Indie Inspiration!

Jim Adams aka Newepicauthor, the creator of A Unique Title For Me, is hosting SONG-LYRIC-SUNDAY and this week he has chosen the theme: INDIE ROCK OR INDIE POP SONGS

I was so excited when I saw Jim’s theme for this week that I completely messed up my blogging schedule. Last weekend (when I was doing masses of training for work) I realized I had actually schedule my choice of INDIE music for Motown week!

So why so excited about INDIE? Well, it was the explosion of incredible music released by Independent record labels that led me to frequenting pubs, clubs, student unions, and many other music venues all over Manchester and beyond as a teen. I was still at school when I began working for a record company operating two independent record labels.

Photo by Dustin Tray on Pexels.com

The memories, the experiences, the sights, sounds, emotions…it is all still in my mind…and it has all provided buckets of inspiration when it came to the characters in Annabelle Riley’s story – her ex songwriter and guitarist Dean Mathers and his fellow band members.

Right now I am developing the story of Annabelle’s first few years with Dean, which includes the journey of the band – from playing in the garage at Sandy’s home, to recording a demo tape in a small studio under Gary’s supervision, to playing on college campuses, to being snapped up by a record label,…and onwards and upwards. Around twelve years after Annabelle first meets Dean, he has made a fortune from the royalties to the albums the band have released, but he is still effected by stage fright and initially refuses to go on stage at Madison Square Gardens.

Aaaah – I do love developing these characters and their story!!! Well…which bands have inspired me when I wrote about Dean’s band Mildew? Well, the theme Jim has chosen today has given me the opportunity to share with you some of the music that shaped the vision of Mildew. This is one of the primary bands – with guitarist Tim Wheeler (also the songwriter) from the band. I read that Ash started out playing in a garage, and that when they played at Glastonbury – their bassist was only twenty at the time, making him the youngest performer to take the stage at the festival.

In this post I am sharing two of Ash’s posts “Goldfinger” and “Oh Yeah” – oh so many memories. I remember being Annabelle’s age (she is fourteen when she meets Dean) and being awed by the musicians I was meeting. I cannot tell you how easy it is for me to slip into Annabelle’s mindset and how powerfully influenced she is by Dean and the band. There are other bands, other tracks, that have contributed to the vision in my mind of Mildew and these characters – Nick (singer), Dean Mathers (main guitar and song writer), Rick (bass guitarist) and Liam (drummer) and later today, I will share more indie band that keep the ideas flowing as I write Annabelle’s story.

Move closer, set my mind on fire
Taking over, the world seems so alive
The world seems so alive

She slips into the night, and she is gone
Gone to settle the score, gone into the town
Rain shining in her eyes
Her brother started school
Again today, a thought to pass the time
To occupy my mind, while I'm waiting for her

Down in the basement, listening to the rain
Thinking things over. I think it over again
I think it over again

She slips into the night, and she was gone
Gone to settle the score, gone into the town
Rain shining in her eyes
Her brother started school
Again today, a thought to pass the time
To occupy my mind, while I'm waiting for her

I'm riding it down, listen to the rain
She'll be here soon, I lie back and drift away
I lie back and drift away.

She slips into the night, and she was gone
Gone to settle the score, gone into the town
Rain shining in her eyes
Her brother started school
Again today, a thought to pass the time
To occupy my mind, while I'm waiting for her

I'm feeling so alive, feeling so real
On a stormy night, the rain is coming down
Rain like never before
I've got some records on, some bottles of wine
On a stormy night, the rain is lashing down
And I'm waiting for her

Written by Tim Wheeler

Oh Yeah she was taking me over
Oh Yeah it was the start of the summer

On warm June evenings
She would come to my house
Still in her school skirt
And her summer blouse
Talking too long as the night came on
It was the best time of my life
Her bee stung lips,
Kisses sweeter than wine
The things she whispered
With breathless sighs
The summer air was soft and warm
Her eyes were making silent demands
And as her hair came undone in my hands

Oh Yeah she was taking me over
Oh Yeah it was the start of the summer

Driving her home after midnight
I felt so good everything was alright
Her thoughts seemed so lost in the night sky
I remember everything
I don't know why these things ever send
I sometimes wish it was that summer again
I still see her in my sleep
And hear the sighing of the summer wind
Still I don't regret one thing

Oh Yeah she was taking me over
Oh Yeah it was the start of the summer
It felt just like it was the start of forever
Oh Yeah it was the start of the summer

Written by Tim Wheeler

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