People started to gather close to six and came equipped with blankets, wine, babies, dogs and (fortunately!) umbrellas. Papa Menzies came to the rescue at the last minute with stools for the girls that he procured from a nearby pub. We still aren’t sure how he sweet-talked his way into that one.

The girls started the night with Her James Dean and moved into their lovely cover of Sitting on the Dock of the Bay. There had been an original plan to play a couple of songs, drink some wine, then play some more. But the sky started to spit and they decided to move on with the set list to beat the rain, moving to a couple more of their own songs – Inside and Mercy – before doing their cover of Disarm.  They finished on Fiver, but the crowd (bless them!) insisted on an encore. The girls played Straw Song for them, and even though they hadn’t been rehearsing that one it sounded great.

The rain passed but people wanted to hear a few more songs. The girls repeated a few that had already been played at the audience’s request, finishing with a second playing of Her James Dean.

It was a fantastic night with good friends, good wine, good family and a great atmosphere. We sincerely hope that everyone who joined us had as much fun as we did that night. Thank you for being there.

And if you missed it… not to worry! The girls are playing The Slaughtered Lamb on Saturday 4 September.  Check out www.myspace.com/novasbasementband for all the details.

Tonight’s rehearsal has been simply amazing. The girls are really focusing on the set lists that they’ll be playing in the park on the 22nd (this weekend!) and at The Slaughtered Lamb on 4 September.

It is really cool to watch the girls rehearse. The smallest changes to the songs make a huge difference and all of a sudden they go from sound really good to just simply amazing. You can hear them getting stronger and stronger with every note they play.

Tonight they rehearsed “Mercy” for the first time that I had heard live. I’ve listened to the song on Last.fm and MySpace and I’ve even heard Amy play it at parties as a solo. I’ve always thought it a lovely song. But then you add Rachel’s voice and Fiona’s strings to Amy’s voice and guitar and suddenly the song is epic.

I can’t wait for more people to hear how they are sounding. The girls are really focusing on the sounds of the strings and creating shivers with harmonious vocals that resonate somewhere deep… maybe in the memory somewhere. Come see them this Saturday at The Slaughtered Lamb. You’ll hear exactly what I mean.

There will be a gig shortly after the rehearsal.  Nova’s Basement will be closing out a night of acts at The Slaughtered Lamb – a very chill and lovely pub near Farringdon. The doors will open at (time) and the girls will take the stage at 10:30. It is just a fiver for four bands. The promoter wants us to let you all know that the first 25 people will get a free shot of Jager (oh my)… so come early if you want in on that action.

NB met and rehearsed in a very cool space behind Denmark Street that sold beer over the counter and had great atmosphere. There was graffiti all over the walls, half smoked joints and other detriment all over the floor and, I’ve been assured, the filthiest toilets ever.

‘SUCK MY TINY WILLY’ was voted the best piece of graffitti, which Fiona mistakingly thought said ‘suck my ting willy’ all night. She hasn’t told us yet what the hell she thinks a ‘ting willy’ is….

The girls went over a few old tracks that they are working on revamping a bit. And although it has been a little while, they are sounding really amazing. There are lots of extra strings and vocal harmonies which NB is focusing on more than ever before.

‘Her James Dean‘ came out beautifully (and you have to love the laughs at the end of the track!) and they made huge progress on ‘Inside’, even though it took a lot of energy.  They also remembered ‘Stop Hurting’ and at the end finished up with a final jam to ‘Fiver’.

We’re hoping to see everyone in Hyde Park on the 22nd of August. It isn’t a big show – just an open rehearsal in the open space for friends of Nova’s Basement. We’re asking that everyone bring a blanket, something to drink and, if you can, a candle in a glass jar so we have some light. More details (like the exact location… Hyde Park is a big space!) will be coming soon.

I hope you are all as excited as I am that the girls are getting back to it. They really are sounding amazing!

So here they are. We’ve created a set of postcards to send to people who might be able to help us shout about our new tunes. I hope you likey.

Collage by Justin Goring. Photography by Justin Goring & Amy Wagner. Postcard design by Amy Wagner.

As far as the new EP goes, we’re nearly there. A little bit o’ mixing, a little bit o’ mastering and she’ll soon be ready for downloading. Watch this space.