The latest blog ever!!!..yes but I do have lots to cover.

Apologies for being AWOL...have been somewhat distracted of late..lol. I have alot of catching up to do. May, June, July..August?. So where do I start: Another trip to Tate Modern in May I still think its the best modern art gallery in the UK if not the world. The Suzanne Vega gig at the Anvil (17/06/10) was great, she sang the classics along with the story of how they came to be written. I now know the stories off by heart. Now that she is no longer signed to a major record label her releases are taking a new turn...more personal less commercial. As I had front row seats sound and view were great..lol. Have uploaded a video to go with blog. Also saw Tegan and Sara at the Roundhouse Camden, their biggest UK venue to date (24/06/10). Throughly enjoyed the gig, as i have now listened to Sainthood so often I know all the lyrics. The songs on this album are designed to be performed live. I can't compete with the die hard fans and get to the front..getting too old for this and weekday gigs. I also managed to squeeze a play in during the month of June at the National Theatre 26/06/10 - 'Love the Sinner' was a play which attempted to tackle religion and homosexuality from the perspective of the African Anglican church and a married man's inner turmoil with his sexuality. The play had some good individual performances and a good use of humour..I wasn't prepared for the full frontal male nudity..lol.
I have also tired to catch up on all the films I have missed this year during July: 'The Concert' - a french version of brassed off meets the commitments, suprisingly funny and good. 'Up in the Air' was also very good for a film with a very simple plot. Then there was 'Precious' a horrific film due to the subject matter...like a car crash you know you shouldn't look but you do. I don't ever plan to watch it again, once is enough. Also saw 'My name is Khan'...the Asian Rainman/Forrest Gump..a bit too twee for my liking. Plan to buy a yellow coat!!. I finally saw Avatar..must be the last person to do so..what was all the fuss about....oversized, fitter smurfs!..i get it we are killing the plant and Colonisers are evil people...TC says it best in her Lyrics to America :

You were lost and got lucky,
came upon the shore,
found you were conquering America,
Spoke of peace,
Waged a war,
while you were conquering America.

There was land to take, and people to kill
While you were conquering America.
You saved yourself, and did God's will,
While you were conquering America.

The ghost of Columbus haunts this world,
You're still conquering America.
The meek won't survive, inherit the earth,
Cause you're still conquering America

hmmmm

Found bodies to serve, submit and degrade,
while you were conquering America.
Made of soldiers and junkies, prisoners and slaves,
while you were conquering America.

America, America, America

Your hands are at my throat,
my back's against the wall,
cause you're still conquering America.
We are Sick, and tired, hungry and poor,
cause you're still conquering America.

America, America, America,

You bomb the very ground,
you feed your own babies,
you're still conquering America
Your sons and your daughters,
May never sing your praises,
while you were conquering America.

America, America, America

Unseal your eyes,
see the distant shore,
while you were conquering America,
Take your rockets to the moon,
Try to find a new world,
And you're still conquering America.

America, America, America

The ghost of Columbus, haunts this world,
You're still conquering America,
You're still conquering America,
You're still conquering America

Finally...August..need to read books a bit of a back log to get through and finish that building project (pics to follow) and its also results month. That reminds me a shout out to Clare and Jack who better not let me down next Thursday.

The rather late April blog!!

Going to keep it short, saw the film "Family' at the BFI (late March) interesting...mmmhh okay so bad it was good. Also saw 'The girl with the dragon tatoo', a bog standard thriller not sure what all the fuss is about re: Stig Larsson. Music wise, finally saw Joan Armatrading at the Anvil Basingstoke and have to admit that maybe Tracy Chapman is a copy of her..lol. She played the classics which was good to hear. The audience participation version of Willow was excellent and the Anvil is an okay venue. Also went to Beatles songbook at Ronnie Scotts, pleasantly surprise, Jazz might grow on me. Book wise have read quite a few good ones: The pleasures and sorrows of work, living dolls and the carhullan army. Coming up: possibly Natalie Merchant in May otherwise Suzanne Vega and Tegan & Sara in June and a pile of books I need to read on religion (I am in that mood).

War Horse and Keira Knightley

January started off with War Horse at the New London Theatre, admittedly the play is based on a best selling childrens' book and thus the dialogue reflected that. The highlight has to be the puppetry, eventually you see past the puppet masters...although the geese did steal the show..lol. I have to admit that the black horse was the more attractive of the two (see pic). I also saw the play Misanthrope, an excellent postmodern take on the original play by Moliere (well done Martin Crimp), a bit of a start studded cast, Keira wasn't too bad..lol although she needs to project her voice for those of us in the cheap seats, Damian Lewis was excellent and it was great to see Tara Fitzgerald, she will always remind me of Camomile Lawn!!!!.

Mother Courage at the NT in Dec, all I can say is Fiona Shaw!!!. Where is her dame hood?. The profiteering from war still goes on. Although it is on a much larger scale than mother courage could ever have imagined. Lets see what cultural offerings await us in 2010, hopefully a new TT album, an Ani Difranco tour, a decent book by Winterson and a worthy Booker prize winner.

October was Nerina Pallot again..lol. at ICA (21/10/09). November however brought Tegan and Sara at the Shepherds Bush Empire (13/11/09), whilst I hadn't heard their new album in full at the time, the new tracks were good. They played the classics starting with Bet it Stung and ending with Living room. The banter was hard to hear as I was at the back and the crowd were a bit chatty. Tegan and Sara are maturing into a worthy duo. I have now listened to their new album in full a few times, Sainthood is not as good as The Con, although not to be sneezed at. Standout track include Arrow, Hell, The Cure and Northshore, a much heavier album and more rock than folk. I still give it 4/5, the con was always going to be a hard one to beat.

September

Returned to work, so have very little to feedback on, except that I have finally seen Tori Amos in concert playing at the newly named hmvApollo in Hammersmith London 10/09/09. A kooky women but a brilliant pianist, although slightly concerned about her relationship with her pianos..lol. Little Earthquakes will always be her best album. She did play Winter if not Silent all these Years. Well I am off to find a saviour.

The worst play ever!!!

I was unfortunate enough to see the 'The Black Album' at the NT. I was really looking forward to this play having read the book back in the mid 1990s. The subject matter seemed more timely (prophetic) given all the things that have occurred since The Satanic Verses controversy.

The play itself was another thing all together: wooden acting, del boy characters (?) a terrible set and worst of all a plot that was hard to follow. I don't think it received any good reviews in the press. I also went back in August to see England people very nice, worth the second viewing.