mostly on a music tip

Things The Grandchildren Should Know

In the airport lounge as I sat waiting for the flight back from Groningen I finished reading Mark Everett's 'Things The Grandchildren Should Know'. Mark is better known as E, and with his band, as Eels. I'm probably as much a fan of Eels as you are -  that is I bought Novocaine For The Soul, bought that first album, have loosely paid attention to everything since, but not bought anything or seen the band in concert. 

I doubt you'd enjoy Mark's book if you knew nothing about Eels, but having the thinnest of passing knowledge, as I do, is enough to thoroughly enjoy this autobiography. Mark writes openly, honestly, and concisely. The book skips by in 200 pages - there's many biographies out there with a tenth of the story and hundreds more pages - but Mark isn't interested in flowery language and drawing things out, partly, I think, because there's so much death in his story that perhaps he fears if he pauses too long over a chapter he'll die before the end. It's a great read, well recommended.

Eurosonic

I'm just back from my first trip to Eurosonic. Eurosonic is an annual music industry conference and festival in Groningen. Huw went last year and came back enthusing about it, so I decided to join him this year. It was well worth it. Over the two nights I saw a bundle of great bands, a handful of which I will be looking to bring into Wales this year either for standalone shows or for SWN. 

On Thursday we started with Sweden's excellent Dag For Dag, then a less exciting show from Firefox AK and even more dullnss from Solange La Frange. We caught the end of Sharko, who I was drawn to be their quite ridiculous description of being 'a cross between The Police and Captain Beefheart'.  You don't get to hear that too often... what I did hear I enjoyed, though that was mostly an extraordinary cover of Cyndi Lauper's 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun'. The definite highlight of my night was Soap&Skin - a wonderful mixture of songs and stage presence from this solo performer. Dark, but wonderful. Light, but wonderful, were Hjaltalin, a 9-piece from Iceland with (surprise surprise) many echos of Sigur Ros. They were fantastic. As Andy commented, "It's not often you get to hear a band ask for more bassoon in their monitor mix." Watching Tone, I was utterly confused, thinking I was watching the duo behind 'Le Joli Dragon' but wondering how they could be so young, having released a track almost a decade previously. AQA corrected me by pointing out Le Joli Dragon was written and performed by *Le* Tone in 1999... No such mistaking Micachu & The Shapes, who were excellent as ever. White Lies weren't too bad either. A bit of a current guilty pleasure of mine.

James Yuill was Radio 1's choice to take out to Eurosonic and he made a lot of sense to a European crowd in a packed out show. I first met him at Latitude and he was a great fit there too. His is a strange mix of house beats and acoustic guitar but it works well - though I've not really heard him on record - it's always been about him playing live.

Set of the weekend came from First Aid Kit. Two sisters, aged 15 and 17, who must have done nothing but learn to play instruments and write songs since conception, because there is no other way to explain how they came to be so talented at such an age. Their lyrics belie their years too. The complete package. It's January 16th and I'm already wondering what I'm going to have to do to top this performance in 2009. Utterly brilliant.

The rest of the night is spent seeing some UK bands who played at SWN but whom I never got to see. One major downside of running a festival is that you get to pick all these fantastic bands, but can't see most of them because you're busy running the thing. Eurosonic offers up the chance to see sets by Rolo Tomassi, The Big Pink and Casiokids, who are all superb. Top marks to Eurosonic for such good taste. I'll most definitely be back in 2010...

Carl Hiaasen 'Basket Case'

 

One of my New Year's Resolutions (no 16 in fact) was to read 24 books this year. I've now finished the first, Carl Hiaasen's 'Basket Case'. It was an easy read - one to romp through - though that's not to suggest it's not well written. One of my other resolutions is to learn 100 new words (no 18) and I found myself adding a dozen words or so which I encountered in Basket Case. One thing I love about reading several books by an author in a short space of time is that you often get to learn their vocabulary very quickly. I have another of his books which I'll come to sometime this year, and judging by how much I enjoyed Basket Case, I'll be buying some more of his extensive back catalogue too, so I'll be intrigued to see how many new words he can add to my target of 100.

I was recommended Carl Hiaasen because I was told he writes ostensibly easy-read fiction but with underlying messages about environmental, political or other issues. This is true in Basket Case, which is a juicy whoddunit about the death of an ex-rock star being unpicked by an Obituary writer on a regional paper. However Basket Case also choses to question the state of the modern news press, driven as it is to make profit rather than uncover news. Though it's set in the US, with fictional publications, it's easy to see a reflection in our British press - Metro, London Lite and the like passing themselves off as 'newspapers' whilst the red-tops choose celebrity stories over real news, and leave only a handful of papers working to discover real news. Right now, the trouble in Gaza is secondary to football transfers and celebrity Big Brother. There's a place for all this to be news, of course, but papers have a responsibility to set agendas and I wonder how any so called journalist can sleep at night having chosen to put the troubles in the Middle East secondary to celebrity tittle-tattle. On a bad day, it's easy to see how mankind can be so f-ked up. So Basket Case comes recommended. A good easy read but with some added meat. 

Now I'm onto 'Things The Grandchildren Should Know' by Mark Everett, the man behind Eels... with a flight to Amsterdam tomorrow, and then a two hour train journey to Groningen, I should rattle through it quickly...

resolutions - here we go

Ok, so it's the end of the 2nd of January, so time to type up my resolutions for the year. Here they are...

1. Successfully complete my welsh language course.

I began a Welsh language course in October. I go every morning for an hour and a half. It's tough, but I'm enjoying it and want to ensure I finish this first year. I think resolutions shouldn't just be about new things, but carry over from previous years, so this is a good way to start.

2. Continue learning to play the drums.

I also took up drums in the latter half of 2008 and absolutely love playing them.

3. Continue with yoga and pilates.

4. Fix my ruddy knee.

I began having trouble with my right knee after running some half marathons and doing some longer hikes about 18 months ago. After avoiding tackling it, and then doing a few runs which probably made it worse, I've now been seeing a physio for the past few months to get it fixed. I definitely need to work much harder on the stretching exercises she's given me in order to be able to take up running again. At the same time as starting with the physio, I also stumbled into yoga, and then pilates. I love both, and have found them to be brilliant for my knee, for my posture and for my general well-being... so much so that I was bought a yoga mat at Christmas. If I keep them all up, I'll be beyond better.

5. Wear cologne.

Is it called cologne? or aftershave? I don't know. I don't shave, so I don't wear aftershave, but recently I've fancied making a habit of wearing it and trying out different products. I might hate it, but I'll give it a go.

6. Have the best year of my life.

A big one this. 2009 has every reason to be bloody excellent. I had some shit times last year - the first six months was f-king terrible and amongst the most stressful I've had for the past decade or so. Starting 2009, I'm so fired up, relaxed and happy it's ridiculous. Now I just have to fulfill that potential.

7. Always carry chewing gum.

When I'm Djing, I always end up with my mouth dead close to people's faces when they come to ask for records. It's noisy, so they lean in close to shout requests or whatnot at me, and I have to be close to them. When I'm drunk, it's less of a worry because inhibitions go out the window, but when sober, it bothers me. I get worried my breath smells. If I have gum, then I'll feel more relaxed, and they won't have to smell whatever I had for dinner.

8. Say 'Yes' when I really want to say 'No' on 10 occasions through the year.

What I'm looking for here is to see what taking a new direction against my will brings. Should be interesting.

9. Stay teetotal in January (apart from at Silent Disco)

I fancy a month booze free, just for fun. I cannot possibly do Silent Disco sober. It's too much of a good time, so I'll allow myself one night off.

10. See, and maybe buy, more art.

I need to get out to see more exhibitions and get into the art world more. I love going to painting exhibitions.

11. See if I am able to dive.

In 1998 I had an accident whilst on a leisure dive and I ended up in hospital unable to fly back to the UK for a week. I've not dived since. I need to find out if there's been any permanent damage, and whether I can dive or not, because I'd like to do my PADI sometime.

12. Take Lisa to some nice places at the weekends.

Lisa and I have such a great time when we're together and away from Cardiff, so I'd like to have a load of weekend breaks with her this year. It'll be fun, and it'll be good for us both.

13. Make The Point bloody brilliant

Last year was a tough year for the venue where I work, but with the sound problems sorted the venue is now ready to fulfill her potential. It's been building for a few years, and I want the place to really come alive in 2009.

14. Make SWN Festival profitable.

Or rather for SWN not to lose money. The second SWN was brilliant, and it's now here to stay. Huw and I don't take a penny from it - infact we both put money IN to ensure it stays afloat. In 2009 I want the festival to work as an entity so it can continue for the foreseeable future.

15. Do the Lotto every week.

I never play. So this year I'll play every week.

16. Complete 24 books this year

I have devoured most of Carl Hiaasen's 'Basket Case' in under a week. That's because I've been away, relaxing, for Christmas. I love reading, but I never usually make the time. This year, I will.

17. Learn all the 2 and 3 letter words that can be played in Scrabble.

18. Learn 100 other new words (and their meanings)

19. Do a photography course.

I got bought a digital SLR camera for Christmas by Lisa, so I'd like to learn how to use it properly.

20 Play Mah Jong.

I've never played and I'd like to try it.

21. Get my body fat tested.

I'm intrigued to know what it is.

22. Do a triathlon.

23. Learn to tie another tie knot

I rarely wear a tie. When I do, I always get frustrated I don't know any knots!

24. Do Kung Fu

I started Kung Fu a few years ago, and then for some reason stopped. I think I went snowboarding, then never went back. I want to put that right.

25. Check my chlorestrol level.

26. Get a Pension.

27. Get Life Assurance.

I don't intend to die, but just in case.

28. Make a Will.

ditto.

There are a couple more, but they're not for sharing. 30 resolutions in all...  That should keep me busy....