You Should Be Dancin', Yeah

Sometimes you see some things that just make you smile. Simple, unsophisticated, heartwarming things that just make you feel good about being alive. Last week while going back to work after lunch, I walked by the local school in the afternoon sunshine, and saw the schoolkids dancing round a maypole. There was something so wholesome and quintessentially English about it - no technology, nothing fancy, just something old-fashioned that the kids had learned. And what's more, they seemed to be loving it, as were all the parents watching.

It put me in a good mood for the rest of the day.

Last Night, The Streets Were Ours

It all started in February. My friend asked me if I wanted to go and see Richard Hawley. I said yes – I’d heard of him, but I didn’t think I would really like it, but I’m pretty easily led and it’s a night out. Plus I had made a New Year’s resolution to get to lots of gigs this year. So, I’m sitting in the venue, waiting for him to come on, thinking to myself “this is going to be dull dull dull, but at least I’ve got a seat”. He walked on with his band, uttered the now-immortal words “Let’s ballad” and I was sold. It was my gig revelation of the year, possibly ever. The man blew me away. I am notoriously bad at describing music, unless it can be summed up in one word, like “punk” or “rock” or “rap”, so I doubt I will offer any major insights here. The word mellifluous should have been coined to describe this man’s voice and you can hear every word – a rare feat and I would be hard pushed to say that about almost any other band or singer that I have seen, no matter how much I love them. When you are wholly unfamiliar with someone’s music, it is pretty amazing when you are able to hear and understand all of the words. The music is a wonderful mix of the old-fashioned yet with a modern perspective. Or at least, that is how it seems to me. It’s nothing like anything else I like.

So, suffice to say, I loved it. Fast forward a few months to last night, when I went to see him at the Albert Hall (christened the Albert Hawley for the evening). I’m not sure how you go one better than being blown away, but whatever it was, I experienced it. The most amazing gig I have ever been at. The venue itself was awesome (in all senses of the word) and he did it justice. From the first song, Hotel Room, with the accompanying glitter ball, to the wall of sound that was the final encore “The Ocean”, the night was just magical, in a shiver-down-the-spine way. We got special guests in the form of Jarvis Cocker, Tony Christie and Richard’s mum, we got a defective amp (which led to a fabulous pared-down version of Ricky Nelson’s “Lonesome Town” and we got the special dry wit of the man himself. I’m still coming down from the experience and words can’t really do it justice.

Imagine had I said no when asked by my friend back in February…. Well, it doesn’t bear thinking about really. Incidentally, she’s now been responsible for 2 other gig revelations this year – Elbow and the Guillemots, but none compare to Richard Hawley. What has she got in store for me next…

MONDAY 26th MAY 2008

PS When my parents were visiting recently, I played them some Richard Hawley, as I thought they'd probably like him. They did. So, when I heard he was playing in Perth, which is near where they live, I told them they should go. My mum couldn't, but my dad did, last Thursday! It's probably the only time he will ever go to a gig that I have recommended, but he went and he loved it. Now, if only I could get him to go and see Forgetting Sarah Marshall...

You are the latest contender - in defence of darts

January means one thing to me. The World Professional Darts Championship.

I love darts. Ever since I was about 12 and studying for exams. looking for any excuse to have a break from the books, I have become fascinated by people standing throwing arrows at the board for points and ultimately cash. I don't play - I just watch. Most people cannot really understand the allure - "it's not a sport", "it's a bunch of fat blokes drinking and smoking and chucking stuff at a board" being usual responses. But this is to take an overly simplistic view and ignores the skill and technique involved.

In days of yore, there was one World Championship, with the finals being played at the Lakeside Country Club, Frimley Green. One championship, one champion, normally Eric Bristow in the days. when I first started watching. In the early 1990s, the darts world split into two, forming two separate codes, the British Darts Organization (BDO) and (eventually) the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). Many high-profile names were involved in the formation of the PDC, including every former world champion who hadn't already retired. There are numerous places to go and find out more if you are interested. You'll find a lot of discussion about the various merits of both codes and a lot written about how the PDC has more strength and depth. I'm not particularly interested in that - I will say however that no player has won the PDC version of the W0rld Championship without having first won the BDO.

The Lakeside tournament is the one I am interested in. It's what I grew up with and as I don't have Sky, it's the one I can watch on TV. The tournament started last Saturday and has already thrown up more than its fair share of thrills and upset.

Why do I love darts? As I said, it isn't as if I play, so there must be something that attracted me all those years ago and that keeps me interested. Without a doubt I enjoy the sheer spectacle of it all. The way the crowd get pumped up, the way the players play up to the crowd, the daft nicknames. For all the macho posturing, it is actually quite camp. The walk ons have to be seen to be believed (current favourite has to be Martin "Wolfie" Adams who comes on to Hungry Like The Wolf by Duran Duran. Wonder if Simon Le Bon is proud? Someone is clearly missing a trick tho' - why has no-one chosen Darts of Pleasure by Franz Ferdinand) But it has to be more than that, otherwise I would be into WWF. For all its beer-swilling image (interestingly, at the BDO Championships, I don't think the players are allowed to drink alcohol on stage any more), it is a game of skill and accuracy and most players are pretty adept at quick mental arithmetic. I can appreciate this. A game can easily turn on a millimetre and there is something about the delicate thud as dart enters dartboard that is aurally pleasing. I would love to go to the Lakeside - a very good friend of mine used to go every year (before I knew her) and has great tales and memories of the place. There's always next year. For now, I'll just have to make do with the TV.

We are young, we run green - Supergrass 21st December 2007

I love music. I love going to gigs. So, it seems natural to kick off with a review of the most recent gig I've been to.

I first saw Supergrass at the London Astoria and it must have been at least 10 years ago now. They were on the same bill as The Bluetones, Rub Ultra and headliners Gene. I don't think I Should Coco had even been released, but I'm not sure. Anyway, that's irrelevant. They were playing 2 nights at the town hall in Oxford in December and it is always nice to be able to walk to a gig. The venue intrigued me - I'd been to music fairs there and in fact, my office Christmas party was held there about a week before. But I'd never been to a gig there.

I caught only the last song and a half of the support act, Little Fish (think inverted White Stripes) but saw enough to make me wish I had got there for the whole set. Serves me right for having another beer.

The band came on and maybe they aren't quite so young and green anymore (but then, who is). Due to the bass player's accident in France, we had the bass being played through keyboards (how terribly Doors). It didn't make much difference - the band struck up and the crowd were in the palm of their hands. This may seem like a strange thing to say, but I've been to many a gig in Oxford where the public were less than embracing (and often annoying the musicians into the bargain). However, that was less likely to happen here given it was the band's home town. They rocked the town hall and sounded great. There was no "Alright" or "Lenny" but that didn't seem to bother the crowd at all (I have to admit, I would have liked to have heard them both). We did get "Caught By The Fuzz", which still works even although they left those days behind them. quite some time ago. Best song of the night? "Moving". I'd forgotten how good it was.

All in all, a great night (even if I seemed to be the only person not to catch one of the ChuppaChups being thrown out by the band and their Santa helpers). Seemed odd to be going back to see a band that I hadn't seen for over 10 years, especially when I hadn't bought anything of theirs since I Should Coco, but it was a great night. Their enjoyment was really obvious too, which was good to see. And also is the best audience etiquette I had seen in a long long time. My thoughts on gig etiquette (or lack of it) will be treated in a future entry.

7/10

In The Beginning

I'm not usually lost for words, but they appear to be failing me this time. In any case, welcome. This is my little corner of the web, for my musings, rambling and general rules for living. In here you will find words on my favourite things, my least favourite things and anything which gets me thinking. Who knows whether anyone else will find them in the least bit interesting.