The space previously occupied by the (deceased) jukebox has been empty way too long. So I have begun to construct some shelves.
A picture of the finished project will follow.
Category Archives: Music
UK Subs
When I was 16 or 17, I quite liked the UK Subs. They weren’t the biggest punk band and, while certainly not mainstream, they weren’t exactly extreme. They’re still around today, although the line-up has somewhat changed.
After work yesterday, since I have a day off today, I called off at the Tuns after work. My second in command didn’t wish to join me, so I settled for a quiet, solitary drink. And a little conversation with local gentlemen. While sampling some fruit wheat beer, an elderly man sat at my table, opposite me, with a cup of coffee and a pie (the annual pie festival began last night).
He also sampled the wheat beer and, like me, the rhubarb cider. We discussed the two (we both enjoyed the cider), then he talked about the traffic on the A1 today. And the band’s new crowdfunded album, their tour and the purchase of new equipment (which is lighter than in the old days). I was surprised that Charlie Harper, the UK Subs front man, was such a nice bloke (although I’m not sure why) and that he’s now aged 72.
I didn’t stay to see the band; I didn’t want to exceed my capacity for fruit wheat beer or rhubarb cider.
Augustines II
My Ubuntu phone seems to be permanently signed into YouTube as my grandchild, so I’m unable to upload a video directly from the phone. Instead, I must connect to the PC to copy, then upload from there. Hence the belated posting of a clip from last Wednesday’s Augustines gig.
At some point I may also add the video of our bus journey across Manchester (the day tickets were a bargain at only four quid).
Augustines
It already feels a long time ago, but on Wednesday we went to see Augustines at the Academy 2 (which was located in the students’ union, rather than in the Academy itself). We had a walk around town first, of course, calling off at what must be one of the busiest Sam Smith’s pubs in the country.
And, since the weather was perfect, we made the most of it and sat outside. The Old Wellington, next door, would have been next, but they appear to no longer sell Erdinger.
And, so we had another pint of Sam Smith’s stout (or, in the case of my second in command, another organic Strawberry beer). The Temple Bar was next on our list, where a person can always find a bottle, or two, of Erdinger.
The place had been decorated since our last visit, last year.
We’d have stayed longer, but had to check-in. We still found time to continue wandering around, which left my second in command feeling tired.
And hungry. So we had something to eat at the Thirsty Scholar, not the best of pubs, but they also stock Erdinger and the food’s all vegan and vegetarian. We had a conversation with the chef, who’d given me some great advice when I’d first switched from vegetarian to vegan. And had told us about a great veggie cafe, Egg, in Liverpool.
Later, we went for a couple of drinks in Big Hands, before the gig. The bar’s a favourite of my second in command. And apparently, and unfortunately, of my second ex-wife too, since she was also there. However, we were all very adult about it and ignored each other.
The gig itself was great, with an excellent atmosphere. The band seem to get better every time.
Unusually, I’d taken a camera, since my phone pictures tend not to be so great. But, strangely, some of the pictures taken with my phone weren’t too bad. Apart from the resolution, which I cut down here anyway, there isn’t a great deal of difference between snaps taken with a phone or a camera. The next few are from my phone.
Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk
Thunderbird is very slowly retrieving email from my BT account; I’m now up to 2011. It’s a pain, but progress is being made. In only 27 days I won’t exist in BT’s world. Which is probably not a bad thing.
Today, an average kind of Tuesday, has been my Friday. I have the rest of the week off; originally, to see Augustines tomorrow (technically tonight) night, but we decided to make a week of it.
We aim to meet people in Big Hands around 18:45, but our day will most likely begin in the Temple Bar several hours earlier. And then there’s the Castle; we need to fit that in at some point.
Augustines. Not Rufus Wainwright. So there shall be no cigarettes or chocolate produce. Well, my second in command has nicotine pills so that just leaves the chocolate. And, since, I’m now a vegan of 18 months, the chocolate shall be of the non-milk variety. Preferably chocolate stout.
Russian cats and rats
Yesterday evening, after a particularly heavy week at work, I really needed a beer. Or two.
Fortunately, my second in command had noticed that the Happy Cats were playing in the Tuns. They were as good as usual, but I was left with a painful hangover this morning. A small example …
My second in command had to miss the second half of their set (work at five this morning), so there were other videos which may end up on Youtube.
Said videos were shown to my mother today; she may accompany us next time we see the band. My mother likes Lindisfarne stuff and they generally do a couple of theirs.
Today, my killer hangover was eased by some Russian Imperial Stout. At 10%, it’d cure (or kill) anything. But it was lovely. Jakehead may also have been involved this afternoon. And a pretty nice Almasty IPA.
I have a real problem with beer right now. I do like beer, but I don’t do fake beer (Fosters, Carling, John Smiths etc). It was primarily a fish bits thing, but I’ve found that I can no longer abide such products. Fishless beer is now becoming more commonplace, which presents me with something of a problem. I have greater access to fishless beer. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy with a growing range of unfined beer, but I’m now faced with an impressive choice in most decent bars.
Anyway, the stout was gorgeous.
On our way home, we stopped off at the castle (the actual castle, not a pub) to watch rats while waiting for a bus.
Unusually, though, there were no (visible) rodents. We assumed that the recent forwarding of clocks meant that, with dusk delayed, rats would still be lurking in the undergrowth. They may be disgusting creatures, but I guess they have to do what they do.
Batteries
After purchasing some batteries for my camera, I realised that I’d not transferred pictures from Kendal Calling last summer.
Of which these are just a few. The weather was a lot better than it appears and the mud wasn’t of Glastonbury standards. That was a particularly nice pint of raspberry beer too.
Breaking free
Yesterday, after work, I visited the City Tavern, with a colleague from work. He drank Bruges, while I had Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. Pleasant conversation was had, followed by a quite random text message conversation. While in the bar, we noticed that an employee, possibly the manager, resembled Freddie Mercury on a bad hoovering day. After we’d parted company, texts were exchanged, mostly related to Queen song titles. While this was enjoyable, I didn’t do very well and had to concede defeat.
Learning
I went on a learning, to learn the ways of man. A few years ago, after a march across the site at Glastonbury, I caught the last half hour of Joe Gideon & the Shark’s set. Which included the end of Kathy Ray, which was worth rushing for after hearing it from a distance, and Civilisation, both favourites of mine.
I’ve only seen them live three times; the first when they supported Lisa Germany in a club in London, eight or nine years ago. And then there was that half set in the old Q Magazine bar, the Queen’s Head, at Glastonbury, and a gig at the Head of Steam (on my birthday, if I recall correctly). The latter was memorable for an unplanned reunion with Karl and a huge row with a former spouse.
Anyway, I’ve been looking forward to seeing them at the Cluny tomorrow evening. The booking system didn’t seem to be working very well, and I’d held off buying because I’d been attempting to persuade someone to go with me (unsuccessfully, I should say, but it wouldn’t have been the first time I’d gone to a gig by myself).
I’m not sure why, but I checked the band’s website this evening, only to find that the tour (Joe Gideon and Jim Sclavanus, rather than the Shark) has been postponed to later in the year. Admittedly, I’m disappointed, but there’s relief that I’ll not be turning up for a cancelled gig.
The Learning quote was from Civilisation, a track from their Harum Scarum album. It’s not exactly mainstream, but I can recommend it.
Mr Everett
I must confess that I suspected a hoax when my youngest daughter told me that E, Mark Oliver Everett of Eels, appears in a new Netflix series, Love.
Naturally, curiosity got the better of me and, sure enough, there he is in episode four.
He doesn’t exactly act in this scene, but maybe he’s branching out a little. I’ll say now that I didn’t watch the first three episodes.