Pens Meadow School - Sensory Room

Pens Meadow is a Special School which caters for up to fifty eight pupils from the ages of three to nineteen, with severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties. They are currently raising funds for a Sensory Room.

A collection will be made at our Baseline gig on Friday 1st April in support of this venture.

April 1st - Another Band in Rehearsal

THE QUESTIONS

The third of our superb covers bands who will perform at "The Baseline" this Friday

Basement Studio - Directors

Caught in action at the opening night of The Baseline are The Studio's co-directors:

Frank Williams

James Callaghan



Baseline Opening Night Pictures (Part 6)

Baseline Opening Night Pictures (Part5)

The Picture at "The Baseline" Pt.2

Now & Forever, The Picture's second song at The Baseline's opening night. Played as a tribute to the late Steve Cutler, this song is one of Steve's own compositions. Catch the Picture again on Friday 1st April as they perform a four song set as part of our Celebration night.

Baseline - 1st April - Bands caught rehearsing!

Are they taking it seriously or not. Two of our celebration bands were captured having a quick run-through of their sets for our anniversary gig. The Narks & Eastwood were in adjoining rooms during this session, nicking songs and ideas off each other no doubt!

THE NARKS

EASTWOOD

Lazy J - Album Launch

Local heroes Lazy J launch their new album on Saturday 26th March at The Lamp Tavern. Tickets £5. Starts 8pm. Despite the fact they are using The Lamp and not The Baseline it should still be a good night.

Lazy J in rehearsal at The Basement

PENS MEADOW SCHOOL COMIC RELIEF SONG

Over the last few months i have been involved with a number of projects. Some of you may know our resident O.A.P Neville Bould who has, with my help, produced a CD.

But lets not dwell on that too long....

Another project i have worked on is to write a song for comic relief (Yes me and my business partner, Frank are Musicians too you know!!!)

I work by day at a Special School in Dudley and wrote a song for them to sing to... We recorded it using studio equipment and I played all instruments except for the Sax solo, kindly played by Neil Griffiths from one of our bands (EASTWOOD).

Please guys support Comic relief and download a copy for the reasonable price (VIA PAYPAL) of just 62p from the link below...its well worth the money and all goes to the charity....thanks guys xxx

James x

http://store.payloadz.com/go?id=929770

The Picture - Live at "THE BASELINE"

Another piece from our opening night. Fred Fieldhouse of "The Picture" has posted this video on YouTube. Lets dedicate this to Steve Cutler and thank you all again for the money raised on the night for his memorial fund. The Picture are going to do another short set at our next session on April 1st. as they strive to put the recent sad events behind them and try to earn a contract as our 'house band'....as if?

Culture - Music & Fitness

With the increasingly strong move away from traditional manufacturing, the trend is epitomised by our own situation. The previously empty unit 3 next door has now been taken over by SARACEN MARTIAL ARTS CENTRE, with unit 2 already occupied by POWER PRESS GYM. That only leaves WOODSKILL JOINERY in unit 1 as a purely manuacturing base in our compound. Out of our side gate into Cleveland Street is THE BLACK COUNTRY BOXING H.Q. Only 150 yards away is The Earl of Dudley Arms and our venue, "THE BASELINE". Quite a cultural enclave is developing albeit mainly sporting. Maybe some of our bands would like the opportunity to get fit! Somehow I doubt it!

New Drum Kit - Room 2

Continuing our programme of improvements we have put a new kit in Room 2. Trialled last night, The Premier XPK Fusion kit was described by the drummer from Tiger Shift as "brilliant". The band then insisted on the same room next week. Speaks for itself!

The kit has been fitted with new Remo Pinstripe heads and we think is a fine addition to the Room's backline.

Baseline Tickets

UPDATE

In excess of 130 tickets for April 1st have already gone with over 2 weeks to go before our free celebration night. Remember, although its free, entry is strictly by ticket. Numbers are restricted so contact us now if you want tickets. 07979 653412, text or ring and we'll reserve tickets for you.

Familiarity breeds Contempt

Tuesday morning and i reflect on the last two days at the studio. We seem to have two types of band at the moment. Those who have been with us a long time and some that are new to us.  Although this is a generalisation and does not apply to everyone, there is a distinct difference between the two types in how they treat our rooms. we don't pretend that our facilities are God's gift to the music industry, but do offer great value for money. On Sunday night one band complained, quite rightly , about the state the room had been left in by the previous band, also that they were slow and late vacating the room.
On Monday night i barely had to do anything at the end of the evening in the way of tidying up.
Perhaps ALL bands should reflect on the fact that the band following has as much right to expect the room to be "ready" as they did when they arrived, a fact that seems still to be prevalent with the new bands, but has been lost by some of our old regulars.
It's not so much common sense as respect for others, after all, we come to the studio for a good time, not to have it spoilt by some people whose idea of a "good time" excludes basic consideration for others.
Mind you, having said all that, i have been treated, over the last two nights, to some great music coming from all four rooms, which is why it is still an honour to be providing this service.
Frank.

Next Baseline Night - More Details

Friday 1st April. Doors Open 7.30 - show starts 8pm

Free entry but must have a ticket either from one of the bands or from the studio. Tickets can be ordered for collection on door. Ring or text 07979 653412.

Bands booked: The Questions - Eastwood - The Narks. Three great multi-genre covers bands with strong vocalists + special surprise guests. Cheapest beer in Dudley. The Baseline is at The Earl of Dudley Arms in Wellington Road.

Baseline Opening Night Pictures

In the four preceeding posts are some piccies of the first four bands to play on the night. I'm still waiting for my photographer to deliver the shots of Red Line Ratio and Synopsis. I'll get a few of these published asap. Thse are only a selection of the shots i've got. You'll have to beg and ply me with drink to get the rest

Baseline Opening Night Pictures (Part 4)

Baseline Opening Night Pictures (Part 3)

Baseline Opening Night Pictures (Part 2)

Baseline Opening Night Pictures (Part 1)

Dudley Music Scene

The iconic J.Bs has gone, and so has The Thorns on The Pedmore Road. Although the latter staged mainly covers and tributes it WAS live music. I notice the Windmill in Lye is also boarded up, as it has been for some time i believe. Glad we opened "The Baseline" eh! What an opening night.

The crowd at 9.00p.m.

173 through the door to see six great bands. Great, cheap beer and brilliant music.

"The Picture" on stage

Next one is on 1st April. Three great covers bands (after all i've said) to celebrate the 3rd Anniversary of the studio and the signing of a new 12 year lease. If we've got any say in it, the music scene in Dudley is very much alive. Entry is FREE but by ticket available from the Studio

New Blog

Welcome to our blog. We will use this to update you with all the latest news and information about our studio. Today we have purchased a load of new equipment (mainly cables and stands and boring stuff like that) for our venue down the road at "The Baseline". Our next gig there is a free night (you still need a ticket from us) with 3 great Covers Bands: The Questions, Eastwood & The Narks + a couple of surprise and perhaps surprising support acts. The date is April 1st (don't worry we will turn up even tho' its fools day)
More details from our site.