It's been yet another rather chaotic few weeks for me and the increasing number of voices in my head. I've taken in some fun and games, said some goodbyes and finally got some scheduled family time in.
It had been a long while since seeing messrs Christine and Nigel and I had begun to long for a bit of a motherly hug. So spending a weekend at home which comprised of fish, chips, Sky TV, the said Mum and Dad, illegal downloading, Brooke Hobson and Michael Lund was most welcome.
I made sure I was a part of Jimmy Eat World's Leeds date at the O2 Academy, which was totally awesome. They didn't, however, (in the words of Alonzo Harris in Training Day) 'have shit' on Gallows at The Well on Wednesday 24th.
Being the hip and punctual pairing, me and Andy Fairweather made it down early (ish) to catch 'Dead Swans' do some Brighton-hardcore stuff which was nowhere near my cup of tea, but I was fascinated enough watching their onstage ADHD-esque energy and the swelling crowd kicking the Paloma Faith out of each over.
We were still in the bar when Gallows entered the stage. We quickly downed our drinks, said our 'goodbyes' and 'good-lucks' and mazed through the packed out minuscule function room to the impending mayhem.
I timed my first crowd-surf to perfection, being airborn just as the opening cries of "MAYDAY, MAY-DAY" filled the room during 'Abandon Ship'. Soon enough however, I was dumped on the speaker at the bassists feet and finally managed to struggle to my own.
Despite my relative skill in the crowd surf, I have noticed that I can no longer hack circle pits, going down within seconds in my last 3 attempts. Whether it's my complete lack of agility, poor planning, or slippery floors, I can't last longer than around 6 seconds before I am buried beneath a sweaty mound of human mass.
It was a special gig. Andy lost his beloved Cancer Bats t shirt in the excitement, but was more than compensated for by small stage invasion, a chat with the bassist (fundamentally about how they played ping pong with Rage Against the Machine) and the purchase of 4 t-shirts between us.
It was nice to see that the student protests were relatively calm in Leeds. I know of one girl who was arrested for grafitti-ing (albeit in easily removed snow paint) on Broadcasting Place but it looked like it was dick head-free in the main. I did, however, feel sick to my stomach when I read about the innocent Motorhead fan being murdered to death after their gig at the 02 Academy.
Speaking of which, I've been allocated a very much Manchester-themed December at the 02 with Cast, James and Courteeners gigs to facilitate and enjoy.
Hogwarts got awfully festive on Friday night. After watching the footage from last year's infamous 235 (Hyde Park Road) Halloween Party, the snow started to fall heavily which left no other option to hold Holly Andrews (along with the late arriving Alan, her sister Laura and boyf Joe) captive, light lots of candles and drink and sing the night away.
My personal highlight was pretty obv:
Reuben - Christmas is Awesome (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH2umxtA_sc)
After 4 hours sleep, I managed to sneak back downstairs into Adam's flat and finally got tickets to see Blink-182 tickets for next Summer. If you need a job doing...
Sunday saw me mainly lying in bed watching two incredible films. Firstly I watched A Town Called Panic (Panique au Village), where animated plastic toys are hilarious and French. Think Cravendale Milk meets A Series of Unfortunate Events via brief excursion to Amsterdam.
A Town Called Panic (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY55bTlZJEE)
Secondly, Scott Pilgrim vs The World blew my mind. I liked it so much that I'm in a bit of a dark place right now, not really accepting that life isn't like that. Edgar Wright and Michael Cera continue to make me rethink a few basic principles.
So. Things coming up: seeing best-good-friend-slice Reid in a couple of weeks, seeing Pulled Apart By horses, Simian Mobile Disco and fwiends, work Christmas parties (University employment still sucks by the way) and probably more Christmas music.
I will leave you with this amazing song. It is dedicated to James Styler, as it's his birthday today. Yey.
JJ72 - Snow (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QNYj61wMRI)
x
P.S. I can't make the links work and I really need a wee.
About Me
- Simon Nigel Danger Wood
- Born at the age of 4 in a woodcutter’s cottage in the Black Forest sometime next year, I’m a student at Leeds Met University studying Project Management. Despite the absolute lack of creative freedom, it’s alright and I’m quite good at it I suppose. Leeds Met is often referred to as ‘the other one’ in relation to its more distinguished cousin but I like to think it’s not important. We are all students of Leeds. I’m not an absolute ‘rah’ and I’m not a complete ‘spaz-tard’ – I’m very happily sandwiched in-between, all warm and snug. Anywho. I digress. I enjoy many things in life, from the humble Jaffa Cake and social intoxication to music and my attempts of being a ‘lad’. The idea of blogging has long been wandering aimlessly in my less-than-average sized head. During my previous life jumping when Yorkshire Water clapped, I put together a monthly newsletter which people seemed to like. So. Possessing a half decent grasp of the written word and the occasional tendency to be a bit of a douche, I thought ‘blogging’ could be a hoot. Enjoy. P.S. I must credit the late John Peel who I based my whole ‘born at the age of four...’ intro. Kudos, John. Kudos.
Monday 29 November 2010
Friday 5 November 2010
Children of Nothing, This is Our Song
It would have taken something pretty spethal to have bettered last year’s Halloween which was spent shaking the rafters of the infamous ‘235’ house on Hyde Park Road – but golly gosh, spethal it has been.
My Halloween began somewhat mixed. Having been put on Foals’ guest list for their gig at the 02 Academy, I decided to take advantage and take a girl out on, like, a date.
Bail fail!
I wasn’t too downbeat however as I was convinced that shifting a free ticket to see Foals would have been easier than making Simon Lawrenson’s dog, Dylan, chase his own tail. Not for the first time, I was misled by my heart and head and couldn’t shift the ticket for love, money or anything in between.
I had my hair cut and everything too. Cut to the shortest length it’s been in 5 wonderful, hairy years, I immediately regretted my decision having felt the icy winds smothering my noggin.
The silver lining of this particular cloud (date fail) led me to the Library to see the beautiful Alli Phelps and her Hunting Bears – It was a hell of a fall back. I saw them at the back end of last term and was once a-bloody-gain impressed with the atmospheric, melodic and simply heart-warming sounds that filled the room. T’was brilliant. Their gig at the Brudenell on December 6th will be absolutely amazing.
www.myspace.com/huntingbearsband
Myself, Tom, James, Adam and Dan carried on the Cockpit where some obscure and sweaty shapes were launched, some drinks consumed, chips were eaten and dens were made…well, for one lucky member of the posse, that is.
Home to Hogwarts. Sonic. Marble Zone. Done.
Saturday saw me make a spontaneous decision to go watch Huddersfield play with Gary Wood, which was unusually enjoyable. Building on fun with siblings, I made it back to Leeds in time to meet my sister Steph at the Library. I never realised how I’ve barely (if ever) actually mentioned her in a blog before, which is wholeheartedly regrettable. This girl….THIS girl…is something special. Never before has anyone been so academically remarkable with being able to party as hard as Andrew WK circa 2002. It was so, so good to see her. I’ll hopefully have her back in Leeds and dancing by the disabled lift at Stylus in no time.
Emily hosted a freaking awesome Halloween party on Saturday night which could have only been better if me and Sara (Crawford, legend) managed to drop the Monster Mash. I dressed up as Black Frost from The Mighty Boosh’s Tundra episode, which only one person (in well over a thousand I met that night) recognised. I was, however, one icy bastard.
Saw the fucking Cancer Bats on Sunday didn’t I? The gig has long been the staple arrangement in the diaries of The Andes, Adam and myself and after being well and truly entertained by Newcastle Utd and Titus Bramble (bless) in the pub, we headed down t’Cockpit with Si – a new addition to the line up. They were absolutely ridiculous. Flippin’ farcical. Adam, Si and I stuck around to rattle our brains around at Slam Dunk for a few hours after and met the Cancer Bats guitarist, Scott Middleton (unbelievable tekkers).
Top, top weekend.
The neck pain lasted until around Wednesday where I loosened it up nodding along to Avenged Sevenfold at work. They had an arena stage setup and the sound and lights were as good as I can remember at the Academy.
A7x - God Hates Us
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_ua8UyqGa4
I’m more than a little excited as to the return of Alan Partridge and found I was chortling along to Rob Brydon (I still always want to call him Keith Barrett) and Coogan’s ‘The Trip’ on BBC 2 on Monday night. I couldn’t help but think the idea behind it was to showcase Rob Brydon’s unbelievable impressionism tekkers but I considered myself well and truly tickled.
Bonfires. I’m going to go to Hyde Park and look at one with some people I like tonight. I’ve not been to one in around 5 years for reasons of workload, foul moods, hazardous weather conditions and the belief that bonfires are when all said and done…welll…a bit shit.
Nevertheless, I’m game for some flame. Like this guy:
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown - Fire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOErZuzZpS8
Good day x
My Halloween began somewhat mixed. Having been put on Foals’ guest list for their gig at the 02 Academy, I decided to take advantage and take a girl out on, like, a date.
Bail fail!
I wasn’t too downbeat however as I was convinced that shifting a free ticket to see Foals would have been easier than making Simon Lawrenson’s dog, Dylan, chase his own tail. Not for the first time, I was misled by my heart and head and couldn’t shift the ticket for love, money or anything in between.
I had my hair cut and everything too. Cut to the shortest length it’s been in 5 wonderful, hairy years, I immediately regretted my decision having felt the icy winds smothering my noggin.
The silver lining of this particular cloud (date fail) led me to the Library to see the beautiful Alli Phelps and her Hunting Bears – It was a hell of a fall back. I saw them at the back end of last term and was once a-bloody-gain impressed with the atmospheric, melodic and simply heart-warming sounds that filled the room. T’was brilliant. Their gig at the Brudenell on December 6th will be absolutely amazing.
www.myspace.com/huntingbearsband
Myself, Tom, James, Adam and Dan carried on the Cockpit where some obscure and sweaty shapes were launched, some drinks consumed, chips were eaten and dens were made…well, for one lucky member of the posse, that is.
Home to Hogwarts. Sonic. Marble Zone. Done.
Saturday saw me make a spontaneous decision to go watch Huddersfield play with Gary Wood, which was unusually enjoyable. Building on fun with siblings, I made it back to Leeds in time to meet my sister Steph at the Library. I never realised how I’ve barely (if ever) actually mentioned her in a blog before, which is wholeheartedly regrettable. This girl….THIS girl…is something special. Never before has anyone been so academically remarkable with being able to party as hard as Andrew WK circa 2002. It was so, so good to see her. I’ll hopefully have her back in Leeds and dancing by the disabled lift at Stylus in no time.
Emily hosted a freaking awesome Halloween party on Saturday night which could have only been better if me and Sara (Crawford, legend) managed to drop the Monster Mash. I dressed up as Black Frost from The Mighty Boosh’s Tundra episode, which only one person (in well over a thousand I met that night) recognised. I was, however, one icy bastard.
Saw the fucking Cancer Bats on Sunday didn’t I? The gig has long been the staple arrangement in the diaries of The Andes, Adam and myself and after being well and truly entertained by Newcastle Utd and Titus Bramble (bless) in the pub, we headed down t’Cockpit with Si – a new addition to the line up. They were absolutely ridiculous. Flippin’ farcical. Adam, Si and I stuck around to rattle our brains around at Slam Dunk for a few hours after and met the Cancer Bats guitarist, Scott Middleton (unbelievable tekkers).
Top, top weekend.
The neck pain lasted until around Wednesday where I loosened it up nodding along to Avenged Sevenfold at work. They had an arena stage setup and the sound and lights were as good as I can remember at the Academy.
A7x - God Hates Us
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_ua8UyqGa4
I’m more than a little excited as to the return of Alan Partridge and found I was chortling along to Rob Brydon (I still always want to call him Keith Barrett) and Coogan’s ‘The Trip’ on BBC 2 on Monday night. I couldn’t help but think the idea behind it was to showcase Rob Brydon’s unbelievable impressionism tekkers but I considered myself well and truly tickled.
Bonfires. I’m going to go to Hyde Park and look at one with some people I like tonight. I’ve not been to one in around 5 years for reasons of workload, foul moods, hazardous weather conditions and the belief that bonfires are when all said and done…welll…a bit shit.
Nevertheless, I’m game for some flame. Like this guy:
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown - Fire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOErZuzZpS8
Good day x
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