I thought I'd start off a new little bit on here. Y'know, just to keep it in the mix. So, welcome to the new Review section. Isn't it all shiny and brand spanking? Ooh, I can almost see my face in it...
The first event that I am dipping my e-pen in the e-ink for is the Love Haiti fundraiser that took place on Sunday 21st February at the beautifully dilapidated Wilton's Music Hall.
The evening featured a varied line-up with the one name that popped out at me personally being Rich Fulcher as Eleanor the Tour Whore. Anyone who has seen him in the Mighty Boosh would know why. Mental in all the right places.
As it turned out, unusually, my favourite act of the night was the first one. Pete Firman had the self-depricating, magician act down pat and his non-stop self-aware banter was also on the money. Describing his look as geography teacher/sex pest, he pulled off some oldie-but-goodie type tricks sych as the nail in the face and cutting and re-attaching ropes.
With a sly, mickey-taking nod to Derren Brown his was a brilliant and succinct act.
He was closely followed by, well, the next act, The Penny Dreadfuls who with a nod to the music hall era performed a series of extremely well acted sketches. Contorting their faces and voices the ream of characters that they created were funny and pitched just right. The details that had been thought through such as the actions of the Creep character and the hitting of forks for sword-fighting sound effects were brilliantly imagined.
After a short break and another opportunity to wonder at the shabby glamour of Wilton's, the second part lulled a little with Rufus Hound's slightly laddish Men Vs Women comedy and the frankly incomprehensible yet inexplicably transfixing Wingnuts. A sketch group seemingly playing on Madchester culture but I had a constant feeling of having missed something...
The enormous Tom Davies, as I'm sure he's been referred to on many an occasion, gave a genial little warm-up about living with his parents before the headline act, Eleanor The Tour Whore strode on.
The words poured forth as a surreal stream of consciousness based loosely on the rambling diary of this self-confessed 60's/70's groupie. Eleanor doesn't tell jokes, she tells pathos.
Coming across as a delusional and dark raconteaur, it constantly felt as though it would go off the rails and stray too far but somehow Rich Fulcher managed to keep it slinging along and still hilarious.
The cherry on the cake of the evening was The Real Brian Blessed, the secret, mystery guest. Huffing and puffing through the trap door in the stage, the act was physically and vocally spot-on in it's impersonation of that uniquely British legend. Reading from the spoof Blessed diaries and flecked with realistic Blessed spittle, it was a great end to the show.
The entire show was compered by the oft hilarious, excellently astute and, indeed, hirsute, Jarred Christmas bouncing off the crowd with bonhamie.
Mad props to Bop Pipe as Director and Aisling Bea and inimitable Rachel Stubbings as Producers.
However, don't think this ends here! Lest I remind thee all of the FUCKING IMPORTANT CAUSE that this is for. Figures have been placed on the amount of investment and aid money it will require to put Haiti and it's long-suffering people back on their feet and currently the global effort is falling short.
Every little counts. Especially given that it's payday today for many of us...
Make your contribution, however small or large HERE AND NOW.
Friday, 26 February 2010
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Woodburner at The George
For many of us Hackneyites and beyond, it feels like a home-from-home, a community space that is now coming into bloom thanks to all the hard work of it's current residents.
Following this trail is the new weekly folk evening that will be taking place in the confines of The George, every Monday.
Yesterdays' Woodburner saw host Theo Bard introduce us to Sam Lee and the Gillie Boys as well as Miss Gwennie. Lest we should forget, it will also be necessary to celebrate the outstanding achievement in the field of heating by Mr Theo Brown. His heroic woodburner will be carrying on it's conversion of a once chilly pub into the cosiest of bossoms.
All to the swill of rather fine ales.
Every Monday at The George, 171 Glyn Road E5
7:30pm - 12pm. £3 cover charge.
Following this trail is the new weekly folk evening that will be taking place in the confines of The George, every Monday.
Yesterdays' Woodburner saw host Theo Bard introduce us to Sam Lee and the Gillie Boys as well as Miss Gwennie. Lest we should forget, it will also be necessary to celebrate the outstanding achievement in the field of heating by Mr Theo Brown. His heroic woodburner will be carrying on it's conversion of a once chilly pub into the cosiest of bossoms.
All to the swill of rather fine ales.
Every Monday at The George, 171 Glyn Road E5
7:30pm - 12pm. £3 cover charge.
Impassioned Rations
Evening m'colleagues. It's Tuesday and we're into the jungle once more. With that in mind, I thought I'd throw a few more crumbs to feed your musical souls and some sharp tunes to cut through those metaphorical vines. This is what has been getting me through February. This, and a bottle of Laphroaig...
Two Dancers - Wild Beasts
The first thing that you might notice when this album starts, aside from the beautifully slow-building intro and superbly measured rhythm, is the shrill, almost operatic voice of lead singer Hayden Thorpe. It takes what might otherwise be a simply good album to new heights of interest and fascination that lie outside the usual realm of modern indie music. Mmm, yes...
Just Saying Is All - Mux Mool
Moving, yet fun and not displeasingly, cheesy techno-style, 80's hiphoppy stuff. If that makes sense. Even if it doesn't make sense...
The Professor's Here - Gary Davis
This is just one song rather than a whole album and is one I am oft want to bang on and on about. Pretty much the only track I've ever heard that reasonably falls under the genre of 'experimental disco'. Doesn't that on it's own make you want to listen to it?
Solaris Original Soundtrack - Cliff Martinez
Delicate, poignant and haunting, this set-off the Stephen Soderbergh remake of the Russian original just beautifully.
Setting the tone for the whole film, with precisely inserted strings and what sounds like a Hang drum (pretty much my favourite instrument right now) this makes for incredible cycling-through-London-at-4am music. Gently mind-blowing...
Watina - Andy Palacio and The Garifuna Collective
I positively hate the term 'world music' and am compelled to do that two-fingered inverted commas thing whenever I use it to more easily convey music to someone. Like a catholic crossing themselves when they mishear references to funk.
Surely all music is world music, unless you count the experimental, 80's electronic plinkyplonky from Close Encounters.
Anyways, tiny rant over.
Hailing from the Garifuna people from all round the Caribbean and Central America and recorded in Belize. Filling the band full of masters of their trade and a deep understanding of these traditions and complex drum rhythms, this is one of the most joyous and uplifting albums you will hear in quite some length of time. Even in the depths of a February Tuesday, this can bring a spotlight of sunshine...
Over and, indeed, out x
Two Dancers - Wild Beasts
The first thing that you might notice when this album starts, aside from the beautifully slow-building intro and superbly measured rhythm, is the shrill, almost operatic voice of lead singer Hayden Thorpe. It takes what might otherwise be a simply good album to new heights of interest and fascination that lie outside the usual realm of modern indie music. Mmm, yes...
Just Saying Is All - Mux Mool
Moving, yet fun and not displeasingly, cheesy techno-style, 80's hiphoppy stuff. If that makes sense. Even if it doesn't make sense...
The Professor's Here - Gary Davis
This is just one song rather than a whole album and is one I am oft want to bang on and on about. Pretty much the only track I've ever heard that reasonably falls under the genre of 'experimental disco'. Doesn't that on it's own make you want to listen to it?
Solaris Original Soundtrack - Cliff Martinez
Delicate, poignant and haunting, this set-off the Stephen Soderbergh remake of the Russian original just beautifully.
Setting the tone for the whole film, with precisely inserted strings and what sounds like a Hang drum (pretty much my favourite instrument right now) this makes for incredible cycling-through-London-at-4am music. Gently mind-blowing...
Watina - Andy Palacio and The Garifuna Collective
I positively hate the term 'world music' and am compelled to do that two-fingered inverted commas thing whenever I use it to more easily convey music to someone. Like a catholic crossing themselves when they mishear references to funk.
Surely all music is world music, unless you count the experimental, 80's electronic plinkyplonky from Close Encounters.
Anyways, tiny rant over.
Hailing from the Garifuna people from all round the Caribbean and Central America and recorded in Belize. Filling the band full of masters of their trade and a deep understanding of these traditions and complex drum rhythms, this is one of the most joyous and uplifting albums you will hear in quite some length of time. Even in the depths of a February Tuesday, this can bring a spotlight of sunshine...
Over and, indeed, out x
Monday, 22 February 2010
The Estate We're In
With the ever moving force towards 'regeneration', the purpose and use of buildings around London are constantly changing. This sometimes means eyesores and affronts to local history and community. However, it cuts both ways and there are also buildings made manifest by the definition given by the people who inhabit or access them, rather than the owners, by their potential rather than perceived utility.
This often leads to amazing opportunities and one such opportunity has arisen.
Using an abandoned and soon to be demolished housing estate on Caledonian Road, the Market Estate Project will be full of artists, site-specific pieces and, more simply, empty flats, once homes to many people, that can be explored as you wish. Alonside this will be a packed-to-the-rafters line up of music, performance and dance to keep your soul feeding all day.
These monolithic buildings once served their purpose as housing, if in a very utilitarian manner. Now, at the end of it's life and so-called usefulness, it will have a moment of expression and exhibition.
This is London we love.
6th March
FREE to attend. Tickets can be booked on the website.
This often leads to amazing opportunities and one such opportunity has arisen.
Using an abandoned and soon to be demolished housing estate on Caledonian Road, the Market Estate Project will be full of artists, site-specific pieces and, more simply, empty flats, once homes to many people, that can be explored as you wish. Alonside this will be a packed-to-the-rafters line up of music, performance and dance to keep your soul feeding all day.
These monolithic buildings once served their purpose as housing, if in a very utilitarian manner. Now, at the end of it's life and so-called usefulness, it will have a moment of expression and exhibition.
This is London we love.
6th March
FREE to attend. Tickets can be booked on the website.
Friday, 19 February 2010
Our Cola
One of the reasons I consider myself most fortunate to call Hackney my home is the theatrical treat that is the Arcola Theatre.
One of the top fringe theatres in the country, with a pay-what-you-can policy every Tuesday and it is walking distance from where I and many of m'colleagues reside.
Their latest productions, Knives in Hens and Heldenplatz, have been ratcheting up the laudings and praise and seem well worth the stroll. The fact that one can feast in Mangal's or, indeed, 19 Bos Cirrik beforehand is a huge but mere bonus.
Knives in Hens runs until the 27th February
Tickets are £14 or Pay What You Can on Tuesdays.
Heldenplatz runs until the 6th March
Tickets are £16 or Pay What You Can on Tuesdays.
One of the top fringe theatres in the country, with a pay-what-you-can policy every Tuesday and it is walking distance from where I and many of m'colleagues reside.
Their latest productions, Knives in Hens and Heldenplatz, have been ratcheting up the laudings and praise and seem well worth the stroll. The fact that one can feast in Mangal's or, indeed, 19 Bos Cirrik beforehand is a huge but mere bonus.
Knives in Hens runs until the 27th February
Tickets are £14 or Pay What You Can on Tuesdays.
Heldenplatz runs until the 6th March
Tickets are £16 or Pay What You Can on Tuesdays.
Totally Non-Heinous!
The most excellent and always superbly attired, Mr Edwin Flay brings us the next instalment of his excellent adventures through the world of cabaret entertainment.
Thursday 25th February sees Flay and DeVille moving to pastures new at The Royal Vauxhall Tavern to present an evening that will amaze, astound and allure in equal, overflowing measures.
All while you look your most foppish and dandyish with that martini in one hand and hat doffed with the other.
Tickets are £10 in advance or £12 on the door.
Doors at 7pm
Thursday 25th February sees Flay and DeVille moving to pastures new at The Royal Vauxhall Tavern to present an evening that will amaze, astound and allure in equal, overflowing measures.
All while you look your most foppish and dandyish with that martini in one hand and hat doffed with the other.
Tickets are £10 in advance or £12 on the door.
Doors at 7pm
Thursday, 18 February 2010
Ping Pong? Ding Dong!
It is a lesser known fact about me that, as a young man, I harboured ambitions of table-tennis glory. These ambitions went about as far as winning my family synagogue's tournament but nonetheless the light was undimmed.
If, like me, you still hanker after those glory days of yore, then I have news! Cinderella, you can go to the ball and in style too.
In collaboration with the social table tennis club, Ping Pong of the Bethnal Green Working Men's Club, The Barbican will be hosting a weekend where one can go play for FREE on ping-pong tables designed especially for the occasion by artists and, well, designers.
Schnicketyschnick!
If, like me, you still hanker after those glory days of yore, then I have news! Cinderella, you can go to the ball and in style too.
In collaboration with the social table tennis club, Ping Pong of the Bethnal Green Working Men's Club, The Barbican will be hosting a weekend where one can go play for FREE on ping-pong tables designed especially for the occasion by artists and, well, designers.
Schnicketyschnick!
Love Haiti
Lest it be forgotten of the struggles still occuring half a world away in Haiti.
The earthquake and it's consequences have reverberated around the planet but have also fuelled a greater sense of the collective with aid, assistance and donations being found as much through people's own gestures and effort as through governments.
One such event, being organised by previously lauded rockstar, Rachel Stubbings is Love Haiti at the beautiful, not to mention historic, Wiltons Music Hall.
With an absolutely stellar line-up including Rich Fulcher the REAL star of the Mighty Boosh , Pete Firman and a VERY special mystery guest, whose name we dare not utter, this would be a standup stand-up show already.
The fact that ALL of the money will be going to the laudable charity Medecins Sans Frontieres to support their ongoing work in Haiti, surely puts this head and shoulders above any other comedy gig this side of Chuckletown.
Get your little hands into those long pockets, kids!
Sunday 21st February 6pm
Tickets £17.50
Call 020 7702 2789 NOW to book
The earthquake and it's consequences have reverberated around the planet but have also fuelled a greater sense of the collective with aid, assistance and donations being found as much through people's own gestures and effort as through governments.
One such event, being organised by previously lauded rockstar, Rachel Stubbings is Love Haiti at the beautiful, not to mention historic, Wiltons Music Hall.
With an absolutely stellar line-up including Rich Fulcher the REAL star of the Mighty Boosh , Pete Firman and a VERY special mystery guest, whose name we dare not utter, this would be a standup stand-up show already.
The fact that ALL of the money will be going to the laudable charity Medecins Sans Frontieres to support their ongoing work in Haiti, surely puts this head and shoulders above any other comedy gig this side of Chuckletown.
Get your little hands into those long pockets, kids!
Sunday 21st February 6pm
Tickets £17.50
Call 020 7702 2789 NOW to book
Monday, 15 February 2010
Ecstatic! Hexstatic!
Another gig to look out for shows one of my favourite live acts around today. Hexstatic shows are incredible not just for the constantly innovative and, well, downright whoopee music but also for the awe-inspiring visuals that they create on stage.
Mixing film and images live while they mix tunes make them the best mixing combo this side of Kenwood.
To mark the release of their new album, Trailer Trax, the duo will be playing a special live show at Cargo on the 13th May.
Be absolutely blown off your dancing feet for less than a tenner.
Mixing film and images live while they mix tunes make them the best mixing combo this side of Kenwood.
To mark the release of their new album, Trailer Trax, the duo will be playing a special live show at Cargo on the 13th May.
Be absolutely blown off your dancing feet for less than a tenner.
The Tennessee Three
The term Leg End is thrown around these days as though it were a yo-yo given to an ambitious and tenacious child attempting to learn 'Around The World'.
Fortunately, we'd be on safe ground were we to apply the term to The Man In Black. No, not Will Smith or, indeed, Tommy Lee Jones. I'm talking Cash. Johnny Cash.
The one and only band he worked with throughout his entire career, the lesser-known but still celebrated Tennessee Three are playing a rare, rare gig in the UK, in London, on the 22nd May.
If you want some music with a lot of history and no little soul, then come feed with me.
Fortunately, we'd be on safe ground were we to apply the term to The Man In Black. No, not Will Smith or, indeed, Tommy Lee Jones. I'm talking Cash. Johnny Cash.
The one and only band he worked with throughout his entire career, the lesser-known but still celebrated Tennessee Three are playing a rare, rare gig in the UK, in London, on the 22nd May.
If you want some music with a lot of history and no little soul, then come feed with me.
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