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.

Gigs Galore

June was more eventful than May. I attended a Sarah Waters reading on the 4th of June at the Bloomsbury Hotel, a very trendy venue for a reading. Waters was being interviewed by her editor and came across well. Her book The Little Stranger was selling fast and a second reprint had been issued that day. I actually have yet to read the book, apparently this is her first book not to included a gay character..gasp!!!. She made up for the latter by allowing some gay charity to talk to the audience about homophobic crime and raise some funds. Obviously got her to sign my copy and we had some of her hotel mints. On the music front saw Nerina Pallot at the Scala, a good venue with excellent visibility if your short and get to stand on the raised bench at the back. Nerina performed Sophia and I am loving her new track God of Small Things. Things are looking up for Pallot. I was disappointed when I realised that I had missed her support act Lisa Mitchell...completely my fault. I would have loved to have heard her perform Neapolitan Dreams

The final gig of June was Tracy Chapman at the Roundhouse in Camden (24th June). This time it was TC and band. Unfortunately got into the venue late and so didn't have a prime position. TC continued with the chatting (what is it with this new chatty TC..lol). She performed the big hitters but alas no Subcity. The sun had been out and the audience had been drinking and its was predominately standing = a lively audience not something I have witnessed before at a TC gig. Also a lot of singing a long opportunities, not always a good idea (inc. me in that). Well that sums up June. The heat wave has ended..phew!!

Mood: Weary, Films: Gran Torino, Charlie Bartlett, Books: Just starting The Little Stranger.

May

May is coming to an end, I have no gigs to report back on. I have however managed to get some reading done, Alain De Botton's Essays in Love and the 2008 Booker winner The White Tiger. The book on love wasn't too bad given the topic..lol, mostly observational musings we will all recognise from our own lives or from the problem pages of many a magazine. Anyone who can quote a Sociologist in their book can't be bad. As for white tiger, a sound read that pales in comparision to previous Booker nominees and winners. I expected much more from a booker winner. I have a Tracy Chapman gig coming up in late June and a Sarah Waters reading next week for her latest offering Little Strangers'. Also looking forward to the NT version of Hanif Kureshi's Black Album in July. Have finally managed to get tickets to see Tori Amos (Sept). Tanita Tikaram has annouced that she will be performing live this autumn, can't wait. Oh and I turned 35!!!.

Reading: Mother Millet, keep starting it

Listening: Catie Curtis, Tanita Tikaram and some old Ani Difranco.

Films: Quantum of Solace, The Changeling, The day the earth stood still and the Secret life of bees.

Kaki King and Tanita Tikaram's first podcast

March was an uneventful month in terms of cultural activities. April however brought with it not only showers but a performance at the Jazz Cafe 2/4/09, Camden by the wonderful Kaki King. I never been to a gig at the Jazz Cafe, a small cosy venue not to dissimilar to the Borderline, however much more trendier in terms of decor..lol. Kaki was amazing, a true guitar player of the highest order. She played for almost two hours!!. All the classics were rolled out although not lovestoned. The only iffy moment of the evening was a joke about Australians and the recent fires, it was a close call but I think Kaki pulled it back. The support act Anna Calvi wasn't too bad and again a decent guitar player although not my cuppa tea. Kaki hung around at the end to sign and sell stuff. Tanita Tikaram delivered her first podcast which included an excellent live version of Little sister leaving town, I hope there is more to come. She sounds as good as ever.

Well spring is truly here the crocus's and snowdrops have come and gone. The daffs are just hanging on in there and the pear trees I planted in winter have blossomed, phew. Not looking forward to the endless lawn mowing that summer always entails.

No dates have been announced for Tanita's comeback, couldn't get tickets for Tori Amos. I currently only have tickets to see Tracy Chapman at the Roundhouse Camden in late June.

Picture below, Kaki showing off those amazing hands of hers..lol

The NT, Nerina and Catie

I started this year off with a play at the NT: England people very nice. The play had just opened, preview week. I found it to be an interesting and engaging account of waves of immigration into the East End starting with the French Huguenots and ending with the Bangladeshi's. It had the right balance of humour and history. I was somewhat surprised to read the reviews of the play describing it as racist. Admittedly the play follows the Prince Harry 'paki' incident and Carol Thatchers racist comments (wog) and therefore we (media) are more sensitive to these issues. However this play if anything encourages debate about race/immigration and why such terms are offensive and where ethnic stereotypes come from, something we appear reluctant to do. I say go see it and make up your own mind. Music concerts this month included Nerina Pallot and Catie Curtis. Nerina was testing out new material in a very small room at the Roundhouse Camden, the new tracks were wildly different so not sure how they will work on one album. Amazing vocals once again I am left wondering why she isn't more famous, biggest hit to date remains Everybody's gone to war (tip of the iceberg). The final musical event for this month - Catie Curtis at the Borderline Soho London, I waited 7 years and nearly missed it, thanks to roadworks and an accident which closed the Hammersmith Flyover, got there just in time to catch the tail end of the Support act Sadie Jemmett (sp). Catie doesn't appear to have changed very smiley and there was a lot of audience participation...lol. She performed some oldies Magnolia Street, Bicycle named Heaven, Kiss that Counted, Soulfully, People look around, plus new tracks Happy, Princess and the Mermaid (amongst others). My favourite was Start again which she played for us last time, but especially re-learnt for today (Thank You). We got to hang out with Catie Curtis and chat to her, it was a great evening. Whilst it was great to see Catie again I am worried that we might have to wait another 7 years before she returns to our shores. I really hope this isn't the case. I think I will have to make it my personal mission that Catie' s music reaches a wider audience in the UK in order to justify these costly/timely gigs (Everyone's presents from now on will be Catie Curtis CDs)

Mood: Apprehensive

Reading: Mother Millett

Listening to Catie Curtis: Sweet Life, Ani Difranco (Misc), Missy Higgins

Films - None, to be rectified next month

Quick...before January comes to an end...I haven't really seen or done much this month!!. However Feb looks promising tickets to see a play at the NT, Nerina Pallot in Camden and Catie Curtis at the Borderline. Jan highlight has to be the Obama inauguration, lows - Israel.