Sunday 19 February 2012
Sunday 12 February 2012
Some of what I've been up to so far this year
My lack of posting recently has been mainly down to technical problems with Blogger rather than my usual laziness. I'm aware people have made comments to some of (not so) recent posts - alas I can't read them, I will keep trying though and (for what it's worth) respond.
So what have I been up to?
Not a lot really. Been to the Sessions a few times. Saw a new young and surprisingly refreshing punk band, Mikey's Smile. The muso's have had the local rock music scene their own way for far too long. Hopefully see much more of them as the year go on.
Went to see post rockers Explosions In The Sky at the Sage supported by Newcastle's Lanterns on the Lake. It was double bubble for me. I've been waiting to see Explosions In The Sky again since I saw them at my first EOTR in 2009 and I've missed Lanterns of the Lake a couple of times now.
Explosions in the Sky have some elements that normally turn me off. No vocalist, the songs merge into each other, up to 3 guitarists (excluding bass) at any one time but they also bring things to the party. They're from Texas, USA and there's a lot of "indie" in their approach. I like the way they don't swap their guitars at the end of every song (sometimes even mid-song) like a lot of other bands that have made "it" (Wilco and Mogwai instantly spring to mind). They smash their guitars against the stage (for real) and one of them had to keep re-fastening his strap on with gaffa tape. It was a show of wonderful intensity and breathtaking harmonic melodies.
Lanterns on the Lake were good as well. Not a million miles from Explosions at times and definitely worth another look. Unless there's an unlucky clash if I don't see them before I should see them again at No Direction Home.
Also saw (ex?) Futureheads, Hyde and Beast at The Westgarth. 3 guitarists (excluding bass) and exactly why I don't normally like a band with that line-up, it's just too fussy for me. Ste pointed out that one of their songs was just like Hot Love. I thought so as well apart from there's only one guitar on the T.Rex beaut.
It wasn't for me, it was too much like pre-punk Old Grey Whistle Test. Then again everybody else I was with really liked them. What would I know?
Cheers
So what have I been up to?
Not a lot really. Been to the Sessions a few times. Saw a new young and surprisingly refreshing punk band, Mikey's Smile. The muso's have had the local rock music scene their own way for far too long. Hopefully see much more of them as the year go on.
Went to see post rockers Explosions In The Sky at the Sage supported by Newcastle's Lanterns on the Lake. It was double bubble for me. I've been waiting to see Explosions In The Sky again since I saw them at my first EOTR in 2009 and I've missed Lanterns of the Lake a couple of times now.
Explosions in the Sky have some elements that normally turn me off. No vocalist, the songs merge into each other, up to 3 guitarists (excluding bass) at any one time but they also bring things to the party. They're from Texas, USA and there's a lot of "indie" in their approach. I like the way they don't swap their guitars at the end of every song (sometimes even mid-song) like a lot of other bands that have made "it" (Wilco and Mogwai instantly spring to mind). They smash their guitars against the stage (for real) and one of them had to keep re-fastening his strap on with gaffa tape. It was a show of wonderful intensity and breathtaking harmonic melodies.
Lanterns on the Lake were good as well. Not a million miles from Explosions at times and definitely worth another look. Unless there's an unlucky clash if I don't see them before I should see them again at No Direction Home.
Also saw (ex?) Futureheads, Hyde and Beast at The Westgarth. 3 guitarists (excluding bass) and exactly why I don't normally like a band with that line-up, it's just too fussy for me. Ste pointed out that one of their songs was just like Hot Love. I thought so as well apart from there's only one guitar on the T.Rex beaut.
It wasn't for me, it was too much like pre-punk Old Grey Whistle Test. Then again everybody else I was with really liked them. What would I know?
Cheers
End Of An Era
There’s another week-end over. Well almost anyway, another couple of hours to go before I pop off to bed.
It started on Friday with yet another funeral, my Uncle Jack’s. It is as my cousin Stephen said, “the end of an era”, the last of the generation in both his and my family.
Jack had a fair day for it though, the roads were clear but all the surrounding fields and villages were covered in snow from the top of Birk Brow all the way to Bridlington. Blue skies all the way. I’d made embryonic arrangements to go over with my cousin Brenda but she made her own arrangements. No offence to Brenda but the journey was the better for my being alone.
Haven’t got many personal memories of Jack to be honest - he moved away from Teesside to do his national service in the Army and then joining the Royal Air Force before finally settling in Bridlington. Although he used to come back to Middlesbrough fairly often we never saw him.
I’ve done my family duty anyway; my brothers and I were always brought up to do the right thing. Our (always) dignified parents would have gone had they still been here so I was representing them. I think I’ll just leave it at that.
Only a short week at work next week, Monday to Wednesday so that’s not so bad and 2 top bands at the end of the week. The Leisure Society at the Cluny on Friday and then Beth Jeans Houghton at The Westgarth on Sunday. They were 2 of my highlights at EOTR 2011 and I’m expecting great things.
Up the Boro and don’t drink and drive!
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