Song, by Toad

It’s late, I know, leave off. I just couldn’t face anything yesterday, after four consecutive nights of industrial drinking and four consecutive early rises. I was tired, horribly hungover and just wanted to stare into space for eight hours until I was allowed to go home. Even an hour of stomach-churning 5-a-side football wasn’t enough to make it all go away, so I went home, had a bath and collapsed in bed. I’m better now. Sweet sleep, I had missed it so.

So I hope you don’t begrudge me my day off. I wasn’t much use to anyone, never mind the internets. There’s just no time for anything at the moment – writing, film editing, attending gigs and meetings – never mind things like relaxing or, shock horror, reading books. Thank fuck we don’t have kids.

Wednesday 8th October 2008: Roots Manuva at the Liquid Room.
If ever I was going to get into hip hop I’ve often thought that it might be via Roots Manuva, quite possibly because of how Rodney Smith (snigger) mixes it up with all sorts of other things. I’m still on the first couple of listens of his latest album, but this show kind of intrigues me so I might just scoot along.
Roots Manuva – A Haunting

Thursday 9th October 2008: Lykke Li at Cabaret Voltaire.
This is an over-14s gig, so it might be just a little bit of a paedo show, full of young lads trying to hide the bulge in their shorts as the rather pretty Miss Li swoons and pouts on the stage. Personally, I’m more of a passive fan than an active one – I think she’s okay and I’ve heard a couple of decent songs – but she gives the impression of someone who might be quite good live, for some reason. Might be worth a punt, if you don’t mind being the oldest person in the room.
Lykke Li – Dance Dance Dance

Thursday 9th October 2008: James Pants, Found & Penpusher play Limbo at the Voodoo Rooms.
Firstly, Found are great and I haven’t seen them for ages and secondly, I am not entirely convinced that this is going to be my cup of tea otherwise. That doesn’t make sense, I know, but I am boring myself with my narrow taste at the moment and I think it’s about time I got off my arse and tried something a bit different.
James Pants – Theme From Paris

Saturday 11th October 2008: Mumford & Sons at the Voodoo Rooms.
Marcus Mumford’s voice would be enough, but in general these guys are one of my favourite finds of recent times. There is the scope for them to go all anodyne like Noah & the Whale if they have too many of the rough edges sanded off them by a label, but for the time being the warmth and scratch combines beautifully with the more soaring choruses, which can be almost like gospel music at times. One not to miss.
Mumford & Sons – Roll Away Your Stone

It’s amazing how quickly things can become completely taboo.  Two things have recently crossed from utterly normal behaviour to completely unacceptable and disgusting, and I didn’t even notice the transition.

Firstly, I find myself getting physically angry now when I see people driving and using a mobile phone.  Really, bubbling with rage, whereas a couple of years ago I think I might have even been doing myself.  In that time what has changed?  Not much, really.  Apart from the fact that we have discovered that is more dangerous to use the phone and drive than it is to drink and drive, and consequently it has become illegal.  Fair enough.  And suddenly something which was a bit irritating has become something enraging.

Smoking is the other thing.  I remember being vaguely against smoking being banned in pubs, not because I have ever been a smoker, but because it seemed to be part of the deal.  People going on about passive smoking always seemed to be missing the point, to me.  I’d always imagined that damage to your body and threat to life and general irritation was far more likely to come from other people drinking too much and behaving like arseholes, frankly.

Then the ban came in, and I barely noticed it at all, to be honest.  There was more of a smell of piss and stale beer in most pubs, but that was about it, until we went down to England for a weekend.  They didn’t have the ban back then, and walking into a smokey bar was a disgusting experience.  I didn’t think I’d noticed the ban at all, but after only a couple of months it was repellent to be in a pub without it all of a sudden.

Three years ago none of this would have caused me to so much as bat an eyelid, now they are both utterly unthinkable.  Using a phone whilst driving?  You fucking twat, how dare you?  Smoking in a bar?  Myeuch, that’s disgusting, get away from me!  Funny how quickly we acclimatise to these things, isn’t it.

Seeing as that was about as random a ramble as I’ve managed around here in some time, how about two utterly random songs to go with it.  Here are a couple of natty little pop songs I am quite enjoying at the moment:

Lykke Li – Dance Dance Dance
Islands – The Arm