Thames Valley Social Media Cafe

I wasn’t sure what I’d do to replace my local, the Edinburgh Coffee Morning (#EdCM). Luckily, thanks to a tip off from Claire, I happily found out about the Thames Valley Social Media Cafe (#tvsmc).

Spotting that many of the attendees of London based meetups were from a similar area outside the city, the TVSMC is an embryonic get-together of likeminded social media enthusiasts that has visited Reading, Farnborough and Basingstoke so far.

Today we even got a sneak preview of Google Wave! http://qik.com/video/3062568

To find out more, visit: http://tvsmc.redcatco.com/tiki-index.php

Curb Your Enthusiasm Season Seven Premiere.

¡SPOILER ALERT!

The newest season of Larry David’s freakshow ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ has now arrived on US television. The question is after six brilliant series under its belt, can the show keep the incredibly high standard of comedy going?

Every time a new season of Curb arrives it’s hard not to have a thought of resignation that it will never be as good as the last. So far, however, the genius that is Larry David has somehow managed to continue improving on what has come before.

Season Six delivered arguably the finest finale in Curb history as Larry finally put Cheryl behind him and got together with Loretta and the Black family. Even for Curb finale standards, this was exceptional.

But wait a second...Larry David’s character actually getting something he wants? Joy? Family? Shurely shome mishtake and it’s actually some annoying dream sequence?

Happily Season Seven shows this wasn’t a trick, but typically Larry is now unhappy. Loretta is sick and showing he still has a vigorous helping of wickedness about him, Larry is intent on ending the relationship before results come back, inevitably for Larry, showing cancer – which in his mind means it becomes a permanent union.

In the meantime, just to up the stakes, legendary comedic actress Catherine O’Hara is thrown into the mix as: "Funkhouser's Crazy Sister". Queue an awful display from the ‘fat fuck’ Jeff which even has Larry shocked!

In classic David style we can reflect on the episode with a clear view of the arc that will envelope season seven. Cheryl has returned to the fold on a chance encounter where she spells out that a Larry not working is not a Larry she could ever be with again. With the entire cast of Seinfeld returning for Curb, could it be that Larry develops a Seinfeld reunion with the sole selfish intention of pleasing Cheryl and winning her back?!

And in the end, Larry is indeed stuck with Loretta, which has to have the audience delighted. The opportunity for more Leon and Larry banter is stupidly exciting!

So, after six great seasons, how do you keep a show firing on all cylinders? By retaining an incredible cast of memorable characters (Jeff, Leon, Funkhouser et al), bringing in yet more quality (Bam Bam, and the entire Seinfeld cast!) and making sure, in classic Seinfeld fashion, no hugging, no learning.

Season seven looks set to continue the upwards march of this outstanding show.

Bad coverage :: “I don’t make the stories, I sell the stories.”

It's an uncomfortable experience but who's to blame?

Well, for the client it's clearly the PR. You managed to arrange an interview and your client successfully spoke to the journalist - yet it’s a disaster!

The article hasn't quoted your client, the quote is wrong, something might be spelt incorrectly...Either way you're in the doghouse.

But often it doesn’t end there. Clients might ask for some kind of extra piece of coverage or retraction as a result of the mistake.

The issue is, a good PR should see the journalist as almost a god-like figure. Someone that cannot be bothered unless absolutely necessary and relevant.

So, under no circumstances can this relationship be wilfully damaged. Going back to him/her and complaining about an article will ruin all the groundwork that was put in to secure the opportunity.

Granted, if the coverage is incorrect, be it legal or otherwise, there could be a necessity for further engagement.

It’s a tricky song and dance. There’s no way you can revisit the journalist to complain but the client is adamant.

This got me thinking of a classic scene in Seinfeld. Any of you who know me, even a little, are familiar with my Seinfeld obsession.

The incident of journalist error being blamed on the PR takes me back to the episode ‘The Mango’ in which Kramer, disgusted by the taste of a peach Jerry has bought at 'Joe's' grocery store, returns the fruit.

The following exchange (of course with less hostility and confrontation!!) effectively reflects the difficult nature of this PR experience.

The client is played by Kramer (the “tall, lanky doofus with a birdface and hair like the Bride of Frankenstein”)

Joe is the PR and the journalist is omnipotent off-screen...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ6e9siQyrY

Looking to the future – I need your help!

Please forgive me if I talk entirely about myself in this post but it’s all change in the house of Welton.

I recently had to leave Hot Tin Roof after almost two glorious years. This period was a learning experience like no other. I worked in a cracking team and developed relationships with some charming journalists, businesses and networking types who I will solely miss.

If this is news to you, it may come as a surprise I’m also not even in Edinburgh anymore! I’m currently sitting with no job in my home in Godalming, Surrey nursing some sunburn from a particularly bright September weekend and enjoying not being woken by rabid seagulls.

And so we come to the conundrum. What am I going to do now?

This could get me nervous but I do have a plan.

If there is anything the Edinburgh Coffee Morning and various meetups in the city have shown me, it’s that networking and developing your contacts is the best way to further your own profile.

So as of today I am looking to build up some buzz about Chris Welton, in hopefully a less haphazard style as Tobias Fünke.

I’m keen to meet as many awesome people in and around London in the realm of the digital. If you happen to know anyone and think we’d have a good old chinwag, please introduce me.

Point them to any of the following pages or drop me a line:
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn

This recession may be hell-bent on stopping me from working, but dammit I’m going to stay active for these next three months.

I mention this time limit because there is further intrigue on the horizon. Following my redundancy, I did what any person faced with the prospect of not getting paid would do...I booked a trip to America!

Yes, the land of the free awaits in January and I’m not just planning a break, oh no, this is my chance to travel.

Coast to coast from San Francisco to New York between January and March!

The details are sketchy so far but one thing I am sure of is this is a journey to the heart of the USA. The American people.

I want to meet as many genuine and friendly Yanks as possible. Sites will be seen but my travels will revolve around you. If you fancy a visit from a cheery English chappy then just say the word!

‘Hello!’

And likewise if you know people in America please do an eIntroduction (CC me into an email to your US friend). I’m a social and positive person with no criminal record or any real annoying habits! Why wouldn’t you want to meet me?!

So, that’s the update. I apologise for such a ‘me’ style blog focus – rest assured I will get back to writing some less personal tripe soon. But in the meantime, please bear this in mind:

Can you help me?

Fringe 2010 and beyond!

Exit stage left: The Fringe 2009 takes its final bow.



It’s been a bumper year for the Edinburgh Fringe and despite the best efforts of tram workers, Edinburgh has enjoyed one of the most positive and successful Festivals ever.

Scrap that, let’s just focus on Twitter. It was always going to be the centre of attention and developers responded. Aggregating tools like EdTwinge and Fest Buzz meant regular opinions of shows via Twitter were presented in a format that could influence the kind of performances people might ultimately go and see.

EdTwinge started and grew quickly. The site really succeeded in alerting performers to the value of a positive tweet. Get into the Top Ten and not only are you doing something right, but the chances of people hearing about your show through all the noise rose considerably. The Top Ten list was even replicated on The Skinny Festival site and clearly was a great stab at capturing word of mouth and broadcasting it to a larger audience.

Of course it wasn’t the finished article, but EdTwinge gave a cracking real-time insight into the shows people were really enjoying. It did raise a number of questions that will certainly come into play come 2010. Firstly, how to ensure tweets about performers were about the show someone had seen, rather than a simple reference. For example, Tim Key (great as he is) benefited hugely from winning the Best of Fringe award (deservedly so I’m sure), as this stirred a huge amount of positive ‘noise’ on Twitter, helping him to almost topple the unstoppable force of Chris Cox.

Secondly, is it enough to look at the general consensus regarding a show? A key selling point for the arts pages in newspapers and magazines is the relationship the reader could build on a weekly/daily basis with their reviewer of choice. You are able to establish which reviewer shares similar tastes and select shows accordingly. In the rush to the Fringe, Bloggers and websites tussled to try and get their reviews read and appreciated. But was there enough time to connect with newer reviewers? And where were the mainstream media in all of this? Twitter is an ideal haven for sharing your newly published reviews but apart from a few exceptions the engagement with Twitter was limited.

Let’s not forget the apps. Fringe Guru and others brought us a fantastic iPhone application (iFringe) which would help with the opportunistic audience who were willing to take a chance and see something based on their location, the timing etc all through a simple interface. Are there opportunities for something like this the year round, or is the Fringe the only period we open ourselves up so much to culture that an app like this can be of assistance?

2009 was really the testing ground period, getting used to these new tools and trying to decipher the part they would play. 2010 is going to be the real meaty fun. A year to prepare and have knowledge of the impact social media can play. What will be the great tools of the Fringe be in 2010?

We saw fantastic tools bringing together and ranking shows based on Twitter audience opinion but will the professional reviewers feel overlooked? Is there an opportunity to aggregate the reviewers? Plenty of excellent bloggers and websites come to Edinburgh looking to cover shows, perhaps bringing these reviews together with writers from more traditional spaces such as newspapers and radio could be successful? The Guardian has always amalgamated reviews, so it does seem surprising there wasn’t a tool to do just that for prominent critics and budding bloggers.

And for the Fringe itself? After the success of its own Twitter profile, including hosting the popular Twinge party, could we be in store for more ongoing engagement through these channels and will the Fringe capitalise on this by creating more exclusive events and offers?

It’s all very exciting. The notion that there might be the next ‘twitter’ to consider in 2010 is very much a possibility. But one thing’s for sure, lessons and fun was the experience of 2009 and performers who fully embraced social media at the Fringe would have surely reaped the benefits.

This article was originally posted on the Hot Tin Roof blog

Zen Bound :: iPhone games review on Square-go

Greetings friend, do you wish to look as happy as me?

Then just go to

www.square-go.com/review/461

and read my review of Zen Bound.

Don't delay. Eternal happiness is just a click away!

p.s. Buy this game for your iPhone. You won't be disappointed.

Geometrix: Square-Go Review

Terrible lack of updates - must rectify.

But as you'll no doubt no, today is Friday, so my efforts are irrelevant.

To make up for this please accept a link to my first iPhone game review for Square-Go.

http://www.square-go.com/review/436

"We aint going to the town, we're going to the city"

Recession, credit crunch, John McCain…yeah things are bad. Throw into that mix a huge dollop of encroaching Baltic weather and you’d expect a typically sombre mood seeping from Unserieslinked.

Actually, you’d be dead wrong. The chilly night skies are a welcome arrival. Wrapping up warm, leaving work when it’s dark…ain’t no thing.

In fact, living in a city I’ve realised it heralds the return of something all the more important.

Interpol.

It’s strange but completely obvious why Interpol suit such weather and surroundings. The brooding, dark tones pulsating from their three classic albums go perfectly walking in the cold night flanked by souring architecture.

The band aren’t just another throwaway artist too, they are simply life affirming. Each album conjuring up a very real mental recollection of a period in my life, moving along to the music…each different, all fascinating.

Take their most recent effort "Our Love To Admire". The album genuinely narrates a relationship of the past, with this period of my life condensed into music videos following each song. It’s absolutely perfect in the tone and storyline…maybe I’ll make that movie one day.

It’s a welcome return for Interpol. Genuinely one of my favourite bands of all time, well, from the list of bands that have started and evolved in my lifetime.

It’s also been a season of new music here at Unserieslinked. An inkling towards Lil Wayne, Glasvegas and the Gaslight Anthem, led to a shopping spree which led to weeks of enjoyable listening and eventually to overplay and indifference…but either way, great new artists, fantastic albums.

Lil Wayne is the one to talk about. Obviously. It sure sticks out there.

My knowledge and interest in rap/hip hop is limited but passionate. I do stick out in the crowd, but that’s ok. I know what I like and thanks to quips that Lil Wayne is the successor to Jay-Z AND Michael Phelps talking about how he’d whack on Wayne before winning each of his 8 gold medals…that’s a recommendation and a half for me.

His most recent effort, Tha Cater III is almost a masterpiece. It falls at the usual rap hurdle…too many songs. Why this particular genre of music feels there needs to be at least 15 tracks, I’ll never know, because usually the listener can’t enjoy the whole album in one session and ends up being indifferent/bemused by the remaining 3-4 tracks. Make Tha Cater III 10 tracks, it’s up there with the greats.

The opening six tracks dominates anything I’ve heard for a long time. Equal measure Jay-z, early busta rhymes and outkast, Wayne has created a fascinating mix. The much needed swagger is there, but Wayne knows humour and originality. An important combination for reaching more than the hardcore, while still hitting the top of the charts.

Lollipop is almost, almost a rap ballard. Soothing and mysterious, it comes so close, but the lyrics can't hide what type of music you're listening to: "She she lick me like a lollipop" and "I Let her lick the wrapper". Dirty swine!

While he’s touting himself as the successor to Jay’s crown, Tha Carter isn’t an inauguration. For one Jay-Z is far from retiring (again) and there is space for the two. What it is, if I can use a lame analogy, is similar to Theo Walcott taking over David Beckham’s England no.7 jersey. We all know the skill and promise of Theo, and yes we acknowledge he’s the future. But never write off Beckham, and never expect to hear the end of him…

"Take a bow son!!!" - Football season 2008/9 previews!

Ok…so Andy Gray doesn’t commentate on League Two games, much less would he utter such dramatic phrases for any of the typically bumbling goals we score, but the mighty Rochdale’s season has now begun and that calls for a nifty preview blog!

Last season, an amazing latter half of the season, saw the Dale reach the playoff final where we were, quite frankly, p0wned but a fearsome (for League Two anyway) strike duo. So what’s in store this season?

Well one things for sure, like most teams in L2 this season, the fear of relegation is that much more lukewarm, thanks to the triple whammy of points deductions. Rotherham, Bournemouth (n.b. Seth Rogan’s team “Bourne-mouth?”) and Luton have all been punished and will all start the season in the negative. This kind of cushion is a weight off my mind, despite the Dale’s quality surely meaning they’re nowhere near the rear end of the season come May 2009. On the other hand, look at Leeds, a deduction could be the kick up the arse these teams need for a huge surge up the table.

Summer transfer news?

We missed David Perkins in the final last season, and now he’s gone all together! Hopefully signing Jon Shaw from Halifax will bag plenty of goals along with last season’s top scorer for Rochdale, Adam Le Fondre.

My prediction this season?

With Keith Hill in charge, I do have faith and think 2nd place, automatic promotion could be in sights. Could I handle another day at Wembley? Sure, but we have to be a lot more solid across the park and not rely on the legend that is Gary Jones giving 1200% in every position going.

This week sees the first league home game of the season, and it’s only against local rivals, Bury. Given the result of our last local derby (you’re coming straight back down Stockport!) the Dale will be out to regain local pride. I’m delighted to be heading down for the game, in a season I hope to catch at least 10 home games.

Some league called the...Premier League?

As for the big stuff, I think Chelsea will come back and win the Premiership. Scolari is an incredible manager and you can already sense a more excited and confident collective at Stamford Bridge. Manchester Utd will push them the whole way, while I do believe Liverpool will keep in step until very late on in the campaign. As for the bottom? You really can’t see any of those teams promoted staying up can you? Windass and all, Hull will be rock bottom.

Fargo Yah?!

So, I've dedicated this week to watching "new" movies yah? And tonight, I finally watched the Coen's 1996 classic, Fargo.

I know I know, how on earth am I only just seeing this film. Yah. True. I can't believe it either. But there it is. Ok?

So, for those of you equally crazy to have not seen this flick, Fargo follows a botched fake kidnapping set-up by the wonderful William H. Macy and the persistent work of policewoman Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand) trying to solve a series of murders.

One thing I must say right from the off...I couldn't have imagined the film to be so sentimental for such a dark tale. The relationship of Marge and her husband Norm is quite easily one of the sweetest unions I've ever seen on the big screen.

And Marge? She is simply a terrific character. A true movie hero. Dogged and right, she does her job well and is justifiably successful in the end.

A short and sweet thumbs up. Countless words of praise have made their indelible ink on Fargo, but I just wanted to add my praises, for an understated epic thriller with a huge dollop of Coen's black humour and squirting of crimson.

And the accents, oh yah? How can we forget those!

New film festival launches in Edinburgh.

The Chris Welton film festival started with a bang last night, with an unannounced screening of the 1993 classic children's movie, Rookie of the Year.

One of the all time great "kid miraculously gets good at sport - plays against adults, and wins" movies, Rookie of the Year stars future American Pie star Thomas Ian Nichols and future big ball of crazy, Gary Busey.

Nicholas plays Henry Rowengartner, a normal kid, who after an accident, becomes a major league baseball pitcher - with hilarious results.

The flick was greeted with spirited laughs from the sold out (*capacity of 1*) "Front Room" early yesterday evening, in a reorganised schedule from the planned "Control". (Organisers cite "Monday blues" as the reasoning)

Particular highlights include the spirited, if not rather underused, display by Scrubs star Neil Flynn (Janitor) as a very believable first baseman and Nichols' hilarious capers trying to steal bases by taunting an overweight pitcher.

The festival takes a break this evening but will return on Wednesday evening with Fargo, The Lost Boys, Fast Food Nation and Control all included in the screening lottery.

The Chris Welton film festival is in its first year and focuses on films recently bought for cheap prices from various outlets...but mainly £3 from Fopp.

You can support the Chris Welton film festival by letting Chris enjoy his evenings undisturbed watching films.

Ends

Editors Note: For more information go to www.chrisfilmfestival.co.uk

Obama is Wunderbahr!

When Barack Obama speaks, it’s hard not to listen.

What an enormously powerful and optimistic speech he just delivered in Berlin.

I do really worry though, this might be the beginning of the end . He’s loved across the world but what really matters is America. Will normal US town folk relate to such a bold, sweeping and ambitious speech directed at the entire globe rather than issues affecting their everyday lives?

But surely he has to be the choice. Come on America, how can you not vote for this man? He is the future! Right then...if you don’t elect him, I think we’ll have to appoint him something greater than your country can offer.

Step forward Barack Obama, President of Earth!

Bob Saget's your uncle!

I think I've blabbed out Hubdub before, but just thought I'd give you an update now I'm actually doing well. This funtime news prediction site is highly addictive and run by some superb fellows and a great community. This week, I am kicking so much arse, I have actually beaten everyone on the entire site! That's right! My clever betterooney on Hamilton to win the German Grand Prix (god he tested me; by almost NOT winning). Check out my whoopage! Out of 1227 users, I have the highest weekly gain!


Think you can beat me? I'm currently putting most of my money into F1. Check it.

qmwztlxb3

what is this?

My Prediction

F1: Who will win the Formula 1 Driver's Championship in 2008

I predicted Felipe Massa (Ferrari)   
on 22nd Jul 08

More predictions by me: bobsaget

Hubdub - The News Prediction Game

Kerrang! have seen the light yet again this month. A pretty staggering double whammy really: First Converge on the front cover, now in the Kerrang Awards Dillinger Escape Plan are up for Best Live Band. Vote for them! Watch this video as a lovely reminder why they should win. Oh, and remember, everytime you vote for Avenged Sevenfold, a sweet little adorable kitten is murdered!

Set fire to the update on fire!

Before you can say "4 weeks!", I'm back! I am stunned the time has flown by with no updates over all this time. Lack of blogging is not good. Not good in the slightest. Sure it wasn't a "Ten years!" moment but I didn't even do a Glastonbury/Wakestock review. As Andy Gray would say "Poor!" Jay-z was incredible, the vibe was tremendous, yada yada yada, old news...

Anyway, I did write a blog about my iPhone 3G purchase, but I never put it up. Was this a decision based on preserving my integruity and not bragging? No. I simply didn't put it up. If you want to read about my thrilling tale (it was pretty exciting, honest) of my 3G purchase, then go here

Anyway, just to update you all, I wore ankle socks for the first time today. Now, the weather today has been superb. Walking through Princes Street Gardens I am genuinely excited by the precense of tourists, so long as we are rewarded with some sun to boot. But for some reason, I have been consistently cold in the office. Why? Is there a particular draft right by my feet? No. It's these pointless socks which barely go over my ankles. Both my legs have been unusually cold all day all because of these last-pair-in-the-draw socks. Good in hot conditions + shorts. Absolutely pointless in Edinburgh.

Second exciting piece of news today. The Google Street View car whizzed past my office today. No fibbing at all! I'm certain cos Jemima Kiss blogged about it earlier today with some photos showing the camera equipment. My desk looks directly into the road but at wall level, so I can't really see most cars. But then, this black pole with cameras and some yellow computer attached rolled on by. I think it is a bit like when Charlie finds the Golden ticket. Except it offers no whimsical prize, and doesn't come with a nice bar of chocolate. Unfortunately I was rooted to my desk and didn't get out quick enough to be forever immortilised on Google Street view! Bah! Keep up to date with Google ghost car appearances with this handy map.

N00b Mac fan and the 3G iPhone

This is the story…of one man’s journey…to seek out the holy grail of his time…coming this July…rated 12...

Scene:

Our hero struts casually into the o2 shop on Princes Street. Gingerly approaches, “iPhone 3G is here” t-shirt wearing assistant.

“Obviously you’re sold out huh?”

“Yeah…”

Interrupting “I saw the queue this morning and knew they’d be no chance.”

“…we sold out about 30 minutes ago.”

“WHAT!? 30 mintues ago? Awwwww you didn’t have to tell me that!”

“Sorry.”

“Dammit!”

“There are some still available in St Jame’s Centre o2 shop…”

Interrupting (a la Elaine Bennis) “Get out!”

“…they said in our last conference call there are about 8 left”

“Hmmmm.”

Our hero glances out the window of the shop. Car and people traffic is high at 5pm. He mulls the possibility in his head.

“Hmmmmmmm”

Shop-keep winks: “You might as well!”

Hero grabs his phone.

“Hi mum, just heading over to meet you…”

Explains O2 shop story.

Mum: “Well why don’t you just go?”

Turns on a sixpence

“Really?! You think I should”

“Why not?! Go for it! Good luck my son!”



A taxi comes into view. Our hero runs down the middle of the road to the car.

To Grumpy taxi driver 1: “ Can I get in?”

Grumpy Taxi driver 1 shoos our hero away: “There’s a stand right there.”

“But your light is on!”

“You’re in the middle of the road!”

“It’s on red…come on!”

Traffic starts to move

“Yikes!”



Pushes to front of queue for taxis.

Hurriedly polite: “Can I go to St Jame’s centre please?”

Grumpy Taxi driver 2 inaudible grunt

The taxi trundles along right into the Lothian Road traffic.

“Awwww come on, why are we going this way?!”

“grunt”.

“Humph!”


FLASHBACK

That morning

Our hero sits chatting with his mother and brother

“There was this huge queue outside the o2 shop. About 30 people or something.”

“Really?! Ah well, no chance then.”


Present


Time ticks down, 5:15…5.18

The taxi pulls slowly in front of St Jame’s Centre.

“Make it £6!”

grunt

“Tah!’

Mad dash with added skip into building.

“Where the fuck is the o2 shop?”

Scans map. “I am here, where is that? AGH!”

Spots carphone warehouse on right.

Hmmmm, perhaps? No! Tip was for o2 shop. Checks watch. 5.24 EEEEP!

Paces sweatily past rammed smoothie stand and tuts behind slow family. Movegoshdarnit!

Bounds into o2 shop.

Switches to subtle nonchalant mode. 3 men milling around, trying to get attention of shop assistants without seeming too crazy.

Our hero saunters up to the desk.

“Do you have any more iPhones then?”

“*nonplussed* aye.”

“Welll, could I have one?”

“*nonplussed* sure.”

Our hero emits a dramatic sigh. He wipes the beads off his forehead and takes a seat. A black box is placed on the table. iPhone 3G. He smiles.

FIN


..........
Not the dramatic ending I was expecting. But as my mum always says, it's better to enjoy the journey rather than just the destination. I felt like I was in the Amazing Race! It was so much fun!


The fact that there were so many iphones still on sale by the end of launch day in a major city was awfully strange and completely against the sensational media reports I scanned throughout the day. Perhaps there was more stock or maybe just less demand. Either way my tip off + the computers crashing actually helped me. Big props go to the sales assistant, desperate to leave work and go to T in the Park, who didn’t care about my proof of address or frankly any important details. Bish bash bosh I got the phone. It was all very exciting and yet in the end, quite an anticlimax. It’s not really a new phone is it? It’s got some wicked features but it’s still the same look, feel as previous. My internet isn’t really that fast either. But a Facebook application where you can take a photo and it’s instantly put onto Facebook?!?! YES PLEASE!!!! WIZARD! MY HIGHEST SCORE EVER…2 thumbs up!

R.I.P George Carlin

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7468681.stm

And I've only really just started to discover George Carlin's outstanding stand-up :(

My favourite rant: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeSSwKffj9o

Take that religion!

Rival Schools + Flood of Red @ King Tut's Wah Wah Hut

19 June 2008


I hate to be the person who picks out one member of a group for criticism, but Flood of Red need a new singer. The current chap's style of singing simply doesn't suit the sheer force of what is an incredible outfit. Whiney and often far too weak, he is a shadow of what is going on behind him. For one, the drummer hits the skins harder and more enthusiastically than anyone I think I've ever seen. It has to be said though; this enthusiasm does help disguise a sound that suffers from not being altogether that forward thinking.

To be fair, Flood of Red's vocalist (apologies for lack of naming, no good bios online) is not helped by early technical problems and to his credit his own personal performance and the overall display by the group really picks up towards the end of the set. We'll just put it down to nerves then shall we?



It seems wrong being nostalgic about a band when you're only in your early twenties, but Rival Schools have been away for well over six years and the last time I saw them I was only around 17!

Fortunately the show isn't all about the past. I mean, just look at how far Rival Schools has come. Walter is sporting a tash; Ian has become rather fat; Sam has shaved off his awesome 'fro; while, last but not least, Cache appears now to be Johnny Drama!

On a more serious note, new songs like Paranoid Detective and a wicked cover of How Soon is Now? show there is still plenty in the tank of this supergroup. Add to this all the hits from United by fate, The Switch, High Acetate and Good Things and you have a crowd full of happily satisfied chappies and chappettes.

It's easy to forget than in the time they've been gone, music has changed so drastically. The MySpace and iTunes revolution; even "emo" has moved from post-hardcore groups like Rival Schools to a tag for pop punk bands.

In the end, predictably, Used for Glue prompts the first mass movement of the crowd, and the faithful leaves suitably happy. This Rival Schools reunion feels different to others. It doesn't feel forced and the band members appear to have taken the time they need apart and seem delighted to be back in front of their, still keen, fanbase.

After one of the all-time great debut albums and a seven year wait for the follow up, it's finally almost time for the "difficult" second album. And I for one, can't wait...It's great to have Rival Schools back!

Another dumbass "musician"...

Kid Rock boycotts Apple iTunes.

Robert Ritchie said: "It's based on an old system where iTunes takes the money, the record company takes the money, and they don't give it to the artists."

Waaah waaaah waaaah, I don't have enough millions.

Let's remind ourselves of the genius and pomposity of this nincompoop:

"I'm going platinum selling rhymes. I went platinum, seven times."

Giant Douche or Turd Sandwich??????!? Vote now!!!!?!

If you ever needed a reason for illegally downloading music ...

'Bassist Gene Simmonds explained that his band were refusing to record new material until illegal downloading ceases, calling the act of downloading "uncivilised".'

http://www.nme.com/news/kiss/37419

Now I'm not one to download illegally (hand on heart, not since Napster!) but Kiss really suck, so by all means everyone, keep up your naughtiness!

NME might have actually got it right with this one...

You know when you watch a music video for the first time and the everything about it just works?

I was entranced by one of the most unique sounds I've heard in indie for a long time with an intriguing video beautifully matching the mood. I don't usually hang on till the end to find out the name of an artist, but I will definately be checking out Glasvegas at Glastonbury next week. (Which will be warm? Don't tease me weatherman!)

Good show guys and gal! Check out 'Geraldine' here