: poetic).

So, as you can see, no Prada boots on the list, just a few things to make sure everyone's reasonably well-looked after, we can all relax, have a good time and make a pretty record.

And here's a preview of some of the things you'll be able to get hold of on our Pledge fund:

(gonna be fun...)

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Phone Agony Aunt Monteiro

Heartbroken? Wanna find out if your dirty little partner has been cheating on you? Is your sex life as exciting as daytime telly? Miss M, our residnt agony-aunt will dish out made-up advice over the phone and sort out your luv-life in no time at all. Call me!.

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Phone-a-philosophical question

Just don't know what to do with yourself? Troubled by life's tricky moral dilemas? Our resident philosopher, Mike Chylinski, will take your call and tell you exactly what to do. Easy-peasy.

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Play with me! Signed Kazoo

All you can possibly want for xmas. A signed Kazoo. You'll be able to play along to all your fave Drugstore tunes. Almost as good as joining the band, if not better!

---------------------------------------------------------------------- U-can-ring-my-Bell

Wanna impress your work colleagues? Make the girlfriend red-jealous? Get Monteiro to call you and sing your favourite song over the phone. Ring-myBell!.

---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to the secret Black-blog

The stories that were too craze to tell, the angry diatribes, the putrid gossip, straight from the foaming mouth of Miss M. Limited to only 20 vip subscribers, and not even band will have access.

---------------------------------------------------------------------- Set of 6 pics from the studio

Taken by the band themselves, hopefully when sober, 1 pic a week, over 6 weeks, sent straight to your inbox with a personal messg from everyone.

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ICA tee . Get hold of this classy and supercool tee, designed by miss m for the ICA gig last may. Not many left.

---------------------------------------------------------------------- Anatomy Demos - homemade 6-song cd

Signed, limited CD (15 only) featuring 6 of the best Anatomy demos. Homemade artwork and straight out of the cave's mini-pressing plant.

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Set of 6 postcards from the studio

Cool, one-off postcards capturing the mood of the sessions, what we've been up to and the latest gossip. 1 postcard per week, over period of 6 weeks.

---------------------------------------------------------------------- Handmade Aquamarine dolls

A labour of love, limited edition (15 only) of the little siren who likes to live alone by the sea. Sequined fishtail, fake hair, but magic powers of pretty persuassion dead real.

. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Monteiro album Diary

Booklet-diary with thoughts, pics, crazy-moods, found stuff, junkets from the studio. Only two will be made and each one will have its own dirty little secret.

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A day at the studio for 2

You and a best mate can spend a day at the recording studio, take pics, hang out and inspect the chaotic, wine stenched world of Drugstore at close quarters.

---------------------------------------------------------------------- An afternoon at the Cave

Visit Monteiro's Cave. Play songs, inspect the pathetic shoe cupboard, tea and cakes in Kew Gardens. Go home with a bag of unique Drugstore goodies + a free hug.

---------------------------------------------------------------------- Choose the album Ghost-track That's right, YOU can choose a song, any song, we will record a cover and the little gem will appear as the album secret ghost-track. Priceless.

---------------------------------------------------------------------- Drugstore Hang the DJ set

Classic retro grooves, while band loses dignity on the dancefloor. yeah, baby.

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Acoustic gig at the Cave for 3

You and a couple of friends can come to the cave in Kew Gardens, have a few drinks and enjoy an intimate and smoky, candle-lit acoustic set of Drugstore faves.

. . .

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Acoustic gig in YOUR PAD

1 hour acoustic set of your fave Drugstore songs in your kitchen, bathtub or cellar.

. .

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Details of how to get involved and access our Pledge fund will be published next week. x

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2010-11-12T13:38:00.011Z

day 489- Return of the MaC

Had drummin' epiphany while watching that 'Anvil' documentary the other day.

Right at that moment the two old friends are standing together in the middle of Tokyo, in wonderment, happy to be alive after all the years of shared struggles, joys and heartaches.

Took a long breath, a very deep shot of brandy and decided to call Mike Chylinski, in LA.

I don't think there is a drummer left in London that we haven't auditioned and then politely sent away, and I just about had enough of wrong shirts and deadbeats. For as really nice and efficient all of them were, none could quite replace the very long and unmistakable shadow left behind by El Gran Gorilla, Mike.

And how could they? The man's got a degree in philosophy, for chrissakes, impeccable taste in everything, the intellect of a giant, and a heart as soft and big as his own shadow. And that's even before he even hit a drum. And when he does, it's always right, perfectly drugstore.

We just gotta hope that miss M and the Titan Americano will avoid clashing cymbals, and make the most of the beautiful album path that lies ahead.

Mike's coming back, and another great mini chapter is about to begin.

All hail.

ps1 - it really is m.a.c - mike alexander chylinski, how cool is that?

ps2 - i'm setting up a Pledge £ fan-fund, we're gonna need it...

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2010-11-05T14:11:00.014Z

day 482- Finding a studio and the battle of Analogue x Digital

A decade ago if you'd asked me what makes a 'good studio', I'd probably have said: a Neve desk.

Then, no cool band worth their indiesalt would have considered making an album on anything less but the old Neve Master, and recording on a digital SSL would have been akin to supersonic suicide.

How things have changed. These days the snobby distinction between digital and analogue has blurred, and I confess, I no longer have any retro hang-ups.

The record company would argue that a good studio is one that delivers the album on time and on budget. Fair do's.

But from experience, having had the opportunity to record at a variety of different places, and under very different budgets, the best studios are the ones where the band feels at home, has a decent live room and good vibe, and above all, a sympathetic engineer who understands what you're trying to achieve.

As studio time draws nearer, a few fans have contacted me, expressing their concern that we might end up over-producing ourselves, that the album needs to capture the same 'intimate, warm feeling' of my homemade demos - and so forth. I agree.

But let's kill the debate between digital and analogue once and for all: those 'warm, fuzzy, intimate demos' have all been recorded d.i.g.i.t.a.l.l.y:

from my Roland Vs-16 digital station, via dodgy-sellotaped lead into the PC, into a pirated copy of FruityLoops, edited on freebie Audacity, then, finally compressed and converted into an MP3 on a torrented copy of Media-Converter-Pro - ufff... some journey.

The reason why it still manages to sound warm and intimate, it's to do with the performance, the way it was delivered, with feeling.

For me, that's where it's at, and whether or not it was recorded on a retrodesk it's totally irrelevant, really.

I've spent the last month researching studios, and the thing I was dreading the most was to end up at a place, in the middle of trendy Hoxton square, where they churn out indie bands all day long, with a grumpy engineer, who can't wait for your session to end, so they can get down and mix their own music.

I desperately wanted to find somewhere a bit special, which is quite a challenge when you're restricted by a small budget.

But, seek and you shall find - and out of pure chance, I came across this great little studio, set on an island on the Thames - right at the edge of west London, where the boundary between city and countryside fades, and all our daily worries can be safely left behind.

It's a non-commercial studio, run by a very cool guy, who's engineered, produced and worked with some very big names (he joked that he only works with 'tall people'...), like Paul McCartney/The Cure/Depeche etc - and it has a decent mix of both digital and analogue gear.

I love the fact that it's totally out of the way, there's absolutely nothing on the island, except for a few beautifully derelict boathouses, and getting there every day is gonna be a mini-adventure in itself.

We're gonna have to make the effort - I believe it will be worth it.

The studio is booked.

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2010-11-04T12:22:00.007Z

day 481- Anvil, the documentary

As requested by some drugsters, I've uploaded the mini-masterpiece, that is: 'The story of Anvil' ----------------------------------------------------------------------

2010-11-03T09:51:00.015Z

day 480- England nil x 10 Brazil

A short entry to celebrate the victory of Dilma Rousseff, candidate for the Workers Party (PT), now elected: 1st President and guerreira do Brasil.

Lula, the ex-factory worker, union leader, mistrusted and snubbed by the elite, has proved that it is possible to combine economic growth with a social agenda: during his 2 presidential terms, through a number of programs, over 20 million people has been lifted out of poverty.

What a record.

You could mention the party-politics, the odd corruption scandal, which, let's face it, no political party in Latin America, or anywhere else in the world for that matter, is ever immune from, but no discord can overshadow the indisputable fact that the standard of living for the majority of its people has increased dramatically.

At the same time, while we read heart-warming tales of social and economic development in Brazil, it is very disheartening to see the British Conservative government doing precisely the opposite, as they, under the guise of 'deficit busters', shamelessly dismantle its social welfare program and drag Britain back into darkness.

This nomad budget champagne socialist is very proud that, alas, it is not the 1st World who is setting the standard and example, but south of the Tropics, a vast and chaotic nation of scantily-clad amazons and barefooted kids kicking ball on the sand, are showing the rest of the world how to do it.

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2010-10-23T13:15:00.042+01:00

day 469- * Drugstore signs recording contract *

here I am baby, signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours

(wooofuckinhooo)

I'm delighted to announce Drugstore have just signed a recording contract with cool indie label Rocketgirl, who will help and ensure this store will once again thread all over the spinning decks.

When I started this process, about a year or so ago, I genuinely had no idea what surprises were lined ahead, and was just pleased to have rediscovered my own voice, and a great community of fans, still willing to listen to our bundled up homemade stories and songs.

A lot of fans got in touch and suggested we set up a 'fan-fund', and raise cash to get the band back into the studio. It's a neat and interesting idea; But, from experience, I know that it's always better to have a few people around you, doing all those things that artists are not terribly good at: working out distribution, manufacturing, putting a team together, schedules etc.

But I also realised that given the current climate, the changes in the music industry, our band's own history and the point we're at in our career: having disappeared for over 7 years, that it was gonna take nothing short of a mini-miracle to get a label to commit to the project.

Well, a great mini-miracle has just happened, and as often with some of the best things in life, there's a pretty silver thread binding this story together.

This is the story of Drugstore and Rocketgirl:

Back in 94, as we played our very 1st gigs in the Camden circuit, two people approached us straight away, hoping to get a release.

The first, was the lovely indiekid guru, Neil Boyd, of superhip indie zine, 'Big Muff'; we gave him a flexi-disc of our single 'Alive'.

The next person was Vinita, who then worked at Che records. But before we could say 'yes' to Vinita, we were scooped by GoDiscs, as the generous chequebook of its flamboyant boss, Andy MacDonald, was just too tempting.

The years went by, and Vinita remained a faithful fan, turning up at gigs with homemade gifts - (remember that fluffy ciggie-lighter holder?) and always enthusiastic about our work.

Eventually, in 97, she set-up her own label, RocketGirl, but also gained bags of industry know-how by working both at Rough Trade and Bella Union.

By 2001, Drugstore were once again fishing for a label to release 'Songs for the Jetset'. I did not know this, and only found out about it recently, that Vinita once again tried to sign the band, but was outbid, this time by label GlobalWarming.

And that brings us back to the present - to the recent ICA gig last May - and guess who turns up, and as friendly as ever: the original rocketgirl, Miss Vinita.

A few weeks later she was at the cave, sitting on my sofa, bright smile brimming and as determined as ever:

'I want your next release, album, single, whatever - we gonna take the band to a studio, you're gonna do it and we're gonna release it.'

And so it is, that after all those beautiful years, the paths of Drugstore and Rocketgirl, that were always a mere 7inch apart, have finally come together.

I also want to mention Paul Bonham, who has been instrumental in helping bring the deal together, and the best possible source of good advice, good will and genuine enthusiasm.

A very special thanks goes out to our own El Pedro for sticking together like glue, and to all the fans, who have been supporting us, even when the lights were out:

we're in this together!

(and for the 1st time this week, this sentence rings lovely and true).

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further good news: Drugstore have been invited to become Patrons of that great charity that champions the rights of music lovers and musicians w/ disability: 'Attitude is Everything'.

It's an honour and I hope we can be of help.

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live snippet of new song CantstopmeNow - ICA - 2010

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2010-08-22T16:22:00.009+01:00

day 408- A new LOGO for Drugstore

Bored at work? Know how to use Photoshop and Illustrator? Fancy yourself as an unrecognized graphic designer of great taste and flair? Wanna design our new Logo? More info here:

* Design a new LOGO for Drugstore Competition* ----------------------------------------------------------------------

2010-08-08T09:38:00.013+01:00

day 393- this drugstore now selling

Have finally found time to set-up a mini-merch store on Facebook, where fans and kind patrons can get hold of the tee I designed for the ICA gig. A few sales already rolling in - cash will be usefull to finance next lot of rehearsals, as I'm gearing band up for our 1st release and we dive into demoing-writing *pre-production* mode.

Exciting.

You can get hold of this tasty tee here:

Drugstore Merch Store

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2010-08-04T14:53:00.006+01:00

day 389- homage to a great film, Tampopo

A few selected scenes and personal homage to one of my favourite films, the beautiful Tampopo, by the great late Japanese director Juzo Itami. Read it here:

Tampopo, by Juzo Itami ----------------------------------------------------------------------

2010-07-30T10:59:00.006+01:00

day 385- cambridge haymakers + SGP report

A pictorial of the trip is here:

http://www.facebook.com/photos

And here's a live snippet of 'Don't Throw Me In':

(shot by Gary Simpson at the Haymakers)

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2010-07-15T14:35:00.037+01:00

day 370- A new song, a silly demo and a free pornopic

Superbusy getting the trip to Cambridge organised; We play the Haymakers on friday 23rd, then the Secret Garden Party Festival, 1st on main stage, on Sunday. Doing all sorts, from sending wrong invoices, mixing up setlists and just trying to keep hold of everything that needs doing.

Managed to put together a super-rough demo of 'Don't Throw Me In', but now missing the cool live-guitars, band version really brings it to life, with the decadent, piquant vibe the song needed.

Wrote another couple of songs, one pretty nice, but no time to demo them yet.

Also, squeezing in a super silly song - not to be taken seriously at all, 'Hardcore True Believers' - but it has a good story attached, so, just for the record, or as it will not be the case.

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DON'T THROW ME IN

this is just me on the porta, rough-demo, lacks the cool band guitar-parts. would make a decent album track. (ooops - link to myplayerwathever fxckd)

----------------------------------------------------------------------HARDCORE TRUE BELIEVERS not to be taken seriously, pleaz

A while ago I went out with this guy, whose family were hardcore Christians. The further I got into the relationship, the more involved the family got. Never a good thing. I don't care much about what people want to believe in, from sex-driven abducting aliens, to some irrational miracle-birth, if that's what you believe in, no problemo.

But I do take issue with people pushing their views down your throat. The last xmas we spent together, when I was given a bible and a ridiculous book by some demented american preacher on how to be a good wife, it was a sign that things would never work out between us, and it was time to open the emergency parachute and jump - naked.

So I wrote this stupid song, had to be done with a churchy, gospel vibe, and it's as silly as it gets. I sometimes write stuff like that, that is never meant to be heard by anyone else, really, but the temptation to share a laugh got the better of me.

Can't really tell who's the sickest: them, the bible eating family from hell, or miss, for writing this stuff and deciding to publish it here, with pornopic included.

(but that 60's keyboard solo, my best yet huh?...)

---------------------------------------------------------------------- decided to delete HardcoreTrueBelievers, got on my nerves - only really like it when v.pissed. might make a return, someday. ----------------------------------------------------------------------

2010-07-09T11:00:00.006+01:00

day 364- A year in the life

A year ago I posted my 1st blog entry: it was about switching the Portastudio on in over 7 years, demoing a few new songs and organising the Drugstore Dingwalls reunion gig.

That week I had a meeting with Daron Robinson at the Cave, when we discussed if people would turn up for our show. He mentioned we had about 300 fans in the newly set-up Facebook Group, and I remember thinking: 'Wow, that's a lot of cool people.'

A year on, and edging towards 1.000 FB group members, purely on word-of-mouth, having sold-out both the Dingwalls and ICA gigs, signed to a cool booking agency, played Glastonbury with an exciting new line-up, and now with a clear path ahead leading to a new album and more adventures, I cannot help but be super-pleased at our progress.

It's pretty amazing what a mini-person can achieve, if the heart is in the right place, is it not?

It's clear though, that there's absolutely no way I could have moved the idea forward without getting help, for there is only so much one can accomplish solo - and I have to say, no more so than in my case, as 'cave in darkness' pretty much summed up how very isolated I was.

I have totally enjoyed sharing the stories, the ups and downs, and am genuinely touched that there's people out there who are hoping that the tale that can never have a happy ending will, at least, have a few new meaningful chapters.

The list of people we already have much to thank for gets longer each day: from every Drugstore FB group member, mad twitter follower, Paul B, Emma at ITB, Vinita at RocketGirl, Suzanne at AiE, Harry F, to every email and good-will message received, fans who sent me a mobile phone and a great guitar to write songs in, and even a new pair of knickers, the Cowboys gone by and the one's who are still standing, who have dedicated a great deal of time and effort into the project.

Everyone made a difference.

As we're now about to embark upon PHASE II of this shambolic masterplan: recording new music, getting the band to develop, release an album, it will be a question of vocation rather than talent, as the potential for cool new music is now very tangible and real.

Vocation is not something that can be acquired, it's embedded in your genes, it gives you stamina, determination, focus and drive to roll with the crazy flow.

This now fast-moving Drugstore Express will keep hurtling its way forward, shamelessly, and no Divine Intervention could stop us now. Coming with us?

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2010-07-08T11:13:00.047+01:00

day 363- * FESTIVAL STORIES * 3 - Drugstore x The Levellers and the rest of the known World

We have always taken pride in the fact that despite the boiling cauldron of passionate arguments, tears and heartache at the core of Drugstore's carousel, we hardly ever let that spill beyond the confines of our own personal enclave, and most people who were in contact with us will remember a friendly, funny, super-professional, easy-going, charming bunch.

That is not to say, though, that every one of us in the band had, on occasion, behaved in such ridiculous manner, that did not represent the way we were for pretty much the majority of the time. But, more often than not in life, it's the rare awful incidents that go down in history and get stuck on you forever.

This is a tale about pride and professionalism, as seen through the eyes of a very drunken miss monteiro.

I have a simple but effective breakdown system alert, that works pretty much like a set of traffic-lights: 1- GREEN: I will mention it very nicely (like: can you please try not to be late, as it's inconsiderate and unprofessional blah blah blah), 2- YELLOW: is an upgrade from green, when the importance of a request is emphasised, 3- RED: that's when the 'for fuck's sake' appears within the sentence (like: 'for Fuck's sake, just don't be late again, as this is getting ridiculous and it's totally unprofessional etc etc).

Beyond RED, I no longer know how to cope or reason with the situation. More often than not, at this stage, I'll either get the eraser/knife out and give up on that person, or worst, I'll just make a scene and cry and say things I don't really mean to. What would you do? How do you guys cope with situations like that?

And of all the things that make me turn purple-blue with anger, it is shabbiness, lack of professionalism, not doing something to the very best of your ability, that is sure to light up my fuse.

Before we go into our horrible tale, I need to make a point that Drugstore had the most amazing, hard-working and adorable crew ever. We worked with the same sound engineer Dan, roadie Bambino and TM Stevo for many, many years, stretching over a decade of non-stop touring. There was a huge amount of love and respect between us. They were great guys and we were family. But in the following tale, you will see how a drunken, frustrated monteiro would spare no angels.

- To the tale:

I cannot recall the year, or where in Europe this Festival took place. Was it Austria or Germany? Poland or Sweden? I just can't remember.

We've been touring around and for the last 3 gigs the bass-guitar went dead half-way through the set. It was probably to do with my own lack of finesse and playing it like a feral cat on heat.

The crew had tried to fix it, but by the 3rd time it happened, I probably included the dreaded 'for fuck's sake' in the sentence, so we hit this Festival in Europe with a hint of nervousness in the air.

The trip got off to a terrible start, the promoter picked both Drugstore and the Levellers at the airport. The Levellers were a sombre, large group, taking up most of the seats in the bus. They were like a micro-travelling-village/community: dog on string, babies on back, stove, tie-dye pots, just like we imagine they would be.

We sat at the back, a small unit of 8 - suntanned, drinking whiskey, thinking we looked dead-cool.

Bus stops at the 5-star HiltonPlatz, and just as we're all getting off, promoter turns to us and says: 'Sorry guys, no rooms left at the HiltonPlatz, got another nice place booked for you.'

Hummm. Don't like the sound of that, and just as I suspected we drove away from the city center, into the motorway and half-an-hour later into a half-abandoned carpark, et Voila!:

Wilkomen to El ShittoLodge.

You know the places? No reception, no mini-bar, just a dreadful car-park, where sad-looking underpaid chambermaids sit outside long dirty corridors smoking and planning how to get a visa. Where the memory of the previous occupant is still fresh with the surprise hair under the pillow or the used tampax in the grubby loo bin.

You see, we never moaned about accommodation, we would ordinarily have laughed about it, but the promoter made the cardinal sin of letting us know that the Levellers were being treated way better. Bad move.

I was the last one to get out of the bus, stood at the deserted car-park and traffic-warden like, raised my arm and shouted:

'Stop - stop everyone.'

They came over, band, crew, promoter. I said: 'Ok, the Levellers are playing the Rock Stage, right? Drugstore are playing the Indie Stage, right? What's the matter with you - don't you like indie music?'

Promoter laughed, but I did not smile back.

Emergency calls were made, and as if by magic, rooms were now available at the HiltonPlatz. It was just the thought that the Levellers were probably not even gonna use their 5-star toiletries that got to me, and us, man, we would have killed for a decent shower-cap and a free mini-bottle of anything smelling vaguely decent.

The Festival was quite a big deal, as big as Reading - the whole thing was gonna go live on National Radio, equivalent of your BBC Radio 1 - so I was absolutely adamant that the bass guitar had to work properly.

We got onstage, big crowd of indie kids, gig was going fine. I'm aware we're live on Radio, so making sure I'm not swearing. Everything going according to plan, but just as I've drunk the best part of the bottle of local red vino - and we're playing one of the rockier tracks - yes, you guessed it right, Bass guitar goes dead:

d e a d.

Something came over me - I just started shouting at the mic:

'Oh For fuck's sake, for fuck's sake, you fuckin kidding me?! How am I fuckin supposed to play my stupid fucking songs, play my fuckin idiotic bass lines if my stupid fuckin bass-guitar dont fuckin work? HOW?! - Fuckinghell Fuckinshit Fuckingcrap Fucking unprofessional bastards... arrrghhhhh'

I went on and on and on, you get the idea.

I then smashed the bass-guitar up.

Believe me, I'm a petite mademoiselle, it's not easy to smash a guitar up, it's bloody hard work. I then kicked the mic stand, kicked the monitors and stood in front of the bass amp, crying.

The audience, band, crew - everything stopped - there was an eerie silence - no one spoke a word.

I then made the 'f off' sign to band, crew, audience, everyone and stormed off-stage, red-faced and in a flood of tears.

What I later came to know was that the radio station went off-air, 1st-time in their history. You see, what happens with those Festivals transmissions is this: they set everything up, they listen to a couple of songs, adjust levels, then go off to the kitchen and make a nice cup of tea. That's precisely what happened, they were all chilling out, when after a minute or two of my mad-rant, someone spotted what was happening and stormed into the staff canteen: 'Quick, quick, no music, Drugstore gonne crazy, swearing, bad swearing, put cd on, put cd on, NOW!' Apparently there was a lull of a minute, a long time in radio, when the station went dead, just like my bass, there followed by that classic announcement: 'Unfortunately due to some technical difficulties, we're no longer able to transmit Drugstore live, and now some nice music from the Cardigans...'

Funnier still, and I only found out about this when we got together for the Dingwalls reunion last September, and Mike told me that when the whole thing kicked-off he stood by the side of the stage and overheard this Festival security guard, shouting in his walkie-talkie:

'Attention, attention, she's coming back, I repeat: she's not done yet, I repeat: she's coming back onstage - attention, attention!'

(pause- I'm now hurting with so much laughter, my face hurts, this is too funny...)

What happened was that I did indeed went back onstage, not to destroy anything else, but to get my cigarettes and whatever was left of the red wine, patzos!

By that point, the sleeper-bus that was to take us back to our triumphant UK return and imminent Reading Festival appearance had turned up. I locked myself in the back boudoir and spent the whole evening crying, just like a little girl.

Next morning, I need to say this, both myself and our crew were desperate to apologise to each other, take the blame, but there was no need, stuff happens and we just very quickly decided to move forward, buy a new bass-guitar and agreed that in not too distant future, we would surely laugh it all off.

That was an essential quality we shared - no mountain too big to climb, no well deep enough to fall into - we were smart enough to grasp the bigger picture straight away, and move forward very quickly.

And as we were moving forward, away from the Festival site and back to England, hard to believe, but through the tinted glass of the bus, the crew spotted a guy proudly walking 'round the Festival site with the broken neck of my bass-guitar, but whether he was a Drugstore fan holding priceless relic, or a Levellers fan collecting fuel for his stove, we shall never know. And that brings an end to the Festival Stories' Season.

Tomorrow, gonna turn portastudio-baby on, and get demo together of new song 'Don't Throw Me In' - I'm in the zone.

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2010-07-07T15:14:00.014+01:00

day 362- * FESTIVAL STORIES * 2 - Drugstore x Radiohead

I have in the past avoided talking about Radiohead like the plague. I've never felt Drugstore needed to, but also because we have hung out and collaborated with a number of cool artists, from Wayne Coyne to Stuart Staples, all equally interesting.

This is a tale of confidence and vulnerability, for all artists, big and small, cannot help but carry a good deal of both in their luggage.

The year was 1997 - Radiohead had just released OK Computer, and were firmly established as the most exciting band on the galaxy; They were headlining Glastonbury on Saturday, Drugstore also playing the same day, at the NME tent, as it was then called, if I'm not mistaken.

We had just done a long European tour together and a friendly connection had been established.

Glastonbury 1997 was to become known as the 'Year of the Mud' - there were torrential rains and the whole site had turned into a gigantic mud-bath.

During the day, as we were vibing-up, Radiohead turned-up at our backstage area, and we spent the afternoon chatting, joking around, in the way that bands that have toured together often do.

Thom took me to the side and told me how terrified they were about headlining that evening. His argument was ridiculous:

'We're dreading it. It's gonna be terrible, people won't like us, there's tons of people here who hate us, we haven't got any special light-show effects, just our standard tour lights - It's gonna be a nightmare.'

Hello? I argued back: 'You're kidding me right? People are gonna go crazy, they're gonna love you guys to bits. It's gonna be amazing. Light effects?! You don't bloody need'em! You've got the BEST TUNES! The best SONGS! People are gonna be singing along to everything - it's gonna be amazing!'

The conversation went on for awhile, and the rest of the band joined in. All under the mistaken impression that their headlining set was going to be a disaster.

It's hard to imagine that with albums like The Bends and OK Computer under their belts, as adored and respected as it's possible to be, that they would be in any doubt that they were set to deliver one thing, and one thing only: greatness.

Just before we went on to do our gig, I told them to watch our set closely, as we had prepared a special surprise for them.

Our gig went down really well, probably one of our best Festival performances ever. The tent was packed and there was a great party atmosphere.

Phil and Ed were watching from the crowd - and the rest, Thom, Colin and co, from the side of the stage.

Towards the end of the set, I turned to the crowd and shouted:

'There's a great band playing Glastonbury! A Great band!'

The crowd thought I was talking about Drugstore, and shouted back: 'Yay! Drugstore!'

But I said: 'No, no, no, you're all wrong. Drugstore are not great, we are COOL, the great band is gonna be headlining the main stage later on, they're called Radiohead, and this is one of their songs.'

We hit our version of 'Black Star', which I have absolutely no problem whatsoever in asserting that it was considerably prettier than theirs. We've gotten rid of the over-blown stadium guitar riff, stripped it to the bone, and turned it into a duet-argument between two disconnected urban lovers, and in doing so, the true beauty of the song was revealed. It had a lovely plaintive cello melody, reminiscent of Schubert's Arpeggione, that echoed the impossibility and sadness of all of our modern-relationships, it was beautiful, and hopeless.

The crowd loved it.

We finished the set and Thom and Colin ran up to us totally overwhelmed. Big hugs all around, big 'thank you, we needed that' and so forth. Then, Ed and Phil came up from the crowd, and if I tell you Phil was crying - I mean, really crying, totally overcome with emotion.

It was an incredible moment, when two bands, in completely different paths, with completely different levels of success, had met in common ground, and right there revealed that all our expectations, hopes, dreams and anxieties are pretty much the same.

We never got to see their gig, if I remember correctly, we left straight away, in a sleeper-bus heading for the next stop.

We now know that they played a stunning set, regarded by many as one of Glastonbury's most memorable performances.

We knew they would, and probably, deep in their hearts, so did they, but as with every artist, regardless of how great we believe, know or think we are, every now and again, we all need a little hug.

Next week: Drugstore x The Levellers, in an ugly tale of a drunken Monteiro smashing everything up. Unmissable.

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2010-06-11T12:31:00.008+01:00

* GLASTONBURY PICTORIAL *

A brief account of our amazing 2010 Glastonbury trip is here:

Drugstore Glastonbury Pictorial - FB Group Photos

--------------------------------------------------------------------- day 336- WORLD CUP 2010

It's hard to be brazilian and not get excited by the World Cup, for no other team embodies the aspirations and ideals of the game, with such grace, flair and sheer exhuberance as our 'canarinhos'.

For us, our team is a picture of our country, and it perfectly reflects our melting culture: every size, every colour, every shape, all beautiful and lovely.

How can you not love us?

This is a world cup song, written a few years ago - the names may now have changed, but what Brasil stands for remains.

Enjoy the games!

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2010-06-06T08:05:00.001+01:00

day 331- * FESTIVAL STORIES * 1 - Drugstore x The Cranberries

I have always tried to reserve a small amount of respect, if not admiration, for pretty much any other band and musician, from buskers to divas, all trying to do their thing. But, every now and again, another band or an incident will incite such strong feelings, that one cannot help but to go public, let the world know just how you feel about it.

This is a story about the spirit of rock'n'roll and what it means to me.

The year was 1996 - Drugstore were doing the Festival rounds - 1st album had been received really well and was selling good, we were on a high.

The Cranberries - who had previously released that sweet 'Linger' single, which was lovely, had just taken a weird turn, and released 'Zombie', which wasn't quite so lovely, but, hey - they were selling millions and if Miss Dolores wanted to look like a naff golden greek statue in her video, why shouldn't she? You do it, baby - go for gold.

That wasn't the problem.

It all started during a Cranberries tour in Germany, when a reporter from the Sport Newspaper wrote that Dolores had been seen onstage with no knickers on. The story kicked off in the first week of the Phoenix Festival and everyone was talking about it.

We heard it, and thought: sweet irish singer not wearing knickers onstage? Great - that's the kinda of blurb any PR, manager or band would die for.

But instead of riding on the inconsequentiality of it all, Dolores O'Riordan summed her press officer and released an official statement, stating that she was profoundly offended, that she always had her knickers on at all times - that all her knickers were bought at M&S, with her mum's approval - and so forth.

At first, we thought this was some kind of spoof/joke - but no - Miss Dolores went a step further and decided to sue the newspaper over the allegation.

I was outraged. Sue the newspaper? You're kiddin', right?

Look here, Miss Dolores: we summon expensive lawyers when we wanna take dodgy companies that pollute our rivers to account, when babies get kidnapped, when dictators send orders to execute the innocent - that's when we sit around the table with press officers and justice makers - NOT when some poxy newspaper gives you free publicity that, let's face it, makes you look 1.000 times cooler and more exciting than you probably are.

And so it was, that on that Sunday, on the main stage, around 2'o'clock, Miss Monteiro, little-devil out of Drugstore stepped onstage, determined to teach Miss Dolores a lesson on how to be in a rock'n'roll band.

As I remember, that was an incredibly hot weekend, over 30 degrees, there was a shortage of water and the Sex Pistols were headlining the same stage - christ - how cool is that?

It was a beautiful sunny afternoon, we did our thing, the crowd was great, and right at the end, I walked up to the edge of the stage, took my knickers off, threw them at the crowd, and shouted at the mic:

'Sniff that, Dolores!'.

The knickers landed at the feet of a security guy, who picked it up and handed it over to a few excited looking kiddos.

I walked off stage and remember Daron and Mike smiling at me, and asking- 'Did you just do what we think you did? Did you just throw your knickers into the crowd? Fuckin' brilliant!'

But you see, in my mind, it was not about knickers, it was about the spirit of rock'n'roll - more to do with why you chose to pursue a crazy musical career, instead of the obvious path ahead into predictable numbness.

That's right, Dolores, that's the spirit of rock'n'roll right there in your face, it is not just about music and clever chords, or being young, it's a lifestyle and an attitude, it's feeling offended when given only 4 weeks holiday by your employer and wanting more from life, it's being inconsequential sometimes, and spontaneous, and irreverent, a little crazy and ridiculous, and therefore, ultimately, more human, as real as the sweat on my pale pink knickers. Get it?

Recently I read that Dolores lives in this beautiful mansion, swimming pool an' all, and spends her time knitting for her babies. Good for her. She has worked hard, and delivered songs to radio, which is more than I can say for my band. While she may now have the swimming pool, let me tell you, I know which one had more fun in the hotel jacuzzi, and I cannot help but think that, given the fact that she always had her knickers on, that some kind of dull immaculate conception might have taken place or that, perhaps, some zombie may have lingered at Dolores' boudoir for a little longer than expected.

Next week: Radiohead, paranoia and a pretty melody.

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2010-05-15T15:49:00.048+01:00

day 309- Salute to Walt Whitman

Some years ago, on my last trip to Brasil, my mother gave me what was undoubtedly one of her most treasured possessions: The Complete Works of Fernando Pessoa, which had, for as far as I can remember, sat neatly next to her bedside table, like a modernist bible for the profoundly restless.

It's a small leather-bound book, where her favourite poems and writings had been carefully marked by a gentle fold of the page, on god knows how many sleepless and wandering nights. It's now one of my most precious objects, and I occasionally find myself looking for it, whenever troubled, homesick or at a loss.

Yesterday, out of nowhere, a passage from Alvaro de Campos, one of Fernando Pessoa's heteronyms, came to mind, just as I was starting to write a post-gig report, with a detailed and absurdly funny account of the recent show at the ICA, its chaotic preparations, the drama, the beauty of sharing music; Instead, I'll just transcribe this passage, for it says more than my heart could ever dream of expressing:

'Salutation to Walt Whitman' (extract)

Open all the doors! Because I have to go in!

My Password? Walt Whitman!

But I don't give any password... I go in without explaining...

If I must, I'll knock the doors down...

Yes, slight and civilised though I am, I'll knock the doors down,

Because at this moment I'm not slight or civilised at all,

I'm ME, a thinking universe of flesh and bone, wanting to get in

And who will get in, if by force, because when I want in I am God!

Take this rubbish out of my way! Put those feelings in drawers away!

Get out of the way, you politicians, literati,

You peaceful businessmen, policemen, whores and souteneurs,

All of it is the letter that kills, not the spirit giving life,

The spirit giving life at this moment is ME!

Let no son of a bitch get in my way!

My path goes through Infinity until its end!

And whether or not I reach the end, it's not up to you,

it's up to me, up to God, up to the me in the word Infinite...

Onwards! I spur ahead! I feel the spurs, I am the very horse I mount,

Because I, since I want to be consubstancial with God, can be everything, or I can be nothing, or anything,

Just as I please, it's nobody's business...

Raging madness! wanting to yell, jump, scream,

bray, do handsprings and somersaults,

my body yelling, tie myself to the car wheels and to go under,

Get inside the whirling whiplash that's about to strike,

Be the bitch to all dogs, and they not enough for me,

Be the steering wheel of all machines and their speed too slow for me,

Be the one who's crushed, abandoned, pulled apart or done for,

Come dance this fury with me, Walt, you there in that other world,

Swing this hoedown with me, knocking at the stars,

Fall exhausted to the ground with me,

Through everything, in everything, around everything, without anything,

In an abstract body rage that stirs up maelstroms in the soul...

Damn it, get going, I said!

Even if God himself stops us, let's keep going... it makes no difference,

Let's keep going and get nowhere...

Infinity! Universe! End without End!

What's the difference?

(Let me take off my tie, unbutton my collar.

You can't let off steam with civilisation looped around your neck...)

Better now, and off we go!

... ---------------------------------------------------------------------

ps- gig at the ICA was great, now busy getting ready for Glastonbury Fest., then record next single.

happy crazy days.

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2010-05-03T15:57:00.010+01:00

day 297- From zero to hero - Back in the saddle again

Two and a 1/2months, 20 odd rehearsals, dozens of dunkin donuts and a few beers later:

'I've got a little something for ya'.

I could go on about the effort made, the achievement, how lucky I've been to have found these guys, how awesome the new songs are sounding, but instead, I'm just gonna tell you this:

I never wanted a bunch of non-descript 'yes, mam sailors' onboard, I wanted a great band, a real band, with volcanic activity within, cutting right into Drugstore's music.

That the 3 musketeers have slotted beautifully into the slightly weird shape of Drugstore, and that rehearsals, although at times, not without some pressure, were filled with joy and laughters, it's something that I could not have envisaged even in my most optimistic predictions.

I loved every minute of it.

If my mother was still alive she would probably be saying- 'Musketeers?! You cannot be serious! these guys are living-proof that angels exist - Nobel peace prix winners every single one of them.'

Yes, I can be a pain, dear, I know.

That we managed to get there in the end without a single argument is an achievement in itself. For, believe me, these guys could not have chosen to work alongside a more demanding little missy, who never settles for 2nd best, who never measures my comments, and drives the spaceship forward, battle-mode, like a madman on lifetime mission to save some precious little beast.

A tough call indeed.

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2010-03-02T15:34:00.010Z

day 235- Breakdown in the Studio

The last few weeks were spent in a hazy rush, organising rehearsals, trying things out, getting a few songs together, and doing a myriad of things related to getting this band ready to stand tall at the ICA stage in May.

A thin layer of dust now covers the portastudio, a daily reminder that since booking the gig, the focus has shifted, and all our hours seem to disappear answering emails and doing odd jobs, best suited for a PR guru or band manager.

I have also taken the decision to shake the line-up a little, hardly to do with musical ability, but something rather harder to define, and impossible to spot straight away: the right vibe and connection, the right fit and feel.

Following my instinct has paid-off and the confirmation I was hoping for came last week, at the studio in Fulham:

We were trying out a laid-back version of 'Say Hello', with a countryesque, intimate feel, with this lovely, broken, small rhythm, eyes closed and playing the softest of slides. We hit the chorus and we started singing along - "... I say hello to all the drunkheads, all the prostitutes and freaks, I say hello to all the people in the world...".

I know the lines are simple, and holding it together are the 3 most basic guitar chords any dead busker can play, but then, something happened - I broke down, I mean, I really came apart.

It was as if, from being the one who 'addresses', I too became one of the 'addressees', and so did Drugstore; and for a moment I was hovering way above the studio walls, and from up there I could see all those tiny little ants, millions of them. Each one carrying on its back a little burdensome pack, filled with their stories, their joys and disappointments. Each one making its way up a hill, and carving a unique pattern, seemingly without logic or rule, just the best way they could.

And there we were, amongst the millions, lost in a maze of an almost infinite number of paths, locked in a studio somewhere in Fulham, on a grey saturday afternoon, singing our little song with eyes closed and open hearts, while a few blocks away, Chelsea fans, in a sea of blue, tried to enliven their weekend by hoping that a ball kicked by a man in shorts, would create the perfect arch into space and end defiantly inside the net.

It touched me very deeply, and at that moment I felt the finest silver thread weaving its way around us, and creating the early outlines of the bond that has started to link us together.

The path we're carving is seldom straight, it often veers slightly into unexpected territory, but now I know that we're definitely on the right track and furiously heading in the right direction.

The Studio we've been renting out in Fulham and already feeling very attached to:

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2010-01-28T04:03:00.002Z

day 202- Drugstore ICA gig announcement

It's 4am, while the Kew neighbourhod gently breathes into peacefulness, I suddenly woke up with a setlist for the ICA gig sharp clear in my head. Might need to consider renaming this blog 'diary of a slightly crazy woman on the verge of small happiness'.

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2010-01-27T18:39:00.009Z

day 201- Drugstore ICA gig announcement

The ICA gig has just been confirmed and the cave already thrown into chaos. Just realised it's nearly 7pm and I'm yet to have some breakfast, and the daily marlboro lights' ration is lookin' dangerously low.

I'm thrilled to be playing the ICA, the perfect venue for what I'm confident will be an evening of extravagant abandon, music, heartstrings and passion.

This once rusty drugstore carousel, now just beginning to turn 'round smoothly, gracias to the much needed oil injection from the new cowboys.

Have a feeling this cowgirl won't be the only one struggling to fall asleep tonight.

Deep in the heart of London, a cowboy, a spaceman and a little monkey will also be lying in the dark, eyes wide open, dreaming about the exciting days ahead.

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2010-01-21T17:04:00.075Z

day 195- meet the new cowboys - is that a gun in your pocket...?

Ils sont arrivés! The supersonic cowboys have landed and bringing along a truckload of hope and spark into the Drugstore chest.

I hope that Drugstore fans all over the Galaxy will open their hearts, as I have, and give them the warm drugster welcome they deserve.

I wanted to end-up with a 4-piece band that had a lot of flexibility: solo acoustic, duo-acoustic, 3-piece trashy-electric, and the full-on line-up, with mariachi on stand-by, so we can face the music, whatever the weather.

We'll be spending the next couple of months locked away in rehearsals, but going by the few hours already shared in the studio.

God bloody bless every single one of them for rising up to the great Drugstore challenge!

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2010-01-20T12:01:00.099Z

day 193- the good, the bad and the ugly - the search for cool cowboys

About a month or so ago, with sonic-goggles on, and relying on word-of-mouth and some facebookin', I set off in search of a brand new line-up of drugstore cowboys.

I was a bit surprised by the amount of people who applied, but also disappointed that so many came from another Planet. A MySpace page featuring songs by Billy Joel, or a Hard-Rock tribute band, would guarantee they'd be sent straight to the 'rejects' folder, which was rapidly growing at an alarming rate. It was obvious that to bypass the dirt, I would need to apply some serious sieving to get to the precious gold nuggets I was after.

I began to dread the whole MySpace experience: 7 minutes to load and build-up excitement, only to be crushed down within the first few bars of yet another 4 nondescript dull blokes, bashing some average forgettable crap. Nothing stood out. I started to understand why so many were hoping to join our band.

There were jazz guitarists, session players, death-metal lovers, under-age indie-kids, poets and downbeat songwriters, ex-rockers and pretty much everything else in between

If they managed to pass the MySpace test and could write a vaguely coherent email, I'd then set-up meetings at the Troubadour Cafe in Earls Court, for further inspection.

the troubadour cafe, scene of dozens of disappointing meetings:

I'd be sitting there from 10am till late afternoon, meeting cowboy after cowboy, and would head home hoping that the following batch would wield a better crop. Those who failed to pay for their own bleedin' cafe lattes were also instantly dismissed, regardless.

Having passed the cafe/pub test, I would then set up a proper rehearsal in a studio or at the Cave, for an acoustic bash.

To the handful of musicians who managed to get as far as the Cave or the studio: take pride, you guys were the 'good ones', but for some reason or other, didn't quite match what I was looking for.

People tried all sorts of tricks to get into the 'audition stage', from offers to pay my rent and free recording studio time. But it would take a lot more to impress monteiro, an awful lot more.

another would-be cowboy fails to impress monteiro.

Another, Matty, a kid from Manchester, rejected for being too young for drugstore's 'lived-in' factor, and being too far from the Cave, re-applied as 'Matt, 20-something, who is thinking of moving to London'. Impressed by his cunning persistence, I set-up a meeting. He turns up with this massive back-pack, looking as fresh-faced as I suspected:

- "So, er...Matty, is that your Fender-Twin in your backpack?" -

- "Erm...no, erm... actually, I've decided to move to London, wanna give, like, Drugstore 100%..., and, like, can I... like ...erm...stay with you, like, tonite...?

As tempted as I was to give Matty the audition of his life, and really make him grow a decade in an evening of rock'n'roll debauchery at the Cave, common sense prevailed and he was sent away with an autograph and directions to the YMCA at Center Point.

Another would-be Monkey-drummer replied:

"Dear Isabel, really wanna give this a go, love your music. But, this monkey-costume thing, is it just a gimmick for promotional photos, or is it something you are going to incorporate into the live scenario as well? I think it would be too hot and sweaty to wear the full costume for a whole concert, you think?"

Then came the painful process of mass-mailing out dozens and dozens of rejection letters.

A few cool guys managed to turn their disappointment into an opportunity, and offered their services as roadies. A very smart move and a lesson to us all. But, others didn't take it quite so well:

Having checked this guy's MySpace, and confident that being a 'metallero' in "Death-Skull" was not going to be right for Drugstore, I sent him my standard, non-suicidal rejection, friendly reply:

"Hi xxxx, I'm sorry, but you're just not quite right for us - as we're hoping to work with people who are coming from roughly the same indie musical stable, if you know what I mean. You're probably a great player, just not the one we're looking for. Best of luck w/ your music, life, everything x - isabel."

But he replied:

"Quite how you make that judgment defeats me, "coming from roughly the same indie musical stable"? Is about as meaningless a phrase as I've ever heard, have you considered a career in politics?! I'm not being bitter, perhaps you were just being kind. Does seem a shame though as listening to your demo's I felt quite a resonance, I heard tinges of Neillson in the songwriting and he's a big influence on me, though my leanings are darker. Keep me on file and when your sitting in the studio all alone and the rest of your band have got married and had babies and started knitting yoghurt, and you need a high planes drifter to come in and play, drop me a line, I'll still be gunslingin. bon voyage."

Oooh, temper, temper!

Some of the people I've turned down, came from the right stable, were great players, who'd been playing with decent indie bands, but they formed what struck me as the worst category of them all: the bitter ones. Each one with a long string of angry tales against previous managers and band members, slaggin' off the music industry and everything around it. I don't like that. Bitterness is the one emotion I have never had any space for neither in my heart nor in my music. We've all had terrible moments when we've found ourselves knee deep in disappointment, but, as every seasoned traveller will tell you, in life, to have a cool ride and to keep moving forward, it is essential that your heavy luggage is zipped safely away, for the heart must remain open, and real smart cowboys travel light.

The more people I met, the more obvious it became that what I was looking for just doesn't grow on your average Fender-Twin tree.

To be in Drugstore takes a lot more than just being a great musician, that's just the starting point. I was looking for truly special individuals: creative and smart, charming and witty, people with emotional depth, who would fit in nicely within the band's ethos, and above all, people with the 'drugstore factor': stardust.

I think I've found them!

(oh.. but how wrong you were, miss monteiro , as it would take many a painful auditions and nearly a whole year later till the goodloot was found -jun/2011).

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just published the post, checked my emails and here we go again, this one from a guy who's based in Antarctica! That's pretty 'cool' huh?

"Love your music, so it's great to here you're getting all fired up ready to get recording again. I thought I'd try my luck with you guys, when you're on a roll, you're on a roll! I'm from Cornwall originally, 29 years old and I'm currently working in the Antarctic as a mechanic for the British Antarctic survey, ironically enough, it's colder back in the UK at the moment than it is here!!! Global warming? I'm returning to the UK in April and I'll have some time and some cash to support myself, so I thought I'd put my name forward to you guys. Take it easy, Nxxx Xxxxx - Vehicle mechanic/Halley research station/Antarctica/British Antarctic Survey"

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2010-01-17T08:22:00.004Z

day 190- the link between us

Here's a link, in case you still haven't found it:

British Red Cross Haiti Earthquake appeal

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2010-01-07T17:34:00.003Z

day 180- the missing 7 years and the long journey to the cave

*update*

Having received such an overwhelming response for the 'Missing 7 years journey to the Cave' entry below, I want to clear a few points, as I fear we might end up with a misplaced canonization of miss monteiro, and I have no inclination whatsoever to dish out holy water.

read on:

7 years journey - *update*

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2009-12-30T00:46:00.006Z

day 172- the missing 7 years and the long journey to the cave

Every time I meet someone I'm burdened with the same questions: 'what happened to drugstore? where was I in the past 7 years? why did I stop the band?' As much as I love telling a story, refreshments provided, it's such a long and traumatic tale, that I find it a bleeding pain having to go through every single detail over and over again.

It's a good story and one that needs to be told.

So, for the record, and hopefully for the very last time, I will tell you what really went down, and why it took me 7 long years to pop my head out of the cave. Bring on the violins, the bottles of wine, let's get some clouds going, read on!

the missing 7 years and the long journey to the cave

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2009-12-25T16:57:00.020Z

day 168- xmas at the cave

Dear Drugsters,

To celebrate my first xmas at the Cave and to say thanks to all you good people out there, who have kindly been following this mini-adventure, I invite you to step inside the cave for some drugstore festive fun:

'Wilkomen, Benvindo, Welcome etc to the Xmas at the Cave - Drugstore style'

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2009-12-09T14:59:00.010Z

day 152- when cowboys die, a drugstore tragedy in 3 acts

The last couple of weeks I've been meeting up with potential new musicians for the Drugstore ranch, as I see it as the only viable way to move forward and remain 'alive' as an artist. It's fitting that I'm doing it right at this most melancholic time of the year, when caught at the end of a deep glass of merriment wine, we find ourselves deep in reflection, and not without some sadness. As with every Drugstore situation, the complexities and psychological subtleties of our paths are beyond explanation, but today I will attempt to draw a line, so I can start to look forward to whatever is in store in the future. There has been a lot of speculation and some confusion, so I'm gonna give it to you just as it is.

A simple Drugstore tragedy in 3 acts:

act 1 - matt aulich

Matt is one seriously talented, sensitive musician. I've never had to explain how a song should go, where the next chord was, I'd only tell him very briefly what it was about and what it meant to me, and he would totally get it, and come up with the most beautiful parts. Matt would love to carry on working with Drugstore, but he lives in Tasmania.

Tasmania. Christ, that's a hell of a long way away.

He suggested we work online, use a server and all that - but, that's just not a great way to create music. I need musicians who will be nearby and push me out of the cave.

Matt has a young family to treasure and look after, and I hope much good music ahead of him, that we had to say goodbye, is a tragedy.

act 2 - mike chylinski

Mike is, as every Drugstore fan knows, an exceptional drummer, who has two rather rare qualities for a beat slicer: subtlety and good taste. It's hard to imagine anyone better suited to play our music, or a more special individual.

So, now you're ahead of me, thinking: "we get it - Mike's tragedy is that he lives in LA, right?" But, that's only half of it. Soon after the Dingwalls gig, Mike said he was willing to pay for his travel expenses. Still, one has to wonder how often was he going to be able to fly over here. Sadly, the real tragedy, is not that he lives in California, but that, even though we had a long 7 year gap, we still argue like cats and dogs. I hoped, genuinely hoped, that after such a long hiatus, we would get on better - but the truth is, we didn't. No point wasting time wondering whose fault it is, as I came to see that it's just our chemistry, and that cannot be helped. Mike's also setting up roots in LA with an adorable young wife and a new house, just hope he finds the right outlet for his amazing creativity. He deserves it.

My life is far from a sea of tranquility, but I really try to keep it an argument-free zone. So above all, and mostly for this reason, it is a tragedy that we had to say goodbye.

act 3 - daron robinson

Just before the Dingwalls gig, and realising that we were keen on continuing the band, Daron explained that he would only like to play the occasional, once in a blue moon reunion, and that he wanted to concentrate his efforts on writing commercial songs, where the hard cash is, as he is also trying to build up a nest for his young family. Before we slay the Dragon with our snobbish indie credibility, I think it's important that we accept that people should try to do in life whatever they think might make'em happy. It's as simple as that. If trying to write for Mastercard or Take That will enable Daron and his future family happiness, I can only wish him success, for it was a real joy and treat to have him in the band. The tragedy for me is not that we're losing a guitarist, as Radiohead wisely pointed out: 'Anyone can play guitar'. Nor that we're losing adorable company, for I'm sure the New Cowboys will bring their own brand of charm and humour to Drugstore. Daron's tragedy is one I believe, himself not to be aware of. You see, occasionally, when he sang, something rather unique happened. Something that doesn't happen very often with the vast majority of artists and bands out there, that we all think are so fucking cool, real, and oh so talented. When Daron sang, it rang true. You people have no idea how rare a thing this is. When someone sings and reveals something that they themselves are not aware of, we're confronted by real slices of humanity: touching, powerful, beautiful, and very, very special. In Drugstore, Daron had that perfect little spot, where occasionally, those beautiful little gems would glint in the darkness. I now wonder If I ever made him aware of how highly I rated that, no higher quality in my books, no higher pursuit or acclaim. You see, that little something that Robinson would sometimes deliver, was priceless. That we would not see that again, is a tragedy.

epilogue - monteiro and the new cowboys

So, as you can see, it was hardly a case of Monteiro Madness, going 'round chopping heads away as if there was no tomorrow. Indeed, the decision to find new collaborators is precisely because I completely believe there is a tomorrow for Drugstore; And the more I think about it the more it becomes clear that, although heartbreaking for some, it was not such a difficult choice after all, for as often in life, the real tough decisions are defined by circumstances themselves, and we're only acting upon them.

As for the delightful Mr. Ian Burdge and his army of string players, I'm sure they'll be gracing the Drugstore stage, whenever they're not too busy with the A-listers.

So, for now I will leave the ol' cowboys to rest, with a simple lullaby, and the though that I may have not loved them that well, but have as the years went by, grown to love them very profoundly, as people, and that is everlasting.

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DEAD COWBOYS

a lullaby to the cowboys gone by.

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2009-11-27T15:04:00.012Z

day 140- cowboy, spaceman, monkey, geek

******************************************************

Help Drugstore find new cool-makers. Please spread the word, copy/blog/publish/twitt it, shout about it, if you can.

Here's the link to the FULL ADVERT:

http://drugstorevacancies.blogspot.com/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------

2009-11-27T11:52:00.009Z

day 140- all change, please

Today, having spent the last few weeks pouring over the portastudio, trying to find that elusive tremolo guitar sound, I'm ready to unleash the gathered fruits of my labour.

The process wasn't without its usual setbacks, mostly resulting from my own impulsive cock-ups. I started off working on an uptempo groovy track. Spent a good week getting it together, when realised the key was too low, so erased the whole lot and started from scratch. Another week, another key, was just about getting it ready when, once again, keen little fingers pressed the 'optimise history' button one time too many, and the whole mix went back to 'zero', I mean, back to pre-ice age Planet. A bloody disaster. Went into foetal position, under the duvet, which I have now discovered to be a great way to cope when things are just a little beyond my limit - a cave within a cave, where I can wallow in my own stupidity, without having to give satisfaction to the rest of the Universe; a handy tool.

Having recovered, and now in considerably better mood, decided against re-starting the same track, and thought it would be best to work with a different song; approaching the 'optimise history' button in the portastudio with utmost care, as if performing minute hole in the heart surgery. Will not make the same mistake again, but if my unreliable memory serves me well, same thing happened on the previous session, didn't it? oh well, this time I really mean it - honestly!

Anyway, from that point onwards things went pretty smoothly, the only difficulty was trying to balance real life demands and the need to spend completely undisturbed time in the Cave.

I had taken quite a bit of time off in September, so October was pay back time, a real drag. But all that commuting time was put to some serious contemplation, and having reflected upon the needs of the band and the music, decided this is the right time to bite the bullet, leave the safe-house, and look for new musicians to collaborate with. It's really no good working with people who live on the other side of the planet, or who'd only wish to get together once a year. That would not do the new material any justice or meet my own desire to go out there and say 'yes' to whatever may come our way. Everyone I have worked with in the past, Mike, Daron, Ian, Matt, Ollie and others, each and every one has left a trail of beauty, each has made a real contribution, made a real difference. I can only wish that their own next chapters will be as exciting as my own. And who knows, one of the 'ol cowboys' may even make a guest appearance at some point in the future.

Although, it would be silly to deny that I'm the eye of Drugstore's hurricane, I truly believe that it is only with the addition of other musicians that we can brew-up the perfect storm. I think my little demos are charming and give some idea where I'm heading, but it's a 2-dimensional picture, only the input of other cool musicians can add depth, colour and dimension, bring the unexpected into the mix.

Someone suggested in that post about the 'State of the Music Industry', that I should grab my guitar and just go gigging/recording on my own. I could do it, and no doubt would probably make more money that way rather than with a full band, but that's hardly the reason why I've opened up the cave windows. I'm here because I believe the music is worth it, and the music can only be fully realised with some great people involved.

Hope you guys will enjoy the new demos, I'm already plotting the next lot, but for now we should concentrate on finding new musicians. I want to gig in early spring, will do it on my own with just an acoustic guitar, if need be, but hoping that by then, we will have a full-house in the deck.

How you can help: I'll be posting an advert (of sorts) about the New Cowboys, just spread the word, copy/paste wherever you can, let your neighbours know about it. Let's go find those cowboys!

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2009-10-14T14:35:00.008+01:00

day 96- The state of the Music Industry

Last week, in between demoing a few new songs and earning a pauper's living, I met up with a few Music Biz soldiers. The meetings could not have been more enlightening or interesting, as I try to catch-up with all the deep changes that have shaken'n'stirred the music industry to a mushy granita pulp.

the rest of the ramblin' essay is here:

'A New Model for the Music Biz?

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2009-09-26T13:22:00.047+01:00

day 78- name the new song & share Nobel prize with me

----------------------------------------------------------------------

* competition now closed *

145 entries! Thanks everyone for taking part, it was a lot of supersonic fun.

Winner:

Black Holes & Broken Hearts (Paul Fletcher)

Runners-up:

Einstein's Little Helper (Glen Robins)
All that Matters (John A Fotheringham)
Masterplan b (Angela)
Pretty Accident (Ant Standring)
Heaven Knows I'm A Drugster Now (Katie Ken)
Cavegirl Theory (Gary S)

A full list w/ all the suggested crazynames is on the drugstore facebook page. I have now deleted all comms. as blog was getting a little heavy. ----------------------------------------------------------------------

..."Dear Drugstore Citizens,

As an antidote to the post-gig blues, the colder weather upon us, and to dispel the long unfounded myth of only writing blood-stained, heartbreakin' songs of misery and loss, I've decided to unleash a little tune to lighten-up the mood. It hardly classifies as a b-side, but nevertheless, it cunningly answers some rather tricky questions about the Nature of our Universe.

It is YOUR job to NAME the TRACK.

So, think you can do it? go ahead, drugster, make my day..."

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Black Holes & Broken Hearts - Nobel Prize competition tune

2009-09-19T12:12:00.011+01:00

---------------------------------------------------------------------- day 71- scary monster arrives at the cave

Today, a monster turned up at the cave. It's big, hard-edged, with sharp bits sticking out, and made of cold metal. I'm just sitting here, sipping nescafe, staring at the beast and planning my strategy, my next move.

As a young reckless teenager I was pretty fearless; I look back at some of the stuff I've done with a mixture of trepidation and pride. Crazy stuff. Like hitchhiking the whole coast of Brazil, or taking the doomed 'train of death' into the depths of the desolate Paraguayan countryside. I was only 14 then, and like most people that age, had absolutely no concept of danger, and therefore, no fear. I would ride a noisy Honda 125cc on the motorway between São Paulo and the coast without a helmet, and then swim out into the sea, until I could no longer see the shoreline.

I turned 18 and a string of terrible accidents happened. Like a pack of cards that came tumbling down, one by one. First, I had a serious road crash, as a passenger. Car ended-up upside down and all I remember was that the stereo was still on really loud and I couldn't work out how to switch it off, as the buttons all seemed to be in the wrong place. Soon after that, my young husband died in a similar accident, and that I definitely don't wanna talk about.

A few months later, a best friend died on a motorcycle, on the same road we used to ride together, heading towards the beautiful coast between the north of São Paulo and Rio estates.

That was it, I guess. Pretty much overnight I became someone who's totally scared of things that can move by itself, things with wheels and made of steel.

A year or so later I was given a car. Despite the lessons and instructors that came and went, I never managed to get it out of the garage. Used to sit in the car and burn up the battery just listening to the stereo for hours on end.

Following year, decided that cars were too big for me, bought another bike, but again, couldn't ride it. Had this overwhelming sense that the machine was so much more powerful than myself, I would not be able to control it.

Even cycling, or skateboarding, horse-riding or just a pair of retro 4-wheel-rollies became objects of distrust and fear.

I then came to Europe, grand-tour, backpacking, and it was a relief to discover that you can be motion-scared in a city like London, that has such a comprehensive public transport system. I soon discovered the joys of mini-cabs and only occasionally would miss the ability to just get up and drive somewhere else.

I have no idea why people spend years and money going to university to study psychology, in an attempt to decode and understand the obvious. The answers are always right there, in front of us, hardly need a diploma to work those things out.

So, following my own micro-process of true emancipation, I have now bought a bike. A retro-shopper, for all those emergency rides, when I really need to lose myself in wilderness, with basket attached, for whatever I may find and collect on my adventures.

Sounds ridiculous, but it did cross my mind to get some extra stabilizers, you know the ones, mini-wheels kiddies have on their first bikes. But it then occurred to me that I would be cheating, trying to lean on something and not really confronting the beast.

I have a few pressing challenges ahead of me, and it would be easier to just lean on the things I'm familiar with, but deep inside I know that changes which at first can look terrifying, are more often than not, just what the doctor ordered.

So, from this day forward, no more leaning.

Now, all I have to do, is grab the little beast by its horns, and take it for a ride.

Go girl!

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2009-09-18T15:57:00.007+01:00

day 70- these boots were made for laughing

Following an unusually hearty breakfast in the most agreeable company of Le Agent Gig Provocateur, Mr.Farmer, spent a few hours resetting-up the mini-studio and getting rid of the remainder of the gig's paraphernalia.

I was just about to throw those infamous pair of boots away, when decided to take a quick shot, before sending it to its final destination= the bin. It's often a sign that we are indeed ready to move forward, once the source of pain and disaster, has turned into an item deserving of ridicule and laughter.

So, dear drugsters, it is with a heart filled with light joy and a voice inside now whispering: "beware of the impulse buy, crazy child", that I offer you a close-up of that most unsuitable gig-wear: 2 sizes bigger than my own, bought on Ebay for less than a fiver, and lasted oh...I'd say....half a block before I even got into soundcheck, sent promoter on emergency errand looking for super-glue and depleted the venue and both bands of all available gaffa-tape.

The Dingwalls chapter is now closed.

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2009-09-10T15:49:00.016+01:00

day 62- drugstore re-opens for business

Today, a beautiful sunny afternoon, I have opened-up all the windows and been going 'round the cave collecting little bits and pieces, the left-overs from the Drugstore Gran re-opening. There are unopened cards (a love-letter perhaps, one hopes), half-empty glasses of wine scattered about, setlists, and a variety of post-gig, post-party objects to be inspected, analyzed, digested and then filed or deleted, as appropriate. This morning, spent a decent share of the gig's earnings (probably a very small amount for most, but a minor fortune for miss monteiro), at the local Gardening Center. Not very rock'n'roll, I agree, but as you will see in due time, it makes perfect sense.

My mind is still wheeling 'round the Drugstore Carousel, snapshots of the past month, interweaved with the emotions that culminated at that Dingwalls' dingy stage, on a nondescript monday night.

The evening had been planned to the utmost detail, the band's backstage rider sent with specific instructions for cloudy, non-sparkling lemonade. As we know, no amount of hardcore planning can avoid the inevitable fact that, shit will happen.

Events take a life of their own, there are so many things, so many people involved, that at some point, you just have to let loose of the reigns and hope that everyone's riding roughly in the same direction.

Throughout the process, a variety of unexpected things happened, some were great, others, not quite so. People may find it charming that my brand new pair of boots had to be gaffa-taped down at the venue, or that the band, following a storming argument, managed to lock themselves out of the rehearsal studio. Some of those things, I could have done without, but have learnt that, given enough time, the tragic and the pathetic, will eventually become funny additions to our future memories.

But out of all the crazy, unexpected things that went down, none more so captured the spirit of this band, than the first few anarchic minutes of the gig itself. I forgot to turn the volume of the guitar up and from that moment on, our drugstore was truly re-opened. Shambolic, lovable, crazy and dangerously real. I could talk about the songs, the band, the guests, the fact that Aquamarine was lovely, but the key too low for me (will re-demo it, as I think it's worth the effort), but I don't think I need to. It was a wonderful evening at the drugstore, and both staff and customers alike seem overjoyed with the goods on offer, and I hope will be coming back for more. The amount of post-gig messages received seems to point in that direction.

This Drugstore will remain open, whether we will be able to have the same transcontinental line-up every time it is doubtful, but I am confident that having a little flexibility on that front, will guarantee that we don't have to wait another 7 years for yet another evening of beautiful drugstoreness, or that monteiro's gonna be locked-up, back in the shadows of the cave. I will go back to my demoing-songwriting mode, and will be shortly organising the next drugstore outing. I feel that the Dingwalls gig was just the beginning. By stepping out of the cave I have now planted the seed, you guys supporting us is the water we need to keep going (yes, yes...I know, yet another El Dodgyo metaphor 'springs-up' out of nowhere...- but 'cmon guys, give me a break, having spent past 6 years in the grey slums, and now living in beautiful cave in the heart of leafy kew gardens, got to let me have a bit of green fun!).

So, yep, it's all about seeds and water and little cute flowers that you don't bloody know the name of cropping up and making the whole stinking world a little bit better for it.

Drugstore have something small to offer, probably not terribly valuable to most, but something that is unarguably unique, ourselves.

pic by John Marshall

pic by Gary Simpson

the cave, post-gig gardening center bonanza.

---------------------------------------------------------------------- Drugstore Re-opens for business:

vid by Michela Volpe

----------------------------------------------------------------------

2009-09-06T20:16:00.003+01:00

day 58- cowboy hats and broken hearts

On the eve of Drugstore's Gran re-opening, I wanted to say a couple of words to everyone who have just been following or taking part, in what's turning-out to be an exciting mini-adventure. Less than a couple of months ago, the cave was still hovering bellow heavy clouds, barely visible. Today it's shimmering, electric. It's been a lot of fun, a lot of craziness, a few stumbles along the way, and some wonderful surprises. (that's when internet went down.... and spent next couple of fun hours talking to BT engineer from Bombay... will post full post-gig-report once bodyparts are fully serviced and put back together)

the cave, on the eve of the gig...

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2009-08-23T16:10:00.006+01:00

day 44 - black diamonds

With only two weeks to go before El Gran Drugstore Roadshow is switched back on, having spent nearly 7 years gathering dust in the corner, I've been wondering what is going be like to, once again, set up camp alongside Mike and Daron, and all the other lovely characters that have travelled along the way with us. Will the old magic still be there? Will it shine?

We'd spent so much time touring, probably a little more than we should have had, but I can confess, that although soundchecks and interviews can become a bit of drag after the 500th time, I have never, not once, felt bored or not excited about any of the gigs. From big Festivals to tiny rooms, every single show had the same sense of occasion and importance to me. I have not counted, but I probably must have sung 'Superglider' hundreds of times, and every time, without fail, I'd tremble at the prospect of that highway, where someone was gone for good.

Some of the emotions contained in some of the songs are absolute - they can never change. It is like looking at a picture. I don't look at it everyday, but every time I do, it stirs the same reaction within.

I will now tell you a Drugstore Road story, one that I think, says something about us.

Most British bands tour the US in the summer. I have no idea why, probably because the venues are available or some other reason that I don't know of.

The summer's fine in the big cities, like LA, Austin, NYC, as there's always people, and we'd always managed to sell out. But somewhere between the east and west coast, you travel through a lot of 'University Towns', that in July and August turn to dustballs, as all the students head back home, and you're lucky if you spot a moving tumbleweed.

We had just finished a tour supporting Leonard Cohen's son, which had been a great laugh, we'd blown the poor guy offstage each and every night, even his crew just wanted to hang out with us.

Supporting bands get a great kick out of a situation like that. So we were tired, but on a high. Finished the tour and went-off to do a few dates of our own. The schedule was preposterous, sometimes we had 2 or 3 gigs on the same day - plus the usual malarkey of radio sessions and interviews. It was exhausting.

We turn-up to do this gig in a little University Town in the middle of nowhere, in the mid-west, which was almost completely deserted.

Did soundcheck and went off to get some mexican food.

Just before the venue was due to open, the owner talks to our tour manager, the memorable Steve Boynton. He says - "Look guys, there's a wedding party happening tonight, the mayor's son, no one, I mean, no one's gonna come and see this little english band. Why don't we cut our losses, I'll send the staff home early, pay you guys 80% of your fee, and you guys can have a night off?".

When Steve told me, I was not pleased: "What?! No gig? Are you crazy? Been waiting all day to play, furthermore we signed a contract. We have to play, what if someone turns up?". Boynton tried to dissuade me, saying that both band and crew could do with the extra night off, but, as you guys can guess by now, the gig went ahead.

The Bar owner was right - no one, not a single soul turned-up. The wedding party was right behind the place, and from the stage, we could actually hear the loud PA blasting country songs.

We carried on playing. Half-way through the set, the bar staff, 3 in total, had left their posts and were sitting by the stage, listening on.

By 'Solitary Party Groover' one of the staff had joined us on stage on tambourine.

Finished the set, to the cheers of our audience of 3, who were shouting for more. Went back onstage and played for an extra 1/2 hour, as if nothing else could have been more relevant or important.

Got paid. Went back to the sleeper-bus, had a couple of Jack'n'Cokes with band and crew. Went to sleep as happy as a girl can be. We had just played a great gig.

no expenses spared for the upcoming Dingwalls gig:

----------------------------------------------------------------------

2009-08-20T09:22:00.010+01:00

day 41 - of weeds and grasses

This is a personal story, but one I hope, drugstore fans may be able to identify with.

---

The scene: a conversation of the school Headmistress and a pupil, a troublesome 10 year old girl. The Headmistress is trying to explain that life is like one beautiful football pitch, where every season, since time began, the Head Gardeners take great care and put much effort into keeping the lawn in perfect condition. But every now and again, and particularly during the rainy season, a few little weeds spring up here and there uninvited. The weeds are quickly removed, as soon as they're spotted, for the grass must remain as homogeneous and as weed-free as possible, so the games designed by man can run smoothly, and everything can remain as pleasant as everything ever was and will always be.

The Headmistress then explained that most people are like grasses, they are ever so slightly different, but roughly the same shape. They grow through life as units, but together they form the whole base of society. A few others though, are like weeds, although from the same basic material, their shape is different and they stick out in the fields. Some welcome their arrival, arguing that they add colour and variety to the picture; but most feel uncomfortable, for they bring an unsettling edge, as if deserving of more sunlight. She then said that, together, grasses and weeds formed the full picture. And that each had their own particular form of beauty. The grass on the football pitch could only be appreciated from a distance, whereas the weed's delicate beauty, from a closer inspection. And If you were a grass, you should take comfort in the fact that you will never be on your own. And that if you were a weed, you should make the most of the extra sunlight, but must be ready for the gardener's fork, for it will inevitably come.

---

I have previously stated my obsession with shapes, and have now made the connection that, in Drugstore, I've found a place where I don't need to fear the gardener's fork.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

2009-08-08T13:32:00.043+01:00

day 29 - rough demos released from the cave!

from the Oxford dictionary: rough• adjective: 4- lacking sophistication or refinement. 5- not finished tidily; plain and basic. 6- harsh in sound or taste. 7- not worked or correct in every detail.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

*** w a r n i n g ***

This is just a random selection of a few new demos.

1. if you can, listen on Headphones. 2. this stuff is For Your Ears Only, I trust you guys! - 3. Enjoy!

---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 - LIGHTS OUT

This was written last week, on the new guitar. Seems to capture my own predicament, standing at the edge of the cave.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

2 - AQUAMARINE, a duet

This is meant to be a duel of two desperados. Beware, as I'm doing both His and Her's Vocal parts, and had to impersonate the voice of a broken Hombre!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

3 - ANATOMY

This is a point of reflection. I keep adding more and more dubs. One of these days the portastudio is gonna turn to me and say - "I just can't take it anymore...". This is an edited version, as the track goes on forever.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

4 - CLOUDS

This was written this week, in the wee hours, at the end of a long night at the cave.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

2009-08-02T20:13:00.012+01:00

---------------------------------------------------------------------- day 28 - looking out of the cave window

On the eve of the release of a few of my demos, which may well be in future referred to by drugstorelogists, as the 'primitive cave sessions', I've been thinking about how over-precious most artists are about their output. Every micro-dot, every single note and action is scrutinized ad-infinitum by a team of well-meant professionals, who all share a vested interest in that artists' work, and of course, by the artist himself and collaborators.

I have spoken to a couple of people who could not understand why I would want to put some sloppy little demos up for public scrutiny, as they argued that, given that fans have been waiting for so long, they could well wait for a little longer. They meant well, but failed to understand that the reason why I decided to do this is rather more complex than at first glance; It's not merely about putting a few home-demos up on a blog, which is a small thing for any musician to do, but it's about stepping out of the cave, which is for me, some step.

Although I don't want to go into details, as that would be spoiling the book ('My life at the Drugstore' maybe?...!), to have any understanding of the present, we need to have some grasp of what preceded it.

The past 7 seven years went by like a hurricane. At first, it was a gentle summer breeze. Then, as the party was truly over - and there was some serious tidying-up to be done, drugstore's little helpers were back at the Pole. I had a major legal battle to deal with, which consumed the best part of the following two years; The next two were spent climbing out of the rubbles.

I have won the legal case, without any legal help, and am pleased to be out of the skip. But music did suffer, as there was simply no available space in my head.

I think a small amount of hardship is not altogether a bad thing, as it's a pretty good way to refresh your perspective and to find out the stuff you're really made of.

I did start writing again, without thinking too much about it, and met Daron last year, when we talked about doing a London show.

And so it seems, that for once, I did get my timing right!

I have no idea whatsoever what is going to happen next, just as a little over a month ago, I had no idea I would be sitting here writing a blog or recording some demos. Maybe some little label or publisher will show interest, or maybe no one will care.

You're free to love it or hate it, treasure it or delete it. I'm really not that precious.

Even if it never goes beyond 'Anatomy, the Blog', all I know is that it is meaningful to me, and that it now belongs to the soundtrack of my cave.

---------------------------------------------------------------------- day 22

Last few days have been intense, overdosing on adrenaline, ideas and lack of sleep. Did a rough mix of a new song 'Lights Out', which was written the day the new guitar turned-up.

Was pretty pleased with the result, but the following morning decided to do a re-mix, add a couple of extra dubs, but ended-up wasting the whole day trying to re-create what I'd done the night before, to no avail; So, decided to go back to the original mix, which had been done at 4 o'clock in the morning, the previous day (day - night - morning - I'm struggling to keep track). It sounds pretty rough, but I think it captures something, something I can't quite describe, something good.

Whenever I work on stuff is always this intense and a little crazy; It's like jumping into the deep blue sea, you can just about see the shore beyond in the distance, and you just keep swimming away.

2009-07-29T12:59:00.007+01:00

---------------------------------------------------------------------- day 18 how pigs make music

2009-07-28T08:17:00.013+01:00

---------------------------------------------------------------------- day 17

La Gran Guitarra arrives at the drugstorecave and the air is filled with excitement! I'm now turning-off from the known universe and switching into the sloppy recesses of my little demos. Had to take a pic with the new black-beauty, but camera no longer has a working timer, so had to pose in front of the cave-lounge mirror...

As a desaparecida, I will leave you in the company of two intrepid, but open-hearted young boys, about to embark on a great journey into the darkest corners of the human heart. My own copy of this book has been held, grasped, curled and cried upon so many times, that now, no longer with its dustcover, it more resembles an old beaten-up bible, of some mad barefooted preacher. It is painfully dark and utterly desperate, but then..., You know in the last few pages, when Billy wakes-up, after having kicked El poor dog out the night before? - (...oh man, that 3-legged beast kills me, the wretched little thing, totally fucked-up by life, but still waggin' its tail...), but for some mysterious reason he then goes on looking for el perro? Isn't that a sign that, despite the unbelievably treacherous evil descent, there still remains in the heart of everyman some need to connect, a primeval string of compassion and love that links us all? Your task this week: read this masterpiece while I'm away, let's talk about it later.

"We think we are the victims of time. In reality, the way of the world isn't fixed anywhere. How could that be possible? We are our own journey. And therefore we are time as well. We are the same. Fugitive. Inscrutable. Ruthless."

http://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Cormac-McCarthy/dp/0679760849