So I think someone must have read my last blog about Jet Heeled Striker as my one complaint I made was that I couldn't buy their CD and take their songs home with me. Since then I've had to make do with logging onto myspace pretty much every time my laptop is switched on so I could listen to them. Now I don't have to, as I have my very own shiny copy of their first CD. Thank you guys! (I like to think it was done purely to keep me happy... please don't burst my bubble!)
I was looking forward to tonight, if a little apprehensive, were they going to be as good as I remembered them being last time? Had I talked them up a bit in my own head? Would my friend enjoy them as much as I told him he would? I'm very happy to report that the answers to these questions are yes, no and yes!
Adam's voice was struggling a bit in places as he was fighting off a cold, but the other guys stepped in and supported him when needed. It didn't do anything to dampen the gig though. If anything it showed how cohesive they are as a band that they could do this without looking like they were carrying him, or losing something of the quality of their sound in the process.
The venue was packed, and although people were there to not just watch Jet Heeled Striker, as I was looking around the audience were paying attention, were dancing, smiling, and looking like they were enjoying what they were hearing. In my opinion, that's what really counts. Friends of the band will always be there, and are loyal to the end, but it's the strangers that really matter. They've got no loyalty to the band, they could have disappeared to the bar or out for a fag break. But they didn't, and that talks volumes.
For me, my favourite song is still Generation X, and the very wierd thing was that I found myself singing along in my head. It felt very odd, usually when I'm at a gig and can sing along, it's a famous band - not a little known group from Southampton that my friend sings in. Odd, but wicked!
So now I'm home, and I've had a chance to listen to the CD I can report that yes, they do transfer very well from stage to CD. I figure you can make pretty much any shit song sound good when sung live. It's in the cold light of day (or dim light in my lounge at one in the morning) that is when you can hear it without the trimmings of atmosphere - you get to really hear it properly. I loved it. I love their music live, and I love their music on my CD player. And I promise, given the title of my blog, I am telling the truth.
Pour some sugar on me, one lump or two
I've decided recently that I'm going to try to make all my titles for my blogs to be either song titles or song lyrics - although from time to time I forget....
So today's title is in honour of the fact that yesterday I found a lump. I'm not that worried about it, it's not the first I've found. The first one I found I was very wound up about given that it was near breast tissue and two of my aunts have had breast cancer, another aunt has died from it and my mum had a scare. Turned out to be a cyst. My logical brain is in control at the moment, and it's telling me that it's another cyst and nothing to worry about. Still means I have to go the the doctors and get it checked.
The second lump in the title is a metaphorical one. I got a letter this weekend saying I hadn't got a job at Eastleigh Youth Counselling Service. I was pinning a lot on getting this job - which, being realistic I wasn't likely to get anyway. There were a hell of a lot of people going for only one position. I really needed this job though, I need to get out of No Limits and this was how I was going to do it. I can't just leave though, I need the hours for my course. So I'm stuck there.
So today's title is in honour of the fact that yesterday I found a lump. I'm not that worried about it, it's not the first I've found. The first one I found I was very wound up about given that it was near breast tissue and two of my aunts have had breast cancer, another aunt has died from it and my mum had a scare. Turned out to be a cyst. My logical brain is in control at the moment, and it's telling me that it's another cyst and nothing to worry about. Still means I have to go the the doctors and get it checked.
The second lump in the title is a metaphorical one. I got a letter this weekend saying I hadn't got a job at Eastleigh Youth Counselling Service. I was pinning a lot on getting this job - which, being realistic I wasn't likely to get anyway. There were a hell of a lot of people going for only one position. I really needed this job though, I need to get out of No Limits and this was how I was going to do it. I can't just leave though, I need the hours for my course. So I'm stuck there.
Jet Heeled Striker
Venue: Talking Heads, Southampton
Date: Sunday 17th August
Headlining: Voodoo Glow Skulls
Support: Jet Heeled Striker
I was asked after the gig what I though of Jet Heeled Striker. Objectively. This is hard for me to do, given that I have known the lead singer since we were fifteen. He means a lot to me, and my gut reaction is to gush over everything they said and did because I want him to be happy and to succeed.
So here is my attempt at an objective review:
Jet Heeled Striker are a five piece, twenty something (I'm guessing) rock band. Two guitarists, one bass guitar, one vocalist and a drummer. They started playing, I started smiling. I was excited as they launched into their first song; it was energetic and catchy. It had a depth that my musically educated friend tells me comes from having good musical organisation - or some such term that I didn't really understand. What I did understand was that I wanted them to keep playing! I've heard a whole heap of twenty somethings playing really mediocre heavier rock music that all sounds very much the same through their desperation to sound like themselves and nobody else. The result being every song merging into another and me getting hideously drunk on cider and black to cope with it! Here though I found myself sticking to the diet coke (nothing to do with me driving obviously - it's metaphorical!). Each song sounded individual, whilst at the same time sounding like Jet Heeled Striker.
Personally I really can't bear it when people talk for hours between each song - I've paid money to hear them play, not to listen to their poor attempt at stand up comedy. However, it also really bugs me if they don't say anything at all. On introducing Generation X, Adam said "this song's called Generation X, I read it in a book". This made me laugh. Maybe it's only something me and my friends would laugh at, given that I think the same copy of Generation X got passed around us all in our idealistic teenage years! They stuck to introducing the music and letting it talk for itself rather than feeling the need to talk themselves up.
They were together and cohesive way past expectations given that it was only their second gig. The last song left me wishing I could buy a CD on the merchandise table so I could put it on repeat play. Friendship aside, they were one of the best new live acts I've seen in a long time. I think there is quite a reasonable danger that I will become something of a groupie pretty soon!
Date: Sunday 17th August
Headlining: Voodoo Glow Skulls
Support: Jet Heeled Striker
I was asked after the gig what I though of Jet Heeled Striker. Objectively. This is hard for me to do, given that I have known the lead singer since we were fifteen. He means a lot to me, and my gut reaction is to gush over everything they said and did because I want him to be happy and to succeed.
So here is my attempt at an objective review:
Jet Heeled Striker are a five piece, twenty something (I'm guessing) rock band. Two guitarists, one bass guitar, one vocalist and a drummer. They started playing, I started smiling. I was excited as they launched into their first song; it was energetic and catchy. It had a depth that my musically educated friend tells me comes from having good musical organisation - or some such term that I didn't really understand. What I did understand was that I wanted them to keep playing! I've heard a whole heap of twenty somethings playing really mediocre heavier rock music that all sounds very much the same through their desperation to sound like themselves and nobody else. The result being every song merging into another and me getting hideously drunk on cider and black to cope with it! Here though I found myself sticking to the diet coke (nothing to do with me driving obviously - it's metaphorical!). Each song sounded individual, whilst at the same time sounding like Jet Heeled Striker.
Personally I really can't bear it when people talk for hours between each song - I've paid money to hear them play, not to listen to their poor attempt at stand up comedy. However, it also really bugs me if they don't say anything at all. On introducing Generation X, Adam said "this song's called Generation X, I read it in a book". This made me laugh. Maybe it's only something me and my friends would laugh at, given that I think the same copy of Generation X got passed around us all in our idealistic teenage years! They stuck to introducing the music and letting it talk for itself rather than feeling the need to talk themselves up.
They were together and cohesive way past expectations given that it was only their second gig. The last song left me wishing I could buy a CD on the merchandise table so I could put it on repeat play. Friendship aside, they were one of the best new live acts I've seen in a long time. I think there is quite a reasonable danger that I will become something of a groupie pretty soon!
But still I love to wash in your old bath water
The photographer on this link has just moved in with my sister. Her work is generally pretty wicked, but I loved this one for it's poignancy....
http://belindamccarthy.zenfolio.com/p202151706/?photo=h287084FC#678462716
...apparently she's about more than just shoes!
http://belindamccarthy.zenfolio.com/p202151706/?photo=h287084FC#678462716
...apparently she's about more than just shoes!
.. & I miss you, like the deserts miss the rain
I don't know if I'm alone in this, but I find it very hard to leave people, and feelings for them, in the past. Last night I dreamt about someone who shall be known as Aardvark. People with good memories may know who I am talking about. I recently found him on Facebook and have chattered with him on a very light level. Last night I dreamed he was spending Christmas with me and my family, and after studiously avoiding him for some time, we ended up kissing. That was all, it was all very innocent. Me and Aardvark had a bit of a thing almost ten years ago now, and muddled in with a boundary-less relationship was a good friendship. I'm not saying I still harbour feelings for him: that would be weird. Rather, I get a bit maudlin when I think of him, and dreaming of him reminds me of something happy and fun which is in my past. I don't know if I want it in my present, but I don't know that I'm ready to confine it to the history books. I guess I want to know whether or not I should go back over old ground, or whether to let sleeping dogs lie....
Body Art
A few weeks ago I finally got around to getting a new tattoo done. It's beautiful, I love it to pieces. The trouble is that I feel like I've opened up the proverbial flood gates now though! I want another... and another... and another... you get the idea! I would be happy to get them all (I have at least the next 3 planned) except this one cost £65 and I am completely brassic at the moment. I do wonder though, if I get another and another and another, am I ever going to be satiated? I don't want to end up covered in them, and am quite picky in that I want them all black - I think having odd 5 or more coloured ones dotted around could look untidy, but plain black I think would look cool. I have such an addictive personality though: I couldn't just get my ears pierced, I had to get them done 4 times, my tragus, nose and nipple too. I can't drink one pint, I drink six. I can't buy one CD, I buy hundreds. Literally. Self control isn't something that I'm good at. I think I may be in trouble!
Moral Dilemma
Is it wrong to spend £300 on a bag, even when it's this pretty?
http://www.purseblog.com/clutches/jimmy-choo-face-clutch/
http://www.purseblog.com/clutches/jimmy-choo-face-clutch/
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