I was speaking to a friend in work and I asked him what he thought of this blog. He pointed out that unlike Dan Lawrence's site, mine is used more as a means to rant about stuff.
I couldn't disagree more. I would never use this site as a soapbox for my oppinions. I resent the obviously false allegation.
Whilst we are on the subject of rants though, something that really chaps my ass is people that gather round the door of a train when it arrives - doesn't sound like much of a crime, but it really gets to me.
This is the thing. Every day, the same people crowd the train doors whilst waiting to get on. The folk on the train then need to get off and have to edge their way through the people blocking the doors. It wouldn't be so bad if there was limited seats and they wanted to make sure that they get them, but there is no reason why people need to stand at the door and rush on. It's pointless.
Far better to stand back and then make your move when people are off the train.
Rants? Really!
Friday, November 10, 2006
Amstel Beer - Finally!
About a year and a half ago me and Becky went to Corfu, and whilst there I fell in love with the Dutch beer Amstel.
I knew my dad was a fan so I brought back a bottle for him and one for myself. I was living at home at the time, so my bottle was kept in the folk's fridge. My brother, Lional Flip-Due, being the beer theif that he is, was warned not to drink it as I couldn't get any over here in the UK. I saved it for a special moment.
When that moment finally came (not sure what it was now - must have been something VERY special), I went to the fridge only to find my Amstel had gone! I accused Flip-Due of all sorts, although he denied it. Turns out that my Dad had drunk it thinking it was his not realising that he'd already drunk his a while back.
Since then I have searched every known supermarket, any off-licence I pass by (from Cornwall to London) and even Lanzarotie, with no joy. Every time I go to a supermarket I check the drinks section for it, but its never there.
A dull story I realise, but hopefully it gives you an idea of just how happy I am that I found it on sale today in Asda! On spotting it I raised my arms in joy and rushed off to find Becks (my fiancee, not the bottled beer) to see if I could get it using the food money (I couldn't afford it myself) - how could she say no to my excited grin!
I'm now enjoying it as I type. Mmmmmm
As an aside, I'm loving how I got the bottle top in the picture to shine like that, making it irresistible. I could make Marks & Spencers food adverts with a talent like that!
I knew my dad was a fan so I brought back a bottle for him and one for myself. I was living at home at the time, so my bottle was kept in the folk's fridge. My brother, Lional Flip-Due, being the beer theif that he is, was warned not to drink it as I couldn't get any over here in the UK. I saved it for a special moment.
When that moment finally came (not sure what it was now - must have been something VERY special), I went to the fridge only to find my Amstel had gone! I accused Flip-Due of all sorts, although he denied it. Turns out that my Dad had drunk it thinking it was his not realising that he'd already drunk his a while back.
Since then I have searched every known supermarket, any off-licence I pass by (from Cornwall to London) and even Lanzarotie, with no joy. Every time I go to a supermarket I check the drinks section for it, but its never there.
A dull story I realise, but hopefully it gives you an idea of just how happy I am that I found it on sale today in Asda! On spotting it I raised my arms in joy and rushed off to find Becks (my fiancee, not the bottled beer) to see if I could get it using the food money (I couldn't afford it myself) - how could she say no to my excited grin!
I'm now enjoying it as I type. Mmmmmm
As an aside, I'm loving how I got the bottle top in the picture to shine like that, making it irresistible. I could make Marks & Spencers food adverts with a talent like that!
Flaming Lips, Birmingham NIA, 09/11/06
"Those religious conservative mother fuckers"
That's how Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips describes the members of the Republican Party in the US during the gig at the Birmingham NIA last night - well put.
The gig could very well be my favourite show that's taken place out side of Glastonbury, with Hope of the States giving it a run for it's money.
From start to finish I had a massive grin on my face, bursting into hysterics at every turn.
Despite forming in 1983 and being a band big enough to play to arenas, it's a credit to them that they take part in the setup of the instruments, having fun a long the way - they really must love their job.
As the band prepare in the wings to take to the stage for the performance, so to do Superman, Wonderwoman, Captain America, Thing (the orange guy from Fantastic 4), a bunch of Santa Clauses without beards, an army of young female Aliens, one main alien and Santa Clause himself.
Not only that, but the one thing all 4 of us wanted to see: the balloon that Wayne Coyne climbs into and runs out on to the audience in. The moment he is in, it all kicks off.
Opening with Race for the Prize, large orange baloons are thrown out into the crowd (where they will stay for the rest of the night, being knocked around), the band takes to the stage, the confetti cannons fire off and to as massive cheer Coyne runs out into the crowd in his balloon.
The start to this set is by some distance the greatest set opener I've seen, and certainly one of the best 5 minutes I've had at a gig, including Glastonbury sets. From here on in the whole crowd is on a high - I personally can't stop laughing at the surrealness of it all, not to mention just how much fun it is.
The next song is a personal Lips favourite of mine, Free Radicals. He explains to the crowd that it was in Birmingham that this song first generated a sing-along by the fans and that he'd love to recreate that moment.
If you were being cynical you would argue that he says this where ever they play - that might well be the case, but the thing about this band is they genuinely perform like this is the most important gig in their lives - like they are headlining the Pyramid Stage for the very first time and it's what they set out to achieve. They never once look bored or show any sign that it's just "another gig" for them.
Sure enough the crowd sing back. The next song was a suprise for me as I didn't expect them to play such a well known tune of theirs so soon: Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt.1. They go into it with no introduction and the crowd love it.
This song also sees the only use of the glove puppet nunn - a shame as I swear I remember her staring in many more songs a Glasto.
Before the song ends they go into a slow Queen-like piano piece, as if they have just finished playing a 20 minute 70s rock classic, prompting the fans to sing-a-long, not the last time they use this technique.
Following this they kick straight into Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt.2. When I first purchased the Yoshima album I was looking forward to hearing the second part of the song, disapointed to find that it was an instrumental. As time's gone by I've learned to like the song more and more until last night where it all finally made sense.
Whilst all this is going on, the santa's and aliens are always dancing along, waving their torches. From what I can gather they were just joe publics who perhaps the band approached before the gig and said "Fancy being on stage?". They had their digital cameras and really looked like they were loving it. All the girls seemed to be below 20, and were the sort of girls who quite frankly think to much of themselves and their dance moves, but fair play to em because they didn't look any less enthused by it the whole night, always giving it their best, having fun - a quality that people lose as they get older where fun is concerned.
Wayne Coyne then went on to make the first of many hippy-like speeches about how we can make a difference and just how many sound people their are in the audience just looking for a good time.
He talked about the recent resignation of Donald Rumsfeld, the US Defence Secretary who was a key part of the planning for the Iraq war. He pointed out that it's thanks to public pressure that it's happened and that music has been a part of the changing attitude of the american public. All this to cheers from the crowd.
With that he introduces the next song, the politically charged Yeah Yeah Yeah Song asking the crowd to sing the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the No No Nos.
They then play My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion, which is fast becoming one of my favourite Lips songs (the way they played it at the show certainly did it's cause no harm). He explained that the lyrics were about all the negative, cynical people out there. He's definately a song writer I can relate to.
During all this more confetti is fired, more streamers released, torches swung, comedy sized fists raised and a large balloon blown up to burst (see below piture).
The large orange balloons are also still being knocked around by the crowd - the first of which to be burst by a member of the audience get the response of a large cry of boos from the crowd. A bunch of grownups booing never fails to amuse me.
There were a couple tracks I'd have liked to have heard (The Spark That Bled and The Gash), but both those tracks are off The Soft Bulletin, an album from the late 90s, so I can hardly blame the band for not playing them and opting for something fresh.
The final two songs before the end of the main set are She Don't Use Jelly (introduced on screen by Jon Stewart off the Daily Show (weekdays on More4)) and another favourite of mine Do You Realize??, this for me seeming to be the most euthoric of their songs - with the screen behind showing footage of a couple in Rabbit Costumes (think Dom Jolly's Trigger Happy TV) hugging and boucing away in slow motion in a totally over the top cheese, hammy, happy way - a perfect set ender.
The thing about encores is they really bug me, yet I think I'd feel cheated if a band didn't do one or two. As with everything, at least The Flaming Lips make their's fun. Whilst the crowd yell for more, Captain America takes to the stage and encourages the crown in to an east v west shouting match. As with the rest of this blog entry, it doesn't sound like much, but when you are there it's brilliant.
They then return to the stage and ask the crowd for a karoke moment, telling them to sing along. Members of the crowd shout out "But we won't know the words!!". "Don't worry" Coyne replies, "They're on the screen.". They needn't have bothered as the song has to be one of the most easy to sing-a-long to tunes in the UK, with *everyone* knowing the words: Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.
I was hoping they were going to play a cover, as they did at Glastonbury in the form of Pink Floyd's Breathe. On this occasion they couldn't have picked a better tune, with the whole crowd singing every word. A real experience. To top it off, when the tune reached its head-banging moment, the crowd responded well. Something I won't forget in a while.
They then left the stage with Captain America once again returning to get the crowd going.
One last song remained - I've yet to work out which song it was, but he introduced it saying that at the end, their will be a bit of music that will give people the chance to say to their partner (or potential partner) just how much they mean to them. A blissed out ending to an amazing show. I challange anyone of any taste of music to go to a Lips gig and not have a great time. I worried that after having such a good time watching them at Glastonbury, I was going to be disapointed. How wrong I was. I haven't laughed as hard for as long in a long time.
The lights then raise. As we leave we are treated to a highly appropriate What a Wonderful World and an oddly chosen Wizard of Oz track.
Myself and Simon both agree that following that, we're not looking forward to "having to sit through Muse" next week. It takes a fantastic set to make you feel that way about a band as good as Muse.
That's how Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips describes the members of the Republican Party in the US during the gig at the Birmingham NIA last night - well put.
The gig could very well be my favourite show that's taken place out side of Glastonbury, with Hope of the States giving it a run for it's money.
From start to finish I had a massive grin on my face, bursting into hysterics at every turn.
Despite forming in 1983 and being a band big enough to play to arenas, it's a credit to them that they take part in the setup of the instruments, having fun a long the way - they really must love their job.
As the band prepare in the wings to take to the stage for the performance, so to do Superman, Wonderwoman, Captain America, Thing (the orange guy from Fantastic 4), a bunch of Santa Clauses without beards, an army of young female Aliens, one main alien and Santa Clause himself.
Not only that, but the one thing all 4 of us wanted to see: the balloon that Wayne Coyne climbs into and runs out on to the audience in. The moment he is in, it all kicks off.
Opening with Race for the Prize, large orange baloons are thrown out into the crowd (where they will stay for the rest of the night, being knocked around), the band takes to the stage, the confetti cannons fire off and to as massive cheer Coyne runs out into the crowd in his balloon.
The start to this set is by some distance the greatest set opener I've seen, and certainly one of the best 5 minutes I've had at a gig, including Glastonbury sets. From here on in the whole crowd is on a high - I personally can't stop laughing at the surrealness of it all, not to mention just how much fun it is.
The next song is a personal Lips favourite of mine, Free Radicals. He explains to the crowd that it was in Birmingham that this song first generated a sing-along by the fans and that he'd love to recreate that moment.
If you were being cynical you would argue that he says this where ever they play - that might well be the case, but the thing about this band is they genuinely perform like this is the most important gig in their lives - like they are headlining the Pyramid Stage for the very first time and it's what they set out to achieve. They never once look bored or show any sign that it's just "another gig" for them.
Sure enough the crowd sing back. The next song was a suprise for me as I didn't expect them to play such a well known tune of theirs so soon: Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt.1. They go into it with no introduction and the crowd love it.
This song also sees the only use of the glove puppet nunn - a shame as I swear I remember her staring in many more songs a Glasto.
Before the song ends they go into a slow Queen-like piano piece, as if they have just finished playing a 20 minute 70s rock classic, prompting the fans to sing-a-long, not the last time they use this technique.
Following this they kick straight into Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt.2. When I first purchased the Yoshima album I was looking forward to hearing the second part of the song, disapointed to find that it was an instrumental. As time's gone by I've learned to like the song more and more until last night where it all finally made sense.
Whilst all this is going on, the santa's and aliens are always dancing along, waving their torches. From what I can gather they were just joe publics who perhaps the band approached before the gig and said "Fancy being on stage?". They had their digital cameras and really looked like they were loving it. All the girls seemed to be below 20, and were the sort of girls who quite frankly think to much of themselves and their dance moves, but fair play to em because they didn't look any less enthused by it the whole night, always giving it their best, having fun - a quality that people lose as they get older where fun is concerned.
Wayne Coyne then went on to make the first of many hippy-like speeches about how we can make a difference and just how many sound people their are in the audience just looking for a good time.
He talked about the recent resignation of Donald Rumsfeld, the US Defence Secretary who was a key part of the planning for the Iraq war. He pointed out that it's thanks to public pressure that it's happened and that music has been a part of the changing attitude of the american public. All this to cheers from the crowd.
With that he introduces the next song, the politically charged Yeah Yeah Yeah Song asking the crowd to sing the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the No No Nos.
They then play My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion, which is fast becoming one of my favourite Lips songs (the way they played it at the show certainly did it's cause no harm). He explained that the lyrics were about all the negative, cynical people out there. He's definately a song writer I can relate to.
During all this more confetti is fired, more streamers released, torches swung, comedy sized fists raised and a large balloon blown up to burst (see below piture).
The large orange balloons are also still being knocked around by the crowd - the first of which to be burst by a member of the audience get the response of a large cry of boos from the crowd. A bunch of grownups booing never fails to amuse me.
There were a couple tracks I'd have liked to have heard (The Spark That Bled and The Gash), but both those tracks are off The Soft Bulletin, an album from the late 90s, so I can hardly blame the band for not playing them and opting for something fresh.
The final two songs before the end of the main set are She Don't Use Jelly (introduced on screen by Jon Stewart off the Daily Show (weekdays on More4)) and another favourite of mine Do You Realize??, this for me seeming to be the most euthoric of their songs - with the screen behind showing footage of a couple in Rabbit Costumes (think Dom Jolly's Trigger Happy TV) hugging and boucing away in slow motion in a totally over the top cheese, hammy, happy way - a perfect set ender.
The thing about encores is they really bug me, yet I think I'd feel cheated if a band didn't do one or two. As with everything, at least The Flaming Lips make their's fun. Whilst the crowd yell for more, Captain America takes to the stage and encourages the crown in to an east v west shouting match. As with the rest of this blog entry, it doesn't sound like much, but when you are there it's brilliant.
They then return to the stage and ask the crowd for a karoke moment, telling them to sing along. Members of the crowd shout out "But we won't know the words!!". "Don't worry" Coyne replies, "They're on the screen.". They needn't have bothered as the song has to be one of the most easy to sing-a-long to tunes in the UK, with *everyone* knowing the words: Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.
I was hoping they were going to play a cover, as they did at Glastonbury in the form of Pink Floyd's Breathe. On this occasion they couldn't have picked a better tune, with the whole crowd singing every word. A real experience. To top it off, when the tune reached its head-banging moment, the crowd responded well. Something I won't forget in a while.
They then left the stage with Captain America once again returning to get the crowd going.
One last song remained - I've yet to work out which song it was, but he introduced it saying that at the end, their will be a bit of music that will give people the chance to say to their partner (or potential partner) just how much they mean to them. A blissed out ending to an amazing show. I challange anyone of any taste of music to go to a Lips gig and not have a great time. I worried that after having such a good time watching them at Glastonbury, I was going to be disapointed. How wrong I was. I haven't laughed as hard for as long in a long time.
The lights then raise. As we leave we are treated to a highly appropriate What a Wonderful World and an oddly chosen Wizard of Oz track.
Myself and Simon both agree that following that, we're not looking forward to "having to sit through Muse" next week. It takes a fantastic set to make you feel that way about a band as good as Muse.
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