1429th
Apr

It was the Glastonbury resale at the weekend, and although I’ve had my ticket since October, it was tense moments all round as a large number of my group were still without. Luckily we managed to get through fairly quickly and got all but two of the remaining tickets that we needed, and everyone is now on high alert for the ‘secret’ May sales for the last pair. I think we’ve got around 30 people now in our camp so I really can’t wait to get back to those magical fields and have an amazing 5 days.

glasto14

1211th
Jun

Hello internets, long time no see! I do actually have a large backlog of entries about gigs, jewellery and general goings on, but the backlog got even more backed up as time went on and I couldn’t be bothered to sort through it all. I’ll attempt to get up to speed over the next few weeks.

So, what’s new? The website design for one. I gave it a newer, more streamlined feel and also merged in my flickr feed as I felt it was stupid to upload my photo portfolio into two separate places. I also now have a real live home page, with flashy banners, scrolling photo tickers, social widgets and a little box that shows my weekly most played album from last.fm (which I hand coded myself, are you proud mum?). I still haven’t got a proper online shop back up yet, due to me battling to get Magento installed on my server and then trying to figure out how it works. But Folksy and Etsy are doing ok for the moment, and I have all my stock listed on them so nothing is missing.

Jewellery wise, there have been lots of new bits over the past few months, including a Supernatural themed Impala necklace which manages to sell out as soon as I receive a new batch. I also redesigned the TARDIS necklaces to match the canvas bags, and I’ve been pressing on with screen printing things.


(Woo, face and TARDIS)

Gigs; there have been plenty, and photography has temporarily ground to a halt as I’m not happy with how GigJunkie are operating these days. The only gigs I’ve managed to pro-shoot have been small ones or for friends. Fingers crossed I can get back into that soon.

So sit back, enjoy, and please keep checking in as the entries below should start to appear.

1121st
Dec

I went to see the Manic Street Preachers this week, playing a very very special gig at the O2 Arena to celebrate the release of their new singles compilation ‘National Treasures’. They played the entirety of their back catalogue of singles to a sold-out crowd, along with a whole host of special guests, so it really was an incredible night! Luckily they mixed up the order of the songs, otherwise there would have been a predictable lull somewhere in the middle. Hearing some of their best tracks playing out to an adoring audience over 3 hours just confirms to me that the Manics are still one of the greatest live bands. We were left with smudged eyeliner, covered in stray feathers and smiling as we walked back to the station. What a night to remember.

The (lengthy) setlist was:

You Stole the Sun From My Heart
Love’s Sweet Exile
Motorcycle Emptiness
(It’s Not War) Just the End of Love
Everything Must Go
She Is Suffering
From Despair to Where
Autumnsong
Empty Souls
Let Robeson Sing
Faster
Life Becoming a Landslide
Kevin Carter
Little Baby Nothing
This Is the Day
The Everlasting
Indian Summer
Stay Beautiful
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
—————————
Australia
La Tristesse Durera (Scream to a Sigh)
Found That Soul
There by the Grace of God
Some Kind of Nothingness
You Love Us
Suicide Is Painless
Revol
The Love of Richard Nixon
Ocean Spray
The Masses Against the Classes
Roses in the Hospital
So Why So Sad
Postcards From a Young Man
Your Love Alone Is Not Enough
Slash ‘n’ Burn
Tsunami
Motown Junk
A Design for Life

1127th
Nov

Earlier on in the week I went to see Yuck at the Electric Ballroom. Their album has been one of my favourite things to listen to, so it was very nice to see them at their own headlining gig. It was a short but sweet set, and the songs resonated with something that doesn’t quite come across on record. Hopefully they will continue on to good things.

Last night was a bit of a different gig; Friendly Fires at Brixton Academy, the end of a triumphant four night run. It was a late night affair with the doors not opening until 9pm which gave us plenty of time to get ready and head to south London. Unfortunately my friend managed to trip up the stairs on the way in, so we missed all the support acts and DJs as we were in the medical room backstage! We got released just in time to run out and hear the first song, so thankfully nothing important was lost. Ed was on true hip-shaking form, and the whole of the venue bounced in time with him. It has already turned into a blur of singing and dancing in my head but the songs take it up to a whole new level live, pushing you higher and further. There were hula girls handing out garlands during Hawaiian Air at the end, and Kiss of Life seemed to stretch on forever in a maddening frenzy, but of course it must have ended at some point and we were left with ringing ears on the nightbus home.

The setlist for Friendly Fires was:

Lovesick
Jump In The Pool
Running Away
Blue Cassette
True Love
On Board
Chimes
Skeleton Boy
Show Me Lights
In The Hospital
Pala
Live Those Days Tonight
Hurting
Pull Me Back To Earth
Paris
———————————–
Hawaiian Air
Kiss Of Life

1116th
Nov

It’s gotten so cold already! I’ve had my scarf and gloves out this week. To try and remedy that horrible wintery feeling, me and Nat went to see the London Rollerderby last Saturday. I won’t go into too much detail about it, as to be honest it took me most of the evening to figure out the rules, but basically you have two teams of girls on rollerskates and they skate in an oval and try to overtake each other for points. It was very exciting to watch as it can get pretty aggressive, and all the teams have themes and matching outfits. Me and Nat got fairly drunk on cider and decided we’d take up skating, I wonder how long that idea will last!


I liked the Suffra Jets best because their costumes were awesome. (Photo by Steve Newton)