Odd one this. Somehow I expected more. The last time I was in the Barfly, it was packed and sweaty for Candian and Taiwanese metal. Last night, it was thirty or so slightly diffident, possibly trendy, folks here to see a legend one step removed.
Plant Jr. certainly had the sound and the moves and the band were very tight but it all sounded too much like a Zep tribute. Maybe they'll come across better at Download this weekend.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Riot:Noise, Single Launch
Went to see Marty and the boys at the dreadful Bar Monsta on Saturday where they rolled the rock in awesome style. Nice one guys.
Now people - buy the damn single! It's on iTunes. Annoy the neighbours!
Now people - buy the damn single! It's on iTunes. Annoy the neighbours!
Monday, June 09, 2008
The Laurel Collective
First gig on my return to London.
Up in Hoxton, after a passable bowl of Vietnamese vermicelli soup. Light was terrible and the band didn't come across on the crappy stage and the terrible PA nearly as well as they're recorded.
Up in Hoxton, after a passable bowl of Vietnamese vermicelli soup. Light was terrible and the band didn't come across on the crappy stage and the terrible PA nearly as well as they're recorded.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Technical Support for LDR's
OK, folks, now that I'm nauseatingly loved up but for now, it's a long-distance thing (again) I really want to make technology bridge the gap and keep things simmering over. So, for others in the same situation, I want to write a guide to using tech for LDR's.
Off the top of my head, I can think of:
1. Skype. With video. Obvious smutty uses aside, it's great for just seeing and talking to your loved one.
2. Cheap telephony. In the UK 18866.com gives stupidly cheap landline/mobile to landline calls across countries. There are others.
3. Texting. Can be expensive across borders but still good.
OK, folks, so anything else you use to keep in touch?
Ta,
Off the top of my head, I can think of:
1. Skype. With video. Obvious smutty uses aside, it's great for just seeing and talking to your loved one.
2. Cheap telephony. In the UK 18866.com gives stupidly cheap landline/mobile to landline calls across countries. There are others.
3. Texting. Can be expensive across borders but still good.
OK, folks, so anything else you use to keep in touch?
Ta,
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
Laser314 exhibition in Amsterdam
I've been doing quite a bit of art recently, in Amsterdam, Berlin, London and LA just for giggles. Some of it has left me distinctly cold, like the Magnum retrospective at the Stedelijk and some has been outstanding and moving like the internment exhibition at the Japanese-American museum in LA.
So, to the latest: laser314's thing at the ABC Treehouse gallery near Spui.
Sadly, it's meh.
His stuff is part of the fabric of Amsterdam. When you're out you'll come across a deeply moving phrase bleeding from a hoarding that makes you stop and think. And as this example shows, he's literate too.
Sadly, out of context and hanging on a gallery wall, I'm not in the least convinced it works.
YMMV?
The ABC building is awesome though :) I want a desk there. And wifi.
So, to the latest: laser314's thing at the ABC Treehouse gallery near Spui.
Sadly, it's meh.
His stuff is part of the fabric of Amsterdam. When you're out you'll come across a deeply moving phrase bleeding from a hoarding that makes you stop and think. And as this example shows, he's literate too.
Sadly, out of context and hanging on a gallery wall, I'm not in the least convinced it works.
YMMV?
The ABC building is awesome though :) I want a desk there. And wifi.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Tagged!
I hate this crap but, since I've been tagged by such a superstar I'll play just this once.
So, six random things about me:
1. I pretty much have amusia: I can't tell a fourth from a fifth or a sixth from a third.
2. My grandparents are from each of the four corners of the union. My Irish clan is the O'Donoghue's and Kilkenny Castle is the family seat.
3. My ideal weight is 10st 8lbs.
4. Yes, love at first sight is possible. Reciprocation may, however, take several years and cause both people a lot of pain.
5. My son was taller than me when he was 14. He's now 6' 2" at 15.
6. The only two things I currently have on my "things to do before I die" list are: go to Taiwan and be in a rock and roll band. The second might be hard because of factoid 1.
I tag Dave Cross, James Hurst, Spiros, Indy, Joana and cowfish.
So, six random things about me:
1. I pretty much have amusia: I can't tell a fourth from a fifth or a sixth from a third.
2. My grandparents are from each of the four corners of the union. My Irish clan is the O'Donoghue's and Kilkenny Castle is the family seat.
3. My ideal weight is 10st 8lbs.
4. Yes, love at first sight is possible. Reciprocation may, however, take several years and cause both people a lot of pain.
5. My son was taller than me when he was 14. He's now 6' 2" at 15.
6. The only two things I currently have on my "things to do before I die" list are: go to Taiwan and be in a rock and roll band. The second might be hard because of factoid 1.
I tag Dave Cross, James Hurst, Spiros, Indy, Joana and cowfish.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
It appears...
...I've volunteered to tour manage a friend's band's tour in July.
I don't *think* I was that drunk...
I don't *think* I was that drunk...
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Chuffed
Only been here a few days, and fame of a sort already :) I'll take a little featurette in laist!
This calls for a celebration!
This calls for a celebration!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Calamity Magnet @ The Viper Room
So this has turned into a bit of a busman's holiday. I got randomly invited (thanks Genevieve!) to the launch of Calamity Magnet's EP at the Viper Room. Now, I'd say being on the guest list at the Viper Room is on the "list of things to do before I die" so I gladly accepted. And it was good to get back into the shooting saddle again.
OK, so they're not exactly my genre, but I really enjoyed it. Nice, wistful, country-tinged rock with more than a little whimsy. Highly recommended. UK bookers take note: these guys are GOOD.
Props also to the support bands: Let's Go Sailing and the other guy.
OK, so they're not exactly my genre, but I really enjoyed it. Nice, wistful, country-tinged rock with more than a little whimsy. Highly recommended. UK bookers take note: these guys are GOOD.
Props also to the support bands: Let's Go Sailing and the other guy.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Dear California...
It's all very nice this attempt to go green, but to still insist that a pack of six bottles of beer go in a bag is just bonkers. It's not the prohibition any more!
ktxbye
ktxbye
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Monday, March 31, 2008
Wolfgang Tillmans "Lighter" at the Hamburger Bahnof, Berlin
I'd seen some Tillmans as part of my course at Bath Univerity a year or two ago and his work remained of interest. So when the opportunity came up to see a full-on retrospective in Berlin, I jumped at the chance.
First though, a few words about the Hamburger Bahnof. Formerly the terminus for the Berlin-Hamburg railway and close to Berlin's cavernous, new central station, it has been converted into an amazing space for art with a light, airy main hall, free coat check and the obligatory busy cafe serving all manner of culinary delights. Not as impressive a building as the Tate Modern perhaps, but definitely calmer and more civilised.
So to the exhibtion.
It made me smile.
Such a wide variety of works were on display in a surprisingly higgledy-piggledy manner, yet all conistent with the man himself: from simple canvases of colour, through his signature group sweaty nighclub shots to a fascination with windows.
By the end of four rooms of his work though, I was saturated with colour, and generally art-ed out, which I guess is a good thing!
Highly recommended.
First though, a few words about the Hamburger Bahnof. Formerly the terminus for the Berlin-Hamburg railway and close to Berlin's cavernous, new central station, it has been converted into an amazing space for art with a light, airy main hall, free coat check and the obligatory busy cafe serving all manner of culinary delights. Not as impressive a building as the Tate Modern perhaps, but definitely calmer and more civilised.
So to the exhibtion.
It made me smile.
Such a wide variety of works were on display in a surprisingly higgledy-piggledy manner, yet all conistent with the man himself: from simple canvases of colour, through his signature group sweaty nighclub shots to a fascination with windows.
By the end of four rooms of his work though, I was saturated with colour, and generally art-ed out, which I guess is a good thing!
Highly recommended.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
Curse you TV
"Ashes to ashes" has cost me a fortune on iTunes in music I already bought the first time round. Which is now on obsolete media. Grrrr.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Skinny bridge
Today was the first day of spring. The transformation in Amsterdam and indeed my own feelings was just amazing. More please!
Thursday, February 07, 2008
New MacBook
My trusty and only slightly tuna-infused G4 is nearing the end of its Applecare eriod and has a couple of warranty, as opposed to abuse, related niggles that need fixing. So in preparation for sending it off and bequeathing it to my progeny, I had a new laptop in my sights. After much evangelising from my old colleague CMS, I was persuaded that a simple MacBook would suffice rather than the pro. The differences between the two were minor and white plastic wasn't that gay after all.
So, off to PC World and return with a remarkably slimline box.
First impressions are very good indeed. Bright screen, no lid latch to fail and after the annoying intro video, a breeze to get through initial network and user setup.
First niggle: MacBook couldn't see my G4 over firewire to import my not insignificant volume of data. Having been warned off rsync by the aforementioned cms, I consulted the Mac shop in Bath who suggested looking at the system profile to see if the G4 was seen at all on the firewire and then run the disk utility to see if the volume was visible to be forcibly mounted. After much, much cable plugging, magically both became true. It was then a simple matter to repair the G4's disk from the MacBook and mount it. Woohoo!
First epiphany: all my apps run on Intel. Woo for fat binaries!
Second and final niggle: my Vodafone USB dongle doesn't work. The USB bus sees it, the Vodafone software spins. I haven't had the time or the energy to work it out. Not sure if I care.
Result: MacBook: 6/5.
So, off to PC World and return with a remarkably slimline box.
First impressions are very good indeed. Bright screen, no lid latch to fail and after the annoying intro video, a breeze to get through initial network and user setup.
First niggle: MacBook couldn't see my G4 over firewire to import my not insignificant volume of data. Having been warned off rsync by the aforementioned cms, I consulted the Mac shop in Bath who suggested looking at the system profile to see if the G4 was seen at all on the firewire and then run the disk utility to see if the volume was visible to be forcibly mounted. After much, much cable plugging, magically both became true. It was then a simple matter to repair the G4's disk from the MacBook and mount it. Woohoo!
First epiphany: all my apps run on Intel. Woo for fat binaries!
Second and final niggle: my Vodafone USB dongle doesn't work. The USB bus sees it, the Vodafone software spins. I haven't had the time or the energy to work it out. Not sure if I care.
Result: MacBook: 6/5.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
What precisely do recruiters actually do for a living?
These are £100k+ jobs and two recruiters have recycled the same spec and added no value. Compare recruiter 1 and recruiter 2.
At least one has been smart enough to bump the salary to get the greater interest.
At least one has been smart enough to bump the salary to get the greater interest.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Robinson, Way and Co.
Ok, this is worth a blog entry on its own. A long time ago I blogged about a notorious debt-chasing company and their overbearing underhand tactics. Well, this was left as a comment to that blog:
Kinda says it all really. Illiterate and missing the point totally. I didn't owe the fucking money in the first place. But of course, work for a company hassling people for money and you get a different view of the world. Oh, to make a fly-on-the-wall documentary in that firm...
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Robinson, Way and Co.":
all you are doin is black spoting your name if u dont pay i wrk for them
Kinda says it all really. Illiterate and missing the point totally. I didn't owe the fucking money in the first place. But of course, work for a company hassling people for money and you get a different view of the world. Oh, to make a fly-on-the-wall documentary in that firm...
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Misty morning on the Amstel
OK, so it's not a sunrise. Perhaps the next best thing? Leaving my flat, it was just plain miserable,but by the time I got to walking across the Amstel, it was misty enough to produce this. And aside from some blue barge boards on the boat and some red guide lights on the lock in the distance, the scene was already mostly in black and white.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Swimming
They say that part of being motivated for something is to make a public commitment.
As part of my near year's changes I am going to swim twice a week. I'll be happy to do between 10 and 20 25 meter lengths to start with but would aim for 50 in a reasonable time (what's reasonable, anyone? a couple of days?!) after a few months.
Just getting my kit together now and I'm off to the Zwembad.
Update: 20 lengths of 30 (ish) meters. I'll take that.
As part of my near year's changes I am going to swim twice a week. I'll be happy to do between 10 and 20 25 meter lengths to start with but would aim for 50 in a reasonable time (what's reasonable, anyone? a couple of days?!) after a few months.
Just getting my kit together now and I'm off to the Zwembad.
Update: 20 lengths of 30 (ish) meters. I'll take that.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Doris "Thunder Tears", Chthonic, Riff's Bar, Swindon
And another Doris picture for your delectation.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Layla
For a long time, I didn't get it, especially the acoustic ending.
Now, vaguely knowing the participants, it all makes sense. 40 years too late.
If you get a chance, catch Patti Boyd's photo exhibition.
Now, vaguely knowing the participants, it all makes sense. 40 years too late.
If you get a chance, catch Patti Boyd's photo exhibition.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Chthonic - a class act
You know you're dealing with a class act when the headlining band, having had to cancel playing the show, still turn up to the last night to watch Chthonic one last time and then everyone is in tears when the aftershow, end of tour party, breaks up 'cause we have to leave for Amsterdam.
*sniff*
So metal!
*sniff*
So metal!
Monday, December 10, 2007
Out of the country...
Just did some arithmetic today (for insurance purposes so the hospital gets paid for fixing my brane) and totalled up that in the 6 months I've been "living" in Amsterdam, I've actually been away for 59 complete or partial days.
What's the point of having a great apartment?
(Actually, I know the answer to this: HACKERKITCHEN!)
What's the point of having a great apartment?
(Actually, I know the answer to this: HACKERKITCHEN!)
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Sick of hospitals
First, I ended up in hospital. I got punched in the face in Leidseplein in the wee small hours of Saturday morning two weeks ago and ended up with a fractured skull. Don't ask me what happened, I really have no recollection. I wasn't even very drunk according to the hospital blood tests. Kudos to the hospital: they were AMAZING. X-rays, scans and extremely attentive care (they were concerned about meningitis and concussion). If you're going to be ill, be ill in Holland.
Then as I was getting out of hospital, my dad went in. It seems like it's a consequence of his rheumatoid arthritis medication (methotrexate, evil, evil stuff) suppressing his immune system and letting a chest infection get out of hand. He's now been in ITU for a week and it looks like he's turning the corner. What happens after he comes round is open to question, apparently RA causes lung damage too. My family have been amazing, rallying round, visiting and generally keeping the excellent ITU staff on their toes.
Fed up with hospitals. Bah.
Then as I was getting out of hospital, my dad went in. It seems like it's a consequence of his rheumatoid arthritis medication (methotrexate, evil, evil stuff) suppressing his immune system and letting a chest infection get out of hand. He's now been in ITU for a week and it looks like he's turning the corner. What happens after he comes round is open to question, apparently RA causes lung damage too. My family have been amazing, rallying round, visiting and generally keeping the excellent ITU staff on their toes.
Fed up with hospitals. Bah.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Chthonic UK Tour - 2007
The path to Hell is paved with good intentions: it must be very soggy underfoot.
A couple of weeks ago, I'd volunteered to drive the Taiwanese black metal band, good friends and wonderful people, on their week-long UK tour, intending to keep a tour diary. Well, in between the gigs themselves, the driving and the sleeping, there was very little time to do anything else much!
In typical touring dartboard style, we did:
There's a legendary piece of video on YouTube of Jesse wigging out in a chalet with some emo drummer. Priceless!
But!
Alexis from 3 Inches of Blood managed to smash his elbow in a BRI (Booze Related Incident) and ended up in hospital, leaving Chthonic without a headlining act. After much wheedling of both 3IoB and MattC from Biomechanical (they knew each other from touring before and Chthonic were in the slot Bio would have had if they hadn't broken up), I got them to agree to rehearse and at least have a stab at the Camden gig.
Ah, good times :)
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Yep, it's life on the road...
It's pissing down with rain and I'm dodging the load-in because I've just done a 3 hour hurtle from Birmingham to Southampton 5 hours late courtesy of a lack of instruction about the van electrics and the complete unwillingness of the AA to be useful. Less said about the van hire company the better.
Chances of catching some Z's with the rain hammering on the roof?
Zero to none I'd say.
Rock and roll...
Chances of catching some Z's with the rain hammering on the roof?
Zero to none I'd say.
Rock and roll...
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Dipsy knows all
[02:13] _Dave: rule 20?
[02:13] dipsy: rule 20 is get home from work, get 7 hours sleep THEN party with the Lithuanians
[02:17] _Dave: rule 12?
[02:17] dipsy: Never refuse a job in Amsterdam.
Can't argue with that.
[02:13] dipsy: rule 20 is get home from work, get 7 hours sleep THEN party with the Lithuanians
[02:17] _Dave: rule 12?
[02:17] dipsy: Never refuse a job in Amsterdam.
Can't argue with that.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
The peril for markets when computers miscalculate
Brilliant article from the economist. Especially check out the paper referenced at the end. Backtesting FTW!
Thursday, October 25, 2007
On the road with Chthonic
I'm now booked to drive and shoot Taiwanese black metal band Chthonic for a week in the UK in November supporting 3 Inches of Blood.
Doing the same last year for Fortune Drive was fun and great experience and I'm looking forward to doing the same with another lovely group of people.
Anyone else going to be at Hard Rock Hell in Minehead? :)
Doing the same last year for Fortune Drive was fun and great experience and I'm looking forward to doing the same with another lovely group of people.
Anyone else going to be at Hard Rock Hell in Minehead? :)
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Status update
I've fallen off the radar recently since I've been buried at work and my personal life has been turbulent to say the least, as anyone watching my "relationship status" flag on Facebook will attest.
But!
That's all pretty much behind me now and through it all has been the constant of the support (and occasional healthy abuse and ridicule ;-) of my friends and the all-embracing gezelligheit of Amsterdam.
Ah, Amsterdam. Could one ever tire of it? There's always something new to do and interesting people to meet! And of that fails, just go for a walk and look around!
But!
That's all pretty much behind me now and through it all has been the constant of the support (and occasional healthy abuse and ridicule ;-) of my friends and the all-embracing gezelligheit of Amsterdam.
Ah, Amsterdam. Could one ever tire of it? There's always something new to do and interesting people to meet! And of that fails, just go for a walk and look around!
Friday, October 12, 2007
The Secret dissed on Forbes
Ok, so the author is editor of skeptic magazine, but it's still good to see a mainstream publication printing that The Secret is evil.
Excellent. More please. Is Oprah off her perch yet?
Excellent. More please. Is Oprah off her perch yet?
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Brilliant accidental entendre
"Glad there was a breeze to lift the flag"
"Well it would have looked pretty crap just hanging there"
Well, yes. Exactly.
"Well it would have looked pretty crap just hanging there"
Well, yes. Exactly.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
The English language
My Purple friends will know Pavel "SFMPE" where that means "Sorry For My Poor English".
Well, actually, his English was fine, if recognisably of Polish origin.
Tonight, I had a Taiwanese friend apologise for her English when I knew exactly what she meant.
I realised that maybe, the reason why English is so adaptable and why we not only tolerate but love to hear it spoken and mangled around that world is that English is totally distorted within this septic isle! From Geordie to Weegie to Brizzle to Mockney, there are dialects within an hour's drive. Why should we care if it's a common tongue for Chinese and Nigerians to communicate with taxi drivers in Santiago?
Well, actually, his English was fine, if recognisably of Polish origin.
Tonight, I had a Taiwanese friend apologise for her English when I knew exactly what she meant.
I realised that maybe, the reason why English is so adaptable and why we not only tolerate but love to hear it spoken and mangled around that world is that English is totally distorted within this septic isle! From Geordie to Weegie to Brizzle to Mockney, there are dialects within an hour's drive. Why should we care if it's a common tongue for Chinese and Nigerians to communicate with taxi drivers in Santiago?
Friday, September 21, 2007
Today I mostly...
Ran around:
I don't expect tomorrow to be much different.
- Sent my old Fiesta off for scrap, but not before I got a ticket for an expired tax disc
- Posted the arse end of the V5 form saying the car's been scrapped
- Been to the doctor twice
- Got the code for the car radio
- Bagged up a metric FUCKLOAD of recycling
- Got a replacement phone
- Went to PC *spit* world and failed to buy a flatscreen monitor
- Installed all the Mac voodoo to get iCal, iTunes, iPhoto to work with a Nokia N95
I don't expect tomorrow to be much different.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Chopper to EWR
I forgot to blog this. It was amazing. Highly recommended and a codeshare with continental so you can wave goodbye to your bags in Manhattan and get on with the business of traveling.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Stupid people
How stupid can people be?.
Oh yes, in Daily Mail world, they can be THIS stupid.
Damn, I forgot rule 1.
Oh yes, in Daily Mail world, they can be THIS stupid.
Damn, I forgot rule 1.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Led Zep reunion
Nothing to see here, move along.
One gig in several decades? Some bands of that era, with a better signature riff have been doing 100+ gigs a year since 1984...
One gig in several decades? Some bands of that era, with a better signature riff have been doing 100+ gigs a year since 1984...
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Friday, September 07, 2007
Osteria al Doge, 142 W44th St, NY
OK, so my colleague had been grumbling about trying to find a bar somewhere round Times Square where our crack-fuelled travel department had put us. I said no to many seedy tourist traps, trusting that my trusty beer compass would find somewhere decent. After a sojourn in the insanely huge Toys'R'Us, I started registering quality on the radar and we found the above establishment.
Superb antipasti and the bartender mixologised me a superb espresso Martini. Wonderful.
Superb antipasti and the bartender mixologised me a superb espresso Martini. Wonderful.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Venice Beach
I have to say it. I'm really enjoying the left coast. There's annoying American stuff like the weird accents, pretty ordinary food and the really sleazy boardwalk but, like my hometowns of Amsterdam and Camden, this stuff is easily filtered out, leaving what you really want. In my case, the weather (30C and sunny), the ocean and the kitschy Venice canals. These are really hitting the spot.
Now to find something I can do from an oceanfront condo. Surely the LA's need yet another photographer?
Now to find something I can do from an oceanfront condo. Surely the LA's need yet another photographer?
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Universal studios
A good day out. The "front of line" passes are recommended! We managed to hit everything we wanted to by 4pm. The Blues Brothers show made us smile, but Waterworld was probably the most impressive. With real "name" actors too!
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Zushi, Amsterdam
Just went to Zushi, beind Rembrandplein:
http://www.zushi.nl/
Better than I expected, given the touristy nature of the area. Tempura doesn't
start until 17:00 so I had the ebi fry, which was excellent. And the crab meat
and sweetcorn soup was *excellent*: lots of meat and just the right hint of spice.
Not the cheapest in the world, but it hit the spot exactly for what I was after at that moment.
http://www.zushi.nl/
Better than I expected, given the touristy nature of the area. Tempura doesn't
start until 17:00 so I had the ebi fry, which was excellent. And the crab meat
and sweetcorn soup was *excellent*: lots of meat and just the right hint of spice.
Not the cheapest in the world, but it hit the spot exactly for what I was after at that moment.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Live music photos for sale!
Finally, I've started putting photos up for sale!
It's been a long time coming, and it's only a select few gigs so far, mostly Deep Purple and Fortune Drive. If there are any gigs you've seen me at that you want prints from (Quireboys? Planet of Women? Biomechanical?) then let me know and I'll prioritise them.
Let me know!
It's been a long time coming, and it's only a select few gigs so far, mostly Deep Purple and Fortune Drive. If there are any gigs you've seen me at that you want prints from (Quireboys? Planet of Women? Biomechanical?) then let me know and I'll prioritise them.
Let me know!
Monday, August 13, 2007
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Atheist insurance?
Are there any insurance policies that don't attribute certain events to an "act of God"?
I'd have thought the quantitative actuaries would have been among the first to expunge a magic sky pixie from such important documentation.
I'd have thought the quantitative actuaries would have been among the first to expunge a magic sky pixie from such important documentation.
Monday, August 06, 2007
Playing pool and drinking beer...
Playing pool and drinking beer
Nothin more'n the occasional tear
But this man's life goes on and he gets greased all over
from time to time
At the strip joint, where we met
He said 'Hi, my name is Ted
See that one over there
That ball of thunder
Every time she goes Vavoom,
I wiggle in my chair
Can I buy you a beer?
What a guy
It was actually the middle of the afternoon, but at the back of the Waterhole it could have been any time of the day or night...
Nothin more'n the occasional tear
But this man's life goes on and he gets greased all over
from time to time
At the strip joint, where we met
He said 'Hi, my name is Ted
See that one over there
That ball of thunder
Every time she goes Vavoom,
I wiggle in my chair
Can I buy you a beer?
What a guy
It was actually the middle of the afternoon, but at the back of the Waterhole it could have been any time of the day or night...
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Braintoy - new tracks
It looks like I'll be off to Toronto for a few days which means I should get a chance to hang with the Braintoy boys. I've still not seen them live and the last time we got to crack a few brews was when they came to see Deep Purple play my birthday in Toronto. This time we might even end up in the Bovine Sex Club.
Anyhow, they've got three new tracks for download. Check 'em out. I love 'em.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Car for sale
Anyone in the Bristol/Bath area need a banger? My trusty Fiesta 1.1 LX is for sale. Circa 1994 (L reg) it's done a hundred and mumble thousand miles has been very reliable (when it's used regularly) has MOT till the end of the year and tax until the end of August. Costs me £9/month to insure 3rd party.
Probably a great first car for a teenager.
£100 to you, my son.
Anyone?
Probably a great first car for a teenager.
£100 to you, my son.
Anyone?
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Monday, July 16, 2007
Thank you David Byrne - US travel restrictions explained
A message from David Byrne's webmaster gave me a good clue as to what he was referring.
It's the extension to the US-VISIT program which will start to collect 10 fingerprints and possibly a retinal scan in addition to the current face print and 2 fingerprints.
References:
Overall, I can't say I'm quaking in my boots. I know some people who are now boycotting US trips over privacy and Guantanamo issues (hi Alex!), but I've been back a few times since 9/11 and the it's asinine "being seen to be doing something" restrictions on hand baggage, liquids and so on and stupid, untrained, rude security that is more of a problem IMHO, even at the front of the plane.
Thanks again to Tech for the clue.
Sorry for the rant. We now return you to your regularly scheduled photographs.
It's the extension to the US-VISIT program which will start to collect 10 fingerprints and possibly a retinal scan in addition to the current face print and 2 fingerprints.
References:
- The Federal Times from nearly a year ago. The first reference I found was from the beginning of 2006 and the system was "coming in a month or two". Heh.
- US EU Mission - not impressed with the literacy of the US representative. "Very unique"? That's up there with "A bit pregnant".
- From Wired
Overall, I can't say I'm quaking in my boots. I know some people who are now boycotting US trips over privacy and Guantanamo issues (hi Alex!), but I've been back a few times since 9/11 and the it's asinine "being seen to be doing something" restrictions on hand baggage, liquids and so on and stupid, untrained, rude security that is more of a problem IMHO, even at the front of the plane.
Thanks again to Tech for the clue.
Sorry for the rant. We now return you to your regularly scheduled photographs.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Trivia
I lost my denim jacket. It was special in so many ways. I'd lost my previous (and first!) jacket when it was pinched from Madam JoJo's on the Fortune Drive tour. I say pinched, it probably got unknowingly packed up from the backstage area by one of the bands. Still, I was down one denim jacket.
So, last Christmas me dad sent me a Next voucher and in January I wandered into Next in Covent Garden, found the "sale remnant" rail and there, the only item of clothing in a "medium" size: my new jacket.
Yesterday, I missed it and couldn't remember where I wore it last. Then again, I've only been out to three places in the last week so we hit them again and the wonderful Cuban Cigars on Utrechtstraat had it in the broom cupboard.
I love you guys!
So, last Christmas me dad sent me a Next voucher and in January I wandered into Next in Covent Garden, found the "sale remnant" rail and there, the only item of clothing in a "medium" size: my new jacket.
Yesterday, I missed it and couldn't remember where I wore it last. Then again, I've only been out to three places in the last week so we hit them again and the wonderful Cuban Cigars on Utrechtstraat had it in the broom cupboard.
I love you guys!
Friday, July 13, 2007
David Byrne makes wild assertions
I'm trying to find any reference to what David Byrne refers to in his blog.
Increased restrictions on business travel to the US? Not at Newark when I went there a few weeks back. In fact the whole immigration process was somewhat smoother than it's been for a while.
I've mailed his webmaster, but if anyone has any clues, please shout!
Increased restrictions on business travel to the US? Not at Newark when I went there a few weeks back. In fact the whole immigration process was somewhat smoother than it's been for a while.
I've mailed his webmaster, but if anyone has any clues, please shout!
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Monday, July 09, 2007
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Friday, July 06, 2007
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Monday, July 02, 2007
London "bombs"
Real life isn't like Duke Nukem.
In 2001 after 9/11 I went on record that the "Muslim community", whatever that is, was reverberatingly silent in their condemnation of that act and there was a feeling that somehow America deserved it.
Finally, there seems to be an awareness that "something needs to be done" and that the community has failed its own young people who are turning to corrupt "leaders" for answers.
Could it be that the rising swell of a firmer brand of atheism, that as more people become intolerant of believers in fairies, they're realising how ridiculous and untenable their medieval superstitions are?
We can hope.
In 2001 after 9/11 I went on record that the "Muslim community", whatever that is, was reverberatingly silent in their condemnation of that act and there was a feeling that somehow America deserved it.
Finally, there seems to be an awareness that "something needs to be done" and that the community has failed its own young people who are turning to corrupt "leaders" for answers.
Could it be that the rising swell of a firmer brand of atheism, that as more people become intolerant of believers in fairies, they're realising how ridiculous and untenable their medieval superstitions are?
We can hope.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Blogging from Amsterdam?
I've been here over a month now, without my trusty Nikon but with my phone camera. And of course it's Amsterdam so of course surrealities abound.
Should I blog them? Or carry on like all the other cloggies like this stuff is normal?
Vote now!
Should I blog them? Or carry on like all the other cloggies like this stuff is normal?
Vote now!
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Not sweary enough apparently
Mingle2 - Online Dating
I'm deeply disappointed. Given that I was the sweariest person on #london.pm for a long time I need to cut the bullshit and get the fucking lead out on my blog.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Google knows all
Googling to check that an old colleague's address was the same, the top hit was acutally a list of emails and addresses that looked like a direct dump from a mailer. Clicking on a link on that page brought me to a PDF of a dump from an Outlook address book. Which includes credit card numbers, assorted utility account numbers and PIN codes and so on.
For a lawyer.
Not good, folks.
For a lawyer.
Not good, folks.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
5 hour sunset
Flying out of LHR at 2030, there was a purty sunset which lasted 5 hours as we chased it across the Atlantic. Worringly, it was out of the right (starboard!) window which I'm assuming was the North. I guess I could work out the geometry of it if I could be bothered.
Still, it was lovely.
Still, it was lovely.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
KLM suck
Just registering a point on the suckometer.
0755 to LCY cancelled for "technical reasons". Shyeah. Routed onto 1015 to LHR.
Luggage going via Miami presumably.
0755 to LCY cancelled for "technical reasons". Shyeah. Routed onto 1015 to LHR.
Luggage going via Miami presumably.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Stupid Blogger language default
Just because I'm *in* Holland, doesn't mean I want the Blogger interface in Dutch. Especially as my gmail login knows damn well who I am and where I'm from.
This also leads to weirdness like the popup over "BERICHT PUBLICEREN" being "Now Blogger saves your drafts automatically!"
Sorry Billy, please re-post your comment on the 7 ages of rock blog!
Shame on you Blogger losing Billy's comment.
This also leads to weirdness like the popup over "BERICHT PUBLICEREN" being "Now Blogger saves your drafts automatically!"
Sorry Billy, please re-post your comment on the 7 ages of rock blog!
Shame on you Blogger losing Billy's comment.
Saturday, June 09, 2007
BBC Seven Ages of Rock: Heavy Metal
An entertaining romp through the history of metal, touching on all the important stuff from Sabbath, Purple of Course, Priest, Maiden, Motley Crue and Metallica.
One BIG gripe: metal did NOT end with Metallica. It might have gone through one if its regular dormant periods in the 90's while grunge had a quick play, much like punk was allowed to in the 70's, but since the turn of the millenium, metal has exploded again with genres and subcultures drawing from the original roots. I should know, I've been involved with a load! From Goth-metal through Metalcore to epic Scandi-metal, the genre is completely alive and well. The Download festival I'm missing is testament to that.
See you at Wacken Open Air in August!
One BIG gripe: metal did NOT end with Metallica. It might have gone through one if its regular dormant periods in the 90's while grunge had a quick play, much like punk was allowed to in the 70's, but since the turn of the millenium, metal has exploded again with genres and subcultures drawing from the original roots. I should know, I've been involved with a load! From Goth-metal through Metalcore to epic Scandi-metal, the genre is completely alive and well. The Download festival I'm missing is testament to that.
See you at Wacken Open Air in August!
Friday, June 08, 2007
Wet
It's been horribly sweaty today, even more so on the train back from Utrecht which got diverted via Hilversum and was packed and sweaty and ended up at the Central Station. As I was walking from the tram stop to my flat, the heavens opened with a huge electrical storm. In a hundred yards, I was drenched to the skin. Hopefully it's cleared the air!
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Do I look like a local then?
Wandering around Amsterdam this evening, I've been asked directions no less than THREE times by lost tourists.
I suppose I should be flattered.
I suppose I should be flattered.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Friday, May 25, 2007
Sunday, May 13, 2007
My last hurrah in London, seeing some old friends in a new incarnation: Furyon. Previously, they were mildly AOR. Now they rock big stylee.
Check it out.
Good to catch up with Matt, July and Jamie for one last beer too.
Update: Pics on flickr as usual!
Check it out.
Good to catch up with Matt, July and Jamie for one last beer too.
Update: Pics on flickr as usual!
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
That's it, I'm off.
Off from this sceptic Isle at least.
It's not often you get the chance to turn the clock back ten years but, wrinkles and minor beer belly situation nothwithstanding, that's exactly what I'm doing.
As of Monday I'm off to Utrecht to lend Dave-fu to the Market Risk group at Rabobank; a team I was consulting at before joining the web 1.0 rush.
This came about totally by chance. I pinged one of my former colleagues to see what he was up to. That led to lunch. He described how some of the original team had been moved back on to the project, but they needed someone to bridge the business and IT and give the IT folks some leadership. "Sounds like you need me". Pause. "OK". A day trip to Utrecht to seal the deal and I'm packing boxes. Eat your heart out "six months to hire" Goldman Sachs. *That's* the way to do business.
I'm *really* looking forward to this: great people, really interesting project and of course, fantastic location. And it's long-term too: everything needs to be in place by 2010 and there's a lot to do. With luck, there should be some travel too.
There's also a good chance we'll be hiring more bodies and the Dutch tax system is awesome for expats. So watch this space.
I'll miss Camden. It's been an amazing six months of friends, gigs, emos and even some work in between!
Now the path to hell paved with good intentions:
1. I'm going to learn Dutch properly this time. Despite the protestations of the IT manager: "Noo! We need to improve our English!".
2. I'll get a two-bed apartment in Utrecht or Amsterdam so y'all can visit. I expect it to be booked out most weekends (and weeks!) when I'm not on the road.
3. On successful completion of the project I'll take a year and get that photography MA. For now, I'm retiring from serious photography.
If I sound full of it, it's because I am. This is going to be great.
It's not often you get the chance to turn the clock back ten years but, wrinkles and minor beer belly situation nothwithstanding, that's exactly what I'm doing.
As of Monday I'm off to Utrecht to lend Dave-fu to the Market Risk group at Rabobank; a team I was consulting at before joining the web 1.0 rush.
This came about totally by chance. I pinged one of my former colleagues to see what he was up to. That led to lunch. He described how some of the original team had been moved back on to the project, but they needed someone to bridge the business and IT and give the IT folks some leadership. "Sounds like you need me". Pause. "OK". A day trip to Utrecht to seal the deal and I'm packing boxes. Eat your heart out "six months to hire" Goldman Sachs. *That's* the way to do business.
I'm *really* looking forward to this: great people, really interesting project and of course, fantastic location. And it's long-term too: everything needs to be in place by 2010 and there's a lot to do. With luck, there should be some travel too.
There's also a good chance we'll be hiring more bodies and the Dutch tax system is awesome for expats. So watch this space.
I'll miss Camden. It's been an amazing six months of friends, gigs, emos and even some work in between!
Now the path to hell paved with good intentions:
1. I'm going to learn Dutch properly this time. Despite the protestations of the IT manager: "Noo! We need to improve our English!".
2. I'll get a two-bed apartment in Utrecht or Amsterdam so y'all can visit. I expect it to be booked out most weekends (and weeks!) when I'm not on the road.
3. On successful completion of the project I'll take a year and get that photography MA. For now, I'm retiring from serious photography.
If I sound full of it, it's because I am. This is going to be great.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Meet my tailor*
...he's called Tee. I've just blown a not insignificant amount of money on a couple of sharp suits, dressy shirts, ties and stuff. I just want to give a big up to my man "Tee" down in the basement of Moss Bros at the TCR end of Oxford Street. He knew exactly what size I was, immediately picked out the right suit and got exactly the shirts to go with it.
Recommended!
* Ian Dury. What a loss.
...he's called Tee. I've just blown a not insignificant amount of money on a couple of sharp suits, dressy shirts, ties and stuff. I just want to give a big up to my man "Tee" down in the basement of Moss Bros at the TCR end of Oxford Street. He knew exactly what size I was, immediately picked out the right suit and got exactly the shirts to go with it.
Recommended!
* Ian Dury. What a loss.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Yesterday, Sunday 6 May, I was pootling up the M4 back to London having taken a small detour to Swindon to get some beer and nibbles for my "Leaving London" party. About a mile from the Chievely exit I saw a puff of brown dust and then what appeared to be a car going end over end.
It was.
I pulled over with a few other cars expecting the worst and called 999 to scramble everything. Two adults had been pulled from the car and were laying on the grass ,and a toddler was being cradled by a fellow passer-by. After checking that there were no more people in the car, I grabbed a little girl as she was about to wander into the traffic. As I carried her up to the verge and tried to calm her, there was some activity further up the bank as some cries had been heard. After a few moments searching, another child was found in a tree having been thrown completely clear.
It took at least 20 minutes for help to arrive but fortunately, two doctors had stopped and got to work with the triage, pulling first aid kits from cars and performing basic first aid.
Once help arrived, it arrived in force: two or three fire engines, several ambulances and plenty of police. The Eastbound M4 was closed, followed half an hour later by the Westbound to allow the air ambulance to land.
According to the traffic police, the car had been in the overtaking lane, so doing at least 80mph, wandered into the drainage gulley, overcorrected, crossed all three lanes, mounted the bank, flipped and touched down at least three times before coming to rest on its roof.
As a skeptic, I don't use words like "miraculous" very often but it certainly verged on it in that no-one was killed in this: either the occupants of the car or any of the cars whose path it crossed.
After an hour or so, I put the little girl into the ambulance complete with space blankets, firmly gripping a new teddy bear given to her by a fireman and donated by the local Lion's Club (I think!) and waved her goodbye. She had hardly a scratch on her, just a bruised finger.
Now the angry part: anyone carrying children in their car without proper restraint should be prosecuted immediately. In this case the parents could well be once they are out of hospital: the police were taking a very strong interest in whether the children were buckled in and the absence of child seats. This is too little, too late. [* Update: the father was driving while disqualified *]
On a personal note, the whole thing was completely surreal. Firstly, this stuff never happens to me, I really hope it's not the start of a trend. I was also frankly impressed with myself and everyone else who stopped, the situation was dealt with calmly and efficiently. It was only when I stopped at Reading searvices and had a cup of tea that the enormity of what had happened sunk in. On the subject of tea, and I realise this is totally trivial, but everyone involved could really have done with a cup of tea while the paramedics were going about their work. What's happened to the Blitz spirit, eh?
Lastly, and I don't know whether it's just the way I am, but I felt very sad that the connections that had been made in that brief time, the bond between the helpers themselves and particularly with the little girl would be so transient. After I file a pro-forma statement today, that'll be it, all over. We'll never know whether the endng is happy or not. Life isn't like TV after all.
[* Update: OK, I've got some closure now. Everyone is fine, the worst injuries were a fractured skull on the youngest child and a broken collarbone on one of the adults. All's well and all that, but it should never have happened in the first place *]
It was.
I pulled over with a few other cars expecting the worst and called 999 to scramble everything. Two adults had been pulled from the car and were laying on the grass ,and a toddler was being cradled by a fellow passer-by. After checking that there were no more people in the car, I grabbed a little girl as she was about to wander into the traffic. As I carried her up to the verge and tried to calm her, there was some activity further up the bank as some cries had been heard. After a few moments searching, another child was found in a tree having been thrown completely clear.
It took at least 20 minutes for help to arrive but fortunately, two doctors had stopped and got to work with the triage, pulling first aid kits from cars and performing basic first aid.
Once help arrived, it arrived in force: two or three fire engines, several ambulances and plenty of police. The Eastbound M4 was closed, followed half an hour later by the Westbound to allow the air ambulance to land.
According to the traffic police, the car had been in the overtaking lane, so doing at least 80mph, wandered into the drainage gulley, overcorrected, crossed all three lanes, mounted the bank, flipped and touched down at least three times before coming to rest on its roof.
As a skeptic, I don't use words like "miraculous" very often but it certainly verged on it in that no-one was killed in this: either the occupants of the car or any of the cars whose path it crossed.
After an hour or so, I put the little girl into the ambulance complete with space blankets, firmly gripping a new teddy bear given to her by a fireman and donated by the local Lion's Club (I think!) and waved her goodbye. She had hardly a scratch on her, just a bruised finger.
Now the angry part: anyone carrying children in their car without proper restraint should be prosecuted immediately. In this case the parents could well be once they are out of hospital: the police were taking a very strong interest in whether the children were buckled in and the absence of child seats. This is too little, too late. [* Update: the father was driving while disqualified *]
On a personal note, the whole thing was completely surreal. Firstly, this stuff never happens to me, I really hope it's not the start of a trend. I was also frankly impressed with myself and everyone else who stopped, the situation was dealt with calmly and efficiently. It was only when I stopped at Reading searvices and had a cup of tea that the enormity of what had happened sunk in. On the subject of tea, and I realise this is totally trivial, but everyone involved could really have done with a cup of tea while the paramedics were going about their work. What's happened to the Blitz spirit, eh?
Lastly, and I don't know whether it's just the way I am, but I felt very sad that the connections that had been made in that brief time, the bond between the helpers themselves and particularly with the little girl would be so transient. After I file a pro-forma statement today, that'll be it, all over. We'll never know whether the endng is happy or not. Life isn't like TV after all.
[* Update: OK, I've got some closure now. Everyone is fine, the worst injuries were a fractured skull on the youngest child and a broken collarbone on one of the adults. All's well and all that, but it should never have happened in the first place *]
Friday, May 04, 2007
Monday, April 30, 2007
Three Deep Purple gigs in three days is always hectic and this particular hurtle round the sea-sides and metropolis was no exception.
First stop Bournemouth in time for Purple's set. It's an all-seater, but the security clearly were on to a loser trying to stem the rush to the barrier, a nice little crowd-let formed and I spent the whole set on the rail dead centre. This is always a mixed blessing since it's nice to be up close but the sound is always dreadful, all drums and guitars, little bass and no keys. Most noteworthy though was the lighting: the biggest production The setlist had a disappointing two songs from the current album, but they're goodies and the rest of the set rattled along with the usual mix of classics and the occasional slight rarity. Afterwards we repaired to a nearby Wetherspoons for friendly libations with old and new friends.
Next up, Wembley Arena. Historically, Wembley arena has been a hateful venue: an echo-laden, soulless concrete barn with ignorant goons as stewards. Amazingly, only thing remaining are the goons. As part of the redevelopment of Wembley, the arena has been flipped so the back is now the front and vice-versa; somewhat disconcerting as the corridors are vaguely familiar yet disconcertingly veering off into
unfamiliar room and stairwells. The house staff were as lovely and helpful too. And as a bonus, there are now wandering minions with backpacks of cold lager for sale!
This time I made a point of seeing Thin Lizzy. Or should that be White Lizzy, what with Aldridge and Mendoza in the band? Either way, a jolly good rock and roll romp provided you leave your Lynott nostalgia at the door. John Sykes is a good front man and almost has the vocals
covered. His sparring with Gorham is great fun too. Recommended! Saw a fair chunk of Styx too, I can see they're very good at what they do but not having any history with the band, I found it tough to get
interested.
Finally, ten minutes early, the main act. Gillan introduces the show with "welcome to the shit-hole Wembley" or somesuch. I'm hoping he got to eat those words. He even went walkabout as the goons try to suppress the enjoyment but finally the crowd is allowed to get to its feet and jump around. Pretty much a sell-out and a GREAT show. I took a wander to see what the sound was like around the hall and it was amazing. Even Mr. Sykes in the sound area enjoyed a good chunk of the show.
Best. Deep Purple. Wembley Show ever.
Finally got back to my place at about four (thanks for the lift!) and up again at ten for the tortuous trek down through the Southern suburbs to the "Southern tip of Wardour St" aka Brighton.
Back on the rail for this, enjoy Lizzy hugely, stoke up on coffee during Styx then on snapping duties for the main event. Again, very, very good. Tight show, smiles all round, lots of dancing in the crowd. Some cheeky chop-stealing side-stage from a couple of members of the other bands. Bad Marco! Bad Lawrence!
All in all, possibly the best clutch of Purple shows I've ever seen. The production was excellent, performances tight, band relaxed and smiling and a good selection of friends old and new to sit and have *one* with afterwards. Special mention to the crew with "Bad Roadie! No Red Bull!" t-shirts.
Still smiling.
First stop Bournemouth in time for Purple's set. It's an all-seater, but the security clearly were on to a loser trying to stem the rush to the barrier, a nice little crowd-let formed and I spent the whole set on the rail dead centre. This is always a mixed blessing since it's nice to be up close but the sound is always dreadful, all drums and guitars, little bass and no keys. Most noteworthy though was the lighting: the biggest production The setlist had a disappointing two songs from the current album, but they're goodies and the rest of the set rattled along with the usual mix of classics and the occasional slight rarity. Afterwards we repaired to a nearby Wetherspoons for friendly libations with old and new friends.
Next up, Wembley Arena. Historically, Wembley arena has been a hateful venue: an echo-laden, soulless concrete barn with ignorant goons as stewards. Amazingly, only thing remaining are the goons. As part of the redevelopment of Wembley, the arena has been flipped so the back is now the front and vice-versa; somewhat disconcerting as the corridors are vaguely familiar yet disconcertingly veering off into
unfamiliar room and stairwells. The house staff were as lovely and helpful too. And as a bonus, there are now wandering minions with backpacks of cold lager for sale!
This time I made a point of seeing Thin Lizzy. Or should that be White Lizzy, what with Aldridge and Mendoza in the band? Either way, a jolly good rock and roll romp provided you leave your Lynott nostalgia at the door. John Sykes is a good front man and almost has the vocals
covered. His sparring with Gorham is great fun too. Recommended! Saw a fair chunk of Styx too, I can see they're very good at what they do but not having any history with the band, I found it tough to get
interested.
Finally, ten minutes early, the main act. Gillan introduces the show with "welcome to the shit-hole Wembley" or somesuch. I'm hoping he got to eat those words. He even went walkabout as the goons try to suppress the enjoyment but finally the crowd is allowed to get to its feet and jump around. Pretty much a sell-out and a GREAT show. I took a wander to see what the sound was like around the hall and it was amazing. Even Mr. Sykes in the sound area enjoyed a good chunk of the show.
Best. Deep Purple. Wembley Show ever.
Finally got back to my place at about four (thanks for the lift!) and up again at ten for the tortuous trek down through the Southern suburbs to the "Southern tip of Wardour St" aka Brighton.
Back on the rail for this, enjoy Lizzy hugely, stoke up on coffee during Styx then on snapping duties for the main event. Again, very, very good. Tight show, smiles all round, lots of dancing in the crowd. Some cheeky chop-stealing side-stage from a couple of members of the other bands. Bad Marco! Bad Lawrence!
All in all, possibly the best clutch of Purple shows I've ever seen. The production was excellent, performances tight, band relaxed and smiling and a good selection of friends old and new to sit and have *one* with afterwards. Special mention to the crew with "Bad Roadie! No Red Bull!" t-shirts.
Still smiling.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Bobby Anderson, Fortune Drive, The Fly, London
What can I say? Fantastic little show. Something like the the 15th time I've seen them (half as many times as I've seen Deep Purple but with fewer lineup changes!) and every time they get better in one way or another.
They also have this amazing personal chemistry. I've never seen a band act more like a family.
Lovely, lovely band.
They also have this amazing personal chemistry. I've never seen a band act more like a family.
Lovely, lovely band.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
The Camden Crawl
Was 99% bollocks. Of course you had to queue for five hours, or camp in a venue where a can of Red Stripe was £3.50, to see the teaser headliners, and the rest were camp NME poster boys. I could name names but I'll spare their blushes. Just to say, for crying out loud, learn to play your instruments and playground chants do not a song make.
BUT!
There was one salvation.
I never thought I would see a rap act at the Underworld much less like it. But it was so good I went to see him again the next night. Who provoked such madness? He's bad. He's Angry. It's....Akala.
It's bullshit.
Was 99% bollocks. Of course you had to queue for five hours, or camp in a venue where a can of Red Stripe was £3.50, to see the teaser headliners, and the rest were camp NME poster boys. I could name names but I'll spare their blushes. Just to say, for crying out loud, learn to play your instruments and playground chants do not a song make.
BUT!
There was one salvation.
I never thought I would see a rap act at the Underworld much less like it. But it was so good I went to see him again the next night. Who provoked such madness? He's bad. He's Angry. It's....Akala.
It's bullshit.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Southgate, Bath
OK, this is more like it. Gonzo wide angle, big blue sky and rubble. Lots of rubble.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Friday, April 13, 2007
14 Stone Penguin
Found on a post-it note at The Light bar lsat night: "14 Stone Penguin". This will be the first mention of it on Google.
Any guesses as so its significance?
Honourable mention to the shots girl with: "I had a cat called Dave. He smelled funny and wouldn't do as he was told."
Any guesses as so its significance?
Honourable mention to the shots girl with: "I had a cat called Dave. He smelled funny and wouldn't do as he was told."
Monday, April 09, 2007
Robinson Way - the endgame?
The latest letter from them finally makes the missing link: it's from a company I've had nothing to do with since the beginning of 2005.
Of *course* the reminder emails didn't get to me. I've not had that email address for OVER TWO YEARS.
Better still, had they gone to the company web site, the contact details are right there on the home page.
Do these people not have internet connections? You'd have thought they might be a tad more efficient at collecting money if they were switched on to this new fangled interwebs thing.
Of *course* the reminder emails didn't get to me. I've not had that email address for OVER TWO YEARS.
Better still, had they gone to the company web site, the contact details are right there on the home page.
Do these people not have internet connections? You'd have thought they might be a tad more efficient at collecting money if they were switched on to this new fangled interwebs thing.
Chthonic to play Ozzfest - good news everybody!
Finally it's official: Chthonic are to play Ozzfest!
I've been sitting on this for a couple of weeks in case it all fell through but now it's confirmed. I feel a trip to the US coming on!
I've been sitting on this for a couple of weeks in case it all fell through but now it's confirmed. I feel a trip to the US coming on!
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Fortune Drive, Pete Roe, 100 Club
Pics from last night in the usual place:
Good time was had by all methinks!
Thanks to Pete for his album. It's AMAZING. Loving it! Makes a change from the metal crap I usually listen to. BUY THIS ALBUM!
And the FD's were panty-moisteningly good as usual.
Good time was had by all methinks!
Thanks to Pete for his album. It's AMAZING. Loving it! Makes a change from the metal crap I usually listen to. BUY THIS ALBUM!
And the FD's were panty-moisteningly good as usual.
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