out and about - beans on toast and skinny lister

Another night, another night out. This time with my sister, niece and Rocker to see Beans on Toast and Skinny Lister at Leeds University. My niece arranged it all, got the tickets, and drove there and back, so the rest of us just enjoyed ourselves (the odd lager may have been consumed).

Beans on Toast were first on, and superb. Both funny, political, and now and again, even romantic. I particularly enjoyed the addition of  a fiddle player (amongst others), as l'm a sucker for that kind of Bob Dylan 'Hurricane' sound, and Mr Beans (as l call him) certainly has a lot of charisma and a huge likeability factor. If he wasn't a musician, he could take up a new career in comedy.

As for Skinny Lister, they were really good, and are certainly lively and exiting to watch, but the vocals were lost in the mix and unless you already knew the songs, you had no idea what they were singing about, apart from the odd chorus or phrases, which spoilt it for us. Still, we all shared of their ale, and are probably just old fogeys (apart from my niece), so what the hell. 

An excellent farewell to my niece who has since headed down south again.

 My sister and niece can be seen in this, myself and Rocker watched this bit from the balcony

 We drank from this mighty jug of ale (rum l seem to remember)

 More merchandise, this time signed by Beans on Toast

 And here's Mr Beans himself, drawing me a picture on the back of it

 My entry stamp, surrounded by scratches off Mr parrot's sharp claws, from when he sits on my hand

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out and about - the killers

Another excellent night out, this time the day after the Left Lane Cruiser show (see Below), and an all day session and overnight stay for The Killers at Newcastle Arena with Robbo and the ladies.
We sorted our rooms at the Jury's Inn hotel, went for a drink and chat, then split up so the girls could go shopping (as they do). Myself and Robbo hit a couple of dodgy pubs (and a pretty empty Trillions).
When we met up again later, it was off to Jamie Oliver's restaurant for an evening meal (as usual - l had the lasagne), then back to the hotel to get changed, and out again for cocktails and the concert.
We had two lots of tickets, so myself and Robo took our seats, only to find they were quite a way back (and for over £60!!!). However, being the kind of lads we are, we just walked along the top corridor until we were close to the stage, and then cut in, and remained standing throughout the show, with a much improved view. I was even given free beer by a girl, which saved us having to go and get some, especially at the exorbitant price they were charging in the arena.
Met the ladies again, then more drinks and chat after the show, and finally back to the hotel.
A completely different show than the night before, and it is fascinating to see large crowds responding on mass, rather like a rally, but l much prefer seeing bands in smaller venues.
We all had a marvellous time throughout the day and night, but Kerry was certainly suffering the next morning and during the ride home (her driver duties had to be taken over).
What a lightweight!

 

 

                              

Our view - more or less

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out and about - left lane cruiser

Myself and friends tend to just buy a few tickets for things we like, then get a selection of the lads who are interested or can get the time off work to come along with us. 

One such occasion was this - Left Lane Cruiser at The Cluny in Newcastle. 

We knew it would be a small venue and they sounded a bit like Seasick Steve, but it was much better than anticipated, and they may as well have been playing in my living room, they were that close to us (and loud).

I very rarely buy any merchandise these days, but to support them and their musical endeavours, l lashed out on an LP (which l later got signed by them) and a t-shirt. 

Top lads, top music, top night, and a hefty spend at the bars, as seen by my bank statement (and that's without the merchandise purchases!).

The video demonstrates what they were like, but doesn't catch the magic of being there. Go see them!

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out and about - the death of stalin

As myself and a friend thought that The Death of Stalin was only being shown in a few cinemas, we decided to have a drive down to Harrogate and watch it at The Everyman cinema there. The Everyman was expensive and posh, but it was a funny, fast paced film film, only partially ruined by a woman further back laughing hysterically at every joke or humorous situation. The film was good, but nothing could have been as funny as she found it. Our money was she was probably an ex student who had studied Russian politics, and wanted to let everyone know she understood every bit of wordplay or ridiculous scene more than the rest of us plebs.
Then again, myself and my friend are just cynical and bitter, so we could have misinterpreted it and were in the wrong.
Doubt it though.

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orchestral removers / manoeuvres in the dark

Here's Andy McCluskey from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, holding up a newspaper that has a punning headline referring to his band after a robbery in  a local music shop.

He was obviously amused.

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wes goodman talks crap

This is the sort of story you couldn't make up, and makes me think there may be a God after all. Wes Goodman, an Ohio senator, who has been preaching family values and voting against LGBT rights, has been caught having sex with a man in his office.

Superb! He's even let his own name down.

No wonder l'm so cynical.

More here.

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bruce springsteen bargain box set

If you are a fan of Bruce Springsteen, as any person of sound mind should be, this CD collection is a box set motherload.
It arrived yesterday, and l've been ploughing through it today - 15 discs worth of 5 complete 1978 shows, which have all  been heavily bootlegged over the years, but now yours for a bargain £13.99!!!
I'm in Brooocie overload at the moment, as l have also nearly finished reading his 'Born to Run' autobiography.
Marvellous stuff!
Look here

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another dodgy cartoon

Come on!
Whoever designed this must have been having a laugh.

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when l was a runner

It's hard to believe now, but back in the day, as a way of keeping fit for football, l used to do a lot of running.
Some of the evidence for this l have just dug out of an old box in the garage that l thought had 78rpm singles in. I've still got some old medals and t-shirts from those days, but the chances of the t-shirts fitting me now are zero!

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this cartoon looks wrong!

Ah - What a sweet cartoon, featuring a couple of lovely interracial kids and a dog.

Hold on though.............

Disgusting!!

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my indestructible car passes another mot

Excellent result today as my car sailed through it's M.O.T, just needing a bulb and a wiper replacing. Total cost - £54.33 (including tax).
Like me, it's old but indestructible!
Hurrah!!

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waiting around to die - townes van zant

This is still one of the most moving films l've seen about music and the effect it has on people. Featuring the Magnificent Townes Van Zandt and 'Waiting around to die'.
Every time l have watched it, l've had a tear in my eye.
The song starts at about 5m in, but to get the whole emotional aspect of the clip, watch it from the beginning. Look for the reaction of the black guy when Townes starts singing. That's emotion.
This is the sort of music that makes you believe in a higher power - of creativity within the human mind..
Made more relevant and poignant by Townes himself being someone who died from being an alcoholic



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earth from cassini

So, Cassini has perished, but has still left us with (amongst many other things) a mind boggling photograph of Earth from Saturn.

Plus,  l never tire of videos showing how insignificant and irrelevant we are in the universe. That's not morbid, just factual and reassuring. Makes it much easier to try and enjoy life without harming anyone else, and not be worried about an afterlife of any kind.

Just sweet oblivion - but hopefully not for a while.

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upside down mural in lithuania

This is impressive - an upside down mural in lithuania which when reflected in the water, looks fantastic (and very weird).

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dairy milk advert

I know l've got a cynical and dirty mind, but Dairy Milk are taking the piss here.

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riding a bike by balancing on the handlebar

Something l have never seen before - riding a bike by balancing on the handlebar.
Colour me impressed.



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spartak moscow versus nk maribor flare

I've seen plenty of flares at football grounds in the past, and on BT Sport tonight, they thought someone must have been one hell of a thrower to reach the centre circle with one during the Champions League game between Spartak Moscow and NK Maribor. However, it was fired from the crowd - something l've certainly never witnessed before. Newspapers are saying they aimed it at the referee, but it could have just been fired at the pitch. Either way, it was travelling at some speed, and bans or fines must be pretty certain to follow. However, it's UEFA that will get involved, so anything could happen.
The World Cup finals in Russia next year should be interesting.



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lloyd grossman parody on reeves and mortimer

When l was out at the weekend, myself and Robbo were chatting about this old comedy clip, from Reeves and Mortimer, parodying Lloyd Grossman. When it was first shown, we had both cried with laughter, despite the fact that we watched it separately, and only found out the next time we met that we both found it so hilarious. Obviously we have the same sense of surreal humour, and it is not so funny to me know, as l have seen it many times, but when l first saw it, was one of the funniest moments of my life.
I think l need to get out more.



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paying on the door at gigs - newcastle mayfair

Back in the day before it became really fashionable for people to go to concerts and festivals, you used to be able to turn up at most gigs and get in that evening, as evidenced here by a flier for Newcastle Mayfair. Cheaper before 10pm, slightly more afterwards. Also very cheap, which is why l went to so many gigs and festivals over the years.

As for the flier, I went to five of these advertised shows, including AC/DC and Motorhead on consecutive nights, without ever having an advance ticket.

Progress! Pah!!!

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owl butterflies

These are owl butterflies, found in Mexico and South America.

Never mind being scared of spiders, I think l would crap my pants if l saw these lurking in the trees while l was walking home from the pub.

They're big buggers as well.

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the teletubbies have aged a bit

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possibly the saddest photograph ever

Hopefully the person recovered and these were then binned. If not, it's one of the saddest photographs around.

From this tweet

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the broken doll - a documentary

An old documentary on The Broken Doll pub in Newcastle, which was knocked down to expand the road system.
I spent many a happy hour in there over the years, and it's crappy the way the old alternative type pubs in Newcastle end up getting demolished.
My favourite was The Haymarket, but that went years ago.
Pah! - Bloody progress and gentrification.

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two weeks off!

Hurrah!  I've got a couple of weeks off with bugger all to do.

 This will be me and Mr Parrot at the end of them.

                                                          It's actually Charles Bukowski

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football - game of the gods

Two examples of how football is so much better than rugby, and takes a lot more skill. 

Pele doing an overhead / bicycle kick, and George Best demonstrating his speed and balance.

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mark renton gets sentenced

There was me thinking that Trainspotting was a film, when it appears to have been a documentary.

Mark Renton has just been done in Edinburgh for selling drugs. More about the sentencing  and case can be found here

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