Ni!!!
El Tres Caballieros are on yet another mad road trip to London to finally go to see Spamalot - 2nd row centre seats no less. [big up Mike]
"let us not go...tis a silly place"
You've been framed
6 hours ago
Friday, 29 February 2008
Farting In Your General Direction
Ni!!!
El Tres Caballieros are on yet another mad road trip to London to finally go to see Spamalot - 2nd row centre seats no less. [big up Mike]
"let us not go...tis a silly place"
Thursday, 21 February 2008
Tuesday, 19 February 2008
I seem to be having...
tremendous difficulty with my lifestyle lately...*
Due to the the fact that Deep Thought II [I know it really should be called The Earth, but that's such a DULL name for a planet, let alone a computer and frankly DTII is WAY cooler] has been playing silly buggers to the point where it would try the patience of an Arcturan Mega-Saint, I have yet to complete my sorting of the various multi media from the last batch of gigs..to wit Boulding, MacDonald, Gilmore and Crow [which written thus makes them sound like firm of accountants] It's all I can do to stop myself flinging it out of a window...grrrr.
So then what happens? I head over in the direction of The [STB]Good Doctor[tm]'s blog, and she's only gone and posted a track by some woman called SIA [crazy name and maybe crazy girl]. The practical upshot of that is I am now listening to two of her albums wot I pinched offada interwebs. So far me like a lot. No make that A LOT. So it looks like I shall be heading in the general direction of HMV to buy kosher versions. Oh and a ticket for the gig in April...gonna need the CDs for that to get signed. All of which doesnt help with the catch up I still have to do, but I think has overall increased the total sum of human happiness. So thanks Debs.
Is 40 too old to have a crush?
*obscure Hitchhikers reference, which I hope doesn't fall into a worm hole, cause an intergallactic war and then genocide due to a miscalculation in scale. In fact this blog is so littered with so many H2G2 references in this blog that DNA's estate could probably sue me for plagerism...
Due to the the fact that Deep Thought II [I know it really should be called The Earth, but that's such a DULL name for a planet, let alone a computer and frankly DTII is WAY cooler] has been playing silly buggers to the point where it would try the patience of an Arcturan Mega-Saint, I have yet to complete my sorting of the various multi media from the last batch of gigs..to wit Boulding, MacDonald, Gilmore and Crow [which written thus makes them sound like firm of accountants] It's all I can do to stop myself flinging it out of a window...grrrr.
So then what happens? I head over in the direction of The [STB]Good Doctor[tm]'s blog, and she's only gone and posted a track by some woman called SIA [crazy name and maybe crazy girl]. The practical upshot of that is I am now listening to two of her albums wot I pinched offada interwebs. So far me like a lot. No make that A LOT. So it looks like I shall be heading in the general direction of HMV to buy kosher versions. Oh and a ticket for the gig in April...gonna need the CDs for that to get signed. All of which doesnt help with the catch up I still have to do, but I think has overall increased the total sum of human happiness. So thanks Debs.
Is 40 too old to have a crush?
*obscure Hitchhikers reference, which I hope doesn't fall into a worm hole, cause an intergallactic war and then genocide due to a miscalculation in scale. In fact this blog is so littered with so many H2G2 references in this blog that DNA's estate could probably sue me for plagerism...
Monday, 18 February 2008
Knight Rider
Where to begin? I mean really? I know there's been a writer's strike but is this the best they can come up with? A re-hash of a 25 year old idea? I mean not just that it's bad and it's bad..but it's also just so very - meh. The main thing is, what was wowfabandgroovy back in the day just isn't now. Back then the idea of a car with a talking computer in it was mindblowing. These days it's so utterly mundane, even I've got one for crying out loud!
Saturday, 16 February 2008
Playing catch up
ok so here's the deal what with one thing and another I've gotten behind on my concert blogging - I still have the audio for Nerina night #2 to edit, the audio for Helen Boulding, video for Amy Macdonald plus the audio, video AND pictures for Sheryl Crow [ best gig of the year so far but more of that later...much later or when ever I get to it.] Fortunatly I'm gigless till thursday - when I have Ms MacDonald part deux so I should be able to get everything up to date.
However in the mean time, over half of my readership* have been clamouring in no uncertain terms for some Gilmore related material....so in an effort to keep the barbarians from the gate I figure it's best to sate their hunger.
Two vids - first up young Sir Nigel of Stonier performing Joseph's Train, followed by Thea herself doing a brand new song called God's Got Nothing On You
Share and enjoy...
*given that I know of only two people with way too much time of their hands who read this, that means you Ms "Soontobegooddoctor" Finding.
Oh if there are any other lurkers out there in cyberspace, dont be shy, leave me a message - I dont bite. Well so long as I keep taking the medication.
However in the mean time, over half of my readership* have been clamouring in no uncertain terms for some Gilmore related material....so in an effort to keep the barbarians from the gate I figure it's best to sate their hunger.
Two vids - first up young Sir Nigel of Stonier performing Joseph's Train, followed by Thea herself doing a brand new song called God's Got Nothing On You
Share and enjoy...
*given that I know of only two people with way too much time of their hands who read this, that means you Ms "Soontobegooddoctor" Finding.
Oh if there are any other lurkers out there in cyberspace, dont be shy, leave me a message - I dont bite. Well so long as I keep taking the medication.
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
Helen Boulding - Taurus Bar Manchester
its gone seven pm on wednesday when I start this bloggety blog - I am trying to so several jobs at once - edit the audio from Nerina Pallot's first Jersey gig; upload the Amy MacDonald videos to DivShare and convert the video from Thea Gilmore last night. AND there's two episodes of Torchwood to watch as well! Oh me oh my!
On the plus side I am fully prep'd for tomorrows Road Trip![tm] with Mike & Gemma to see Sheryl Crow [ must remember to put new battery into the recorder and that the camera is on charge - the only item of kit I cant plug into the car! ] especially now the tickets turned up. Despite the tracker saying they were still out of stock when I looked yesterday evening...they had arrived yesterday morning - Seetickets? No you bloddy cant mate, but thats another rant.
Back to the job in hand and the Boulders....been looking foward to this, she makes very few appearances north of the Watword Gap and unlike Mr unrecontructed Gray I wasn't going to let the ittle bitty facts like the gigs venue n promoter put me off going even for a support slot. She was there with a full band - guitar, double bass and cello, with herself at the keyboard. The lighting was a lot naff so the pictures are pants and I've had to tweek the contrast of the vids.
Will edit this when I get the audio edited full a full set list but in the meantime here are the videos...
01 I Always Look This Blue
02 More Than Missing You
03 Copenhagen
04 What A Fool
05 Sleepwalking
On the plus side I am fully prep'd for tomorrows Road Trip![tm] with Mike & Gemma to see Sheryl Crow [ must remember to put new battery into the recorder and that the camera is on charge - the only item of kit I cant plug into the car! ] especially now the tickets turned up. Despite the tracker saying they were still out of stock when I looked yesterday evening...they had arrived yesterday morning - Seetickets? No you bloddy cant mate, but thats another rant.
Back to the job in hand and the Boulders....been looking foward to this, she makes very few appearances north of the Watword Gap and unlike Mr unrecontructed Gray I wasn't going to let the ittle bitty facts like the gigs venue n promoter put me off going even for a support slot. She was there with a full band - guitar, double bass and cello, with herself at the keyboard. The lighting was a lot naff so the pictures are pants and I've had to tweek the contrast of the vids.
Will edit this when I get the audio edited full a full set list but in the meantime here are the videos...
01 I Always Look This Blue
02 More Than Missing You
03 Copenhagen
04 What A Fool
05 Sleepwalking
Monday, 11 February 2008
So Little Time
It's nearing 10pm on Monday, my head feels like it's about to go ka-plooee and I stil have a shed load of things to do before tomorrows road trip. Like blog my latest gig going adventures. Currently converting/uploading vids from both Saturday & Sunday's shows but everything is going around and around in circles. The good news is that the laptop's wireless does indeed work and I can sit in the shinynewkitchen[tm] and play AND remote to Deep Thought II. Isn't modern life simply wonderful?
The new issue of Word magazine showed up today. Will give the NHT CD a play in the car on the way down to Swindon. It's 5 years old you know and I have every copy cept #3 for some reason. Share and enjoy.
The new issue of Word magazine showed up today. Will give the NHT CD a play in the car on the way down to Swindon. It's 5 years old you know and I have every copy cept #3 for some reason. Share and enjoy.
Thursday, 7 February 2008
Laura Marling - Alas I Cannot Swim
ok lets start off with a HUGE thanks to Mike for bringing this to my attention, cos I am completely smitten. I have had the album on constant repeat since I got it on Tuesday. As perviously blogged the whole package of the Songbox was a delight and the fact the songs themself more than match up to the rest of the goodies.
Ghosts is a an uttertly gorgeous song and as an opener does the job of grabbing your attention by the scruff of the neck and not letting go. I think this is possibly the most beautiful song I've heard in a long while and a contender for Desert Island Disk status. The album has withstood the test of repeated plays, with nothing on there making me want to press the skip button and frankly in this modern iPod world it don't get better than that. Other highlights include My Manic and I & New Romantic, but as I say I don't think there isn't a duff track on there, even the 1 minute 16 second interlude - Crawled Out Of The Sea [which riffs of a tune that's so fucking familliar and I can't bloody remember the title] is good.
All this and she's only 19 FFS!! Let's hope she's another Thea Gilmore in the making.
Ghosts is a an uttertly gorgeous song and as an opener does the job of grabbing your attention by the scruff of the neck and not letting go. I think this is possibly the most beautiful song I've heard in a long while and a contender for Desert Island Disk status. The album has withstood the test of repeated plays, with nothing on there making me want to press the skip button and frankly in this modern iPod world it don't get better than that. Other highlights include My Manic and I & New Romantic, but as I say I don't think there isn't a duff track on there, even the 1 minute 16 second interlude - Crawled Out Of The Sea [which riffs of a tune that's so fucking familliar and I can't bloody remember the title] is good.
All this and she's only 19 FFS!! Let's hope she's another Thea Gilmore in the making.
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
Laura Veirs - Manchester Night & Day
....the point of this bloggy blog thingie was to document [prentention alert!] my many and varied gigular activities [as well as other ramdom crapolla] this one is a bit late but it's here now so you can all relax :)
Like Bob, Clyde is a strange name for a girl. However thus was monica'd the support act, who as it happens and in a spirit of economy, was also Laura's tour manager. She was funny and personable, the tunes were pleasant enough to listen to but they all sorta fizzled out with a wimper rather than actually finishing properly. However this is but a minor quibble and it wasn't a totally wasted half hour. I'd not seen Laura Veirs live for a couple of years - since Mary Lee's Corvertte was the support at the Late Room. This time she performed solo, with just an acoustic guitar and banjo for accompaniment. She seemed to be having a good time on this UK mini-tour and we got a selection from all of the last 5 albums [though nothing from the first cause she doesnt like it] Despite the lack of instruments and some trouble with the monitors she held sway over the packed audience who actually manged to keep quite and there was minimal "bar rattle". Made for a pleasant change specially for such quiet folk tunes. She also did a rather lovely cover of "Freight Train" an ancient ditty that I recall always being rolled out during many a History of Rock'n'Roll music documentary [being played by some English folkies] as a precursor of skiffle etc. Tune has always sorta stuck in my head.
Oh and as is the norm with the N&D when fully loaded it was warm and sweaty - despite the cold outside. So much for it being "fully air conditioned"
Set list once again aquired [natch]
1 Pink Light
2 Ether Sings
3 Wandering Kind
4 Song My Friends Taught Me
5 Magnetised
6 Cast A Hook
7 Rialto
8 To Be Held
9 Through December
10 Freight Train [ replaced Cluck Old Hen on the set list]
11 One Thin Dime
12 Nightingale
13 Ocean Night Song
14 Riptide
=================
15 Black Butterfly
16 Wrecking
Videos for "Through December" & "Freight Train" and a selection of pictures
Like Bob, Clyde is a strange name for a girl. However thus was monica'd the support act, who as it happens and in a spirit of economy, was also Laura's tour manager. She was funny and personable, the tunes were pleasant enough to listen to but they all sorta fizzled out with a wimper rather than actually finishing properly. However this is but a minor quibble and it wasn't a totally wasted half hour. I'd not seen Laura Veirs live for a couple of years - since Mary Lee's Corvertte was the support at the Late Room. This time she performed solo, with just an acoustic guitar and banjo for accompaniment. She seemed to be having a good time on this UK mini-tour and we got a selection from all of the last 5 albums [though nothing from the first cause she doesnt like it] Despite the lack of instruments and some trouble with the monitors she held sway over the packed audience who actually manged to keep quite and there was minimal "bar rattle". Made for a pleasant change specially for such quiet folk tunes. She also did a rather lovely cover of "Freight Train" an ancient ditty that I recall always being rolled out during many a History of Rock'n'Roll music documentary [being played by some English folkies] as a precursor of skiffle etc. Tune has always sorta stuck in my head.
Oh and as is the norm with the N&D when fully loaded it was warm and sweaty - despite the cold outside. So much for it being "fully air conditioned"
Set list once again aquired [natch]
1 Pink Light
2 Ether Sings
3 Wandering Kind
4 Song My Friends Taught Me
5 Magnetised
6 Cast A Hook
7 Rialto
8 To Be Held
9 Through December
10 Freight Train [ replaced Cluck Old Hen on the set list]
11 One Thin Dime
12 Nightingale
13 Ocean Night Song
14 Riptide
=================
15 Black Butterfly
16 Wrecking
Videos for "Through December" & "Freight Train" and a selection of pictures
Laura Marling - The Songbox
Well it arrived yesterday and quite frankly it is a thing of beauty. Even if the CD had been shit I would still be impressed - fortunatly it isn't.
Tuesday, 5 February 2008
Stars - Manchester Academy 3
...or the Hop & Grape as we old timers still insist on calling it :)
So on a cold n bleak last day of January night myself and messrs Gray & Watt went to see the Canadian band Stars. Mike played me their latest "In Our Bedrooms After The War" on our last road trip to the smoke [Springsteen @ the O2] I then discoved that one of their number was one Amy Millan, who's album "Honey From The Tombs" I'd had for a while. So I was sold :P
The review of the previous night's gig at the Koko in the Guardian said
"When does a band shed its cult status to become a genuine mainstream contender? For Canada's Stars, it may be on a night like tonight, when queues and touts jostle outside the venue three hours before showtime, and the club is so sardine-packed that breathing in and out requires prior negotiation with your neighbour."
So in anticipation of a bit of queuing action I got there at 4.30 and waited...and waited...and waited. Mike and Gemma showed up at quarter to seven and there was still no one else there. NO ONE!! By the time doors opened @ 7.30 there was only 30 odd people. Granted by the time Stars appeared on stage the place was indeed packed, though hardly to the rafters.
Before the main action of the night we had to stand through 2 support acts. First up was a guy going by the name of Thurston Revival. He basically, to quote Mike "died on his ass and knew it". He didnt make it through a song without stopping changing something and restarting. On the plus side he wasnt around for long. Next we had a band called The Apostle Hustle. I didnt warm to them much as frankly I don't trust anyone who plays guitar while wearing a boiler suit and "pulling shapes"
Stars on the other hand were an entirely different propositon. The 5 piece band led by Torquil Campbell [who used to be in Sex And The City apparently!] and Amy Millan were in fine form - despite, due to our front positioning, the vocals being a bit rubbish. To me at times they sounded like a more folky version of New Order with a mix of electronica and acoustic and electric guitars and at times young Torquil wielding a trumpet. As said sound was a bit rubbish and I didn't boot it. I also didn't get a video but snapped a few pics of which more later...
Once again I aquired a set list [asked nicely & handed over]
manchester - me aul concrete flower *
Set Yourself
Soft Revy
Window Bird
Elevator
What I'm Trying
Genova Heights
Bitches
Personal
Big Fight
Going
Midnight Coward
Riot
Your Ex-Lover
Reunion
Bedroom
==========
The Biggest Fight
Not being overly familliar with their "ouvre" I cannot claim this list 100% accurate.
*this is as headed on the set list
So on a cold n bleak last day of January night myself and messrs Gray & Watt went to see the Canadian band Stars. Mike played me their latest "In Our Bedrooms After The War" on our last road trip to the smoke [Springsteen @ the O2] I then discoved that one of their number was one Amy Millan, who's album "Honey From The Tombs" I'd had for a while. So I was sold :P
The review of the previous night's gig at the Koko in the Guardian said
"When does a band shed its cult status to become a genuine mainstream contender? For Canada's Stars, it may be on a night like tonight, when queues and touts jostle outside the venue three hours before showtime, and the club is so sardine-packed that breathing in and out requires prior negotiation with your neighbour."
So in anticipation of a bit of queuing action I got there at 4.30 and waited...and waited...and waited. Mike and Gemma showed up at quarter to seven and there was still no one else there. NO ONE!! By the time doors opened @ 7.30 there was only 30 odd people. Granted by the time Stars appeared on stage the place was indeed packed, though hardly to the rafters.
Before the main action of the night we had to stand through 2 support acts. First up was a guy going by the name of Thurston Revival. He basically, to quote Mike "died on his ass and knew it". He didnt make it through a song without stopping changing something and restarting. On the plus side he wasnt around for long. Next we had a band called The Apostle Hustle. I didnt warm to them much as frankly I don't trust anyone who plays guitar while wearing a boiler suit and "pulling shapes"
Stars on the other hand were an entirely different propositon. The 5 piece band led by Torquil Campbell [who used to be in Sex And The City apparently!] and Amy Millan were in fine form - despite, due to our front positioning, the vocals being a bit rubbish. To me at times they sounded like a more folky version of New Order with a mix of electronica and acoustic and electric guitars and at times young Torquil wielding a trumpet. As said sound was a bit rubbish and I didn't boot it. I also didn't get a video but snapped a few pics of which more later...
Once again I aquired a set list [asked nicely & handed over]
manchester - me aul concrete flower *
Set Yourself
Soft Revy
Window Bird
Elevator
What I'm Trying
Genova Heights
Bitches
Personal
Big Fight
Going
Midnight Coward
Riot
Your Ex-Lover
Reunion
Bedroom
==========
The Biggest Fight
Not being overly familliar with their "ouvre" I cannot claim this list 100% accurate.
*this is as headed on the set list
Sunday, 3 February 2008
Lost & Found
WARNING - CONTAINS SPOILERS TO SEASON 3 & 4 - do not read if you are not that far along and then blame me :P
Have just finished watching the first episode of the new season of Lost. As an aside you know you've watched too much American TV when you start calling it "seasons" not "series" and feel totally comfortable with it. Any ways Lost...well one episode down and 47 to go [48 is a significant number in the Lost-everse] Not a lot happens bar a sorta "plot twist" toward the end. Charlie's still dead, the "others" are still bad and the rescue folk on the boat may [or may not] be even more bad guys. This week we had flash fowards centering around Hurley. Now we already knew that Jack & Kate get off the island - we saw that at the end of last season but Hurley refers to himself as one of the "Oceanic Six" so it would appear that only 6 people get off. So once again more questions than answers - who are the other 3 that got off? Why did only 6 people get off the island/rescued? Where is everyone else? Who are the folk on the rescue boat and are they in fact bad guys? Time and the next 47 episodes will tell. I just hope that they don't do a cop-out Murder One style ending.
I am now off for a bit of interlectual stimulation. Stuart Maconie is giving a lecture on the life times and works of LS Lowry appropriately the Lowry Centre.
Have just finished watching the first episode of the new season of Lost. As an aside you know you've watched too much American TV when you start calling it "seasons" not "series" and feel totally comfortable with it. Any ways Lost...well one episode down and 47 to go [48 is a significant number in the Lost-everse] Not a lot happens bar a sorta "plot twist" toward the end. Charlie's still dead, the "others" are still bad and the rescue folk on the boat may [or may not] be even more bad guys. This week we had flash fowards centering around Hurley. Now we already knew that Jack & Kate get off the island - we saw that at the end of last season but Hurley refers to himself as one of the "Oceanic Six" so it would appear that only 6 people get off. So once again more questions than answers - who are the other 3 that got off? Why did only 6 people get off the island/rescued? Where is everyone else? Who are the folk on the rescue boat and are they in fact bad guys? Time and the next 47 episodes will tell. I just hope that they don't do a cop-out Murder One style ending.
I am now off for a bit of interlectual stimulation. Stuart Maconie is giving a lecture on the life times and works of LS Lowry appropriately the Lowry Centre.
Friday, 1 February 2008
Full House
well it's only taken 7 weeks but the rest of my Crowded House CDs arrived today. Shame that the track editing is a bit odd even for Mike Gray standards. Will have to rip n edit them down myself to something a little more acceptable. Lord don't I ever stop whinging?
While we are speaking of things House -[well I was at any rate ] just watched the lastest episode of said medical drama/comedy. This was the Christmas episode [ oh the writers strike has a lot to answer for ] The usual medical malarky, with Dr Gregory being his usual evil conniving twisted self, this time with the added bonus of a Secret Santa, in which all the staff have been given House's name. The inter-species erotica reference was a LOT ick mind. Oh and when are we going to find out what #13's name? The musical mash-up of Sun King and Little Drummer Boy I sorta liked...but as for the ending oh lorks a lordy I think I might need more insulin.
| 29.11.2007 - Manchester MEN | 01.12.2007 - Nottingham Ice Arena | ||
| CD 1 | CD 2 | CD 1 | CD 2 |
| 1. Private Universe | 1. Distant Sun | 1. Private Universe | 1. Pour Le Monde |
| 2. Mean To Me | 2. Locked Out | 2. It's Only Natural | 2. Chocolate Cake |
| 3. Don't Stop Now | 3. Something So Strong | 3. Don't Stop Now | 3. Locked Out |
| 4. Fall At Your Feet | 4. Not The Girl | 4. Four Seasons In One Day | 4. Something So Strong |
| 5. Everything Is Good For you | 5. Weather With You | 5. Heaven | 5. She Goes On |
| 6. Pour Le Monde | 6. Italian Plastic | 6. Say That Again | 6. Weather With You |
| 7. Walked Her Way Down | 7. There Goes God | 7. Love You Till | 7. World Where You Live |
| 8. In My Command | 8. Four Seasons In One Day | 8. When You Come | 8. Fall At Your Feet (Part 1) |
| 9. Hole In The River | 9. Better Be Home Soon | 9. A Sigh | 9. Fall At Your Feet (Part 2) |
| 10. You Are The One To Make Me Cry | 10. Silent House | 10. Interlude | |
| 11. Don't Dream It's Over | 11. Distant Sun | 11. Better Be Home Soon | |
| 12. People Are Like Suns | 12. Don't Dream It's Over | ||
| 13. It's Only Natural | 13. (tbc) | ||
| 3.12.2007 - Birmingham NEC | 09.12.2007 - Wembley Arena | ||
| CD 1 | CD 2 | CD 1 | CD 2 |
| 1. There Goes God | 1. It's Only Natural | 1. Private Universe | 1. Pour Le Monde |
| 2. Mean To Me | 2. Distant Sun | 2. Don't Stop Now | 2. Mean To Me |
| 3. Don't Stop Now | 3. Something So Strong | 3. It's Only Natural | 3. Distant Sun |
| 4. Four Seasons In One Day | 4. Locked Out | 4. Fall At Your Feet | 4. Weather With You |
| 5. Heaven | 5. Weather | 5. Nobody Wants To | 5. Pineapple Head |
| 6. Pineapple Head | 6. Fingers of Love | 6. Walked Her Way Down | 6. Something So Strong |
| 7. Say That Again | 7. Temptation | 7. Walking On The Spot | 7. Fingers Of Love |
| 8. Pour Le Monde / Rocky Racoon | 8. Fall at Your Feet (Part 1) | 8. When You Come | 8. She Goes On / |
| 9. Whispers and Moans | 9. Fall at Your Feet (Part 2) | 9. In My Command | Throw Your Arms Around Me |
| 10. Silent House | 10. Italian Plastic | 10. Silent House | 9. Black And White Boy/ |
| 11. Don't Dream It's Over | 11. Better Be Home Soon | 11. Don't Dream Its Over | I'm Only Sleeping |
| 12. Walked Her Way Down | 12. Say that Again | 10. Four Seasons | |
| 11. Better Be Home Soon |
While we are speaking of things House -[well I was at any rate ] just watched the lastest episode of said medical drama/comedy. This was the Christmas episode [ oh the writers strike has a lot to answer for ] The usual medical malarky, with Dr Gregory being his usual evil conniving twisted self, this time with the added bonus of a Secret Santa, in which all the staff have been given House's name. The inter-species erotica reference was a LOT ick mind. Oh and when are we going to find out what #13's name? The musical mash-up of Sun King and Little Drummer Boy I sorta liked...but as for the ending oh lorks a lordy I think I might need more insulin.
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