Mark Lanegan Band at the Riverside, Newcastle

I don’t know why I am so surprised by the volume of people squashed into the Riverside for the Mark Lanegan gig on a damp Wednesday night. The support act is folksy-blues banjo welding Sean Wheeler and Zander Schloss who offer an eccentric and lively warm up to the evening. I spend a good 20 minutes trying to find a suitable view and wind up next to the throbbing speakers. I had better not get another beer in case I lose this prime location, not that I’d want to move, as soon as Lanegan begins in that infamous sultry voice I am fixed to the spot.

Lanegan’s career spans generations and this really shows in the range of people and ages at the gig – fans from the Screaming Trees era right up to the more recent albums with Isobel Campbell from Belle and Sebastian. Lanegan shows that he is a true professional and someone who knows his audience as he provides a diverse range of songs, even as far back as ‘Dead On You’ from the 1994 album ‘Whiskey for the Holy Ghost’. But then the man hailing from Washington state does have a more than impressive back catalogue to choose from.

Lanegan’s newest album offering ‘Phantom Radio’ will certainly draw in a fresh audience as he continues on from 2012 release ‘Blues Funeral’ to experiment with synth and electro noises. Apparently even established ‘old school’ artists are moving forward into a brave new world of technology. It might be fair to describe Lanegan’s new (ish) unswerving direction as disturbed disco as he delivers “I feel your hands around my throat” from ‘The Killing Season’ in his arid voice which is backed with a resonating dance-like spangled beat. And therein lies his old and new self, both battling to be heard. It’s a marmite situation for Lanegan fans.

For me, his music represents the darkness and vulnerability that lies within. Perhaps through ‘Phantom Radio’ he is trying to break free from his former self and is now in the clutches of a past-present clash. However, the Grunge legend manages to keep the spiritual heart in his song, writing with lyrics which are still as deep, tormented and insightful as ever. 

The gig ends with a favourite of mine; the gospel inspired ‘Revival’ which was recorded with the Soulsavers, followed by two songs from the new album. I left the gig with inner warmth – I’m sure most fans could feel a certain connection with Lanegan who danced awkwardly on stage while maintaining a certain bashful yet assured presence. For me, Mark Lanegan’s music conjures up melancholy heartbreak and when he delivers lines such as “Hard times, walking in the sunshine” and “You don’t love me, what’s to love anyway?” I realise how much his voice truly embodies his soul and his words.

Mark Lanegan Band - Phantom Radio

Illustration and How I Fit it into my Daily Life

I love drawing but I find it really hard to fit it in around a full-time job so this year my New Year’s resolution is to find ways to fit it into daily or at the very least weekly life.

The main problem I have is finding inspiration because I live and work in North Shields there is not much in the way of new, exciting, vibrant topics to inspire or give you the seed you need to put pen to paper.

I have been really thinking about this and apart from using social platforms such as Pinterest, Stumble Upon and Instagram I find that I cannot be engaged in my creative side as much as I would like. When you are working and living in the humdrum of the day to day the creativity slowly eeks out of you and one day you find that you really have to make the effort to find that passion again. Normal working life is not the same as when I was at Art College constantly surrounded by ideas, colour, energy, pioneering people and an active social life – one that included taking our sketchbooks to pubs! I do find that throughout the day in work I often make little doodles and I am hoping that I can use these doodles as a way to inspire further art pieces.

Another way I have been encouraging creativity is to sign up for things. I currently contribute to NARC magazine, Firewords literary magazine and collaborative projects like a zine about Grainger Market with local artist, Lydia Wysocki. By putting your name down to do a piece of writing or drawing for someone (unfortunately this is mostly for free) you are pushing yourself to actually complete a piece of work AND you have a deadline. I have found this really effective when it comes to making yourself work. And if you get involved locally then you might just end up making new friends too!

Firewords 'Geeks' illustration

Something that really inspires me is travel but when you’re on a tight budget and mediocre salary this is not always possible so I find that even travelling to local places really makes a big difference. I recently visited Durham Cathedral and I was surprised by just how beautiful it was, every crevice is amazing that I could feel ideas bursting to the surface every time I turned to look at another stained glass window or ceiling. I think it could be easy to say that I will only be inspired by new landscapes and new cultures but there is something very special about taking the time to appreciate where you live and to make the most of that.

Finally, I have also started this blog and although I am not in the full flow of the blogging culture – currently only doing one post a month if that – I find that I now have to THINK of ideas, MAKE the time and ACTIVELY take part in this because if not then it will just end up being one of the many thousands of blogs countless people have started and after a few months have left by the wayside.

In 2015 I want to try and create my own destiny, I want to be open to opportunities and be happy. I would love to be an illustrator or wallpaper designer or draw stuff for people and get paid for it but that won’t happen if I just mope around all the time wishing someone would notice me. You have to make things happen for yourself and put the hard, unrelentless work in.

For now, I will settle with (hopefully) making someone smile.

I would be really interested to hear if anyone else has the same issue as me? How do you keep your morale up and fit your creative life into your working life?