Woody, Club Noir, Lou Hickey & The Codeine Velvet Club

2 years ago I was the youngest full time professional magician in Scotland and I was desperately trying to make a name for myself in the entertainment world.  Someone had heard my name and passed it onto one of the owners of Club Noir (Ian Single). Ian called me and asked if I performed stage magic – I didn’t perform stage magic but I needed the money and the chance to perform in front of 2000 people at the Carling Academy was enough for me to say, “Stage magic – I’m your man.” 

The forces of the universe (Tina & Ian from Club Noir) created a double act to perform Romantic magic to the song It’s Magic by Doris Day http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRp1LZOk05o.   So here’s me specialising in close-up magic with my cheeky charming style and I’m being asked to perform as part of a double act, on stage and perform romantic magic.  (To give you an idea how romantic I am I once promised a girl a romantic dinner and gave her a Pot Noodle.  To my credit it was a chicken and mushroom; but, to my downfall she was an executive head chef.)  I was about to decline the offer when my lovely assistant entered the building.  She goes by the name Lou Hickey and there was something special about her so I thought I’d stay a bit longer...especially when Tina mentioned she thought the act would work well if we kissed.   

However, we decided to not to include the kiss in the act because:-

•   At the time I had a girlfriend
•   Lou didn’t want to kiss me

I constructed a magic act consisting of roses, a bottle of wine and some candlelight.  It was up to Lou to sing the song and she did so quite marvellously. We got a great reception and were asked back to perform the same act the following year. 

Over the next 2 years both our careers have went from strength to strength - both picking up multiple awards in our respective industries. 

So where Is Lou Hickey Now?

Lou Joined forces with the guy with the curly hair from the Fratellis and after 3.4 seconds of brainstorming came up with the band name The Codeine Velvet Club.  Legend has it no one knows what this means apart from a troubled leprechaun named Clive.  However, many fans throughout the UK know Codeine Velvet Club for their 60’s indi-rock sprinkled with a little jazz for extra flavour. (This might not be entirely accurate but I’ve covered my bases – just listen and decide for yourself).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnSILYfzl54

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYfMYU-3GvY&feature=related

This Album went live on December 28^th 2009 and I have to say it’s excellent!  For a wee listen go to the website http://www.codeinevelvetclub.com/

The Codeine Velvet Club are being featured on many TV/Radio/newspapers right now.  So get in while the irons hot and you can tell all your friends of the band you liked before them.

And what of the future?  After a night out with the Lou we reminisced about our 4 minutes on stage and decided that if the we both make it really big we will return to do a one off special rendition of It’s Magic and send it into space for the aliens to listen to which will no doubt create inter galactic peace...maybe...maybe not.

So what’s the moral of the story?  To help me get famous buy the Codeine Velvet Club’s Album.  Amazon, HMV Itunes.