I hate snow. I didn't always hate snow - I used to love it and imbue it with magic and romance. Those times are over. But I don't want to dwell on the evil ice water for too long. The snow's ruined two Saturdays in a row but here are some of the things that it didn't ruin:
Belle and Sebastian
I got tickets for this gig at the Sage in July - B&S had long been on my (mental) list of bands I'd never seen before but really wanted to see. It was at the top of this list (along with They Might Be Giants, Pavement, Weezer, XTC, The Shins and The Smiths) so I was prepared to go to Manchester, Glasgow, London, Edinburgh or anywhere just to see them. Amazingly, they were playing in Gateshead! (Which is just as well as I couldn't travel that weekend. Gah!)
A while later I got my usual email update from Daniel Kitson and found out that he was the support for the gig!!!! I would've paid loads just to see him so to be able to see him as part of something else was an unexpected delight.
The night was exciting from the start as we walked in to find the stage full of music stands (they were playing with the English Heritage Orchestra). Daniel Kitson and Gavin Osborn came out - I'm not sure how many people knew who they were. I think if you were expecting an entirely musical support you may have been a bit surprised to see Daniel - a comedian telling a story - and Gavin - a musician. But what they did was truly wonderful and magical. They each told a heartbreaking story which then linked together to become a tale of unrequited and possibly requited love. Beautiful.
And then B&S! They were amazing! The orchestra made it an even more special night (though I'd love to see them with or without the orchestra, they're so great) - especially for the newer songs (and "Lord Anthony" and "Dear Catastrophe Waitress"); there were just a few where they sat silently ("Piazza New York Catcher" was done in a lovely low key way - just Stuart sitting on the edge of the stage being brilliant). "I'm Not Living In The Real World" was really fun - Stevie got everyone to join in the "ooh ooh ooh ooh" bits which was brilliant. Some girls (and a couple of guys) got to dance on stage and were given medals that said 'I made it with Belle and Sebastian' - how sweet!
An amazing night.
ONSIND
An interesting night in the house of two boys I don't know - it began with stories of shit (including someone accidentally shitting on a fox!) I felt quite old (everyone else there to begin with had been born in the early nineties, argh) and was very relieved when the people I knew started to arrive.
Crywank (the guy who'd had most of the stories) played first - he was really good. He apologised for not singing in his accent and said he didn't think anyone'd want to hear a Northern accent! What?! The best bands in the world sing in Northern accents!!
Then Winona Forever played (JC - who I'd never seen play on his own) - he was great (and really funny too!)
And then ONSIND who were amazing (as always) and even did the Billy Joel bit from in between "You Should Probably Keep It All In" and "If Anyone Needs Me I'll Be In The Angry Dome" which was great fun and showed how much everyone there listens to the album! "Suicide Is Painful" almost made me cry (as it usually does live).
Alas, we had to leave before seeing the wonderful Casual Terrorist (CJ) but we got to see him the week after in the end (hurrah!!!).
Another wonderful night made slightly less wonderful by silly snow, sleet, ice etc.
Tim Minchin
Last year I had tickets to see Tim Minchin at the City Hall - they were amazing seats (second row) and I absolutely couldn't wait to go! And then I was ill. And I missed "Ready For This?" which was one of the most horrendous things to happen in my life (I've had a pretty nice life!). Anyway, I felt like I'd waited quite a while to see Tim - and it was very very worth it.
He began with a really mad dramatic song about arenas ruining comedy, mocking egotistical performers by emulating them. Then once he was sat at his piano he played "Rock and Roll Nerd" and then came to the front of the stage to introduce his orchestra: "This? Oh this is just my orchestra." And he played with the conductor's baton - pretending to be Harry Potter etc. He really had fun with his orchestra the whole night (even getting them to join in with 'motherfucker's in The Pope Song - which was amazing to hear live!!).
There was a great song about a miracle, one about context, a brilliant one about cheese that crossed a million different genres and included jazz hands. He ended, as I'd hoped he would with "White Wine In The Sun" which was really special as it was so near to Christmas.
I love Tim so much - I love his piano, his strong wrists, his hair, his voice, his secular humanism. He is so fucking wonderful and brilliant! I think so much of what he sings about (in a comedy way) is what I really think about the world but find it hard to articulate.
It was a good week for gigs (and an even better week for babies!) - just ended up taking me ages to write about it.
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