h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hmmm, maybe I should do some christmas shopping and write some cards soon huh?

Went to see the Stereophonics at Alexandra Palace on friday night. The band were awesome - I had assumed that the lead singer chappie's (another Kelly I htink) voice was a bit produced on the records but not a bit of it - he sounded amazing.

I say sounded, he might have looked pretty special too, except I couldn't actually see him. I will NEVER go to Alexandra Palace to see music ever again, it is utter sh*t as a venue.

We got there pretty early and were stood somewhere in the middle of the hall about a quarter of the way back from the stage, and yet I could not see the stage. I occasionally got glimpses of the musicians if everyone between me and the stage happened to dance in the right direction at the right time - even then nothing was certain due to a new phenomenon that has begun in audiences since I last attended a concert. Every time one of the bands bigger songs came on everyone's hands shot into the air and an eerie light was cast upon the surrounding people. It wasn't lighters being waved though, oh no, it was mobile phones capturing the even for posterity - or possibly being used as periscopes for anyone under 6'4. So even the tiny gaps I used to see through were blocked. Needless to say, J had a great time and thought the whole thing was wonderful. I hated it - standing in a big crowd looking at the back of some youth's spotty neck for four hours, terrified that I'll be trodden on again, struggling to breathe through the cigarette smoke and hurting my neck craning to get a momentary sighting of a band I paid £28.50 + postage to see is NOT my idea of a fun time.

Live music, why bother?

Because of what you said, kelli, some bands sound amazing live.

Hati. Vent away! That's what we're here for.

but I could have had the same pleasure at the sound they make by listening to it on CD, for a lot less pain, money, irritation and time. Seriously, I feel as though I wasted my money - the band sounded great but I know that from the music of theirs that I own. My gripe here is with the venue, if three quarters of the crowd (except for very tall men like J) can't see the stage then there is something wrong there.

Good night all.

Don't give up on going out to see live music. Be more selective in your gigs and venues that's all Kelli.

I spent friday-saturday on a hard rock and heavy metal festival. Some other stuff was too, though. The most famous groups were Die Krupps (Germany), Anathema (UK), Sybreed (Switzerland). I am not a huge fan of that music, most of it I can barely survive but altogether it was a good event and I didn't regret going there.

Hati what a tough time you're having. You have all my sympathy.

Kelli, I'm sorry you were disappointed. Having visited the Ally Pally on numerous occasions, all I can say is, what they hey where the producers thinking? It is utterly unsuited to live performance before a standing audience. You can't get any of the stages high enough to ensure good sight-lines. (I am going to a gig in Warwick in January. I shall report back).

I should be in the shower or something. But I thought I'd come here and be insecure first. We have to go to lunch with some assorted relatives - the sort you only ever see at Christmas - because it's the only way I'll get to see another relative I really AM fond of as she's making a flying visit to London. I always feel a little bit of a failure for not being able to engage with and enjoy the company of these after-all very nice people. It's just, we're not really in the least interested in the same things and we have rather different senses of humour. As you-all may have noticed, it's quite hard to stop me trying to be funny. I even joke and extravagate when talking to myself. It's just a leeeetle painful to therefore have everything I say treated with either mild bafflement or perfect seriousness. Serves me right for constructing so much of my self-image on my 'marvellous sense of humour'.

Incidentally, one of my more anxst-inducing memories from teen-hood was my father and sister ganging up on me to tell me men don't find funny women in the least attractive (I instantly declared the men weren't worth having then, never let the blighters see they've won). Obviously they were talking gibberish, but the ghost of the conversation still recrudesces whenever I meet someone who simply won't laugh or even smile at anything I say. For that short while that I am (as comedians say) dying on my arse, I am the least attractive woman in the entire known Universe.

Oh well. I shall laugh at myself this evening. Yes I will. And eat chocolate.

I found out yesterday I am getting new rotors and brake pads for Christmas!

This cheered me up a bit, though:

http://home.comcast.net/~tcri/lights.wmv

Ag - you are both funny AND attractive.

And tell that pair they're wrong. Mr T found my sense of humour attracted him to me nearly 30 yrs ago - and it's that shared sense of the ridiculously funny which has kept us together.


Was anyone else rolling around the floor listening to "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue" at lunchtime today?


(Non-Ukasians can hear this on the Listen Again feature for Radio 4)

[GDZ]

*thinking enviously of Ag's beautiful hair*

A sense of humor is one of the greatest personality traits to possess. My dad had a great one - my mother has no humor at all. I still don't know how they managed to live together for 51 years.

The weatherman said on last night's 10 o'clock news that we would have snow overnight. So, did I wake up to a lovely quiet, white neighborhood? Nope. Not a single flake in sight. Well, the guy across the street is a bit flaky, and I did see him rushing out in his boxers to grab the morning paper off of his drive. So I gave him a little wave and Annie barked a greeting and he waved back as if being outside im your underwear in December is the most normal thing in the world.

I have to brave the dreaded Wal-Mart this morning. The cats are out of munchies and I am out of milk.

I did concerts regularly for several years when my late Ex was a light show man, and it was extremely rare for the sound to be balanced enough to appreciate it. I had excellent lines of sight because I was always up in the rafters with Fred, but always, always, my ears rang for hours afterward, and I was not unhappy when the light show thing stopped. The name of his light show was Amoeba Lil.

*grows thoughtful*

Sorry to go off topic here but, has anyone heard from LTP? Did I miss some news about him maybe?

Going to a big gig would scare me, I think. I like theatre a lot, and like live music in small venues, but too many people equals a very panicky owl.

*Hugs Lil

Hey! I can get on again!

Tomorrow or Tuesday I have a job to do for Marv's parents.

I spent most of my adolescence at different concert venues throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Mosh pits, elegant balcony boxes, relaxing at the bar, you name it and I loved it. Living in a remote part of the States like I do now, I jump at the chance to see my favorite bands when they swing through town. There's nothing like live performance IMHO.

::joins Lil in private reverie::

A great show is like nothing else in the world. I've been to some good gigs, I've been to some horrible gigs, but there have been three or four concerts right off hand that I can think of that blew me away. I was a changed person for having listened to that music, been in that crowd, been part of that vibe.

The first time I experienced this was the Men at Work show in 98. Another one was Berlin the summer before last. And strangely enough, Green Day really puts on an amazing show.

I love live music, but have never been to Ally Pally to see music, exhibitions yes.

Seem to have remarkable few Xmas gifts bought, in spite of having beem Xmas shopping twice in the last few days.

Happy birth-yester-day, Ti & <- a rhyming dictionary that does a bit of and provides wickedly good rhymes in whatever language you care for

4 days of w**k before Christmas - and counting...