'Manda Hugs

Y'know when you've had one of those days and you just want to get home and relax in a hot bath or go out and dance your head off, listen to loud music or sink into a cream cake and Guinness, just do whatever you need to do to get your life back into a sensible place? Well, one of the things that works for me is a hug from Amanda Palmer.

After one of my worst days in ages, the lord (insert name of your choice) reached out his hand and blessed me with a great big, trademarked Amanda hug! O yes. And I have witnesses.

We went to see Alan Cumming's show tonight and in the interval I quizzed Chris on the Amanda references in the first half of the show - namely Mr Cummings talking about 'I Don't Care Much' and then singing 'Mein Herr', both songs sung my Amanda. After hanging back to let people leave at the end and then visiting the toilet (it's a long journey home, y'know), walking down the stairs I noticed a woman sitting on the floor beside the banister and I just continued walking. Eagle-eyed Chris noticed her as well and also recognised who it was. 'That's Amanda' he says, and I say, 'eh?'. I look and a man is taking photos of her. I think, um, gulp, it is too much and my shyness kicks in. I think, well, I'll just buy Alan's CD and that'll give them time to leave... but no, they're still there.

I walk over and say, 'I'm really sorry, I really don't want to interrupt but *have* to say hello' and hold out the badge on my jacket lapel that bears the legend 'PUNK CABARET IS FREEDOM'. I sort of thought Amanda might smile and wave, and with that I would've left quite happy. But no, she didn't do that. She got up off the floor, came over and gave me the biggest hug you could imagine, a true 'manda hug. Why on earth would you do that for a random stranger? It's proof that she's lovely, that's why.

I (naturally) then shook her hand (I cringe as I type this). She then introduced Neil Gaiman and I shook his hand too (he's British so will understand). Then we stand there chatting, yes, we're seeing her at the Union Chapel, she's excited about it and planning special shows, I say we've seen her on every visit to London since she appeared as part of Patti Smith's Meltdown Festival and Chris asks about her doing the Bertold Brecht song she sang solo. He then mentioned we'd been talking about during the interval and she chipped in with saying she sang 'Mein Herr' at the Roundhouse. Then she told us a secret about her secret gig next Sunday and no I'm not going to tell you what it is (it wouldn't be a secret if I told you, but watch her Twitters and blogs for news).

We were then ushered out of the foyer and we said goodbye and left Amanda and Neil to go their own way, Me? I'd had me 'manda hug so was happy. Alan raised a smile after my dreary day but Amanda lifted my heart. I'm still grinning! I know I witter on about Miss Palmer sometimes but I think she is a very special person, one of those people the world is better place for with them in it. She shares her special way of viewing the world with us, interprets and re-presents it for us so we catch a glimpse of something more than the everyday. Amanda is art and, most importantly, art that can hug. And make me happy.

And here's a reminder of Miss Amanda Palmer singing 'Mein Herr' at the Roundhouse a few years ago...

Fuck You at Manchester Pride

Now, I've never really paid any attention to Lily Allen until now and this cheerful little ditty from her last album. There's nothing wrong with little ditties - they're the ones that tend to get stuck in your head. And I like this one.

It's a blatant bit of anti-homophobia and very direct - fuck you if you're homophobic or harbour any other form of hate in you, get over it and enjoy life. The video was filmed at Manchester Pride last weekend which makes it a bit of fun. Take a look and take a listen.

Miss Allen has gone up in my estimation for having views and not being afraid to express them in song. I can't help but compare this to the Sugababes new song (see my blog below). Integrity doesn't mean you can't have a hit record.

Another Big Plinth Poo!

Ok, I can take a hint, you think I'm not creative or worthy and would probably just sit there taking photos of people taking photos of me. But, how do you know I wouldn't put on a mini-circus show, or strip and paint my body in 15 different colours or build a castle out of matchsticks? That's it, you see, you *don't*.

What am I wittering on about? The Plinth People have rejected my kind offer to be part of the Fourth Plinth project. I expressed my distress in not being selected in August and here we are again with an even bigger poo. Since my artistic integrity is being doubted then I loose all faith with the Plinthn and have removed the badge I put on the right hand side of this blog to help promote it - see? it's not there any more. That'll show 'em!

Mind you, I think I'll still use the Plinth as my meeting place of choice for the rest of September - if I'm going into the West End I think I'd still take a peek at what the Plinthers are doing...

Ich bin kunst!

The Apples of St Leonard's

Most of you have probably heard of the bells of St Clements but have you heard of the the apples of St Leonard's?

St Leonard's Church is often considered to be the centre of Streatham and there's been a church on the site for over 1,000 years. I've probably passed it either on the bus or on foot a few times each week for the last 18 years. I'm not sure I can count so high. Anyway, on the bus into town last week I glanced out and saw something red in the trees around the churchyard at St Leonard's, or rather, lots of red things. So the next time I walked past I kept my eyes open and, lo and behold, one of the trees is full of small red apples.

I know I'm not the most observant of people, but I've never noticed apples in the churchyard trees before. Logic suggests they haven't just sprouted out of nowhere, but I've really never noticed them before. It also seems a little bit early for autumn fruit and berries but the apples seem to symbolise what's happening in the bushes and hedges of Streatham, with berries appearing earlier than usual. Even conkers have started dropping from the trees. My Granda always said that early fruit meant a harsh winter, so let's see what happens from here on in...

Still, a tree laden with red apples in the heart of Streatham - not bad, eh?

Sugababes - 'Get Sexy'

This is the video for the Sugababes new single (currently No 1 on the iTunes download chart). Much as I'm pleased for the 'Babes, I can't say it's one of my favourite Sugababes songs. I sometimes take these things too seriously but why are the 'Babes, three good looking and confident young women, seemingly telling their audience that it's ok to make sexist comments about them (and, by extension, all women) in the street and in the clubs? That opening line of Keisha's *so* annoys me. I thought you were a powerful young woman but no, you seem to just want to be considered "sexy" (and get your syntax right please - "where I are"?). It's not like the 'Babes haven't always had a sexy image, you just haven't been so blatant about it. Is that what the chains are meant to symbolise? If so, I think you've been too subtle.

And why, oh why, do you have to rip off (or "sample") the Ting Tings and Black Eyed Peas in the chorus followed immediately by Right Said Fred? The last lead single, 'Girls', was from a Boots advert, and now you're "sampling" Right Said Fred? Who is advising you these days?

I hope it's a big stonking success for you but I really hope your fans - the majority of whom are probably (possibly?) teenage girls - don't take the lyrics too seriously. Sexism and misogyny aren't attractive and you don't have to accept it or treat is as 'normal'.

I'm biting my metaphorical tongue as I type - I don't want to say this about your new single - and I hope to eat my hat when the album is released and find it's full of Sugababes classics.

Julie Felix - 'Masters Of War'

I watched the 'American Folk' series on Saturday night (on BBC4) and it was followed much later by a programme featuring performances by a wide range of people singing Bob Dylan songs. Now, I've never been a big Dylan fan but one performance and song really stood out for me, Julie Felix singing 'Masters Of War'. I sort of know Julie from the late '60s ('Going to the zoo...') but I'd never heard that song before, and her arrangement and performance of it were excellent, the anger and passion behind the words flowing freely. I tracked the song down on iTunes and downloaded it - it was mistakenly named as 'I Shall Be Released' on iTunes. Julie sang the song live at the G20 Stop The War protest in London back in April this year. And here is the 1970 performance, or at least most of it (a minute is missing at the end for some reason):

SLADE - 'Live At The BBC'

It was only a matter of time until SLADE joined the 'live at the BBC' ranks and had their old sessions at the BBC re-mastered and released and it's finally happening. I haven't been able to find many details other than the tracklisting (below), a picture of the cover and Amazon saying it's released on 7 September while Play says it's 28 September, and I can't find it at all on Salvo.


The exciting thing, for me, is that it's not just new versions of some old favourites, but there are *new* songs included in the setlist, songs I haven't heard before. What do 'Coming Home', 'Coloured Rain', 'Omaha' or 'Lady Be Good', amongst others, sound like? Along with covers of 'Nights in White Satin' and 'Getting Better', and what is 'It's Alright Ma, It's Only Witchcraft'? It looks like there are some of the old Radio 1 jingles filling up the remainder of the first disc, which should be interesting to hear again.

Disc 1 - Studio Sessions 1969-72

1. Coming Home
2. The Shape Of Things To Come
3. See Us Here
4. Know Who You Are
5. My Life Is Natural
6. Coloured Rain
7. Man Who Speeks Evil
8. Move Over
9. Omaha
10. Sweet Box
11. Nights In White Satin
12. It's Alright Ma, It's Only Witchcraft
13. Raven
14. Gudbuy Gudbuy
15. Getting Better
16. Darling Be Home Soon
17. Let The Good Times Roll
18. Dirty Joker
19. Get Down And Get With It
20. Wild Winds Are Blowing
21. Radio 1 Where The Best Music's On
22. We're Slade!
23. Everyday The Sounds We Play On Radio 1
24. This Is Radio 1, We're All Having Fun

Disc 2 Live At The Paris Theatre, London, August 17, 1972

1. Introduction
2. Hear Me Calling
3. In Like A Shot (From My Gun)
4. Look Wot You Dun
5. Keep On Rocking
6. Move Over Baby
7. Mama Weer All Crazee Now
8. Lady Be Good
9. Coz I Luv You
10. Take Me Back 'Ome
11. Get Down And Get With It
12. Good Golly Miss Molly

Maximo Park at ReadingandLeeds Festival

No, I haven't been to the Reading Festival today, but I saw the Maximos as part of the BBC3 coverage. They only showed five songs ('Girls Who Play Guitars', 'Questing Not Coasting', 'The Kids Are Sick Again', 'Going Missing' and the finale of 'Our Velocity') but the full setlist is on NME.com. The lads looked and sounded in good form with Paul racing round the stage tiring me out just watching.

The interesting thing is that they brought on a small 5-piece brass band to augment the sound for a couple of the songs ('The Kids' and 'Going Missing') which created an interesting twist to the familiar songs. I hope they bring the band along to the gig at the Royal Albert Hall in October so I can hear the new versions of the songs for myself.

My Favourite Flavour, Cherry Red...

I started playing The Beatles tonight but after 'Rubber Soul' I wanted something with balls, preferably hairy ones, so moved on to The Rolling Stones. Now, I don't actually own any Stones albums but have two compilations. I don't listen to them often but, whenever I do, I decide I must explore the Stones properly and then promptly forget. I think that means I'm a singles man. But they didn't half do some great singles.

In the '60s they were the bad boys of pop, in the '70s it was drugs (does anyone remember that Nils Lofgren song advising Keith not to go to Toronto?), the '80s was pure excess and the '90s was dinosaur-dom. Now, they're part of history since most of their live audience probably wasn't even born when they were having all the hits.

I've never seen the Stones live and probably won't ever see them since they just play stadiums these days and I don't like stadiums (unless I'm at the front). But, at their peak in the mid/late '60s - early '70s they produced some fantastic music and all credit to them.

Live Life Live

I'm in a quandry. I got tickets to see Amanda Palmer at the Union Chapel on 12 September as soon as they came on sale. She (obviously) sold out straight away so she then announced another gig on 11 September and I leapt at the tickets like there was no tomorrow. Some things are important.

But now Eliza Carthy has announced a gig on 11 September on the Southbank. She's playing with the rest of her family - The Waterson Family - and before the family gig is the Eliza Carthy Band. I saw Eliza 3-4 years ago as part of Patti Smith's Meltdown and liked what I saw and heard so started investigating her albums. Her latest album, 'Dreams Of Breathing Underwater', is excellent. Eliza is also part of the excellent The Imagined Village collective that I plan to see as part of the WOMAD festival at the Tower of London next month.

So, do I see Amanda? or Eliza? Especially since I'm potentially seeing Amanda twice...

At least I have an opportunity to see my heroes live. My poor American cousins (well, I don't have any, technically) won't be able to see the mighty Maximo Park since they've cancelled the USA leg of their tour for personal reasons. I really wouldn't want to rub it in that I've ordered tickets to see the Maximos at the Royal Albert Hall - that's just not the kind of thing I'd do.

Something I liked about the Maximo's announcement is the medium - a hand-written note posted on their site and emailed to the world. That's a nice bit of multimedia work.