Rocking Montague

Out for another deliciously fun gig night this weekend.

Looks like I'm making a habit of this.

Turned up chiefly to listen to Chekhov's Rifle play, for the...

No wait, I can't actually remember how many times I've seen them.

Let's just say it was the latest of many.

Chekhov's line-up is now all male, after the female bass player was baby-capacitated.

They deliver a tight and rousing set, with a 'new song', oo er.

The set is not even spoilt by a dropped and swiftly recovered drumstick, not a beat missed.

Great jiggly fun, with lyrics to leave you baffled.

They are followed by Tim Ten Yen.

I'm always a bit suspicious of a man with a tiny Casio keyboard.

In this case it can be easily forgiven.

This was a shits and giggles set with all the gusto I have come to expect from performance poet Richard Tyrone Jones.

Prancing about the stage he sang beautifully over an iPod and had most of the audience in stitches.

“I have an enemy a sea anemone.”

And a song about a cat looking out across the dance floor.

After all this I was well revved up for the last act, who during the sound check had moved through three instruments.

What a disappointment!

Mainly covers and not inspirational ones, I'd like to say more about the set but in truth I walked to the back of the bar after a couple of songs to chat in peace.

He was musically proficient, but, well, dull.

At least The Montague Arms is a lovely place to have and a drink if the bands don't pass muster.

An eccentric pub, meets ship, meets taxidermist, with bar staff who probably need hearing aids.

It's great.

Why I wear a Poppy

I have listened to and had a fair few conversations about whether you should wear a poppy.

I think it's important.

This is why:

Anthem for Doomed Youth

What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?

Only the monstrous anger of the guns.

Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle
Can patter out their hasty orisons.

No mockeries for them; no prayers nor bells,
Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,—
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;
And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

What candles may be held to speed them all?

Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes
Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.

The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;
Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,
And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.

Or pretty much any Wilfred Owen poem.

For me the poppy is part remembrance, part fury that we still haven't learned.

If we had, this wouldn't have been created:



Thank you to Huey Morgan for playing it this morning on 6 music.

I can think of few more appropriate songs today.

Wear a Poppy, remember, never again.

The Savage Nomads - the alternative bonfire

I ventured out last night to see The Savage Nomads, with absolutely no expectations (despite being told "I think you'll like them.")

I was suitably impressed.

They even made me forget that I probably won't be seeing any fireworks displays this year.

In amongst all the third rate indie/rock bands that seem to be acosting my ears at the moment this bunch of spritely lads are a breath of fresh air.

It's not often that I see a band and spend the following day searching youtube clips to share with my friends, and then feel that those clips don't do the band justice.

These guys are a live band through and through with an easy confidence that makes their stage performance all the more compelling.

The singers style is reminiscent of Incubus, with a more British twang.

(Though I wonder whether he might be a little too young for Brandon Boyd to have been much of an influence, and possibly a mite too cool).

They're definitely not carbon copies of anyone, but not quite mind blowing perfection either.

But there's an infectious promise there - I might just place a bet that in a couple of years time they'll be playing far bigger venues than The Hope and Anchor.

Facefilm aka The Social Network

The Social Network starts with a date, an end of a relationship and Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg); fitting for a film all about the Zietgeist of modern times - Facebook.

The overblown tag line for this film gives a fair hint of what it's all about, but don't let this put you off.

Yes, it has a soundtrack that drives, pumps and screams fast lane.

Yes, Justin Timberlake is in it as Sean Parker - he's bloody good.

Yes, there are hot girls, deal table posturing and dot com bickering.

This film is not subtle, but then what about building a billion dollar business before your thirty is subtle, slow paced or small scale!

This film is not about technical brilliance or geekish facts.

It is about building the characters behind the ongoing saga of our age: the internet and big business.

But it isn't a biopic, it's a selection of moment by moment snatches of the insecurities and confidence that intertwine to make some of the most powerful, frightening and fragile characters you could possibly imagine; beautifully acted by all.

This film is comic, fun, fast paced and, if you grab all the implications, brainshatteringly scary.

It paints a picture of the power and arrogance of some of the greatest young business minds in America.

If everything this film portrays of these characters is true (they're all completely nuts), I never want to use Facebook again, but if this film teaches you anything it is that I, you, everyone will.

Sound of Rum and Kid Carpet

Kate Tempest, Sound of Rum’s lead singer, brought a positive energy to the stage as she hit it meaning her call to draw in the audience was readily obeyed.

Those who regularly attend gigs of fledgling bands and the not-quite-so-famous will be familiar with how often this call is met with icy stares and resolute ‘coolness’.

This isn’t a well researched notational review, this is very much a spin from my opinion.

So I was caught up by a truly poetic lyricist who shouts out her calls of messed friendship and a life manifesto.

Ferry (drums) and Archie (guitar) provided a tight and proficient understated backing, which should be complimented in its ability to stay far enough in the background to let Kate’s lyrics through and yet remain strong enough musically to make this a professional and fresh performance.

There were no egotistical twirls from any quarter; a vibe of assured positivity; and a groundedness that made these kids appear mature beyond their ages.

Kid carpet by contrast brought a much more knowing irony and jaded comedy to the stage.

More hilarity than musical prowess, but great fun for it.

“We built this city…” on slav-er-y, indeed.

Musical stand up with the florish of Bill Bailey and more young brash sarcasm.

Flag waving

I was watching Newsnight the other night and I was frustrated with the dialogue that was presented.

They were talking about which flag to identify with, which nation to align to.

Ok perhaps I just like the idea of a red flag that anyone can have.

But something that unites all of us, that allows all of us to join if we’re willing to accept and support all the people under it…

Remember they should be anyone.

The idea of a nation is a construct.

It truly is.

Any idea of nation is largely propaganda.

It is a marking from some majority or strong minority of what we are.

It is rarely built to be all inclusive.

It is the very nature of us as opposed to them.

I don’t want homogeneity either, but culture is a mix match.

You pick a bit here a bit there and you embrace the parts that speak to you and each person embraces a slightly different selection.

If a nation really defined us so strongly we would all like the same tunes, the same comedy, the same plays… Need I go on?

Things are mixed up and provided there’s no real viciousness it’s beautiful.

Sure there’s the times it is vicious, it is them and us, it is fuck off and don’t come anywhere near my family.

But that can often be inspired by which flag are you.

Flags.

What is the point of a flag?

It came out of making it clear to the troops, you bought or bullied into fighting for you who to shoot.

Not who to hug, support, nurture and feed. It’s about, which one am I meant to be beating and stamping on.

So: why a red flag?

Because it has a history of trying to support those who are being bullied, now that’s not to say that it doesn’t have as chequered a history as any other flag.

Anyone seen Land and Freedom, read Animal Farm, studied the course of the Russian or Chinese revolution?

Then you know what I mean.

Yet I still think it’s the best flag going, forget a hammer and sickle or that way of going, imagine each lot of people that decides that’s what they want picks up a red flag and keeps it plain, so the next person that picks it up will share it, not so they know not to shoot each other, but to know they’re to be trusted and given a hand, plus any extra that there is to spare.

I guess I'm suggesting remaking it.

Maybe people would be happier if it was green.

But somehow red speaks to me.

If it's about picking one identity then no wonder the boy on the feature on the British National Party (Google them if you wish, I'm not linking to them) thought multiculturialism couldn't work. I'd like to introduce him to my friends.

In the Loop

Time to learn to breath through your laughter, else you aren’t going to get through this film alive.

I haven’t laughed this much since Jacqui Smith’s husband was revealed as getting porn courtesy of the tax payer.

In The Loop is a spin off film from The Thick Of It, the successful BBC drama about the modern political system, and includes a lot of the same actors found in its TV forerunner.

The story is based around the American and British political manoeuvrings and blunderings surrounding a possible war in an unspecified country.

I don’t know where they get their ideas from…

In the Loop is a brilliant mix of intelligent and base humour.

So neither so far up it’s own arse that it loses its audience, nor so puerile as to be dismissed by an audience with some brain cells going spare.

Equally you don’t need to be an avid politico to follow it, but familiarity with the political game does add to your appreciation of the story that unfolds.

Peter Capaldi is brilliant as Malcolm Tucker, the policy co-ordinator who rules his minister with an iron fist.

The sheer pace and imagination of his insults are amazing enough in themselves without the dedication of a solid performance of pure venom.

The rest of the cast put in equally sterling performances, as this is a true ensemble piece, backed up by excellent writing.

There isn’t a weak moment and the actors make all the action seem frighteningly believable in the midst of pure political farce.

This isn’t the kind of film where you can leave your brain at the door, so if you want an easy life affirming comedy steer well clear.

If you want a comedy with a little less of the Adam Sandler touch and a crate more witty bite then you’ll come out ready to buy it on DVD.