no8

I am a V-amp(ire)

I bought one of these yesterday.
I've only had a quick go on it so far, but i managed to make a £20 guitar with strings that are at least 5years old on it, sound like god grinding his axe, well it sounded good anyhoo.

It's by Behringer and it's cheap but very very good indeed
and called the v-amp 2

Hmmmm Doughnuts

I can't believe how unhyped the fact that it is National Doughnut Week has been.

Mind you I rang up the Doughnut hotline (yes there really is one), firstly you would not believe how happy it made to hear the woman answer the phone

"Hello Doughnut hotline"

But the nearest participating baker is no-where near me.
I want snack treats

ADF

I caugh the Asian Dub Foundation show on Friday night at Shepherds Bush Empire (cheers farzana) and was suitably impressed.

I don't know much about ADF, but they played a pretty cracking show, complete with the brother MCs in matching baseball caps. Top tune had to be Free Satpal Ram. Its been a while since I've seen a gig where the crowd is so up for it - the floor was heaving up and down in unison and on that last song people got their lighters in the air, swaying. I've never seen that for real before. Excellent!

Celebrities in Stocks

Yesterday morning, BBC3 came good with a stocks and shares programme based on celebrities called Celebdaq
I will admit I haven't even got past the homepage yet.

Look I'm busy okay, but it's well worth a go, especially if you like your gossip and all that cack

Dunno if they are any good...

This image is taken from Excellent Online who have a mix tape type MP3 download selection available right now (hat tip to largehearted boy).

The Marshmallow Coast have been recommended to me, but for the moment, I just like the picture!

Whose Congestion?

So ok, its early days. In fact it is the earliest day of the Mayor of London's Congestion Charging Scheme.

I've been riding into work from Holloway in the north of the city, to Old Street which is to the east of the centre of London and also the eastern boundary of the charging zone. So my route doesn't actually touch the zone, and I start quite some way out from the zone.

BUT my ride in today was incredibly traffic free. I can't believe it, and maybe it to too early to tell, but this charge could already be having an amazing affect on not only London traffic, but the whole feel of the city.

(I think) I saw more bicycles, more pedestrians, and if I'm not mistaken, more friendliness between road users who, today at least, didn't have to fight for every last bit of space.

I felt safer on a bike today for the first time in ages.

I hope this is a good omen. Ken Livingston, the mayor of London, is a brave man. And he may just have got it right.

Small talk & open doors

Well it was the Low from old last night.

Union Chapel, really is a beautiful setting. A real live fully functioning church that doubles as a great venue. It's quite weird to go through a couple of doors and then to find yourself in a bar. This is what the modern church should be all about.

Now don't get me wrong Low really were fantastic, amazing harmonies, understated everything, and the venue just added to everything. Hoever there's something about seeing gigs for free that doesn't quite let you appreciate them properly that and the fact that as with all churches it was as cold as an Alaskan freezer, made us retreat to the bar.

Stumbled home to find our front door open, thanks to some stupid Aussie who is was staying at our house. Luckily no-one came in, but for fucks sake; you'd think someone who came from a land of convicts would be a bit more careful.

Anyhoo today the biggest public protest in UK history took place, and very impressive it as too, I say from the comfort of my home as I watched it on the telly. I really felt like I should go, but what can I say, I was tired, I was cold, and all those people getting in my way. Makes me shudder just to think of it.

About to go out and see my friend Ana for her 30th birthday, if Tom ever gets his fat arse out of bed that is. Don't really know why but I kind of can't be arsed to go if Tom isn't coming I think I will end up in the sidelines, as I don't think I knpow anyone who is going. That is so unsocial, sometimes meeting people can be tedious, you know "Hi who are you, and how do you know____? And waht do you do?" smalltalkitis

Moan moan moan...

Am I supposed to be mentioning websites?
Ah fuck it.

Going Low

Ah the Union Chapel tonight, to see the wonderful Low who masterfully turned "Bring Me Sunshine" into the most depressing song in the world.

At least I hope it is the same Low.

Sometimes you build yourself up, and get let down. Such is life.
Don't you just love valentines day.

No cards (sent or received), but I have had a kiss, from a girl who I should have sent a card to. Kind of makes me feel all cuddly inside, it might have been nicer if I didn't smell like stale booze this morning.

Back to the music, I really should start going to more gigs, I mean, how else will I learn. It's almost beyond belief that I can live in London, where buckets of great bands come and play and realise that I haven't been to a fully fledged proper gig since maybe September.

Maybe tonight will re-instill (is that a word?) the music in me.

Shock! Iraq part of Empire until 1958

I caught a bit of the Empire show on Channel 4 last night and realised that I hadn't been that aware that Iraq had been a part, albeit unwillingly, of the British Empire until 1958 effectively.

How bizarre that we just can't leave it alone even now...

Amplifier

Amplifier - New Fast Automatic Daffodils

Your recruit psychologist thought
"demystifier... sentient amplifier..."

There's a board with four plugs in,
fourth one coming out near amplifier.

Amplifier... amplifier... amplifier... wire...

Two can easily become a crowd,
or an amplifier, amplifier.

There's a board with four plugs in,
fourth one coming out near amplifier.

Amplifier... amplifier... amplifier... wire...

Two can easily become a crowd,
I won't need you making me a clown.

What ever happened to the new Fads?