Sunday 29 September 2013

Dearest American

I went out in search of a demo on Saturday and ended up at Leicester Square.

There I met an American.

We began by talking over a book and moved on to discussing the economy and the city.

Sightseeing

He wanted to know somewhere to go with only a day in the city.

My mind went blank.

We were sitting in the middle of the West End, where everything cultural sits and I couldn't direct him anywhere.

Useless suggestions

I mentioned the National Gallery, but not even I was particularly convinced by this suggestion.

I finished my lunch and got going.

Having time to think

Then on wondering round my mind started to fill with places.

The Tate Modern, The Houses of Parliament, The South Bank and I felt bad I hadn't managed to bring these suggestions to mind.

So, dearest American, should you read this.

Places to go, people to see

Go to the Tate Modern and check out Jackson Pollock or just the wonder of the building.

Visit the Houses and Parliament and get them to show you round all its Gothic majesty.

Sneak into St Paul's and wonder at Wren's masterpiece.

Walk along the south bank and look at the modernism and graffitti.

The galleries, meh, it's the buildings and the people that fill them that I love.

Monday 23 September 2013

One trick musician..?

American clarinetist and music composer, Shankar Tucker, rose to fame with the popularity of his online music video series called 'Shruti Box' amassing some 12 million views and 100,000 fans.

Indeed the beginning of his performance at the Hayward Gallery on Saturday was quite unique.

I would never of thought of coupling a clarinet with something like a tabla.

One idea

However, though very promising Tucker's themes failed to progress.

It was admittedly very musically adept, but lacked any real range of musical ideas.

Tucker is still young so he may be one to watch for interesting future collaborations.

Sunday 22 September 2013

I will do a proper post tomorrow

But, isn't Ellen DeGeneres brilliant?

The woman always makes me laugh.

Bit fearful to meet her, she'd rip the piss out of me.

Wednesday 11 September 2013

The Audacity of Hope

As the US seeks a diplomatic solution in Syria I am left feeling a great deal of hope for the US administration.

Obama seems so much more circumspect and instills in me so much more faith than Bush.

I know I speak from the other side of the pond, but our eyes are coached into watching America from a young age.

And for the first time in a long time I find that my eyes are showing me more hope and allowing less room for cynicism.

On a day that caused so much pain for so many Americans, it is somehow even more significant that their politics seems to have grown from the experience.

Monday 9 September 2013

Bubble gum lit

I was talking to a creative writing student the other day and the topic came round to 'chick lit'.

I'm not a great consumer of the form, preferring instead to read Kafka (at the moment at least).

However, I did confess to dipping into quite a few when I was studying my MA.

I described the books as being like bubble gum, in that, when you got to the end you didn't know whether to spit it out or swallow it (no jokes please).

In essence if you spit it out, reject the simplicity of the story and the wildly happy ending you are left feeling unsatisfied and empty.

Whereas, if you swallow it, accept the ending and allow yourself to feel that warm fuzzy feeling, you are left with the risk of it sticking in your stomach giving you overly sweet expectations of life that are liable to make you very sick at some point.

To sum up, chick lit is dangerous.

It either leaves you feeling empty and hollow or walking around in a constant fairy tale daze where every cloud is simply sparkly and pink.

Enjoy.

Saturday 7 September 2013

The best

My favourite cups song.

Hold on for the brunette on the right.