GOFFA FROM THE BLOCK

What a show!  A more considered post to follow but last night was really special, even by End of the Road standards. Also great performances from Parquet Courts and Dawes who are on again today. The Internet here is patchy at best which is what I will blame my error strewn post yesterday (I'm bothered even if nobody else is) and any Facebook statuses that got through. Possibly last post until I return home.

Wasn't expecting that.  Anyway got here. Last night I had pleasure of seeing Catfish and the Bottlemen (wasn't expecting that either).  A rousing young (seemingly) working class rock/pop band from North Wales.  They're highly touted and playing Middlesbrough's next month so it was a great opportunity to get in the know. It's not normally a style of music I find appealing but it worked  last night and I'm already looking forward to seeing them again in the Boro. There were 5 bands on the pre-festival show curated by Communion Records.  It's OK I'd never heard of them either.  I missed Evans the Death and Tiger Cats but as well as Catfish I saw Annie Eve, a young good looking London folkie.  It looked an interesting line-up with amongst others a stand up double bass and accordion  but sadly she just sounded extremely dreary. Deap Valley in their own words "bad-ass bitches who know how to be shrewd".  A racy, fairly attractive  guit...

Stopped at Services near Oxford 220 miles down another 110 to go.  This is my 4th EOTR and they can bloody well come to me next year!  Seriously, I think I'm getting a bit old for this game. Had good intentions to swot up but like for my exams back in the day not enough. It really is important to be prepared if you can but unusually for me I'm well up for the big names this year.  David Byrne, Sigur Ros, The Eels and what I think will be one of the talking points of the weekend Dinosaur Jr rather than Belle & Sebastian.  A shame I can't do both but that's festivals for you. Also looking forward to "my new fave band part 87 (only?).  Previous honours from EOTR Explosions in the Sky, Duke and the King, Elliot Brood, Allo Darlin' and still current holder Slow Down Molasses. Enough break, off to End of The Road 2013.

Switched the TV off.  Man cannot live by Breaking Bad alone. I'm listening to music and have set myself a nice little mellow playlist up for a Wednesday evening One From The Heart - Tom Waits and Crystal Gayle The Highway - Holly Williams The Lost Tapes Volume 2, Mexico - Ian and Simone Felice Valtari - Sigur Ros Anyway, here's the last of my concert photos from the summer.  Maybe you're underwhelmed but at least you didn't have to read me rambling on about how great most of them were.   Dark Dark Dark at The Georgian Theatre possibly even better than......     The best and by a country (pun intended) mile the coolest rock'n'roll star on the planet at The Sage in May.   Maybe some words tomorrow.

How anybody been watching Breaking Bad ? Chris lent me the first 3 series' on DVD.  Can't put it down.  Great concept, gripping and some stunning cinematography.  EOTR 2013 looms.  Can't say I'm looking forward to the drive but if the weather's good...............  Just the best. More photos.  Kishi Bashi - Georgian Theatre in May   Simone Felice at The Studio in Hartlepool in June   Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys at The Sage in July Nona Marie Invie from Dark Dark Dark at The Georgian Theatre In July   Back to Breaking Bad.

There haven't been many Kids Are Solid Gold shows in Middlesbrough for what seems a very long time (thankfully there are going to be at least 4 between now and the end of November) and I didn't even bother getting a ticket for The Stockton Weekender (always Stockton Festival to me) so you'd think it's been a lean period in my musical universe?  No! I exclaim, looking through my photos tonight has reminded me what a golden spring and summer it's been and Steve Earle, Simone Felice and Dark Dark Dark were up there with anything I've ever seen in cough, cough, cough years of going to watch live music. It just goes to show ( The Lie Dream of a Casino Soul ). It hasn't all been variances of rock'n'roll either.  I was also thrilled by part 3 of 4 of Wagner's epic opera, The Ring ( Siegfried ) at The Sage in June.  Already booked for the climax next year (cheers Mark). I think the passage of time means it's too late for reviews but here are...

Looked at my posting record this year and it's a nailed on must do better, so over the next 4 1/2 months I aim to bring my total for the year up to the 100 mark. That's obviously a big commitment but I could do with getting my are into gear.  I feel I'm letting my brain slide into an Alzheimer's type state.  I'm currently on my way to Manchester with work so have only an intermittent internet. I make that 26 for the year, will try and make it 27 later.

Not sure where that 4 months went.  So what have I been up to? You know, this and that.  I'm pretty sure this has been my longest break since I started at Livejournal back in the day.  It certainly didn't seem like 4 months until I looked at my last post.  Has the witch only been dead 4 months? Got a lot I could report and have to start somewhere.  I've had a few holidays, seen a few top bands and I've got a shed load of photos I could publish.  Sure nobody will be viewing for a while but hey ho, let's go.  Here are a couple of photos I took tonight at Gribdale Beck tonight. Another post tomorrow.