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