Alledged Comedian vs Joke Popstar

Is Cameron the most stupid Prime Minister ever?  Talk about leading with your chin. 
However, for anyone enjoying the Labour Party's jeers be aware that these tax avoidance schemes have been in the news since not long after Labour came to power in 1997 and they didn't try too hard to stop them when they were in power. 

I love a good story though and to be honest I was happy enough when Cam outed fake leftie Jimmy Carr was exposed for being the selfish hypocritical shit he clearly is but the report of the greedy bastard's pathetic apology when he realised his career was going down the pan was just the icing on the cake. 

It got even better when Cam (presumably now having been told by his advisers to shush) refused to condemn Fake Twat's, Gary Barlow for seemingly doing exactly the same thing.  Priceless!

Of course The front page of the Mirror is right it is a bit more serious than a one trick pony comedian and a fat pop star caught with their hands in the sweet jar but at least it's got the issue on all the front pages.

As far as Cam?  First of all cheers for story.  Secondly, methinks he's seriously misjudged the public mood in these "we're all in it together" times.  His attack on Carr was obviously politically motivated given the ex-popular comedian's supposed left leanings.  However, he doesn't/didn't realise that the overwhelming majority of people are repulsed by anybody playing the system to avoid paying their share, whatever their political persuasion in these most miserable times.

PS  Nice read in yesterday's Guardian by fellow blogger, Robert Skidelsky - Return to capitalism 'red in tooth and claw' spells economic madness.

Happy days!  

Boro Lads on Tour - Spence Brothers, The Next Generation

Here's a photo of my sons (1st and 3rd left) and their friends taken in Paris last week. A bit of a step up from their original plan of a week-end at Primrose Valley to watch the England vs France match. 

I am unable to shed any light or explain their attire but please excuse my self-indulgent warm glow.

No Direction Home 1

Can’t believe how fast the last week’s gone.  This time last Sunday I was watching Richard Hawley on the Lake Stage at NDH.  And for those of you who were there how cool was that (I mean the festival not Richard Hawley,who was ok)?  For those of you that missed it?  Well....  gloating is not in my nature so I’ll say no more. 

And amazingly the weather held up.  I’d spent Thursday night in Sheffield where it rained solid from 4PM until 1AM and being a camping wuss my cunning plan was that if it was too wet camp I would sleep in my car and if it got too bad I would just go home.

I needn’t have worried, I got my tent up in between showers which although continued on and off through Friday and Saturday it was never that bad and Sunday was completely dry.

Much had been made about it being a mini End of the Road and apart from it being only a 2 hour drive (for me) as opposed to 6 ½ to Dorset (hurrah) I wouldn’t argue with that.  There were a lot of the same food outlets and many of the non-musical activities were similar.  It was a beautiful setting (again ditto EOTR) at the Northern end of Sherwood Forest and the festival even boasted the legendary cider bus!  But the most obvious similarity (and no complaints from me by the way) was the music.

I was going to make a thing about the performances of the Geordie girls before thankfully realising that I’d done a similar thing when reviewing EOTR 2011.  The Unthanks, The Cornshed Sisters,  Beth Jeans (no excuse for my familiarity) and Lanterns on the Lake all played both festivals.  

Beth Jeans Houghton with a special mention for her backing band the Hooves of Destiny get better every time I see them.  The Hooves bring much more to the party than I'd previously realised with their rousing melodies and searing backing vocals.  I do love bands that all sing. 

One review I read that Beth’s banter with the band and the crowd was annoying to people at the back.  Jeez?  Well move forward.  Top class light entertainment.  My fave songs of a mighty fine set were  "Your Holes" (give it a go), deffo not wasted as a b-side Beth (as you said when you played Boro), Elvis', "Your the Devil in Disguise" and annoyingly hidden track of her album, "Fuck Off".

I'd seen Lanterns on the Lake at The Sage earlier in the year supporting post rockers Explosions in the Sky.  I thought they were fairly uninspiring but they are the better for getting to know. Not a million miles away from Explosions in the Sky only with vocals.   Can't think of any particular stand out songs but I've ordered the album, so maybe one for me to go on about later.

As I say, I saw both the The Unthanks and The Cornshed Sisters at EOTR 2011.  The Unthanks are much loved by the folk fraternity and to be fair (can't believe I've just used that phrase) they have some interesting ideas.  They brought out an album of Robert Wyatt and Antony and the Johnsons songs last and were backed at NDH by The Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band (yes, of Terry Wogan fame).  It could have been good but do you know, it just wasn't. I know I'll be pilloried in some quaters for saying it  butit was all a bit samey for me, with songs about bonny lads and men going down the pit (there might have been more to it but to be honest I switched off).  It was not a coincidence that the biggest cheer was saved for "Floral Dance" (see near crowd frenzy below). 

Sunderland's (think rather than Newcastle) 4 part harmony Cornshed Sisters by contrast played a fine set at the more intimate tent covered second stage, The Electric Dustbowl.  I thought they weren't as obvious as The Unthanks with songs such as Dresden which seemed to compare love to the bombing of "Dresden" and a top version of "When Doves Cry".  Lovely stuff.

Do The Hucklebuck

Really must get of this computer.  Was going to post this one on Face Ache but made the right choice just before I pressed send (phew!). 1.44 of joy. 

Needless to say I didn't admit to liking this one at the Rock Garden but didn't the Fall cover this on a Peel Seesion?

Found it! 

That's me done.

Some of you may have noticed my foray into enemy territory last night with my guilty pleasures series.  I know I should link it to my blog and I did, sort of.  I really should be getting ready for the week-end and I will shortly but just to keep the run of posts going here's another one that sounds suspiciously great now.

The best Roxy Music single they never recorded and easily better than anything they did record, not that I would ever let politics taint my view  (sorry, just can't listen to them without an image of Bryan Ferry's smarmy mush forming in my mind). Oh go on then, yes I would.  Fair cop guv!

I know we all love it now but I remember being ridiculed by the cool dudes at Springfield for hailing this one. 

And another thing....

Queenie "I am deeply humbled"

Murdoch "The most humble day of my life"

I'm no expert in English but I don't think a day can be humble can it?  So that's what they must mean about the Queen's English?

Queenie - Cheers I am exceedingly humbled that you care so much. 
That's ok English isn't it? I bloody knew they weren't wrong when they awarded me that CSE English certificate.

Alternatively it's likely just as much bullshit as Murdoch's obvious insincerity.

Politics - Number 1

So what did you make of the jubilee then? 

I've had my fill of Royals at least until the next time I get an extra day off (probably never).  Needless to say the extra day off caused much consternation amongst the Tory press giving them another opportunity to vent their spleen against public sector workers.  The "5 day week-end thing" is probably the biggest give away.  This lot (purposely vague and woolly) won't be satisfied until nobody apart from them (again purposely vague) gets week-ends off.  Seriously, I wouldn't be surprised if the next clammer is to have public sector workers pay restricted to 5/7 to account for the fact they don't work week-ends.

I'm already being subjected to a pay freeze for two years, not that I've had a pay rise anywhere near inflation for over 10 years leaving me on a pathetic embarrassingly low salary for the job I am expected to do.  With the expectation of regional pay being brought in I don't think I'll ever get a pay rise again which means the so called "gold-plated" pension I am now being forced to pay extra for will also become risible.

Don't get me wrong I know the funding for public pensions is unsustainable and I've been warning people about the changing ratio of workers to pensioners for 20 years but I don't think it's fair or right that so much of this should fall on my shoulders.

The race to the bottom was started by New Labour before passing the batton on to the Tories to go in for the kill.  As far as I'm concerned they're all in this together.

Cheers Blurgh!!

Still finding my way on the new Blogger design so you'll have to bear with me for a bit although still not sure anybody has realised I've started posting again.

I've started posting all my recent musical purchases.  Until the last couple of months this would have been impossible due to volumes but for now my spending is reasonably under control  so here we go. Mind,  I normally budget up to £100 for festival purchases so the policy might last until after next week ends NDH. 

Still working my way through the Spotify playlist and I'm making a shortlist of must see artists and establishing clashes from hell (e.g. Woodpigeon vs Beth Jeans Houghton).

More later but in the mean time here are a few photos.

 Sunset over the Red Sea

Petra

In the middle of a sandstorm in Luxor

Just like the old days, still more filler than thriller.

No Direction Home

 Yeah... it's been a sparse year musically.  It was probably a bit much to expect the highs of the last few years to continue but Larry and the Flask (as mentioned last night) and The Imagineers at Stockton Calling (I implore you to check the link) aside rock'n'roll (in the broadest sense) has left me cold.

I've been trying to keep up with my old friend Richard's Linear Obsessional recordings (not rock'n'roll in any sense) and I particularly recommend South Gare by Chris Whitehead (well I would wouldn't I) and Music For Barges by The Original Beekeepers and I enjoyed a modern classical show at The Sage (can only purposely mis-quote Billy Joel again - "it's all rock'n'roll to me").

Hopefully Things will improve next weekend at No Direction Home.  I've been tuning into a Spotify playlist (sorry don't know how to link) and have very high hopes.  Aside of the the live music they're also showing Sound it Out with a Q&A with director/producer Jeanie Finlay and although not advertised I have heard fry reliable source that they are showing Charlie Chaplin's, Modern Times  with a live soundtrack from GFTB faves, Woodpigeon and friends.

Here's hoping for a dry weekend!

Replies to Comments

Just replied to some comments.  As ever thanks, and apologies for delay in replying and while I'm here I rather care for this.  They're on at the Flying Boating Stage next Friday at 18.45 if you'd care to join me.

Denmark's finest, Dad Rocks!

Back From The Brink!

Mmmm. a new look for blogger.  Of course that will only mean something to people in the biz.  As ever there's I always feel quite liberated posting after a break because I know there will be next to nobody reading it.  It'll pick up though and if I can string half a dozen posts together there might be well... half a dozen people tuning in.

I've got no excuse though.  I broke up from work for my jubilee celebrations last WWednesday and I don't go back until 12 June.  I'm travelling down to Sheffield on Thursday en route to No Direction Home on Friday so I'll see if I can string a few posts together before then.  I can't help feeling it's another one of those now or never moments.

I did mean to post last week-end.  I was at TKASG at The Westgarth on Friday 25 May for a typically solid if uninspiring show made up The Fossil Collective, The Daydream Club, Lilliput and By Toutatis (links 'cos' I can) and then went to an much better show on Sunday at Liberty's by  punk/folk/country cross-over  Larry and His Flask from Oregon USA.  It was the sort of thing that wouldn't be out of place at TKASG actually but sadly as ever me and Gary W aside not a card carrying member of TKASG core audience was anywhere to be seen and vice versa actually.  Saw quite a few people I've seen at the Joint Effort shows but you never see them at The Westgarth.  The promoters must despair.  No doubt people will meekly cry "school night blah blah blah..." but quite frankly the Boro gets the culture (lack of much) it deserves.

The reason I meant to post last week was because I thought it would be a good idea to re-launch my blog with a couple of Eurovision guilty pleasures.  Did anybody see the show by the way?

I know I'm leaving myself open to ridicule here but as far as I'm concerned it still is the Champions League of Music and forget all the stuff about politics the best song usually wins and the worst comes last.  Poor old Engelbert never had a prayer with such a pathetic song.  Not my thing but I could see why Sweden won.  I liked Serbia (came third) and if anybody had a right to complain about the voting it was Romania who didn't finish much higher than the UK.

I know Eurovision is not everybody's cup of tea but it was more relevant to me than Chelsea v Bayern Munich any day of the week.  Only joking!  Or am I?

Alas it's too late to post my couplet of guilty pleasures on FaceSitter where everything has to be cutting edge but at GFTB we're not so stuffy so here they are.

Cheers