charlotte church on politics, and radicalised children

Charlotte Church - l think l love her.
From here.

And from the same site

toodle pip

beans on toast - mdmamzing, a whole lot of loving, and war on war

For a change - three videos by one artist. Jay McAllister, AKA Beans On Toast, someone who's well worth getting into if you haven't heard of him. I must be getting old though, as l was originally introduced to him by Hayley, my young niece. She obviously knows the sort of stuff l like, and hopefully, l'm off to see him in October. He's funny and political. What's not to like?







toodle pip

the saintly mug l should own

I don't actually own this, but it's certainly something that should have been bought a long time ago.

toodle pip

primal scream and james at on roundhay, leeds, plus del amitri -don't l look like the kind of guy you used to hate

Had a rather excellent time with Robbo at the weekend, down in that there dirty Leeds. We drove and parked at my brothers house in Beeston, then walked to The Tommy Wass around the corner, where we met and chatted with a couple of characters (Rob and Cat), had a couple of games of pool, and quaffed a couple of throthing ales. Taxi ordered afterwards into town, where more pints were consumed in various alehouses of ill repute, a cool looking old man was asked his age (he was nearly 65), and l asked to be served by a different barman when l entered one of the pubs and went to the counter to be served  (as he was wearing a Liverpool football shirt). Oh what fun we had. Another taxi to Roundhay park, with Robbo arguing about battered husbands with the taxi driver all the way there, and then a miserable attempt at getting in for free, before we crumbled and reluctantly coughed up the dosh. Lots more rounds (but of a more expensive nature) were purchased, in between watching the bands and chatting to various other fans. We managed to get really close to the front, and both thought Primal Scream were a lot better than James, but some others disagreed with us after it had finished (however - we were obviously right). On the way out, we got befriended by a bunch of lads from Dewsbury and Selby who wanted to buy us drinks in the nearest pub, but by the time we got there (stopping for the odd sing song on the way) the pub had just stopped serving, so they buggered off to phone for their lift home, and we, as seasoned alcoholics, walked to the next nearest pub. On the way, we were befriended by some other lads from Leeds, and drinks were purchased for us on arrival, with more songs and chatter continued outside it while drinking. Taxi afterwards back to Beeston for Robbo's customary late night takeaway (dropping off one of the lads on the way), then another taxi to my brothers to eat it. A quick chat with my brother while eating, then off to bed we went. If you're wondering, we managed (as usual) to share a double bed, due to my brothers daughter staying at her boyfriends that evening. I'm amazed she agreed to let us use her room, but it was much appreciated, despite Robbo's snoring.

Sausage sandwich in the morning (Ooeeerrr!), a chat and a drink with my brother and his wife, then back home to watch my recording of the Manchester United v Watford game. A rather damp squib to finish with. But that's another story.

 My one and only picture inside the venue, just as we arrived

 The dodgy looking dark woods we headed through with Leeds scallies afterwards, towards the nearest boozer. We thought we may well be robbed and buggered by them, but sadly, nothing happened.

Damn!!! Had to pay!!

 The only taxi firm we used all day - an excellent and prompt service, despite the hassle the taxi drivers had to suffer from us

 Beer mat from the pub as a momento (because l'm a sad bastard)

 Suppliers of our takeaway at the end of the night 

Given one of these and photographed by Lumineers promotional people on the way out. On their website maybe? 

And a song by James that l haven't heard for ages till they played it, but love. 'Come Home', with the splendid and bitter lyric "After all these years, l've become my peers, l've become the kind of man l've always hated".

Which reminds me of this song. Del Amitri's 'Don't I Look Like The Kind Of Guy You Used To Hate'. Not just for the similar sentiment in the title, but also the lyric "And these tiny symbols of success, like my black chauffeurs forced friendliness, are less the spoils of spiritual wealth, then symptoms of distress".

Another reflective and bitter song, hidden away on one of their 'b' sides (in old money).
By jingo - l know my music!

toodle pip

labour advert from 1922

A Labour poster from 1922.
Nothings changed much politically since then.

toodle pip

the ramones first album minus the dead people

The groundbreaking Ramones' first album cover, with all of the dead people removed from it.
What a depressing image.

Remember them this way




toodle pip

the many faces of jurgen klopp

This gurning buffon is Jurgen Klopp, the manager of the despised Liverpool FC. Rather sadly, the players all seem to love him (apart from Daniel Sturridge), and l think he will manage them to do pretty damn well this year, as he encourages and motivates them to be united as one entity, for one purpose, supporting and assisting each other to achieve their shared goals.
I just wish l felt the same way about Manchester United at the moment.

toodle pip

the new york bombings, plus prince buster - madness

As I've been out and about the last few days, l didn't know anything about the recent bombings in New York until this evening. I will also admit that l am making a judgement and jumping to conclusions without any great knowledge of the events, but l would like to suggest that any suspected bomber such as Ahmad Khan Rahami that falls asleep in a doorway of a pub / tavern afterwards, rather than going into hiding, is not part of an organised and well drilled terror organisation, no matter what the captured individual or credit seeking organisation may subsequently claim. More like a lone (or small group of) disenfranchised and radicalised person (or persons) with an skewed take on religion and the (in their view) imperialistic war mongering west.
Then again, what do l know?

Here's todays video. The recently departed Prince Buster - 'Madness'




toodle pip

a video a day - the doors - light my fire (steptoe and son style)

This made me chuckle, and it's been done so well. The Doors 'Light My Fire', mixed with the theme music from Steptoe and Son.
Enjoy!



toodle pip

primal scream - carry me home and rocks

In celebration of the fact that l am off to sunny Leeds today to see Primal Scream, James and Wolf Alice at Roundhay Park, a couple of top tunes by Primal Scream.
Saying that, once we have parked the car up and hit town, we will play it by ear and may just stay in town if we are already having a good time.
That's the crazy way us old folks roll. Unpredictably.





toodle pip

a video a day - michael c hall - lazarus

A rather excellent performance at The Mercury Music Awards from Michael C. Hall (Dexter and Six Feet Under fame) of David Bowie's 'Lazarus'.
I love Six Feet Under and Dexter, but l never knew the good Mr Hall could sing, so this was a pleasant surprise for me. Plus, the song relates on a highly emotional level, knowing, in hindsight, how ill David Bowie was when he wrote it, and the fact he'd have known people would be listening to the song and message within it after he had died.
I think l may have got something in my eye while watching it.



toodle pip

sky 6 bet

This weekends winning forecasts!!

toodle pip

the norgaards at richmond, and the clash - complete control

Going out to Richmond tonight with Rocker and Frenchie to catch this mob at The Turf. I,ve seen them before at Frenchie's birthday party, so l know what to expect. Loud and fast songs with punk attitude. Right up my street, especially with my new short haircut!

Drink shall be taken.

Here's one of the songs they do. The Clash - Complete Control. A personal favourite.
"You're my guitar hero!".



toodle pip

limmy and the spider

Limmy has done a few videos where he is pratting about with a rather large spider. If you don't like spiders, they are a bit unsettling (to say the least), but the worst one he has stuck up has to be this one, due to the beginning.



AAAAARRGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!HOW CAN HE DO IT!!!!!!!

I've still got a pretty large spider in my living room which has hidden behind a large bookcase, so every time l am in there l am on edge in case it suddenly appears. Then, despite my fear of them, the large brown bastard is going to meet a horrible end.
I just hope l get it sooner rather than later, as the non stop fear and anticipation will be the end of me if it stays hidden.
I could always clean the living room and move stuff to find it, but let's face it, that's not going to happen in a hurry. Here's Mr Parrot with the defensive bookcase in the background (spider still hiding somewhere)

toodle pip

a video a day - the only ones - another girl another planet, plus the stranglers and alberto y los trios paranoias

Another pop up on the ipod. The Only Ones 'Another Girl Another Planet', a rather touching love song about heroin, with languid, laid back vocals and a memorable intro.



Rather like another heroin song from the punk wars, The Stranglers - 'Golden Brown'.



And if we're fed up with the dole and the human race - here's a magnificent piss take. Alberto Y Los Trios Paranoias -  'Kill'



toodle pip

a video a day - the handsome family - weightless again

This just popped up on the old ipod, The Handsome Family's 'Weightless Again'. A classic, full of emotion.



toodle pip

nasa photographs

NASA released a load of photographs a while ago, probably because they are sick of people doubting that men have been to the moon and back. Here are a few of my favourites.

 toodle pip

ringo starr takes the beatles test

Ringo Starr takes the Beatles test to see which one he is most like, and fails miserably!

toodle pip

everyone gets old - part 4723 - football managers

Last years Premiership football managers, from when they were players. Time waits for no man etc.

toodle pip

autographing books

This is something that had never occurred to me, but it makes perfect sense. When an author signs a load of books, they do not necessarily have to do it book by book, as l thought they did. They can, as Joey Barton has been doing here, just sign the fronts, which go into the books afterwards.
Who knew? Not me, that's for sure.

toodle pip

a video a day - hozier and van morrison - domino

Taken from the Jools Holland Hootenanny at last years end, a superb version of  Van Morrison's 'Domino' by Hozier.
It may also be sacrilege, but l actually prefer Hozier's version to Van The Man's original.





toodle pip

allan dixon and the happy animals

Because l am so messed up and bitter, these sort of photographs would have annoyed me in the past, as Allan Dixon, the person in the pictures looks like the kind of middle class person l (possibly) judge too harshly.
However, this time, l'll make an exception, and admit that the animals in the photographs look pretty funny.
I must be getting soft in my old age.

toodle pip

bridge mouth

This is probably pretty old, but still funny. A truck getting caught under a low bridge, which, rather hilariously, looks like it's eating the truck.

toodle pip

a video a day - the dead or alive box set

Now this what l call scraping the barrel. A 19 cd box set of Dead or Alive, who, let's face it, are known for one song only, the rather fantastic 'You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)', todays video.

toodle pip

paul mccartney advert

I didn't realise Paul McCartney has resorted to doing adverts. A good cause l suppose.

toodle pip

a video a day - apples in stereo - energy and can you feel it

I've been a long time lover of these two songs, 'Energy' and 'Can You Feel It'?, both by Apples in Stereo. In the USA they often don't seem too bothered about what a band looks like, at least to us English. Bald, overweight or with glasses, it doesn't appear to affect a groups chances of success in the USA as much as it would do over these waters. Being heavily bearded has recently become fashionable everywhere, but generally, groups (or at least the singers) need to look good, and project a cool identifiable image. This usually means that if it's a man singing, blokes want to be his mate, and women (or gays) fancy him, and vice versa with a female frontperson. Rather sadly for The Apples in Stereo, it may be one of the factors in them not becoming too successful in the UK.
They still knocked out some great records in the power pop / psychedelic oeuvre, which appeal to my sensibilities a lot, so enjoy!.





If you want to convert and download any of these videos into mp3 etc so you put them on your own ipod or listening device, l use this or this to covert ones l am interested in.

toodle pip

around joes with mr parrot

Visiting Joe yesterday with Mr Parrot, who is still a bit dubious about Joe's large blue one (fnnaaaarr), hence his slightly ruffled / raised feathers look.

toodle pip

todays sky football bet

It's the first time l've put a Sky football bet on, but here are my predictions for later on today (with the first goal of any of these matches being scored in the 14th minute). An outrageously difficult thing to forecast correctly, with a possible win of £250,000, but because l'm an outrageously optimistic kind of guy, and brag l know a lot about football, l naturally expect to win on my first attempt.

A celebratory holiday to Japan will be booked on Monday.

If not, l will blame God, for conspiring against me.

toodle pip

a video a day - muse - please please let me get what l want and feeling good, plus anthony newley - pop goes the weasel

Two cover versions by Muse, a band l used to like quite a lot a few years ago but am not that bothered about now for some reason. Not sure why, as it's not like they have changed that much, and l still like rowdy stuff.
Anyways...'Please Please Let Me Get What I Want' is originally by The Smiths, and 'Feeling Good' is by Leslie Bricusse and the rather marvellous Anthony Newley, who was a huge influence on early David Bowie. Nina Simone probably does my favourite version of 'Feeling Good', but l'll save that for another time.





Here's a bonus by Anthony Newley - 'Pop Goes The Weasel'



If you want to convert and download any of these videos into mp3 etc so you put them on your own ipod or listening device, l use this or this to covert ones l am interested in.