Paul Henshaw

Happy Monday all!

Well to say that I'm sat here after 2 awesome gigs yesterday, totally gobsmacked at what I'm seeing on the lap top is a bit of an understatement

Yesterday was great fun first of all, the first gig at a private party was played in a dining room to 40 or 50 pissed up party goers at 4pm! What a blast that was, literally raising the roof in sing a longs.

We then packed up, loaded up and got to the next gig 20 miles away in 40 minutes and played a full 2.5 hours to a pub full of more pissed up party revellers!

I love days like yesterday 

So, the lap top thing. I can't believe that YOU! JUST LOST THE GAME, the album is at #6 in the Amazon Folk chart, the lead song "I declare shenanigans" was #1 in hot new releases and the album has even made it into the overall "ALL ALBUMS" hot new release chart at #83!

I recorded this in my bedroom with no recording experience, just proves to me IT IS ABOUT THE SONGS!

Thank you so much xxx

ph

As the new album is out now I thought I'd share some unknown facts about it

Maybe you'll find them interesting, maybe not, they are however true

The albums available on iTunes, Amazon and on CD at gigs and via the website store

Ok, here goes........

1) The "You! Just Lost The Game" album title came from a conversation about "The Game" with my good friend Tim Compton. Apparently if you google "The Game" the rules are there but basically everyone is playing it, no one knows they are, if you think about the game you've lost the game and the game only ends if the Prime minister announces in parliament that the game is officially over, and then a new game starts. I called the album You! Just Lost The Game so Tim loses it everytime his fiance Rhi puts it on in the car.

2) Braddaz had never recorded anything EVER before this album and his bodhran playing on "Bandages and Glue" was the first time he'd ever sat infront of a mic and it was his first run thru for the scratch track. When we came to record it for the album I couldn't fault it so it was never rerecorded, basically Braddaz's very first drum hit ever recorded made it onto the album.

3) While we're on about Braddaz, in "Gone" we couldn't remember the rim shots he had rehearsed so we ended up playing the beat on a chair in the studio

4) "Silence is Not Acceptance" is a true story, from a long time ago. I did throw a beercan at a policeman and it bounced off his head, I threw it because he was being obnoxious about making sure I put it in the bin. I threw it at him and it hit him and the police cars chased me up Claremont Hill and I jumped into the quarry by St Chads and buggered my ankle up. I'm not proud but makes for a fun story.

5) "Gone" was the first song I started writing and almost the last to be finished as I couldn't work out the melody I wanted. It took 16 months to write.

6) "Another Protest Song" grew from one line thats in the 2nd verse. "Now I'm too busy reading mails from a solicitor in Uganda" was about the spam emails you get saying you're the only surviving relative and theres a $10,000,000 inheritance waiting for you if you send your ban account details.

7) "Dancing in Laybys" was written in 10 minutes and recorded in 10 more. The tune popped into my head while watching a film and I ran upstairs, wrote and recorded it in 20 minutes. On the flip side to that, I spent more time on "My Last Rant" than any other song on the album as it was going to be the song that accompanied the video, which now accompanies "Silence is not acceptance" Because there is no band input to the video and its a story of a Z lister superhero "The Urban Ninja" Oliver at Intrigue Videos just swapped the songs over. 

All of Nikki's backing vocals were recorded while she was full of flu, wearing a onsie and she sat down after every line to get her breath back. She got through an entire pack of toilet rolls blowing her nose

9) After Paul C had been in and recorded his bass lines I accidentally deleted 3 of them, at least I lost them somewhere and was at the point of owning up when they magically reappeared? This is still something that baffles me.

10) The album was recorded in my studio and my studio is in the home my parents lived in before they passed away. The studio is in their old bedroom so there is every chance I was made in the same room I recorded this in.  

So there you go, the story behind the album in 10 useless facts, if Chris Tarrant ever asks you about it you'll know, my gift to you

Hope you are enjoying the album

ph

Well it's been a long rime coming but finally we're 6 days from the release of the new album

You! Just Lost The Game is my heart and soul put into 13 songs, sounding exactly how I want it to, its not totally pretty and shiney but then again I grew up in grunge and punk and non of that ever was either.

I'm really proud, I've wanted to do something like this for years and although I know its a big risk, considering the way the world expects to hear music these days but I've spent more time on songwriting, both lyrically an musically and less time on making it sound "shiney"

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, I truly hope you can see what i was trying to do

Nothing much left to do now excpet let you hear it......

Oh yeah! If anyone wants to come to the release party next Friday at Percys in Whitchurch, all are welcome. I can promise some serious shenanigans in a fabulous venue

See you down the front

ph 

I sit here, chilling in my front room, while Judge Rinder is ranting at some girl who is interupting him, puffing on a E-Cig with a coffee and life is relaxed

This weekend was not so chilled

Me and the Simpletons (less Nikki) headed off to Europe for some shenanigans with our friends Bunch of Bastards

3 gigs, 3 days, 1300 miles, easy enough right? Well, even with a broken car (Which is still in Holland by the way) having such good friends like Andries and his fellow bastards kept me sane at least 

The gigs were fabulous, and we cemented bonds with Andries, Cor, Peter, Huib (not prononced Hweeeeeb) John and Dex very early on in Germany on the first date.

What surprised me was the way the venues treated us, they all literally fell over themselves to make us welcome, including meals, drinks and in the case of the German gig in Nordhorn, somewhere to sleep! Its a pity that doesn't always get mirrored across in the UK

After Nordhorn we drove to Delft (This is where the breakdown happened) so while Braddaz and Paul headed off with the Bastards to set up, Andries the Accordian player and me waiting for a pick up and hire car.

A crazy drive to Delft and i am dropped outside the venue and 5 mins later we're heading into song #1

After being looked after by Singer Cor we got up, had a great breakfast and headed to the Merz in Dordtrecht for the last gig on this little run. A great venue, lovely people and the end of tour meal of satay chicken was IMMENSE!

It was hard saying goodbye, in the space of just over 48 hours we became huge friends, considering only Andries and I had spoken via facebook and one short 15 min conversation last year but for everyone else was a first meet up, but the road is a long one and I'm stoked to say that Bunch of Bastards will be with us in May for a reunion and 3 gigs here

I could go on about just how much these crazy guys put themselves out for us and made us welcome, lets just say they did and they proved theres more to family than just blood. You guys are FUCKING AWESOME!

So, back to it here, theres gig news, theres album news, theres video news, wqatch out for these at the weekend

BASTARDS FOREVER!

Well that was a weekend or two of highs and lows, luckily mostly highs, in fact there was only one low so happy days all round

Last weekend we filmed a show at one of my favourite venues to play. Percy’s Coffee and Curios in Whitchurch, Shropshire is the most quirky and brilliant place to play and ever since we played there for the first time back in Feb this year I’ve been mulling over filming something there. It’s just an incredible little place, stained glass windows on the stage, all kinds of fairground detritus and a sound desk built into a church pulpit!

The DVD, as yet untitled will be available at gigs and via the merch page on the website and is set for Christmas release, just so we can corner the Xmas DVD market! Sometimes even I believe my own crap :-)

The show itself was a whole ton of fun and I’m happy to say we gave some of the new songs a run out live. I’m feeling good about how they’re coming together in advance of recording.

The “unintentional” after show party ended at my house at about 5:30am, I drank too much red wine but there was another gig Saturday otherwise I think it may have just carried on till daylight.

This last weekend was spent way down south. Friday night saw me and the band (Less Nikki unfortunately) playing the last night of September Fest at The Copperhouse in Hayle, Cornwall. I got down there early and met up with Braddaz who'd been camping most of the week so after a romantic walk on the beach (I’m joking) we headed to soundcheck. Christ was the place hot? At the end of the gig I had white spots flashing in front of me but a couple of gallons of water and a kebab and I was all good again.

Braddaz and me headed back to the campsite and after a couple of beers looking out to sea I hunkered down in the back of my car for one of the most uncomfortable night’s sleep I ever had.

A cup of tea (In a beaker – remember those?) and 2 Viennese whirls that I found in the car and at 10am Saturday morning and I’m on the road heading to my buddy Ted’s house / or hospital dependant on whether he’s been discharged following a new knee op.

I only met Ted a few weeks back when I played Occombe festival in Paignton with the band but we instantly realized we’re on the same page regards to music. I was going to surprise Ted and show up to pay him a visit and maybe jam a song or two but fate played a shitty twist and any chance disappeared with a Diesel Particulate Filter issue on the car! I was gutted. It took 3 hours for the incredibly helpful AA man called Steve to get me rolling again but he did, however all chances of a surprise Ted visit had gone.

Ted supports a lot of musicians via his page Cult of SuperTed amongst other things he does including TedFest, click the link below or cut and paste if the link hasn't worked and give the page a like and show some love eh? Ted just has a great passion for helping lots of people like me who charge round the country, playing songs, and it’s just really fucking nice to get this kind of support from real music scene fans.

https://www.facebook.com/Cultofsuperted-868657813241616/timeline/

So, back on the road I was, and swiftly heading the 100 miles or so to The Cove Bar in Hope Cove, Devon to play my 100th gig of 2015! This was a real personal milestone for me but also kind of weird that so many people are involved in my musical life, those who have helped and given support and stuff and I’m playing the target gig number for the whole of 2015, on my own, with none of the family, friends, and bandmates there to celebrate with me! It also had a nice strange symmetry to it though, why should the 100th gig be a big celebration? Lots of people do it, why shouldn’t it be somewhere I only know one person (and that’s Toby the venue owner)?

The gig was an absolute blast, safe to say we got Hope Cove singing along, and it appears a good time was had by all, a great way to mark hitting three figures this year. I am reliably informed by the awesome Toby, that I will be back!

So a long drive home got me back at 5am Sunday morning and after a sleep and a day’s chilling watching the MotoGP #10forVR46, and I’m feeling almost human again

Time to restring and head into the studio to start laying some more scratch tracks down over the next couple of days before we’re off to Ludlow for a Blacksmith Hill gig on Thursday, the same in Sandbach on Friday before I play 4 solo sets at Blackberry Fair in Whitchurch before heading out to play another Blacksmith Hill gig on Saturday

Charge!!!!!!!

PH

So I thought I'd see if the text was white now and not that horrible poo colour

If this is white I'm going to man hug Mark Hambley alot when I see him!

Thought I'd share this review from Beth Hemmings of KicROCKS at KicFm

You know how people say ''To truly understand someone you must put yourself in their boots and walk around in them''? Let’s do just that for a couple of minutes, shall we? I'd like you to export yourself from your daily life, and import yourself into the rugged old boots of Salopian singer/songwriter Paul Henshaw. Together with his band of Scientific Simpletons, Henshaw's sheer passion and individualism shines through when they come together to make an electrifying and unique folk-punk sound that can only be described as atmospheric, tender and raw.

Last year saw great things for Paul Henshaw and The Scientific Simpletons, what with the release of his fantastic 3rd album 'I Refuse To Sink' which received glowing reviews across the media. It demonstrated real bold talent and songs with such meaning and lyrical excellence that it makes you want to throw yourself at their feet as you would any colossal superstar. In this album we see Paul and the band deliver such elegance through a style that can sometimes be referred to as ambiguous. Having said that, it sometimes proves difficult to find an album that, with every song, renders a different bubbling emotion within the pit of your stomach. But this is an album that can do just that. Each song is as energy filled and passionate as the next with Paul (through the lyrics) clearly reminiscing on some of his previous more anger filled songs with an almost ridiculing attitude that certainly fills any room he performs in with an entertaining ambiance.

The upbeat hit ''Irish Singer Song Writer'' appears as the second single on the album and it really sticks out, taking the listener on a poignant journey into the mind of a slightly more youthful Paul through some rip-roaring folky riffs in a rather unique way. The lyrics ''Ever since I was a boy, I played guitar and dreamt of breaking hearts'' demonstrates how rooted Paul's commitment and determination for recognition is and I think is what makes him really stand out from the crowd (apart from the obvious - he bloody knows his way around a guitar).

2014 and Paul's commitment gave him the opportunity to explore the Far East on a solo soul-searching quest through China, Taiwan and Thailand. It gave him massive album success and a smashing festival season. With the success aromatically filing through to this year, Paul has already seen prosperity within the Amazon charts with a No 2 single and ''Alone In The Crowd, My Mate And Me'', written by murdered Shrewsbury busker Ben Bebbington, reached Amazon's No 1 folk best seller. Paul has also shared stages with some of the acclaimed artists of his genre such as Newton Faulkner, the hilarious John Otway, The Orb and many more.

So, I hope at this point you're still wearing Paul Henshaw’s rugged old boots? You are? Good. Let me ask you this then; if you have had this amount of promising auspiciousness as a brash and exceptionally talented up and comer, would you be satisfied? If the answer is a resounding no then you have certainly filled those boots well, as neither is Paul. The sky is the limit for this Shropshire gent and with the level of prosperity we're seeing throughout all aspects of his musical occupation so far, I predict a career destined for individual folk-punk immortality, and rapid musical oblivion. To infinity and beyond...

BETH HEMMINGS

KicROCKS

KicFM

I am sorry, I try to change the colour of the text on this blog every bloody week but NEVER will it do what I want, anyway I'll try again

Once again another busy week leads to another, but what a life this is!

Last week "Shrewsbury pronounced...SHROOOSBURY" won the debate about how we say our county towns name (although the locals like me pronounce it Shoosbury), Nikki, Braddaz and me thouroughly enjoyed the night, and even headed out to a local open mic afterwards to support it and play a short set of new tunes.

Came home and drank way too much in a short space of time including a lush vodka watermelon. Braddaz wimped out early and I was left to finish his Wild turkey too

Felt a bit shitty Friday morning, ah well, it happens

Yesterday saw the 10th anniversary of 7/7. I can't imagine what the events of that day we're like or what they have been like since, my thoughts, and its easy to say this, are that humanity won that day. People of all races and religions came together and beat the cum that caused the deaths and the pain. The only way to beat this is to remember the people we lost, help the people who were effected and carry on like these fuckers don't exist. If we change what we do, they have won. Easy for me to say eh?

So this week, tonight Nikki and me are playing over Wolverhampton way and then tomorrow I'm on the radio with Jim Hawkins talking about punk. Punks never been about uniforms and mohicans for me, its an ethos of doing what you want, when you want, and bending the rules a bit.

Friday is a hometown gig at the Wheatsheaf, Frankwell and then Saturday I'm playing a solo show at the Shrewsbury Flaxmill. Sunday has the band playing 2 gigs, one at Alsager music festival and then a private house party for a good friend and supporter of the band for many years, not sure they know about it yet so it'll be a big surprise when we roll up.

Then it's back into working on new tunes, will get posting some new stuff up really soon

Look after yourselves

Paul