Papillons de Nuit highlights 2011

Kaiser Chiefs 

Yes, that is (some) of the John Spencer Blues Explosion in a golf caddy

Klaxons 

Liam Gallagher at his moody best before his Beady Eye gig at the Papillons de Nuit

The Lanskies Live at the Papillons de Nuit

The Great Shark Hunt: Hunter S Thompson

Much to the chagrin of my inner beatnik, I stumbled upon the lesser known works of Hunter S

 Thompson’s The Great Shark Hunt surprised by the very human element that fundamentally lies at

the forefront of this work.

The Great Shark is a collection of his printed works that have appeared mainly in 1970’s Rolling Stone. The self-styled king of gonzo-journalism takes aim and shoots high at the Nixon campaign, and all his establishment buddies, taking no prisoners along with him. Though his well documented drug use is in the background of his writing (“he was confronted by a with a 6ft blue black serpent slithering rapidly up the stairs”, hmmm) it does not lie at the forefront of his thinking.

This book should be dipped into every so often, as Hunter S Thompson is at his superhuman and scary best. His article on the plight of the Incan Indian (He haunts The Ruins of His Once Great Empire) is as fresh as if it would have been written by any journalist today. Thompson isn’t afraid to chew up the facts and spit them out all over what he believes to be the American nightmare. His devastating portrayal of an ageing Mohamed Ali is of the most poignant examples of a fallen idol in American literature.

It is a pity then, as when I referred to my inner beatnik, that one person should so remember for getting high. Depictions in cinema, such as Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas have done nothing to help this (but he probably didn’t care as he featured in a cameo in the film).

This is a Where the Buffalos Roam kind of book, smart, funny, and achingly human. It is not only essential Hunter S Thompson, but essential reading.

By Odin’s beard! Thor Review

Thor has arrived on our silver screen in full Asgardian splendour. Directed by the normally posh-thespo Kenneth Branagh (yes that Kenneth Branagh), Thor is smashing box-offices here and across the pond.

For those who don’t know about Thor, you will soon. He is your everyday Norse god, who happens to be a Marvel Superhero. Marvel are the ones who created that treasure chest-trove of spandex goodness such as Spiderman, the X-Men and soon to arrive on our shores this summer, Captain America.

Thor is a rip-roaring ride of a film though it doesn’t pretend to be anything other than an old-fashioned yarn. In Asgard, the land of ye olde super-strength Gods (or are they?), an ageing King Odin played by Hannibal Lector spends time fighting out the nasty Ice Men. His son and heir to the throne is played by newcomer Chris Hemworth whom you may have seen in Star Trek, but died at the beginning.  Thor is an arrogant sort, so after being set up by his scheming brother,Loki, is sent to Earth via a spectacular use of green- screen to learn a lesson about honour and stuff.

What entails is your usual fish out of water scenes as Thor adapts to the ways of New Mexico, but help is on hand with the non-irritating/potential love- interest in Natalie Portman. All in all great fun and I was, for at least 2 hours, glued to the screen.

Oh and there is a flying hammer in it as well.

All in all this does beat the old incarnations of Thor that have graced our screens.

Published piece in the Salisbury Journal 2010

AS well as being graced with the finest sunshine this side of Wiltshire, Salisbury’s finest in musical talent came out to play for what was a scorcher of a weekend.

Entry was free for every gig and many bands played long into the night. It was great to see everybody having such a great time. Everywhere was packed, full of happy, and slightly merry, people simply having fun.

Spire FM DJ Dave Woollatt said: “Salisbury Live provides a unique way to present and highlight new talent to a much wider audience, a great experience, not just for the bands but for everybody who goes along.”

The best thing about the weekend was the sheer variety of styles on offer. There was something for everyone. The best gig for me came from Achilles, performing as part of the Endorse It showcase (see separate review).

Salisbury Live came to an end on Sunday at the City Hall, which played host to young aspiring singer/songwriters as well as local heavyweights, Big Num and Drowned by Oceans.

I bumped into Salisbury Live organiser and all round legend, Colin Holton, who commented: “The weekend has been brilliant, complete mayhem, but in a good way,”

A fantastic weekend all round, and only 365 days to the next one.

Owen Evanshttp://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/leisure/entertainments/8188771.Sun_shines_on_fine_musicians/

Alone

Graffiti Farming in Bournemouth

Sounds a bit macabre, what is it?

BBC 4 have found a niche place to put its imported show like ” Wallander”, “Spiral”, and the” Killing”, Saturdays at 10.

like the Bill then?
None of that nonsense I’m afraid. It seems that the Europeans are getting it right in the gripping drama department. It really does look like HBO is getting a run in for sheer plot-heavy, character driven stories.

So where do they come from?
The Wallender detective series started a trend in all things Scandinavian. Wallander is himself as cold as the bleak Swedish settings. Then Denmark’s “The Killing” took over with the eponymous jumper wearing Sarah Lunde.
So all this is happening in the Fjords then?
Erm no, the Fjords are in Norway. France’s Spiral has taken the gauntlet. Never have I seen a more tense, gripping, and morally compelling T.V cop show (Drug addicted cops, evidence planting, etc).

So what is the attraction with these shows?

I’m dumbfounded why the British haven’t got an equivalent. The stories are complex weavings, without one main character. The stories don’t seem to link up at all. Whilst watching the Killing,I was so engrossed that I felt that I had something to do with the murder.
Erm, so what were you doing last Saturday?
Watching people die on a foreign export show of course!

Catch up on Spiral on BBC iplayer now!

Q and A : the BBC 4 Murder Slot

Sounds a bit macabre, what is it?

BBC 4 have found a niche place to put its imported show like ” Wallander”, “Spiral”, and the” Killing”, Saturdays at 10.

like the Bill then?
None of that nonsense I’m afraid. It seems that the Europeans are getting it right in the gripping drama department. It really does look like HBO is getting a run in for sheer plot-heavy, character driven stories.

So where do they come from?
The Wallender detective series started a trend in all things Scandinavian. Wallander is himself as cold as the bleak Swedish settings. Then Denmark’s “The Killing” took over with the eponymous jumper wearing Sarah Lunde.
So all this is happening in the Fjords then?
Erm no, the Fjords are in Norway. France’s Spiral has taken the gauntlet. Never have I seen a more tense, gripping, and morally compelling T.V cop show (Drug addicted cops, evidence planting, etc).

So what is the attraction with these shows?

I’m dumbfounded why the British haven’t got an equivalent. The stories are complex weavings, without one main character. The stories don’t seem to link up at all. Whilst watching the Killing,I was so engrossed that I felt that I had something to do with the murder.
Erm, so what were you doing last Saturday?
Watching people die on a foreign export show of course!

Catch up on Spiral on BBC iplayer now!