Patriots And Puccini

This past Friday was a good day. I successfully purchased two tickets to see the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play at Wembley, London, in October this year. I went to the NFL UK match this past year, and had a fantastic day out at what was my first official NFL game. I had been to Foxboro back in 1996 to see a preseason game of New England and my Redskins, but this real deal game was superb. So when I’d learnt that the Patriots were coming to London, I was delighted. Then I was anxious. I had missed out on the ticket lottery the first year, and then got lucky in the second year. And I really wanted to go. So the club seats went on sale for London, and I was lucky enough to get myself one! Being a Boston sports fan, and seeing the Rays triumph over the Red Sox in 08, I am hopeful to see the Patriots give the Buc’s a good old-fashioned thumping!

Saturday night was about as far removed from football as you could imagine. I went to a movie theater in Amsterdam to watch Opera. The Opera was La Rondine by Puccini, and was performed by the Metropolitan Opera in New York. They were having a Saturday matinee performance in New York, and this was being broadcast around the world. So some friends and I sat there on Saturday evening, and watched our very first opera. I really had no idea what to expect. I had no idea whether I would like it or not, I just saw it as a good opportunity to soak up some culture. As it happened, I really enjoyed it. The music was beautiful, the singing was amazing, and it was a really good show. What I think made it was the English subtitles at the bottom of the screen, which meant that if you weren’t an Italian speaker, you could still follow what was going on. It was a really nice story, and made for a thoroughly enjoyable evening. I might even go back and see opera again! So, if like me you are sitting out there being skeptical about opera, I really recommend that you give it a try, you might well be pleasantly surprised!

My Morning Jacket

Two years ago I never thought I’d be writing about how much I enjoyed a My Morning Jacket show. In 2006 I saw them at least six times in support of Pearl Jam. I remember trying to get into them before the tour, but didn’t really care much for them. I had to see them five times in the US as I was caught up in the Pearl Jam posters, meaning I had to be in the venue for doors opening. As a result, I heard MMJ five times, and whilst they had a few good songs, the experience never did much for me. It was only when I saw them in Europe later that same year opening for PJ in Marseille did I think that they were quite good

Since then, I’ve listened to ‘Z’ a couple times, and found it growing on me. Just last month, their new album came out, and on first listen, it sounded okay to me. So with a week to go before the show, I picked up a ticket to go. And I’m so glad I did. With every listen the album has grown on me more.

The show was really good. I left as they played the last song at ten minutes to midnight, after almost two hours and twenty minutes of solid play. The new songs sound really good, none more so than my favorite off the record, ‘I’m Highly Suspicious Of You’. Mixed in with the old songs, it made for an impressive show. I love the jams that they go off on at the end of songs, makes for a really nice show.

So nice to stand there, listen to some great music from a good band, and forget your troubles and woes. And whilst it wasn’t the best show I’ve seen this year (that honor goes to Bon Iver), it was a solid top five show I think

If you haven’t checked out their latest record, you really should go look it up

Sunset Rubdown

Last night I was back in the small room in the Paradiso Amsterdam to see Sunset Rubdown. It was one of these shows where I almost didn’t go. It was a Monday night, and the band weren’t due on until 2200. After a long day at work there was a moment after dinner where I thought about not going. I convinced myself that it would be good, and the words of my musical adviser were in my head, telling me how talented Spencer Krug is. He is also the lead singer of another band I like, Wolf Parade.

When I got to the venue, I got myself a beer and surveyed the crowd. I like to look at the crowd to see what kind of people the band attracts. My initial findings were a lot of unwashed looking people with strange haircuts. Closer inspection revealed the hall was a mess, so I came to the conclusion that there had been some nu-metal type band playing earlier, and these people had just hang around. The more expected Sunset Rubdown crowd appeared as show time drew nearer. And fortunately the room was only about half full, so there was plenty of room

The band came out just after 2200, and I was looking for the redhead. My Superstar Adviser had told me there was a hot readhead in the band, and whilst she looked a little bit like a librarian, she was still cute. And she came across really well during the show, seemed like a fun girl. Two songs into the show, the guitar player snapped a string. Now every show I’ve been to theres always at least one spare guitar. But no, they only had one guitar. So we were going to have to wait while the dude changed his string. I’m so glad the string broke!! Spencer decided to fill time by playing a song from ”this other band that I’m in that I won’t name”. Of course he meant Wolf Parade! He proceeded to play solo on the piano my favorite tune of theirs, ‘I’ll believe In Anything”. Wow! Such a nice song done like this, I was grinning from ear to ear!

Throughout the rest of the show, Spencer and Co continued to show what talented performers they are. I’d listened to their CDs a fair bit over the last couple of months, and whilst I liked the music, it didn’t really grab my attention. However, live, the songs seem to take on a whole new dimension, which just took them all to a different level. My favorite song has to be ‘The Mending Of The Gown’. If you click the link above you can hear the song. Such a nice song, and Spencer & Red combine together really nicely on it.

They played for about an hour and a half, after Spencer dragged the guys back out for another couple songs. I think it was unplanned, Red came back out with her handbag. They played some stuff I didn’t know, which I understood was from the back catalogue, stuff Spencer said they didn’t play all that often.

Anyway, another great show, following on the back of Bon Iver this past Saturday night, I’ll be hard pushed to get another week with two great gigs like this in it

Ketch Up

Another month has past since I last wrote something in here. So many things have been happening that have made me feel depressed, that I haven’t had anything nice to write about here. I have been told that writing here is probably the best therapy I could find, but I still feel uncomfortable talking about my feelings. I think like anyone I take my knocks, and roll with the punches, and get on with things. However this last couple of months, I’ve felt lots of things getting me down all at the same time, which has made it incredibly hard to remain upbeat and positive. I’m trying hard to pick things up, and make things better, as I hate feeling like this. But, the truth is, it’s really, really difficult, and I’m not entirely sure how to go about it. I’ve never experienced lows like this before, so it goes that I don’t know how to fix it. You cut your finger, you put a plaster on it, you have a sore head, you take medication. However, when things aren’t quite right inside the head, I’m really not sure what to do about it. I’m just chugging along, trying to take each day as it comes, and not let things get too overwhelming. It seems though that just when I think I might be getting a handle on things, something else comes along and sets me back again, and I’m back to the start again.

In other news I saw Bon Iver last night here in Amsterdam. I got Bon Iver recommended to me by a good friend of mine towards the end of last year, and I’ve listened to the record several times a week ever since. He has created a sound quite unlike anything else I’ve listened too, and I find his music to be very relaxing, and it helps me a lot when my head is full of nonsense to listen to Bon Iver. So the show last night was quite an experience. I was in as the doors open, and positioned myself right at the front of the stage, just off to the left a little. I was curious to see how he re-created the album live, as on the record there are so many different sounds in the tracks. Well, Justin and his two bandmates more than managed. It really was a great show, very emotional and moving. I felt very fortunate at the end of the show to meet Justin, and get him to sign my CD cover that I had just bought. He asked my name, and signed it to me. I was able to shake his hand, and say thank you for the music. I left feeling like a kid that had just met Santa Claus! I’m sitting here writing and listening to the album just now, it really is a spectacular record. If you haven’t checked him out yet, you really need to get on it. Here is a little sample I found on youtube, of Justin doing one of the songs solo

Bon Iver on Jools Holland

bloodredshoes

I think this is my first and only post of this week. The reason for this is that nothing has really happened this week. I’ve just been busy at work, with not much going on in my home life that has inspired me to write anything

Last night I went to see bloodredshoes in Utrecht. And today I feel worn out by the experience! I don’t think I can have slept too well last night. I feel like I was out until 0500, roaring drunk, two hours sleep, and a massive hangover. When in actual fact I was home by midnight, six hours sleep, and only a few beers last night. Must be old age!

The show itself was really, really good. They’re a two piece band from Brighton, England. A guy on drums, who is a fantastic drummer, and a girl on the guitar, who is incredibly cute. Both share the vocals. He strikes me as an incredibly gifted musician, he’s able to frantically play punk rock drums, and sing at the same time. The speed at which he plays is quite impressive. I’ve seen other two piece bands play, most notably the Black Keys and the White Stripes, and I have to say I am more impressed by bloodredshoes than I was by the two bands I mention.

Quite a bold claim perhaps. I am not the biggest fan of two piece bands, I feel they are limited in the sound they can make with only the two of them there. But these guys last night seemed to succeed with a variety of sounds and pace, which makes me think these guys have a good future.

Very rock and roll moment at the end of the show. At the climax of the end of show drums, he stands up, throws the drumsticks in the crowd, comes out from behind the kit, disconnecting his ear pieces, and throws himself into the crowd and goes surfing. It was only a small venue, and it was packed. Very cool!

Dublin for me this weekend, off tomorrow morning to see if Scotland can notch their first win of the tournament against the Irish. I won’t hold my breath!

A Valentines Date with Megadeth

The Paradiso, Amsterdam, was last night the scene for an epic Megadeth show. The venue was sold out, and despite the early start (8pm) the place was packed. From a safe spot on the balcony directly above the whirling, thrashing masses, I was able to enjoy a magnificent 100 minute metal show. Dave Mustaine may be in his late 40s, but he plays better than ever.

On more than one occasion I was aware of a huge smile being on my face, as I head banged away. It would be fair to say that I loved the show. Complete escapism, getting involved in the show and air drumming, air guitaring, and head banging through the show. The music seems to posses you, become part of you, and you just get so involved in the music.

A couple of mighty encores came at the end of the show, with my personal favorite, the sing along, ‘Peace Sells But Whos Buying’. That has to be my favorite Megadeth song, alongside ‘Hanger 18′, and ‘A Tout Le Monde’

And one last thing, I think I must have been the only person in the venue last night that was also there two weeks ago to see Iron & Wine! Two great bands, two fantastic shows, and I enjoyed them both. I guess that means I have an eclectic musical taste!