Somewhere Across Forever

[Fringe Live] Jon Richardson, Pleasance Above, Saturday 7th August

somewhereacrossforever — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:42:40 +0000

Jon Richardson is a bit of an enigma. I know I saw his show for an hour and I know I laughed a lot, but I couldn’t for some second tell you what he really talked about or repeat any of his jokes. Richardson’s success comes from being a natural funny person – he looks funny and speaks in a peculiar Northern accent (probably due to having lived in Swindon for a number of years), yet he is not a natural comedian, which may in fact make him all the funnier. Having admitted to not having made any friends in Swindon and struggle to engage in banter with the audience you would think there would be an air of discomfort in the room, but there wasn’t. His diatribe about John Terry was fantastic and generally the way he tells stories is fantastic.

Sadly, Jon no longer does his 6Music Radio show any more but there is promise of something new in the pipeline. We can only hope, because someone of this talent deserves more recognition.

[Fringe Live] John Bishop, McEwan Hall, Friday 6th August

somewhereacrossforever — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:30:18 +0000

The last year has been a meteoric rise to success for Scouse comedian John Bishop. Having seen Bishop perform his Cultural Ambassador show two years ago in the Pleasance – to see him in the illustrious setting of Edinburgh University’s McEwan Hall is really something. It is something that has not gone unnoticed by Bishop himself, as the bulk of his set, Sunshine, is taken up taking about what he calls “the maddest year of his life”. Whilst, reporting on your past year might not seem like the most original idea – it is something that Bishop has done for at least the past three years at the Festival and so he continues this style this year.

Bishop is an everyman, someone we can all relate to, and whilst his comedy isn’t hard-hitting or controversial, it is seated within real life and he is ultimately relatable to, unlike several other comics I’ve seen. Bishop’s act isn’t jokes per se, but ancedotes that are very very funny. A show well worth going to see.

[Film Review] South Of The Border

somewhereacrossforever — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 13:57:35 +0000

So, uh, yeah – four months absence huh? In my defence I was away on holiday in North America for two (no three) weeks due to volcanic ash and when I returned I was busy with a new job and the election campaign. Then I properly started new job only for my laptop to promptly pack-in. It was almost as if someone didn’t want me twittering on about nonsense. But this morning I finally secured my own wireless router and thus, have internet access to my laptop. So expect a few more posts in the future (certainly a lot more than two in four / five months). Onwards and upwards as they say.

Last night I went to see Oliver Stone’s documentary South Of The Border, at the excellent Filmhouse on Lothian Road in Edinburgh (highly recommended my friends – the cinema that is). I’ve waited over a year to see this documentary after hearing about it through the grapevine and then Stone and Chavez’s appearance last year at the Venice Film Festival. So straight from work I headed to see the 6.30 screening. I wasn’t disappointed – initially I thought South Of The Border was going to be a documentary all about the much maligned leader of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez. However, Stone took the documentary crew all over South America to look at the social and political changes that have occurred in the continent for the past decade or so (that Chavez was very much the vanguard of).

Stone makes no claim to be making an impartial documentary – from the outset he is trying to counter the claims and misunderstandings that the US (and international) media portray. As someone who studied Latin America in university and has continued to read on the subject following, I found the documentary to be sympathetic towards these leaders and perhaps too pally with the leaders of these nations. However, it did portray them in a different light to the devils and dictators we are told they are in media over here.

A very worthwhile and enjoyable trip to the cinema, whilst at the same time I left inspired. I may not necessarily share all their politics but it is clear these men and women are giving hope where there once was none and moving power away from oligarchs and United States’ influence. For this, they should be applauded and I thoroughly recommend this documentary to anyone.

[New] Because I Do video

somewhereacrossforever — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:00:20 +0000

Two posts in one day, I really am spoiling you!

In more new music news, here is the debut video for Pearl & The Puppets’ single, Because I Do, which is out on the 3rd May. The single sounds a little different from the myspace track, a bit more polished but please do enjoy:

[New] New Teenage Fanclub!

somewhereacrossforever — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:55:47 +0000

Boy I’m exited. Teenage Fanclub will be releasing a new album, Shadows, in the next few months (31st May) and worldwide from 8th June. I’m really excited as its the bands first album since Man-Made.

Head over to Teenage Fanclub’s official website to get all the details as well as a stream of new tune Baby Lee which sounds fantastic and back to the Fannies best.

[In Praise Of] The Bugle podcast

somewhereacrossforever — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:44:03 +0000

Ok, so I’m unemployed right now which makes reviewing new music pretty difficult when you only have £50 a week to live on (it’s been over a month since I’ve bought an album), so I’ve decided to write a series of posts of things in life that I’ve been enjoying until the money starts rolling in again (which will be shortly).

First in this series is my favourite podcast, The Bugle. Featuring the comedic musings of British comedians Andy Zaltzman and John Oliver. Two good friends divided by an ocean as Oliver is now a regular contributor to The Daily Show (another show that will feature in this section). The Bugle calls itself “an audio newspaper in a visual world” and from the off-set it’s clear that the podcast doesn’t take itself too seriously. I can honestly say I’ve found myself laughing out loud walking down the street or worse still, on public transport.

Each week, The Bugle covers the big news that week with a heavy sense of satire and usually in credulousness. To be honest, in this current era it’s not very difficult for Mr Oliver & Zaltzman. This week’s edition was called an Ethics Special, featuring on why the politicians who rally the hardest against gays turn out to be homosexuals themselves. In what could just be another piss-take of what’s going in current affairs is averted by the camaraderie between Oliver & Zaltzman, old friends and Zaltzman’s surrealist comedy permeating throughout the podcast. The Bugle has many enthusiastic listeners who contribute to some of the show’s funniest moments. And just wait for The American to make an appearance, if you don’t laugh then you’ve clearly had a humour bypass.

This series is undoubtedly going to be very ‘fanboy’-ish but I make no apologies for that, as I don’t refute the fact that downloading The Bugle every week is a treat.

[Update] Right I’m Rubbish

somewhereacrossforever — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:56:07 +0000

So, yeah, basically I need to get better at this. Mumble, mumble, apologies, apologies.

So what’s new?

First of all, get across to NPR (a fantastic radio station) where you can stream the brand new album, Volume Two by She & Him. I’m an absolute sucker for these guys and can totally see why they get the backs up of others, but for me they are just the right amount of sugary sweetness. I’ve had a couple of listens and really enjoy this, and hopefully you will too. Head over here.

Secondly, more new stuff from The National. I frickin’ love these guys and cannot wait for them to release their new album in May. They stopped by Jimmy Fallon last week to play their new track ‘Terrible Love’. Incidentally, Jimmy Fallon is star of one of the favourite guilty pleasure films – can you guess which?

I intend to post something else today, please hold me to it!

[Thoughts] What’s Going On?

somewhereacrossforever — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:41:01 +0000

Apologies for my absence – I’ve lost internet on my laptop so have been trying to rectify the problem with not much success. Hence, this post comes from a local pub with free wireless (admittedly I did have to pay through the nose for a refreshment, £2.20, jesus). Aside from ridiculous prices for beverages it did get me questioning what on earth is going on.

It’s been hard this week to avoid the news that BBC intends to shut down a great proportion of its online content and close two digital stations, The Asian Network and 6Music. This has had me and seemingly the whole of Twitter in outrage. And it’s not surprising. Whilst I cannot vouch for The Asian Network, 6Music is an incredible music station and holds up the Reithan values that I think best encompass the BBC. This blatant act of trying to endear the BBC to the Tories is not sitting well with the passionate fans that make up the 6Music listenership. It’s been done to death on twitter, blogs and news articles (my personal favourite is Adam Buxton offering Director General Mark Thompson a fight live on Channel 4 news) but as I tuned in yesterday they were playing a track by Television. Where else on commercial radio has played Television since, well, ever? One of the reasons I barely listen to radio (and when I do it’s 6Music, Radio Scotland or 5Live) these days is because it’s all so bland. I couldn’t tell you the difference between Radio 1, Forth 1 and Galaxy if you tried. Commercial radio is just terrible – Forth1 has an advantage that no other station has and that is the ‘local’ factor, yet its playlist is almost identical to every other commercial station and the news output isn’t much better – where’s the championing of local bands and artists? It’s just so poor it becomes unlistenable.

Hopefully I’ll be back shortly, I have a few blog posts planned and the hope is that I’ll have a post a day until the end of the month.

[Live] Pearl and the Puppets, Cabaret Voltaire, 14th February 2010

somewhereacrossforever — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:57:42 +0000

I love nothing better than going to see a band or artist play in a small venue when they are on the cusp of something big.

Sunday night’s gig at Cabaret Voltaire was one of those events.

Pearl & The Puppets have been on my radar since I saw them play the acoustic tent at Connect in 2008. And it’s clear that eighteen months later there has been an upward progression in the sound of Pearl and her Puppets.

Playing a short (but in defence, she hasn’t released a single yet) but sweet set – Pearl and her Puppets played a set featuring a mix of songs that have been available to stream on her myspace for months and a number of tracks that will feature on forthcoming releases that kept the crowd in a buoyant mood. Even the most misanthropic of non-Valentine’s lovers would have been won over.

The crowd were particularly receptive to massive hit in the making (already featured on Hollyoaks) ‘Because I Do’ and ‘Girlfriend’, a song that makes you understand the Regina Spektor comparisons (the popier end of the spectrum, not the outright kitschy). There was also a fabulous cover of Temper Trap’s Sweet Disposition.

Onstage, Pearl has the right combination of charisma and humbleness that will be sure to stand her in good stead for the big time. It goes without saying that Pearl is beautiful, but that’s a cherry on top on an already filling cake when the music is that good. I am also reliable informed by my two female companions that the rest of the band, the Puppets are also more than easy on the eye!

I know this review verges of sycophantic gushiness but in my defence I’ve been a long-term admirer and hey, I can’t help it if I’m a sucker for fantastic female singer-songwriters.

I cannot see any reason why Pearl & The Puppets won’t be the soundtrack of your summer, and hopefully you guys will be ahead of the curve now too.

This Is How It Feels

somewhereacrossforever — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 21:30:15 +0000

I’m still in shock. I’m not sure if I’ll ever work out what happened. Scotland were leading by seven points with only seven minutes remained, yet contrived to lose to Wales today in the Six Nations.

I was going to do a big dissection of how aptly this sums up Scotland, and especially Scottish performance in sport, but I’m still a little fragile to even attempt it, so here’s one song that’s title doesn’t sum up what I / five million people are feeling right now, but the lyrics speak volume.

Ballboy – I Hate Scotland

Hopefully there will be a more positive post tomorrow. Oh wait, it’s Valentine’s Day and I’m a card carrying member of the Singles Club…joy.