And now Nice, France seems so far away. We've had busy few weeks planning the tour, album artwork and videos. For the first time in a very long while, the Road, and the new album is only just around the corner. We still have to pinch ourselves that it's been two and a half years , but when you're neck deep in a record that takes every last drop of sweat and blood from you that's what happens, and it then only feels a moment. We're also looking forward to the festival circuit again, and it'll be a good chance to catch up with friends and other bands, as it's been a while. Especially Oxegen in Ireland again, T in the Park and V. I'm personally looking forward to seeing Air at the Wireless in London, and The Who in Knowlesy Park too.

We had a really enjoyable night on Sunday in the Lock Tavern in Camden, London. Clash magazine organised an acoustic show that was not exactly typical acoustic and intimately quiet fare. Hundreds of people packed it to near fire capacity, and the heat and sweat was almost unbearable. Space was at a premium, so every table, chair, bar stool, bar countertop, door frame and shoulder was used by everyone for the best view. We played four new songs and four old ones, and to be totally honest, we all got a fantastic feeling from hearing the new ones be received so well, and in such a setting, as it was the first time we had ever played some of them; so to everyone there, a massive thank you from us all. It's certainly put the fire behind us now for the tour which starts next week.. (We've privately called the tour the Prohibition tour, for reasons that we can't go into here.., but i'll leave it to your collective imaginations.) Certain magazine members in their search for elevation, stood on the bar dishwasher for the gig, and managed to go through the top of it by the end. Alas who would have thought that it wasn't made for jumping up and down on. Others put on bartop dancing performances that the girls at Coyote Ugly would have been proud of. Clash put a link and some photos up at http://www.clashmagazine.com/the-thrills-rock-the-lock/.

The night went on for quite a while, and many friends and Clash people ended up back in our hotel room, garnering a new Thrills record of four complaints in two hours for the revelry and noise. Alas some people just cant deal with the lovely Dusty Springfield at full volume at three in the morning.

Bloody philistines.

So we're off to shoot the video of the new single "Nothing Changes Round Here" next week in the south east of England, and I'll put up some pictures of the shoot on line as soon it's done. Just saw Jindabyne last week which was amazing, Gabriel Byrne is phenomenal in it as always; and laughed all the way home on the plane to Dublin reading the Banksy art book, Wall and Piece.

See you all soon

Love and Mercy

Padraic

& The Thrills