Dinosaur Comics nail Star Trek
Totally got it in one. To the wall. Here. That is all.
Archive for July, 2008
Interpol in Sheffield
This is about the band, not the international crime fighting organisation. Boom boom! I’m so lonely… ANYWAY, last week we went to see one of my favourite current bands for the 1st time. I love Interpol. I think ‘Slow Hands’ is one of the best rock tunes ever and I completely shrug off the common, “Joy Division did this already” comments. They’re on their 3rd (slightly disappointing, but still solid) album now and I don’t have much to say about the gig. It was technically spot on, but it felt a bit cold. Clinical almost. I’m not used seeing big bands I guess (last one of similar standing was Death Cab for Cutie). They were tight, almost too tight, and I felt myself becoming annoyed by the (again, very impressive) guitarists show-boating. Mark E Smith wouldn’t stand for this nonscence y’know. Anyway, I digress. The best thing about this gig wasn’t Interpol (good as they were) or the fact that it was my first visit to the new Sheffield Carling Academy. Oh, about that; they need to get some bloody fans. Just get the air to cycle. Bloody hell guys, c’mon *mops brow*. A decent venue, but you just know that in 6 months it’ll be the dirtiest scruffiest dump in town.
What I really enjoyed last Wednesday was Ladytron. I’ve been fond of their chirpy electro-pop from the days of ‘Playgirl‘ and their move to a darker sound on 2005s ‘Witching Hour‘ was almost jarring, but oh so acceptable. This years new album ‘Velocifero‘ is much in the same vein and tracks like my personal highlight,’Seasons Of Illusions‘, which sound so snarling, disgusted and aloof are very much welcome. In the end, Ladytron, who seem to try as hard as possible to come across as cold and clinical with their black dress, chant-like lyric delivery and complete inability to look even mildly amused actually felt a lot warmer than the more ‘bouncy’ main act.
G8 Leaders devoid of sense of irony
In the same week that Gordon Brown tells us not to waste food, we learn of the massive piles of food being served at the G8 sumit. This year apparently they’re focusing on the food shortage crisis. Surely some PR guy somewhere would have said to one of the leaders, “Hang on guys, this isn’t a great idea”
For me it ranks alongside Kanye West performing at a ‘Make Poverty History’ show a couple of years ago wearing several kilogrammes of golden jewelery. I’m sure everyone is trying to help out, but they come away looking like they’re just rubbing peoples face in it. Sigh. I’m off to go break-dance in front of some kids in wheelchairs.
Improv Everywhere strike again - Human mirror
The agents from Improv Everywhere have pulled off another superb urban prank. This one involved getting identically-dressed twins to sit opposite each other in the subway car, creating a mirror-like effect.
I recommend spending a few minutes looking through the rest of their site. They’ve had some brilliant pranks (’missions’) in the past. My personal favourite was the much smaller scale suicide jumper mission.
Owl squadron
Finally I can write about two of my favourite things. This owl was found making a home in a carrier-borne fighter aircraft. Anyway, the sailors who found him named him FOD (or Foreign Object Damage to non-propeller-heads) and nursed him back to health before releasing him into the wild. Awwww. Choice quote from the original article:
If this owl was hiding in a cockpit while a jet was on the catapult. It could possibly bring a jet down if the pilot freaks out because an owl is flying around in his cockpit
Your scope of influence has a lot to answer for, Mr. Cruise.
