Wednesday, January 31, 2007

this is *so* a scene

pete wentz

The ever-lovely Alex Sarti hooked me up for the Fall Out Boy show at Hammersmith Palais last night (ahh, the Palais, thee of the eternally sticky floor).

I hate to admit but I was pretty stoked to see them. The crowd at the Palais did not disappoint - totally full of emo-teens. Pink Spiders supported - saw 'em at Roseland when Cobra played there last October - but we kinda missed their set this time around 'cause we were running a bit late.

We eventually managed to find a good spot - far far away from the mosh pit. I'm an old woman. The show was taped to be released as Leaked in London, a bonus disc when Infinity on High gets a proper release (not that I don't already have a leaked copy, oh no, not at all). I'd promised Gurj that I'd holler her name during a quiet moment so she'd hear it on the record (naively assuming it wouldn't be edited out) - which I had forgotten about until a couple songs before the end, when I laughingly reminded my sister what I had said. The next quiet moment comes along and all of a sudden, from next to me: "GURJ!" I turn to stare at her, and she's cracking up.

Pete seemed to be the only one that ever really chatted with the audience (including "All you bloggers can blog this!": *flips the bird*), and he totally took his life in his hands by jumping into the crowd during the last song (Saturday). But they seemed to be having fun with it.

And of course, a high point for me right at the end when PW said they'd be back in the Spring with my boys Cobra. It's nice having friends in bands. It means when you can't afford to get back to NY at least there's a chance they might tour over here. So here's to the Mar/April FOB/Cobra dates. Hurrah.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

well wishes *do* sometimes come true...

so pretty

About three times yesterday I mentioned I wished it would snow. Then I wake up to this...

view from my window 1

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

tuesday evening and i'm a cheapskate

goofballs



Sunday actually ended up being a thrifty day, in the end. Sam, my plus one for the screening, brought me books (courtesy of Penguin, no doubt...): Peter Pan ("Because no one's ever actually read it") and The Outsiders, which had been on my Amazon wish list. After the movie I headed over to east London where James D. and Jimmyjames (as above, with Tilda Plum) were entertaining Metal K and his lady, who were in from LA. Jimmyjay gave me a 2000 AD t-shirt that didn't fit him, and then bought me a Wonder Stuff LP (old joke). We went to get food in Spitalfields but nothing really took my fancy so I just didn't eat. We later wandered round the conservatory at the Barbican (fun to explore as none of us had ever managed to get in before), which JJ drove to. Then Tom bought a round in the pub. Result.

So all in all, I only paid for travel expenses. Which, of course, with the goddamn price of travel here, was still more than enough. Oh for $2 subway rides...

And while I'm writing: if it's got to be this cold, it could at least snow and provide some entertainment. The most fun I've had these past two days is getting over-caffeinated and dancing around with my ipod cranked loud to De La, Lady Sov, Marvin & Tammi and, um, Fall Out Boy, attempting to bring some order to my little corner of Universal Music.

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Hot Fuzz

hotfuzzinvite

Where to start, where to start...

Spaced... the best British-made sitcom, always funny, ever rewatchable, still quoted [“Mine’s a pint of the black stuff.” “You can’t drink a pint of Bovril!”], inspiration of a ridiculous running joke Sam and I had at uni about being followed by squirrels [there are a lot of squirrels in Nottingham], and occasionally filmed in my old local, the Corrib in Queens Park, NW London [and if you've never seen it before you can apparently catch most episodes here.]

Shaun of the Dead... which, when watched on US telly and they edit out half the swearing, loses a certain je ne sais quoi, but otherwise … well, same as above. My sister still gets the giggles any time someone says “exacerbate” to her:

Liz: It's just that with Ed here, it's no wonder I always bring my flatmates out, and then that only exacerbates things.
Shaun: What you mean?
Liz: Well, you guys hardly get on, do you?
Shaun: No... what does 'exacerbate' mean?

And now Hot Fuzz. I was lucky enough to get an invite to the cast and crew screening this morning [thank you Working Title] introduced by none other than Messers Pegg, Frost & Wright, and Nira Park – and it was so worth getting up at 8 on a Sunday morning for. Seeing as it’s not released for another three or four weeks, I’m not sure how much I should [am allowed to…] say, but it’s utterly brilliant. The casting is just genius [Edward Woodward! Timothy Dalton! And Paddy Considine still looking hott even with his '70s pornstar 'tache!] There's gore galore. And it references one of the best films ever, Point Break (ahhh what I wouldn't have done for Keanu Reeves when I was 13 or 14).

And you know the best part about it all? That something so original and so well-written is homegrown.

With these guys around, perhaps there's hope for British film after all.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

now i'm the king of the swingers

goddamn monkey king

The last thing I read last night before dropping off to sleep was 'Saga of the Swamp Thing'

I was half-awakened at four a.m. by a rustling noise, something tugging at the duvet. In my semi-conscious (but, let's face it, mostly asleep) state, I was convinced it was the Monkey King in my room.

I froze and after a moment or two, the noises stopped. I relaxed a bit, turned over. The rustling noise got louder, the drag pulled once – then disappeared. There was fffffing noise as something hit the carpet. My heart was pounding and it woke me properly up…

…Whereupon I discovered the blanket that had been on top of the duvet had been slowly sliding off the bed for the last five minutes, friction from it pulling at the duvet cover as well, and there is, of course, no such thing as the goddamn Monkey King.

Stupid overactive imagination.

Sunday, January 14, 2007

January playlists

January 2004
1. Last Goodbye - Jeff Buckley
2. I've Got You Under My Skin - Frank Sinatra
3. Wednesday Morning 3 a.m. - Simon & Garfunkel
4. Because - The Beatles
5. These Days - Nico
6. Saturday Sun - Nick Drake
7. Don't Leave Me Baby - Astrud Gilberto
8. Pale Blue Eyes - Velvet Underground
9. The Girl From The North Country - Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan
10. Tiny Dancer - Elton John
11. Don't Worry Baby - Beach Boys
12. Losing My Religion (unplugged) - REM
13. Ain't Never Loved A Man - Aretha Franklin
14. I Only Have Eyes For You - Flamingos
15. Ooh La La - The Faces
16. Homeward Bound - Simon & Garfunkel
17. To The End - Blur

This playlist not only persuaded me to go for a job (unpaid work on a film, where the Production Designer for whom I'd be working had listed at least three of the same tracks as his favourites) but gained me a new friend... or two (that Production Designer turned out to be none other than the fabulous Jimmy, who is still a buddy - and through him I met James D. and, of course, Leet & Tilda)

It also includes two of my favourite all time songs, Girl From The North Country & I Only Have Eyes For You, linked for your aural pleasure.


January 2005
Too much of January Oh-Five was spent worrying about my sister's seizures - a new occurence - and rushing up to Nottingham when it happened again to make playlists.


January 2006
1. Beating Hearts Baby - Head Automatica
2. Can't Lose - We Are Scientists
3. Neighborhood 1 (Tunnels) - Arcade Fire
4. Better Do Better - Hard Fi
5. This Modern Love - Bloc Party
6. Apply Some Pressure - Maximo Park
7. Fuck Ups - The Holloways
8. 50 To A Pound - The Paddingtons
9. Where Damage Isn't Already Done - The Radio Dept.
10. Transition - The Longcut
11. Bukowski - Modest Mouse
12. Nowhere Man - The Beatles
13. Drugs - Giant Drag
14. Misery Is A Butterfly - Blonde Redhead
15. Needle In The Hay - Elliott Smith
16. The Way I Feel Inside - The Zombies
17. The Rapid - The Oohlas

Last January was probably almost one of the worst on record. I made a playlist to try and perk myself up - evident in the first few tracks... it does kind of descend into melancholy though. Bad effort on my part. My two main memories: listening to The Rapid on repeat, and just walking and walking, right down Manhattan, and not even stopping once I reached the river, just getting on the Staten Island Ferry and staring blindly at an amazing sunset.

lady liberty




January 2007
Turn away now if you're one of the people who might be expecting one of these in the mail (along with the December playlist and/or a stack of 1960s birthday cards, a belated birthday present, or a general pick-me-up)

1. Soluble In Air - Mystery Jets
2. Street Spirit - Radiohead
3. Teignmouth - Patrick Wolf
4. Imagine - John Lennon
5. Come See Me Tonight - Daniel Johnston
6. These Boots Are Made For Walking - Nancy Sinatra
7. Like A Prayer - Madonna
8. Small Parts - The Oohlas
9. Laid - James
10. Kooks - David Bowie
11. Shiny Happy People - REM
12. Cold Things Start To Burn - The Exploding Boy
13. Happy Kid - Nada Surf
14. I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honeybunch) - Four Tops
15. Everybody's Talking - Nilsson
16. Daydreamin' - Lupe Fiasco f. Jill Scott
17. This Will Be Our Year - The Zombies
18. Gypsy Death & You - The Kills

We have yet to see what this year will do.

Thursday, January 04, 2007

a tried and tested remedy

When the January meltdown occurs - and it will, inevitably and unfortunately - my new cure: taking the day/afternoon off to wallow, and equip yourself with soup, blueberries and a musical. Last year it was Mary Poppins, this year it's High School Musical.

It works, honest.

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

i just need to have a geek out moment

I just want to say, I was childishly psyched when the Christmas special of Dr Who took place, in parts, in Chiswick (a.k.a. home)



I also kind of loved the Torchwood series finale - up until the giant monster appeared, when it became a bit ludicrous. And even though a lot of the characters are reaaaaaally quite irritating, the very very end, with the Tardis noise... sob.

And while we're geeking out, did I ever mention that when I was in NY I found first editions of both the first Sandman book, Preludes and Nocturnes, and the first Love and Rockets books in one of my favourite little bookstores that's right near City Bakery, and whose name I can *never* remember (I think it's called Skyline books) and was overjoyed (and spent money I didn't really have on them)? Then back at Dan's, his old stack of Love & Rockets became my second favourite form of procrastination (after watching Full House reruns, of course...)

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

so long, sucker

2006 was shite, with a few high points (first ten days of January, SXSW in March with Lauren, September 5th: arrival of Tayo)

Here's to a much much better year.

Come on, Oh-Seven, show us what you got...