Bon hiver!

Just been to the 'Bon hiver' exhibition at the Towner Gallery in Eastbourne. I loved the Olafur Eliasson 'The Forked Path' an installation representing a path through a forest made of real trees. It was very beautiful and dark- very Hansel and Greteland it made me think about how forests are often used in art and literature to lead you to some magical or other worldly place. The talk before introduced me to an artist called Pieter Bruegel 'Hunters in the snow' seemed so modern!

New stuff

Just been given a list of Australian bands to check out. I already have Tame Impala on the radar so can't wait to see what the others are like ! I hate this wind though its really scary. Only good thing about it is I'm reading Wuthering Heights at the moment and the sound of the wind howling through the roof helps set the scene!

Metz

Was feeling really tired today but listened to Metz and now I feel like I could go and rob a bank or go 10 rounds with Lennox Lewis ha ha. Amazing what music can do!

Snow

I had to take a trip through the wilds of West Sussex to deliver a package for someone- you know who you are!! Anyway I think I drive through Narnia on the way. It looked like a particularly fine confection. Mrs God must have got her icing sugar shaker out.

I'll Biba-ck

The Biba exhibition was good yesterday. You can see how the clothes really helped to style the sixties and seventies and the influence they had over future fashion. There was even some proto punk pirate outfit complete with eye patch and an all in one suit that could have been last seasons Prada or Miu Miu! It was accompanied by a soundtrack from some of the era's musical icons such as Lou Reed and Bowie and I think I spotted some Donovan going on at one point. Worth a visit.

Rosemary and Barbara

Why does it always snow when you have planned to do things that will require travelling? Is it those sinister forces at work again conspiring to stop me seeing the Spit Shake Sisters on Friday? Could be? Is it Rosemary the telephone operator?.....stop! this is too random. Anyway I'm also planning on seeing the Biba exhibition at the Brighton Museum tomorrow so will do my best to thwart any plot to stop me.

Biba, 1965. Photograph copyright Ron Falloon

I wonder where that fish did go?

Sorry but I just had to put this up as I always find it so ridiculously funny!http://youtu.be/CK0cUv3ba-o

Nice hair dude!

We had a bit of a 60's movie soundtrack theme running through our Christmas/New Years celebrations. Soundtracks such as Roy Budd's excellent 'Get Carter' music and Quincy Jones 'Italian Job' were in evidence. (You can't have Christmas without Michael Caine films it's actually against the law). Anyway I have now been inundated with CD's featuring all kinds of 60's film and TV loveliness.Carrying on with the 60's vibe I have been playing Temples 'Shelter Song' repeatedly and wondering if they might play anywhere soon?



Bodie and Doyle were never the same after taking those mushrooms....

There's a staaarmaaan...

Hurray, just got tickets for the David Bowie exhibition at the V & A.

Merry New Year

So I have finally recovered from the bad cold that seems to have inflicted everyone and can start thinking about all the lovely gigs to go to this year. Tickets for 'Melody's Echo Chamber' (Brighton, Green Door store, 3rd March) are a must. Oh and I need to get hold of Andy Weatherall's 'Masterpiece'. It sounds promising.. will let you know! Merry New Year!

Seasonal good cheer was in abundance at The Underground Theatre, Eastbourne as local band 'Emperor the Stag' rounded off a successful year with a Christmas gig in aid of the Adam Savory Fund. Adam, a friend of the band, sadly died during a recent trip to South America after succumbing to altitude sickness.
First up support act 'Rum Runners', a female led folk/country combo, gave a spirited (get it?) performance of original and cover material although a rendition of Dolly Parton's 'Jolene' suffered slightly from lack of pace.
'Emperor the Stag' kicked off with perennial favourite 'Swan' and gave a performance of old and new material with songs from new EP 'Speedwell Drive'. The band  are definitely honing their live sound and   their best moments come  in their shorter, more tightly packed tunes.
Not wishing to forget that it was Christmas time the band did some clever mixing of seasonal favourites 'Last Christmas' into 'White car never comes'. and by  the end of the night the audience were buzzing and ready to sing along.  Any fears that the tiny UGT bar would be unable to cope seemed unfounded!