Tuesday 23 December 2008

Football is beginning to annoy me now

You'll Never Walk Alone was one of the greatest songs of the 1960's and has been adopted by Liverpool fans. However, I should still be able to go around singing it right? I shouldn't need to be stopped from doing something just because it defines a football team, who knows, I may even been a fan but I'm not. I'm from Middlesbrough, it's shit. I don't want to have anything to do with it. I am very anti-Middlesbrough and the way the fans of the team here react when I sing songs such as You'll Never Walk Alone I am disrespected and told to shut up. It's growing beyond annoyment and I don't want to live on rules. If I like a song then so what? What's the big deal? So I've been singing the Liverpool anthem, what's the problem really? It's a song, it doesn't make me a fan does it? The song originated as a 'show tune', ffs...
I'm standing on my own here, I'm sure plenty of people agree with me though.

When you walk through the storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm
There's a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of the lark

Walk on, through the wind
Walk on, through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone

Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone

Sunday 21 December 2008

What a surprise...

... The X Factor have got the Christmas number 1 spot AGAIN!! Year after year, we are crapped on with another SHIT COVER VERSION OF A SONG THAT WAS GOOD ENOUGH IN THE FUCKING FIRST PLACE! As soon as it's announced next year they might as well do the Christmas chart then seeing as it's becoming more and more predictable. And what annoys me the most is that fact that none of these chart toppers are CHRISTMAS SONGS!! Was that not the point of the CHRISTMAS number 1?!
After the X Factor was going into the finals, it was decided to just go 'Ah, fuck it, let's Rick Roll Christmas 2008.' Unfortunately it DIDN'T WORK! Simon Cowell will have bought as many copies as it needed to get that piece of crap to the number 1 spot.
The other campaign was for people to buy the Jeff Buckley version, that one seemed to work as it ended up at number 2, but Simon will have pipped it to the post with one more copy.
I noticed the new version, and it really annoyed me how she paused after EVERY. FUCKING. WORD. It's supposed to just run on, it does if it's sang properly anyway. Unfortunately people like it though.
Yes, Barry Hyde, you are the other Futuremen are BETTER than The X Factor.
"You won't be hearing Hallelujah tonight!! Hallelujahhhh....."
See, The Futureheads are just one of those bands who CAN pull off a cover. They did a fantastic job on Kate Bush's Hounds Of Love and on Friday nights show at The Sage in Gateshead, they surprised us all with a cover of Wonderful Christmas Time and it was brilliant. Look at a band like these who have to work hard for fame, it comes overnight to those such as whoever goes on The X Factor. And fucking Duffy, like what the fuck? Where the fuck did she come from? And all of a sudden she's at the top of the charts. And she's not that good either. See, it's the good ones that have got to work the hardest. And IT'S NOT FAIR!!
Anyway, I touched upon last Friday (19th December). Out of the four supports, Viva City topped them all. The singer was a cross between Brandon Flowers and Brian Molko, Noel Fielding was on synth and guitar, some guy was banging on the drums and another guy was bouncing around the stage too. Best song I think was Hot Wax. Check them out.
The Futureheads ahhhh. Yes, I did meet them. Jaff, Barry and Dave turned up as we were waiting in the afternoon and I talked to Barry and Dave before they went in, Jaff had already gone but came out again in a few minutes (he's really tall!!!) and not long after Rossi came!! He also walked past later on when I was on the phone to my mum. Where we were stood on the balcony, we could see them eating there pre show dinners. Got into the hall itself for the show and the stage was bigger than me!! But I managed to watch The 'Heads and there were mint. And I got dear Rossi's setlist at the end.
One final thing brought to my attention by a certain Harry Hill, I'll leave you with it.

Saturday 13 December 2008

In desperate times...

It has come to my belief that the X Factor is over. This of which I am pleased. I am sick of logging onto my email and seeing reports every week as to who has been voted out and that the judges have been fighting over song. Who really cares? The entire show is a load of over rated bollocks used for the record label to get more money. The 'winner' lasts approximately six months before disappearing and being found months later working behind the till in Aldi.
The X Factor is used to put yet another shit piece of 'talent' onto the music scene. The rules have been made to stop people coming onto the show and actually PLAYING REAL MUSIC!!! But still, year after year, we are shat on with some diva or pub singer.
I have been unfortunate enough to have heard this year's winner singing the X Factor single. It was a cover of 'Hallelujah'. I was disappointed to find on YouTube that the comments on the Jeff Buckley version of the song had been spammed with people fucking on about the fucking X Factor. This is very inconsiderate to the memory of Buckley, who completely nailed the song. The man is a legend and the X Factor have just gone and done exactly what shouldn't have been done.
Obviously, the X Factor are going to get the Christmas number one, that's just the way it works. Then, an idea was formed... reading the comments on YouTube detailed that there was a petition made to get none other than Rick Astley to the number one spot.
You've been Rickrolled... I've been writing blogs.

Wednesday 10 December 2008

My mate Pete, with alcohol.

Pete the Junkie to some, Peter to his mum (probably), Bilo to his ex Carl Barat, and my mate Pete as I call him myself. The artist legally known as Mr Pete Doherty got drunk this one time (possibly one of many times) in his garden. The following clip is taken from the documentary 'Who The Fuck Is Pete Doherty?'. Later on, Arctic Monkeys of Sheffield released 'Who The Fuck Are Arctic Monkeys?'. Must be something in the water...
Don't try this at home, kids.

Monday 24 November 2008

Gigs I have made it to...

.. and some famous people I have met.

March 9th 2007 - The Cribs at Middlesbrough Cornerhouse. Got onto the guest list after meeting guitarist Ryan Jarman.

June 3rd 2007 - Middlesbrough Music Live.

November 3rd 2007 - The Departure's lead singer David Jones to whom I sang one of his own songs. Also, Keith Murray, lead singer and guitarist of We Are Scientists as well as the stand in drummer, Adam Aaronson. Outside The Empire in Middlesbrough.

April 15th 2008 - The entire line-up of The Hives in this order: Nicholaus Arson, Dr Matt Destruction, Vigilante Carlstroem, Dr Matt Destruction, Howlin' Pelle Almqvist and Chris Dangerous. The show was at Newcastle Carling Academy.

June 1st 2008 - Middlesbrough Music Live.

June 7th 2008 - The Cribs at Middlesbrough Empire.

September 1st 2008 - Serj Tankian at the ABC in Glasgow. Met the bassist of The Flying Cunts Of Chaos - Mario Pagarulio.

September 20th 2008 - Scars On Broadway also at Glasgow ABC.

October 14th 2008 - Back at Newcastle Academy for The Subways.

Next show-up... Gateshead Sage on December 19th for The Futureheads.
Back to Glasgow on December 28th for We Are The Physics.

YEAHH!!

Friday 21 November 2008

I am a robot!!

In the not too distant future, I'm thinking 2009, it will become compulsory for all school children to learn the guitar, bass guitar or drums in order to restore world order and destroy the Chav culture which has given Great Britain an image of all the population being tracksuit wearing, chain smoking arseholes. And I don't want to be dragged under by this rave-listening, junkie culture. Children as young as 12 are becoming mothers, thus ruining their own growing up. I believe these are the people that complain about being poor and in debt. I myself am not surprised, look at what they've chosen to do with their lives, NOTHING! Well, besides having had 23 kids of their own by the time they are 18...

Another point I'd like to raise is that of individualism. Anyone who is not a Chav is singled out for being different and targeted for all forms of abuse be it verbal or physical. This must end. It's going beyond mentally scarring a person to permanently hurting friends and loved ones through cause of death: either by suicide or murder. The current knife culture promotes violence to the extent in which people are being killed to save others which is valiant although causing pain to others. And do these teen killers feel affected by the murder? Do they full burdened or haunted by their actions? Do other would-be killers know what harm they could cause in their own mentality? If not then they really need some form of help but I suppose it's just got to the point where that doesn't seem to work because it would make them feel like the people who they consider as 'unpopular' and label as 'freaks'.

So, now to the point where children learning to play guitar, bass and drums comes in. There is a clear connection between being a Chav and listening to the nonsense that has been given the name of 'Rave' as well as Hip-hop and Rap which promote violence through the use of the lyrics. Those that listen to rock, metal, punk, nu-wave etc are the ones generally targeted. The music and lyrics here deal not with violence but with love, loss and normal everyday things such as going to work. Some artists in this genre have based some of their work on books, Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush being a good example of this. This music promotes not violence but the things people enjoy in life which is why guitars should be used to destroy the Chav culture that I find is demoralising and unhinging many individuals. I propose to have the Chav culture destroyed and start by proposing the banning of Hip-hop and Rave. I have not chosen that because I hate the music but because of the connection between this genre and being a Chav.

Children will be taught at a young age of this hateful group of people as young children tend to believe everything they are told. An example appears in the book 1984. It will be compulsory for all classrooms to display posters of The Rolling Stones and The Sex Pistols as well as having to hand a copy of A History Of Rock for reference. Every school will be to hold an annual Battle Of The Bands competition which will lead to a National competition.

It will become illegal for ANYONE to leave the house with a knife, there will be many ways of checking.
Drivers will be sentanced for even daring to playing Hip-hop on the motorways and all roads - Hip-hop and rave is all usually from download sources so will be blocked from download, all illegal download sites and programs will also be blocked and shops will no longer stock Clubland, any copies already bought will be re-possessed under new laws.
Ibiza Rocks (Rock bands playing at Ibiza) will be strongly promoted as being the real reason people go there.

Also, some other little things I'd like to change;
Corporal Punishment is to be used for shop lifters and the crime of being a Chav.
Capital Punishment is to be used for murder, rape and treason.
Kate Bush should win that big award they give out at the end of the BRITs.
Kate Bush should be inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.
Christmas lights shall not be switched on until the month of December and Christmas parties etc shouldn't be advertised until December. It annoys me when I hear a 'Book your Christmas party now!' advert mid-July.

And, I think that's it for now.

Monday 17 November 2008

Wow, that must have taken what, two hours?

Today is the 17th day of November 2008. Last Friday was the 14th day of the month. There are 38 days to go until Christmas, however, I can just spend those 38 days relaxing, with the peace of mind that I have completed my Christmas shopping. This is my most expensive Christmas yet, in accordance with the large pile of receipts I have. (Well, it is Christmas after all!) I might go pick up some little extras on top of this.

So, how did I manage it? I spent only two hours in the Metro Centre, managing to buy myself some things too.

Anyways, enough of the "I've finished and you haven't started"... my Christmas drinks have been ordered but I don't want a Christmas Day hangover like last year, caused by what must have been an entire bottle of whiskey.

Wait until my Christmas 'Speech', I have a lot to say, looking back at the year. But it could end up as a YouTube video, such as that by We Are Scientists. It may not be as funny, unless I do it in the style of Jeremy Clarkson and pause, in the middle, of my sentences.

Anywhooo, I might post more later, but for now, I shall leave you with this...

Thursday 13 November 2008

Mention me! Please!

Adam Flannigan wondered why he hadn't been mentioned on my page. I have now. Job done. Happy now, Adam?

Excitement is a bit of an understatement.

And about time as well, as I have been invited along to go and see one of the best bands this country has given us in years. I first got into these guys after hearing their cover of Hounds Of Love on VH2's Track Of The Year thing back in the beginning of 2005. Well, they kept the position until Coldplay came along with Speed of Sound from their acclaimed X & Y album.Still waiting for the final announcements for the support band(s) so I can listen to them before the gig, I know it will be a night to remember. Their last Christmas Special, at Newcastle Carling Academy last year, played host to Field Music and This Aint Vegas amongst other bands in the locality.Yes, I do feel slighty more excited than I have ever done in my life but to be told I am getting to go and see The Futureheads, excitement is a bit of an understatement.

Tuesday 3 June 2008

Middlesbrough Music Live 2008

It rained. However, this didn't stop it being a good day overall.
As soon as the gates opened I made my way to the burger vans. After making my choice of food (chips and a cheese savoury fishcake), I made my way to the main stage for the first band, eating as I waited for them to come and perform. First up was The Anomalies, an indie/hip hop band. The songs weren't that great but they made up for it with their performance. The freestyling part of the set involved 3 subjects, given to the band by the audience: Beach, Superheroes and Sexually Transmitted Diseases. This part of the set was complete hilarity and I laughed lots. After this, the rain started to get heavy so I decided to venture to the Town Hall stage where I'd be warm and dry. I caught the end of Kinevil, shame I hadn't seen their full set as they were crazily amazing, electro, electro, I think I love it!! I'd been looking forward to the next band as I had read what I wanted to read about a band. Parka was that band, and I danced so much. The songs were really fast and they even brough a saxophone!! Top band. The Joy Formidable weren't all that good. I think you should be able to learn to play guitar and sing at the same time if that's what you are gonna do in your band. The Hosts were better but they reminded me of a not very good Mando Diao covers band or something. The last band I watched inside was Ipso Facto, a kind of girl version of The Horrors, even hailing from Southend-On-Sea themselves! They had little to say lyrics-wise but the tunes were there.
Time to return to the main stage (and outside, NO RAIN!) where Wildcats Of Kilkenny were just finishing off their set of cover versions of excellent family sing-along songs, using a violin and a double-bass. I took the oppurtunity to push my way to the front of the crowd when two NEDs decided to be very clever and do what NEDs do best: start a fight. Newcomer Jack McManus made his debut on the main stage next, the crowd kept shouting for 'Bang On The Piano' which he closed with. Not too shabby at all! Delayed due to being stuck in Dublin becuase of a late flight, Infadels' set was unfortunately cut short but not without incident as the keyboardist, along the lines of Alex Pennie, ex-Automatic keyboardist, decided to jump off the stage and stand on the barrier, he pulled away, started walking further along by the stage and tripped up, staining his white jeans in the mud. haha. Musically, they were great.
What a mickey take but the next band's name was Delays. And they were probably in my top 3 bands of the day. Their music just made me want to jump up and down like an idiot, I had an amazing time watching Delays.
One Night Only, a band that apparently 'stole the show' on the Ten Feet Tall Stage last year. Erm, no. I didn't think they were anything special then and didn't think them coming back this year with a top ten album made them any better. I found them to be a load of over rated hype and I know bands 10 times better that aren't getting half the recognition that these are and who deserve this sort of recognition a lot more.
Finally, the final band, the one I'd been waiting for all day, well, actually, I'd been waiting since the line-up got announced to see these guys. Ash have played alongside the likes of The Hives and will be opening for The Cribs who are headlining the second day of this years Zoo Thousand festival. The choice of songs at MML was excellent but I was a bit disappointed that Starcrossed hadn't been included in the set list as it is one of my favourites of theirs. However, the inclusion of You Can't Have It All and closer Polaris made up for it. Ok, I was very squashed down the front and I hardly had a voice afterwards from screaming and not drinking (I had last drank liquids while in Newcastle the day before), but it was well worth it. Ash were amazing, so good I got to the point where I was comparing them to The Hives, they weren't as good as The Hives I figured but still almost there.
Final words. Middlesbrough Music Live 2008 is over and I am looking forward to next years festival.
Best Band - Ash
Worst Band - One Night Only (over rated hype)

See you at The Cribs.
Good bye and good night.

Tuesday 22 April 2008

Holy crap! I met The Hives!!!

Aye, seriously. Last Tuesday in Newcastle. It was fucking amazing. Photos are here, I'm still excited even now it's over.

I got a guitar pick after the show, it has Vigilante Carlstroem written on it, it's great. They are really nice, especially Dr Matt.

Anyways, they are gonna be back soon (I hope!)

See you next time.

Sunday 6 April 2008

Do I love Howlin' Pelle Almqvist? Is that what you think?

So I’ve found boredom to be more dangerous than before.
When you are nine days now from your first Hives show (like me), you have about a million pictures of Howlin' Pelle Almqvist (me again) and you still have Windows Movie Maker (ummm, yeah)
Stuck this together cos I loves Pelle, see.

Monday 31 March 2008

Boredom is dangerous

Especially when you have tons of pictures of Carl Norén and a copy of Windows Movie Maker.
So, to be bored, have a ton of pictures of Carl Norén and a copy of Windows Movie Maker, what do you come up with? Last night I decided to find out and came up with this. To the sounds of It Takes Time, It Takes Two by Sugarplum Fairy, allow me to introduce Mr Carl Norén.
*applause*

Wednesday 19 March 2008

I'll meet you on the other side

I've spent the past few weeks getting back into British music again, after spending time in Sweden (well, listening to what comes from Sweden).
I have started listening to The Futureheads a lot more frequently and have decided that Keane are really rather good actually! Guilty pleasure? I think not. I like what I like and not care what the others think. DEAL WITH IT, OKAY?!
The Cribs I think are excellent as usual, I can't believe I've been a fan for 3 years!
McFly deserve a round of applause :) There's plans of them leaving Universal after the new album in pursuit of better things. Who needs arenas anyways?
I have to mention a little-known unsigned band called Out With Mummy too. They are amazing, they are my age and they have had a single out with 1965 Records (where The View are signed). Unfortunately it looks like it's going to be a while until they play any more shows as they are currently with no manager. Please show your support for them and get them back on the road by visiting their page and giving them a listen.
Thank you and good night.

Thursday 28 February 2008

Control

I just got round to watching the awesomeness that is Control on Sunday night (after being IDed in Morrison's when I bought my copy). I have to say it is the best film I have seen in my entire life. Watching it you can see how much passion has gone into the making, and the scripting was surperb. What about 'Big dog's cock'? Can you say that?

Wednesday 27 February 2008

Taken me a long while to post some shizz

So here goes, me first blog :)

Life is good. April will be the best month of my life, so far :)

I've spent the last two years in college and have chosen to not go to Uni but I'm thinking of moving away, yeah, I have got a place in mind and a reason for doing so.

I've been listening to B Is For Brutus like it's the end of the world, what a tune that is, I hope The Hives play it live in April. Yesssss, UK tour, it's good it's the holidays, I could just go to every show :) Awesome.

So, many a late night I've had these past three and a half weeks but it's been well worth it, I actually found myself to be more tired on an early night, strange that. Someone explain to me why.

I'm going to post here more, I promise so if I start deviating and talking about Howlin' Pelle Almqvist then it's okay to tell me to shut the fk up.

Thank you and good bye (for now)