Goodbye 2012, bring on 2013

Well what a year 2012 has turned out to be! Many highlights and quite a few low points (those who know me will know what I'm referring to, I won't bore you with the details).

As I mentioned in tonight's show I never, ever, ever thought I'd be on the radio with my own show. Ain't it funny how things work out? Thanks must go to Martin Kirby for getting in contact with The Crush and then inviting me on to the station to try out my own slot. The rest, as they say, is history.

2013 is rapidly approaching and 2012 will soon be but a distant memory. Flash is growing at such a rate that it's a little bit scary. We've got a brand new website coming soon, new presenters AND we're looking to start broadcasting over the air very soon so watch this space.

Happy New Year everyone. 2013 is going to be a stonker.

Here's tonight's playlist:

1. A kind of magic - Queen
2. Paradise City - Guns 'n' roses
3. Learning to fly - Pink Floyd
4. With or without you - U2
5. Every little thing she does is magic - The Police
6. Heart of gold - Neil Young
7. Couldn't stand the weather - Stevie Ray Vaughan
8. Misirlou - Dick Dale and the Dale Tones
9. Bell bottom blues - Derek and The Dominos
10. The way it always starts - Mark Knopfler
11. Always with me always with you - Joe Satriani
12. Once upon a time in the west - Dire Straits
13. Bad love - Luther Alison
14. Whole lotta shakin' goin' on - Mountain
15. Perfect circle - REM
16. Walk on hot coals - Rory Gallagher
17. Beer drinkers and hell raisers - ZZ Top
18. You give love a bad name - Bon Jovi
19. Do ya - The Move
20. Stop messin' around - Gary Moore
21. Take it easy - The Eagles
22. Alive and kicking - Simple Minds
23. Rock me tonight - Billy Squire
24. Auld land syne - Chas n Dave

The Non-Christmas Special

Those that know me closely enough know my thought's and opinions on modern day Christmas. Don't get me wrong, I ain't no "B'ah humbug' merchant (most of the time), it just ain't what it used to be.

It is a good time of year for reflection however and I've always been aware of people wanting to escape from the stresses and strains that the festive season can bring, that was the thinking behind tonight's show i.e. to offer a couple of hours respite from all that turkey stuffing, wrapping paper, card writing etc and give the listener a chance to enjoy not only some classic rock and blues tracks but a few Christmas related songs that then might not be so familiar with.

I don't know about you guys but I'm getting increasingly fed up with the rubbish that's continuously pumped through commercial radio nowadays. It's just the same thing over and over and over and over again. This is where Flash 1512 is different. We don't play the stuff the average 14 year old wants to hear, we play stuff the more selective listener wants to enjoy. We play music that means something. It's a simple formula that works incredibly well as is being proven by the ever increasing listener numbers.

I'd like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas. I'll catch you next week for me New Year Special.

Here's tonight's playlist:

1. Hush - Deep Purple
2. Gimme all your lovin - ZZ Top
3. Pretty woman - Van Halen
4. Black dog - Led Zeppelin
5. Please come home for Christmas - Bon Jovi
6. Back in black - AC/DC
7. Ring out, Solstice Bells - Jethro Tull
8. House of the rising sun - The Animals
9. In the air tonight - Phil Collins
10. On the turning away - Pink Floyd
11. Tommy the cat - Primus
12. Let the children play - Santana
13. It's only rock and roll (but I like it) - The Rolling Stones
14. Hand in hand - Dire Straits
15. Sweet child 'o mine - Guns 'n' Roses
16. The wind cries Mary - Jimi Hendrix
17. Every breath you take - The Police
18. Bad case of loving you - Robert Palmer
19. Christmas (Baby please come home) - U2
20. Need your love so bad - Gary Moore
21. The boys are back in town - Thin Lizzy
22. Dyna-mite - Mud
23. 747 (Strangers in the night) - Saxon
24. 20th Century boy - T-Rex
25. Let's dance - David Bowie
26. Tequila Sunrise - The Eagles

Again, have a fantastic Christmas. Don't drink too much ;o)

This week the volume was turned up to LOUD!!

I fancied a bit of a change this week so went with the 'Proper Loud Rock Stuff' selection. I'd had some really good requests come in over the week and the show was just lending itself to being turned up to eleven for a change.

I was really pleased that I got to play the live version of Money For Nothing by Dire Straits from their 1985 world tour. It's a stonker of a track and if you didn't get to hear it then try and get hold of the 'Wembly does the walk' DVD. It's very rare now so best of luck but I promise you it's well worth the effort.

Another good selection of songs me thinks. I'll always try and cover all bases and decades but like I said in the show, please keep those requests coming in.

Here's tonight's playlist:

1. Welcome to the Jungle - Guns n Roses
2. And the band played on - Saxon
3. Sylvia - Focus
4. Tin Soldiers - Stiff Little Fingers
5. Money for nothing (Live) - Dire Straits
6. Beck's Bolero - Jeff Beck
7. Higher Ground - Red Hot Chilli Peppers
8. Crazy Parade - Sporting Life
9. Summer Day - Blodwyn Pig
10. Hey Joe - Jimi Hendrix
11. Livin' on a prayer - Bon Jovi
12. Lavender - Marillion
13. Telegraph Road - Dire Straits
14. Bad to the bone - George Thorogood
15. Devil Gate Drive - Suzi Quattro
16. Rise - Public Image Limited
17. Sharp dressed man - ZZ Top
18. Hey You - Pink Floyd
19. It's the end of the world as we know it - R.E.M.
20. Mama told me not to come - Randy Newman
21. Over the hills and far away - Gary Moore
22. Do ya think I'm sexy - Rod Stewart
23. I want to break free - Queen

Catch you next week.

Rock on!!

Requests galore!

Right, I'm going to be honest and up front here. I am completely taken aback by the amount of interaction there is between myself and the listeners to Flash 1512. I kinda hoped that one day a few people would send in the occasional request but as the weeks have gone on and the number of listeners not only to my show at 8:30pm on a Sunday, but to the station in general has increased so has the number of requests that are being sent in.

This is fantastic. Simply amazing! And the quality of the material that's being suggested by Flash's listeners to top notch too. It's a real pleasure to play the stuff you guys want to hear.

I was really, really pleased with tonight's show because of the quality of the tunes played. Granted I picked a few but we really have managed to cover a lot of musical bases. I also changed my mic technique a bit to. Did you notice?

Keep those requests coming guys. You can get us on Facebook, Twitter or you can email us on rock@flash1512.co.uk We can't wait to hear from you.

Here's the playlist from my show tonight:

1. Hammer to fall - Queen
2. Big wheels - ELO
3. Living in the past - Jethro Tull
4. Paint it black - The Rolling Stones
5. Have a cigar - Pink Floyd
6. Kayleigh - Marilion
7. Black Velvet - Alannah Myles
8. Highway to hell - AC/DC
9. Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits
10. Sailing - Rod Stewart
11. Greasy kids stuff - Steve Vai
12. Should've learnt my lesson - Rory Gallagher
13. Kashmir - Led Zeppelin
14. Finest worksong - R.E.M.
15. Foxy Lady - Jimi Hendrix
16. Healer - The Sweet
17. I'll be there for you - Bon Jovi
18. You make loving easy - Fleetwood Mac
19. I would rather go blind - Chicken Shack
20. Lust for life - Iggy Pop
21. Perfect day - Lou Reed
22. When love comes to town - U2 & BB King
23. Hate That - Stash

Catch you next week folks

R

A slightly different feel

I really enjoyed putting together tonight's show for Flash 1512, it had a move laid back feel to it and just seemed to flow in the right direction. Obviously I'm still to get any feedback from listener-land (and all feedback is welcome) but I think everyone would have enjoyed that fine selection of music.

I touched on an interesting debate I'd had during the week regarding digital and the pro's and con's surrounding recording & performing digitally. I'm going to be touching on that some more in coming weeks so your thoughts and opinions would be appreciated.

OK, here's tonight's playlist:

1. The one I love - R.E.M.
2. Cross-town traffic - Jimi Hendrix
3. Baby please don't go - Budgie
4. Vanilla Queen - Golden Earring
5. Suffragette City - David Bowie
6. One Slip - Pink Floyd
7. Hotel California - The Eagles
8. Go your own way - Fleetwood Mac
9. Parisian walkways - Gary Moore
10. It's a blues thing - Luther Allison
11. It's a hard life - Queen
12. Big Bad Bill - Van Halen
13. You shook me all night long - AC/DC
14. Whole lotta love - Led Zeppelin
15. Sunday Morning - Velvet Underground
16. Brothers in arms - Dire Straits
17. Loan shark blues - Rory Gallagher
18. Superstitious - Stevie Ray Vaughan
19. All day and all of the night - The Kinks
20. In a broken dream - Python Lee Jackson
21. The Joker - Steve Miller Band
22. Strange little girl - The Stranglers
23. Shadow on the wall - Mike Oldfield
24. Local Hero - Mark Knopfler

Catch you next week folks

Keep it rock!

I'm lovin' it

Well there goes another show. One to be proud of me thinks. Why? Because I'm getting so many requests for tracks to be played on the show, that must mean people are listening and enjoying.

And please keep those requests coming. You can email the station at rock@flash1512.co.uk, tweet us @flash_1512 or find us on Facebook. If you'd like a song played on my show in particular then please mention this in your message to us.

I was also really proud to be able to feature Portsmouth band Hold Me Down and their fresh out the studio 'Heart shaped Happy Meal'. It's a fantastic bit of work guys and I'm reliably told that they recorded it all themselves including the mixing etc. Nice work.

I also played a track from days gone by from old local band Truffle. You'll probably know them at The Mafia. 'Thunderbird' is an amazing tune and I really do wish I could have got to see them live.

Here are all the tracks I played tonight:

1. Rocking all over the world - Status Quo
2. Can't get enough of your love - Bad Company
3. Life's been good - Joe Walsh
4. Free bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd
5. She sells sanctuary - The Cult
6. Thunderbird - Truffle (featured local band)
7. Stairway to heaven - Led Zeppelin
8. Tunnel of love - Dire Straits
9. Rock'n me - Steve Miller Band
10. Messin' with the kid - Rory Gallagher
11. Money - Pink Floyd
12. Heart shaped Happy Meal - Hold Me Down (featured local band)
13. Mama - Genesis
14. New Years day - U2
15. Sunshine of your love - Cream
16. The Chain - Fleetwood Mac
17. I was born to love you - Freddie Mercury
18. Nantucket Sleigh-ride - Mountain
19. All along the watchtower - Jimi Hendrix
20. The man who sold the world - David Bowie
21. Ace of spades - Mororhead
22. Johnny B. Goode - Chuck Berry

A fine mix of music there, I'm sure you'll agree.

Catch ya next week.

R

Chalk up show number four!

Wow!! My first two hour show!! It was a very nice surprise to be asked, due to popular demand, to do a two hour show for Flash 1512. How could I refuse?

I'll be honest, two hours is a bit of a marathon but it's quite an incredible ride and requires a significant amount of preparation. I flippin' love it :o)

I was asked the other day if I'm told what to play. The simple answer is no. I can play pretty much what I like so long as:

1. It was written between 1960 and 1990
2. It's a rock song
3. Or it's a blues song

That's the remit of Flash 1512 and in all honesty, I wouldn't have it any other way. That's the music I grew up with and made me want to pick up a guitar in the first place.

So, what did I play tonight?

1. Tush - ZZ Top
2. Peaches - The Stranglers
3. Radar Love - Golden Earring
4. Fireball - Deep Purple - Requested by Simon Kidd
5. Custard Pie - Led Zeppelin - Requested by Anthony Armstrong
6. Please don't let me be misunderstood - Joe Cocker
7. I Wonder - Robert Cray
8. More than a feeling - Boston
9. Born to be wild - Steppenwolf
10. Dancing in the street - Van Halen
11. Secret Agent - Rory Gallagher
12. Red House - Gary Moore
13. John the Fisherman - Primus
14. Overkill - Motorhead
15. One - Metallica
16. Insomnia's Easy - Sugarproof
17. Time - Pink Floyd
18. Fall on me - R.E.M.
19. Love walked in - Thunder
20. Long train running - The Doobie Brothers
21. Roxanne - The Police
22. Fat bottomed girls - Queen
23. Layla - Derek and the Dominoes
24. Teenage Kicks - The Undertones

Catch you on my next show.

Rock on!!

I'm starting to get the hang of it now!

Ok, here's a daft thing. I talk too fast. I've never noticed it in everyday life, but listening back to the radio shows it's there for all to hear.

Now don't get me wrong, I was made aware of it when I first started out on this crazy ride that is radio and I'm only three shows in but still, I'm talking too fast. Rest assured though that I am working on it and show number three certainly, for me at least, felt a bit more natural and less rushed.

I'll get there, it's a practice thing. Being able to record the shows at home certainly helps and I'm being a lot more critical over what makes the final recording. The advice and guidance I'm getting from Martin (who runs Flash 1512) is both welcome and invaluable. I'm a big fan of constructive criticism.

For those of you on Twitter, did you know that you can follow me @richardsetford. I am on FaceBook but in all honesty I'd like to keep that for just close friends and family. Maybe one day I'll set up an 'everyone else' FB page. Thanks for all the friend requests though. They are appreciated but I'm sure you'll understand why I'm declining them though. Twitter is where it's at anyway ;o)

Huge thanks to The Butterfly Collective for letting me play 'Bitter End'. Great track guys! Catch them on Facebook by clicking here

Ok, here's the tracks I played tonight:

1. Moonlight Shadow - Mike Oldfield
2. Poison - Alice Cooper
3. Eye of the tiger - Survivor
4. All right now - Free
5. Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel
6. Bitter End - The Butterfly Collective
7. Rebel Rebel - David Bowie
8. Bullfrog Blues - Rory Gallagher
9. Still got the blues for you - Gary Moore
10. Have you ever loved a woman - Derek and the Dominoes
11. Sultans of swing - Dire Straits

Catch you next week.

Stay frosty!

2nd show done and dusted

That wasn't so bad now, was it?! Actually this was the first show that I'd recorded on my own without the help of Martin Kirby from Flash 1512. It took a bit longer than I thought it would be hey, you can't rush perfection ;o).

It was also a good test run for my home recording setup. It's only been used for recording tracks with The Crush so to run it for pure vocal recording was a good, but steep, learning curve. In all honesty, I'm not that happy with the end result but I think I know where to improve things. We'll see how it goes for next week's recording. The songs, however, sound great!

Here are the songs I played:

1. Since you've been gone - Rainbow
2. The road to hell pt II - Chris Rea
3. The power of love - Huey Lewis and The News
4. Bugs - Psylons
5. Expresso Love - Dire Straits
6. Cocaine - JJ Cale
7. Now I'm here - Queen
8. On the road again - Canned Heat
9. Tempted - Squeeze
10. Sometimes - Stash
11. Harvest - Neil Young
12. (You gotta) Fight for your right (To party) - The Beastie Boys
13. C'est Le Vie - Bob Seager
14. Voodoo Child - Jimi Hendrix
15. Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin 

Well, there you go!

And there it was. My very first radio show. I don't think that went too badly, do you?

It's a very odd feeling when you're hearing your own voice. I'm not entirely sure I'll ever get used it but that's not going to stop me. Ever!!

For those who may be reading this for the first time then let me bring you up to date. I'm the new DJ on Flash 1512 radio, currently an internet based radio station and there are plans in place to start broadcasting in early 2013. I'll keep you posted on that one. I'll be playing classic rock tracks from 1960 to 1990 plus I'll be featuring local (from the south of England) bands and artists who have original material.

Where-ever possible I'll blog the tracks that I feature on each show. If you like what's below then tune in every Sunday evening at 8:30pm GMT:

1. Rock n Roll - Led Zeppelin
2. Orange Crush - R.E.M.
3. Smoke on the Water - Deep Purple
4. Wasted Youth - Kodiak Jack (featured local band)
5. Romeo & Juliet - Dire Straits
6. Crossroads - Cream
7. Legs - ZZ Top
8. The House is Rocking - Stevie Ray Vaughan
9. Your Death My Glory - Kodiak Jack (featured local band)
10. Where the Streets Have No Name - U2
11. All Day and All of the Night - The Kinks
12. Walk This Way - Run DMC Feat. Aerosmith
13. Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd

Catch you next time. Rock on!!

Well that was different!!

I've been in the recording studio many times over the years and have always been (and probably always will be) fascinated by the recording process.

Last night (Wednesday 24th October 2012) saw a complete step out of my comfort zone. How? I recorded a radio show! No instruments. No singing. No one else to blame if things went wrong. Just me, my speaking voice and a pile of CDs.

So let's just clarify what's going on here. A few weeks ago Martin Kirby from Flash 1512 contacted my band, The Crush to ask if if we'd like any of our tracks on his Sunday afternoon show. Well, one thing lead to another and after a lengthy email exchange and a couple of pints at the pub we settled on a format for my brand new radio show.

Flash 1512, situated in the south of England,  is currently an internet based station but will be broadcasting over the airwaves early 2013. They play classic rock and blues tracks from 1960 through to 1990 PLUS original material from local bands.

I would never, ever have put any money on me becoming a radio DJ! The idea of it, though initially daunting, grew on me more and more as time went on and recording my first show last night really was the icing on the cake. So much so in fact that I can't wait to get next week's show recorded!

You can catch me on Flash 1512 on Sunday 28th October 2012 at 8:30pm. Simply click here to listen in.

I hope you enjoy the show.

R

Quick intro

Hello and thanks for taking the time to read my blog.

Why am I blogging? Well, there seems to be a lot going on with my life right now and some people may find that interesting. Also, my memory is pretty shocking so I'd like to be able to come back to all this in years to come and use it as an aide memoir.

So!! Me!! In no particular order:

1. Father of two

2. I.T. Manager for Morris Crocker

3. Lead guitarist and sing for The Crush

4. Just about to become a radio DJ for Flash 1512

5. Tweeter @richardsetford

6. Governor at Crookhorn College

7. Poker Player (Omaha mainly nowadays but also Hold'em)

And that's just for starters!!

Watch this space, I'll hopefully be blogging a lot more in the near future.

R