Hounds and other towns
I am without a doubt A Cat Person, but I do like the doggies too. Louise, meanwhile, is very much A Dog Person and nearly died of excitement in the run-up to us going to Crufts.
Thursday the 5th, it was, for “Hounds and Terriers” day (I usually refer to all dogs as hounds in a general rather than technical sense, but I’m trying not to here to avoid confusion). So many cute pooches. We had a long look at the Parson terriers (Jack Russells, my sort-of-namesakes. They’re usually almost as irritable as I am, but the ones here were well-behaved) and miniature daschunds being judged (I’m none the wiser as to the judging criteria but it didn’t really matter when so very many of them were so very lovely), but the best bits were the actual events in the arena. The agility (i.e. the little assault course larks) is so much fun! It’s absolutely hilarious and really should be on the telly. I’d never heard of flyball before but that was also a massive amount of fun to watch.
We went to visit Matt’n’Chel in Leamington Spa on the 6th and 7th, and I mention this here mostly to recommend the wonderful Rasoi restaurant. In terms of food, décor, and service it was wonderful. The website there doesn’t seem to mention the lunchtime (it’s in Leamington so I’ll be posh and say ‘lunch’ rather than ‘dinner’) menu, which is very reasonable indeed (we had three lovely one-course meals and three soft drinks for inside twenty quid). I’m told it’s busy in the week, but it was more-or-less empty when we went early afternoon on Saturday. Go go go if you find yourself in Leam, you won’t regret it.
Also: my run of happening to be on the winning side in Trivial Pursuit continues. My secret is to make sure I’m teamed up with someone really clever.
Catch up catch up catch up
So it’s a catch-up post (as ever), stretching back for three months.
The Leonard Cohen gig on the 22nd of November was originally going to be written about in a post entitled “First we take Marston Green, then we take Berlin”. Not a particularly good title, obviously, but it amused me.
To the NEC arena (has/had it not quite finished changing its name to the LG Arena yet, or has/had it? Confused am [were] we) then, stopping en route for a nice drink in Oldbury’s The Railway Inn at this end. We intended to go to the Wetherspoons at Birmingham International but it was actually shut at half six. Blimey.
He might be older than the dirt in Methuselah’s garden, but Lenny Cohen is still hugely charismatic and (I’m told) very sexy in his double-breasted suit and customary hat. He looked a lot older in the brief spells for which the hat came off. Whilst he’s never been known for being the best technical singer (and makes light of that himself), his deep sonorous voice was amazing. Perfect in every way.
His band were fantastic, n’all. Alongside regular collaborator Sharon Robinson, The Webb Sisters were his other two backing singers. They did the standard (I mean ‘standard’ not ‘bad’) pop-stars-band quasi-gospel backing vox, but from a little bit of their own that they got to do towards the end it seems that their own milieu is a lot folkier. Variation, that’s what we like. His Spanish guitar fella was also really good, and definitely added something beyond just technical proficiency.
Highlights abounded. All of it was a highlight, in fact, but if forced to pick a few than I suppose I’d have to pick “Tower of Song” complete with cheap keyboard and attempts to make Sharon laugh, “Hallelujah” obviously (ooh topical) (well, less so now but it was when I first wrote that), “Thousand Kisses Deep” (one I didn’t know before this gig, but the spoken/recited vocals made it a lot better than the sung recorded version I’ve since heard), a bombastic “First We Take Manhattan”, and probably loads more.
This would have been within my top fifteen gigs ever, easily.
Onwards into December. Whenever my Balkan-gypsy-Hammerhorror-PapaLazaru-danceband faves The Destroyers play at big daytime events (Artsfest, Moseley Folk etc) they’re always enjoyed by lots of little kids who obviously can’t go to the night-time gigs (insert the usual rant from me and various other people here: if there are two bands in the local area who are capable of appealing into a wide variety of people then they’re The Destroyers and Modified Toy Orchestra, and the fact that the conventional music industry’s genre-based schema doesn’t have the ability to read this illustrates a lot of what’s wrong with it). They decided, therefore, to make a daytime children’s show: Tweedeleededeedee, Sir Ru Barb and The Green Wolf at Birmingham Town Hall on Saturday the 6th of December. Lovely idea.
Sadly, it was a bit of a mess, although this was the first ever time it was performed there is plenty of chance to improve. We didn’t attend the singalong workshop type’o’thing that came beforehand, but the play itself had lots of nice ideas that seemed slightly badly done. My main advice would be Turn The Bleedin’ Microphones Up, ‘cos then it might be easier to hear what people are saying (also: persuade the dolly-bird/bit-of-fluff lady that the mic is more useful when spoken into, rather than held at waist level). I imagine it was mostly as a result of this communication breakdown that I found it quite difficult to follow at times. Some of the kids in attendance clearly absolutely loved it and were really getting into it/dancing in their seats, but quite a lot more just seemed to get bored and fractious (especially the little git behind us and his even worse parents). Obviously I don’t like kids to begin with and I do realise the foolishness of moaning about children at a children’s show, but I’m sure quite a few of them would have been a lot more attentive and happy if they’d been able to actually follow what was going on.
I hate saying this, because I really love The Destroyers and have a huge amount of goodwill towards anything they do. I’d also certainly never dispute the fact that this was a worthwhile thing to attempt. There were positives: there was some lovely music, I liked the animations, and the idea of a child been born as a mutant solar-powered sentient bicycle is rare genius. Rare, rare genius.
(Contrasting views exist, of course).
A mooch around Brum followed for a few hours, before heading over to The Old Joint Stock for pies. I very much recommend their pies in there.
Pies aside, the pub also has a theatre. We were there that evening for a stage version of Poe’s “Masque Of The Red Death”, courtesy of The Happiness Patrol. This, I thought, was really good. A two-hander (with the audience and a row of mannequin dolls representing the assembled throng), with Philip Hoyman as a silent servant (who managed to say a lot without saying anything), and Gareth Nichols as an incredibly intense Prince Prospero (a great performance – he kept up a large amount vicious paranoia very effectively for a long time). Unlike the story it centred around Prospero’s neurotic contempt for those he thought he was saving, but the whole thing still had a very eerie air, especially the way the different coloured rooms were represented by bathing the set with lights.
It was veeeeeery hot in there, though. Between the air temperature and all the talk of plague and disease I actually started to come over a bit queasy at the start.
(Other folks write here, here, and here).
To J.B’s for the first time in an age on Tuesday the 9th, and it’s as much of a funny ol’ place as ever. It has what is probably the lowest level of soullessness that a 1,000 capacity pop music venue is ever reasonably likely to have, but gigs there tend to be pretty damn expensive on the door and they never seem to advertise much outside of their own website. It’s unsurprising that the turnout for this Municipal Waste gig was poorer than it might have been elsewhere (I recall a lot more people going to see The Waste at the much smaller Flapper the two times that Gazberg put them on there a few years ago).
Ah well. Iron Lung were the tour support, a two piece (drums/vox and guitar) playing a pretty effective style of violent grind with some slow bits and enjoying their first time in ‘Doodley’ (a mispronunciation that seemed to really upset one heckler, even though his own voice sounded scouse). The sound was absolutely perfect for them and really let their stop/start-on-a-sixpence dynamics shine through, whilst the drummer was a nutter but an endearing one. I really enjoyed them for most of their set, although they did go on for a bit longer than might have been the optimum.
Municipal Waste were massive fun (as always) with their “exactly like DRI but no-one seems to mind, least of all me” thrash metal/hardcore crossover business. They don’t take themselves completely seriously,which is always a good thing. The highlights were predictable – “Thrashin’ Of The Christ”, “Terror Shark” and a rendition of “Municipal Waste IGFYU” after having persuaded most of the audience to get up onto the stage. Their re-titling of “I Wanna Kill The President” as “I Wanna Chill With The President” suggests that they’re not 100% living in the past. Maybe.
(Singer Tony described this gig as “a weird ass show” in a recent interview).
Christmas happened next, obviously. Christmas is lovely.
I don’t like Going To The Pictures. I’m a lot better with films in general than I was a couple of years ago, but I’d still much rather watch one at home and I definitely don’t subscribe to the ‘bigger screen is better’ theory. It’ll pass as a general outing now and again (as long as there’s a sufficiently long gap between ‘now’ and ‘again’), though, and so on Saturday the 10th we went to The Electric Cinema to see Slumdog Millionaire. Florence has since decided she feels the same way about picture-houses and so all is well, but we’d both acknowledge that The Electric is a lot better than most. So very loud, though! That can’t be necessary. The fillum itself was ace, I thought; fast-paced and exciting but still thoughtful, with a happy/fairly sentimental ending but not shying away from displaying the horribleness where necessary.
My first gig of the new year took place on Thursday the 22nd of Jan, going to see Buzzcocks at The Wulfrun Hall in Wolverhampton. Also there was Other Stuff not suited to the maintenance of sanguine temperament, but never mind that.
We went in The Ponderosa first, which was lovely and somewhere I’ll definitely go again. The Lurkers were our supporting artistes for the evening: very Ramones-ish, although perhaps a tiny bit (just a tiny bit) more Oi. Nothing at all new, but I enjoyed them. I especially liked “Come And Reminisce If You Think You’re Old Enough”. Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be.
Speaking of which… nah, only joking, Buzzcocks were fantastic. You can see the years on Pete Shelley though. They were playing the first two albums in full on this tour (that seems to be becoming increasingly common nowadays) alongside other odds and ends came in the encore (although we did have to leave before the end), and they sound as fresh as ever. The big yet intelligent pop hooks which we all know and love weren’t lost in translation as they gave it a surprising amount of welly. Predictably, the bits I found to be highlights were my favourites anyway – “On Our Own”, “Sixteen”, “Fallen In Love”, and… probably some others, I dunno. Lovely fun.
On Saturday the 24th we headed to the Crescent Theatre for Of Mice And Men, courtesy of their own theatre company. The Crescent can be bloody annoying at times. The bar/stairs/corridor were packed with people beforehand, as people hoping to attend the events in both the main room and the smaller one (where this was) walk in every possible direction in small spaces. At least the interval times seem to be staggered on this occasion, unlike the last time I went.
I’m blessed to have seen the definitive (no really it was) stage version of OMAM at The Rep with Matthew Kelly (no really he was), and it didn’t really surprise me to find that this one wasn’t as good. That’s not to say it was bad, though. Everyone in it seemed a little bit wooden and there was plenty of stumbling over lines, but I don’t want to go over the top with that – the cast did a decent job if not spectacular job. The use of space was very good: Candy (the black character, you’ll recall), for example, was present on stage for most of the time but separated from the rest of the cast in an effective mirror of the way he (and everyone else) are isolated.
(Thoughts on taking some kiddies to see it can be found a few paragraphs down here).
Arriving at The Rainbow to see Gregor Samsa on Monday the 26th (I was lucky to find out about the gig. I’m so out of touch these days…), I saw more stuff packed onto the stage than you often see. It was quite the sight. Saw. See. Sight.
Dream Dreams The Dreamer was our sole support for the evening (gigs with only two acts on the bill seem to increasingly be the standard aroundabout now. I don’t like this tendency) and I really wanted to like him, since I never seem to get much out of that Esquilax circle of bands. Ah well. It started with slow chords and screams reminiscent of some less-distorted version of Khanate, before building up to a maelstrom of wrecked organ sounds, feedback and white noise. Fun as that sounds, it didn’t convey anything to me beyond “I Are Sirius Cat”.
I really enjoy Gregor Samsa’s recent album while it’s playing, but can never remember a note of it afterwards (or, indeed, its title – I’ve just had to look up the fact that it’s called “Rest”. It should be noted that neither of these things are particularly unusual for me, particularly the latter). I’m not sure whether going to see them thus makes more or less sense, given that live music is just a half-recalled moment in time. They sounded absolutely gorgeous, whichever way up. A more song-y/standardly postrock-y Sigur Ros is the overall impression they give on record but live they came across as a more song-y Efterklang, with a very lush sound built from a really effective combination of little subtle things and big broad strokes (that’ll be what all the instruments packing the stage were for. Ah right Ted). The small-ish crowd applauded very enthusiastically at the end.
On top of all that, any band with a Kafka reference for a name will automatically be good. I’m sick of having to tell you this.
To the Old Joint Stock Theatre on Friday the 30th, for a version of Look Back In Anger from BISPA/Birmingham Stage School Showbiz. The play itself was new to me, but I loved it. Most of all it was extremely funny, but also a very good depiction of frustration with staid and archetypal lives.
The performance didn’t seem as good as it perhaps might have been, though. The main and biggest problem was that it was too fast – they galloped through it with nary a pause between hastily delivered sentences. A bit of breathing space really might have helped. A bit more clear enunciation might have been nice, too, Luke Beard’s Alex (a performance influenced by John Cleese, one wonders?) in particular. They’re young, though, and I’m sure it’ll all come with experience (and I sincerely apologise for sounding so patronising with that). Let’s be positive: I did really like Davut-Sebastian Atterbury (what a name) as Colonel Redfern, and I definitely wouldn’t say they were outright bad on the whole. Whichever way up, they definitely sold me on the play. I’d like to see the film now, in fact.
The afternoon of Sunday the 1st of Feb saw me going to a boxing card for the first time since June. Warrior Promotions and First Team had joined forces to promote this extravaganza, and sitting there beforehand waiting for things to start I found myself awash with sensations. Anticipation~! Of what was to come. Amusement~! At The Tower Ballroom’s seriously 70s décor. Dismay~! About the fact that someone had let Terry O’ Conner into the building, and if they’re silly enough to do that they’re probably also silly enough to let him referee some boxing matches.
I’d half-forgotten the “home boxer vs journeyman” nature of local cards. It’s not that I dislike watching those matches, necessarily, but given that it ain’t cheap to get in it’s not what you ideally want. Outside of two matches, the “..and his opponent…” corner didn’t win a single round all afternoon/evening. The two exceptions, happily, were really good fights: Rhys Davies took on Hastings Rasani in one of the best few four-rounders I’ve ever seen (toe-to-toe in an almost literal sense from start to finish. Given that this was only Rhys’ second pro fight it’s also worth saluting the brave matchmaking that led to this) and Tony Randell upset Max Maxwell in a gritty ten-rounder for the Midlands area middleweight title (that result surprised me, but not enough to cry robbery or anything like that. I thought Maxwell had edged it with busier and cleaner work, but I suppose Randell – who looked a hell of a lot better than he did last time I saw him – did land more hurtful-looking shots and he definitely had a big finish).
Never mind all that, though, the important bit: Ring Entrance (and, indeed, Name) Of The Day goes to Quinton Hillocks, who came down to the sound of Soulja Boy whilst wearing a superman cape.
(The BBN report on this card can be read here).
The 6th was the occasion for An Inspector Calls at The Rep, and it was really very good indeed – a reprise of the Stephen Daldry production that apparently was very well received some years ago, and in itself a subtly clever play with more obvious (but still worthwhile) stuff laid over the top. The scenery not only looked great but worked with well with the narrative: their big posh house in the centre functioning as the citadel that they the family are dragged out of as they are forced to think about the world outside of their own immediate gratification. At the end only Sheila and Eric end up outside, being the only two who have learned from the experience. Louis Hilyer’s performance as Inspector Goole was certainly very stylised (I would like to know what the stage directions in the script say in comparison to this), but the cast as a whole were very good (particularly Robin Whiting as Eric. I could imagine him in a lot of Coward/Wilde type things).
(Reviews a-plenty! Try here, there, here, there, here, elsewhere, everywhere, probably other places too…)
On Friday the 13th (ooh scary etc etc) we went to see the absolutely brilliant These Four Streets at The Rep Door. Based around the 2005 riot in Lozells in Birmingham (where the rumour of a rape escalated into argey bargey and resulted in a death), it was poignant but also funny and most of all humane. That it was of local interest also goes without saying. It took the form of a series of vignettes of local life, showing how little things can rise and create tension up to the point where only a spark is needed (whether it’s true or has any basis in reality or not). Some were one-offs and some had recurring characters, with the best being the old Jamaican grandmother comforting the runaway asian child and the genuinely tearjearking kid leaving pizza at his mate’s grave. The whole cast were really strong and showed range in delivering a variety of different characters, but a particular salute should go to Lorna Laidlaw. It’s still touring here and there, and is definitely worth seeing – if there’s anything from this whole post that I’d recommend then it’s this one. (EDIT: Alright, so I’d forgotten about Leonard Cohen when I typed that bit. He ain’t likely to tour in the immediate future, though, whereas I know “These Four Streets” is going to be around and about…)
(This initially seemed under-reviewed, but they’ve poured in since then. Try here, here, here, here, and here).
Woozle very kindly allowed me permission to go out on Saturday the 14th for “Priest Feast” (what a name for a tour. What a dream of a name), and so after being disabused of the notion that it was at the NIA (happily this happened before I set out) I headed off to the NEC/LG/Whatever-Have-You Arena. I am only vaguely familiar with Testament but I did enjoy their set a lot. I do at least know that the main thing you want when you go to see them is air guitar on the mic stand (I suppose that’s not actually air guitar. Stand guitar, if you will), and we got plenty. Great thrashing fun, anyway.
I saw Megadeth at only the second gig I ever attended way back in the September of 1997 (the sound was beyond dreadful but it didn’t bother me: my inexperienced self thought that maybe gigs were just like that at that sort of scale. Also: eleven and a half years ago. Ceiling Cat almighty), but that was then and this is now. They have done a lot of complete and utter tut in their time, but they stuck to the good stuff here and so all was great. “She-Wolf” was dedicated to all the She-Wolves on Valentines Day (aaaaw. How romantic), and the amazing one-two of “Symphony Of Destruction” and “Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?” put a massive grin across my face. Dave Mustaine still has a very strange singing voice. He’s still also ginger. I’m sure we wouldn’t have him any other way.
How does one write about the Judas Priest live experience? I suppose the easiest way to sum it all up is that they were what you’d expect in a good way, rather than what you’d expect in a bad way. Thus: ace. Disconnected thoughts would include: Look at Rob Halford there, enjoying himself in his glittery coat; It was a bit of a disappointment that Halfo didn’t initially ride onto the stage on his Harley, but he did that for the encore so all was well. Didn’t hit anything, either; It’s worth noting that The Priest are the first act I’ve seen since Usher to use a hydraulic lift on stage: All (well, most) of your big singalong faves were played – Breaking The Law, Electric Eye, Rock Hard Ride Free, Another Thing Comin’; Painkiller was absolutely shredding; That first one they played from the new album (“I Am Nostradamus”?) sounded fun, too; Priest~!
Right, that’ll do us for the time being. There’s been a big London trip and another boxing do since then, but they can wait for the moment.
Blogging as a cure for delirium
I haven’t been posting much for ages (Have I mentioned that on here before? Because, you know, I haven’t been. Posting, that is. Much, that is. Did I mention that?), but just recently I’ve had an excuse. The Lovely Louise has entered my life and made me as happy as I’ve ever been. If not more so.
Russ L’s handy labour-saving comment-creation device
(Copy and paste into the comments box then delete as applicable)
– Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw, how sweet.
– Ye Gods, pass the bucket.
There has been other stuff, of course. Chiefmost would be Supersonic; this year the best yet, I think. I’ve had some vague notes and uncoordinated bits of waffle written about it for a couple of weeks now, which I’ll try and press together into some sort of literary masterpiece at some point in the near future (pwomise). The Lovely Louise and I went to see Tercunquinto’s “I Am What I Am” at Ikon Eastside and found it to be what might most politely be described as “half-baked”. Still, we had fun (EDIT: Also, this. We couldn’t find/see a blurb at all, but perhaps that’s for the best given what’s a-written there…). I went to see Butthole Surfers at the Civic Hall Bar and they were enjoyable in a ‘really good grooving rock band’ sort of way. Not quite the mad-arsed blowing-your-brains-out-of-your-ears you’re-a-mentalist-smell-my-cheese psycho-tomfoolery experience you want from the Butthole Surfers, but enjoyable stuff nevertheless. Thai Edge on Brindley Place was very nice if not all-out amazing in any respect.
So, there you go.
I’m such a happy bunny.
Lots Of Things To See And Do In The West Midlands: July 2008
It feels a bit feeble this time. This would mostly be because I’m a bit feeble myself and the end of the month crept up on me too fast. Also the Ian McEwan opera thing (what a combination) seems to have disappeared from The Rep’s site, so I’m assuming that’s cancelled. Sorry.
Standard disclaimers: I can’t ensure that these events will go ahead, that they’ll be good, or that I will be going to them. This is just a list of things I found that looked like they might be interesting, so please do not contact me to ask for your event to be included. That’s not the way it works.
All of the Wednesdays from before now until ages away – “These Are A Few Of My Favourite Things” (Various contributors) @ Ikon Gallery, Birmingham – Various people talk about their Favourite Things, in a DesertIslandDisks stylee. Most interesting to me looks like Catherine O’ Flynn, of “What Was Lost” (amazing novel, read it if you haven’t) authorship fame on the 9th of July.
Before now until Sunday the 13th of July – Vivid’s ‘Flux-Fest’ @ Various places in Birmingham – Something calling itself a festival? In Birmingham? The heck you say. It’s to honour the memory of your good ol’ Fluxus movement, anyway.
Friday the 27th of June till Sunday the 6th – Moseley Festival @ Various places in Moseley, Birmingham – Not to be confused with the Moseley Folk Festival in August. There’s a list of events here; Rich Batsford’s Music By Candlelight on Tuesday the 1st at St Mary’s Church sounds good.
Various dates between Saturday the 28th of June and Saturday the 5th – ‘Fourplay’ (new directors showcase) @ The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham – Four new directors doing four one-act plays over the course of a couple of different double bills. The Bald Prima Donna sounds like a laugh.
Tuesday the 1st till Saturday the 5th – ‘Topless Mum’ (Tobacco Factory Productions & Imagineer Productions) @ The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry – Careful now. I mean it. We’ll have no smut here. This is a play about the actions and responsibilities of tabloid newspapers, even if they are using the poncey southern spelling of ‘mom’.
Wednesday the 2nd – Pama International / The Slackers / The Pietasters / Mungo’s Hi-Fi @ The Robin 2, Bilston – The ‘Reggae For The People’ tour. The Pietasters weren’t especially reggae-ish last time I heard them (admittedly this was years ago) but they were very good.
Thursday the 3rd – Paul Heaton @ The Academy 2, Birmingham – Your man there from The Beautiful South.
Saturday the 5th – Eddy Grant @ The Civic Hall, Wolverhampton – Oi! He’s gonna rock down to Electric Avenue, although apparently (and disappointingly) that song is about an Electric Avenue in London rather than the one in Birmingham.
Saturday the 5th – Pentangle @ Symphony Hall, Birmingham – Apparently this is the actual proper version of Pentangle, rather than the “Jacqui McShee plus some other suckahs” version I saw a couple of years ago.
Saturday the 5th – ‘Cocomad’ (Cotteridge Festival) @ Cotteridge Park, Bourneville, Birmingham – With food and stalls and wood carving and some ace bands.
Monday the 7th – Duran Duran @ The NIA, Birmingham – Just don’t go on a pilgrimage to Saramoons where they used to drink, ‘cos although it’s still open it ain’t like that these days. Pointing this out seems to be a popular local meme of late.
Thursday the 10th till Sunday the 13th – ‘Taste Of Birmingham’ @ Cannon Hill Park, Edgbaston, Birmingham – NOM NOM NOM NOM.
Friday the 11th – Lupe Fiasco @ The Academy, Birmingham – And so we kick, push, kick, push, kick, push…
Friday the 11th till Sunday the 13th – Supersonic Festival @ The Custard Factory, Digbeth, Birmingham – Look, it’s Supersonic (hey hey hey hey). If I haven’t convinced you before now then I’m not likely to. Just go, yer nutter, it’s the best annual event out there.
Saturday the 12th – Weatheroak Charity Challenge & Pig Roast @ Wythall Park Community Centre, Wythall – Including five-aside football and “It’s A Knockout” (~!).
Saturday the 12th – The Jewellery Quarter Arts & Designer Craft Festival @ all over The Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham – Bizarrely under-publicised (or at least as far as my sphere-of-noticing-things goes), but it looks interesting. There are workshops and demonstrations and things of sculpting, jewellery-making, and of course Arfs An Crarts.
Saturday the 12th – Andersens @ The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham – Cool-sounding (on the basis of their MySpace page, at least) Japanese psych-folk doings. Courtesy of The Autumn Store, who also bring you more fun ‘n’ frolics on the 22nd – have a look at their events page, whydon’tcha.
Monday the 14th – Jah Wobble @ The Glee Club, Birmingham -Dubby experimentally silly namey erstwhile PIL fella, doing what’s said to be a fusion of dub and Chinese melodies. Leslie Kong would be proud.
Wednesday the 16th – Wiley @ The Barfly, Digbeth, Birmingham – What do you do? Usually drink, usually daaaarrrrnce.
Saturday the 19th – Boxing (Sports Network) @ Aston Events Centre, Aston, Birmingham – Frizzank Wizzank defies his own self-imposed ban on promoting in Birmingham for the second time in two months. You’d almost think the Olympic boxing squad had two Brummies he wanted to sign or something. Featuring, anyway, Enzo Maccarinelli and Audley ‘Not In The Face!’ Harrison for ‘big name’ purposes and Matthew Macklin, Don Broadhurst and Thomas Costello for ‘actually getting the tickets sold’ purposes.
Tuesday the 22nd – Butthole Surfers @ The Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton – Another “if I have to explain it, you’ll never understand” one. Not on the 6th, please note; the date has changed.
Thursday the 24th and Saturday the 26th – ‘Assassins’ (Through The Window Theatre) @ The Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham – A comical musical about the ‘fraternity of presidential assassins’ – the nine men who’ve tried to kill a US prez.
Thursday the 24th – Boxing (First Team Promotions) @ The Civic Hall, Wolverhampton – The latest local card with a bunch of our usual faves, including (at the time of writing) Rob Hunt, Rob Kenney, Scott Evans etc. No Dean Harrison or Lyndsey Scragg though, seemingly.
Friday the 25th – Soweto Kinch @ The Town Hall, Birmingham – Fresh from Flyover Show-esque success, that man Soweto presents this ‘Basement Fables’ show – the second part of his ‘A Day In The Life Of B19’ series.
Monday the 28th and Tuesday the 29th – ‘Like A Fountain Troubled’ (Untamed Shrew Productions) @ The Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham – Of the counsellor more troubled than those she counsels, and the relationship between the two. The description on the OJS site makes it sound sort of ace and sort of crap at the same time, which is as nifty a promotional trick as many you’ll encounter.
Lots Of Things To See And Do In The West Midlands: December 2007
This one seems to have turned out as another “even more music-dominated than usual” one, which is a shame as I don’t think that’s when it’s at its most useful. Ah well. As a fellow Yam once wisely noted, IT’S CHRIIIISTMAAAS!
Standard disclaimers: I can’t ensure that these events will go ahead, that they’ll be good, or that I will be going to them. Please do not contact me to ask for your event to be included. That’s not the way it works.
Wednesday the 28th of November till Sunday the 2nd of December – The BBC Good Food Show @ The NEC, Marston Green, Birmingham – I wonder if they’ll make me one o’ them fancy quail’s egg sammidges.
Saturday the 1st – The Destroyers @ The Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath, Birmingham – In aid of Jibbering Records’ seventh birthday.
Monday the 3rd – Eliza Carthy @ The MAC, Edgbaston, Birmingham – Daughter of thingybob and whatserface, but very good in her own right.
Tuesday the 4th – The Human League @ The Civic Hall, Wolverhampton – I’ve just (while trying to write this) found out that The Human League don’t have an official website, and that this is ‘official band policy’. Now why would that be?
Tuesday the 4th until Tuesday the 8th of January – Salvador Dali exhibition @ Halcyon Gallery, the ICC, Birmingham – Oh wow. Just… wow. You can buy some, too, if you have a few grand flying around spare.
Wednesday the 5th – Lucero @ The Bar Academy, Birmingham – Y’ain’t from round here, boy.
Wednesday the 5th – ‘Birmingham Storytelling Circle’ @ Scruffy Murphy’s, Birmingham – “For people who simply want to tell and listen to stories.” I still think that’s a really nice idea.
Thursday the 6th – UK Subs / Discharge @ The Barfly, Digbeth, Birmingham – Proper punk, albeit at The Barfly.
Thursday the 6th – “My Friend MEG, The Mindreader” (Prof. Paul Furlong, Aston Uni) @ Thinktank, Millenium Point, Digbeth, Birmingham – Magnetoencephalography, Google tells me. A talk about the future of Neuroscience at Thinktank (spit). It’s apparently free, so at least this is one bit of education that the bandits now in charge of Birmingham’s Science Museum won’t be tearing out of the hands of the general public. Yes, I’m bitter. And I’m not being flippant, bloody ‘Thinktank’ makes me hugely and extremely angry. I digress…
Friday the 7th till Friday the 21st – Hungarian Christmas Market @ Queen Square & Market Square, Wolverhampton – You might say that this strikes you as a poor cousin of the German Christmas Market in Brum, but that’s only ‘cos you’re too mainstream ‘n’ such. There are 1000 free portions of goulash being given away on opening day, along with some stooging around from some of the typical class of local radio sorts that usually stooge around at this sort of thing. Enticing.
Friday the 7th – Jeff Wayne’s “War Of The Worlds” @ The NEC Arena, Marston Green, Birmingham – Uuuulllaaa. This features, and I quote, “a 3 tonne, 30 foot high Martian Fighting Machine firing Heat Rays at the audience and scanning them with its bug-like eyes”.
Fruday the 7th and Saturday the 8th – “The Persian Revolution” (Anglo-Iranian Theatre Company) @ The Rep Door, Birmingham – The tale of The Iranian Constitutional revolution. Said to be dark and sinister but also surprisingly funny in parts.
Friday the 7th to Monday the 30th – “Santa Claus: The Musical” @ The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham – A little girl strives to save Christmas from the threat of the evil Ice Queen. I hope she succeeds.
Saturday the 8th – IKF Amateur Kickboxing Championships (K-Star/AKA England) @ The Royal Suite, Perry Bar, Birmingham – I thought it was amateur full contact, but the bottom of the poster says it’s open to all styles and mentions Muay Thai, K1, San-Shou etc. I’ve no idea what the rules are, then. Apparently there’ll be some MMA bouts on the card too.
Sarurday the 8th – Birmingham Blitz Derby Dames vs London Rollergirls (Roller Derby) @ Cocks Moor Woods Leisure Centre, Kings Heath, Birmingham – I’m still not sure I understand what’s going on here. I hope Birmingham beats London, though.
Sunday the 9th to Sunday the 16th – “Holly Ghastly And The Thirteen Days Of Christmas” (Screamin’ Voice Youth Theatre) @ The Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton – Yet another one trying to spoil Christmas. I dunno, eh? What is it with these thespians? Once more, may her plans be foiled.
Sunday the 9th – Canal Boat Light Parade @ all down the canal from NIA to The Mailbox, Birmingham – Pretty lit up boats! Some of them threw out sweeties to the onlookers last year. It got busy, though. Make sure you get a good spot.
Sunday the 9th – “Magical Narnia Christmas” @ Haden Hill House, Cradley Heath – (I can’t find a more specific link than that, sorry, but there’s more nice xmas stuff at the other end of it). Go through the wardrobe into all sorts of Christmas-y larks. I’m told the Narnia books are thinly veiled Christian mythology (I didn’t pick that up when I was little, but then again I was – y’know – little. I have recently bought them for a re-read, actually, but it might be a while before I get round to them. I have a big ‘unread’ pile at the moment), so that may or may not please those who tediously refuse to accept the modern-day duality of the thing. It’s free but I think you have to pay to see Santa, so bear that in mind.
Monday the 10th – Rihanna @ The NEC Arena, Marston Green, Birmingham – Umbrella… ella… ella… a… a… honk… honk… HONK…
Monday the 10th – MIA @ The Rojac Building, The Custard Factory, Digbeth, Birmingham – Another disclaimer: I’ve linked her website, but I accept absolutely no responsibility for any seizures or epileptic fits caused by anyone being saft enough to click on it.
Monday the 10th – Carina Round @ The Bar Academy, Birmingham – Oh, I don’t know, I just don’t know. There was once a time when I wouldn’t have hesitated at all. She’s at The Little Civic in Wolves on the eleventh, too.
Monday the 10th – Rolo Tomassi @ The Little Civic, Wolverhampton – I like the one where they go “Squiddleybob squiddleybob DADADADADADA GRAAAGH diddlediddlediddleydiddle…”
Monday the 10th – The Damned @ The Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton – Hoary old punk veterans and their ‘first ever theatrical performance’ of ‘The Texas Chainsaw Travelling Horror Picture Show’. I don’t have the first idea what that might mean, but it sounds good.
Monday the 10th – Boxing (Pat Cowdell) @ The Holiday Inn, Birmingham – Look, it’s not just me who doesn’t like dinner shows.
Tuesday the 11th – The Young Gods @ The Barfly, Digbeth, Birmingham – Pending a lawsuit from The Young Knives for using one of their official band-name words, obviously. What, you think I’m joking?
Tuesday the 11th – Gogol Bordello @ Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton – Sold out. Those with genuine gypsy-punk skills may no doubt be able to gain access nonetheless.
Wednesday the 12th – ‘Christmas Ghost Stories” (7 Inch Cinema) @ Highbury Hall, Moseley, Birmingham – At Joseph Chamberlain’s erstwhile country retreat (within Birmingham nowadays, of course), this features obscure scary films such as are 7 Inch Cinema’s forte, music courtesy of Nic Bullen and various DJs, an installation by Scott Johnston, and a bar with a fire.
Thursday the 13th till Sunday the 16th – Jasper Carrott’s “Rock With Laughter” @ The NEC Arena, Marston Green, Birmingham – Featuring Jamelia and all sorts of other singists and comedists. It’s all for chari-dee.
Thursday the 13th – Apocalyptica @ Academy 2, Birmingham – Another one of those bands who seemed like an obscure curio about half a decade ago and then (next thing I know) they’re apparently all well-known and such. They play Metallica covers on cellos. The fact that this is sold out illustrates quite a few things that don’t make sense about This Modern Age.
Thursday the 13th – Frank Sidebottom’s Xmas Show @ The Little Civic, Wolverhampton – He’s uncannily convincing when he dresses up as Santa. Had me fooled, anyway.
Thursday the 13th and Saturday the 15th – Elgar’s Enigma @ Symphony Hall, Birmingham – Continuing the Elgar anniversary, alongside Grieg’s Piano Concerto and some of (presumably only some of) The Nutcracker Suite.
Thursday the 13th – The Capsule Christmas Party @ The Medicine Bar, The Custard Factory, Digbeth, Birmingham – With Qui, Moss, Beestung Lips, punch (if it’s mixed by the same person it was a couple of years ago it’ll be potent. Shame I didn’t get any, really…), and (not certain about this, but I’m willing to bet) some cake.
Saturday the 15th – High On Fire @ The Barfly, Digbeth, Birmingham – Beer und heavy metal, ja. Pelican are playing too but don’t let that put you off.
Sunday the 16th – The Pogues @ The Academy, Birmingham – I got far more excited than was seemly when I thought Braggy was supporting them, but fate did its cruel work yet again.
Sunday the 16th – Chrome Hoof @ The Bar Academy, Birmingham – Bassoons, Bacofoil, and what I believe I described as Krautrock-Disco-Metal.
Monday the 17th – The Wildhearts @ Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton – I probably should’ve got Throughsilver to do a guest LOTTSADITWM spot for this. Ah well.
Tuesday the 18th – Bad Manners / Splodgenessabounds @ The Barfly, Digbeth, Birmingham – Two pints of lager and a lip up fatty, please.
Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th, then Friday the 21st and Saturday the 27th – ‘Christmas Music By Candlelight’ (Ex-Cathedra) @ St Paul’s Church, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham – Lit only by the singers’ candles, which sounds really lovely. You are, however, “invited to bring your own mulled wine and mince pies for the interval”.
Wednesday the 19th until Sunday the 27th of January – Aladdin @ The Hippodrome, Birmingham – Pantomime! Featuring Captain Jack! Or John Barrowman, as some people bizarrely seem to know him.
Thursday the 20th – John Cooper Clark / The Courtesy Group @ The Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath, Birmingham – The latest Curate’s Egg night. I have elsewhere expressed my misgivings, as amazing as TCG may be.
Sunday the 23rd – GBH / Drongos For Europe @ The Barfly, Digbeth, Birmingham – Proper punk, albeit at The Barfly (part 2).
Sunday the 23rd – ‘Scrooge’ alldayer @ The Rainbow, Digbeth, Birmingham – Not a version of ‘A Christmas Carol’ but a myoosickle event courtesy of those Robot Professor lads. For a £4 door tax there are seventeen acts (on two stages) according to the flyer, including the thoroughly bosting likes of Mothertrucker, Blakfish, PCM, and Grandscope. You can’t fault that for value.
Tuesday the 25th – Christmas @ Everywhere – Incidentally, a Merry Christmas to all of you at home.
Weekending
I know I’ve been doing a lot of moaning on this here blog just lately, and I’m sorry about that. I attended quite a few things over the weekend, though, and enjoyed most of them. This post will therefore have a happier tone.
Thursday night (not really the weekend, I suppose, but I’m sure you’ll forgive me) saw me hurtling over to Kings Heath as fast as the buses would carry me after work, to see Efterklang at The Hare & Hounds. I wasn’t expecting a large crowd for this, but there turned out to be plenty in attendance for another Live Set of The Year Candidate. As with so many of the best bands they turned out to be very difficult to describe. They were lovely, and although I know a lot of people see ‘lovely’ as a weak adjective I personally have few higher compliments than to proclaim something as being a source of genuine loveliness. Sigur Ros seem like cheap comparison, but are somewhere – distantly, vaguely – in the right area. Solid, though, not fragile and floaty. I’m not making a lot of sense, am I? They play interesting, sprawling works, with developing themes and all sorts of different textures. And they wear bizarre trousers. If that’s not enough then I don’t know what is. Definitely a LSOTC, as I’ve said, and yet another band I need to get some recorded works by.
On the Friday night I went with The Parentals to go and see ‘A Christmas Carol’ at The Arena in Wolverhampton, courtesy of Oddsocks Productions. This has to be the thing I’ve seen the most versions of, between stage & screen (and the story itself, obviously). I’m happy to say, though, that this was one of the better – emphasising the silly comic bits and adding more of their own (I doubt Dickens would disapprove), but/and pricelessly funny. It really, really was. Musical interludes from the cast beforehand and during the intermission added an extra bit of niceness, the use of the scenery was ingenious, and unexpected bursts of actual acting took place at times too. It was fantastic all round, and I really hope to see some more Oddsocks plays at some point.
I haven’t completely lost my discriminatory faculties. Saturday night saw a trip to the Wolverhampton Road (that’s in Oldbury/Langley) Wing Wah, and it’s definitely gone downhill. It’s an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet place, for anyone who doesn’t know, but there seems to be less of a selection than there used to be (they’ve re-arranged it all, but it definitely looks like less), and it didn’t actually seem as nice as on previous occasions. More grease, less flavour. Oh well.
The Frankfurt Christmas Market was visited on Sunday afternoon, which was as lovely as I’ve found it in the past but far too busy. I find it very difficult to enjoy myself when somewhere that dense with people. A nice drink in Bacchus followed. I love that place, but felt sorry for the staff this time. They seemed a bit undermanned.
Finally, it was time for Pam Ayres’ do at The Town Hall. Blessedly, they seem to have rectified the signs (see here). I was surprised by the audience (old. And I’m not being mid-twenties-centric, either – a lot of people would view this as an old crowd), but also surprised by Pam’s act. Very funny (that wasn’t the surprise), consisting mostly of raconteurship/stand-up sort of stuff, into which she sprinkled a few of her poems. I enjoyed it even more than I expected to, which is always nice under any circumstance.
There you go, then. As ever, tonnes of interesting and fun things happen if you bother to look out for them.
Lots Of Things To See And Do In The West Midlands: November 2007
This nearly didn’t exist. We had a dead proper computer for half of the month, and I would have been damned if I was typing all of this on a sodding laptop.
Standard disclaimers: I can’t ensure that these events will go ahead, that they’ll be good, or that I will be going to them. Please do not contact me to ask for your event to be included. That’s not the way it works.
Thursday the 1st to Saturday the 3rd – Gigbeth @ various venues in Digbeth, Birmingham – I think I liked it more last year when it was free, but there’s all sorts of stuff a-happening.
Thursday the 1st to Saturday the 3rd – Flip Animation Festival @ The Lighthouse, Wolverhampton – Your chance to behave in an animated fashion. There are a few different things going on, illuminated in PDF form here.
Friday the 2nd – Meatloaf @ the NEC Arena, Marston Green, Birmingham – Part of the same tour that we attended earlier this year.
Saturday the 3rd – “Capsule & Cake” @ The Rainbow, Digbeth, Birmingham – Part of the aforementioned Gigbeth, so you’ll need one of their day/weekend tickets to get in. Amongst others, PCM, Bee Stung Lips, The Plight and Cutting Pink With Knives are playing.
Saturday the 3rd – “Project X Presents” @ The Rainbow Warehouse, Digbeth, Birmingham – Six hours worth of assorted things, including Einstellung, Rich Batsford, Reginald Hunter, Aashiq Al Rasul, and plenty more. Theoretically part of Gigbeth but it’s worth noting that you need a specific ticket for this to get in.
Saturday the 3rd – I.S.K.A. British Opens @ Cocksmoor Woods Leisure Centre, Kings Heath, Birmingham – Semi and light contact kickboxing.
Tuesday the 6th till Saturday the 10th – “Slava’s Snowshow” @ The Hippodrome, Birmingham – Sod your cynicism, this last year was honestly one of the most wonderful things I have ever seen on stage. Really, really magical.
Thursday the 8th – Gallon Drunk / The Courtesy Group @ The Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath, Birmingham – Part of the apparently undersubscribed ‘Curates Egg’ night. I can hardly complain, ‘cos I haven’t attended anywhere near enough of them myself, but you know how it works when we all ignore the interesting things and then wish we hadn’t… (Edit: I has a flyers).
Thursday the 8th till Saturday the 10th – “Reddington’s Rare Records – Music And Memories” @ The Alexandra, Birmingham – A production about the missed-by-many Reddingtons 2nd hand record shop, featuring music from King Pleasure And The Biscuit Boys and sundry other unnamed “special guests.” Sounds like it’ll be different, if nothing else.
Friday the 9th – Acid Mothers Temple @ The Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath, Birmingham – The march of the progress of Engrish advances. When unclear conversion is compared when there is Japanese psychedelia, the heart which is expanded simultaneously is small with method of affirmative quality, which it offers simultaneously. If there is no brain, it cannot understand that.
Saturday the 10th – Alice Cooper / Motorhead / Joan Jett @ The NEC Arena, Marston Green, Birmingham – On the one hand, this will rock like little else. On the other, the chances are slim-to-nil of the whole gig going by without someone’s hips going or their arthritis starting to play up.
Sunday the 11th – ‘Muay Thai Superfights’ (Showsport) @ The Civic Hall, Wolverhampton – The annual big Showsport card. I don’t follow Thai (I probably would if it was easier to do so) but even I gather that Michael Dicks vs Tim Thomas is a really big fight at the domestic level. This one also features the well-known likes of Richard Cadden, Reece Crooke, Liam Robinson and various more.
Tuesday the 13th – Heaven And Hell @ The NEC Arena, Marston Green, Birmingham – Heaven And Hell are basically the “Mob Rules” era line-up of Black Sabbath, which is pretty good on “excluding the two original members least likely to make it all the way through the gig” grounds. Will this fill the NEC, though? I wonder about that. Intense wondering takes place.
Tuesday the 13th – Bedouin Soundclash @ The Barfly, Digbeth, Birmingham – That’s right, them from off of the adverts and such.
Wednesday the 14th – “Meeting Joe Strummer” (Middle Ground Theatre Company) @ The Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton – Exploring the man’s life and times without simply being a biopic, apparently. I will be there if I don’t get Lost In The Supermarket on the way. Lord, that was a poor joke.
Wednesday the 14th – Amy Winehouse @ The NIA, Birmingham – I was going to continue my on-running LOTTSADITWM ‘Amy lookalikes’ joke here, but it seems a bit cruel now. Maybe when she’s better. It was either going to be Pete Burns or a shrub of some kind, if that helps.
Thursday the 15th – The Four Tops / The Temptations @ The NIA, Birmingham – So, between Alice Cooper, Motorhead, Joan Jett, Dio & Black Sabbath, The Four Tops, and The Temptations – is it “Good music but their hips packed up decades ago” month or something?
Thursday the 15th – The Lord mayor’s Mega Quiz @ The Great Hall, Birmingham University, Edgbaston, Birmingham – Hosted by Nick Owen of ‘Midlands Today’ world-fame.
Friday the 16th – Will Haven @ The Little Civic, Wolverhampton – Reunited. I saw ‘em first time around, ‘cos I’m good like that.
Saturday the 17th – AMMA @ The Holte Suite, Villa Park, Aston, Birmingham – Amateur MMA, with standing headshots. The last two AMMA events really have been fantastic. The card as it stands can be inspected here.
Saturday the 17th – The Supreme Cat Show @ The NEC, Marston Green, Birmingham – Aaaaw. Courtesy of ‘The Governing Body Of The Cat Fancy’, which is surely the greatest name for an organisation that I have ever heard in my life.
Saturday the 17th till Sunday the 25th – “Grand Slam Of Darts” @ the Civic Hall, Wolverhampton – I not a darts fan as such but I do approve of it. It’s a worthwhile pursuit, I feel. I’m told that some of ‘em have finally caught up with Phil “The Power” Taylor, so maybe it’ll even be competitive.
Sunday the 18th – Mono/Jesu/Mothertrucker @ The Medicine Bar, The Custard Factory, Digbeth, Birmingham – Mono’s “Heavy like Beethoven” slogan has to be one of the poorer attempts at saying “We don’t see ourselves as an everyday rock band” that I’ve heard of late. Still, this should be very good.
Sunday the 18th – Boxing (Pugilist Promotions) @ The Rojac Building, The Custard Factory, Digbeth, Birmingham – Apparently, there’s gonna be boxing somewhere in The Custard Factory. I don’t know precisely where but I’d guess at The Rojac Building (that’s the only place with sufficient floorspace that leaps to mind) (Edit: confirmed in the comments below). Whichever way up, this features D. Mitchell and Thomas Costello, amongst others.
Monday the 19th – Ladysmith Black Mambazo @ The Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton – Baked beans, get your baked beans…
Monday the 19th to Wednesday the 21st – Frank Skinner @ The NIA, Birmingham – (Insert usual story about him going to the same school as me, only earlier, and teaching at a college I went to, only earlier).
Tuesday the 20th – Mahler’s First (CBSO) @ Symphony Hall, Birmingham – Mahler once again proves that being a bit neurotic is not necessarily a bar to being completely ace.
Tuesday the 20th – Jill Scott @ The Academy, Birmingham – I really like Jill Scott and she was great last time I saw her, but £28.50 (!) for a gig at The Academy is taking the piss more than just a little bit.
Thursday the 22nd – Efterklang @ The Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath, Birmingham – Pretty and minimal sort of stuff. I think ‘twinkly’ is the word I’m looking for.
Saturday the 24th – Muay Thai (K-Star) @ The Royal Suite, Perry Bar, Birmingham – Featuring Damien Trainor vs Rungchai. As above, I don’t know my Muay Thai in all that much detail, but I gather this is a big fight and having seen their first match I’m sure Damien will be boiling over with the urge to set a few things straight. There might be a few MMA matches on this card too (I’m not sure about that).
Sunday the 25th – Pam Ayres @ The Town Hall, Birmingham – You know what I wish? I wish I’d looked after me teef. That’s what I wish.
Tuesday the 27th – “Bach To Beethoven” (CBSO) @ Symphony Hall, Birmingham – I can’t help but be reminded of Douglas Adams’ quote – “When I hear Beethoven I understand what it was like to be Beethoven, when I hear Mozart I understand what it’s like to be human, but when I hear J.S. Bach I understand the universe.”
Tuesday the 27th – “The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas” (Bilston Operatic Company) @ The Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton – You simply can’t argue with that as a title.
Wednesday the 28th till Sunday the 2nd of December – The BBC Good Food Show @ The NEC, Marston Green, Birmingham – Mmmmmmm… foods.
Thursday the 29th – Beverley Knight @ The Civic Hall, Wolverhampton – Our Bev comes home again.
Thursday the 29th – Ronnie O’ Sullivan vs John Higgins @ The NIA, Birmingham – As with the darts above, I’m not a snooker fan but it’s definitely a sport of which I approve.
Friday the 30th – Speakers Corner @ The Town Hall, Birmingham – Organised by Don Letts, this has seven artists (with Skinnyman being about the most famous amongst them) backed by a house band, discoursing on the subject of what it means to be free in modern-day Britain and the legacy of slavery.
Assorted gubbins
Two restaurant trips took place recently, although both are establishments I’ve written about before. Earlier this week I went to the Chiquito in Bentley (between Walsall and Wolves). It was as good as usual and I have nothing to say that I haven’t said before. Definitely my favourite chain restaurant, though. We discovered that they have a magician there on Sunday afternoons. That sounds like fun to me.
Last night a trip was made to Café Soya for Father’s Day purposes (yes, I know Father’s Day is today). This is another one I’ve written about many times before. The food is always fantastic. It’s always seemed quite echo-y and loud in there, though, and that was really apparent this time. Others in our party complained about the waiters randomly refilling some of our glasses but not others’, but since I got the better of it I don’t mind so much.
On Friday night I went to The Hippodrome to see a bit of the Birmingham Royal Ballet, dahling. I’ve never really been that much of one for interpretive dance and I still wouldn’t pretend to ‘get’ it, but I’ve enjoyed the various bits and bobs I’ve seen over the last couple of years. This was the BRB’s ‘Summer 2007 Mixed Bill’ and tickets were my birthday present for Nyki.
Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons was first, given a sporting theme. I can’t say I was enthralled by this, although the little visual joke referring to that famous picture of the tennis player scratching her arse made me chuckle. The Nine Sinatra Songs (a few of which I’d already seen at last year’s Artsfest) were a lot more fun, though, veering between playful and intense like the great man himself. The violent “That’s Life” was great, as was the (deliberately) nervous and awkward “Something Stupid.” Having all of the couples on stage at once to provide a sort of sensory overload during the big orchestral swell at the end of the closing “My Way” was a great touch, too. Pineapple Poll finished things off, a nautical tale of a flower-seller girl falling in love with the captain of a ship and impersonating a sailor to get nearer to him, all the while pursued by the lovelorn potman from the local pub. Very silly but absolutely loads of fun. Happy ending, too.
So yes, I still don’t understand dance (as well you can tell from my attempts to write about it), but I had lots of fun.
leave a comment