Right I don't expect people read those but I can share it all if anyone bothered, that is my highlight of this year 2008, month by month in brief:
January:
Going to 5 gigs in that month was surprised me. Normally January was a quiet month. Rolo Tomassi was the best band I have discovered this year.
While everyone at work recovered from flu. It was my turn to be ill, I had no voice and yet still came in and worked has suffered me.
February:
Stalking BRS; Chinese new year, got three valentines cards (first time in 27 years I have got a card on the day that I don’t really give a fuck, how weird?)
Laura got a sack while Chris and I got a verbal warning at work. My hatred of my boss Dupe has started, as was I Was A Crap Scout as I drove up all the way to Cambridge just to see Rolo Tomassi and it got cancelled!
March:
Hardly have any highlight for me. Hardly have anything made me happy
I have been slagged off by the store owner, Dupe in favour of Franck made me felt isolated and losing my motivation. In no win situation and Kylie wanted to leave I was thinking of quitting even though I love the staffs I was working with (most of them)
April:
BRS stalking start again, playing cowbell in front of 600 people with the band was fun, something will live in my memory for a long time.
Planning to go up north and see Lisa but couldn’t make it in the end. Work has gone bad to worse, I was so close to move to Canterbury store successfully and already hand in my notice, but store owner blocked my move by complaining to headquarter. After a long chat with Dupe and some thought from myself I decided to withdraw my notice. Kylie has gone, since then she didn’t talk to me even found a new job she told Chris but not me. I always treated her as my friend but I was upset by what she did.
May:
Primavera Sound and trip to Barcelona was brilliant. Discovered few bands, saw Portishead twice, get involved on Holy Fuck stage invasion, getting first metro train then got myself locked outside and slept on the front door. Ace time!
Kylie and I stopped talking each other and she still owed me 1000 quid, and she sent me a text by called me ‘a cunt’
June:
Nothing much happened, Sarah suggested me not to talk to Kylie anymore but I decided to give her second chance as she apologised for what she has done. We kissed and made up.
I have been accused racist at work by Jack, who then turn out to be rebellion worker. Also Franck had visa problem and could not come back to work for weeks.
July:
Shit summer started. Jane has left, I had a bust up with Jack and the only weekend I asked for day off was completely ruined because of him. The only good news was that store owner (who hate me) step down and his dad (who actually like me) in charge. That and my strong mentality made me not to leave
August:
Shit summer continued, double shift almost everyday last year, same thing happened this year. Jack mugged me off and I end up doing 25 hours in 2 days. Then he has done a sick leaves for 2 weeks left to piss me and Dupe off. Laura has gone off with me because we had an argument on the phone.
Ra Ra Riot and meet up with few people on Ra Ra Riot gigs was my only highlight for my wonderful (NOT!) summer.
September:
Kylie promised me to pay me back some money, but she failed her promise and ran away for a week, she left me on debt again and I felt like an idiot by giving her a second chance. This time, I listened to Sarah advice, ignored what happen just have a good time at Bestival. Even though I have no money I still had a great time at Bestival. Seeing people did mud slide and mud wrestling, everybody dressed up on the weekend lighten up despite the shitty weather. Bestival has also become my favourite festival and turning point of my life. To make it better I got myself a pay rise.
October:
Another good month, seeing my best friends on this month. Came up north to see Lisa (13 months since I had seen her!) and got pissed up, first time ever been so drunk in BRS gig, missed my shout out from Steven. Then later that month I came across to Shropshire to see Sarah (10 months since I had seen her!) and stayed with her for weekend. Went to lots of places like Cadbury World, shopping in Worcester and Bullring. Got her a handbag she loved as her christmas present.
November:
Very happy for Sarah, she passed her theory test early November then passed her driving test on late November. Planning how much I need to save to complete my investments has restricted my frequent visit to London. However, I discovered so many things, Oprington is the best place if I want to stay in London till very late; Monday is my favourite day at work; Little Boots live set is a lot better than I expected.
December:
Witnessed my gig of the year. Coheed and Cambria played first and third album at the venue which will close next year. Came up to see Lisa again and witnessed her pint was glowing (well, she dropped her blackberry in her pint). Found out Kylie still not pass her theory test and Jack work as a bin man made me had the last laugh for end of the year.
Well overall I don't think it was a bad year, could be worse! This year I definitely find my real friends who care about me and trustworthy, yep thats right Sarah, Rob, Chris and Lisa, I was talking about you, thanks you! Now 3 blogs in one day, I can fuck off to bed, happy new year! don't say to me "happy new year" yet till 26th Jan, I only do Chinese New Year ;)
Wednesday, 31 December 2008
Conic's Top 10 album of the year
Right I took too long to write up my top 5 gigs of the year so I can't be arse to do any detail write up, that is my top 10. Note: this is my own opinion overall, tough if you disagree some!
(10) Sigur Ros - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
(9) Blood Red Shoes - Box Of Secrets
(8) Thomas Tantrum - Thomas Tantrum
(7) UpCDownCLeftCRightC + ABC - Embers
(6) El Guincho - Alegranza
(5) Ra Ra Riot - The Rhumb Line
(4) Mystery Jets - TwentyOne
(3) Rolo Tomassi - Hysterics
(2) Okkervil River - The Stand-Ins
Album of the year:
(1) Portishead - Third
Also, those followings were decent album but just narrowly missed out my top10, it will be a waste not to mention them:
The Notwist - The Devils + You + Me
Tindersticks - The Hungry Saw
Hercules & Love Affair - Hercules & Love Affair
The Wedding Presents - El Ray
Sarah Brightman - Symphony
Sons & Daughters - This Gift
Holly Golightly & The Broke Offs - Dirt Don't Hurt
No Age - Nouns
To be honest, not a bad year on album, would be better if the press or media stop pretending Foals and Fleet Foxes and Glasvegas released something so called "critical acclaimed", give it another 5 years I can't see people still talk about them!
(10) Sigur Ros - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
(9) Blood Red Shoes - Box Of Secrets
(8) Thomas Tantrum - Thomas Tantrum
(7) UpCDownCLeftCRightC + ABC - Embers
(6) El Guincho - Alegranza
(5) Ra Ra Riot - The Rhumb Line
(4) Mystery Jets - TwentyOne
(3) Rolo Tomassi - Hysterics
(2) Okkervil River - The Stand-Ins
Album of the year:
(1) Portishead - Third
Also, those followings were decent album but just narrowly missed out my top10, it will be a waste not to mention them:
The Notwist - The Devils + You + Me
Tindersticks - The Hungry Saw
Hercules & Love Affair - Hercules & Love Affair
The Wedding Presents - El Ray
Sarah Brightman - Symphony
Sons & Daughters - This Gift
Holly Golightly & The Broke Offs - Dirt Don't Hurt
No Age - Nouns
To be honest, not a bad year on album, would be better if the press or media stop pretending Foals and Fleet Foxes and Glasvegas released something so called "critical acclaimed", give it another 5 years I can't see people still talk about them!
Conic's Top5 gigs of the year
So 45 gigs including two festivals, I sum up my top5 gigs this year, took me a long time to re-fresh my memory and get words to summarise them (god I must remember to do diary in 2009!),
(5) Rolo Tomassi 22nd September, Old Blue Last, London
One of the best band I have discovered this year. That was album launch gig, saw them three times before but they were all supporting. I am so sure they are capable to do headline show by now. They played the debut album “Hysterics” in full, as soon as Eva hit the note on “Oh, Hello Ghost” here came the mosh pit which was abit messy, painful but fun. Jamie split the crowd to half and we have witnessed Old Blue Last wall of death. One of the guy couldn’t let go of the amp so Jamie did a rugby tackle on him and of they went from the stage. Sound problem made their set longer than scheduled but the performance was ace as usual. All those entertainment cost me absolutely nothing, what more can I ask for?
(4) Coheed & Cambria 1st December, Astoria, London
3 years ago, I saw them for the first time in the same venue. Now they are back to same place for Neverender tour – playing all four albums each day in full. The expectation and tension from the crowd was there. As soon as they brought on “Second Stage Turbine blade”, there was no looking back, everyone was in for a cracking evening. “Delirium Trigger” brought me absolute speechless, the prog bit was amazing with light effect and the crowd clapping their hands. “Neverender” was stunning and the crowd created banter of the evening along with the crowd scating “The Ring In Return”. After the epic ending from bonus track of the album, the band came back and brought the crowd went wild by playing one song each from other three albums. Great start from their Neverender tour.
(3) Holy Fuck (Primavera Sound) 30th May, Parc del Fòrum, Barcelona
At 4:30am, the atmosphere in in Parc del Fòrum is still lively. I have heard their brilliant self-titled album, but whoever have not seen Holy Fuck live, you have definitely missed out. Electronic and synth but they made it incredibly loud, well you can called that a noise but the noise I will love to hear everyday. They also have tape machine, I have seen so many unique instruments but tape machine top them all. Stage invasion of “Lovely Allen” was fucking crazy, I well remembered the stage from the ground was very high but 50 odd people managed to get up there. Watching on youtube again that really would live on my memory for a long time.
(2) Portishead (Primavera Sound) 29th May, Parc del Fòrum, Barcelona
Almost 11 years waited to for their third album and caught one of my favourite 90s band playing live, is it worth a wait? I think so. 12 years since they last played in Barcelona, and what a comeback. The whole set from “Silence” to “We Carried On” with few of their classic songs like “Sour Time”, “Glory Box” and “Mysterons” in between was amazing. Awesome light effect and video background. Chunk D did a rap bit on “Machine Gun” and it was surprisingly brilliant. Wondering Star and Roads were both utterly beautiful. Beth Gibson is definitely, in my opinion, the best British female singer. Portishead certainly did not disappoint me for one second.
(1) Coheed & Cambria, 3rd December, Astoria, London
Day before they were meant to do In Keeping Secrets Silence Of Earth:3 album in full, but power cut forced them to postponed and skip to next chapter Good Apollo I’m Burning Star IV: From Fear Through The Eyes Of Madness. Because of the disappointment, Cobeed & Cambria has delivered the amazing show that made me buzzing for a week! I have never witnessed Astoria was so lively and full of enthusiasm with the whole crowd scating “The Ring In Return”. “Always & Never” and “Wake Up” were both beautiful and yet hilarious with the crowd out-of-tune singing, while “Welcome Home” was a top bollocks as usual and got the crowd bouncing and we could feel the floor vibrating like a little earthquake. “The Willing Well” Anthology was nothing short of spectacular. “From Fear Through The Eyes Of Madness” in particular was amazing.
30 minutes of “Final Cut” was mental with each band member contributed their solo skill. 2 hours set including 6 songs encore, it was unforgettable set, I was definitely felt like being in heaven. Coheed & Cambria was top class, absolutely sensational!
(5) Rolo Tomassi 22nd September, Old Blue Last, London
One of the best band I have discovered this year. That was album launch gig, saw them three times before but they were all supporting. I am so sure they are capable to do headline show by now. They played the debut album “Hysterics” in full, as soon as Eva hit the note on “Oh, Hello Ghost” here came the mosh pit which was abit messy, painful but fun. Jamie split the crowd to half and we have witnessed Old Blue Last wall of death. One of the guy couldn’t let go of the amp so Jamie did a rugby tackle on him and of they went from the stage. Sound problem made their set longer than scheduled but the performance was ace as usual. All those entertainment cost me absolutely nothing, what more can I ask for?
(4) Coheed & Cambria 1st December, Astoria, London
3 years ago, I saw them for the first time in the same venue. Now they are back to same place for Neverender tour – playing all four albums each day in full. The expectation and tension from the crowd was there. As soon as they brought on “Second Stage Turbine blade”, there was no looking back, everyone was in for a cracking evening. “Delirium Trigger” brought me absolute speechless, the prog bit was amazing with light effect and the crowd clapping their hands. “Neverender” was stunning and the crowd created banter of the evening along with the crowd scating “The Ring In Return”. After the epic ending from bonus track of the album, the band came back and brought the crowd went wild by playing one song each from other three albums. Great start from their Neverender tour.
(3) Holy Fuck (Primavera Sound) 30th May, Parc del Fòrum, Barcelona
At 4:30am, the atmosphere in in Parc del Fòrum is still lively. I have heard their brilliant self-titled album, but whoever have not seen Holy Fuck live, you have definitely missed out. Electronic and synth but they made it incredibly loud, well you can called that a noise but the noise I will love to hear everyday. They also have tape machine, I have seen so many unique instruments but tape machine top them all. Stage invasion of “Lovely Allen” was fucking crazy, I well remembered the stage from the ground was very high but 50 odd people managed to get up there. Watching on youtube again that really would live on my memory for a long time.
(2) Portishead (Primavera Sound) 29th May, Parc del Fòrum, Barcelona
Almost 11 years waited to for their third album and caught one of my favourite 90s band playing live, is it worth a wait? I think so. 12 years since they last played in Barcelona, and what a comeback. The whole set from “Silence” to “We Carried On” with few of their classic songs like “Sour Time”, “Glory Box” and “Mysterons” in between was amazing. Awesome light effect and video background. Chunk D did a rap bit on “Machine Gun” and it was surprisingly brilliant. Wondering Star and Roads were both utterly beautiful. Beth Gibson is definitely, in my opinion, the best British female singer. Portishead certainly did not disappoint me for one second.
(1) Coheed & Cambria, 3rd December, Astoria, London
Day before they were meant to do In Keeping Secrets Silence Of Earth:3 album in full, but power cut forced them to postponed and skip to next chapter Good Apollo I’m Burning Star IV: From Fear Through The Eyes Of Madness. Because of the disappointment, Cobeed & Cambria has delivered the amazing show that made me buzzing for a week! I have never witnessed Astoria was so lively and full of enthusiasm with the whole crowd scating “The Ring In Return”. “Always & Never” and “Wake Up” were both beautiful and yet hilarious with the crowd out-of-tune singing, while “Welcome Home” was a top bollocks as usual and got the crowd bouncing and we could feel the floor vibrating like a little earthquake. “The Willing Well” Anthology was nothing short of spectacular. “From Fear Through The Eyes Of Madness” in particular was amazing.
30 minutes of “Final Cut” was mental with each band member contributed their solo skill. 2 hours set including 6 songs encore, it was unforgettable set, I was definitely felt like being in heaven. Coheed & Cambria was top class, absolutely sensational!
Monday, 29 December 2008
worrying time
It has been a long time since I post a blog, lets go for some random rant. I bet not everyone enjoyed their christmas this year. World on recession, economy hitting everyone, Pounds against Euros is very week, few high street store had either went into administration or closing down for last two weeks: Woolworths, MFI, Zavvi, The Officer Club, Whittard, Adams and the latest, USC
More high street retailer could go bust by early next year. More people will lose their jobs (up to 600,000 by next year). I sympathise and feel the pain for the people who is going to get redundant. I experienced it back in Oct 2006, I lost my job as the restaurant I used to work has gone into administration and it forced to shut down, and it wasn't fun trying to find a new job while I was unemployed, I have been told to seek jobs or sending CV at least 3 times per week. I was not allow to leave the country or I would lose my allowance. Walked into Jobcentre to report for your job hunting progress was like in a mouse trap, it was just painful experience.
If you are in my situation right now, not much you can do, hope for the best, look at the bright side. I still think the future is bright, just a matter of time when economy will go back on track
More high street retailer could go bust by early next year. More people will lose their jobs (up to 600,000 by next year). I sympathise and feel the pain for the people who is going to get redundant. I experienced it back in Oct 2006, I lost my job as the restaurant I used to work has gone into administration and it forced to shut down, and it wasn't fun trying to find a new job while I was unemployed, I have been told to seek jobs or sending CV at least 3 times per week. I was not allow to leave the country or I would lose my allowance. Walked into Jobcentre to report for your job hunting progress was like in a mouse trap, it was just painful experience.
If you are in my situation right now, not much you can do, hope for the best, look at the bright side. I still think the future is bright, just a matter of time when economy will go back on track
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
