Through stalls right, Elbow

I am writing this from a lapton/USB modem set-up, situated about ten feet from the main doorway of the Bridgewater Hall, looking at an empty entrance hall of pillars and glass and listening to the muffled sounds of Elbow and the Halle through the heavy closed doors. The occasional late press member (NME and Sunday Times, bow your heads) power-walks up to me and explains the situation in breathy tones (NME even winces when I tell him the first song is underway), but they get their tickets and wait at the suitable door suitably quietly for entry at a suitable moment. Even the volunteer helping me out has been given a ticket at the very last moment, the image of her gleefully scurring into the hallowed hall leaves a sickening taint on my otherwise brief but pleasant exchange with the young lady.

Slag.

Yes, when my manager asked "How late can you stay?", the idea of getting a freebie wasn't in my mind so I had no reason to lie. My gentle child's face smiled and agreed with vigour when the idea of staying until the interval came up, and I am not entitled to go into the show at all, the whole point being I stay slightly later until half an hour into the show to deal with latecomers etc. But still, hearing the press officer say "who shall we give these tickets too?" whilst she looked around for someone working here who could do her a favour and take the two singles for Elbow and the Halle Orchestra (we don't want gaps that's for sure), as I remained pinned to my desk - a deep burn to be sure.

On a positive note, I do have a delicious packet of Tic Tacs which I can eat with gay abandon out here, something that would be impossible if I was watching the band. And more seriously, I am going to be watching this gig again via live link-up tomorrow evening with a gaggle of good friends, good brew and good food, so all is well.

Please note - Grounds For Divorce was on and sounded immense :)

Bring on tomorrow night.

God Hates Fangs

I am currently using the wonders of the internet to keep up with the American Joneses and watch True Blood series 2 the day after it is show in the US, and after watching the first series in one big chunk (more or less) the weekly schedule is actually a plus as I find myself waiting for the next episode to appear online - it's a must-watch show folks.

The Louisiana town of Bon Temps is a simple, steamy little place where people knock boots together and shots back on a daily basis, and everyone goes around their mundane daily business is the high heat without much to report, until vampires "come out of the coffin". Those clever Japanese have invented True Blood, a synthetic blood drink (a B+ for me and a Type O- for my brother), which in turn allows vampires to emerge from the shadows they have inhabited in a series of press releases stating their willingness to socialise and integrate with the human population - if there is a blood substitute out there, there is no longer any need to feed on humans, so peaceful coexistance is the way forward. However, like the difference between a cigarette and a nicotine patch or heroin and methadone, sometimes the correct way isn't the favourite and while it might tick all the nutritional boxes, for some getting your only sustenance from a bottle pales in comparison to chowing down on some virginal beauties in a blood orgy of gothic pain.





I won't go into loads of detail and no spoilers of course, suffice to say it gets interesting right from the start, and it is a very interesting version of the vampire story given that the tone of the series is a weird hybrid of comedy, drama and violence. It isn't going to challenge your mind grapes in any way, just full marks for entertainment, also some sweet eye-candy in the form of Anne Pacquin of Rogue fame, looking sexy and gets her precious rack out) and numerous steely faced vampire men-folk, definately a program for adults and bigger boys (women who shag vampires are called "Fang Bangers", if you don't want to see a restrained big-titted slut be power-drilled by a skinhead vampire, then don't watch this and don't visit your Mum tonight).

It stars on Channel 4 in a few months I think, so get on it when it turns up for some enjoyable vampire loving.

And curry too!

Actually this one makes me feel sick, I would have poured it straight into a wok over onions and peppers and chicken, at what point would I have noticed? On the fork?

Fingers crossed no more mice-in-food articles on the news...