Alabama 3 in Brixton..

Absolutely crazy it was. The sound was muddy and a little rough because of a constant white noise/reverb around the Brixton Academy...but it was crazy. Alabama 3 is from Brixton. So it was quite insane. They are a band everyone should see once, and apparently stories from their past are legendary. I can't divulge them, but they are insane.. Here's a video:

Gigs..

I saw White Rabbits at the Borderline last night.. Twas' quite ace. This has been a busy time.. Sharon Jones/Antibalas review is written and in the queue at DiS awaiting publication, whilst I have a new Clash column to prepare, one that explores the concept of 'indie' on music marketing. Haven't decided who to interview yet... Probably someone quite big and genre-defining like Arctic Monkeys and a smaller band like DIOYY or Eight Legs. Plus a band that is always on the outside, like Cloud Cult... Lots to think about.

Off to Amsterdam this weekend.. and I plan to re-invigorate this blog. write more. !!!

Here's a video of White Rabbits. Ace they were. Tonight is Alabama 3 and The Levellers at Brixton Academy. More boozing.

Oh forgive me blog for I have sinned...

Seriously. I was away from the internet for a month, and to be honest, I've been way, way too busy as of late to keep this up. I feel terrible, because when I'm old and forgetful (moreso) I'll lose this part of my past because I didn't write anything down. Oh well.

This are fine on planet me. Life has become quite domesticated, as I'm not on a plane every three days anymore, jetting off to to somewhere for something or someone. I try to get to Amsterdam as much as possible, but lately that's once a month or so...

Best weekend of music though I'd like to quickly divulge. On FRI (two nights ago) I saw Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings at the Jazz Cafe. ACE! I met a girl who toured with Tony Allen and Dele Sosimi as a percussionist. I gave her my number to call for a chat but to no avail thus far. Oh well, I'd really love to jam with her.. she did play with one of my idols. Last night I saw The Budos Band and Antibalas at the Jazz Cafe again. Alice and Eamon preferred the Budos Band, and admittedly it was a weaker Antibalas show than usual, but it was still brilliant. 'Indictment' was ACE. Oh, and tonight, well, I'm seeing Bjork. At the Apollo. I'm a lucky duck.

I'll try and get back on the updates. Until then...

I just got the internet back. awesome.

I'm 25 now.. Yikes.

Yup, birthday was last week.. Twas' quite nice.. had some delicious tapas with some friends, drank and then proceeding to enter into my first week of being twenty-five as a sick dog. first with a cold and then a stomach bug. Am OK now.

Also saw NEIL YOUNG last week. AMAZING. Gosh, amazing.

more soon.

Not dead...


Just really, really, really busy. Plus, I have sporadic internet access at home and really have no time to update this when I'm fighting with the flat mates to get a signal. Really, all is very very well. Things are good. I'm living in London now most of the time, seeing a shitload of shows and all that jazz.. more soon. xxxxx

Going to Iceland May 18 - 21 and Canada May 21 - June 2. :)

Really busy but not dead.. Thought I'd put up a video:



I like this band.

This blog is not dead in the water...


But I have had absolutely no time whatsoever to update it. Really. In the grand scheme of things, it has just taken a side step to everything else. I don't have much time now either, so here is a quick update. I live in London, UK and work for a record label doing PR. All is super busy. Kae Sun is doing well and we start tour on Feb 12, so come out if you can and for the first time in ages, it's quite lovely in London today. Unfortunately the neighbours decided to start jackhammering at 9AM so I'm a bit tired. More soon. xxxx

Update...

I have a cold. a bit shit really. So, in the meantime, check out this video while I get better. I'm at work though. Can't sleep just yet.

The best music video ever.

Forgive me...

I haven't updated this thing in forever. I've just been so incredibly busy, and while I update this at work while I should be focusing on other things, I think a quick how's your father is required. Well, all is well; very well. For x-mas I spent four days with Alice and her family in her village in the middle of England; Ace it was. ate well, drank well, enjoyed the country. Then we went to Ikea, drove to London to drop off our spoils and went to Fishguard, Wales for three days to my friend's cottage. We spent NYE there and it was great. It was so remote, just off the coast, that there was no phone service. We played boardgames, drank, ate, chilled... Had a pub lunch in a place called Porthgain which has 37 residents, hiked up a deserted quarry facing the sea (where there was service) and just generally had a gay-ol relaxing time.

Since then we drove back to London (via Rugby and her house) and then spent this weekend in Amsterdam, where vacation concluded. Since all has been insane; work is intense, Kae Sun is going well and generally, things are very prosperous, looking up and outward. But that means no time to update this thing.

maybe more later

Have a moment to update:

So what is on tap this weekend... well, Ikea possibly? Primark maybe? Morrisons? Definitely. Well, there is both the DrownedinSound and Clash xmas parties. I have to make appearances at both. I also plan on walking down to Camden for a visit to Fresh n'Wild for my favourite Icelandic Yogurt, Skyr (it's only sold there). I know I'll spend a lot of money, money I don't have, but it's all good. It's life sorting time.

Work is work. One more week to xmas... xmas! in London! woot!

Oh, here's a fun video I like. A friend of mine does the promo and the animation is really good.

Hiya,

Quick update. I've moved into my flat. If anyone wants the address, lemme know. It's an amazing flat; so happy! It's hard to explain the flat to people, as 1: it's an absolute maze to find it and B: it's oddly shaped. You enter from the top and the flat is reversed, it goes down... and finding it in the neighbourhood is nearly impossible. It's tucked away in the back of a private housing estate that is an absolute bitch to walk around, because it's shaped sort of like two inverted 'T's perpendicular to each other; Really, can't explain it. You just have to come and see it. More than welcome you are.

Here's a video I like... It's neat.

To London....

I am seeing Boys in a Band tonight (www.myspace.com/boysinaband). They are friends from the Faroe Islands. And it is in London. I am starting to get used to this city, slowly but surely. It's not Amsterdam, as it a massive, busy, faceless place sometimes, but it has a lot of heart and a strong sense of community within community, and I like that. I've found a place to live. It's in North London, just 1 stop north on the tube from Kings Cross, which is basically one of the centres of town. It's also a 15 minute walk from Camden, which means close gigs, bad food and hipsters alike. It is far enough away to still be safe. I love it.

Now I work full time and do school spare time.. It's fun. A lot of work.. speaking of...

I don't update this much anymore;

I am at work and really, do not have time. I do want to accounce I signed a lease for a new flat in London, which is exciting. I'll be living in the North of the city, sorta near Camden Town. I like privacy, so that's as descriptive as I'll get. In addition, things are chugging along; thesis is coming together, all is wonderful with Alice and I'm looking for better work, even though I have enough jobs to keep me busy. I don't have enough to keep me fed. Such is life. More soon. I'm seeing Hayden and The National tomorrow in Amsterdam; should be fun.

Until then, here's a widget:

Hello...

It has been raining in London for three days straight. I go back to Amsterdam tomorrow. That is all.

Update....

I have had no time to update this blog, let alone do anything aside from work and school. Yesterday, I said to hell with it for a few hours and caught up with some old friends before watching 'Who Killed the Electric Car.' If you haven't seen that movie, it is well worth renting; very interesting and disturbing. Made me happy to live in Europe.

There is very little time when you live in two cities. It's funny how romantic my life seems to outsiders, especially when I saw I live in two cities. But the romanticism of it all is not true, as really, it's tough to keep on top of everything when you are constantly in flux. I am adapting, though, and all is well.

Thesis is coming along, slowly but surely. The next two weeks will surely be hell school wise, but every November a time like this comes and kicks your ass. I remember complaining about the same thing at Leeds and McMaster. It's the same here, except more individualistic; I don't really have classes, just priorities and commitments.

So today marks the first frost in Amsterdam. Winter has officially begun. The weather has been actually fine as of late, but very cold. It feels, well, more like Canada. Other than Amsterdam or London, I have stayed put as of late. I plan on heading to Rotterdam and Utrecht in the next few weeks, as well as Wales in December and up into the country north of London, but that's all. I certainly am slowing down for a bit. More traveling in 2008 will happen, but not at the level of 2007. I travel too much.

Hope all is well with everyone, really. I'm smiling.

nothing to report...

really. I had a crap flight yesterday. BMI = incompetence. They are just wretched. Large update on the way this week.

Listen to Kae Sun

Update....

I am in London now, just catching up on some work whilst trying to get ahead of other. I made a promise to myself and my thesis advisor that I would have 1 (hopefully 2) full chapters, in addition to the one that is already 3/4 done completed by the end of the month. I am freaking out a bit, but I think I'll get it done. I've also started house-hunting. I don't know who, if anyone, reads this, and I like privacy, so I won't say where. It is in London though.

I miss Amsterdam; the city is so beautiful in the fall, especially when it's crisp and you can sit outside at a cafe, beside a canal, and just relax. I'll be there every weekend in November, and I am looking forward to it to a point you cannot even believe.

Other than that, I'm just settling into work, plugging away and focusing on Kae Sun for 2008. I will also be home for a few days in January. Fun!

love x shain