AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT IS HAPPENING REGARDING THE XCERTS GETTING BACK TOGETHER.
Why have I recently bought a Bass guitar again?
Here’s the reason:
I used to play 6 string rhythm guitar. Electric and acoustic. However, I needed a bass player for a new band back in the 1970s. No Bass players were to be found back in 1978 bass-ically. Groan! That’s why I changed from rhythm guitar to bass when I couldn’t find anyone to play when forming the XCerts. My brother Steve, in the band we had called Soft Ground, wanted to carry on playing his 6 string lead guitar sound as rock music instead of punk. So, I found myself on my own suddenly, as a wanna be successful musician, for the first time since picking up a guitar in earnest.
I asked my brother Kev, he died when 21 years old, if he could have a go on the drums to see if he could play. He just picked up the drum sticks, sat at an old Matt black Premier drum kit we had at the time and simply…..played! A born natural. We both just needed a guitar player then. Dave Pepper initially came to a first rehearsal and said “No Way!” He didn’t want to join me and Kev at all. Probably because we were new to bass and drums. So we sounded extremely naive. We needed a plan and our sound guy got me to play rhythm guitar, bass guitar, sing main and backing vocals and with Kev on drums, he recorded about five of my own self written songs. We did it in all in one night. The sound guy went and posted the cassette recording through Dave Pepper’s letterbox. Dave was back like a shot wanting to play with us. He brought his own songs into the mix too. That was how it all started.
Recently we were asked to get the XCerts back together again. There is obviously now only two out of the three original members. A drummer is needed. Kev is a very hard act to follow. But someone exists! Someone with that bit of faerie dust sprinkled over their drumming style. Steve, my brother, is joining the band too and so it will be a four piece. More volume and fuller sound. We used to add an extra one or two guitar layers on our original XCerts recordings. So can now realise those sounds again in live gigs.
Steve, my brother, is now of a similar mindset to myself. Still rocking along with his playing style but happy with my slant to writing new wave pop with a driving heavier rock beat. But it’s not his idea of heavier rock. We spoke recently on the phone for about an hour. About the lack of a drummer too. He really wants this XCerts project to happen now. To be honest, at present, the live gigs aren’t as important as recording. No drummer still, as said, and wondering if one will become a reality. Session player? Possibly. But it feels wrong. The excitement and resonance of shared ideas is paramount. I want to play more gigs up here in Wales too. A session drummer is far too expensive. But….I know so many friends and local people here in my local Welsh area that the live playing vibe would be amazing.
The other week I was speaking to a local guy who knows loads of local musicians. He was talking about playing small gigs up here locally myself and playing just for the fun of it all. Be nice, but not an option really. He spoke of three drummers. None were available. I met a nurse colleague who knew a couple of drummers. So far no go either.
The reality? I need to focus on this project. I played at Steve’s house about 6 to 8 weeks ago. He showed me what he had learned of the XCerts songs. I was playing acoustic lighter bass notes (on his six string Fender) with him on electric. Sang the vocals quietly, but could hang on to the vocal key with his guitar melodies to link notes to. I got goosebumps. First time I had played any of our old XCerts songs in earnest. It sounded amazing. My bass playing got better after the XCerts, due to the Team 23 days. Team 23 happened after the XCerts disbanded. Team 23 were 7 musicians and played consistently live. We supported The Specials, Madness, Dexy’s Midnight Runners and played Team 23 solo gigs too. Also recorded a vinyl single which was released. So the XCerts songs, when playing along with Steve, had a more rhythmic vibe somehow. My new songs being written are gaining a more solid realisation too.
So, I have these positives to keep going. I also have revisited some really old songs I wrote in our first band called Soft Ground. Old Man, Decisions, Out in the Cold which were really actually quite catchy. I’ve been looking at them on acoustic recently. So, again, so many ideas. Should be a good year!
Dave Pepper, as an active musician, has always been on the scene in various guises over the decades. Both live gigs and recording. Back in 1982 I simply went into a whole different career choice. Potter, supported Deaf students in college and university (I learnt sign language), worked in social services, started darkroom film photography and finally trained to become a Staff Nurse. So Dave has far more contacts and Kudos, as he has always been in the music field. Strangely, it seems that people always think the XCerts was his band. Nothing could be further from the truth. The XCerts were 3 unique musicians with individual special contributions. We all had our own singular styles. We played for ourselves as individuals. We all contributed to the band’s sound and style. We didn’t tell each other what to do. But, people are certainly unaware at times. I actually don’t mind being a wallflower though! It’s called being humble. I am just thankful I always picked up my acoustic over the decades and carried on strumming and writing songs. Even though I sang them only to myself. Anyways, after this long reflection…….Cheers.
Gray Summers 