I went to Brixton on Thursday to see the ever wonderful Rae Spoon. Its been a while since I last saw him - in fact last time I saw him he serenaded me in a toilet for charity - but that's another story! I was surprised to find he had gone electric. I still enjoyed his quick wit and interesting lyrics, but I felt that sometimes he was drowned out by his guitar.
http://www.myspace.com/raespoon
Of the new songs, I particularly enjoyed Come on Forest Fire and Burn the Disco Down and We Become our own Wolves. A Rae Spoon set is never dull.
I don't have as much praise for the support bands Headfall and the Balky Mule. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for arty, experimental noise but Headfall made me want to fall on mine. The Balky Mule were slightly more cheerful, although the lead singer looked like Sad Sac from the Raggy Dolls. It was a bit of a poor mans All Tomorrow's Parties act.
Talking of All Tomorrow's Parties, tickets are on sale now. Curated by My Bloody Valentine. Can't wait.
Saturday, 18 April 2009
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Blogs don't fool me...
...said the wonderfully animated lecturer who took my Saturday course on 'The Wisdom of the Fool'. I am not sure how he would feel about me blogging about him but I will say that it was an interesting and illuminating day.
I have left with the feeling that I am not, in actual fact brain dead, I have a reading list as long as my arm, and a desire to find out some more about the courses Ken Rees teaches.
The day spent some time looking at the traditional fool in the courts of kings, the village idiot, the fool in tarot, the modern day fool (those of a comedic nature), the fool in myth and the holy fool.
I have never been on a course which included spontaneous singing and had we been more organised (which was against the spirit of the day) I'm sure we could have fit some juggling in there also. All in all a very strange, and very good day.
I finished off my foolish day with the 13th to 15th century paintings in the National Gallery. I was hoping for more myth and less religion to round off my experience, but then there's no fool like a hopeful fool.
I have left with the feeling that I am not, in actual fact brain dead, I have a reading list as long as my arm, and a desire to find out some more about the courses Ken Rees teaches.
The day spent some time looking at the traditional fool in the courts of kings, the village idiot, the fool in tarot, the modern day fool (those of a comedic nature), the fool in myth and the holy fool.
I have never been on a course which included spontaneous singing and had we been more organised (which was against the spirit of the day) I'm sure we could have fit some juggling in there also. All in all a very strange, and very good day.
I finished off my foolish day with the 13th to 15th century paintings in the National Gallery. I was hoping for more myth and less religion to round off my experience, but then there's no fool like a hopeful fool.
Monday, 16 March 2009
All aboard...
...for a very surreal evening at the Transport Museum. A group of us went to the Friday late to see the poster exhibition before it finishes.
When we arrived we were dismayed to find that the late nights hadn't been going so well so they had decided to do a themed night instead. This meant 50s dancing and singing, a poet, and a lovely woman dressed as a bus conductor. All this was very well and good but they had shut the poster exhibition because they were allowing alcohol in there.
We weren't very impressed but decided to give it a go anyway. A very nice man also gave us all free tickets to come back another time.
Anyway, we played on the buses, sat in the carriages and listened to the fairly disturbing Summer Holiday on a loop.
Then...the same nice man said that due to popular demand they were going to open the poster exhibition - hurrah! Mission accomplished. I really enjoyed it but I would have liked it to be a bit better. But you can't have everything.
When we arrived we were dismayed to find that the late nights hadn't been going so well so they had decided to do a themed night instead. This meant 50s dancing and singing, a poet, and a lovely woman dressed as a bus conductor. All this was very well and good but they had shut the poster exhibition because they were allowing alcohol in there.
We weren't very impressed but decided to give it a go anyway. A very nice man also gave us all free tickets to come back another time.
Anyway, we played on the buses, sat in the carriages and listened to the fairly disturbing Summer Holiday on a loop.
Then...the same nice man said that due to popular demand they were going to open the poster exhibition - hurrah! Mission accomplished. I really enjoyed it but I would have liked it to be a bit better. But you can't have everything.
Friday, 13 March 2009
Bongo Mangos or something like that
I described them as this for a week before we actually went to the Dirty South last Friday (sorry, slacking on the write up this week).
They are actually called Los Mondo Bongos and consisted of Mike Peters (the Alarm), Pablo Cook & Smiley (Mescaleros) / Derek Forbes (Simple Minds) and Steve Harris (Gary Numan). They were quite entertaining for Friday night down the pub and I liked the pub itself and was ashamed I had not managed to make it there sooner. I should start a new campaign to drink local - maybe I need some help from the Man from Catford on this.
The support band were the recommended Penny Black Remedy. I thought they were interesting and the cowboy style boy and the gypsy style girl made an interesting mix. My only complaint is that there set wasn't long enough.
All in all a good night. I thought I had pulled at the end of it, but that's a different story...
They are actually called Los Mondo Bongos and consisted of Mike Peters (the Alarm), Pablo Cook & Smiley (Mescaleros) / Derek Forbes (Simple Minds) and Steve Harris (Gary Numan). They were quite entertaining for Friday night down the pub and I liked the pub itself and was ashamed I had not managed to make it there sooner. I should start a new campaign to drink local - maybe I need some help from the Man from Catford on this.
The support band were the recommended Penny Black Remedy. I thought they were interesting and the cowboy style boy and the gypsy style girl made an interesting mix. My only complaint is that there set wasn't long enough.
All in all a good night. I thought I had pulled at the end of it, but that's a different story...
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
Kiss my buttocks
A bit rude I know, but this was the catchphrase for Buttocks - one of the characters in the alternative panto in Brighton - Sinderfella.
I went to see it on Friday and really enjoyed it. Especially Sinderfella on a mobility scooter - you shall go to the ball - and Dave Lyn as Amy Winehouse.
It sells out every year and deservedly so. Although its all over until next year there are still the monthly absolutely dragulous performances to look forward too.
They are bunch of very clever boys - oh yes they are.
I went to see it on Friday and really enjoyed it. Especially Sinderfella on a mobility scooter - you shall go to the ball - and Dave Lyn as Amy Winehouse.
It sells out every year and deservedly so. Although its all over until next year there are still the monthly absolutely dragulous performances to look forward too.
They are bunch of very clever boys - oh yes they are.
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Magic numbers hoedown
Saturday night saw me at the Conway Hall, a venue I have never been to before but ideally suited to the charms of Betsey's Winterlude. Run by the Betsey Trotwood pub it was a folk based affair which seemed to consist of the magic numbers (who played their first ever gig at the pub) and all their mates (namely Danny and the Champions of the world - who at one count had 15 people in their band).
We missed the first couple of acts but I enjoyed the Moon Music Orchestra, despite the fact that the lead singer accessorised her dungarees with a cap which cast an unfortunate shadow on her face - it gave the impression that she had no teeth. A proper hillbilly.
I also thought the See See were very professional, not so much my cup of tea though, or fitting in as much with the theme of the day.
Danny and the Champions of the world arguably have the best band name in music, and they seemed to take their music very seriously. I liked them, but they had the magic numbers chap on stage to and all seemed content to play facing each other, and looking like they were enjoying themselves much more than we were. Good on them.
We missed the first couple of acts but I enjoyed the Moon Music Orchestra, despite the fact that the lead singer accessorised her dungarees with a cap which cast an unfortunate shadow on her face - it gave the impression that she had no teeth. A proper hillbilly.
I also thought the See See were very professional, not so much my cup of tea though, or fitting in as much with the theme of the day.
Danny and the Champions of the world arguably have the best band name in music, and they seemed to take their music very seriously. I liked them, but they had the magic numbers chap on stage to and all seemed content to play facing each other, and looking like they were enjoying themselves much more than we were. Good on them.
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
Milk of magnificence
Last night I went to see the marvellous milk. What a fantastic actor Sean Penn is. My friend asked afterwards if he really was gay. Maybe Madonna turned him but as far as I know he is as straight as a die.
The acting was truly great and the characters sensitively portrayed with all their flaws. I cried a bit at the end and didn't fidget too much (it was quite a long film). I would recommend going to see it and its definitely worth some Oscar mentions.
It's just a shame his life ended so tragically and that of the Mayor (freaking me out a bit as he is the boss in Eli Stone!)
It was one of those films that makes you want to do something with your life when you see it. Except get shot of course!
The acting was truly great and the characters sensitively portrayed with all their flaws. I cried a bit at the end and didn't fidget too much (it was quite a long film). I would recommend going to see it and its definitely worth some Oscar mentions.
It's just a shame his life ended so tragically and that of the Mayor (freaking me out a bit as he is the boss in Eli Stone!)
It was one of those films that makes you want to do something with your life when you see it. Except get shot of course!
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