Congratulations

Corinna and Adam

You make matrimony look awesome. All the very best from myself and Lester P. Mason

Reading Festival

A bit salute to you Reading. You kept me right on my toes with cat-like readiness, great music and wicked, beer fuelled abandon.

I favoured the days better. The nights were a little too crazy because NO ONE sleeps at the Reading Festval.
We were warned about camping in the Brown site but, like the guy who fed the mogwai after midnight, we forgot and we paid for it.

I'm not fan of camping but add thousands of screaming, pilled-up pyromanicas to the mix and any love for sleeping in a glorified bag is lost completely. Still, the lack of anything resembling sleep seems to have had a positive effect on me. As I watched the sheer choas of people trying to tip over police vans, small explosions and naked men waving their small dignities at passers by, I realised that life is hilarious and that I have been taking it way too seriously of late. Although I'm not about to tip over any trucks, throw gas canisters into open fires or walk around in the nude, I can at least take comfort in the fact that, well, I'm none of the above and that's a good thing surely.

Don't do drugs, kids.

Anyway, apart from camping in the middle of the 'Dawn of the Dead' remake, my weekend was filled with great bands and I saw as much as I could and because of this there are too many to list.

My personal highlights (Musical and otherwise) were:

FROG: With no bands on Thursday night, we decided to go to a local club which was offering discounts to weekend campers. It was brilliant fun and I danced until I couldn't dance anymore. Our tent neighbours (the cool, non-crazy ones) joined us and we enjoyed a ramshackle set of music that took in old nineties rave, MC Hammer and some nice, rarely played indie tracks amongst the standard.
We also saw members of a band called Larrikin Love (or something) but, despite being pointed in their direction, I didn't talk to them because I've never really heard of them and one of them, I think it was the drummer, was wearing this terrible jumper that looked like someone wrapped him in a hangover.

Peaches--Excellent stuff from the sex-obsessed nut box. Her inflatable penis broke half-way through her set. She managed to carry on regardless, true-pro that she is.
TV on the Radio--Borderline genius. They ruled the Carling stage and converted many new followers to their strange, brilliant sound.

Hope of the States--An awesome set, tainted by the fact that it was to be their last. I'm not sure why they're calling it a day but all roads are pointing to the end of HOTS. They were excellent, played a set filled dominated with their swish first album and made me a happy man...until they broke up. This rumour was later confirmed by Broken Social Scene.
Speaking of which, B.S.S were amazing. They are one of the reasons I went to the event and endured the campsite craziness. They were my favourite of the fest and they really woke me up after a hard morning.

Tapes N Tapes--Because of fatigue, I fell asleep in the middle of their set but woke up in time to catch the rest of it. I need to see them live soon to make amends and find and kick the ravers who camped next to us.

Giant Drag--Anne Hardy, I want to marry you.

The Raconteurs--I'm not big on the album but they fleshed it out with some meaty solos. It dipped a bit in the middle but it soon came back around. It made me nostalgic for the old White Stripes (First couple of records)days when Jack White used to sing instead of yelping.

Other honourable mentions: Fields, Duels, Eagles of Death Metal, Metric, The Cribs, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Flogging Molly, Send More Paramedics (Combined zombies and rock to queasy effect)
I can't remember much more. There were a few bands I sat through that I wasn't bothered about (Usually I endured them to get a good place for the next band)
All in all, it was a good time and, despite the non-sleep, I feel strangely refreshed and mildly unstoppable.

No rest for the wicked.

See you good, good people soon.

Here's a really ramshackle report from this years V Festival (In no order whatsoever)

Sharing a tent with two other men brings tension especially with the amount of snoring and farting going on.

Oh yes, there will be MUD. Stephanie managed to get me some much needed wellies. The weather was horrible this year but that British 'stiff upper lip' came into play. There was also the promise of Regina Spektor to keep the blues at bay.
My old friend Tom who, sadly, I didn't see all that much of (*cough* clingy girlfriend *cough*) The clouds behind brought shit loads of lashing rain that kept us in our tents not long after we put them up.
Natual highs: After meeting up with friends and fellow Bloggers Fork and Spoon (Jon and Nat) we headed to the hippy area where we had a couple of these bad/good boys. Worry not, concerned folk and my Mom, we were told it was perfectly natual by the dreadlocked hippy-chick that served us. It gave me a bit of pep but I didn't see the sun dripping or lots of colours.


We saw a lot of bands but below is a list of my favourites:


Regina Spektor (I was transfixed by her utter cuteness), Beck (He had a puppet show and cranked out all his oldies and goldies. He even dropped a few from 'Sea Change'. Beck rules), Imogen Heap (Amazing. My highlight of the first night) , Rufus Wainwright (Although his song mentioned a different Jack Johnson, he would like to fuck the singer.), The Young Knives (Ran out of time so a crowd vote dictated the final song 'She's Attracted To'. All the members remind me of Ben Baker), James Dean Bradfield (His guitarist looked like me according to Blair. He called the crowd "Poor water-soaked bastards" and then sang 'Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head' ), Jamie T (Who was really different since I last saw him), The Delays (Blair went crazy for these) Biffy Clyro (Bearded and savage), Milkteeth (Never heard of them but they were fiesty), The Dodgems (Lively) and The Grates (Livelier with added balloons)

Passing through we saw bits of:

Bloc Party (*Meh*), Sugarbabes, Paul Weller, Keane, The Saw Doctors

Celebrity Spotting:

I saw House of Lords from The Young Knives and there was this brief 'He's going to talk to me/ I'm going to talk to him' moment that completely dissolved and I just finished my baquette. We saw someone who looked EXACTLY like my brother, right down to the attire. Freaky.


Downers:

There's a lot you CAN'T do at V being as it's so mainstream: You can't take booze into the arena (I had to dump all of my gin). You can't even take inflatables in. You can't get cash because there is only FOUR cash points for 90,000 people! The lines were insane! Thankfully, Stephanie loaned me some cash so I could get some nourishment. It's also very hard to get OUT of the venue even if you leave the night before. We were in a non-moving gridlock for around three hours (The police said we were looking at a TEN HOUR wait). They really need to have more exits. Sort it out, Branson!

Crooked rain, crooked rain!

(Had to get a Pavement reference in)

All in all, it was great fun. Good bands, good people and good times.

Come Thursday, it will be time for the Reading festival.

Checking in

I'm back from a soggy, but fun, weekend at the V Festival.

I'm tired, a little ill, sore and bearded but, hey, I asked for it.

More to follow.

Sheesh!

Sorry. I had a classic melt-down. If I was a major star it would have made the papers. All it did was make my mom concerned enough to haul me, hair first to the Doc's.
My Mom doesn't want to hear me quitting writing to become an office manager. That's not her son by a long shot!
I think it's about time that I got myself 'fixed' and that. I don't want this to keep happening. To be honest, I thought all this was over and done with and that those lovely Chinese guys had worked their magic permanently. I guess I got clogged up again.

I'm sure you understand and I thank you for not turning on me.

I don't like being sad and blue for no reason and I don't enjoy throwing my toys out of the pram and distancing the people closest to me.

It's just something that comes from my parents that has sadly been passed to me. I was hoping all I'd get was shortness, youthful looks and a biggish nose.

Anyways, I'm off to spend a weekend at the V Festival. It could be just what I need before the appointments and sessions begin. (I'm starting to become one of my own characters...Kyle from 'Bent Soul' and 'What The Hell..')

I want to focus on the good because there is a lot of it in my life, off-line and on.

Be well. I'll try.

It's all MEMEME

I got this from the very nice Dan, groovy Norton and that girl who really, really digs The Boosh. It's just after 4:08 here and I can't sleep.

Redbull...

...is a bugger, no?

People kept wanting to high five me tonight, girls mostly. I'm not sure why. Is this something new that I should be aware of? Am I pregnant now?

..Are they? Is that how it works?

Anyway, on with the MEME


Rapper Name?

C-Bizzle

Alternative Rock Band Name?

Sorry It's Terminal (Snotty, hip-cocking punk)

Name your pain?

Most women (Or my left knee)

1 True Word That Symbolizes God?

Clumsy

1 True Love or 1 Million Dollars?

The former but it's more likely I'll get the latter.

Live Free or Die Stupid?

I plan to have a confusing death, so the latter.

Purist, happiest moment ever? (8 words or less)

Febuary 16th 2006. Film. Clapping. Family pride finally

Most Influential Life Lesson?

Love isn't like 'Before Sunrise'

Most Successful Person You Least Admire?

Danny fucking Cannon

Where we go when we die? (1 word)

Void

Worst TV Show of the Past Decade?

Catherine Tate

Best TV Show of the Past Decade?

I'm Alan Partridge

Burning Building - baby or dog?

Baby


Still with me, yes or no?

Zzzz

Who runs the world? (2 words or less)

Fox News

Worst Idea You Ever Had?

Too many...Creatively, pitching 'The Mr Miagi Mysteries' to the BBC. I've had plenty of bad ideas in many different areas. I'm having one now.

Shittiest Job You Ever Had?

All of them. The one I'm in now could take the cake.

Best Job You've Ever Had?

Screenwriter


That was fun. Time for a late night sing-song.

Does anyone want to tickle my back? That'll send me to sleep in minutes!

No?

I'll just settle for a hot chocolate.

It's not all mememe

A Whiskeytown rarity for those that dig on R.A as much as I do..

Enjoy

Eyebrow Banditos and other such nonsense

A guy i know has recently come back to work after a long holiday in the sun. The downside was that some bugger stole his sun glasses, wallet and one of his eyebrows.

No joke.

He looks well freakish.

I can imagine, some foreign guy selling the eyebrows of British tourists to feed his family or buy big fat cocktails.

"Hey Mister, you wanna buy some eyebrows. I got all sorts! I give you very good price! Genuine British."

The Eyebrow Bandits have struck again! I'm totally going to use that in some kind of script/sketch.

I'll shut up..

Bummer news about Arthur Lee and Death From Above 1979.

May one rest in peace and the other in retirement.

Anyone heard 'France' by Ryan Adams? It's been going around in my head for the past couple of days. He's rockin' out, Strokes style!

I'm going to reinvent myself this weekend.

Oh, cool track for a Freakend Friday

'Produkte' by The Sound Of Young America

Your Friend Si AKA Life is Cock has come up trumps once again. It's a very swish tune indeed.

Happy freakend each and all.

A couple of days is a long time in blogger land.

Thanks for your kind words, emails, texts and calls.

I really have to get these 'downers' in order. They come from nowhere and ruin the party.

You know how it is. Some of you do.

I'm okay...surviving.