Freedom From The Mundane » HMV Picture House

4 Days To Go

colingalbraith — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:49:24 +0000

Image: Cougars

I’m still reeling over Twitter. The whole thing has left me feeling sick to my stomach, so I’m letting Twitter go for a while. I’ll maybe go back to it some point in the future if I can be assured it won’t happen again. Despite it being an online attack it’s still dented my confidence a bit; maybe I rely too heavily on the Internet on promotion—roll on next week’s old fashioned approach to marketing!

I had a very productive session at the day job yesterday, and also managed to do some work on BACCARA BURNING. Most of my evening was spent with the family, which included a lovely plate of cannelloni for dinner. Yum!

Today I can feel things beginning to hot up as I move towards the launch of the Book Festival this Saturday, in only four days time. August is always my busiest time of the year, and 2009 is proving to be no different, for as well as Book Festival business, I am covering gigs for News of the World.

Tonight, although I’ve not finally decided, I may go along to me ex-writing group. On checking my email this morning, I saw that the guy who runs the group is playing in his band as part of The Edge Festival. I may go along to that with a view to writing a review.

I’ve also got a gig to cover on Thursday—The Bluetones at the Picture House, and then on the 25th, Ian Broudie at Cabaret Voltaire. Should all be good gigs and if they get through will be some good bylines for me in the newspaper.

Dontcha just love August?

Before I leave you for today, I want to tell you about Madness fan, Tim Andrews, who is to take part in the Antony Gormley project, One & Other, this Saturday (15th August), when he will take his place on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, London, from 6pm till 7pm.

Tim (58) was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2005, but despite being afraid of heights, he intends to stand on the Fourth Plinth for the full hour while playing tracks from the new album, The Liberty of Norton Folgate by one of his favourite bands, MADNESS. Tim has chosen the album because the lyrics recount various stories about the city of his birth, London, which he adores.

Tim, who hopes that many will come along, show their support and perhaps dance with him, says: “Being diagnosed with Parkinson’s has enabled me to view life and death from a completely different perspective and I feel liberated as a consequence. Standing on the Fourth Plinth represents this feeling. If I can raise awareness of Parkinson’s at the same time, that’s even better.”

If you are not in London on Saturday, you can still show your support by helping Tim raise vital funds for the PDS. Please visit www.justgiving.com/Tim-Andrews-oneandother.

Great Gig, Shame About The Indian Food

Colin — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 09:42:16 +0000

Image: BBC Online

I spent a long day in the office yesterday—really long. Same hours as normal but the final drag up to 5pm seemed to go on forever. I was just so tired from the night before I felt exhausted at the thought of going out. But I did and I’m glad I did.

I met my sister, Binny, to go and see The Stranglers. They were playing at the Picture House as part of the newly fangled Edge Festival (previously known as ‘T on the Fringe’.

Before hand we went for an Indian meal at 9 Cellars Indian restaurant. It’s situated on the corner of York Place, right next to The Stand comedy club, and having walked passed it may times I’d often wanted to have a meal there. Having now been, I wished I hadn’t.

The staff were friendly and attentive and the prices reasonable. But it was the food that let the experience down. It was quite simply very poor cooking. The main course was where it all fell down; too much sauce, not enough herbs or spices, bland flavours, and not enough meat to feed a chicken. I won’t be returning.

After the meal we walked through St Andrews Square and along George Street, passing the ever growing resurrection of the Book Festival. There are now several white tents and walkways laid out, and a big sign displaying “8 Days To Go”. How exciting.

We popped into Shakespeare’s for a drink—warm beer; always nice—then into the venue. I never gave The Stranglers credit for having such a passionate following, nor for having such an impressive backlog of punk rock songs. They played all their most popular hits within the first half hour and it worried me at the time, needlessly as it turned out.

Being sober at a gig can often be a tricky predicament, but I have to say The Stranglers were a superb live act. They played with confidence, precision, and a delightful twinge of arrogance, which is really something when you consider their drummer, Joe Black, is 71 years old!!!

I walked my sister to the train station, and was then after waiting at the bus stop back to Leith, was delighted to see my bus soar passed me, the driver gazing blankly at me as me and several other people were left stranded in the west end of Edinburgh. Too tired to even complain about it, I jumped into a taxi and forked out the cash to get home.

I battered together my review of the gig before I went to bed, then this morning, polished it up and sent it off. My normal editor is on holiday so hopefully it will get through in time for publication on line tomorrow.

Right now, I’m off up town! I need new shoes for work, a quiet coffee, and have a couple of other small errands to do. Later on, reading and writing.