May 23 2012

Next few gigs - an announcement

It is with great sadness that we have to announce we are pulling out of our next couple of gigs, namely Evolution Emerging on 1st June and Long Division Festival on 2nd June.

Cancelling gigs is not a decision we like to take or one that we take lightly, and if that ultimate decision could be avoided in any way, it would be.

Sadly that is not the case - you can read a message from David, our tormentor-in-chief, below, which explains in a bit more detail why we have been left no other choice.

Obviously we are gutted to cancel both gigs, as they both look amazing. At Evolution Emerging we were to have the privilege of playing with an exceptional set of local bands, and at Long Division we were sharing a stage with our good mate Withered Hand (not to mention the rest of the line-up!). Furthermore, Generator - who oversee Evolution Emerging - are working hard to bring in a replacement for us, who should be announce imminently.

It goes without saying that you should still go to both - we’ll still be there as punters! Furthermore, there’s still an OML representative at Evolution Emerging, in the form of Alex our drummer who also plays with Deerhart.

You can check out the full line-ups for both festivals here and here, and we’ll be back up and playing as soon as we can.

Finally, we’d like to thank Joe and Bob and Generator and all at Long Division Festival for their help and understanding.

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Hello,

A couple of weeks ago I had a clumsy accident with something sharp and cut my thumb deeply, severing a nerve and damaging a flexor tendon.
 
I was in theatre last Tuesday, talking to a nurse about his ex-wife for a couple of hours while they needled my arm into an unresponsive fleshy lump and diced me up.

I’m currently in a sling and will be for the next month-and-a-half, then I’m looking at an indeterminate time - read ‘months’ - in physiotherapy to restore the opposable function; my ability to hold a plectrum, play a piano scale or hitchhike northbound on a European mainland highway.

I’m truly saddened to have to cancel some fantastic gigs on the band, leave our later gigs hanging in the balance, and postpone our upcoming releases and recording. Everyone in OML especially and Paul from Tiny Lights have been very kind about the mishap, but I’m sure will be disappointed to miss out on a load of fun during a summer and autumn we were really looking forward to.

I think the outlook is good, but I am scared for my hand, because being able to move my thumb properly (though i’ve lost the sensation in its print) is so pivotal to playing guitar and piano.

We’re not a remarkably popular band even in Newcastle, so I know it may seem absurd and melodramatic to be worried, but being able to perform and write songs means the world to me (some quixotic future plans require it) and even if our music hasn’t meant shit to too many, it’s still involved a lot of time and sacrifice from us.
 
Some of the really kind things people have said to us recently after gigs or after our CD releases have really given me the impression that those who are into OML really appreciate our music nowadays. If you are one of those fans - and if I allow myself a little presumption - then I’m sorry if it bums you out to hear all this. It was my dumb fault, and thanks in advance for being patient with us, it might be a while.

David