More Fig gig news...

Hi Figsters!

The Fig are now playing at the Ark on 1st July (see gig list in the side panel for details). Be great if you can come along and shake off the not-quite-the-middle-of-the-week-yet blues.

Keep on Figgin'!

Album Launch Gig (But not our Album!)

Just a quick newsflash to say...
We have been asked to support Ten Storeys High at their album launch night at the Voodoo Rooms on Friday 27th June.

We are on stage at 8.30 prompt and it's free to get in, so no excuses! There will be press etc. there so we'd be keen to get as many folk along to support us and cheer for the Ten Stories boys too. Should be a fun night.

Colin (Usher) from Ten Stories High said nice things about us on his blog too... (Colin Usher's Blog: Hoochie Fig Blatant Plug)

K-Fig

I've got blisters on my fingers!

Figs!

Great to see you all over the weekend at gigs in Peebles and Edinburgh - and to meet new Figlets who've joined the mailing list - thanks!

Saturday at Fondoo was a blast - thanks Ken and Colin. Great guitar work and songs from Kristian Labak. I didn't get chance to speak to Kristian though (Did you Keef?). Katie and the Dull Fudds were cool too. They reminded me of early Gong - and I told them so. "Who the hell are Gong?" they said. So off I went talking about Radio Gnome, pot-head pixies and flying teaspots. A little later I came round in the toilets, with no Fudds, dull or otherwise, to be seen. Gecko3 were as groovy as usual. Apologies to them if the ad lib Fig backing singing behind the 21st Century recording device has made the gig recording worthless. What can I say, we were having a good time man! Get back in the Vaaaaaaan!

Oh yeah, and Hoochie Fig played too. Seamed to go down well though I wasn't there. Well my body was, but I didn't seem to have control over it. Felt like I was tied to a chair watching someone else control me and that someone didn't have a clue. Anyway, hopefully no one noticed. Keith was fine I think.

However, the next day, we had a gig at Hamiltons, Edinburgh and Keith was a bloody mess! You'd think we were about to perform in front of Neil Young and Bianca Beauchamp! (their Canadian nationality is a coincidence) Jees, I wish. I was fine though, fully in control again. Stress is a wierd thing. Keith figged fine of course, having put in his mind an image of Bianca with big grey side-burns and Neil in a latex catsuit and high heels. I really enjoyed the gig and again, thanks for the great feedback and interest from those who figged with us!










The Fig draw inspiration from Great Canadians.

So what next? Well, we've got to get more gigs! But we have to get our recording finished and the debut Fig album packaged and delivered. It has been a long time coming. Some demo mixes of the new recordings are in our MySpace and will be here soon.

So watch this space and keep on Figging!

Tim Fig

TWO FIGS FALL OFF EDGE OF WORLD!

Well hello there!

It's been a while my bloggy chum(s)... we have been very lazy figs indeed. We left you alone for a while but now we need you to summon your strength once again, click the mouse and read some slightly drunk, pot-bellied meanderings... and maybe come to a gig or two.

So what's been going on since Christmas - the last time any new content worked it's way out of our fingers and onto the wobble-u-wobble-u-wobble-u? Read on MacDuff!

Village People

The 30th December gig at the Village in Leith was a brilliant night. Good skills (as monsiuer le hooverfish would say) to those of you who made it, see you next year to those who didn't! We had excellent support from Gerton Govers and the chaotic, mighty and late (grrr..) Dead Beat Club. I joined them to ruin their set and therefore ensure that we appeared even more glorious when the time came to Fig.

Most of the assembled audience (that's you guys) seemed to enjoy it and since they even bothered to show up, most were invited when we removed to my abode apres gig to consummate the evening's entertainment with a "Pass the Guitar" session that has my downstairs neighbours in Ninja Karaoke mode every Friday night since - so's I learn my lesson I suppose! (Sorry Gwen!)

My wee boy Murphy even got up at 4am to join in (shyly at first - he's only just 3 years old! Aww! Hope social services don't read this).

A top, top, night. Andy Tucker gave up drinking for a month afterwards. He was drinking actual pint glasses of Gin and Tonic though, kindly provided by my darling wife, Jennifer. Not sure why she was trying to burst his liver. Perhaps she thought was entertaining the ghost of Mr. Oliver Reed?

After that, the first "dry" Hogmanay in nigh on 20 years was witnessed in the Paton and Tucker households. ROCK, and indeed, ROLL.

The biggest shout out of the evening though indesputably goes to the 3 hardy souls who sat through our sound check and me swearing and stressing about Andy and crew being late and then liked us enough (or were drunk enough) to want more! They stayed to the end of our set and I have only just managed to et around to adding them to our mailing list - they're probably sitting at home right now going "who the f**k are Hoochie Fig?". Never mind. Fig love to you guys anyway!

The Other Stuff That Happened Since Christmas

The Album

We have managed to nearly finish 7 out of the 11 songs for our album, due out whenever we get it finished! We have struggled with self-doubt, "psycho-aural impairments", and a variety of recording locations so far. Things are sounding really nice though and the Fig are pleased with the ripening fruits of our labours. The man known as Andy the Cellist has been instrumental (if you'll pardon the rather cheap pun) in helping us realise our ambitions for a couple of tracks so big up Andy!

Other peeps who have assisted us so far, besides the aforementioned Andy, include: Paul Gilbody (double bass), Ewan Beck (electric bass) and Hooverfish (drum programming, light engineering, spare ears). Shouts to them too!

New Songs

As if there isn't enough to do, some new songs have also been written since the turn of the year. It's one thing you just can't stop - like when Tim opens a fresh pack of McVitie's Chocolate Digestives!

So since I wrote 'em and then showed them off at a wee Songwriter's slagathon some pals and I had, I thought I'd share them with the readership. Have a wee gander at the links below and let us know what you think. One of them'll be on the album (it's been partially recorded already). Some of this is work in prgress, so comments please.

-> Stain Training (working title)

-> Out of This Will Come Sunshine

Old Songs

We have resurrected an ancient song entitled "Can't Rely On Men". It's been rehearsed and shows all the potential of becoming yet another Fig classic. Rearranged and gently coaxed back into life by the genius of "Fygnamics", we look forward to presenting it to you at our next gig (spot the segue!)...

GIGS - Yes, that's right, GIGS!

We have managed to drag ourselves away from the mixing desks and headphones and home poured fine malt whisky for 2 gigs in April. Typically, they're on two consecutive days. We're calling it a Mini tour, since it involves playing in two quite separate geographical locations.

So it's off to Peebles on Saturday 19th April for Fondoo at the Eastgate Theatre (doors 8pm). Also on the bill are the excellent Kristian Labak and the mighty, superlative, groove inducting, 3 piece: Gecko 3. Aaaiiiiight! Come tae Peebles, it's braw! If you get there in the afternoon, you can have cream teas in the town and browse a vast selection of knitwear and textiles. Lovely.

Then to Hamilton's in Stockbridge, Edinburgh, on Sunday 20th April, for a set at Kerbside Prophets - an excellent early evening musical showcase that coerces musicians into touting their wares in return for some free beer and scran. Chris, you are a genius! We're on at 6pm. Come along. Bring the kids (it's kid friendly too). After all, Sunday is by far the best night of the week to go out and have a few wee jars - it's sooo naughty!

Thinking about firing up to Spectrum 08_v1 afterwards (at the Queen's Hall) for a bit of post gig relaxation...

Et Fin

Ok. If you got as far as this bit, I bet you're tired out. I could go on all night, being that I'm stranded in one of the plushest hotels in Dublin with a belly fool of Thai food and Erdinger Weissbier, but I won't. Hope you enjoyed this post and by the time you finish reading it, the pesky gigs will be but a dusty memory and you'll be desperate to buy our album.

Nice one!

K to the F I G

Merry Figging Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Just a quick note to say Merry Christmas to anyone visiting our blog over the festive season.

We're seeing the year out with a bash at the Village Bar, South Fort St., Leith at 8pm, for free! Come and see us, the Dead Beat Club and their Dutch pal Gerton Govers. PLease come along, it'll be great if we can fill the Village up to capacity!

Love, K-Fig

Fig at Edinburgh's VooDoo Rooms, 22nd Nov

Hi Figgers

Following on from two crackin' gigs earlier this month (thanks for your support!), The Fig will be joining Ten Stories High at the VooDoo Rooms, Edinburgh on Thursday 22nd November. Get yersel' along, it's only four quid!

Parallel evolution, or has Beck been listening to the Fig?

Beck?.............................. Hoochie Fig?

Yo Figgers!

Get a load of this! Beck has a new single out. It's called "Timebomb" and bears more than a slight similarity to a Hoochie Fig track, called "Timebomb", which was recorded in the year 2000 in a bedroom in Leith. Now, I'm not accusing Beck of plagiarism - Fig forbid! - but it's a little... spooky. It is pretty unlikely that he has ever heard the Fig Timebomb, though it is possible. It has been available as a free mp3 download from the Fig web site for sometime - though currently isn't (apologies for the broken song links on the right!).

Here's the Hoochie Fig Timebomb: figTunes: Hoochie Fig Timebomb (2000)

Here's the Beck Timebomb in iTunes: Beck Timebomb (2007).

I'm not that bothered really , except that Beck is likely to make a shed load of money from his Timebomb with a mass marketing machine behind him. If only the Fig had similar support (we try our best between day jobs and nappy changes)!

Those of you who have seen the the Fig live in the last year will know that our Timebomb has more recently been rearranged into an acoustic ( and perhaps a little too theatrical!) Gram Parsons-esque lament. Figsters seam to prefer to call it The Whisky Song. This version will be available to buy soon - oh yes!

What do you think? I'm especially interested in what Beck thinks, if he happens upon this page - so get in touch Mr Hansen! The Fig dig your tunes and you'd probably dig ours. Add comments below.

love and figs,

Tim Fig