Cult & The Mission - Manchester Apollo

Many months ago I booked many tickets to go see many bands over the forth coming months, this one had been rescheduled due probably to poor ticket sales, they had intended to play Manchester Arena, but it got moved to Manchester Apollo, plus it made it a midweek gig, but hey ho.

Off I went in my little car, off to the Apollo. Killing Joke were supposed to be first on the bill but Jaz decided he was better than that, slagged off The Cult and pulled out of the tour. So when The Mission came on stage playing the first bars to the Killing Joke song Eighties then asked 'do you know who we are' it was rather funny. Their set comprised of most of their early material with a couple of new numbers thrown in. Having been a bit of a Mission fan it was not objectionable to me, and was quite entertaining.

The Cult came on and proceeded to rock the house, again playing many old tracks, mostly off Love and Electric, but Spiritwalker was thrown into the mix and Billy was asked to play the opening bars to Christians to which he complied, but eventually gave up. Ian's vocals were a bit staccato, this being the first of many dates, I don't think he wants to blow his voice, but saying that they played well. The mix was a bit mushy with the bass being not to defined, you can't have everything though can you.

I went home quite happy, not seen the Cult in over 20 years, so it quite good to get out and see them again.

44th Birthday

Today was my 44th birthday, took the day off work, did bugger all, had curry, few beers, that is all

Vulcan Reunion

Someone earlier this year mentioned that there may be a Vulcan Reunion, that would be grand thing to attend, better than a high school reunion, at least it would be full of people you would like to see, even if you had not seen them in many years. Anyway the weeks went by, Facebook had a page dedicated to it, and may people said they would turn up. Even Michelle was going to fly over from Spain especially for it, at least one person I would know then.

So the day finally arrived, and so did the rain, non bloody stop all day, good job the Havelock had a marquee out the back, otherwise the sheer number of people who wanted to go would have had no where to go. The place was packed, mostly full of people who must have been patrons before I started to go there. To be honest the people from my time in the Vulcan were vastly outnumbered, but it was still a good day. Managed to chat to many faces who didn't recognise at first, mainly due to the lack of hair on my part, and the fact that many of us were so off our faces we couldn't remember our own names.

There should have been bands playing, but a stupid rumour about cancellation meant that 2 band pulled out and a third band whose photograph should be here, stayed around for a while, but eventually buggered off as well, pity.

Music was piped in, trying to recreate those halcyon days, many a classic tune drifted in an out of the Vulcan Marquee as recollections of the past were recounted, memories of those who didn't make it, and of those who just couldn't make it. In all it was a great day, if the weather had been better, my guess there would have been double the attendees today. Another one has been suggested for December, I will be one of those who cannot make it, but will have a drink for those who can.

pictures taken by, or for Michelle

Barcelona - August 2012

Well here goes yet another visit to see Michelle in Barcelona, this time it's in the heat of August, gonna be sweaty, but England has been wet all year so a little of own moisture won't hurt, I think.

Fortunately Michelle has had all of August off from work, so we are free to do whatever we decide to get on with, there are a few jobs that need attending to, but nothing that will interrupt our holiday.

First night I had arrived we met up with with a couple of Michelle's friends and headed out to a local festival for some live music, which went on into the small hours, but when they are playing ska, you don't mind, your body just keeps moving to the beat.

So what did we do, managed to sort out a gate for the bottom of the steps to prevent the dogs from getting to the top of the garden and annoy or be annoyed by the other dogs in the area. Drove out to visit a cool bar at the top of Sant Pere, would be great place to spend a night out, huge beer garden with overgrown knooks and secluded crannies.

Had to adjust the gate we had put up, as two of the dogs had managed to scale over it, so a nice bit of picket fencing now adorns the gate and the wall.

Drove out to visit some of the castles in the area, there are quite a few of them scattered about in Anoia, not too far from Masquefa, good for the dogs, somewhere new for them to explore and snuffle about.

Met up with an old friend of Michelle's from her time nursing in Lancaster. Anne was over here with here daughter Amber and her partner David who was over here on holiday in Barcelona. So we couldn't pass up on an opportunity like that, and so we met them at an apartment that they had borrowed, had a couple of drinks then headed out into the night for the Festival in Gracia. The locals decorate the squares and streets with different themes, with music and food available. 

Unfortunately Anne had been bitten by mosquitos a couple days ago and had a bad reaction, and so her legs were a little sore, so they cut their night a little short and left me and Michelle to wander the streets for a little longer, only to find a street all decorated like Star Wars, oh did we laugh. It was so well done, huge papier mache figures and sound effects.

We arranged to meet up again with Anne and Amber later that week up at Sant Pol De Mar, so in the car we went and off we travelled.

What a nice place, a quiet beach with calm water. Met up with the people who Anne had borrowed the apartment from, both their daughters have been pen friends for many years and visit each other from time to time. I spent a little time kayaking in the sea, but there are no photographs to prove it, you will have to take my word for it. We all spent a little time paddling in the sea though, its definately a place I would like to visit again, maybe spend a night or two there.

Well the night was beginning to draw in and we were all on the same flight back to England next day, not Michelle, she was due to fly over later that week for something else.

Michelle drove us back, dropped Anne and Amber off on the way, cracked open a few beers and flew home the next day. Bumped into Anne, David and Amber obviously at the airport, had a brew and went our separate ways.

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Pigwitch - Tockholesbury July 2012

A one day festival on the outskirts of Blackburn, at the Royal Arms Pub, Tockholes, simply called Tockholesbury.

Wasn't able to get there during the day, but got up there just as the sun was going down with Kieran to see a mutual friend play in his new band Pigwitch.

Very good they are too, very reminiscent of early 70's Deep Purple, Focus, with a bit of King Crimson.

Just a pity when they started to play the light was fading and due to unforseen circumstances a light rig was not available, but despite that they played their stuff, got the crowd moving, and everyone had a good time. Despite the swarms of midges.

Hopefully it will be repeated again next year, but maybe to run over the weekend, and not for just one day.





Pigwitch on Facebook

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Amon Tobin - Manchester Academy

Went to See Amon Tobin with Peter and Kris to see his amazing set tonight, what can I say but WOW

That's it, see it if you can, miss it at your peril.

here is a sample of what to expect

Spain and Grand Prix 2012

 It's that time of year when I dust off my formula 1 t-shirt and head off to sunnier locations, and so I did.

With Michelle working for herself, she doesn't have to disappear for the entire day, so for a few hours a day she will pop out for a class, sometimes I will tag along for a change of conversation for those who are learning English.

So these little jaunts out break up the days, where as we would have been lazing about, but one day we would venture forth, meet up with Michelle's friends and have a barbecue.

One trip out for a class and I was doing a quiz with her class and the next, talking with a helicopter mechanic about the helicopters my dad used to work on when he was in the navy.

The barbecue was a proper grand day out, driving out to somewhere Michelle had never been before, to meet up with friends from the village, over here they know how to barbecue, huge grills have been built in the park so you can bring your stuff along and get on with it. Language for me is still very difficult, as I have been so lazy about my Spanish, and it came down to pointing at different object and comparing what the word was in English and Spanish. Some people have some understanding of English and my Spanish is very limited, but eventually conversation is somewhat possible.

Everyone has brought something to eat or drink, so it's all pooled together and the grills fired up. It's funny at all these sort of occasions that certain people gravitate and take over, but as long as they are happy to do it and are good at it, I have no problem, not that I would be able to make myself understood anyway.

Masses of meat is prepared and consumed, wine and beer is handed about, and everyone has a great time. The obligatory guitar is revealed and strummed in Spanish, some sing along, but when one girl sings in English, even I cannot workout what the song is.

As the sun decides to recede, we pack up and leave the park nice and tidy, all respectful like. Well we may want to come back here again sometime.

Obviously we wander about a bit with the dogs and take in the scenery.

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Now to talk about the fast cars.....

What can I say, but we had amazing seats, with a great view of the start finish straight, the noise is incredible and ear plugs are a must for the start. Everyone is in good spirits, the pantomime booing for Hamilton still continues, but no offence is taken, no-one is going to start a fight over what shirt people are wearing, unlike other 'sports'.

Hamilton is stripped of pole due to a fuel irregularity, not having enough for a sample, and is demoted to back of the grid, so seeing him plough through the field made for an entertaining day. Alonso made another lightening start and jumps Madlonado at the start, but there are many more laps to go.

Schumacher screams past us only to collide with Senna just out of view from us, all are ok and the race continues uninterrupted. Alonso has the lead until the final pit stops, Michelle is all excited about the prospect of an Alonso victory, but I have been counting the time during the pit stops, and I tell Michelle no, she looks at me quite puzzled. Maldonado had really put his foot down, and rushes past us as Alonso just exits the pit lane, for Alonso it's not enough and we have a surprise winner of the day in Pastor Maldonado.

Hamilton did his best with his start position, and finishes 8th.

We remove ourselves from our seats, and take up a nice spot under the grandstand to finish off some of the food we brought with us. I go for a wander and pick myself up a new t-shirt. A Catalunya Ciruit one with all the winners on it.

Well that's it for this year, lets hope it's at Barcelona next year, because they want to alternate the Spanish Grand Prix between here and Valencia, fingers crossed

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