Many thanks indeed to those of you that made the effort to get off your arses and give us some support at last nights gig at The Little Civic in Wolverhampton - your efforts are very much appreciated. It wasn't a very comforting night to be out and about - but was great to see you all and a lovely response.

Must give a special mention to the Sedgley lads (Olly's fan club) and the girls who'd travelled up from Farnham (Nicci and Mandy) - a three hour drive each way - brilliant effort girls and Happy Birthday to Mandy for Saturday coming (Feb 25th). Also to David Clutton (again Surrey based) who came along (travelling from Stoke for the gig) - to do a load of live pics for us.

Stars the lot of ya' - keep the faith.

Gary O'Dea

20th February 2006 - a date to remember in the O'Dea diary and for GOJO' MUSIC.

The ups and downs of the music biz - those periods of despair / frustration / depression etc, etc (which seem like the majority of the time really) - then there's those times that make all the grief worthwhile (and they are very rare and need to be cherished) when they come along because let's face it this game scars you for life most of the time - and only those that really live the life and apply themselves to it can appreciate what I'm talking about.

We had a cherished time back on November 29th 2005. Me and Olly played a support slot to Martin Stephenson at The Little Civic in Wolverhampton. We had a great night (many thanks to Phil Turner at The Civic for the gig). Working with Martin was a thrill because we were both big fans...and the new friends we made with the crowd was lovely (special mention to two in particular - Nicci and Mandy) - it was a night we were badly in need of and to see we had some kindred spirits out there and across the country was warming to say the least.

Well - Martin asked for copies of my songs. Dave Tucker who's been a complete star in his support of me (managing / designing our web site for me etc,) - recorded our set that night. So I sent Martin some of my material.

Well we can now announce after confirmation today from the Big Geordie Northern Light himself that Martin Stephenson will be producing the debut releases from the band (I couldn't believe me ears when he offered). Recording estimated to to start in April 2006. If you look out your window - you'll see that there is such a thing as Cloud 9...and we're floating on it.

Gobsmacked and chuffed to bits.

Gary O'Dea

GOJO' MUSIC

Yes GOJO' groovers....merchandise at last. Add to your street cred - (well let's face it your miles ahead in that for a start because you already love us) - and get your GOJO' MUSIC t-shirts available now only £5:00 and they look as cool as f**k! For on-line enquiries see the contacts page http://www.gojo-music.co.uk/contact.html of the web site for contact details.

Yes 'cool out' the rest of the saddo' non-believers and get 'THE SHIRT' on YOUR BACK...then get yourself a ticket for the bus to Betterville and catch us live - visit
http://www.gojo-music.co.uk/gigs.html for details. T-Shirt will be available on sale at all gigs.

Things...are gonna' get better.

Move On Up.

GOJO' MUSIC

Goal of the season so far last night at TTFC - with an able assist from 'yours truly' Gary O'Dea.

Yes...in the same way that Sir Bobby Hope used his visionary powers to transcendentally and psychically supply Jeff (The King) Astle with telepathic powers to 'get on the end of this cross Jeff'...O'Dea's 'mind over matter' came to fruit last night when Tipton were awarded a free kick against Rushall in the quarter final of the Walsall Senior Cup. Tipton's Aaron Bishop stepped up to take the kick some 25 yards outside the box and O'Dea commented to the 'non-believers' ..."We'll score here"!

This was met with the usual derision and derogatory remarks (led by Steve Finn - aka Man of Kent) - to "shut the f**K up ya' jinx"! But O'Dea remained positive and Bish' struck it oh so sweet and it nearly took the f****n' net off - YYYYEEEESSSSSSS - get in my son! MUCHO MUCHO celebration and Man of Kent looking like he didn't know whether to laugh or cry - me...I laughed and laughed and laughed my bloody head off.

Here's a link to the match report from 'The Toon'...my official 'assist' documented (just to piss Man of Kent off - ha ha ha) - nice one Dan.
http://www.web-teams.co.uk/Match.asp?team=tiptontownfc&mid=match118.xml

What's this got to do with rock n' roll? Nothing...other than belief is eveything!

Football...it's only a game!

Pele.

Hello GOJO' MUSIC groovers... here's the booking details for the OGDENS' NUT GONE THURSDAY NIGHT - gig - Feb 23rd @ The Little Civic, Wolverhampton featuring our good selves (full band) - plus special guests - singer/songwriter Paul Murphy, poet Joel Lane, plus the DJ grooves of WCR 1350 am/BBC Radio WM presenter Saul Abner now available at http://www.wolvescivic.co.uk/index.asp?loc=booknow&sort=v&o=1&v=3

The Wolverhampton branch of Love Music Hate Racism will also have a promotions stall at this event.

For further details on our guests please read on brothers and sisters...

PAUL MURPHY...Belfast born and Birmingham based singer / songwriter - poet and author, Paul is an accomplished performer. He came to England in 1966 as a singer / songwriter and shared a house and times on the road with musical notables such as Lemmy (Motorhead / Hawkwind - Paul features in Lemmy's autobiography - White Line Fever) and Henry McCulloch (The Grease Band and Paul McCartney's Wings). Paul travelled far and wide as a song writer before settling in Birmingham and left his mark on some very highly acclaimed fellow musicians and performers hence this quote from the April 7th 1966 edition of Belfast's City Beat music paper '...from our London correspondent. "Is it true that Paul Murphy is working in a Salford laundry? John Lee Hooker praised his performance at The Marquee Club. That is high praise indeed."

In 1997 he launched the massively successful Songwriters Cafe performances that served up some delightful Sunday afternoon musical dishes to the population of Birmingham and surrounding areas from various Brum city centre pubs. The legacy of these Sunday afternoon sessions on the local music scene and the spirit in which people attended and took part holds strong today. The Songwriters Cafe saw unknowns share the stage with music legends both local and international - from Steve Gibbons, Simon Fowler & Steve Craddock (Ocean Colour Scene - who invited Paul on tour with them in Ireland in 1997 as opening act), to Soul legend P.P. Arnold (who appeared twice). He has a new CD out called The Glen. Paul is the Creative Director of Birmingham multi-media company c21vox. For more info on The Murph visit www.c21vox.com

Adding a spicy nibble to the evenings entertainment will be Birmingham based Indie poet / writer JOEL LANE...Graduate of Cambridge University - Joel won the Eric Gregory award for poetry in 1993. A great range of writing from modern urban horror stories that combine bleak, closely observed settings amongst industrial wastelands, decaying cities and the underside of society, to fictional music biz realism in From Blue To Black (published by Serpents Tail - 2000) about a Black Country based band called Triangle (a cult item on the post punk music scene in the 90's) and the band members struggle to overcome the sex, drugs and rock n' roll lifestyle. The book received critical acclaim such as 'Lane's poetical powers of description reveal themselves...a jet black, strangely plausible imaginary chapter in rock mythology.' The Times. 'Joel Lane's debut is that rare thing: a novel about the darker edges of the rock business that carries the stamp of absolute authenticity.' The New Statesman.

Joel recently co-edited an anthology of crime and suspense stories called Birmingham Noir (published by Tindal St Press). He likes rock music, lonely places, cats and vodka. For a full list of Joels excellent range of writing across novels, poetry, collections and anthologies please visit -
http://www.pulp.net/fiction/biogs/lane-joel.html

WCR 1350am (Radio) Wolverhampton & BBC Radio WM DJ / Presenter SAUL ABNER (the only man we know that can turn cheese on toast into an aphrodisiac) will be spinning some groovin' tunes during the evening and no doubt causing chaos and adding his comments and views on life to the evenings events - for more info on the man with the sexiest voice in Wolverhampton!!! please visit http://www.wcr1350.co.uk/

All the above plus...The Wolverhampton branch of Love Music Hate Racism will have a stall at the gig with information leaflets about their local campaign plus t-shirts and badges for sale. Please visit http://www.lmhr.org.uk/

Ticket prices for the gig are £5:00 in advance - £6:00 on the night. Please visit The Civic box office for details
http://www.wolvescivic.co.uk/index.asp?loc=booknow&sort=v&o=1&v=3
Doors open 7:30pm. Bar till 11:00pm.

Come along and get on the bus to Betterville. Your support (as ever) is greatly appreciated

Gary O'Dea.