(no subject)
I've actually had a reasonable sort of week, which is a very pleasant change. The only drawback is that I'm insanely tired. Monday I stayed up far too late playing Medieval II: Total War. I thought the first one was good but this one is way better. Between Medieval II and FIFA '05 on PS2 I haven't actually played Sims 2 in a week. Amazing!
Wednesday night was netball, and because of washed out matches and the fact that I only ever play on the wings in the indoor team I'm been filling in for, I hadn't shot a goal in about a month so I was pretty rubbish. Only about 63% accuracy, but it didn't really matter because I just moved into GA and played a feeding role instead. We have a six-foot shooter and I throw the best lobs so that worked pretty well. We didn't win, but we were playing one of the top teams so to lose by 18 was a good result, especially when you consider that they'd flogged other teams by 50 or so.
Tuesday and Thursday night were the real standouts this week though as both nights featured Cat Empire concerts, which as usual were fucking amazing.
On Tuesday I went with my mum. Got there early and were among the first people in line. Sat there and read my Star Wars book for an hour before they opened the doors, and it was worth the wait because we got our favourite spot on the left balcony right over the top of the stage. Sat on the floor to wait again, had something to eat, had a drink. The room was starting to buzz and it was a nice atmosphere.
The support band started at about 8 o'clock - three piece outfit from New York called Tortured Soul. Based on previous experiences, I was expecting them to suck, but they really surprised me by being pretty awesome. How often does a support band ask for and actually receive a response from the crowd? I liked them enough to buy their CD. Unfortunately the CD was a bit of a disappointment - it sounded over-engineered and too smooth and lacked the intensity they had as a live act. But still, if you get a chance to see them they're worth a look. I haven't been able to get their songs out of my head since Tuesday night.
After a bit more waiting the crowd started to get a bit pushy. Didn't worry me much because my mother was between me and the worst of it. As soon as the Cat Empire came out and started playing nothing mattered except the rhythm anyway. It was good to hear a few songs from the new album interspersed among the old favourites, and in general it was a good mixed set. Some drunk chicks on the right hand side of the stage started pawing at Felix right in front of the security guy. Yeah, good idea. Then on the left side a while later the other security guy turned his back for a moment and another drunk girl got up on the stage and tried to go backstage. She was shown the way out by one of the crew, who then also told off the security guy. :-P
Thursday's show was slightly different but still awesome. The security was much better for that one! My dad and Maria came along and they both really enjoyed it. I knew Dad would because he's a great big music nerd but I wasn't so sure about Maria. I think she likes their CD's but she's not a fan of big, late, loud things. Turned out just fine though - everyone was happy.
Constants across both shows include Harry dressing and acting like a ten-year-old boy, the awesome Indian dude in a dress playing sitar and guitar, Ollie's totally ridiculous facial expressions as he plays (seriously, he looks like he's in childbirth or something), Ryan's disco trousers and Jesuslike appearance as well as his running around on stage taking photos of things, and most of all, Felix's amazing charisma. I can't take my eyes off him while he's on stage, no matter what he's doing.
I really have no words to describe my love for this band. They know exactly how to work the crowd, building up with some big brass and vocals, then relaxing into a keyboard solo or bass solo, then heavy on the percussion and back into the big brass, then Harry starts scatting and Jumps and Felix start dancing, and the whole room is moving and singing and before you know it, it's all over and you feel exhilarated and totally satisfied and when are they coming to do another show?
Now, I expect everyone to answer these questions over the weekend so I have something entertaining to read when I get to work on Monday.
1. If you could have a six-piece band consisting of any musicians in the world, who would be in your band playing what instruments?
2. What would the name of the band be and what style of music would they play?
3. Which band member/s would be most likely to experience ‘artistic differences’ and storm off in a huff to either go solo or form their own group?
4. What sort of outfits do your band members wear on stage?
5. What publicity stunt do they do which just coincidentally happens to coincidentally coincide with the launch of their second album/first major international tour/autobiography?
Wednesday night was netball, and because of washed out matches and the fact that I only ever play on the wings in the indoor team I'm been filling in for, I hadn't shot a goal in about a month so I was pretty rubbish. Only about 63% accuracy, but it didn't really matter because I just moved into GA and played a feeding role instead. We have a six-foot shooter and I throw the best lobs so that worked pretty well. We didn't win, but we were playing one of the top teams so to lose by 18 was a good result, especially when you consider that they'd flogged other teams by 50 or so.
Tuesday and Thursday night were the real standouts this week though as both nights featured Cat Empire concerts, which as usual were fucking amazing.
On Tuesday I went with my mum. Got there early and were among the first people in line. Sat there and read my Star Wars book for an hour before they opened the doors, and it was worth the wait because we got our favourite spot on the left balcony right over the top of the stage. Sat on the floor to wait again, had something to eat, had a drink. The room was starting to buzz and it was a nice atmosphere.
The support band started at about 8 o'clock - three piece outfit from New York called Tortured Soul. Based on previous experiences, I was expecting them to suck, but they really surprised me by being pretty awesome. How often does a support band ask for and actually receive a response from the crowd? I liked them enough to buy their CD. Unfortunately the CD was a bit of a disappointment - it sounded over-engineered and too smooth and lacked the intensity they had as a live act. But still, if you get a chance to see them they're worth a look. I haven't been able to get their songs out of my head since Tuesday night.
After a bit more waiting the crowd started to get a bit pushy. Didn't worry me much because my mother was between me and the worst of it. As soon as the Cat Empire came out and started playing nothing mattered except the rhythm anyway. It was good to hear a few songs from the new album interspersed among the old favourites, and in general it was a good mixed set. Some drunk chicks on the right hand side of the stage started pawing at Felix right in front of the security guy. Yeah, good idea. Then on the left side a while later the other security guy turned his back for a moment and another drunk girl got up on the stage and tried to go backstage. She was shown the way out by one of the crew, who then also told off the security guy. :-P
Thursday's show was slightly different but still awesome. The security was much better for that one! My dad and Maria came along and they both really enjoyed it. I knew Dad would because he's a great big music nerd but I wasn't so sure about Maria. I think she likes their CD's but she's not a fan of big, late, loud things. Turned out just fine though - everyone was happy.
Constants across both shows include Harry dressing and acting like a ten-year-old boy, the awesome Indian dude in a dress playing sitar and guitar, Ollie's totally ridiculous facial expressions as he plays (seriously, he looks like he's in childbirth or something), Ryan's disco trousers and Jesuslike appearance as well as his running around on stage taking photos of things, and most of all, Felix's amazing charisma. I can't take my eyes off him while he's on stage, no matter what he's doing.
I really have no words to describe my love for this band. They know exactly how to work the crowd, building up with some big brass and vocals, then relaxing into a keyboard solo or bass solo, then heavy on the percussion and back into the big brass, then Harry starts scatting and Jumps and Felix start dancing, and the whole room is moving and singing and before you know it, it's all over and you feel exhilarated and totally satisfied and when are they coming to do another show?
Now, I expect everyone to answer these questions over the weekend so I have something entertaining to read when I get to work on Monday.
1. If you could have a six-piece band consisting of any musicians in the world, who would be in your band playing what instruments?
2. What would the name of the band be and what style of music would they play?
3. Which band member/s would be most likely to experience ‘artistic differences’ and storm off in a huff to either go solo or form their own group?
4. What sort of outfits do your band members wear on stage?
5. What publicity stunt do they do which just coincidentally happens to coincidentally coincide with the launch of their second album/first major international tour/autobiography?