Friday rolled around again, and before we knew it the weekend was upon us. This Friday had a different flavour though, as we had tickets to see Our Girl at The Haunt. “We” in this case was me and three friends of a similar age, all keen on live music. G and J had seen Our Girl before, I had listened to a couple of tracks on YouTube and was looking forward to seeing them live. G wanted to get there early to see the support band, Breathe Panel, as he was a fan of theirs as well, which was refreshing; sometimes people aren’t interested in the support, but I think it is all part of the night. The times I've had an absolutely clear view of the support and then been swamped by tall skinny indie kids five minutes before the main band take to the stage doesn’t bear thinking about.
Breathe Panel had just started when we got there, and were your standard indie band – four lads, pretty proficient from the sound of it, and I’d be interested to hear their album. The second support act shambled on to the stage and honestly at first glance they didn’t look old enough to date my thirteen-year old daughter. On closer inspection they were probably in their late teens or early twenties, and all skinny rakes in jeans. They started playing and the lead singer was obviously channeling the spirit of the young Mick Jagger, all pouts and poses. But they played a pretty good brand of glam rock, and I for one enjoyed it. They managed to sound fresh and familiar at the same time, which is a good trick if you can pull it off. And their new single should hopefully find them a few new fans (me included!).
Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard came and went, and then it was time for the main event – Our Girl. They formed in Brighton, being at Uni together, and it was the last night of their tour so it was a bit of a homecoming gig for them, I suppose. Anyway, they certainly impressed, knowing how to put a bit of space in their music. One of the stand-out tracks was, I think, called “Sub Rosa”, which was sublime, but they were all good. On one track I found myself thinking of Nirvana’s “Heart-shaped Box”, which I suppose is a good sign. I’d be happy to see them again, and I hope that they continue to make more music in a similar vein.
On the way home we discussed the gig, of course, and also other recent and future gigs that were bubbling under. Miles Hunt is currently on his “Custodian” tour, and he is playing Brighton in a week or so – I might go to that. Obviously it won’t be a Wonder Stuff gig, but it might be enjoyable in a different way. And then there is a new band who are getting some attention, called TVAM – but they are playing the night before Courtney Barnett, and I'm not sure I can handle two late nights in a row. We’ll see though, it might be possible...
TTFN.
Showing posts with label Going Out. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Going Out. Show all posts
Sunday, October 28, 2018
Saturday, October 20, 2018
18-10-20 Saturday - A Musical Week
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| Eek-A-Mouse, wearing a crown and a tabard. Standard Monday night. |
I’ve never been to a reggae night before, and I quite enjoyed it. I have to say, the crowd were shorter than I'm used to at indie gigs; I don’t know why that would be, but I did notice that I had a better view of the stage than I'm normally used to. The sound was good, and the crowd were into it and enjoying it, but it all seemed to be a bit same-y, there wasn’t a sense of building towards a big finish. Maybe because I only had the one album, maybe because I didn’t really know his music, I wasn’t on tenterhooks. I left a few minutes early to make sure I caught one of the last trains home.
The previous week I had finally decided to buy Shigeto’s album, “The New Monday”. It’s been out a while, but I had heard the first track, “Detroit Pt. 2”, and it had wormed its way into my brain with its stripped back beats. So that arrived, and on Tuesday evening, while TW and the girls were out at rugby, I got some time to listen to it at some volume, and enjoy it. I liked the whole album, it’s really nice, mellow, with some insistent beats and jazzy too.
Saturday night bookended the week and brought another trip to Brighton, to see another band I’d not seen before – Halo Maud. I’d received a promo email from Melting Vinyl referring to her “fantastic sets at the Great Escape”, and as the tickets were only £8, I thought it might be worth a flutter. And an added plus would be not having to sit through Strictly and X Factor at home. As it was, they were fantastic. They reminded me a bit of Sheen, who I saw supporting Cud at The Garage a few years ago, and also Cocteau Twins, in a way. I certainly enjoyed their set, to the extent that I bought their album, “Je Suis un Ile”. Having listened to the tracks again at home, I think I made the right choice. They are an enjoyable collection of tracks, and I am sure I'll be listening to them frequently in the future.
I also bought some tickets to see “Our Girl” next Friday, and I have a number of gigs coming up over the next couple of months – Courtney Barnett in Brighton, Cud in London and then, in December, PWEI in Wolverhampton. And I've just seen that Kristin Hersh is playing Worthing in March 2019, so next year is beginning to shape up nicely.
TTFN.
Friday, February 16, 2018
Friday 18-02-16 I A Nice Day Out and Coco
Yesterday was the first of two days off. It’s half-term and TW is working yesterday and today, so I have stepped into the breach and taken responsibility for childcare. Except that TE is away on a two day rugby course, TMO was away on a sleepover and had been since 1pm, so it was just me and TY.
We went into town and had lunch at Pomodoro e Mozzarella, which was lovely. And, quite reasonably, kids eat half-price during the week (Mon-Fri). You’d think that, if that is the case, they would get smaller portions, but no, their pizzas are exactly the same size as the full price versions. We’ve been there before and will go again, for me their Napoletana pizza is the best…
The lunch took just about the right amount of time, so we had a few minutes to pop into WHSmith and get some sweets for the cinema. I’d booked tickets for Coco, which turned out to be a lovely film. TY, who is eight, had said that she’d quite like to see Black Panther, but I think that was probably aimed at a slightly older audience. I’ll be able to let her know one way or the other, since I am going to see it tonight… Anyway, Coco was brilliant. It’s a very colourful film, quite literally, based around the Day of the Dead, which is not another zombie film but a Mexican tradition. I had a little tear in my eye at the film’s denouement, but then I have form in that regard. For example, Scrooged always makes me tear up at the end, and I think that might be because apparently that final call to arms was improvised by Bill Murray. Anyway…
It was a lovely afternoon, and time spent one-on-one with my childers, any of the three of them, is time well spent.
TTFN.
We went into town and had lunch at Pomodoro e Mozzarella, which was lovely. And, quite reasonably, kids eat half-price during the week (Mon-Fri). You’d think that, if that is the case, they would get smaller portions, but no, their pizzas are exactly the same size as the full price versions. We’ve been there before and will go again, for me their Napoletana pizza is the best…
The lunch took just about the right amount of time, so we had a few minutes to pop into WHSmith and get some sweets for the cinema. I’d booked tickets for Coco, which turned out to be a lovely film. TY, who is eight, had said that she’d quite like to see Black Panther, but I think that was probably aimed at a slightly older audience. I’ll be able to let her know one way or the other, since I am going to see it tonight… Anyway, Coco was brilliant. It’s a very colourful film, quite literally, based around the Day of the Dead, which is not another zombie film but a Mexican tradition. I had a little tear in my eye at the film’s denouement, but then I have form in that regard. For example, Scrooged always makes me tear up at the end, and I think that might be because apparently that final call to arms was improvised by Bill Murray. Anyway…
It was a lovely afternoon, and time spent one-on-one with my childers, any of the three of them, is time well spent.
TTFN.
Friday, May 19, 2017
Friday 17-05-19 Sofie Hagen
TW & I went to see Sofie Hagen at the Blue Man in Brighton on Tuesday night. It was a rare night out together, and we enjoyed it. M&P took on the babysitting duties, and we caught the train into town.
The Blue Man is on Queens Road just down from the station, so we went straight there. The staff were relaxed and welcoming, and put us at ease straight away. Since we both like a glass of wine we shared a bottle of picpoul which was quite nice. The barman accidentally undercharged us by a couple of pounds and although we offered to pay the difference, he wouldn't hear of it, which was nice.
The Blue Man serves North African cuisine and the decor reflects that. There was a Moroccan feel to the place; it is small and cosy and the table layout encourages a communal experience. We sat for few minutes upstairs until the barman announced that downstairs was open and we could go down.
Downstairs holds about 30 people so it was a very intimate gig. The audience were a diverse bunch, there were older folks, mostly women, a couple of cross dressers/transsexuals, and just a handful of men. Again the communal experience was encouraged, with long benches down the sides, and the Moroccan feel continued. They had also decorated the ceiling with 7" vinyl singles which was nice.
Sofie's set was good, given that it was an Edinburgh preview, so a few rough edges were to be expected. A few years ago I saw a preview by Richard Herring and that needed much more polish. TW & I both properly laughed and I think everyone enjoyed it.
I hadn't seen Sofie before; I was introduced to her when she was interviewed by Richard Herring on his RHLSTP podcast. I listened to her "Comedians Saying Stuff" podcast, which I enjoyed. Going to see a full stand-up show was a bit of a punt but it was worth it. And if I see anything even remotely interesting at The Blue Man, I'll probably go - it was so nice.
After Sofie's show we went back upstairs and had a shared platter of food and played backgammon. The food was delicious, it was a very relaxed affair. We did consider seeing a second show, but decided we couldn't do that to M&P, so we headed home. While we were preparing to leave, I put on my hoodie and accidentally elbowed one of my neighbours in the head - that's how snug the venue is. Of course I apologised and no harm was done (I think), and we headed up to the station.
The Blue Man is on Queens Road just down from the station, so we went straight there. The staff were relaxed and welcoming, and put us at ease straight away. Since we both like a glass of wine we shared a bottle of picpoul which was quite nice. The barman accidentally undercharged us by a couple of pounds and although we offered to pay the difference, he wouldn't hear of it, which was nice.
The Blue Man serves North African cuisine and the decor reflects that. There was a Moroccan feel to the place; it is small and cosy and the table layout encourages a communal experience. We sat for few minutes upstairs until the barman announced that downstairs was open and we could go down.
Downstairs holds about 30 people so it was a very intimate gig. The audience were a diverse bunch, there were older folks, mostly women, a couple of cross dressers/transsexuals, and just a handful of men. Again the communal experience was encouraged, with long benches down the sides, and the Moroccan feel continued. They had also decorated the ceiling with 7" vinyl singles which was nice.
Sofie's set was good, given that it was an Edinburgh preview, so a few rough edges were to be expected. A few years ago I saw a preview by Richard Herring and that needed much more polish. TW & I both properly laughed and I think everyone enjoyed it.
I hadn't seen Sofie before; I was introduced to her when she was interviewed by Richard Herring on his RHLSTP podcast. I listened to her "Comedians Saying Stuff" podcast, which I enjoyed. Going to see a full stand-up show was a bit of a punt but it was worth it. And if I see anything even remotely interesting at The Blue Man, I'll probably go - it was so nice.
After Sofie's show we went back upstairs and had a shared platter of food and played backgammon. The food was delicious, it was a very relaxed affair. We did consider seeing a second show, but decided we couldn't do that to M&P, so we headed home. While we were preparing to leave, I put on my hoodie and accidentally elbowed one of my neighbours in the head - that's how snug the venue is. Of course I apologised and no harm was done (I think), and we headed up to the station.
Saturday, April 08, 2017
Saturday 17-04-08 Cud at The 100 Club (Friday 31st March
Last Friday I was up in London, settling into student accommodation at the LSE. I had bought a ticket to see Cud at The 100 Club, and TW & I had talked before about me staying overnight in London. This time I had researched the perfect accommodation, at the LSE near Euston station, for £36 per night (including breakfast) and I was going to make the most of it.
I had booked a half day at work, and I caught the train up to Victoria at just after 1pm. I had my Kindle for company in a mostly empty carriage, which suited me fine. I was a little worried that I had the wrong ticket, because I was on the Gatwick Express, but it was okay. I arrived in London just before 3pm, and decided to get the tube to Oxford Circus - then I could find the venue, and walk from there to the LSE. It was a lovely sunny day, and I was in a great mood. I found the club easily enough, it was actually on Oxford Road, east though, just before Tottenham Road. It’s a bit seedy and rundown there, I suppose, but Crossrail might rejuvenate the area in a few years. I walked to the halls, and checked in. I laid down for a bit but was too hyped up to really rest.
It got to 5pm and so I headed out, determined to make the most of my London visit. I hit a number of pubs and sampled the real ales. I had a pint in a pub, The Ship on Wardour Street and was reminded of the Underworld song Stagger, with the lyric “I saw you shopping in Europa on Wardour Street, not phoning back”. The beer was good too... After a couple of pints I thought it would be wise to eat something so I popped into Gourmet Burger Kitchen on Berners Street - it’s good to stick with what you know, sometimes…
Then it was time for the gig, so I wandered around the corner to the venue, showed my ticket and went downstairs into the hallowed 100 Club. It’s a nice venue, the pints were cheap, and the layout is more wide than it is deep, if that makes sense; there were seats at the side of the stage and there was no backstage area, so the musicians have to walk through the crowd to get on stage. Which is nice because it feels as if you’re close to the band(s) wherever you are in the venue.
The support band were a Surrey/Sussex combo called La Flamme, they had an energy about them, and some good songs, and they acted as a good warm-up for Cud. I’ve been quite impressed with their warm-up bands, especially Sheen who supported them at the Garage a couple of years ago. Anyway, La Flamme (pronounced “flame”) did their stuff, thanked Cud for inviting them, and then departed.
It was time for Cud. Cud are a great band live, and tonight they were performing all their singles. With a career stretching back to 1988/89, there were a few they had to get through! Cud gigs are a great thing, as far as I am concerned; a way to get together in a group and share a common appreciation of some good music. The rhythms are stirring, the tunes are memorable, and the lyrics are other-worldly on occasion. But it’s not really about reproducing the songs note for note; Carl delivers the vocals differently live, and really hams up the role of lead singer. Mike and Will take their turns in the spotlight as well, and it’s more a celebration than anything else. You recognise the opening notes of a song and suddenly you’re dancing, which can be a bit difficult in a sold-out venue when you’re all jammed together. But I managed it; probably the beers helped. I was standing at the back (which as I mentioned, wasn’t really far back) and I was behind some tall guys. I realised that people in front of them were shorter, so I pushed past them closer to the stage. I had a great view, I was dancing, and it was great.
After they finished, I was in no rush to leave, so I got another beer, and actually had a chat (more likely a drunken burble) with Will the bassist. I presume he is used to mumbled non sequiturs, but he seemed happy to chat, so that was good. I bought a tshirt, which I don’t normally do, but since the pints were under £4 each, I had a few spare pounds. Then I headed out into the night to see what London was about.
Actually, the area I was in, at the east end of Oxford Street, was closing down. One pub had stopped serving, and the pub I managed to get a drink in was about to close. So it was a quick pint of London Pride and then on. I was told that there was a late-night drinking establishment called Nordic, so I headed there. I bought a pint, but it wasn’t my thing so left pretty sharpish, and headed back to my room. And that was last Friday night, done and dusted. The only last bit of business was the breakfast the next morning, which was delicious. It was a full English, but served buffet-style, so if I'd thought it through, I could have had double helpigns. I didn't though, one plate full was enough to set me up for the day and the journey home.
TTFN.
I had booked a half day at work, and I caught the train up to Victoria at just after 1pm. I had my Kindle for company in a mostly empty carriage, which suited me fine. I was a little worried that I had the wrong ticket, because I was on the Gatwick Express, but it was okay. I arrived in London just before 3pm, and decided to get the tube to Oxford Circus - then I could find the venue, and walk from there to the LSE. It was a lovely sunny day, and I was in a great mood. I found the club easily enough, it was actually on Oxford Road, east though, just before Tottenham Road. It’s a bit seedy and rundown there, I suppose, but Crossrail might rejuvenate the area in a few years. I walked to the halls, and checked in. I laid down for a bit but was too hyped up to really rest.
It got to 5pm and so I headed out, determined to make the most of my London visit. I hit a number of pubs and sampled the real ales. I had a pint in a pub, The Ship on Wardour Street and was reminded of the Underworld song Stagger, with the lyric “I saw you shopping in Europa on Wardour Street, not phoning back”. The beer was good too... After a couple of pints I thought it would be wise to eat something so I popped into Gourmet Burger Kitchen on Berners Street - it’s good to stick with what you know, sometimes…
Then it was time for the gig, so I wandered around the corner to the venue, showed my ticket and went downstairs into the hallowed 100 Club. It’s a nice venue, the pints were cheap, and the layout is more wide than it is deep, if that makes sense; there were seats at the side of the stage and there was no backstage area, so the musicians have to walk through the crowd to get on stage. Which is nice because it feels as if you’re close to the band(s) wherever you are in the venue.
The support band were a Surrey/Sussex combo called La Flamme, they had an energy about them, and some good songs, and they acted as a good warm-up for Cud. I’ve been quite impressed with their warm-up bands, especially Sheen who supported them at the Garage a couple of years ago. Anyway, La Flamme (pronounced “flame”) did their stuff, thanked Cud for inviting them, and then departed.
It was time for Cud. Cud are a great band live, and tonight they were performing all their singles. With a career stretching back to 1988/89, there were a few they had to get through! Cud gigs are a great thing, as far as I am concerned; a way to get together in a group and share a common appreciation of some good music. The rhythms are stirring, the tunes are memorable, and the lyrics are other-worldly on occasion. But it’s not really about reproducing the songs note for note; Carl delivers the vocals differently live, and really hams up the role of lead singer. Mike and Will take their turns in the spotlight as well, and it’s more a celebration than anything else. You recognise the opening notes of a song and suddenly you’re dancing, which can be a bit difficult in a sold-out venue when you’re all jammed together. But I managed it; probably the beers helped. I was standing at the back (which as I mentioned, wasn’t really far back) and I was behind some tall guys. I realised that people in front of them were shorter, so I pushed past them closer to the stage. I had a great view, I was dancing, and it was great.
After they finished, I was in no rush to leave, so I got another beer, and actually had a chat (more likely a drunken burble) with Will the bassist. I presume he is used to mumbled non sequiturs, but he seemed happy to chat, so that was good. I bought a tshirt, which I don’t normally do, but since the pints were under £4 each, I had a few spare pounds. Then I headed out into the night to see what London was about.
Actually, the area I was in, at the east end of Oxford Street, was closing down. One pub had stopped serving, and the pub I managed to get a drink in was about to close. So it was a quick pint of London Pride and then on. I was told that there was a late-night drinking establishment called Nordic, so I headed there. I bought a pint, but it wasn’t my thing so left pretty sharpish, and headed back to my room. And that was last Friday night, done and dusted. The only last bit of business was the breakfast the next morning, which was delicious. It was a full English, but served buffet-style, so if I'd thought it through, I could have had double helpigns. I didn't though, one plate full was enough to set me up for the day and the journey home.
TTFN.
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