Hello all,

apologies for the lack of blogtastic updates on this site. It's been a strange year in the stanley camp. We haven't managed to gig as much as last year, but the ones that we've played have all gone really well and been memorable nights. We haven't made it into the studio, but we've got 6 or 7 exciting new songs coming through, and some kind of album (or ep?) is starting to take shape.

Two gigs to mention: thanks to Andrezj (Max's Records) for putting us on at Talking Heads last month - 'twas a great night - and thanks also for Dead!Dead!Dead! for inviting us to play with them at The Joiners last Sunday. We had a great night, and are currently filling up youtube with songs from this gig (there'll be several turning up here, too). Anyone who hasn't been to see Dead!Dead!Dead! themselves yet, just do it, they'll blow your mind.

Anyway, watch this space: 2008 - year of the stanleys...

A very enjoyable evening had by all at 'The Good Ship' in Kilburn, North London last night. This is a really good venue run by actual music/arts lovers and puts on a truly eclectic mix of stuff.

Despite the horrendous journey, it felt like a homecoming of sorts (we used to live in Kilburn) and I think our bouncy set was appreciated by the indie-connoisseurs. It was an interesting night - all the music was pushing idiosyncratic buttons (in a good way) and none of the bands had a 'straight' line-up (check out: the whole schebang, wintergreen and snowy). Is this the return of 'real' indie? We were (possibly for the first time ever) the heaviest band on the bill, if only because we had no glockenspiel! If this is 1986 all over again, I'm glad. Maybe my hair will grow back...

Major thanks to Peter (from snowy) for putting the night on. Here's to more of the same...

Grand old time at the Dorch last night. Respect to Rich Hall for putting it on - no mean feat to have 4 bands (plus a solo spot from Matt Burke/rubek) playing on such a small stage. Warm-sounding debut perfomance from Waldo Salt (www.myspace.com/waldosalt) and some great singing from Matt (www.myspace.com/rubek) as well as a ferocious aural assault by Mumble and The Steamkings (http://music.aol.com/artist/steamkings/206692/main). We did a 'mix-n-match' 30 min set which was fun to play but seemed to flash by in a drunken blur. Props to Kev Sheriton who managed to play drums with 4 out of the 5 acts, and receives the 'Phil Collins at Live Aid' award for multiple performances. Top night all round...