The Arcade Fire are a popular band. They have soundtracked many bus journeys for me over the past few years. They managed to pack the SECC tonight with a crowd that ranged in age from 12 to 70 (there was a white-haired old granny dancing in the crowd beside me. As a doctor I would guestimate her age at 68).
The support bands were ok. First support band, Whitelight, were an Arcade Fire clone but that is not a bad thing. I bought their EP which I plan to listen to. Second band Clinic were nothing special. I saw them about 10 years ago at the Barrowlands and they were shite. Today they were inoffensive. My mate is a fan but I couldn't see the attraction.
The stage set for Arcade Fire was impressive. They had a large church organ at the back of the stage and numerous video screens showing footage of preachers mixed with live stuff of the band. At different times up to 10 musicians were playing. Drums were tossed around and one member of the band seems to wish that he was a stunt man as opposed to a musician.
The set was a good mix of both albums with a few oddities thrown in. My personal favourite was the organ-driven version of Kiss Off, one of my favourite Violent Femmes tunes. I hope to find a proper recorded version of that somewhere.
I left the SECC happy. It would have been nice if it was louder but it was ok. I can't wait to hear new music by the Arcade Fire.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
The Boredoms - live at the Glasgow Arches
The Boredoms have been going since 1986. They are one of the most famous noise rock bands in Japan. The Flaming lips played tribute to them on their 'yoshimi battles the pink robots' album. They started out as a hardcore noise punk band before evolving into something a bit more experimantal. I own a couple of the CDs and I think 'vision creation newsun' is probably as good a place to start as any.
Back to the point. When I saw that the Boredoms were playing in Glasgow I ran out to buy tickets.
The support act was another underground noise rock legend; Michael Gira, former frontman of The Swans. He was playing some acoustic songs which were intense but otherwise unexciting. Nick Cave does it better.
I didn't know what to expect from the Boredoms tonight. You never can really. I couldn't see the stage too well at the start but some I believe that some non-musical machine was used to create noise. Sparks flew and weird humming noises were heard. After that there was a drumming frenzy which sounded rather good.
They had a strange percussion instrument on stage. It looked like the fret-boards from several guitars stuck to a central pick up. This was played by one member of the band hitting each fret-board with a drum stick. I suspect that each guitar neck was tuned to a different open chord allowing music to be made. I loved this idea.
They played for about 90 minutes. Bits of it sounded like tribal dance music and bits of it sounded like guitar based noise rock. Some bits just sounded like a Japanese guy with dreadlocks screaming but overall it was fun and I'm glad that I was there. I won't forget the experience and I think I would like to repeat it.
phunk
Back to the point. When I saw that the Boredoms were playing in Glasgow I ran out to buy tickets.
The support act was another underground noise rock legend; Michael Gira, former frontman of The Swans. He was playing some acoustic songs which were intense but otherwise unexciting. Nick Cave does it better.
I didn't know what to expect from the Boredoms tonight. You never can really. I couldn't see the stage too well at the start but some I believe that some non-musical machine was used to create noise. Sparks flew and weird humming noises were heard. After that there was a drumming frenzy which sounded rather good.
They had a strange percussion instrument on stage. It looked like the fret-boards from several guitars stuck to a central pick up. This was played by one member of the band hitting each fret-board with a drum stick. I suspect that each guitar neck was tuned to a different open chord allowing music to be made. I loved this idea.
They played for about 90 minutes. Bits of it sounded like tribal dance music and bits of it sounded like guitar based noise rock. Some bits just sounded like a Japanese guy with dreadlocks screaming but overall it was fun and I'm glad that I was there. I won't forget the experience and I think I would like to repeat it.
phunk
Saturday, October 13, 2007
More songwriting
Just did a bit more songwriting today. More rocky than usual. I played bass and wrote the words/did the singing. We just basically jammed the tune out over a drum machine. The song is called 'you can't gargle sand' and comes from an offensive joke. It will appear on myspace on the 'drphunk and the remnants of punani' page if we finish it soon.
Acoustic Ladyland - live at Glasgow King Tut's
I was surprised that this gig was not sold out. 'Skinny Grin' and 'Last Chance Disco' have been two of my favourite CDs of the past year. I've seen Polar Bear and Fulborn Treversham (alternative identities for the Acoustic Ladyland folk) but I've never managed to see the main event.
The support bands were pish. Indeed, the first support was one of the pishest bands I have seen in a long time. The second band was redeemed slightly by an attractive female guitarist but I can't really imagine myself humming one of their tunes.
Acoustic Ladyland were great but I wish they were louder. Saxaphone player/singer Pete Wareham sang all the songs which are often sung by other vocalists on the albums. He gives a sort of Madness/Clash vibe to their sound. 'Cuts & lies' and 'Paris' sounded a bit different but still energetic. The music was loose and shambolic in a good way.
I wanna see them again and I want more new CDs by them soon. I just wish they were louder.
drphunk
The support bands were pish. Indeed, the first support was one of the pishest bands I have seen in a long time. The second band was redeemed slightly by an attractive female guitarist but I can't really imagine myself humming one of their tunes.
Acoustic Ladyland were great but I wish they were louder. Saxaphone player/singer Pete Wareham sang all the songs which are often sung by other vocalists on the albums. He gives a sort of Madness/Clash vibe to their sound. 'Cuts & lies' and 'Paris' sounded a bit different but still energetic. The music was loose and shambolic in a good way.
I wanna see them again and I want more new CDs by them soon. I just wish they were louder.
drphunk
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Talking slowly
With advancing old age I now find that I am generally more direct than I was as a young lad. I am worried that I am sometimes a bit blunt.
For that reason I am shocked that some people still claim to have not really got the message.
Odd.
Shite.
For that reason I am shocked that some people still claim to have not really got the message.
Odd.
Shite.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
A day at the races
I went to the Gold Cup horse race meeting in Ayr at the weekend. I had never been before. It was expensive to get in (18 quid) and a lot of people were wearing their posh clothes. Neds were also in attendance. The whole event was broadcast live on TV.
I bet on a few races in my normal Aspergers manner. I won £13.20 when one horse came in first although my totals bets amounted to £28 leaving me 15 quid down overall. It's a lot slower than dog-racing and less fun in many ways. It's also harder on the pocket.
An interesting experience.
I bet on a few races in my normal Aspergers manner. I won £13.20 when one horse came in first although my totals bets amounted to £28 leaving me 15 quid down overall. It's a lot slower than dog-racing and less fun in many ways. It's also harder on the pocket.
An interesting experience.
The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall
This is another book that I picked up after reading the article on science fiction in serious literature in SFX magaxine recently. I believe that it is about to be made into a film (although I am unsure if an accurate celluloid adaption will be possible).
The book opens with a man who cannot remember his name. He visits his psychiatrist who tells him this has happened to him 11 times before. He begins to recieve letters written by himself before he lost his memory. These letters hint at danger. It is unclear if these letters represent thought disorder (schizophrenia) or are real.
Eric (the man) embarks on a quest to discover the truth.
The book is written in an interesting manner, with diagrams and examples of 'concrete poetry' (if I remember the correct technical terminology from my high school English classes). The story is OK but it does drift into the territory of 'The Matrix' at times.
Worth a read if you can put up with the sci-fi bits.
drphunk
try www.rawsharktexts.com
The book opens with a man who cannot remember his name. He visits his psychiatrist who tells him this has happened to him 11 times before. He begins to recieve letters written by himself before he lost his memory. These letters hint at danger. It is unclear if these letters represent thought disorder (schizophrenia) or are real.
Eric (the man) embarks on a quest to discover the truth.
The book is written in an interesting manner, with diagrams and examples of 'concrete poetry' (if I remember the correct technical terminology from my high school English classes). The story is OK but it does drift into the territory of 'The Matrix' at times.
Worth a read if you can put up with the sci-fi bits.
drphunk
try www.rawsharktexts.com
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Knocked up - film review
Two people have a one night stand and the girl gets pregnant. It happens in real life. She then decides to keep the baby and informs the unknowing father. Hilarity ensues.
This is actually another enjoyable comedy in the style of 'superbad' or '40 year old virgin'. I was laughing a lot when I watched it and it seemed realistic. The birth scenes reminded me of the babies I delivered as a medical student.
I will buy the DVD but I have more money than sense.
8 outta 10
drphunk
This is actually another enjoyable comedy in the style of 'superbad' or '40 year old virgin'. I was laughing a lot when I watched it and it seemed realistic. The birth scenes reminded me of the babies I delivered as a medical student.
I will buy the DVD but I have more money than sense.
8 outta 10
drphunk
Attack of the unsinkable rubber ducks by Christopher Brookmyre
As anyone who has read any of this blog will know I'm a big fan of Brookmyre. His latest book 'Attack of the unsinkable rubber ducks' is not his best but it is still good. I found it difficult to get into at first, probably because the first chapter is written in the style of a Daily Mail journalist. Brookmyre simulates the Mail style so well that it made my blood boil. The other weird thing about the book is the narration by the ghost of Jack Parlabane, the recurring hero of several Brookmyre novels.
Brookmyre again uses his writing to take well-aimed potshots at the idiots and wrong-doers of this world. My only complaint would be that spiritualists are too obvious as a target but it is still enjoyable.
Worth reading but not his best. Start with 'quite ugly one morning' or 'a tale etched in blood and hard black pencil'
drphunk
Brookmyre again uses his writing to take well-aimed potshots at the idiots and wrong-doers of this world. My only complaint would be that spiritualists are too obvious as a target but it is still enjoyable.
Worth reading but not his best. Start with 'quite ugly one morning' or 'a tale etched in blood and hard black pencil'
drphunk
On being 30
I turned 30 on September the 9th. It was a bit weird. I had a meal with a group of friends and spent the night in a Glasgow Casino to celebrate. I had a good time.
So much has happened in my life in the past ten years. I think I've done well. Ten years ago I had long hair and a beard and I looked like a scum-bag. It was intentional. I wanted to be a rock-star or a journalist or an anarchist. Now I'm a doctor. You can't predict these things.
I try not to plan my life too much. Everyone likes to make plans but it is nice to let fate and accident guide things a bit.
Good things and bad things have happened over the last decade. I've loved people and lost people. I've done some cool stuff. I'm almost where I want to be now.
I don't know where I'll be at 40. Hopefully I'll have a steady job. I hope I'm married or with someone. It would be cool to have kids. All the sentimental shit.
It'll be interesting getting to 40
drphunk
So much has happened in my life in the past ten years. I think I've done well. Ten years ago I had long hair and a beard and I looked like a scum-bag. It was intentional. I wanted to be a rock-star or a journalist or an anarchist. Now I'm a doctor. You can't predict these things.
I try not to plan my life too much. Everyone likes to make plans but it is nice to let fate and accident guide things a bit.
Good things and bad things have happened over the last decade. I've loved people and lost people. I've done some cool stuff. I'm almost where I want to be now.
I don't know where I'll be at 40. Hopefully I'll have a steady job. I hope I'm married or with someone. It would be cool to have kids. All the sentimental shit.
It'll be interesting getting to 40
drphunk
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
