Music impacts more on our lives nowadays than it did at any time during history. It is pretty much impossible to escape (should we want to) and the diversity of styles available to us is breathtaking - jazz to classical, rock to dance, hip hop to world and many, many more - we are a veritable ocean of textures, sounds, dynamics and beats.

Advertisements use music to court our fancies, television programmes to enhance their message; be it punchline or climax and of course there is the colossal music industry itself which runs itself ragged trying both to dictate and predict what we will/won't/just might like and so download or buy to appease that nagging urge in our brains that tells us that we MUST own that particular piece of music.

Why? Hmmm... good question. Now before we open a philosophical NIGHTMARE and ask "But why do we like/need ANYTHING?" let's hold our horses and remember it's MUSIC that we're talking about here. That's all.

Hang on a minute -THAT'S ALL???!!!!!!

Music, or at least certain genres of it, run a close second to food and water in some peoples' book (mine included).

I've been gigging for 30 years and the first thing I look for in a band member is a person who will be road-able. A gig is a little chunk of your life and when you are living with people in a highway submarine, there are no secrets at sea. No matter how successful a gig or tour, if there's a jerk on the bus the whole experience can be hell so the first thing I look for is people who are essentially good people. They have to be able to do something special on their instrument too.

My practical gigging experience was gained from working with local groups e.g. Pebbledash and Kontagious. Three years in Kontagious was the best education a young man could have. You learned everything about the world and its characters, good and bad. It was a fantastic thing to do. I came out of it alive, which was even more remarkable.

Subsequently I moved on to; Crystal Clear, Entertainments Unlimited, Sean O'Reilley Trio, Joe Gallagher, Gabriel, Cut Loose, Talahassee, The Zodiacs, Don't Think Twice, Recall and more recent projects; Daybreak and Lithium. I also thoroughly enjoyed myself when not gigging by jamming and auditioning with various other local bands e.g. Cat Astral, Moondogs, Porky and Doppleganger.

Daybreak played a variety of songs and instrumental melodies for sing-a-long and easy listening that created a cheerful party atmosphere at wedding receptions, anniversaries, tea dances or clubs. We were either a duo/trio or myself the leader; Bob Houlston solo guitarist/singer with own backing tracks and good sound equipment.

Styles included: Buddy Holly to Beatles, Jim Reeves to Jimi Hendrix, Shadows to Status Quo and Eagles to Elvis. Most of the popular dance rhythms were catered for including: Jive/Rock 'n' Roll, Line Dancing and Ballroom; Waltz, Quickstep, Fox-Trot.

We entertained audiences at social clubs, pubs and dinner dances within 20 km from St Albans UK.

Bob Houlston Tel: St Albans 01727 851809.

Photograph below shows me on the left helping out on bass guitar with Recall a successful social club group. Ivor Simmonds centre on drums and Dave Stevens far right on lead guitar: