Wasted Superstars

i am leaving too

2008-12-02T22:53:00.002Z

I have decided, after realizing i have not contributed to this site for a long time that i may as well leave also.

I have my very own blog to run where i want to focus upon music and movies as well as my own thoughts.

feel free to visit and navigate through:

www.1986moreno.blogspot.com

So long

2008-11-19T05:36:00.002Z

About 3 years ago...maybe more
Me and my cousin thought up the idea for Wasted Superstars.
Well, it wasn't so much of an idea,
more a really cool name.

And I had high hopes for it.
So I started a blog, and invited the most learned minds to join me on it.
But like a jugganaut out of control...things got out of control.
My vision of what I wanted became wildly warped as different ideas came in.

So I'm going to no longer be writing on Wasted Superstars blog,
I'll still be The Man, and I'll still be getting pissed off, still repping Wasted Superstars
But I won't be writing for Wasted Superstars.

I'm Wasted 'till I die

Proposition eight

2008-11-06T08:09:00.004Z

For those in the state of California, Proposition Eight was to ban gay marriage in the state of california.

Part of me wishes I registered to vote in CA.
At one point of my life I was going to apply for a California Drivers Permit when I was 15 but I never got around to really learning how to drive. I spent enough time in CA back then but I'd always feel the strong need to come back home to manhattan.

I was thinking maybe things would've been different if I spent that time in SF instead of LA.

I so would've voted against Prop. 8. I don't think it matters who you love and decide to spend your life with. I find the entire California voting system for propositions highly interesting. There have always been other propositions that I wish I could vote for.

Alas, its the wish of a manhattan voter.
I think I can be a bicoastal voter.
NVM I will be
And I hope Prop. 4 fails miserably.

New York City's Times square is a madhouse.

2008-11-05T04:37:00.002Z

It's a madhouse. this modern life.

I'm at a starbucks by times square and its crazy.
Everyone is so excited about Obama.
And I am too.

I voted for him.

Everyone outside is excited for change.
Fuck you joe the plumber.

This has given me some hope in life, just a bit...
maybe i can do the things I say I can do..

Go obama. You deserve the limelight and I believe you can do great things for america and its stance in the world.

I am a proud american right about now (dosen't happen too often) and maybe sam is too, just maybe?
But he's more british than american, obviously.

It's so last season.

2008-11-04T10:21:00.003Z

I'm really fookin bored of the credit crunch, you can't get away from it, the papers are bleeding it dry as usual and it's like an advertiser's paradise because everything now has the credit crunch tag, as if it's going to make you want to buy it more because the large global companies care about us through these hard times and want to give us more for our money.

I know alot of people are feeling the pinch but it's so tedious hearing about it all the time. One thing's for sure I won't be buying Morrison's new economy range, which comes in fetching fluorescent yellow packaging, there's no way you'll be able to hide it under other quality goods. The shame of it!

tea and phone calls

2008-11-04T03:18:00.002Z

I had a nice chat with sam today.
It made my day a bit.

for the moment things are going pretty well right now, but i am aware it can blow up in my face.
I wish I could just go to LA where things are warmer and hang out with Sam and Peter..
take them around the city I loathe...but only to the places that ever made me happy as a child.
Because when I was a child, I loved California.
It was a place with open spaces, you got to ride in cars, and EVERYONE HAD A POOL! You could swim in the winter!

I'd only want to go to LA if Either peter or Sam or both were there..

there are a list of places in LA that made me happy when i was a kid..
ill compile a list soon enough.

in the meantime i miss peter and sam.

the future of bbc

2008-11-02T08:35:00.002Z

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/oct/29/russell-brand-jonathan-ross-bbc

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/oct/29/bbc-russell-brand

This is not helping my fears.

If the BBC becomes so diluted like popular american radio, I'll cry.
What will i listen to on my computer?

maybe xfm, if it manages to last.........

Poor Russell Brand & the state of UK radio

2008-11-02T07:48:00.006Z

I do like Russell Brand.
I loved his Radio 2 show.

So what, it was a prank call. Really?
I don't understand. UK radio was always supposed to be better than US radio.
That's why I listen to the BBC and XFM all so religiously.

Not too long ago, Alex Zane was suspended for a week for allegedly playing a song about rape.

That sucked cause I couldn't listen to alex zane on a real radio when I was in london.

The Associated Press has said this case is reminiscent of the antics of American "shock jocks" like Opie and Anthony. In 2002, DJ team Opie and Anthony were fired by CBS Radio after broadcasting a live account of two listeners having sex in New York City's St. Patrick's Cathedral.

But they are back on the radio, at 92.3 KROCK in new york. Opie and Anthony aren't as talented as russell brand.

The state of UK radio worries me.
How Global bought out the entire GCAP media empire for 375 million pounds.
Global is aiming to be the next USA Clear Channel Radio empire.
Clear Channel stations- like New York's Z100 manafacture nothing but diluted noncreative safe crap (or rubbish). They have Ryan Seacrest, ew. AND ITS NATIONALIZED across clear channel top 40 stations! GAWD!
Clear Channel's programming of shows on similar formats are clones of each other.
Look what's happening with the Heart and Galaxy brands. I don't know much about Galaxy or Heart, but I can figure all that was manafactured on very expensive marketing data and research from all sorts of media firms.
Creative brands like XFM I fear are going to be phased out. South wales gone. Scotland gone.
Virgin radio is in ashes, viva la Absolute.
If Radio 1 ever gets privatised, they could too be spitting out rubbish like Capital FM.

I've been reading in the guardian how there have been talks to privatize Radio 1 and 2.
The Guardian has even written how Radio one has failed to capture its demographics as set by Ofcom. So what are they going to do rehaul the station to dumb it down? I would rather hope not.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/oct/24/commercialradio-bbc

The one thing I love about BBC radio 1 2 6 music is the creativity and diversity of the programming. I can listen to the best new music by Huw or Lamacq- a little bit of shaun keavney, annie macs mashups, pete tong, rob da bank, mikey davies punk show, etc.
You hear it all, from punk to dance to stuff like russell brand on radio 2.

Or you Did hear russell brand.. It's such a scandal. It is a shame that I can't hear my Russell Brand anymore.

The reason it's such a scandal is because it was on BBC. Tim Shaw has done much worse at Kerrang Radio and no one's talking about it.

I predict when Russell Brand comes back on radio, he will rise from the ashes.

The BBC has been talking about regulating "possible offensive" programming...
So what? It's going to be as boring and drabby as American Radio?
New York City is a plain example of that.
New York City has some of the worst radio available to young people 15-24.
sorry I don't fancy diluted hip-hop or crappy top 40. Blah.

Even I would rather listen to the oldies station in new york than anything else, really.
LA radio is alright. Better than New York by far but not quite UK.

Pulled off from the guardian:

The Director-General of the BBC, Mark Thompson, today launches a staunch defence of the BBC's creativity by warning the corporation will not 'overreact' to the tumultuous events of the past week that tarnished the careers of two of its most famous presenters.

In today's Observer, Thompson insists the BBC will do everything in its power to ensure the breakdown in editorial standards that resulted in the broadcast of obscene phone calls from Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand to the answering machine of the Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs never happens again.

But while acknowledging there are 'absolute boundaries which we must never cross', and that on this occasion the corporation got it 'spectacularly wrong', he insists the BBC's creativity must be allowed to thrive, despite calls for it to rein in its ambitions following the explosive row that has raised profound questions about the broadcaster's wide-ranging remit.

Damn Tories all overreacting to this.
Just put back my russell brand and jonathan ross.
This sachsgate controversy has gotten out of hand.
REALLY.
I thought the UK media was always more liberal (and more informative) than US media in general.

I just hope the programming creativity of BBC Radio WILL NOT BE COMPROMISED.
If it continues down this road, it could end up as terrible as American Radio.
Actually not all american radio is bad, but most of it really is.

2008-10-31T23:35:00.002Z

I like the ending with the eyes on the night bus. That glassy glow, staring into space is for some reason really nostalgic. I'm probably an alcoholic. But fuck that. People aren't alcoholic, they're are fun people who love a drink. There has been some great alchi's over the years: - Boris Yeltsin, Oliver Reed, Kerouac, Jim McDonald, Gorge Bush, Tony Adams, Stephen King. And what a party you'd have with those guys.

Oh yeah in other news, Roachee, formerly of Roll Deep, is out of prison and back on the nusic game (incidentally, the guy who produced this tune, Maniac, is at the start of this video, conducting the orchestra. I love that)

Yeah, lesson of the week:

You can't live on biscuits alone, eventually you will fall on your knees.

Quote - Bukowski:

"Sex is interesting, but it's not totally important. I mean it's not even as important (physically) as excretion. A man can go seventy years without a piece of ass, but he can die in a week without a bowel movement."

life in general

2008-10-30T04:46:00.003Z

sooo mxpx.

Anyway, I've been happy with getting a new job this week.

I got a new part time job and I'm pretty happy with it.

Okay the pay isn't that great but It will do.. for now.

But others have told me I'm lucky to have this new job...

I do like it...

But it came at the expense of someone who literally trained me to get this job.

He seemed all jokes as I called him to ask if everything was okay..

"You took my job"

but it had a twinge of seriousness.

He had a full time position.

I'm part time, meaning I don't have to get benefits or anything.

So since I have a clue on what to do and I'm cheaper..

I'll do for now.

I honestly felt bad about the entire situation...its insane. no one deserves stuff like that.

It's making think twice of my career choices in life..

Can I really live in the Uk? or is it just a mere fantasy that seems highly unattainable?

2008-10-17T23:33:00.002+01:00

Went to Brick Lane this evening and had a curry with my mates Paul and Miesner.

After getting harassed by all the stand in the doorway salesman we arrived at our chosen place - Aladdin's (which is fucking good by the way, really nice food, pretty cheap and wicked atmosphere. Oh and the guys who run it are dressed like gangsters.)

Anyway I was standing around outside having a smoke and this good looking girl strolls by, se had a really curvy figure and held herself well (one might say). The doorman looks at me, flicks his tongue out and goes "she's not a tiger mate, she's a lion!" I cracked up. Doorman always think they're the shit don't they.

Big up doorman and big up lions not tigers.

law and order: special victims unit around the corner

2008-10-14T22:13:00.006+01:00

If you're from manhattan, its pretty normal to see law and order, law and order special victims unit.. etc on location set all over this little island.

However, when you go start going over the george washington bridge to new jersey- and you're riding your bike through boring sleepy towns like fort lee, the last thing you expect to ride your bike in the MIDDLE OF THE LAW AND ORDER SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT SET!

I didn't see mariska hartigay (det. olivia benson) but she was inside that house shooting a scene.

Gee, and I really thought New Jersey was hella boring.

GUESS I WAS WRONG.

You know what was even funnier?

They were trying to make FORT LEE look like QUEENS!

The Outside of that house was supposed to look like floral park, queens.. which would be detective elliot stabler's house.

This was my wasted superstar moment of the day.

Anarchy-my arse

2008-10-09T14:26:00.002+01:00

I was gobsmacked when I saw John Lydon aka Johnny Rotten aka supposed pioneer of the punk movement advertising Country Life butter on telly the other day. What a plonker, his shame levels have definately hit rock bottom. Give me Adam Ant anyday, he was a better punk, had better songs and was better looking and he is actually mad.

phantom planet and rocket summer

2008-10-04T04:41:00.006+01:00

Phantom Planet was one of my favourite bands.

I was a fan of them when they were just a local band from Los Angeles,

When jason schwartzman was in the band.

Heck, I saw them with Rooney at CBGB!

I've seen them in LA, before they ever went on a proper united states tour.

I saw them tonight..

and it brought back happy memories.

Because when the guest came out, I was attached to the hip with it, just like i was with Is missing.

Then that california song became big.. years after I knew about the song.

The funny this is their current single is do the panic.

I don't like the shoodoobie doo addition one bit. why the remake?

I don't get it. It was on the guest.

Why do they release songs as the hit single years after its release?

It's quite strange.

anyway, they did anthem.

And seth from the rocket summer played with them on Big Brat.

Always on my mind.. i think i reverted when they played that.

I will always love them.

Maybe not as much as I did, but I'll go see them live.

It was shocking to see them open for the Rocket Summer, another band I love.

Those are two bands I would never think would tour together.

The Rocket summer really reminded me of Something Corporate, and that's why I really fell in love with them. It's piano acoustic rock at its best.

It's so weird how now they attact such a YOUNG fanbase.

their crowd makes me feel OLD.

i loved calander days. and Hello good friend..

I have yet to pick up the new album..I'll get it.

I still love saturday and cross my heart live.

Me and my friend hung out with Seth before the show.

He's a cool guy and I told him about all this random stuff I knew about the Phantom Planet.

lolz,

It was a good night.

Peter's going to koa. I wonder if he'll survive that 12 hour bus ride. Hope hes not drunk on mangolassi + vodka.

HELLO

2008-10-02T15:03:00.003+01:00

I am not sure how aware anyone that reads this blog is aware i also have my very own blog.

Well, if you are and you check it out now you would realize it has changed for the better.
For a start, it has a smarter interface to navigate around, and more importantly it is now exclusively for music.
I also have also added a few contributors joining which know a range of different types of music to make it varied from my taste which i will enjoy greatly.
Its only starting, so be patient, but i have a feeling it will be an okay read eventually and maybe a place to here new music or music you had forgotten existed briefly. If anyone from this site or browsing through from another feel they would like and more importantly feel they could contribute to it is more than welcome.

I look forward to any opinions shared. As you fellow bloggers know, its nice to get a comment occasionally even when its critical analysis of our opinions.

on a personal note, i share the sentiments about peters departure, but hay, i feel more jealous than anything. What an opportunity to progress on a personal level. Lets hope the blogs come rolling in soon from the commander.

i miss peter

2008-10-01T09:42:00.002+01:00

Actually I just met peter last month and as soon as I met him I knew he was just cool and a bit insane like me. He has a good sense of fashion, always wearing matching trainers and a polo shirt. I've noticed that.
When I left england, I was thinking, I wish i had a nutty friend like peter back home.

He told me as we were walking around st. james park how all he ever wanted to do was to travel the world. He told me planned it for a long time, in advance, and saved up money for it for years.

Believe it or not, that was really a source of inspiration for me, cause I'm going after this crazy idea I had last march, nearly six months ago.. and it's just beginning to be reality.
So I planned it in advance and its confirmed, though I want to also have something else on my roster.. It's in the works.

So what I learned from peter is that if you have a goal you should have an organized plan to get there, and that its possible if things are done in an organized manner and planned well in advance.

I think by the time I see him in my ever so loathesome, nefarious, city filled with vapidity- which is techically my second home (aka los angeles) We'll both have interesting stories to tell.. but I know he'll have more to tell me! This will probably be the only time that I will ever look forward to a trip to LA. So I've decided that I'll probably introduce Peter and his cousin to my real friends (and there arent too many of those). That's part of the reason I decided to forgo on the rancid idea - plus the fact that I'll be back in january..

The truth is that I can't really get to my goal without a little help from my friends...and I am thankful that I have them.

So wasted superstars, anyone want to borrow a flat in manhattan in january? It's all yours. Just ask! (well If I know you in real life that is)

Stop!

2008-09-30T11:37:00.004+01:00

Hold the press!

Wasted Superstars from all corners of the globe have asked me to write this post. They wanted their voices to be heard and this is what their voices were saying;

"We'll miss Peter while he's gone, but we know he's going to have a great time exploring the world, climbing mountains, encountering real life Australians in their natural habitat and many more exciting adventures. Three cheers for P.A.M.!"

So now the Wasted Superstars have spoken, restart the press!

its all happening.

2008-09-29T10:46:00.001+01:00

It will be going according to plan this jan.

I don't think it gets any indier than this.. I really don't.

the battle for indie radio

2008-09-29T03:32:00.005+01:00

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/sep/24/commercialradio.ipc

Hmmm...

thats all I have to say, for now, publicly.

It's quite interesting.

It's been starting to show.

2008-09-28T05:41:00.003+01:00

Dan le sac and scroobuis pip....glasvegas.....mystery jets.... that is the music i listen to these days...
i'm starting to dig grime a bit more.
Xfm is on my favourited on my internet bookmarks.
I bought this months Q on the coffee table with noel gallagher on it.
THERE IS FUCKING RIBENA IN MY FRIDGE.

Not to mention that I've been eating Mc Vities biscuits...
and that i had mini weetabix choco chip cereal earlier this morning.

So i went out earlier to the east village with some friends of mine..
and i had a 20 pound note in my bag and some pence.

So my friend goes, "jean, have you been trotting to england these days"
im like uh why do you ask?

And she layed it all out, just like that.
the music i listen to.
the ribena in the fridge
and the pence from my bag as i was fumbling around for $0.50 USD (fifty cents).

i guess it's all starting to look a bit more suspicious, the secret trips to england, and then seeing the vinyl in my house with the price tags from "rough trade"

Oh well.

One day, I'm going to make it happen.
I'm going to move to london and tell no one.
I'd hide that much better though.

Maybe I am not so good at hiding the fact I went to the UK.
I'm good at it and not. If you go to my house and rummage through my stuff maybe...

I don't know...
but i think I am ready to leave new york.
cause when you grow up in manhattan..
& you're sick of LA
where is there to go?

across the pond.

i love drunk calls

2008-09-28T04:02:00.002+01:00

LOL i dialed the meehan today and he said, " i love you jean"
I thought that was pretty sweet, so i go, i love you too peter.

even he was piss drunk, it was nice when your friends tell you that
so if you have a friend, tell them you love them even when your sober.

a public service announcement from jean

lost in the post/ hope not

2008-09-23T22:52:00.002+01:00

I just spent 75 dollars on postage!
it was okay though, I didn't think all that would add up though.
I did mail 6 packages to the UK so I would presume it would be a bit expensive.

Oh well, i love giving stuff to my friends. Makes them and me happy

Thank you, Bret Easton ellis

2008-09-23T06:17:00.002+01:00

.. for writing Less Than Zero.

It's been the source of answers for something I've thought of doing in the past two months but I have decided not to act on impulse.

I already did it earlier last month (if you know what I mean).

I read Less than zero again and after a recent nightmare - its just not worth it.

My mental health takes precedence.

I'm probably being a bit too dramatic (as usual) but I never really experienced the crazy crazy situations in that book..

but I can relate to Clay's feeling in that book.

You're there, but you're not all there.

Boredom and Loneliness are normal even when you're at a show full of your so called friends and people. It's where getting on the guest list is meaningless and you stare at your VIP pass in disgust hoping not to run into the ghosts.

the ghosts, the ghosts the ghosts.. ahem the laura marling song .....

The feeling overtakes you to the point where you're numb at the show.

I would just end up going to palm springs..

or someplace near it...

It's like the quiet place far away from LA but close enough in the case where you don't feel LA.

thank god for new york.

I laughed so hard I fell down

2008-09-21T18:53:00.002+01:00

I have spent today listening to all the songs this guy told me too. I have completely fallen for Department of Eagles. I can't even say exactly what it is about them. Nobody does it like you is an amazing track though. I beg you to download it of that blog.

Also I'm going to look into signing up to the website he uses to load up songs so I can plague you all. Look forward to it. You know you want it.

My buddy Jonny Yeah is the guy in the picture from this article which is pretty funny. The whole site is funny in fact. I particularly liked this one about facebook.

Anyone going to the gig at Goldsmiths tonight? Apparently it's free and there's some sort of Roots Manuva DJ set. Sounds good to me so I'm not going to look too much into it. Now I just need to get the enthusiasm to get showered and dressed and I'm on my way.

kids love lies and stuff

2008-09-21T08:38:00.003+01:00

I've been listening to them a bit lately, They are really good.

I LOVE HEX

HEX RULES and so does chimera.

I really enjoyed their show at New cross Inn and even ate a cupcake even though I was totally full from that cheeseburger at the place around the corner. I remember buying sam a burger as well.

But today I had a discussion with my friend from california. She lives in indio, ca. Nothing happens there except for Coachella once a year. It's basically a hole two hours east of LA and past the 909.

She was talking about last.fm and how she was listening to kids love lies.

I was like how do you know about them?

Wait did I tell you how I saw them at their single release party at new cross?

her: No jeany, they appeared on my scrobble. you went to london? (I guess she found out, um me and my big fat mouth). She asks, So how do you know about kids love lies (since I'm not that indie enough to be in the know of such UK bands, lol)?

I found out about them though the old fashioned way (through friends) and then i got a lecture on how i have to join last.fm.

Then I thought, wow you can find anything through the internet.

so now we both love kids love lies, which is pretty neat.

I told her about sweet tooth and the great ep expanded..

and how awesome the dream cover video is..

and how thats the only way I ever saw Sam's room! and I've been to his house!

she wondered why he had a red hankerchief over his face in the video, I told her sam does strange things like that.

Then I emailed her a picture of what the red hankerchief dude looked like, hahahaha.

My friend has even heard of the New Cross Inn, which I thought was a bit odd - since the only way I've heard of it was through sam.

I think the great musicians of Catford and lewisham are going to take over the world..from one last.fm listener to another....

from catford to beyond.

se6 style.

peter should be the catford music ambassador when he goes on his world tour.

How To Be Nang

2008-09-19T17:48:00.003+01:00

I don't like the word nang, ever since I saw it on a Lily Allen blog on her myspace, but still, it's a way of life
'Nang' basically means cool,
but when it's used by Lily Allen, it means 'I'm a little rich girl that's never been to the hood in my life, but wanna get down with the kids.'

The Times talked to a bunch of kids about how to be nang.
In the event that you aren't nang,
or are considering whether you are nang or not, which probably means you aren't.

Here are the rules of how to be nang:
1. Not Pete Doherty, who is a wasteman and can’t sing, but 50 Cent, who is the king of bling.
2. Not Australian soap operas, but EastEnders.
3. Not Harry Potter, because books aren’t cool, but you can read anything by Malorie Blackman in private and you might be told off (which is good) for reading Benjamin Zephaniah’s Gangsta Rap in school.
4. Not those rocker skater boy big black bags with diagonal straps but bags that say “Just Do It”, and, among certain sets, bags with Winnie the Pooh logos.
5. No Crazy Frog ring tone, but Grind With Me by Pretty Ricky.
6. Not clapping, when clapping is called for, but making gunny fingers and going “Braap, braap” which is the new “Pow Pow”.
7. Not Kate Moss, but Paris Hilton and her tiny dog.
8. Not rich, but not too poor to buy Academic sportswear, 50 Cent type bling, and Mayfair cigarettes.
9. Not McDonald’s, but Nando’s.
10. Not actually hating your mother, but pretending she beats you up.

I'm off to polish my gunny fingers, cos I've got to go to Nando's, to get out of my house while my mum wants to beat me.
'BRAP BRAP'

sidewalk cafes..noah and the whale

2008-09-19T07:24:00.005+01:00

Theres nothing like Sidewalk cafes in the 10009.
For my UK audience, The sidewalk cafe is located on 94 avenue a, in the east village.
In America, post codes are called zip codes and they as designated by numbers.
Zip Codes are always five numbers.
Manhattan Zip codes start with a 100, 101, or in the case of battery park city, 102.
Los Angeles (including West Hollywood) Zip codes start with a 900. Beverly Hills Zip codes are just fucking famous. santa monica is like 90401-05. Fuck, how I know this off the top of my head is just terrible proof that I have spent too much time in LA.. i digress.....

OMG
Can I just say How much I love noah and the whale?
It was just so amazing.
I think UK folk is my new thing.
I got to the sidewalk cafe at around 7PM.
Noah and the Whale went on at around 8 ish.
I decided to get some dinner before Noah and the Whale's set at the sidewalk cafe where I ate the special, malsala chicken and a chocolate mousse cake.
In the middle of my meal, a bunch of english people sat next to me.

Of course it was Noah and the Whale.
I talked to them a bit, asked which one of them is Charlie Fink.
I met him for a bit and talked to them about how I like their music and Laura Marling.
I also told him how I also heard his version of Ghosts for the BBC electric Proms. He said he forgot about that, but told me that laura was doing one of his songs and how laura sang one of his songs.
Thats cool.
So I ate and grabbed a spot for Noah and the Whale.

Noah and the Whale are so amazingly talented.
I just love that UK folk sound.
They had this instrument that looked like a box, but it kinda opened not sure what it was, but it was interesting.

http://soundbites.typepad.com/soundbites/2008/09/noah-and-the-whale-union-pool-9162008.html

thats what the box looked like, watch that video.

Their live rendition of 5 years time was missing laura marling poo.
Oh well.
But i loved how they played Second Lover and 2 atoms in a molecule back to back - in a theme!

They closed with Mary and a Smiths Song!
Then I stole a couple posters from the walls and added them to my door.
Oh Noah and the Whale, I love you so.
Viva la english folk.
It's made my week.

FILMS

2008-09-18T18:03:00.002+01:00

i have started to put films to watch on my profile,
i currently have the following
- forgetting sarah marshall (best film of 2008)
- the bank job
- the promotion
if they do not work, there is a link to watch them, the quality of picture is great

rancid recall.

2008-09-18T02:56:00.002+01:00

It's recall because...
do i really want to spend 300 on airfare when I can use that towards an airline ticket from JFK to LHR this winter.
I believe that everything this winter will go according to plan and it would be better than any opportunities i can get in the states.

I'd rather put the cash towards that...
and yes the possibility of social paranoia @ rancid is catching up to me.
I just can't face it. I can't.

Oh listening to the wombats - here comes the anxiety is not helping.

Fi fie. foe. fum. english folk is really fun.

2008-09-17T02:41:00.005+01:00

The Past two days have consisted of school and..... LAURA MARLING!

Can I tell you how amazing I think her music is?

this time she came with a band, and MERCHANDISE!

Yes, Finally she came with merchandise.

She is on tour with Johnny Flynn and Mumford and sons.

Both openers are amazing.

Johnny Flynn is well fit and really talented. He can play the cello, and the guitar, and all sorts of things at once!

The show at bowery ballroom was grand, and as usual i was given the VIP treatment.

That song ghosts.

Rambling man.

and cross your fingers......

wow. Night terror live was great.

I bought a fun Fie Fie Fum tour 7 inch.

I like Johnny flynn.

OKAY WHY DIDNT SHE GET THE MERCURY PRIZE? WHY ELBOW?

So the next day, I went to Brooklyn to see her recording session at a recording studio.

She recorded three tracks, ghosts, rambling man, and some other one... don't know the name.

It was just her with an acoustic guitar and she sounds just so amazing.

If anyone dosen't know laura marling get in touch with me and I'll make you like her.

So soon

2008-09-16T13:48:00.002+01:00

Sorry I saw these and they got me all excited. I love new takes on songs. Even if they aren't better then the original I really like hearing a song I always thought of one way get twisted into something else still using the original track. If that makes any sense.

Another day another blogger

2008-09-16T11:16:00.002+01:00

Morning all. I'm Ciara, friend of Peter and Sam. I have been given permission to write on here.
I will apoligise in advance if I just dissapear for weeks or even months at a time...such is my want. As you can see from my own blog Too Orangy For Crows. I am bad at updating.

I am not sure what exactly to write on here as I'm sure this was started as some kind of urban music blog but I don't know what happened to that.

Upon discussing with Peter, it was decided I should put a link up to post secret. This is a site were people send in their secrets on postcards anonymously to the address on the site. It's updated every Sunday and has become a huge success. The thing that disturbs me most was brought up by my buddy Dave. A large % of them are about self hate or family problems but there is this tiny % that consists of people confessing to serious crimes. Like murder. I just imagine them ridding there conscience of killing someone but still not being punished in anyway as a bit full on. And yes, in a slightly worrying way, amusing. case and point

So I might just leave that one with you...quite an odd first post I know. I figured I should get my oddness out in the open from the get go rather then spring it upon you somewhere down the line.

Happy Fucking

i found ribena

2008-09-15T00:59:00.004+01:00

Two weeks ago, I hung out with vicky and Sean and tasted Ribena.
I liked it.
It was sweet.
I loved it's black berry taste.

So I went to the east village today.
I had to go to this place I know that had dark chocolate mc vities biscuits that would go perfect with my PG tips tea.
and then I found it. RIBENA!
AND RIBENA SPARK!

Of course being the nerd I am, I bought RIBENA spark and RIBENA.
I already drank that can of Ribena spark.

It's quite nice, might I say.

If you ever need to find Ribena in new York City,
go to Houston Village farm .
It's in the East Village, NYC on 4th st and 1st avenue.

viva la ribena in the states.
I have to stop spending so much time on the net.
Cause getting excited about ribena in the usa is just scary.

Oh well thats just me, getting excited over the dumbest shit. as usual.

mystery jets

2008-09-14T22:33:00.002+01:00

I'm watching that video two doors down.
I have to say that '21' is such a solid album.
I love the mystery jets to pieces and that their sound is amazing.
They bring back the 80's but make it their own. It's original in a mystery jets sense.
I love how they added Laura marling on young love.

I wish the mystery jets would tour the states.
They should play a show or two in new york just for me!

I'm glad that when I came across the pond, they did a show at rough trade east.
I was quite disapointed when they cancelled some dj set they were supposed to do somewhere in south london, the meehan told me about it.. and i was looking forward to go with some mates, oh well.

I'm glad I got to see them perform for like 45 minutes for FREE! nonethe less.

I told this british this dude I liked the mystery jets, wombats, and the holloways.
Apparently this guy I talked to liked rock and motorhead.
He told me I belonged near Chalk farm road in london with all that indie,
and I couldn't help but smile.

But for right now, like noah and the whale + laura marling,
the mystery jets needs to come here.
do a show just for me.

laura marling and noah and the whale

2008-09-13T23:40:00.003+01:00

This Week will be ONE whale of a week with Laura Marling and OMG..

NOAH AND THE WHALE

all in new york.

I am going to be in indie folk pop heaven.

I love it when great UK exports like that come to new york.

See in new york they're playing smaller places than what they would play in the UK.

the shows are also cheaper cause the dollar is nothing against the pound.

the best part?

i got my cronies..

the access to stuff....

yup.

I'm probably going to see a private laura marling studio taping this week.

-jean

And the drums, the drums, the drums

2008-09-12T16:24:00.006+01:00

I was just thinking about Benga's 'Night'. What is it that makes it such a good tune. Then I thought "I think you could play Night to some one that dislikes Grime and on the whole they'd say they liked Night" Yet... Dubstep shares a lot of characteristics with Grime.

There's the sub bass which is probably more crucial to D.S. as with Grime the focus can shift to the word if either the music isn't up to par or isn't being played on powerful enough speakers (for example phone speakers). The drums in both are important and often use irregular patterns and rhythms, sometimes veering towards like glitch music.

I have noted that in Night instead of the Sub bass being an aggressor as in a lot of Grime it is actually quite soothing. I haven't heard much dubstep but my detective powers lead me to believe this might be a common difference. I also think that while both genre's employ unusual drum patterns, the same rule applied in terms of feel. The drums in Night are very laid back and smooth while grime drums are often the opposite. It should be noted that while Night at first sounds like an alien song it is infact (im 99% sure) in standard 4/4 time.

The thought that originally made me write this was that it is in fact more the lovely rolling drums in Night that draw me to the song and note the keyboard hook that runs throughout. That and the bass.

feeling like shit.....

2008-09-12T04:02:00.003+01:00

to add to the fact that today was 9-11......

things just got more gloomy when I found out earlier today that the oasis show at terminal 5 that I was looking forward to going to GOT CANCELLED.

Yes, I was supposed to see OASIS at a venue with a capacity of 3000 people.

That's as intimate as it gets for oasis now.

Ugh can this day get ANY worse?

I hope the guy that attacked noel in toronto gets the book thrown at him.

HE FUCKING RUINED MY FRIDAY NIGHT.

to top that, i don't think i can go to wombats and the kooks in asbury park because its too far.

right now i hate the world.

i was homeless......

2008-09-12T02:57:00.002+01:00

Today often feels like a somber day because of September 11.
Seven years ago I felt lost and afraid that all my belongings were destroyed.
I couldn't go home for months after that... and the feeling of having no home in manhattan was the worst feeling in the world.

The Manhattan core is the only place in the USA where I feel at ease.
Everyone knows by now that LA just gives me anxiety and I can't afford xanax.

In the months after 9-11, I wasn't a very happy person and I was subject to living in outer queens and spanish harlem (upper manhattan).

Spanish harlem just ain't my style. I prefer downtown manhattan.. where i can walk to soho aimlessly and appreciate the cobble stone streets and have that nice settling feeling that I'm downtown.

Today I'm remembering that feeling of uneasiness, lament, despair..
and I really miss being in my old apartment.
Because at heart, I'm a girl from tribeca..
and I'll never forget that.

I really miss tribeca a lot. It's days like this where I feel like I need to be in my old apartment.
Sometimes I sit in my current apartment and wonder how I ended up in the new york equivalent of leicester square.

To Them We Must Pay Homage

2008-09-11T13:46:00.002+01:00

Throughout music, the majority of people are looking for the 'new scene' or the new music about to 'blow'
Whether it be guitar-based, or of a more sound-system style approach.

I'm no different
My sister, on the other hand is stuck in a seeming time warp, of early 00's speed and 2-step garage.
I am a bit sad, because I was slightly too young for the garage revolution in the early 2000's that was sourced in the very area I live.

But now, as my musical education is getting better in all things 'urban', and I have started DJ-ing.
I have realised, in my haste, that you should never dismiss the past.
"Dwell on the past and you'll lose and eye, forget the past and you'll lose both eyes."

Because for every musical movement you are wrapped up in, the people that have gone before have curated what you love today.
For grime & dubstep heads, it is absolutely all about the garage scene in the late 90's
because without them,
none of this would be about, or if it was, it certainly wouldn't be anywhere as good/big as it is now.

So to all the garage music heads.
To you we pay homage

xfm

2008-09-11T07:49:00.002+01:00

I've been told through reliable sources that XFM london may cease to exist soon.

Gcap was bought out by global and they may rebrand the station or resell it.

There is a high chance that the flagship station in London might be something else.

XFM scotland is going to be a dance station soon..... wow.

I guess I will never work for XFM. That's pretty sad. But it's not the end of the world....

procrastination

2008-09-10T02:23:00.002+01:00

tomorrow, i am finally going to do something I've been meaning to do all summer and I hope I don't screw it up.

The idea- this insane idea I had several months ago.. its kinda falling into place. I'm still thinking its a crazy idea but its a little more in reach than last may.

Maybe It can happen. I'd like to believe it can.

I have to admit it though, growing up in a city like new york has a lot to do with everything falling into place...

I couldn't have imagined life without it.

Now what will happen to me when I am completely on my own without a personal network to fall back down on (hence the rancid pun).....

only time will tell..........................

Me going to the uk does not mean reading or leeds

2008-09-09T22:19:00.006+01:00

I love how people just assume that I "probably went to the UK to go to reading/leeds"
Okay the idea of Reading and Leeds sounds amazing.
Festivals like that always seem better than they really are.
It's also like 400 american dollars to attend leeds / reading three days in a row.
And you have to either find hotels or take the train from london and back.

That's probably not counting the cost of water.

My connections also don't "work" in the UK.

So that means I'd probably never go to Reading or Leeds because I'd have to be on crack to spend $1200 USD to get to a concert, assuming airfare to LHR is about $800 USD.

The truth is id rather enjoy London, get lost at v + A, and go to the pub with my friends.

So people get surprised, since I'm really into indie, punk etc that I actually didn't fly in for Reading and Leeds.

I'm not much of a festival person anyway. I've only made one big trip for a festival and that was last year- for Coachella.
Now the assumption is that I'll go every year now...

um no.

Coachella was just terrible cause it was 110 F every day and at night it would get down to 60 F.
It's the desert. And i was passed out during the arctic monkeys and every other band I wanted to see. I was sleeping under a tent during hot chip. How terrible is that? I spent so much on water, its not even funny.

Every time I ever think of going to a festival I think of Coachella and talk myself out of it.
Thank god I practically went to Coachella for free cause if that cost me $1000 (USD) I'd be hella pissed.

I prefer mid sized festivals close to home where if it's too hot, rains, or the bands suck, I have the option of going home.

That's why I liked All points west w- radiohead.
The right amount of bands.
Not too big.
Weather = perfect.
And I survived with 20 dollars for the entire weekend (cause I was broke).
Jersey City was less than 10 miles from my place of residence.

and again, no. i didn't go to the UK for reading and leeds.

Rotten week

2008-09-09T08:21:00.007+01:00

It's only tuesday but it feels like this week has lasted about 5 years.

So far I've...

Had less than 16 hours sleep in 3 nights
Had my plans messed around someone, resulting in constant shift changing
Worked a lot
Lost my clocking in card, university card and photocopying card
Had my oyster card stop this working this morning (4 days into a new monthly travelcard)
Banged my head on a wooden table
Messed up a bit a work
Been given a bad hair cut
Moaned to Peter too much
Found out the optical drive in my laptop is faulty and would cost a bomb to replace
Been messed around by Orange who charged me to get my PAC code and then never send it.
Had no break with the house hunting...
Had some woman shout "What you looking at!?" when she screeched her zooming car behind me while I was crossing Bromley road.

Im know I'm a complainer, and I'm sorry. I just want a hug :(

Deadly Rhythm presents DJ MK

2008-09-07T14:43:00.000+01:00

(click flyer for large image)

Sunday nights are good for one thing.
Lying down, moping about having to go to bed early, and get up for work.
Not if you're a no-good-student-layabout.
Then you can party down to the sounds of DJ MK and the rest.
FOR FREE

This looks like it's going to be a good night,
so, you'll see me in the corner sippin' on Champers,
but for some reason, i gotta face they all wanna ramp with

A TRICKY DAY

2008-09-05T06:41:00.009+01:00

The first time I ever heard of Tricky was in LA many years ago. I was in Silver Lake, inside a building covered in Ivy while someone introduced me to Tricky's music. Let's just say back then, I didn't get it. I was too into punk rock to listen to anything regarded as experimental.. or anything trippy hoppy beyond Fatboy Slim. I think i started listening to Sum 41 too. Oh to be young and closed-minded.

Fast Forward to today....

This Morning I drank a cup of PG tips Tea and had the last of my Mc Vities Dark Chocolate biscuits. I also realized I was in Manhattan and not in London. Oh, how I miss London. England, I love you. I really do.

Back to Life,

Back to reality.

Some time later, I got invited to see a Taped Performance of Tricky doing about 4 songs for NYC cable television. I figured, I have nothing else to do this afternoon, I might as well trek it to Brooklyn. And So I did.

I never realized How amazing Tricky (real name Adrian Thaws) is. He takes that Evanescence sound by collaborating his vocals - either singing or rapping with it. It has that ambient, somewhat slow, trippy beat. Some of his songs he has more of a hip-hop dance feel to... but that female vocalist in that band is so talented. I managed to bring my macbook pro (which is in a sense, my only digital camera) to the television set and took these photos.

It was amazing, and then I watched an interview with him. I also got Free mc donalds coffee!

The funniest part was before the live footage, his guitarist, this punk rock girl with bright red hair (you can see her in the photos before) was wearing this red and striped tie and tricky told her to take it off cause it was a "bit much". Tricky thought it was too matchy - since her hair was red and her shirt was black. So she had to learn to be less of a fashion punk, lol.

(I know some of the coolest fashion punks around, ahem t and v kidding)

And then the official photographer joked that "those willamsburg hipsters" dress like that all the time. Or something like, "Tons of hipsters dress like that in Willamsburg".

Tricky is from brighton and just released his latest album ,knowle west boy.
I think I might get it. His sound is truly unique.

Then I decided to go Irving Plaza downtown later at around 10:00 eastern standard time to check out his live show. As usual, I was given VIP status (look below) and enjoyed a proper Tricky Live show! The gig was much better than the videoshoot.

It took me many years, a trip to a TV studio, and a free Tricky concert to appreciate the artistry of Tricky.

Kids, only in New York.
(this kind of thing can only really happen in new york)

Eh, I guess it's not so bad to be home. But I still miss london. But at the same time, I don't have that sort of access across the pond, cos, you know, its a whole new set of people- different labels and all that within that world.

It dosen't matter, I prefer london and my friends there nearly any day.

Golly Gosh

2008-09-03T15:41:00.016+01:00

First off, I hope Peter doesn't beat me up again for changing the layout. Last time I had to spend a week in Hospital. I have bad eyes, it was hard to read, sorry kids. I retained the sky blue on the sides...

Secondly why does the hairdressers never goes right? I say keep it long, 2 minutes later I have no fringe. To be fair he did ask me if the length was okay but I was flustered and confused and said yes....

Thirdly what a busy time its been recently. For a August when I didn't go anywhere it twas very eventful. Here's a list of some of the things that happened, for your enjoyment...

Saw Calvin Johnson in an Arsenal youth centre
Jean came over for a week
Got two jobs
Joined/went to the gym
Got to hang out with KB for a day
Re-discovered the Desaparecidos album
Ellens's band released a single
Thought about and saw houses
Continued listening to Girl Talk all the time
Chelsea rocketed to the top of the PL

Okay so its not that much, but there are probably a ton of things I can't remember because of how mad and packed the month was... In terms of this month, I reckon towards the end of month this'll be a goodun. I have no idea who Loefah, Bassclef or Oneman are but the two verse and one song I've heard from Afrikan Boy have been fresh.

Deadly Rhythm @ Goldsmiths Tavern - 27th September

Nail the Cross Festival!
Benga
Loefah (DMZ)
Afrikan Boy (Live)
Bassclef (Live)
Oneman
Tomb Crew
Deadly Rhythm Soundsystem

I saw this in thelondonpaper a few weeks ago and it made me LOL on the train. I've decided I'm with the 'Get rich crew'. I'm tired of not having mad money like Jim Cramer and the rest would just take too much effort. Either that or a Bhangra Muffin, good name and sounds fun.

sitting around

2008-09-03T14:19:00.002+01:00

There's nothing like manhattan.

Okay that's a lie.

I'm walking around these streets still wishing I were around piccadilly circus and picturing the spama lot theater in london whilst staring at the one in midtown manhattan.

When it comes to America, there really is no other place like new york. And if you are the type like me who craves in and out, palm trees, and a good beach not to far away, and the urge for amoeba - there's san francisco.. the perfect hybrid between new york and LA.

I've always said that San Francisco is that city that is the perfect hybrid..

I really can't complain about being in nyc though. I really cant.

Yesterday I went out to eat at one of my favourite resturants - Red bamboo and I was glad.

It's been a while since I've had some good quality vegan asian fusion food.

All I can do right now is make the best of being at home.

Right now I have to decide whether I will see finch or adele tonight.. or run from irving plaza to webster hall. I'll probably find a way to go to both shows. Thank god both venues are within blocks of each other .

and no i will not kick adele in the face. Yup meehan, I'm protecting adele.

I don't think I care to go to any fashion shows this season because I can't deal with empty people telling me how to dress to watch skinny ass models for 15 minutes display clothes normal people wear. Fuck you bryant park.

It's best to have friends of substance than of materialism. It hit me last week.

PICTURE OF INTEREST

2008-09-01T00:45:00.002+01:00

find more of the same at : http://www.love-everyday.co.uk

the best week ever

2008-08-29T13:39:00.002+01:00

That sounds so VH1 but its true.

It has been the best week ever.

I am pretty broke for being on a holiday but I'm happier than I've been in a long time.

I've also learned that yeah, I am pretty spoiled and that maybe I don't have it so bad after all.

I'm also learning that free stuff is not worth putting up with other people's lame bullshit to keep the access.

Fuck fashion week.

Why it's taken me a trip abroad to realize this is beyond me too.

I also learned that I can be broke and live off of a budget and still be completely happy.

All my impulse habits in new york, like buying starbucks daily, getting pret-a-manger for lunch cause you don't feel like making a sandwich is just plain wasteless, unneeded, and necessarily wont make my day go past better.

This sounds lame, but I've actually survived without au bon pain, le pain quotidien, and starbucks all week and I've been fine.

I'm happier without it.

I feel a sense of calmness and not stressed out of what other people think of me - and that it probably dosen't really matter what the general network of people in Los Angeles generally think of me.

Because It's not like i keep in contact with them too regularly or go to LA anyway.

I haven't set foot in the city of angels in two years, which means I am due back for a visit.. but even I'm rethinking that.

I mean, is Rancid a good enough reason to have to set foot in LA?

If London were cheaper to get to, I would rather much prefer going to London for rancid because the people i would go with are the best people in the world.

The best part is theres no gossiping, no OMG you know "insert name here" is going out with "that guy in some band" and that he/she got wasted at some bar, and they're going "insert place here" for "insert reason here" and then I'll know who they are talking about because other people I know have told me similar things about them too. The retarded conversations don't exist here, which I am forever grateful for.

And you would think opposite sides of the country? wtf? but they are more connected. It's gotten worse over time. I still can't over that japan episode, cause I am thinking about it now.

I had dinner with my friend and her South African friend, and it was the most pleasant night I have had in a LONG time.

Finally meeting the man, the myth, lol, was the highlight. Who would think that paddleboating in a lake would use so much energy? its tougher than cycling up an incline. Goth bars are fun when you look like youve been playing tennis.

I haven't been doing much but I've been having more fun than any holiday ever.

I think my next goal is taking a slice of insight from the man, tne myth, lol, - learn to be less spoiled and that I really do have friends that I could travel to Thailand with.

It also helps that one of my best friends is Thai.

So maybe one day, soon in the future, I can tell the man and the former myth about my trip to bangkok and malaysia. Singapore too I guess.

I do want to see more of the world, and I can.

Maybe never australia because It's so damn far and expensive, or maybe one day.

Carnival Time

2008-08-26T00:50:00.004+01:00

Yesterday I went to my first Notting Hill Carnival. We got there quite late on and thought we'd missed it all but a little walking proved we were mistaken.

There was a lot of people, a lot of noise, a lot of interesting smells, a lot of floats and a LOT of bass. They have some serious sound systems there. I'd read and heard about Jamaican sound systems but experiencing it first hand was great. As a side note that Sound system culture is often cited as the beginning of Hip Hop (and as a result Jungle, Garage, Grime etc), when it was brought to New York by Jamaican immigrants (most notably DJ Kool Herc)

We saw the guy below performing just before we left. Everyone there was really into it and seemed to know the words. It was cool, really positive, religious rap, but if you took the religion away you just had a positive message. The bass was booming but my phone doesn't pick that up at all!

Glad I resisted laziness and went.

traveling

2008-08-23T16:21:00.002+01:00

I've been away from home so much the past 6 weeks or so It's not even funny.

I've been to enough of central america for now, so maybe I will want to see Guatamala and Roatan, Honduras one day soon.

In a couple weeks, I think I am due back into L.A. for rancid... but that is not definite yet.

I want my 3-4 days of rancid, and I will be bloody happy.

I wonder what I'll do for winter holiday but whatever I do Peter will outdo me.

about rancid

2008-08-14T22:25:00.000+01:00

What can I say about Rancid.
Once is clearly not enough.
So I have decided If I decide to see them three or four days in a row, I will see them in Hollywood, CA.

It’s not exactly my first choice but it is the most economical one.
I want to come back to London in January when the fares are like 500 USD.
To go in NOV. and JAN. would be a bit excessive and much of an overkill.
I haven’t set foot for more than several hours since 2006.
I guess I am due back soon.

Seeing Rancid in tropical London would be pretty rad.
But the problem is I don’t have the access there like LA.
Cause once you cross the pond, everything is different.
LA/NYC the worlds are more intertwined.

I really want to see Rancid in SF. Again that’s not economical either. Since I don’t know anyone in the city of San Francisco/. Hotels there are quite expensive.

I get away with charging plane tickets to LA like its nothing.
So that is part of the reason. And other reasons too.

Anyway, so yes I did see Rancid at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia, PA Sunday night. After two days of Radiohead, it was a nice change in pace. Rancid played all the right songs and made me happy for an hour. The openers they had were okay. They had Big D and the Kids table and some other band.

That song, LAX always makes me laugh.
The worst part is that one verse about high fiving the bouncers cause I’m on the guest list applies to me to shows in NYC most of the time especially irving plaza.
I guess to see rancid in LA, its something I always dreamed of since I was little.
To see rancid in LA and SF… but after seeing them at CBGB cured that desire to being content to seeing them in New York.
The 4 day bb Kings stint in New York was great back in 2006. I went to three out of the four dates- because when rancid is playing two blocks from your house you don’t miss it. It’s a crime.

They had the slackers open one day and h20 open another day. That was fun.
You’d see all the agnostic front dudes too enjoying rancid.
Cause that the east coast New york pride right there.
I had some partial los Angelino pride when I was younger but that’s gone.
I loved how Lars sang OP IVYs Knowledge at the show.
They did the usual songs Maxwell murder, time bomb, roots radicals, basically everything from out come the wolves, nihilism, salvation, red hot moon (holla video shoot), Hoover street, anthem, who would’ve thought, and blood clot, oh yeah I do 360.
Lars didn’t do a billy bragg cover like last time L
I’m probably going to miss out on a lot this week which is not making me happy.
Rancid is having h20, theo and the skyscrapers, westbound train, sick of it all, and madball open.
I have LA.
I have LA.
I will fulfill my old dream of seeing Rancid in LA- even though it is not as relevant as it was before 2003.
But right now, I’m on a plane to el Salvador and the song Hoover Street is comforting right now.
Hopefully there won’t be a glass pipe murder.
I can’t help thinking about that time many years ago I was going from sunset// Alvarado to wilshire / Alvarado on an LA city bus (yeah I know, who rides the LA city bus) and slept and missed my stop. As you go further south on Alvarado street, it turns into Hoover. I got off and saw a group of people wearing el Salvador shirts on hoover street.
That was one of those, OMG its like the rancid song nerd moments.

I mean sometimes every now and then I walk up broadway from my apt around the time people get home from work- 5-6 PM..
And around 52nd st, everyone in suits is rushing to get home.
So it’s watching a 1000 people go home from work.
As a kid, I’d always get a kick out of seeing rancid at roseland cause rancid is on 52nd and broadway. Yeah nerd moment, I know.

Last time I came to London and I was at Leicester square, I was looking for some punks on the subway and from chalk farm road it felt like a long way to go to get there.

I’ve also seen several Puerto Ricans on 6th street.
Never ran into lars down on 6th street, but I thought if that happened in real life that would be funny.
Tahira and Vicky always tell me that you never know where lars ends up.
My mate barrie once saw lars eat at Red bamboo- this vegan resturant on w 4th street.
If they ever come to new york I should take them to red bamboo. They’ll eat there once I go- “lars ate there once and barrie saw it”

They’re rancid nerds like that, I think.

What you know about that?

2008-08-14T00:21:00.008+01:00

It's official, the best pub in the country has been decided and it's in the manor!

It's none other than New Cross' very own Montague Arms! Don't believe me? Read it for yourself, straight from tuesday's 'londonpaper'.

I'm not sure I'd say its the best pub in the country, I'm even not sure its the best pub in the SE, but it's decent place. Accept for hitting my head on the low ceilings every time I visit it, I've had nothing but good nights there.

I even remember the first time I ever went there, which is rare. It was for the second ever Ubernators gig. We played three songs and I'd spend the the week prior to that gig rush writing 'Tell it like it is' so we had more than two songs to play. I've seen video footage of the gig and we were awful but it was fun.

Other memorable times at the Montague include seeing Naked Babes with PTM, which might have been the same night I met my friend Ruby. Most of the other memories of the Montague include R because she has big love for that place. I don't remember a lot of things these days but I do remember Peter really not liking one of the bands that night. I think it was Hot club de Paris. I think he was half joking.

So good on the Montague. I always feel welcome and comfortable when I go there and even though I'm not that fond of the embalmed animal heads and what not it gives the place a unique feel. Hold tight MA.

El salvador

2008-08-12T20:20:00.001+01:00

I'm in el salvador.
Don't ask but I'm singing hoover street in my head,
Now I'm the el salvadorian immigrant....

Oh That's Stryderman

2008-08-09T21:40:00.002+01:00

I was watching 'Flava' today, I reckon that's probably the best music channel.
It's got more grime than Base, and less shit than Channel U

anywas, Stryderman by Tinchy Stryder came on.
Here it is if you're interested
Yeah, It's a really good song, with a really catchy chorus.
I like it, I like it a lot.

I've never been the biggest fan of Tinchy Stryder,
I think is voice is too soft for a grime artist, it's not raw enough.
But his bars are strong.

and I did like
Mainstream Money, Breakaway, and Underground (his first release)

And then I was thinking, I probably wouldn't recognise him if I saw him 'on road'
Then I thought that I'd like him to get big,
cos if Lethal Bizzle got big, he deserves to.

Oh, and every good post needs something 'Godfather of Grime'

I must say..

2008-08-09T07:08:00.004+01:00

that I probably have more good friends in LA than I previously thought...

thanks to them...Otherwise I wouldn't be seeing radiohead for free this weekend.

But they are the few friends I have on the west coast- and in generale that I really like and have fun with.

yup

All points west..day one.

2008-08-09T05:43:00.005+01:00

This is the confetti in my bag from Girl talk's set!

OH what fun all points west was.

The problem was it actually took an hour and half to get there.

How is that possible? It's simple. I took the subway to the path to the light rail.

Then When i got off at liberty state park, it was 20 minute walk to the concert and another wait to get my tickets & passes from the VIP Guest list area.

Anyway it rained a bit, but It was okay.

The rest of the day was beautiful weather. Not humid, and not very hot at all.

It was so fine that I managed not to buy a single bottle of $4 water.

It was about 78 degrees farenheit I'd say.

It was amazing to be surrounded by the NYC skyline. It looked so close- manhattan but boy did it take a while to get there.

I refused to take the ferry from pier 11 because it was 25 bloody dollars. no way.

This was much, much better than Coachella.

Coachella 2007 in Indio, CA was hell.

I spent so much on water. This was my routine. Buy water. Drink water. Go to portopotti line. Then pee. Then Pass out under a tent while attempting to watch the arctic monkeys, arcade fire, hot chip, repeat. 110 F with humidity made me sick and completely exhausted. To think, I was passed out during bjork the first day there! and it was night so it wasn't so hot out!

Thank god I didn't pay for a ticket, airline ticket, or a place to stay for Coachella. Because of that experience, I fear that all music festivals far from home will be like that. That too- and I prefer to watch bands indoors. AT NIGHT. yup.

Back to All points west, East coast nyc style.

There were games set up- Bean bags to knock the milk cans, frog jumping, basketball hoops, and that thing where you take a water gun into a target to see who can get the dog to the highest height wins..

So I got a couple of winning tickets. Between today and tomorrow I think I can get a prize to take home.

I love how it had a little Carnival.

The playstation 3 tent was pretty cool too.

There was a rain delay in set up for FUCKING duffy.

Let me tell you, duffy is not that great live.

And I prefer laura marling or adele any f-ing day of the week

I was angry because everything took so long, i missed a lot of the Go teams set.

I should've gone to Philly to see them with CSS. dammit.

Stupid philly bus fare is like 20 dollars round trip and I would've had to buy a ticket.

All points west was free.... well for me.

Oh CSS was amazing.

the colors of their outfits kepy me visually intrigued. I probabably would've preferred to see them at night. But OMG CSS? love it lots.

GIRL TALK.

I LOVE GIRL TALK.

that guy is the best dj ever.

That was just one big fat dance party.

I love how I still have confetti in my bag from gt.

The only problem I have was there were all these hipsters dancing on stage with GT. They looked stupid.

One of them was this dude or dudette (bloke or woman) in a saturday night fever white disco suit. Ew. Sh/he had a fucking beard and lipstick. There were too many people wearing stupid silver or neon yellow american apparel leggings with vneck striped t-shirts and retarded looking sunglasses. And those handkerchiefs tied on their heads. GOD.

Wait this entry is supposed to be about happy music at a happy concert. Why I hate willamsburg and it's west coast version- silverlake + echo park and the hipsters is another entry.

So after that amazing GIRL talk set, I was tired. I danced.

danced.

AND DANCED.

Sam has me converted.

So Radiohead.

What Can I say?

NO WORDS.

OMG.

Thom yorke is bliss.

Then I had to walk forever and a day to get back to the NJ transit rail station.

I pride myself on not spending a single dime on food or water.

Thank god for nice weather.

I did manage to spend $35 on vinyl from the Virgin booth. I bought some good stuff that you can find, guess where.

ENGLAND.

I got a ting tings shut up and let me go remix vinyl.

I got HOT CHIp one pure thought

CSS left behind

and.. the Fratellis Mistress Mabel!

To all points west I go.

2008-08-08T05:41:00.004+01:00

The british radio influence is rubbing off of me.

I'm going to this concert in New Jersey - an outdoor thing to see:

Girl Talk

CSS

The GO! Team

and everyone's fave RADIOHEAD.

CSS go team.

you know i thought about seeing them in philadelphia today but i thought it was a bit too far. i mean i don't like outdoor shows too much but jersey city is about 30 min on the train from me vs two hours on a bus.

and the tickets for radiohead were free from some of my amazing mates...

So its a radiohead weekend, which i am excited about.

I'm seeing radiohead saturday as well.

Hey are the kings of leon any good?

let me know.......

Usually BUBBLE

2008-08-07T22:41:00.001+01:00

Reading 'The Shortlist' magazine the other day:
On the back page, every week, they have a celebrities list of their favourite...something.
And this week was '5th Gear's Quentin Wilson's Favourite Watches'
which was unusual,
of course one of them had to be a Rolex.
and they had a picture of a Rolex, and the 'funny' caption read:
"Im off for a drink, dance, babble. You better be here when I get back."
BABBLE?!

It's not Babble, not by any means.
The journalists are a bit off the pace of youth there.
It's Bubble.
Thinking about it, bubbling is quite a hard adjective to describe.
So I'll resort to the fountain of all knowledge...www.urbandictionary.com
I found
BUBBLE: a form of dancing ( for example: a girl is wining and a guy goes behind her and she continues on to dance)
come here ma, let me go behind that bad boy!!! (bad boy meaning:ASS)

But I feel, even this isn't right.
Bubbling, is more sort of, busting a little one-two step, chatting to some girls, having a laugh with the man dem.
Generally having a good time.

Consulting RC about this,
he stated that by saying babble, it negates the point of the whole song, inferring, that you get drunk, try to dance & then chat some shit for a while.

So this is to say...no it's not.

----------
This song should have come out about month ago.

help

2008-08-07T05:54:00.002+01:00

does anyone use the phrase " I have earlies tomorrow"?

Oh, and can anyone tell me what REET means?

I don't speak british, I speak american.

hahahaha

notting hill

2008-08-06T00:12:00.001+01:00

I'm in the mood to watch that movie.

I remember it being quite good.

reef

2008-08-04T08:13:00.001+01:00

xfm is playing put your hands on.
i havent heard that song in ten years.
i forgot it existed.

wow reef.

YES THE YANK KNOWS WHO REEF IS.
by the way, i like kenickie too.

so there.

nightmares

2008-08-04T05:52:00.002+01:00

Many years ago I believed I had great friends in New York.

At once I was delusional to believe I even had friends in LA.

And then one day I thought it would be weird or a nightmare if they all knew each other somehow.

Back in the day, before myspace and all that junk, i got it a bit, oh yeah you know blah and blah.. especially since i was a real coaster (i.e. west coast to east coast).

but It was seldom compared to what happened some years later...

because everyone I knew associated with LA started to know everyone from new york..

and it got really annoying cause people would talk shit..

and half the time i was anxious that people would be talking about me..

and I distanced myself from that entire subculture / crowd completely...

It's also the reason why I refuse to set foot in LA or in places where I can run into people..

but I still have my muslim headscarf, so I'll be alright...

But it's so annoying, you mention to one person that you might be in LA for something, and then all those people know youre coming, so they call you and you don't want to see them...

but yesterday i had a nightmare that I hope will never come true.

because If it did, I would't have a solace anymore.

Oh, if I'm with any one of my london mates and someone I know sees me in europe (which i hope never happens, it was part of my nightmare)

My name is SoonJin Kim or ChinChin Lao, I don;t speak english very well, and I'm an exchange student from Asia somewhere.

Back in the Day

2008-08-03T11:27:00.003+01:00

A couple of months this song was going around Rinse FM
it's probably the best idea, and well produced grime songs since Wiley ripped Ashanti saying "Gangsters", and made...Gangsters

Smasher - Back in the Day. Part 1

Part 2

I especially love the line
"Since day 1 I've been a Creeper" (with Danny Weed's Creeper coming in the background)
And the More Fire Crew - Oi usage

Here's the Best, and Worst of Dizzee Rascal.

I'm off to a water fight in Hyde Park, I saw it beingadvertised on Facebook, anyone wanna come with me?
It's gonna be iller than Pamela Anderson (Cos she's got Hepatitis innit)

dance wiv me

2008-08-02T18:01:00.000+01:00

that song is so catchy. and i love calvin harris.

Rinse's 14th Birthday

2008-08-02T09:58:00.004+01:00

Rinse FM, the only grime radio station are having their 14th Birthday on 22nd August at the End.
18 West Central Street, London, WC1A 1JJ

With a super massif line-up; including a special set by PAY AS U GO!!!

Here's a video of Pay As U Go in their heyday, circa the late 90's

And about 5000 DJs clashin each other,

It's gonna be gonna be retarded!

WHAT IF I TOLD YOU....

2008-08-01T18:48:00.000+01:00

that i could re-build the world.

you would have to think what was wrong with it origionally.
here is what i have thought would drastically improve the world.

1. Not invent religion
I understand it is very good for morale or those that cannot decide themselves the best way to live their lives, but surely as they differ they cause far to much trouble than they were origionally worth.

2. Not invent money
I really like the idea of being able to swap items directly. Then there are no middle man to take between you such as taxes and profit. I understand the items we have now would probably not be available such as the computer im typing on becuase we would not progress but we would not of known differently if we hadnt.

I really feel those things alone would make the world a better place

This is funny

2008-08-01T09:51:00.001+01:00

Wow, This video is funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fapYIefxoYM

Thank god I don't know any chavs. They seem like terrible people to be around.
From what I have read, they all wear BurrBree and they are ill-educated. Many chavettes wear gold hoop earrings and have too many children.

ew.

supergrass

2008-08-01T05:31:00.003+01:00

I had a nice chat with sam today! sam is fun on the phone.
Anyway, I'd probably like to chat with peter too, if he does not mind a loud american voice on the other line.
I can be meek and british if anyone wishes.
My accent is getting better.

In other news, I saw supergrass last night for free. I love mates that just put you on guest lists. But then again, I'm just used to it, It's just what I grew up with.

The gig was amazing.

sam told me his dad likes supergrass. Sam's dad also likes the wombats.
I conclude that sam's dad has good taste in music.

Things that are.....

2008-07-30T19:10:00.002+01:00

Boring! this is the newspapers constantly.

1. knife crime in Britain
2. The credit crunch effecting everything
3. Cristiano Ronaldo Going to Madrid
4. Big Brother again
5. Yet again the PM is failing.

I feel im reading the same newspapers everyday.

I dont quite understand things though.

I think they should make a fictional one everyday.
and we can just pretend!
It would be like an ongoing film or tv series in form of newspaper.
yes i know this is kind of dumb, but so is reading the same thing again and again

Chelsea,...yeah : The good, the bad and the ugly

2008-07-30T01:23:00.011+01:00

THE GOOD - My bro

THE BAD(ASS) - K

THE UGLY - I just cannot believe this is real!?

What is goin on in that one? If he was doing what the youtube description says (and it looks like), why would sky or whoever broadcast it? He's so casual about it all well. Forget all the pressing world problems, this is the great problem that needs solving. Maybe I'm exaggerating the strangeness of this. Maybe doing this at football matches is now the in ting and we should all just get down.

*Okay, I just realized he could of been scratching his leg or something. But geez man, football matches are no place for any sort of self fondling, scratching or otherwise.

hahahaha

2008-07-29T20:02:00.001+01:00

http://nymag.com/daily/food/2008/04/who_will_replace_peter_meehan.html#more

this is hilarious.

i hugged....

2008-07-29T09:57:00.001+01:00

Well The only rapper I ever hugged was eminem.

I wonder if that's as cool as hugging wiley.

So commander what do you think.

i need a football team

2008-07-29T06:54:00.003+01:00

I'm sitting here wearing my man u jersey that I bought in mexico wondering why i bought it. I really don't know anything about football, but I know it's better than american football. I figured everyone in the UK loves Man U so why not get a Man U jersey.

I don't understand why american football is so popular. The super bowl is this stupid american event featuring american football. The super bowl is soooo like, AMERICAN. I can't bloody imagine what a typical pub would be like during the super bowl. Probably a bunch of bladdered meathead yanks drinking Budweiser while behaving quite boisterious. What a piss in the wind that super bowl is.

I'm grasping the british writing style quite nicely, I hope.
Actually, that entire paragraph I wrote is making me laugh like a drain. I'd love to say that to some redneck type american with my best imitation of a kensington style posh british accent. I'd love that.

Anyway, I had no idea that man u is worth over a billion dollars.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/chelsea/2464669/Chelsea-support-Manchester-United-in-Cristiano-Ronaldo-contract-dispute.html

this is interesting. chelsea and man u agree on something.

I still can't believe Man u paid over £30 million for Carlos Tevez of Argentina.
wow.
It's like the NY yankees. They've bought the best baseball team ever. They have imports from japan too (hence hideki matsui).

I really do not know much about sport but theres my two cents ( or one pence).

Perfect

2008-07-28T12:34:00.004+01:00

I was just watching some Chelsea TV. They were showing classic games. I would really like Lampard to stay. He's cares about the club and he seems like a decent guy. So stay Frank. Also bring back Gudjohnson, Barca have said he can leave. He's one of the greatest ever Chelsea players and a personal favourite.

Monday, July 14, 2008: Mornington Crescent

2008-07-28T12:29:00.001+01:00

I have a really bad headache at the moment. It actually hurts and I've had it all day. I've taken some Ibuprofen now so maybe that'll help. Deep down I reckon has something to do with what happened yesterday. In anyone else's eyes it would of been nothing but in mine it was blinding and headache inducing.

I was doing some CV handing out and visited Camden to dispatch one to a travelers hostel. They really didn't want to take it. I made them in the end! After that I decided it was the end of the job 'hunt' for that day and I walked to Mornington Crescent tube station to head south.

I was waiting for the lift and I could sense someone was behind me. When the lift came I entered and then looked up. It was this girl, a swell girl, a shy girl. She looked really friendly, although she was just looking at her feet. I was trying to look cool by not really doing or looking at anything, I don't think I succeeded. The doors were talking ages to shut and it was just the two us in the lift.

I really wanted to break the ice and say something like 'Do you think they'll ever close!!' (referring to the doors), but being a bit green, I didn't. I think it's important to note that in life being shy or coy or trying to look like you don't care or want to talk when you actually do never does any good.

Anyway I didn't say anything, the lift doors closed and we descended. Even though she was far away from the door I let her go first. While we were walking to the platform I was cursing myself for not saying anything. We got to the platform and I figured my chance had gone so I went and sat down on a bench while she observed a map on the platform and roamed a square metre aimlessly.

The train came and after some quick head debating I scuttled onto the carriage she'd boarded. Stupidly again though, half trying to be cool, half out of lack of courage, I walked straight past her to stand half a carriage. It would of been a bit weird, but I probably could of cracked my bad lift door joke then (but obviously in the past tense), had I of stood near her. I peered over at her from my perch, annoyed yet half hoping for I don;t know what. At the next stop (which was Euston), she left the train.

For the rest of the day and all of today, I've been thinking about it. 'It's not a big deal' friends would say after spouting cliche's of other 'fish' in metaphorical seas. But the size of the deal isn't the point. This lack of courage has been the scourge of me for too long.

I thought about all these cool lines afterwards that I could of said. One of them went, 'Hey, if the lift doors don't shut in a minute, do you wanna go for a drink!?'. But I'm not Joey from friends I'm a shoegazing idealist. But maybe that what has to be done? I can't tell anymore the difference between being corny and outgoing.

The whole episode has raised many questions but I'd trade in all the answers to just redo that lift journey. Maybe she would of just smiled out of politeness and looked away but I don't think so, I could tell. I've learnt from this, but I'll never forget.

N.B. It's taken me at least 30 minutes to write this and my head still hurts so Richard Ashcroft was right after all.

Double feature

2008-07-28T12:21:00.003+01:00

A couple of days ago I went to the ICA to see a double feature. Double features are like double A sides, two great songs (or in this case films) for the price of one.

I went to see two Aaron Katz films, 'Quiet city' and 'Dance Party USA'.

I was really impressed by both the films. Both films though were funny, well observed and subtle. The first one Quiet City reminded me a bit of a more refined Funny Ha Ha, which I like a lot. Overall though if I had to pick I say preferred Dance Part USA. It rang more bells.

I left the cinema quite moved after Dance party USA with that new sense of purpose that I sometimes get after seeing a film I really enjoy.

It wore off quite quickly. Real life is never as redeeming as film life.

It's hard to change, a long gradual process that won't be swept aside by seeing a couple of films however much I wish it would. I'm starting to wonder though what it will take.

Here's the trailers from the film. Watch them if your interested and even if you not. They are short.

Quiet City

Dance Party, USA

Y2K

2008-07-28T12:14:00.003+01:00

I didn't blog this in the end cause I just felt like it had no point and there's no ending. Here you go though, wrap your brain round THIS.

----------------------------------------8<-------------------------------------------

I've spent a fair part of my life wishing I'd been born into a different generation. For the most part I yearned to be a teenager in the early 90's. I think if I had to pick 10 years of the history of the world to save from the apocalypse it'd be 1985-1995.

I sort of have a theory that life goes in 10 year cycles instead of 7 and I was unfortunately born in the 5th year. So to be clear, it would have been better to be born 5 years before or after my birth. Why? It's complicated, save that for another time.

In the last couple of days though I've been thinking about when I was 14/15. It wasn't THAT bad a time. I used to really dislike school but now I look back on a some it with fond regard. I think joining Facebook in the last couple of months has had something to do with this. After resisting it's lure from so long, I joined and realized it wasn't actually that bad, and has got me back in contact (sort of) with school friends that really were friends.

Which brings me back to Y2K, well 1999-2000. That was our time! We didn't have a cool music scene, there was a lack of any real scenes to my knowledge which perhaps added to the times innocence. Napster had just come out! Yeah kids these days have all the social networking Junk, but we had Napster, that was cool! There was no Google, Yahoo! ruled and Anna Kournikova was it's queen.

Some other memories from that time include. Metallica suing Shaun Fanning for that Mission Impossible song being downloaded a lot. American Pie, Blink 182, Dido, Encarta 97 (few years earlier that one), watching the US top 20, Dr Dre's 2001, thinking Eminem was the bomb, people saying 'that's the bomb!' (only realy on Sister Sister) etc....

Blogs galore

2008-07-28T12:08:00.003+01:00

I feel like it's time this blog was resuscitated. It's a good blog, but its hearts been wilting.

So here are some writings that I've done recently. CM change the logo if you wish I wont have any beef.

Peace

will people hate me?

2008-07-26T07:29:00.002+01:00

I have this fear..

that If I go to london too often

everyone I know will get sick of me..

or that everyone one day will think I am a bother...

Or that One day I'll ware myself out on london..

I don't ever want that to happen... spoil it for myself...

I don't why I think this way right now,

but I am afraid that has become my new LA-

Like my obsession for british indie music nearly parallels my old obsession for ska and punk music...

But the obsession for ska and punk back then was fueled all too easily, to the point where One day I was in Silver Lake asked by someone, Hey do you want some free mouthwash?

I was like sure, and then I didn't get mouthwash, like mint liquid in a clear bottle. I was expecting a bottle of scope or listerine. I got something else instead. I have many more examples of that but I think allusion to that reveals enough.........

or: hey have you heard of "oscar"

me: what? the grouch? I'm too old to watch sesame street

other person giving me stuff: here

me: oh, thanks man

or: want some fat stuff?

me: sure

other person: yup here

An old friend recently said- its a good thing you don't know any "people" in london, and I know what she meant.....

because maybe if I did, I'd consume london more often? or it wouldn't be pretty.

truth is i am comfortable here in new york but i feel lonely a lot.

I have a lot of nice friends but it's not the same.

I can't explain it or maybe I think too much.

sam rules

2008-07-24T05:03:00.002+01:00

I was listening to baseball fury and I thought it would be cool if someone re-edited the beginning to say Sam's cool and then sam says, I'm cool hahaha.

sam is the voice of reason.

He tells it like it is.

Good therapy in the hopeless romantic field.

I have the catford cool cats to look out for me. It's nice :D

i can't be a hopeless romantic

2008-07-23T04:40:00.003+01:00

I'm sitting here listening to Hopeless Romantic by the Bouncing Souls. I have to reprogram my brain.

I can't be such a typical girl. Because lately, my mind drifts off to dreams which resemble a happy romantic comedy.

If this is a rom com, kill the director- aka my drifting thoughts. Okay, from this moment on.. I'm going to train my mind to go back to normal.

I know It's never going to happen and I can't let myself think anything that can't be real. Every now and then I dream about dating Alex Zane but even I know that would never happen... but other things, I really have to stop thinking about. It's not good for my brain..

But in the end-I've learned to be more spontaneous and to stop being a complete prude.. or less prudish than I used to be..

And, I got a new friend out of this, so it was all worth it.

i got a bike~!

2008-07-22T23:47:00.004+01:00

I got a really cool raleigh bike detour 6.0! It's a men's bike because I didn't feel like getting some colorful stupid girly bike. I love it already. It's already taking up too much space in my flat looks like I will have to put it at my parents gay-rage. That's how the english say it anyway. Gay-rah -ge!

I LOVE IT!

I'm still working on my british accent.

Sometimes the friends you meet influence you to do things, this was defintely one of them! Hopefully I'll lose that two stone like I've been meaning to ..........

scare yourself

2008-07-21T21:46:00.002+01:00

Hey,
I've been away for a week
and Kalou has got a youth workshop to design a logo.
or something

anyways, I was thinking
I'm not afraid of the dark.
But that's not strictly true.
When I'm in the dark, I start thinking of stuff that scares me,
then get myself all scared.

At the moment the thing I keep thinking about me is 80's/90's TV Show - Twin Peaks
I started thinking about it, then looked at it on Wikipedia, then looked at clips of it on YouTube.
and then got myself all scared.

especially this clip.
WARNING: If you scare yourself in the dark thinking about scary stuff.
DO NOT WATCH THIS!!!

That's some freaky shit

Trifles

2008-07-21T06:47:00.004+01:00

I have yet to experience one in Manhattan. I heard Sarabeths has one.

It's a good place for brekky.

The other day I was talking to sam on msn and we both wanted one.

Anyone know where i can find a trifle in new york? anyone?

Mexican Reflections

2008-07-21T04:55:00.005+01:00

Cancun is a effing tourist trap. Like Times Square, they have a bubba gump shrimp, hard rock, planet hollywood, and all its respective bad food catering to Redneck type Americans who do not know the quality of good ethnic food. Luckily for me, I am NOT a redneck so i ate in downtown cancun a lot.

I thought it was quite hilarious that cancun has a Ferragamo and Gucci store. It was as if they were trying too hard to create some sort of Fifth avenue/Rodeo Drive in Cancun. I've never seen a foreign place that was absolutely catered to American tourists.

Redneck American tourists think that Times Square is some sort of New York Mecca. That highly bothers me because I think Times Square is total rubbish. All of the eating establishments around there are overpriced and shit nosh.. most of the good food around there is either towards Hells Kitchen or kips bay.

Or maybe I'm just too much of an Urban snob. People have told me I carry this attitude that I'm better than everyone because I'm from manhattan, but I don't care. As far as Brooklyn, da bronx, or queens, I could never really picture myself living there. I couldn't even picture myself living somewhere north of central park either..

Okay, maybe I am an urban snob. This attitude as I've been told, even carries to my behaviours in LA. It's true, I think Hollywood/highland is a worse tourist trap than times square. There are certain places I will never go (because they scare the living shit out of me) like south central LA, and downtown LA past a certain hour.. Actually if you go drive around South Los angeles street near the flower district you'll see some of the most gnarly bums and craziest people ever. It's similar to the sketchy people you would find on market street near the tenderloin and Port authority bus terminal NYC in the 1980's at 3:oo AM. In LA, I never go below pico (unless its west of sepulveda) - east of the 110.. to hang out, I mainly stay in the area between santa monica-venice to downtown while never really bothering with the valley. f I'm stuck there I'm in the fairfax district, west hollywood, or bev, hills. and silverlake and echo park too... bleh la talk makes me sick.

So back to cancun. I digress.

The hotel I stayed at was very nice- It was an all inclusive resort where I had too many tipples.. mojitos, sex on the beaches, pina coladas, you name it! My sister managed to hang out with (and get in a car with) this guy named raul from cancun. He was very interesting, considering he cannot return to the USA because of his two DUI's.

I am not particularly fond of dancing but going to cocobongo was fun. It was peopple dressing up as christina aguilera, britney spears, and trying to imitate their videos. Oh and I saw a fake Ricki Martin on stage too.

My favourite part of the trip was any water related activity, like the beaches, snorkeling, and snuba-ing. I scratched my leg on a coral reef and i swear this big black fish was trying to sniff my bum while i was snorkeling. I liked swimming in the clean beaches. I don't mind california (pacific) beaches, like san clemente/oceanside/malibu but its nothing compared to cancun beaches. I still stand by this statement- east coast beaches are disgusting. Ew. atlantic ocean. The jersey shore and the long island excuse for beaches continue to disgust me. I can't swim in water that is literally blackish/green.

If I want to go to a good beach, looks like I have to fly two hours to an island like bermuda or aruba. Or southern california..

I loved ancient mayan civilization; I took a day trip to Chinchin Itza in the yucatan. That was very interesting indeed.

One day I'm going to travel to more exotic places but I don't think I'll ever beat peter's upcoming world tour. that sounds wonderful.

But australia- I don't think I will ever go there. It's too far and expensive. 22 hours on a plane for one destination is much to far. Once I thought about going there and a air ticket from LA was $1400 USD! I can go to LONDON and LA with that and have some leftover for Paris and Provence! It's probably not nearly as interesting as the EU or any place in Asia.

I'd go to India. Or Thailand for the full moon party. Malaysia would seem fun too. Luckily one of my best friends would show me around bangkok and koh samui!

The best part - my parents will never know where I'll end up in the world, LOL

Lack of activity/New layout

2008-07-20T16:00:00.003+01:00

Yes, that logo is a bit wack, but I just downloaded a version of paint for mac, and Peter did say design one! I'll change it very soon unless someone else does

Where is everyone? Where is Mr Wasted Superstars? Jean says she has nothing to blog about!?

I went see Wall-E last night at a 12.10am showing. It really sucked, there's no need for any further review, except to say I didn't want to see it and was vindicated in my doubts.

God, Dawson's creek was good...

Time Does Not Exist

2008-07-15T01:06:00.010+01:00

Maybe others feel differently but I cant generally be bothered to watch anything on the internet anymore unless I'm a) really intrigued or b) bored. But, saying that I thought I'd post this because it's one of my favourite music videos and more like a mini movie set to a Daft Punk song.

Also I'm really feeling this self titled song by Those Dancing Days. It's officially the definition of infectious! I love it.

I wrote a piece today, but it was far too long for WS so I posted it on myspace

Zavvi have a good sale on at the moment. I was at the one in Picadilly Circus and bought a couple cheap promising CDs and also a Stylophone!

By the way CM, I went to see Shotgun Stories a few weeks back. It was okay, nothing that special but I think you wouldn't of minded it. I doubt it'd get the Last Days/Down in the Valley treatment.

I feel really ill. Blocked nose, all hot and irritated and my headache has lasted a day. Retreat.

all inclusive resorts

2008-07-13T07:10:00.002+01:00

They are dangerous because you can drink alcohol all you want.
Oh lord, I'm piss drunk at the moment.

I just had a sex on the beach, mojito, and tequila, and coke and rum
i drank toooooo much and vomited.
oh lord help me why cant i drink like an englishman?
sad. so sad.

i also bought a man u jersey just to be a dorky anglophile.
someone called me an anglophile today and seemed to be weirded out by it.
Why would they though?
Maybe I've developed a taste for luzocade wile bike riding (thats another story in itself) but i didnt think it would be creepy if some person from america started talking about new york with me, id love it.

bleh oh well. peter and sam think im alright so thats all that matters really. :D

rancid rancid.

2008-07-11T08:31:00.002+01:00

I can't go to rancid in new york.

So I am sitting here contemplating seeing them in chicago, LA, or LONDON.

I must be mad.

Chicago isnt a problem. It's only a 17 bus hour ride. I can take loads of dramamine. It would probably be alright. hahaaha.

Now LA in october is a good possibility. I still have "people" in LA so all I need is a plane ticket.

However, Rancid will be more fun in November. I'll have a bunch of nice people to go with. But then in london I would have to buy a ticket. Drat.

What do you think? lol

If I'm just mad tell me.

Drugs & TV - a bad Mix

2008-07-10T19:25:00.002+01:00

I was thinking recently
On TV Show, especially soaps and in (most) films.
If someone starts 'doing drugs', then their life spirals out of control,
like in one episode they'll blaze a joint, then, they'll be addicted to heroin;
or, they'll start doing cocaine, and then start stealing money, and look like a state.

How come TV doesn't have some bloke, who goes out to a club on a Friday and does a line, then drops a couple of tabs, has a good time. Then goes to work the next Monday with no ill-effects?

Not that I'm condoning drug use or anything,
it's just that not everyone who smokes green or has a line of charlie is going to end up robbing old women 'looking for their next fix'

Dirty Dream Number 2

2008-07-10T18:53:00.003+01:00

Big thanks to Syd and Peter for coming to the gig yesterday. It was really appreciated seeing you there, some faces I recognized showing support. I'll be there front row centre when the times comes...

Still having strange dreams. I went to Smiths today and bought a notebook so I can start my dream book tomorrow morning. Last night was a bit ruff, I think maybe I drank a too much, so sorry CM for my babbling on the bus. Last night I had a dream about climbing spiral stairs in this really old, scary, infinitely tall building. I was with four woman who I think were all celebrity's but I can't be sure. One of them was Jennifer Lopez. Every floor we got to we'd go down this water slide sort of thing. I can't remember where it went, but we just seem to keep going up stairs.

A lot of dreams involve really run down, derelict houses that are not haunted but just creepy. I used to have a recurring dream when I was maybe 9 or 10ish about some crazy house. Hopefully when my dream book kicks into action I'll be able to decipher what all this means. I am a believer that dreams are a way of your brain sorting through issues in your life...

Beautiful song and video
Belle & Sebastian - Dirty Dream Number 2

Not very famous London sightings.

2008-07-09T12:48:00.000+01:00

I walked passed a sandwich bar on St Pancras Road the other day called Butty Boys, which I thought was quite amusing.
I also often walk by Chatterbox Topless Bar in Farringdon, which has an advert in the window(and in the back pages of the Metro newspaper) saying drinks are only £10.00. I wouldn't think this special offer would draw in big crowds, which is probably why I've never actually seen anyone going in there. I may have to suggest to them that they need a better marketing strategy unless someone thinks £10.00 for a drink is quite reasonable?

londoner slang? help

2008-07-09T10:58:00.004+01:00

Do londoners use the following words in sentences:

chuffed

minging

nosh

"this is mint!"

"food for tea"

nosh

tipple

brill

"a patch on"

Just wondering.

Peter Meehan works for the new york times

2008-07-09T06:23:00.002+01:00

I went to Goodburger on 45th street for an american Hamburger and Chips. As I walked in, I saw a giant poster of a New York Times review of Goodburger by Peter Meehan. I didn't have my camera with me to photograph it, but here is a link to the article.

http://events.nytimes.com/2005/11/09/dining/reviews/09unde.html

So is Commander Meehan secretly a Food critic for the new york times? Hmmmm.

punk is dead? possibly.

2008-07-07T01:28:00.005+01:00

http://nymag.com/guides/summer/2008/48006/

I'm just glad when I was a kid, st marks was still punk.

But I wasn't a squatter like the article describes. I always felt out of place at C-Squat Leftover crack shows.

I guess we've all moved on. Sam and I live for indie and Peter loves wiley and Dizzee Rascal.

Well wait. we all like dizzee rascal.

I'll go see my old favorite punk bands every now and then. But It's not the same. I believe there is a time and place for everything.

I can't get over the H2o video, what happened- thinking the same thing the video portrays.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvlP0QfJcjc&feature=related

the scary thing is everywhere h20 is in that video, I know where it is in the city.

Jean's guide to What happened- Be like h20! (lol)
The record store they are in: Generation 210 Thomspon
Where all of h20 is sitting on a stool- 99x 84 East 10th Street.
Knitting Factory: Great venue. 74 Leonard Street. (tribeca represent bitch)
The empty building they all stare at 313 bowery, the old site of CBGB..
Joe Strummer Mural (where matt skiba is) - 7th street and avenue A, near niagra and tompkins sq park

Oh cbgb, how i miss you so. Damn you, john varvatos. damn you to hell.

Throw some D's on that bitch!

2008-07-06T14:08:00.015+01:00

Maaaaaaaan, I musta taken the bus a trillion times.

I don't cycle, or have a car. I don't get lifts but I do live far. I get the bus, like everyday. Sometimes two times, each way!

Yeah since 11, I've been taking that city bus. All those years of intense bus ridding has lead me to this point. The point where I can now finally reveal some of the different characters that make up a London bus journey.

---------------------------------------8<--------------------------------------------

Number 1: The paranoid traveller - This lady or fella will sit in front of you and continually keep looking around with a distressed and worried expression. They then go back to sitting normally. This is repeated every 2 minutes. They're not looking at anything in particular, they are just MAD! When they turn around and I'm looking forward I always just wanna say, "What!?". It'd be jokes.

Number 2: The seat colonizers - This cat takes up way too much space on the seat. They also like to leave their jacket on your 1/10th of the seat so when you sit on it they can pull it away and kiss their teeth. Note: If you can't kiss your teeth on a bus your nothing, so get practicing! You dun know Ima pro.

Another faction of the seat colonizers are the seat rejecters. These people will sit on the very edge of the seat next to you, even when there is plenty of space. When this happens its hard to not to question your hygiene. In most cases it's likely that's just the person's preferred perch. This character is quite rare it should be noted.

Number 3: The serial phone talker - For the whole journey this joker rabbits really loudly on their phone, sometimes in a language you don't recognize. When it's in English its rarely anything that deserves to be broadcast across the whole bus, so maybe that you can't understand what's being said is a blessing.

There are many other characters to be found, but that's all for now.

Fuck you, john varvatos.

2008-07-04T22:32:00.009+01:00

I have to admit, I've always had a soft spot for fashion.

Maybe I cared a bit too much for it because I hung out with that sort of crowd (as described in previous posts).

Not to brag, I do have some marc jacobs, anna sui, and dvf wrap dresses in my collection that I sometimes wear.

There are designers like Anna Sui who have that perfect blend of bright colours and rock and roll in her clothes. This may sound weird, but I can hear the music in her clothes sometimes. Season after season, she never disapoints me with her collections. I love the decor of the store too. She has concert posters all over the walls. I've also admired her design of Ramones T-shirts. They're priced about 40 USD. It's a bit on the pricey side; but not grossly overpriced. Her dresses usually go for 400 USD, high quality and unique designs so I don't mind shelling out that much for a dress or two every season.

The other day, I went to whole foods on bowery to do some food shopping. On the way, I passed by 313 bowery. For those of you who don't know what 313 Bowery is, that was the address of CBGB, RIP. I had to do a double take. In place of it was the John Varvatos clothing boutique. The decor looked kinda rock and roll so I decided to see the place and check out the fashion. Within minutes, I was disgusted. I wanted to throw up in the store. When you first walk in, you see the remants of the old CBGB wall. Poor old CBGB's wall. To the left, near the entrance there is a small area that sells vinyl. I was looking through the vinyl they had, which was obviously used.. but they had a good selection of old school punk and classic rock. I was looking at some of the prices. OMG it was like WTF. A clearly used copy of Joan Jett's I love Rock and Roll was 40 dollars! for a used record? I also saw a Green Day 1039 smoothed out slappy hours on vinyl for 65 dollars. OMG SERIOUSLY?

What else did I see at John varvatos?? $750 USED Ramones T-shirts. 300 dollar used wrangler denim jackets with HOLES. 200 dollar converse sneakers. 400 dollar DRmarten style boots. I can go on but i think It would make everyone sick.

This is more of a disgrace to CBGB than anything. I wonder who in their right mind would pay all that money for records, used t-shirts, and converse? CBGB was never about the corporate mindset. Fuck CBGB's t-shirts were 20 dollars. Reasonable.

John Varvatos seriously needs to rethink his "tribute" to cbgbs at his store.

Because the $750 ramones T-shirt is just plain offensive.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/19/arts/music/19varv.html

Read that. stupid rich yuppies.
dead yuppies by agnostic front- good album.
Now I really get the meaning of Passion before fashion by h2o. This is just a bit too far.

Only in dreams

2008-07-03T16:26:00.017+01:00

Recently I've been having some quite strange dreams.

Actually they haven't been that strange but very vivid. Two nights ago, I think it involved this guy from my course taking a car that I owned (in the dream) and driving it onto a sort of tube/train combination. Somehow the car fitted in the tube carriage and then tube pulled away. I then proceed to get on the next tube. I remember the platform of station was really slanted, and I wasn't very happy about the whole situation. That's all I remember from that one.

Last night I'm pretty sure Jo Wiley or someone that looked a bit like her was in it. The person was younger in the dream than Jo Wiley. I think I had a thing for her in the dream and she liked me back. That wasn't really the main crux of the dream but that's all I can remember now. The only other thing I can think of is a house that I think most of the dream took place in. For the record I have no particular feelings either way about Jo Wiley. It was a pretty good dream though.

Some cool dude was once talking to me about keeping a dream book. So when you wake up you write down what you dreamt before you forget. It's a good idea especially as my dreams are much more interesting and satisfying (even if bad things are happening) than my woken life.

The only problem with that plan is straight after waking up isn't the best time to be writing. Still I think I'll give it a go, who knows maybe I'll end up with a great book of dreams in a couple of weeks. Then I can get published. I won't have to look for a job any more, and eventually the book will get made into a film that I'd co-direct with Richard Linklater and cast Winona Ryder. We'd obviously get married soon after the film wrapped and live happily ever after.

You can't lose with dreams.

cops suck.

2008-07-02T03:28:00.004+01:00

Wow the police really suck. I wonder why they would go after sam, he's harmless. It's SAM for bloody sake! A gum wrapper, really? They need to go after the real criminals.

Anyway in America they aren't any better. They racially profile people for certain crimes- or believe that you might commit a crime. The most disgusting thing that has ever happened in New York was the case of Abner Louima. That was terrible.

I was thinking about calling Sam- Samolon rob Kaloubinson. Actually, that is hilarious.

I still need a favourite football team. Someone give me one. Should I go with Man U like everyone else in the UK? Or West Ham United?

I also wish I wasn't so smitten with a boy who lives across the pond. It's pure bollocks BECAUSE HE LIVES ACROSS THE POND! AHHHHH. sorry for that outburst.

I hope my blog entries dont make me sound blate american.

one day... i'll be british. hopefully. :/