boss_kitty

Fade to Grau

Lads' trip (5 of us) to Den Haag, mainly to see Shellac. Wonderful though they were their thunder was somewhat stolen by the amazing Snapped Ankles and also by the haltingly revealed beauty of the Dutch political capital. (Non-cameraspods can skip this next bit) taken on Ilford XP2 Super film (not expired for once!!) I had not wanted to develop it in the standard c41 chems as this limits flex re pushing and pulling. I'd wanted to push 2 stops for shooting indoors to 1600 (thought I might take some gig shots, but given the obscene amount of beer drunk and the fact I'm barely safe to look after myself with 4 burly companions that didn't happen). I'd seen people developing this film pushed up to 1600 in Kodak HC110 developer, but the darkroom group I'm part of (Leicester Lo-Fi) didn't have any of that, only the Ilford's 110-alike Ilfotech HC. As Ilfotech is a thick liquid and HC110 is a powder dilution was difficult to work out, but eventually settled on 1:11 dilution and developed for 18 minutes at 20 degrees C. Standard stop and fix dilutions and times. Results are super contrasty but pretty smooth (low grain eh?). Did have to do some minor scanner lightening or contrast adjustment, and had to do loads on the three shots in the Betje in St Pancras (I'd metered wrong, not John's shutter release), but otherwise good as gold. Will do this again. 18 minutes seems a long time agitating for 10 seconds every minute though. Anyway, here we go, click individual images for bigger versions.

Starting on the Saturday morning in a brunch place where I had great bananabrood en verse fruit

Really like this one of Martin, I was concerned I hadn't wound on sufficiently, so thought may lose some of the image to burn-in, so took another as cover. He shut his eyes of course (it was unnecessary anyway like)

This one of dunc is a little blown out, but should print OK. Now on to the streets of den Haag.

The light was very brittle and bright, so me pushing the film to 1600 wasn't ideal for this.

Worked better in the shade ^

Terrible focussing, my eyesight, honestly ^

Nice. Just what I wanted ^

^ Hilarious. Martin's picture of the queue of people taking pictures of John here is incredible.

Now on to the Sunday and the long journey home. Enjoyable though it was, flying is way quicker, though less easy on the planet. Duncan had left early as he had meetings in Madrid for most of the next week, so is absent here.

Tried this shot twice. Not really what I wanted in either unfortunately ^

^ This guy. And what is the turd to his right all about?

Building porn on the way to Centraal Station ^

The next few were in a coffee shop just before getting our first train, to Breda (we did 4 trains in 4 countries in one day)

Next on to Den Haag Centraal station

Pleased with that one ^

Next on to the train to Breda

Really like that one ^ makes the push to 1600 worthwhile on its own

Next on to the spectacularly grim Bruxelles Zuid Station and a horse in a zebra suit with its cock and balls on show (I know, I know)

Noice ^

Finally arrived back in St Pancras and the Betje. Got John to use the shutter release cable, but my poor metering lets these down. Nice as a memento though.

And that's it for The Netherlands. Had some images left so used them up in the house to get them devved.

Might print myself one of these ^ big, see how it looks above the stereo mebz. The album is 1000 Hurts by Shellac btw.

Like this one ^

Fin.

Ommmmmmmmmmmmm

Went to see Om in September in a shed in Brum. It was a good gig (if slightly short tbh), but great to meet up with Jules and Ian. Anyway took photos, but flash was out of action, and also dropped camera getting out of the car when I got home so much of the film was light fogged. This has helped some pretty gash pictures look at least mildly interesting. Or so I say... First 2 are the doom tubas of ORE. Some passable pics of Al maybe???

Is that AJP Taylor I see on the horizon?

Click each image for the full horror...

RIP Lux Interior

Sad news that Lux Interior died yesterday.  Possibly the only other living person I actually wanted to be, I pretty much TRIED to be him thru my late teens.  The fact he rocked right up to his death (aged 62) is just great.  He and Ivy embody the free, wild, fun awesome heights that passionate music (no matter how rudimentary) can reach.  The Cramps were great and so was Lux.

Last saw them with George in 2005 at Rock City, and they were hilarious and unique.  Lux ending naked sniffing and singing through Ivy's spike heeled boot having removed part of her wig (after climbing the PA and whipping himself with his belt).

Stay sick and turn blue mad daddy.  Here's some clippage:

YouTubery #3540fh37

I love Liars right (the band I mean), anyway here is the video for Plaster Casts of Everything.  Best...Video...Ever.

and also the one for Houseclouds, both off the latest album "Liars"

Melt Banana, Rolo Tomassi - Rock City 23-06-08

Third time to see Melt Banana at the end of a bittersweet day as I said goodbye (probably temporarily) to my student status earlier in the afternoon.  This meant a poor Illusionator mood and lack of attentiveness to tales of holidays from George and enthusiasm from Mr Eldritch (I know, fucking hell), sorry for being such a wet wank.

Rolo Tomassi were the support.  I saw some young people making music.  (Thanks Chris for the idea for this part of the shite)

Main act were Melt Banana, whom I've loved for a long while.  Tonight though my disappointment (mild) wasn't just because I was feeling low.  They were very good, polished, put it over in a professionally aggressive way, quality control is never an issue.  But, as alluded to in my last trip to see them (when much admiration-semen was spilt), their set has changed little over the 5 years since I first saw them.  Ironic this becomes a problem when they HAVE made some changes.  Anyway, my disappointment focused most keenly during the "short songs" bit.  It's fun 'n' all, and people react to it with mirth and enthusiasm, but they do it EVERY TIME, and for me it's got a bit old.

So to sum up, a very good gig, worth the admission, but there's a sense of MxBx standing still.  It's a nice place to stand, but what I loved about them was the manic rush to the new, and maybe that's gone, psychodynamically speaking there's some linking to be done there I'm sure.

And finally, they did do "Love Song" not "Neat Neat Neat" 5 years ago guys, trust me for once.

Lichens, Gareth Hardwick, Patrick Farmer & Chris Summerlin - Bunker's Hill, Nottm. 22-05-08

Weeeeeelllll.  Saw some lovely Specialized S-Works bikes in Freewheel on the way down the hill to Bunker's Hill, and was bought a drink by the lovely Mr Eldritch as congrats for course pass-age (I did briefly become my dad when remembering going out for a night with £5 in ma yoot - the cost plus 55p for our 2 drinks).  Then to ice the cake Mr C Summerlin came thru' on the posters (and how wrong does that sound but it's staying now), thanks for all the freebies Chris, lovely stuff.

We went in to the upstairs room at BH, which I really like (blowing the myth that I don't like any venue) apart from the artexing looking very shonky and indeed of making good, no Welsh barmaid this time (indeed the upstairs bar looked shut, not that I was buying at that price), and took a seat right at stage front right.

We were treated to a great set by Patrick Farmer and the aforementioned Mr Summerlin, I had seen PF with the Designer Babies (supporting Melt Banana a few years back), and could see he knew how a drum kit worked.  Tonight though he was really good, maybe freer to improvise, small set up, bass drum, snare and what looked like a single timbale plus one cymbal and hi-hat.  He festooned these with various other percussion ephemera and was constantly in motion.  CS switching from banjo (home-made electrification, very Nick Knowles) to guitar made some sexy swooshes rills and curls.  I thought I was being original thinking of Mick Turner and Jim White, but Damn You had described them as such beforehand, so I am just another herd sweller.  There is an element of transportation to Victorian Victoria (Australia), and you expected gunfire, or a spicy laydee in clothes of silk to burst forth.  Cool.

Then came Gareth Hardwick, who I'm sure I've seen before, just can't place where.  Personally I felt he had a tough ask following CS and PF, but worked some nice wave-like sound cycles, and generally  kept me transported.  There were a couple of times when I was watching other things and worrying about that artex, but all-in-all he done good.

Finally came Lichens (or Robert A. Lowe as QVC may know him).  It is really hard to review something so oddly mesmerizing as seeing this man perform.  Palmer has had a good go earlier this week (it'll be better than my effort).  He is just very... different.  How though, bloody hell there's a knack to all this that i don't possess.  here's my blind slash at it anyway, he sounds like all the sounds of nature crossed with Ry Cooder gently humping Leo Kotke, while a choir goes through its paces in the background... See I said it was hard to describe.  Anyway it's not so bestial as that (maybe I'm not getting enough eh?) but it is a mind-fuck and it's hard to believe the sounds are coming out of him (much like miserablist 80s pop artiste Black), but they are I tell you they are.  He was also assisted by a guy with many wonderful electronic things and a cheeky hat!  Mr E thought he may be Lichens collaborator White, but that's unconfirmed by me right?

It was good to chat with Chris and Peter and nice for PE's fans to finally meet him in all his glory (he is a fine figure of a man), and hey that Bettini World Champ Quickstep Specialized S-Works was still in the window when we went past (still think the pink one's a ladies though - it's the saddle).  Salut (apres un clip de Lichens en Paris dans 2007, c'est j'vais en vacance ici pour une semain)!

Pissed Jeans, Tropics, Stomach - The Maze Nottm 13-05-08

Went along last night.  Don't really like the Maze as a venue, but seen some decent shows there I s'pose, for a DY joint finished reasonably early (I was home at 12), so good for elderly me.

Stomach were fucking diabolical.  And not in a good way.  Brought their little pals though...bless!

Tropics were good if a bit green (pisspoor name too lads).

Pissed Jeans OWNED.

Clip follows:

Ketchup

Just a quick skip round my busy life.

First, blog direction.  Once I get settled and my course out the way, one way or another, the blog will become more focused on video games, with just the odd bit of me dicking about thrown in.  Or maybe it won't, depends how I feel.

So vid games first, despite having a Wii now (stupid name) am sworn off games 'til course has run its course, so nothing to see here.

In music, saw Half Man Half Biscuit (for the fourth time) at Rock City (thanks Beth for belated Xmas prezzie) last week.  Contrary to last time they were great and there was little lariness from the crowd.  Excellent, Mr Eldritch's (my oppo on the night) review here.

Saw the best film I've seen in some considerable time with fellow work interns last week.  It were Lars and the Real Girl and it was beautiful and touching, perfectly weighted and didn't put a foot wrong.

Talking of feet, congrats to Notts for clawing their way to continuing league status with a gritty performance v Wycombe.  Outclassed on the day by a side with better skills and better team abilities the rugged Notts defence held out and it was fitting that my player of the year Richard Butcher got the goal that saved us (very surprised Pilko got players' and fans' awards well though he's played).  Phew!

Finally a TV recommendation.  Kids' show Hedz (BBC2 Saturday mornings) is great!!!!  OK it's just people dicking about with big cardboard cut-outs on their faces, but it is great (if reminiscent of Vic and Bob's Action Image Exchange [with hand gestures]).  Here's a clip that demonstrates more sophisticated political humour than the once-great Have I Got News for You which has been awful first 2 shows up.

Merzbow with the Dirty Electonics Ensemble - DMU PACE Building 17-04-08

A schizophrenic evening with Japan's noise maestro and some student solder shut-ins.  Switched back and forth (or "phased" as said electrophiles may have put it) between enjoyment and anger, so will have to write two reviews.  Like Harvey Dent...which side'll win???  You decide.

But before that just a quick description of De Montfort Uni's new way of allocating places at free concerts.  First, do not advertise the show widely, sensible really as you don't want a Uni facility mobbed (although I don't think Merzbow is that much of a draw in the UK).  Second get people to ring a number off of the one website advertising the show, then put an answer-phone on the end.  Thirdly do not ring people back to let them know if it's OK to come.  Finally, see who shows up on the night, leaving one thirties-ish woman with a clipboard to manage a crusty noise-philic bunch (including big skinhead) alone.  She was quite scary though so well done her.  Anyway we got in as we were "on the list" despite not being made aware of that beforehand.  Two reviews follow:

Plain Face
I was really nervous when I saw that everyone in the ensemble had earplugs, I've scoffed at people going to see Sunn o))) and ear-defending, but here it felt like it was me who'd missed a trick.  I was half smiling half grimacing throughout, but a lot of it was just fucking painful, like listening to someone tuning a radio, while the dentist drilled away at my own molars and someone played Pong on God's old Atari system...for an hour and a half.  Some smug arty twats were doing the deep philosophical head-nodding during the "performance". Man, that's annoying (and inappropriate), other electronics-wiz John Richards was doing it too, but at least had an excuse being part of the show.  It hurt and nearly broke my ears.  Quite a few people walked out.

Defaced Side
This was an experimental journey (hate that use of that word), not intended to be pristine, precise or for general release.  It's road testing, trail blazing and exploration.  There is a fair element of chance to the sound created, and that makes for some intimacy of a unique shared experience for those present.  The volume was pretty high, and that washed some folk away, but the sheer visceral thump and scrape of the sound-scapes made for a real whole body experience that had me grimacing with real pain and smiling with some joy.  There were waterfalls, stone monoliths metalwork shops and Frankenstein's lab.

I certainly will remember it for some time (for both reasons), Palmer has his say here liked the "support...none" bit, like you'd need some emotional back-up after the aural trauma.

Grumble, Moan

Another week began (last week - this is written in retrospect as opposed to some sort of bizarre time travel experiment) with another cycling doping story.  Rob Hayles' suspicious blood test (abnormal high haematocrit level) seemed about to put the mockers on what was lining up to be a good week for the GB track team at the World Championships in Manchester.

To be honest, Brad Wiggins' destruction of the field in the 3k individual pursuit wiped away all thoughts of dopage, and began a week long love-in with our oven-ready-chicken thighed athletes.  Great stuff from Wiggins, Vicky Pendleton (see pic in this previous post), Chris Hoy and (most remarkably getting some prime-time TV exposure) Rebecca Romero.  But the status of the sport was shown by the feel good piece at the end of Friday's BBC 1 news, a piece that started out as ostensibly a bigging up of Romero (rightly IMO due to her being a former rowing Olympic gold winner, and now being a World Champion cyclist, pretty spesh) however 20 seconds in it became a preview of the University Boat Race, surely the most overrated and irrelevant sporting event to grace our TV screens (and live for 2 hours!!!!!).  At the end Romero was chiefly forgotten as BBC bigged up the posh boys' cox.

Ho hum, at least I'm pleased we are now the dominant nation in track cycling, even if we're not ready to celebrate it yet.

And with that I'll be off and leave you with Bilge Pump playing "I am Perfectly Fine" (?title from the Dorothy Parker short story of the same name, that'd be good?) live in a laundry in Portugal.  It is my fave song at the moment and is on their excellent second album "Rupert the Sky" - go buy it.  Ignore the teenies fighting at the start.  Or not.  Up to you.