I just read on the let me live blog at http://medinthemist.blogspot.com/ that people who have cystic fibrosis have to pay for their drug prescriptions while people with other diseases such as diabetes or hypothyroidism get their medicine for free.
Not very fair, is it?
funky
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Sunday, December 17, 2006
The Melvins and Flipper live at the Glasgow Garage
This was a noisy night. The gig was very poorly advertised and it was almost impossible to buy a ticket. The ticketmaster website is shite and nowhere else seemed to be selling any tickets. Luckily plenty of tickets were still available when the doors opened at 6:30.
The first band Porn are members of the melvins and their road crew. They were very loud but generally good. No vocals, all noise and funny clothes.
Flipper are a legend. I first heard of them via Jello Biafra and the Dead Kennedys. They had the honour of being Jellos favourite band and they were one of the first Hardcore bands to play slow. They have lost several members to heroin over the years. Moby boasts of singing for them once in New York when their singer was in jail. It is almost impossible to hear their music although I did manage to track the Generic Flipper album down on ebay two years ago. It's great. Flipper are a true underground treat.
I never thought I would see them live. Ever. I was wrong.
They were good. Singer Bruce Loose is an obnoxious bastard but he has the venom of the perfect hardcore frontman. The bass player tonight was Chris Noveselic froom NIRVANA who is a very tall man and not the sort of person you expect to see in the garage on a wet thursday evening. We got lots of hits including 'way of the world', 'ha ha ha', 'sacrafice' and 'sex bomb'. The highlight was 'sacrafice' which saw 3 drummers pounding away with guitar support from Buzz Osbourne. Sadly the version of 'sex bomb' (my favourite) was a bit too fast but it was a good set. By the way, Flipper do not sound like Nirvana and are probably an acquired taste.
Next up were Big Business, a two piece group who currently play Bass and Drums in the Melvins. They were good.
The Melvins were amazing. Buzz and the bass player work monk-like robes and sported hair like sideshow bob. The music was punishing but beautiful. Best song was the second version of 'sacrafice' of the night during which Buzz told the crowd of his love for Flipper but it was all good. Another beautiful noise.
I've been listening to 'gluey porch treatments' all weekend.
funky
The first band Porn are members of the melvins and their road crew. They were very loud but generally good. No vocals, all noise and funny clothes.
Flipper are a legend. I first heard of them via Jello Biafra and the Dead Kennedys. They had the honour of being Jellos favourite band and they were one of the first Hardcore bands to play slow. They have lost several members to heroin over the years. Moby boasts of singing for them once in New York when their singer was in jail. It is almost impossible to hear their music although I did manage to track the Generic Flipper album down on ebay two years ago. It's great. Flipper are a true underground treat.
I never thought I would see them live. Ever. I was wrong.
They were good. Singer Bruce Loose is an obnoxious bastard but he has the venom of the perfect hardcore frontman. The bass player tonight was Chris Noveselic froom NIRVANA who is a very tall man and not the sort of person you expect to see in the garage on a wet thursday evening. We got lots of hits including 'way of the world', 'ha ha ha', 'sacrafice' and 'sex bomb'. The highlight was 'sacrafice' which saw 3 drummers pounding away with guitar support from Buzz Osbourne. Sadly the version of 'sex bomb' (my favourite) was a bit too fast but it was a good set. By the way, Flipper do not sound like Nirvana and are probably an acquired taste.
Next up were Big Business, a two piece group who currently play Bass and Drums in the Melvins. They were good.
The Melvins were amazing. Buzz and the bass player work monk-like robes and sported hair like sideshow bob. The music was punishing but beautiful. Best song was the second version of 'sacrafice' of the night during which Buzz told the crowd of his love for Flipper but it was all good. Another beautiful noise.
I've been listening to 'gluey porch treatments' all weekend.
funky
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Dialysis and kidney failure
I've just finished my four month stint working on a dialysis unit. It has been a good experience in many ways, I've learned a lot but I could not do it for the rest of my life. People on dialysis are very sick.
You need dialysis if your kidneys stop working. You have two kidneys that clean the blood, removing toxic waste from the body and producing urine. If your kidneys stop working poisons build up in your blood, you cannot get rid of excess fluid and you will die. Dialysis replaces the function of the kidneys.
The whole thing is more complicated than that but that is the basic story. If your kidneys don't work you need dialysis. You are either attached to a machine for several hours on a few days a week or you have a surgical procedure which turns your abdominal cavity into a mini dialysis machine (which is also not ideal as you have to have several hours of dialysis every day although you can walk about while you have it). If you are lucky you might get a transplant but a transplant will at best last for around 15 years and complications can occur.
Many of these patients do not suffer from kidney failure alone. They often have diabetes, auto-immune problems or heart disease. Some of them are very young (19, 20, 21) and some (a few) are well over 80. Many have had strokes or amputations. All of them are dependant on technical advances that have been made over the past 60 years. All of them would have been dead if the year was 1906. Most of them would die if there was a total powercut lasting for three weeks or more in this country. That's a pretty grim thought. I wonder what has happened to people who need dialysis in Iraq.....
I have a lot of respect for these people. For the most part they cope well with having had their lives taken over by disease. We are lucky that in Britain most people who need dialysis get it. It is not the same everywhere. I hope I never need dialyisis.
For more info go to http://www.kidney.org.uk/
A good book is Kidney failure explained by Andy Stein and Janet Wild. You can get it on www.amazon.co.uk
phunky
You need dialysis if your kidneys stop working. You have two kidneys that clean the blood, removing toxic waste from the body and producing urine. If your kidneys stop working poisons build up in your blood, you cannot get rid of excess fluid and you will die. Dialysis replaces the function of the kidneys.
The whole thing is more complicated than that but that is the basic story. If your kidneys don't work you need dialysis. You are either attached to a machine for several hours on a few days a week or you have a surgical procedure which turns your abdominal cavity into a mini dialysis machine (which is also not ideal as you have to have several hours of dialysis every day although you can walk about while you have it). If you are lucky you might get a transplant but a transplant will at best last for around 15 years and complications can occur.
Many of these patients do not suffer from kidney failure alone. They often have diabetes, auto-immune problems or heart disease. Some of them are very young (19, 20, 21) and some (a few) are well over 80. Many have had strokes or amputations. All of them are dependant on technical advances that have been made over the past 60 years. All of them would have been dead if the year was 1906. Most of them would die if there was a total powercut lasting for three weeks or more in this country. That's a pretty grim thought. I wonder what has happened to people who need dialysis in Iraq.....
I have a lot of respect for these people. For the most part they cope well with having had their lives taken over by disease. We are lucky that in Britain most people who need dialysis get it. It is not the same everywhere. I hope I never need dialyisis.
For more info go to http://www.kidney.org.uk/
A good book is Kidney failure explained by Andy Stein and Janet Wild. You can get it on www.amazon.co.uk
phunky
James Bond and world politics
The world is becoming more and more like a James Bond film. Over the past couple of weeks the news has been filled with the story of a former KGB agent who has died after being poisoned with a radioactive substance. It appears to be part of an international plot of some for.
The media is full of wild accusations. The former spy named Vladimir Putin as the main suspect in the days before his death but it is difficult to believe that the Russian government would be stupid enough to murder someone and leave a clear forensic trail. The plot is thickening as an Italian 'professor' who allegedly has a murky background has also been involved.
I'll be interested to see how this one turns out. Possibly as the plot to the next Bond film.....
The media is full of wild accusations. The former spy named Vladimir Putin as the main suspect in the days before his death but it is difficult to believe that the Russian government would be stupid enough to murder someone and leave a clear forensic trail. The plot is thickening as an Italian 'professor' who allegedly has a murky background has also been involved.
I'll be interested to see how this one turns out. Possibly as the plot to the next Bond film.....
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Kansas to outlaw practice of evolution
Headline from todays edition of the onion. try www.theonion.com
Also, has the Iraq war now lasted longer than world war two? Possibly from an American point of view.......
Ate in Michael Caines restaurant in Glasgow tonight. It was good. Not cheap but good.
funky
Also, has the Iraq war now lasted longer than world war two? Possibly from an American point of view.......
Ate in Michael Caines restaurant in Glasgow tonight. It was good. Not cheap but good.
funky
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Twilight Singers - Live at Oran Mor, Glasgow
This wasn't the best gig that I've been to this month but Fishbone and TV on the Radio were both exceptional. I really like the Afghan Whigs (singer Greg Dulli's first band) but I only own two Twilight Singers records. I don't listen to them too much.
Nonetheless I was looking forward to the gig. Dulli has a good voice and a reputation for being a strong live performer. It was also the first time that I had been to a concert in the Oran Mor, a converted church on the corner of Byres Road and Great Western Road. About 10 years ago I lived in a shitty student flat on Great Western Road opposite the building when it was derelict so it is nice to see that it has been done up. It's quite nice inside now.
Support was supplied by a guitarist (?Jeff Klein?) from the Twilight Singers playing some of his solo stuff. It was depressing.
The main set was loud. My ears are still ringing. Dulli was in good voice although he is a bit 'fat elvis' now (sorry). Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees/Queens of the Stoneage/Kurt Cobains friend) was on hand to sing five songs including a version of Where did you sleep last night? by Leadbelly. We were also treated to a TV on the radio song in the encore which was entertaining.
The crowd was composed of ageing musos on the wrong side of 30 who were into the Afghan Whigs the first time around. I would like to take this opportunity to say 'hi' to the wanker with the blonde hair and black jacket who said 'fuck off' as my friend and I walked in front of him before the show started. You, sir, are a cock (I doubt he'll read this, I doubt he can read). I was glad to see that a group of people much taller than me soon stood in front of him.
So, it was an OK show. I'm glad I went but it could have been better. I wish I'd seen the Afghan Whigs.....
funky
Nonetheless I was looking forward to the gig. Dulli has a good voice and a reputation for being a strong live performer. It was also the first time that I had been to a concert in the Oran Mor, a converted church on the corner of Byres Road and Great Western Road. About 10 years ago I lived in a shitty student flat on Great Western Road opposite the building when it was derelict so it is nice to see that it has been done up. It's quite nice inside now.
Support was supplied by a guitarist (?Jeff Klein?) from the Twilight Singers playing some of his solo stuff. It was depressing.
The main set was loud. My ears are still ringing. Dulli was in good voice although he is a bit 'fat elvis' now (sorry). Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees/Queens of the Stoneage/Kurt Cobains friend) was on hand to sing five songs including a version of Where did you sleep last night? by Leadbelly. We were also treated to a TV on the radio song in the encore which was entertaining.
The crowd was composed of ageing musos on the wrong side of 30 who were into the Afghan Whigs the first time around. I would like to take this opportunity to say 'hi' to the wanker with the blonde hair and black jacket who said 'fuck off' as my friend and I walked in front of him before the show started. You, sir, are a cock (I doubt he'll read this, I doubt he can read). I was glad to see that a group of people much taller than me soon stood in front of him.
So, it was an OK show. I'm glad I went but it could have been better. I wish I'd seen the Afghan Whigs.....
funky
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Fishbone - live at King Tuts, Glasgow
I nearly didn't go to this show. I didn't have a ticket, it was raining and I was on-call until 9. I'm glad I made the effort. A lot of my friends were there (one from Bristol and another who has just got engaged) and the show was great.
I have a confession to make. I don't really know much Fishbone music. I saw them 13 years ago at the Glasgow Barrowlands with Bad Brains and the Goats but I had to leave early. It was a school night and my mum actually came to pick me up. I was 15 and legally not allowed yo be in the venue. My mum actually knocked on the door to get me and was allowed backstage. I think she actually met the Bad Brains which was cool cos they were one of my favourite bands.
Anyway, I digress. I don't listen to Fishbone much. I have an old LP in a crate somewhere but I haven't listened to it in 13 years. After tonight I'm going to change my ways and raid ebay.
The first band were a funk-rock combo from Bordeaux. The singer bore a striking facial similarity to Sacha Baron Cohen and the band were funny in a Borat sort of way. Lost in translation but entertaining.
Fishbone were a revelation. The musical talent and energy that they displayed was amazing. In a 2 hour set they employed several instruments that I could not name as well as a theramin, Bass, Alto and Tenor saxophones, Trumpets plus the usual array of guitars, etc that you would expect from a modern rock band. Seven large men crowded the tiny stage of King Tuts. It is small. I've played there.
Singer Angelo wore a kilt and a pork-pie hat. He spent half of the set in the crowd. The band seem to be quite into physical comedy with lots of on-stage slapstick moments. Norwood (the bass played) also offered some political opinions before their 'dance with Saddam' song. He pointed out that the Bush family were in the past friendly with both the Bin Laden family and Saddam Hussein. He expressed a desire to attain world peace through partying with Bin Laden instead of shooting people. He said that he wanted to 'party with Bin Laden, fuck his bitches, drink his booze and smoke his weed'. While I realise that these sentiments have a noble pacifist inspiration I feel that they also display a lack of understanding of Islam.
Back to the music. Amazing. Ska funk punk rock. Everyday sunshine. Date rape (a sublime cover). Freddie's dead (Curtis Mayfield). Many more I am unable to name. Brilliant.
If you ever get a chance to see this band, take it.
funk
I have a confession to make. I don't really know much Fishbone music. I saw them 13 years ago at the Glasgow Barrowlands with Bad Brains and the Goats but I had to leave early. It was a school night and my mum actually came to pick me up. I was 15 and legally not allowed yo be in the venue. My mum actually knocked on the door to get me and was allowed backstage. I think she actually met the Bad Brains which was cool cos they were one of my favourite bands.
Anyway, I digress. I don't listen to Fishbone much. I have an old LP in a crate somewhere but I haven't listened to it in 13 years. After tonight I'm going to change my ways and raid ebay.
The first band were a funk-rock combo from Bordeaux. The singer bore a striking facial similarity to Sacha Baron Cohen and the band were funny in a Borat sort of way. Lost in translation but entertaining.
Fishbone were a revelation. The musical talent and energy that they displayed was amazing. In a 2 hour set they employed several instruments that I could not name as well as a theramin, Bass, Alto and Tenor saxophones, Trumpets plus the usual array of guitars, etc that you would expect from a modern rock band. Seven large men crowded the tiny stage of King Tuts. It is small. I've played there.
Singer Angelo wore a kilt and a pork-pie hat. He spent half of the set in the crowd. The band seem to be quite into physical comedy with lots of on-stage slapstick moments. Norwood (the bass played) also offered some political opinions before their 'dance with Saddam' song. He pointed out that the Bush family were in the past friendly with both the Bin Laden family and Saddam Hussein. He expressed a desire to attain world peace through partying with Bin Laden instead of shooting people. He said that he wanted to 'party with Bin Laden, fuck his bitches, drink his booze and smoke his weed'. While I realise that these sentiments have a noble pacifist inspiration I feel that they also display a lack of understanding of Islam.
Back to the music. Amazing. Ska funk punk rock. Everyday sunshine. Date rape (a sublime cover). Freddie's dead (Curtis Mayfield). Many more I am unable to name. Brilliant.
If you ever get a chance to see this band, take it.
funk
Monday, November 13, 2006
Lazy film review - Superman Returns
Just saw the DVD. Didn't like it. Too dark and serious. Bryan Singer should have done x-men 3 instead. Not sad that I missed it in the cinema.
funky
funky
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
TV on the radio - live at the Glasgow ABC 2
For some time now I have been waiting to see TV on the Radio live. Their album Desperate youth, bloodthirsty babes has been a constant fixture on my personal playlist since I heard it a couple of years ago. New album Return to cookie mountain is growing on me. Tonight was the first chance that I had to see them live. My level of nervous anticipation was quite high. I was scared that I would be disappointed and that they would spoil it somehow. A mate had seen them in edinburgh earlier and assured me that they would be good. He was right.
The support band were ok. I can't remember their name. if I do I'll put it in here (.......). Noise with a bit of stooges and spacemen 3.
Tv on the radio were even better than I expected. What was great was the organic quality of their live show. The lead singer Tunde Adebimpe danced around the stage like he was in a gospel choir. Star producer/guitarist David Andrew Sitek had a set of windchimes hanging from the headstock of his guitar for most of the gig. Songs were adapted to the live performance. Wrong way was fast and joyous. Bomb yourself was punky and aggressive with a heavy james brown style bassline. Dreams, ambulance, wolf like me and satallite were all played in a way that revealed new facets of the original song. Recent single I was a lover was excellent.
My mate was worried that they would be a bit serious live but generally they seem like a party band. They took the time to slag off Donald Rumsfeld and at times the stage was filled with smiling lunatics madly banging improvised percussional instruments.
The hipster crowd (usually scum) were into it, singing, dancing clapping and interacting. Tunde told the crowd that he loved playing in Glasgow and invited everyone to come to Manchester the following night before saying how much he disliked Manchester.
The sound quality wasn't great but the noise produced by the band was amazing. Dreamy sweeps of white noise and pulsating rhthymns. Imagine my bloody valentine if they were a barbershop quartet jamming with lee 'scratch' perry. I am hipster scum.
Here are some reasons why you should buy a TV on the radio album if you are a music snob
1. David Bowie sung on their last album.
2. David Andrew Sitek produced the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Liars.
3. They are on genius american cooler-than-you record label Touch n go (home of steve albini)
4. They are also on 4AD in this country (home of the pixies)
If you are not a snob just but the first album cos it's fucking good.
Someday, when I'm old and close to death I hope my grandkids (if I'm lucky enough to have any) will say to me
'grandad, tell us about when you saw tv on the radio'
funk
http://www.tvontheradio.com/
The support band were ok. I can't remember their name. if I do I'll put it in here (.......). Noise with a bit of stooges and spacemen 3.
Tv on the radio were even better than I expected. What was great was the organic quality of their live show. The lead singer Tunde Adebimpe danced around the stage like he was in a gospel choir. Star producer/guitarist David Andrew Sitek had a set of windchimes hanging from the headstock of his guitar for most of the gig. Songs were adapted to the live performance. Wrong way was fast and joyous. Bomb yourself was punky and aggressive with a heavy james brown style bassline. Dreams, ambulance, wolf like me and satallite were all played in a way that revealed new facets of the original song. Recent single I was a lover was excellent.
My mate was worried that they would be a bit serious live but generally they seem like a party band. They took the time to slag off Donald Rumsfeld and at times the stage was filled with smiling lunatics madly banging improvised percussional instruments.
The hipster crowd (usually scum) were into it, singing, dancing clapping and interacting. Tunde told the crowd that he loved playing in Glasgow and invited everyone to come to Manchester the following night before saying how much he disliked Manchester.
The sound quality wasn't great but the noise produced by the band was amazing. Dreamy sweeps of white noise and pulsating rhthymns. Imagine my bloody valentine if they were a barbershop quartet jamming with lee 'scratch' perry. I am hipster scum.
Here are some reasons why you should buy a TV on the radio album if you are a music snob
1. David Bowie sung on their last album.
2. David Andrew Sitek produced the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Liars.
3. They are on genius american cooler-than-you record label Touch n go (home of steve albini)
4. They are also on 4AD in this country (home of the pixies)
If you are not a snob just but the first album cos it's fucking good.
Someday, when I'm old and close to death I hope my grandkids (if I'm lucky enough to have any) will say to me
'grandad, tell us about when you saw tv on the radio'
funk
http://www.tvontheradio.com/
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Thank you for smoking - film review (and a bit of a book review and some stuff about the author)
I first read the novel Thank you for smoking several years ago when I was living in shitty hospital on-call rooms in some non-descript place in the West Midlands. I can't remember exactly where I was (I was moving about a fair bit at that time) but I loved the book.
Christopher Buckley was once a speech writer for George Bush senior. I realize that based on this fact I should refuse to read any of his books but they are so good that I can't help myself. He is an intelligent guy and I just have to listen to a few extra Jello Biafra records to atone for my sins.
Anyway I love the book. It's about Nick Naylor, a man who is a lobbyist for the tobacco industry. He is a 'spin-master' who has the job of promoting smoking and denying that any links exist between cigarettes and ill-health. He is the smiling face of death and he knows it. He hangs about with similar publicists for the fire-arms and alcohol industries.
In the book events conspire to make him think about his job.
The film is a pretty faithful adaption. I liked it. The cast fitted my mental image of the characters from the book. It has been simplified enough to appeal to a minstream audience but it's still pretty intelligent. I urge you to try and see it.
It also touches on some issues that I've written about before. Public health and the nanny state. I hate smoking with a passion because members of my family have died of lung cancer or other cigarette related diseases. I meet people on a daily basis who have horrible diseases that are limiting their lives in terrible ways mainly because they smoke.
Smoking sucks but I believe that people should have (some) right to choose while tobacco is still legal in this country. I do support the smoking ban in public places in Scotland because I hate being in a room where people smoke and I hate smelling of smoke. On a recent trip to England I really noticed people smoking in pubs and it was unpleasant,
In the past lung cancer was a rare disease. Hopefully that will be the case again in the future (as Harry Burns, Scottish chief medical officer, recently said).
Until then, check out the film or the book. I hope they will make you smile.
Christopher Buckley was once a speech writer for George Bush senior. I realize that based on this fact I should refuse to read any of his books but they are so good that I can't help myself. He is an intelligent guy and I just have to listen to a few extra Jello Biafra records to atone for my sins.
Anyway I love the book. It's about Nick Naylor, a man who is a lobbyist for the tobacco industry. He is a 'spin-master' who has the job of promoting smoking and denying that any links exist between cigarettes and ill-health. He is the smiling face of death and he knows it. He hangs about with similar publicists for the fire-arms and alcohol industries.
In the book events conspire to make him think about his job.
The film is a pretty faithful adaption. I liked it. The cast fitted my mental image of the characters from the book. It has been simplified enough to appeal to a minstream audience but it's still pretty intelligent. I urge you to try and see it.
It also touches on some issues that I've written about before. Public health and the nanny state. I hate smoking with a passion because members of my family have died of lung cancer or other cigarette related diseases. I meet people on a daily basis who have horrible diseases that are limiting their lives in terrible ways mainly because they smoke.
Smoking sucks but I believe that people should have (some) right to choose while tobacco is still legal in this country. I do support the smoking ban in public places in Scotland because I hate being in a room where people smoke and I hate smelling of smoke. On a recent trip to England I really noticed people smoking in pubs and it was unpleasant,
In the past lung cancer was a rare disease. Hopefully that will be the case again in the future (as Harry Burns, Scottish chief medical officer, recently said).
Until then, check out the film or the book. I hope they will make you smile.
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