!!! - More like ??!#£%?

I went with Shiraz and his friend Louisa to the Maximo Park NME show at the Astoria last night. The first band we saw were Hot Club de Paris. They sang some funny a capella at points (like 'sometimes it's better not to stick bits of each other in each other for each other' or something to that effect) but otherwise they were extremely average.

Then came !!!. I didn't know anything about them except that their music is dancy and not at all like the headliners. Holy ummm what the hell is this?! was my reaction. It looked like eight Napolean Dynamites performing on stage to electronic music. They were so dorky, I couldn't tell if they'd just come from chess club or the local gun show. I thought they were great though and the singer was really charismatic; his dorkiness made him even more fun to watch. I would recommend seeing them, and you can put 3!'s at the end of that statement.

Finally were Maximo Park who played lots of old stuff and lots of new stuff. I'd never seen them headline a gig and the crowd went bonkers for them. They played a good show and you could tell they were really happy with their performance and with the crowd. Paul Smith looks tre cute with his new long hair and hat instead of his former combover from 2005; also the keyboard player controlled himself from doing the karate chop move for most of the set, I was so thankful!!

Shiraz took us to the Sanderson Hotel bar afterwards for a goodbye drink (it's one of the places we went the day we met.) It's so nice there.

On Tuesday night Dave and I saw Spamalot courtesy of his brother and sister-in-law (their Xmas gift to us.) I was hesitant about the show as I don't know much Monty Python and thought I wouldn't get the jokes. I did miss a few but overall it was really funny and original in terms of a show (of course not that original as they ripped it off from themselves but you know what I mean.) If comparing against Avenue Q, the other comedy-musical I'd recently seen, I'd say it was was better. Only bad thing about the theater (even though it was beautiful) was that the seats were steeper than at Shea Stadium, which can be pretty scary.

They are playing 'Sometimes' by Ash on XFM right now, it's my favorite Ash song, yeah!!!

Ana got extra hot chicken at Nando's the other day. That's the highest level of hot after Lemon & Herb, Medium, & Hot. Lemon & Herb is spicy for me (although I'm an exception with spice sensitivity.) She had to have the waiter wash the sauce off for her. Too ambitious!

I just met Ben in Chinatown. Speaking of, did you see the huge lit-up lanterns in Oxford Circus for the New Year? So pretty and surprisingly tasteful for the circ.

I just bought 3 books ('Love in the Present Tense', 'A Piece of Cake', and 'Never Let Me Go') with a gift voucher I had which I no doubt will have a problem transporting home.

I also bought fun scrapbooky things at Muji for when I return home.

Current Music: Dandy Warhols - Bohemian Like You

It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Saturday

I've been trying to spend time with all of my friends this past week (and this current one as well.) Saying goodbye is hard!!! Before I get on with posting mine and Liz's farewell party photos I can quickly comment on who else I've been bidding adieu to.

Last Saturday Sunil was in town so after a Ping Pong dinner with Dave and Krish, we met up with Mr. D and Shiraz for a Mountbatten's birthday. I'd been drinking since 2:00 pm though so I didn't last very long.

Sunday marked the last time I would ever do the Black Sheep pub quiz near Oval. Priyesh and Julian came and our mid-quiz freebie was actually a chicken roast complete with all the trimmings. I guess a lot of people didn't order them that day because we usually just get chips and onion rings. Oh, and we came in third.

I had lunch with Joy on Monday who has since changed her status from 'in a relationship' to 'engaged'!! Congrats Joy and Andi!!!

At night Liz and I met up with Matt Trager from Binghamton because I found out randomly (through my mom's friend's friend's friend kind of thing) that he works in London now. Nice to catch up, but quite crazy that after he left Kelly Osbourne and Amy Winehouse showed up! This possibly beats the prior week's Young Knives spotting at the accidental crashing of the Cold War Kids album launch party at the Social (though we didn't get free open bar at the Hawley Arms.)

On Tuesday night I went to dinner with Joy, Laura, and Zoe in Camden. Joy was soon to be off to beautiful Rome and Zoe was soon to be off to glamorous Ohio (she is going to Disneyworld as well though!!) and I planned to see Laura again before I leave, but not before giving her my pink heart chair. I know my favorite seat is in good hands (or butt i should say.)

Wednesday was lunch with Alex H. in the Kilburn area. He was nice enough to take a bag to NY for me as well, thanks again!

On Friday I had to go to his house to empty some of the bag because I overstuffed it. Whoops!

That night Laura and I went out for dinner. I gave her a bag o' stuff including fun things like my curling iron and alarm clock!

On Saturday I moved all my stuff (thanks Dave and Jay) to Dave's flat for the week. I parted ways with my flatmates and headed back to Camden (for the 4th time that day from Stockwell) for mine and Liz's leaving drinks at Lock 17, followed by dancing at the Underworld. It was fun fun fun!! Here are some photos:

Jay*Dave*Me*Ana

Julian*Me*Priyesh Alex H.

Dave*Me

Krish*Jay

Elliott

Marc*Me

Graham*Andy M.*Alex C.*Jamie

Andy C.*Ben

Simon*Me

Laura*Alex*Mike*Mairead

Laura

Liz*Graham

Rich*Alex

Graham*Liz*Andy

They played 'Starlight', I died.

Chris literally looked like night of the living dead when he fell asleep on the 88 with his eyes open.

That photo is #88 in my folder, which makes it even creepier.

Some butt at Bodeans cured my hangover and I also saw Hot Fuzz. It was not what I expected, I liked it a lot!!!

This week I'm meeting up for lunches, dinners, drinks, and a gig with Alex C., Ana, Shiraz, Ben, Val, and Laura, and I've got a West End show with Dave.

I may have to make room for the Roxy on Thursday and the Swan as well.

Current Music: Cast - Alright

I've Got the Claps

Too much to catch up on! But I've only got a short amount of time to write at the moment.

Prior to going to Italy I went with Laura to the Album Chart Show. We saw a two song performace from Fall out Boy which was a nice surprise as they were the only band I didn't know would be performing. We were then treated to three songs from Klaxons who I love and were really good. Next was Lady Sovereign. Her music made me want to put a bullet through my head and of course with my luck she was the only one who had to repeat a song because the camera guy messed up the taping. Finally were The Feeling. I didn't know any of the songs they played but the singer has such a lovely voice live. They played really well too and for a "softy" band I was surprised that the crowd absolutely loved them. Yeah Feeling!

We had to applaud for the cameras about 30 separate times. It was so much that my arms actually hurt and I could barely continue. Also, we had to clap for bands that had performed in the previous weeks like Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs, and The Magic Numbers. I hate the last band, I think it was really wrong that I had to clap for them.

Oh my god! A good friend just got engaged and I just found out like 4 seconds ago!!! I can't reveal who though cause it just happened today but YEAH!!!

Stadium Arcadium

So, although you might know I'm somewhat of a Barnet supporter, I recently went to an Arsenal game. Yeah Premiership (thanks Alex!) Actually, it wasn't technically a Premiership game, it was an FA Cup match, but the two teams playing were Premiership level (Arsenal v. Bolton.) There were about 50,000+ more people at this game than the last Barnet one I was at. Emirates stadium (brand new) was sooo nice.

The fans have such potty mouths! As entertaining as the Colchester fans were at my last game, this was even better as it was huge crowds coming together to diss the enemy. I liked the simple but got the point across "Same old Bolton, always cheating," though I think that's chanted at every team at every stadium. Here's more photos:

It's old news and we all know it was a draw, but here's a tiny bit of the action. Please excuse my camera work.



Current Music: Last Week - True

To-Do List

Some things I plan to blog about in the upcoming days:

- I attended my first premiership football match

- I went to the Album Chart Show

- I unintentionally snuck into the Cold War Kids album launch party

- I went to Italy

- I unintentionally went to Germany

- I can't believe Tammy died on Guiding Light

Current Music: Klaxons - Golden Skans