Back from the dead

Since the last time I've been on this blog, I could almost say on the Internet full stop, I had my mother in law visiting, went to London for my best friend's wedding, I worked a six day week, saw Jack White live twice, carried on working the following week as normal with the flu and I have been napping ever since as it seems I cannot catch up on very much needed sleep time. I can now fall asleep anywhere, anytime. Except in my bed at 4am. Obviously. I have also managed to get a few days off work for a very much needed trip to Brittany and the seaside in August, spent too much money in American Apparel, considering spending far too much money in my own shop - do I need a 275€ midi length leather skirt? Even though it's absolutely stunning and perfect? - and I have been thinking about carrier moves and about the fact that I love fashion more and more lately, I'm excited by it again. I think the previews of the coming collections have something to do with it.

What have you been up too?

It's been too long

"It's been too long" is the first thing I said to Rhys the other night. I hadn't seen The Horrors in such a long time, I actually can't remember when was the last time, but it definitely had been too long. I enjoy seeing them live every single time, they never disappoint. They are definitely in my top three favourites (I cannot chose between them, The Kills and Jack White - that includes any of his 50 bands). You'll excuse the quality of the photos, Iphone and drunk are not a good combination (not a good combination for next morning either)

Sorry about the lack of follow up after last week's post, more about Native Americans is coming, I just need to go through so many photos and edit them first and I must say that between work, commuting, exercising (I never thought I would say that, but I love it) and watching Downton Abbey, ahem, yes I'm addicted, time for blogging is hard to find.

Meanwhile you can listen to Luminous here.

Novella + Toy at the Scala

Last night we went to see Novella opening for Toy at the Scala in London. We tried to smuggle our cameras in but it didn't work, we were quite gutted. Still the gig was good and we took a few iphone pictures. We went more for Novella than for Toy, even if they are good they are kind of a less good version of The Horrors. Still worth a listen.

All the pictures are of Novella.

A fall and a gig

It's been quiet around here for a few days, I was planning on posting on Monday, but on my way to work I fell and hurt myself quite a bit. I was running late and hurried, the problem is that we live on top of a hill and it's currently covered with dead soggy leaves. I fell just as I got to the train station. Luckily for my ego there weren't many people, just a nice lady who helped me out. When I fell I got really scared I hurt my coccyx bone. If there is one bone you don't want to break it's this one. I saw the doctor, it was a big shock for my body but no major damage done. For two days I couldn't really walk or sit. I obviously couldn't go to work and I'm off for the rest of the week. I've been laying in pain pathetically on my coach until today, I feel a bit better and thought I should finish what I started on Monday!

It's a bit out of date now but never mind. On Saturday evening we went to see The Kills opening for Jack White at Alexandra Palace. To give you an idea of what it meant for me: I only listen to three current bands: The Horrors, Jack White and The Kills, and Alexandra Palace is the closest venue to our flat. Let's say it sounded like a perfect night. There was still a no photo policy, hence the phone pictures.

The venue itself - I had never seen it before, I just go to the park usually like here - isn't great. It's really big and not meant for gigs. We still managed to be fairly close for The Kills. Ah! I had missed them. They are my first proper band crush, and after quite a few years I still love them as much. I kind of want to be Alison Mosshart. With black hair, not pink. Though this time it was blond, still better than pink. They were great, I love their songs live and they are entertaining. And as much as I love seeing some bands live, they are still special to me.

Jack White played with his girl band and as I said here, I much prefer it this way. It was great, the set list was brilliant and he played more songs I never heard live before. Every single gig is different with him - that's the downside of the Kills, it's always the same set list. It was quite good to enjoy the supporting act as much as the main one and be excited all the way rather than have to go through a long boring wait.

Bristol

On the weekend we drove to Bristol with two friends for a gig. We met up with a real Bristol... How do you call someone from Bristol actually? Anyway, born and raised there, who showed us around and took us to a cafe for lunch. Apparently fries are big in Bristol, including for breakfast. After a bite, we went for a walk, it's actually a quite nice looking town centre. And you can walk, a nice change from London. It's not so great at night, like everywhere it gets a bit chavy with drunk people shouting on the streets.

A friend of us was releasing his first solo project single and Tom was also playing. I had a bit of a sing with Tom, sharing a microphone, it was quite fun. I think the fact that I know no one in Bristol and that I'll probably never go back there again helped. I always wanted to do it, I'm glad Tom pushed me a bit.

On the way back we stopped at our friends house and I had a play with the chickens and the cat. I can't wait to have chickens and animals again, I miss it too much. I was offered to go horse ridding, but it wasn't the best timing. Can't wait to go back.

Fun weekend in the end, but I was glad to have my bed back on Sunday. Then up at 6.30 on Monday to go running. We are starting our good resolutions a bit later than most people. It sounds insane to get up that early to go running - to me at least - specially since I only need to leave home at 10am to go to work, but Tom starts earlier. But it feels so good. I use to run and then stopped, I felt like doing it again and Tom was all up for it. I forgot how good you feel afterwards (I still feel like dying while I'm running).

Jack White at the Brixton Academy

Apologies for the lack of pictures, Mr White is very specific when it comes to the no picture rule during his gigs. The only person worse than him I had the luck to meet was Lou Reed. It is quite funny though to see grandpa Lou Reed telling a grown man off for taking too many pictures of him. But I'm losing the plot here.

So last night we went to see Jack White at the Brixton Academy. We saw him a month and a half ago at the Forom and it was absolutely brilliant, we were very eager to see him again. I'm always eager to see him, I'm a huge fan of his. Last time we saw him with the female band, we were hoping for the same, bets were open.

It started with a 45 minutes opening slot by First Aid Kit, a Swedish band formed of two sisters and a Swedish drummer as the singer introduces it. I have quite enjoyed it overall, I didn't like all the songs and some were a bit too similar but I really liked some of them. I preferred when the blond sister was singing as she has a deeper voice. I can imagine listening to them relaxing in my living room, carrying on with house activities, not so much sitting and just listening. It was quite folk-y and I need to be in the mood for that.

After that, the stage got invaded by Jack's roadies. They are quite a sight, all in matching suits - with baby blue ties, what's up with the baby blue on this album!? - with hats and optional long beards. We were trying to figure out who was going to play with him according to the instruments and the disposition of the microphones. We went for girls, probably because we were hoping girls. A few minutes later Jack came on stage with his all male band and interesting white trousers with black stripes - not a good look, and that is said of man who use to dress all in red with clumpy black shoes. We were a bit disappointed as after seeing videos, we always thought he was better with the girls. And this gig confirmed it for us. Don't get me wrong, it was good. But with the girls it was brilliant. I think that the male bands are actually better musicians, the keyboard player is definitely better - but the girl has long wavy red hair - and the drummer as well. But I prefer the female drummer - I have a thing for girls banging the drums as hard as they can, my favourite of the moment being her - I like complicity he has with the violin player and I liked that the double bass player was heavily pregnant and still slapping and rocking her giant double bass (is it a good idea for the baby though?)

He played songs from all his bands and from his solo album. It was loud, very loud but we were expecting it, still, very loud. The set list was mainly his new material, some classic White Stripes songs, one Dead Weather and one Raconteurs. It was roughly the same as last time minus quite a few songs. I know that he played a very long time the first time we saw him and that it was specially good, he has set the bar high. We were waiting for some Icky Thump and Get Behind Me Satan, more Dead Weather, Carolina Drama. My sister who wasn't with us the first time round, loved it and thought it was great. So I think we were being a bit picky.

But I do genuinely think he is better with his female band. Something is off with the man band. I can't explain it, I can't put my finger on it, they all are excellent musicians. Let's call it the chemistry then.

Listen to: Freedom at 21, Weep Themselves to Sleep, Love Interruption, Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy and Trash Tongue Talker. And all the album.