What I Did at the Weekend....
So, this weekend was fun, anyway. Nothing majorly exciting or dramatic, but just good old fashioned fun. Sometimes you forget what it's like to have a night out minus any drama or gossip or bitching and it's pretty cool when you have a night or two that make you remember it.
Shame it all had to start with the twats at the garage pissing me around about my car yet again. This time, apparantely, the random banging noise in the car was down to what might actually be a little mouse living in it. A little mouse.
After staring at the sleaze of a salesman who dared to say that, I had to ask whether that mouse was living there with the cat they had previously blamed for causing a rusty puddle of water under the car. I mean, I know I know next to nothing about cars but even I can tell whether or not I have a menagerie of animals living in mine. They are really taking the piss now and the warranty is up next week, so I have had to make long and copious notes of every time I've been there and spoken to them. I think once the warranty is up, the doors will probably fall off like a clown's car so I kinda want to have some come back.
Anyway, after pissing around at the garage all afternoon I went to see Madagascar again with Alex, Pete, Frin, my mother, aunty and 5 year old cousin. I think I enjoyed it more than the kids there, even the second time round. I still can't get over how much Alex the Lion looks like Gav from Stolen Sun.
Came home to find Science evicted from BB which was annoying as I'd been counting on him to work the other housemates up into a murderous rage and thus rid the world of some total idiots. Now I have to hold down my vomit every time I watch it incase Craig's lovesick antics make me throw up my intestines.
Saturday day time mostly sucked as had to work and there were only 3 of us in all day. However, won some chocolate so was comforted slightly.
The night time was good, though. Really really really very good indeed. Nobody else would come as they all have no taste so it was just me, Alex and Jim who went to the Studio. I don't even care that nobody else came as it was great and you are all the losers for not going, so there.
We took a risk on paying a fiver to see two bands we'd never seen before, but it paid off. First band on were called The Creepers and I was a little bit unsure at first. I think they had a bit of an image crisis going on, to be honest.
Two girls and two guys. Guys were completely devoid of both style and stage presence, but they could play, so I guess it's ok. Well, no, actually, it's not. I have been led to expect good things from rocking guitarists and there wasn't even the littlest hint of a rock star stance or anything. I'll let the drummer off though.
The bassist was a girl who had tried to put together a 50s kind of look (I think). There was definitely some kind of quiff going on that I presume was intentional. Even though I think she tried very hard, it has to be said that she ended up looking like an extra from Grange Hill circa 1989. All blonde straggly perm and I think she might even have had bubble gum. Or maybe that was just my imagination. Despite all that, she was pretty good. Did the usual lady bassist stance, played pretty well and yelped effectively down the mic at the right times. Nothing too special but I quite liked her.
The singer looked like Axl Rose wishes he still did. She had one of those military caps on and very extremely very tight leathers. Not a bad thing though as Axl was great and she looked pretty striking too. She had great stage presence and a hell of a voice. Very bluesy and rich, perfect for what she was doing. I love strong women doing rock music, especially when they just get out there, totally relax and get into it. I don't like to watch anyone who seems like they're self conscious and really aware of the crowd watching them, I love to see people get lost in their music and she certainly did so yay for her.
Musically, they were enjoyable. The quite bluesy, deep vocals worked well throughout and gave a nice edge to some unexpected covers (such as Lipstick on Your Collar by Connie Francis...one of my favourites). It was mostly quite standard rock stuff but with a welcome 50s tinge. I'm not sure if it says much when I liked the covers most out of the set, though. These Boots are Made for Walking was a definite highlight, anyway.
So, yeah, The Creepers, they seem quite promising, worth a watch at least. I enjoyed them and I'd go see them again.
Headliners were Goldblade. These feature that-bloke-off-the-telly John Robb (ex-journo and mostly seen these days on things like the Top 100 Really Dull Yet Addictive List Shows). He seems quite mad, to be honest.
I didn't even notice the rest of the band for the first few songs as he was so mesmorising. I think I was hypnotised for a while by his constantly gesticulating limbs and wild eyed stare. Whether he was gyrating half naked with his eyes closed or leaning menancingly over the crowd looking like he wanted a fight, he commanded presence like few front men I've had the pleasure of seeing. He also danced like the special kid at school having a really good day.
Despite looking like the very definition of mean, he was amazingly connected to the crowd, shaking everyone up front by the hand and asking for introductions. Slightly disturbing was his habit of calling everyone Brother or Sister, as though we'd wandered into some punk rock cult.
As for the rest of the band, well, there were two drummers! I knew I was in for a treat even before they started playing, heh. One was reminiscent of someone who you'd find in a shed at the bottom of your garden and the other was obscured by giant symbols. The remainder of Goldblade were made up of a miniature Dave Vanian, Dan Akyroyd and a very tall person.
Despite the fact the Studio's stage is about as big as the back of a Volkswagon, there was lots of running and jumping (not much climbing trees), along with much pogoing and flailing of body parts. How they did not all crash into each other, I will never know.
The music was just perfect for what it was. If that makes sense. Just high energy, ear achingly loud, fun, nostalgic punk/rock/roll/whatever. For such a small gig, I've never seen so much atmosphere. I think there were maybe 20 people there, but for the way the band acted, there could have been 200, they just weren't bothered.
I really loved their last song. I can't even remember it, but it was great anyway. They invited everyone up on stage with them and this woman just had such a great impact on me. I think she may have been a grandmother, definitely someone's mother at least. Agewise, anyway. She was tiny with a massive shock of spiky red hair, a tiny vest top, denim short skirt and bright red knee high stiletto boots. You should have seen her move! It was just class to watch her losing herself in the music in a way you don't see that many older people do.
I love people like that, in a strange way, they give me a weird boost and some kind of faith. I think it's probably just inspiring to know that not everyone turns into a blue haired cardigan wearer. People like her are a kick in the teeth to all those that say 'won't you regret that when you're older?'. And it's great.
Anyway, yeah, it was a great gig. It made me kinda sad too though. I have always admired musicians and those who can get up there and do that kind of thing, but at the same time, I know it's just not me. I'm not the kind of person who can face a crowd and I've never picked up an instrument in my life, so I get a strange sort of feeling, like, envy mixed with admiration. I know I could go learn an instrument and I think I just might, one of these days, but I know I don't have it in me to get up there and show the world, either - am far too self conscious. Perhaps I could just be one of those moody bassists who play with their backs to the crowd. We shall see.
The rest of the weekend was just your bog standard domesticated thing. We weeded the garden so it no longer looks like a jungle. Alex is now traumatised after a spider the size of his elbow (he claims) crawled up his arm. We're on lock down inside the house in case they get in at the moment. Not allowed the patio doors open in case of Alex turning into a girl.
Today I've been working hard (yeah, right) and eating my mother's delicious scones. Have also come over all weddingy after seeing Steve and Rosie's photos online (congrats you two!). Have decided it's ok for me to walk down the aisle to November Rain and have my first dance to Sweet Child, if it was ok for Rosie to walk down to Queen's version of the wedding march and for them to have their first dance to Ace of Spades.
After discussing weddings with Jane for most of the afternoon, it was left for us to ponder what might have happened that day in 1991 had we been allowed to go backstage and meet NKOTB. We are utterly convinced we'd be married to Jordan and Joe if it weren't for our pesky parents. *sigh*
Staying with the same theme, Alex and I just got back from seeing Wedding Crashers which was actually better than expected. Not original in the slightest, of course, but it had some laugh out loud funny parts and was more than watchable. Find it intriguing how the powers that be are now targeting rom coms at men, using the trailers to push them as a kind of buddy movie to lure them in. Hitch did that, and now this. I wonder if people are left feeling conned.
Anyway, my sisters are annoying me and insisting I update LJ immediately. I'm unsure as this may cause a few heart attacks when people realise I'm still alive. Which I am, I just can never be arsed with LJ. However, I was reading back over some old entries and it was kinda nice to have something to look back on, if that makes sense. So I might update a bit more. Doubt it, like.
Now let's see if I can remember how to do cut tags....