Scratch

Here you will find older scratches, musings and other detritus that once were located on the front pages, but have now faded.

Filed away here to collect dust and cobwwwebs in perpetuity, links may break, facts may change and data may corrupt.

On occasion I may come down here to tidy, but for the most, I prefer to leave the past where it lies.

Monthly Archives

01/08/2007 - 31/08/2007 01/07/2007 - 31/07/2007 01/06/2007 - 30/06/2007 01/05/2007 - 31/05/2007 01/04/2007 - 30/04/2007 01/03/2007 - 31/03/2007 01/02/2007 - 28/02/2007 01/01/2007 - 31/01/2007 01/12/2006 - 31/12/2006 01/11/2006 - 30/11/2006 01/10/2006 - 31/10/2006 01/09/2006 - 30/09/2006 01/08/2006 - 31/08/2006 01/07/2006 - 31/07/2006 01/06/2006 - 30/06/2006 01/05/2006 - 31/05/2006 01/04/2006 - 30/04/2006 01/03/2006 - 31/03/2006 01/02/2006 - 28/02/2006 01/01/2006 - 31/01/2006 01/12/2005 - 31/12/2005 01/11/2005 - 30/11/2005 01/10/2005 - 31/10/2005 01/09/2005 - 30/09/2005 01/08/2005 - 31/08/2005 01/07/2005 - 31/07/2005 01/06/2005 - 30/06/2005 01/05/2005 - 31/05/2005 01/04/2005 - 30/04/2005 01/03/2005 - 31/03/2005 01/02/2005 - 28/02/2005 01/01/2005 - 31/01/2005 01/12/2004 - 31/12/2004 01/11/2004 - 30/11/2004 01/10/2004 - 31/10/2004 01/09/2004 - 30/09/2004 01/08/2004 - 31/08/2004 01/07/2004 - 31/07/2004 01/06/2004 - 30/06/2004 01/05/2004 - 31/05/2004 01/04/2004 - 30/04/2004 01/03/2004 - 31/03/2004 01/02/2004 - 29/02/2004

 

Mind Wandering

Just sitting listening to some Portishead, and finally ended up over at Beth's site. Shes been a busy girl of late, but more importantly, shes currently working on the third Portishead album, their first release since '97.

Seems like an age

Avril Lavigne

On Saturday we went to see the petite and well formed Canadian singer that is Avril Lavigne at the Carling Apollo Hammersmith.

Before the gig, we sat about in a pub discussing life in general, eating, catching up, amusing ourselves watching some of her younger fans trying to get served. A couple of times we noted that we might be older than the majority of her fans, but once inside this was proved wrong with a wide range of ages disappearing into the blackness that was the stalls. A barmaid pointed out that we were not allowed bottle tops in to prevent artists being pelted with them, but I would have felt the onus is on the artists not to warrant being pelted, Green Day even went as far as to ban ice.

With regard to the gig, the set list was good, playing the single releases and a couple of better album tracks, in addition to a good rendition of American Idiot by Green Day. Sound quality was very good, much better than last time I was at the Apollo. There were pauses in between some of the songs for set changes, guitar swaps and notably a piano being wheeled on, but these were momentary. She started the encore on the drums with Song 2 by Blur, then performed a good version of Complicated before thanking us and bidding us goodnight.

Any doubts I had before hand about her abilities were unfounded. She has a strong voice with a good range, sticking to her strengths and what she knows, keeping conversation to a basic, almost perfunctory level. With no choreographed routines that have become the norm with young female singers of late, I found the enthusiasm, spontaneity and vibrancy a refreshing change and a joy to watch, and for such a petite person she controls the stage well. I wouldn't go as far as to say I was completely enthralled/captivated, although others probably would've said I was, but not once did I find my mind wandering. It has to be mentioned her piercing eyes, flowing hair and slender figure with guitar slung loosely at the hip does nothing to hinder her stage presence.

After the buzz of the gig it was round to a friend's place for beer and poker until the early morning.

Better Things (2)

...and I'd forgotten I had the Lost Boys soundtrack..

Better Things

As is the case when deadlines are rapidly approaching, I invariably find something much more interesting to involve myself with. In previous incarnations, I would wander to my housemates room and instead of discussing the issues relating to case law and the land charges register, we would end up listening to CDs and chatting crap.

Tonight, I found myself watching Teachers - Series 1 which myself and girlie have been slowly getting through. I had forgotten how very cool the soundtrack is.

An 'A-Ha' Moment

Earlier today I noticed that I was listening to Oranges On Apple Trees by A-Ha via iTunes.

I just wanted to clarify that I wasn't. Our iTunes library is bit screwy after moving all our music to a new mapped drive...

Sad News

Sad news today that John Peel has died. He will be sadly missed.

Days Like This

For the days when neither Mr Williams or Mr Bacharach can help, I find a bit of Van Morrison helps put things in perspective.

Evanescence (2)

Was 'kin A.

First support act I missed as we were at the bar, although the muffled sounds coming through the wall indicated some people, specifically the band, seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Second support act, Seether - Think Chad Kroeger sings Metallica. As to his statement "Thank you London, we'll see you soon", no. You won't. Certainly not when the biggest cheer you receive all evening is due to Amy Lee dueting with you on "Broken".

Evanescence - Amy Lee. Words do not do justice to her voice, enthusiasm or stage performance. She grabs your attention and holds it well for the duration. Not wanting to take anything away from the band who play a good tight set, but when shes on stage, she is the only thing on stage. Whether it be with her aggressive, guitars wailing, all lights strobbing rendition of "Bring Me Back to Life", or just her and a piano on "My Immortal", all eyes and ears are on her. Perhaps its a conscious decision to play to their strengths, but it certainly works. Fallen is a great album, but live it adds a whole new dimension. Take any opportunity to see them live as the show has not been diminished by Ben Moody's departure. Whether future material is as good waits to be seen, but the live show just rocks.

Other instances of note were goth girls barely old enough to be my daughter, parents in suits, drunk guy slumped over the hoarding, and the big sign saying "CROWD SURFING IS DANGEROUS. DON'T DO IT", which to me was vaguely reminiscent of the the Grange Hill song Just Say No .

And about as effective.

You try stopping hundreds of alcohol fueled goths, or in fact anyone, throwing themselves into the air when the guitar rifts for "Going Under" kick in.

Evanescence

Going to see Evanescence this evening @ Wembley Arena.

Am slightly concerned the grey in my hair will make me stand out from the bouncing mass of dyed black barnets, clothed in black with black makeup, but hey.

Music

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