Thanks for all of your comments on the first taxi video, The Tongue Is A Fire.

Here is the next instalment, entitled The Favourite Son. Same as before: one mic, one camera, one take (and this time a banjo thrown in for good measure!).

All of these are totally different takes on the full band versions you can expect to hear at any Rogue States gig. Why not come along to one of our upcoming shows and witness the untamed versions?

Later, Michael

We’re pleased to announced that we have been invited to play at the UK’s biggest free arts festival in our home town of Birmingham this year.

ArtsFest 2010 takes place between 10th-12th September and will see hundreds of performances take place on more than 20 stages across Birmingham City Centre.

We will be playing on Sunday 12th September at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham. We’re on stage at 2pm and there will be tons going on in and around the venue – so why not make a day of it?

Confirm your attendance on the Facebook Event page.

So we filmed some acoustic performances in the back of a black taxi the other day. Kinda the opposite end of the spectrum to a music video: one camera, one mic, one take.

Speed bumps, sweat and motion-sickness aside, it turned about to be a lot of fun (I particularly loved the funny looks we got from other road users).

Anyway, here’s the first instalment. Enjoy, and pass it on.

We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who came to see us at the White Lion last night.

Support came from troubadour Jamie Clayton, who I think all present would agree was in fine voice. It is an honour to share a stage with people like Jamie.

We kicked off our set with a melodica, ended with a banjo, and paid homage to Elvis Costello, Bob Dylan and The Flaming Lips in what was for us a most enjoyable evening. For us, you really can’t put a price on these types of shows – the intimacy, the bustle of the bar and the chance to experiment with unlikely versions of our songs. And there’s nothing like playing to a full house, so if you were there, thank you for making it what it was.

Check out the video above which our friend Rich Johnstone shot for some highlights.

Until the next time…

Michael

Banjos, ukeleles and an Elvis Costello song are just some of the things to look forward to at our upcoming acoustic show on the 31st. Rehearsals have been far too A Mighty Wind to take seriously, so we could be in for an interesting night.

The White Lion is a great little pub, always a friendly atmosphere and never short of a guest ale or two. We’d love it if you could join us for what promises be a lot of fun. And if you need directions, just look for the busted neon sign that flashes “e a oes”!

Michael