Ring-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding!

Not a fan at all of any double entendres, but I've got to admit, it's catchy!

Feel Inside (and stuff like that)

It was made for Red Nose Day and it's been online for over a year but I only discovered it the other week. Be warned, it's a bit of an ear worm...

Foxtrot Holmes

The fellow pictured to the left of this text goes by the moniker Foxtrot Holmes. I don't know much about him other than I like the way he mixes music.

He reminds me of Dutty Moonshine who I first encountered while living in Reading. I get the distinct impression that this side of the pond is catching up with the Electro Swing thing.

Splendid!

Professor Elemental in a film? I shall eagerly await it's release from across the pond!

Ooooohhh, Sha ma wa wa!

I don't know what what this is, but it's too awesome not to share!

Gentleman me?

This Friday I had planned to, with Fiona, accompany a friend to Oxford for a few drinks. This was the plan until Thursday when I found out that Mr. B was going to be playing at the Vaudeville Rave in Reading on the same night. Needless to say I amended my plans accordingly!

It was a really, really good evening and I plan to attend another at some point. The whole experience really reminded me of the Unfair that I went to when I lived in Halifax. The only difference that really stood out was that at this Vaudeville Rave everyone was in costume. It was an eclectic mix (trust me, this is not an exaggeration) of gypsy, burlesque, renaissance fair, chap and steam punk.

The evening unfolded along the following lines...

DJ Dubious rocked the party with his Balkan/Swing from the turntables. (I've just realized we heard him play once before at the Global Cafe! It's good to know these guys are all local!)

Our MC for the evening was Bass6 who's beat boxing was incredible!

The first half of the show was a cabaret including sword swallowing, belly dancing, light bulb eating, unicycling, magic, a very strange contest between 2 fellows who reckoned they could solve a rubics cube faster than their opponent while being distracted by volunteers from the audience, and various other acts.

Following the cabaret the chairs facing the stage were removed and the music began. The first group was Tankus the Henge followed by the main act Mr. B, The Gentleman Rhymer (you've already been introduced). I bumped into him in the clutter of people in front of the washrooms. I tapped him on the back before I realized I didn't really have anything to say to him, so I just shook his hand, said that I wanted to say hello, and then said I wouldn't keep him as I knew where he was heading. Smooth aren't I?

The next band was Sam and the Womp who blended Balkan and Dubstep with outstanding results. It was during their set that we bumped into Gentleman Jeeves who invited Fiona and I backstage for a cup of tea. We had a choice of Jasmin or Darjeeling. I chose Darjeeling but should really have chosen Jasmin as there was no milk on offer. Behind us was a 4 poster bed upon which people were jumping. It was all very surreal and only compounded by the fact that the entrance to the back of stage area was just next to a croquet field where ladies and gents were competing.

At this point it was 3ish in the morning and Fiona and I decided (in light of the fact that all of our friends had already departed) that we would head home. That meant we missed the last act Dutty Moonshine who I'm sure was excellent.

And that was our evening! Since the carnaval in Dunkerque there's been a lot of occasions for costumes! I'm going to put some serious thought into the possibility of establishing one of my own!

Colourful traditions

As promised, here are the pictures from our recent road trip to the Dunkerque Carnaval!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48141953@N02/sets/72157626147664009/

If you're inclined you can learn more about the history of the carnaval here or even visit the official site here.

Then there's always...

Fiona showed me this one yesterday. Apparently they made the film as a tribute to Caitlin Rose who wrote the original.

Call me crazy, but I prefer Rowan's version!

Coming home from Carnaval

We heard this song as we were heading back to the Ferry to England after our weekend of cross dressing, drinking, singing and my first proper Carnaval. I'll post some pictures of the weekend here when I get to see them myself. 'Till then listen to this song and let me know what you think...

The Chap-Hop war wages on!

It seems that the rap scene in England is a more diverse platform than I had hitherto believed it to be! It seems that there's a war waging in the relatively new genre of 'Chap-Hop'. A chap, for those unfamiliar with the movement, is a very particular type of gentleman. If you'd like to learn more you can find all the information you'll need at The Chap, a local English publication of note and of no small influence.

As Chap-hop is a burgeoning musical tradition there are only, as far as I can tell, two artists vying for recognition as England's preeminent gentleman rhymer. The first is Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer (yeah, I've appropriated his name for rhetorical value) and in this short clip I hope you'll get a good sense of his style, although he does have a rather sizable body of completely original material as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t28COxEp2k

His competition is Professor Elemental. In this clip he's responding to Mr B's presence in the chap-hop scene in a rather eloquent but in no way convoluted manner. It was actually this video that first peeked my interest in the Chap Hop scene, and I'm only including it second as it references Mr B explicitly and I had hoped to avoid any confusion or ambiguity regarding the song's subject.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iRTB-FTMdk

So, now that you've familiarised yourself with the Chap philosophy, and with the works of both Professor Elemental and Mr B the Gentleman Rhymer, I shall leave it to you, the reader, to discern for yourself who is the most deserving of England's recognition and admiration.

Truer words were never spoken!

`Every Time You Shave, A Moustache Dies` by Dead Cat Bounce.

I think it pretty much speaks for itself!

Now that you`ve heard their argument, go out and grow a moustache!

Canada Day in Trafalgar Square

Yesterday we went to Canada day in London! We saw a load of great Canadian bands including Radio Radio, Hawksly Workman, Sarah Harmer, and Jully Black! We ate bison burgers and had a Tim Horton's Doughnut! We had our pictures taken with a Mountie and I signed up for a Canadain social club in London and the mailing list for Canadian music in Europe! I also bumped into this guy...

But he wasn't as scary as he looked, and after a few beer, and one accidental bomb scare, we all lived happily ever after! Oh Canada, what a great day!

Mashup

These are all great songs on their own, and DJ Dain has done a good job of mashing them all together. It's a bit long, but if you're just listening to it, it's a lovely, gentle song.

http://soundcloud.com/dj-dain/dont-worry-im-yours-mashup

Hope everyone likes it.

I already miss the place!

Enough of the single pictures posts (for now anyway).

Instead, I'd like to give everyone a little taste of Galway, the city in the west of Ireland that's been my home these past 8 months.


The song in this video is by a group called the 'Saw Doctors' who're from up the N17 from Galway in the fasted town in Ireland; Tuam (Rhymes with zoom).

You mightn't belive me when I tell you, but it's a pretty accurate representation of life in Galway.

Radio 1's top 50

I was trying to find great songs and albums for Canada day in Galway, and remembered a few years ago I heard on CBC radio 1 counting some of the best ones down. I don't know the number 1 hit, but the rest seem pretty representative!

1. ‘Four Strong Winds' by Ian and Sylvia (1963)
(3850) 4%


2. ‘If I had $1000000” by the Barenaked Ladies (1992)
(3814) 4%


3. ‘Heart of Gold' by Neil Young (1971)
(3761) 4%


4. ‘Northwest Passage' by Stan Rogers (1981)
(3598) 4%


5. ‘American Woman' by The Guess Who (1970)
(3531) 4%


6. ‘Canadian Railroad Trilogy' by Gordon Lightfoot (1967)
(3397) 3%


7. ‘Both Sides Now' by Joni Mitchell (1969)
(3105) 3%


8. ‘Suzanne' by Leonard Cohen (1967)
(3067) 3%


9. ‘Big Yellow Taxi' by Joni Mitchell (1970)
(2998) 3%


10. ‘Early Morning Rain' by Gordon Lightfoot (1966)
(2798) 3%


11. ‘Lovers in a Dangerous Time' by Bruce Cockburn (1984)
(2782) 3%


12. ‘The Hockey Song' by Stompin' Tom Connors (1973)
(2701) 3%


13. ‘Life is a Highway' by Tom Cochrane (1991)
(2586) 3%


14. ‘Try' by Blue Rodeo (1987)
(2581) 3%


15. ‘The Weight' by The Band (1968)
(2553) 3%


16. ‘New Orleans is Sinking” by The Tragically Hip (1989)
(2534) 3%


17. ‘Summer of '69' by Bryan Adams (1984)
(2509) 3%


18. ‘Takin' Care of Business' by Bachman-Turner Overdrive (1974)
(2251) 2%


19. ‘Snowbird' Anne Murray (1970)
(2234) 2%


20. ‘Angel' by Sarah McLachlan (1997)
(2207) 2%


21. ‘Constant Craving' by k.d. lang (1992)
(2113) 2%


22. ‘Home for a Rest' by Spirit of the West (1990)
(2062) 2%


23. ‘These Eyes' by The Guess Who (1969)
(2054) 2%


24. ‘Rockin' in the Free World' by Neil Young (1989)
(2006) 2%


25. ‘Sundown' by Gordon Lightfoot (1973)
(1929) 2%


26. ‘The Universal Soldier' by Buffy Sainte-Marie (1964)
(1910) 2%


27. ‘Courage' by the Tragically Hip (1992)
(1859) 2%


28. ‘You Oughta Know' by Alanis Morissette (1995)
(1846) 2%


29. ‘Wondering Where The Lions Are” by Bruce Cockburn (1979)
(1659) 2%


30. ‘Mon Pays' by Gilles Vigneault (1965)
(1648) 2%


31. ‘Raise a Little Hell' by Trooper (1978)
(1616) 2%


32. ‘Hasn't Hit Me Yet” Blue Rodeo (1993)
(1569) 2%


33. 'Tom Sawyer' by Rush (1981)
(1424) 1%


34. ‘I'm Movin' On” by Hank Snow (1950)
(1258) 1%


35. ‘Echo Beach' by Martha and the Muffins (1980)
(1166) 1%


36. ‘The Safety Dance' by Men Without Hats (1982)
(1118) 1%


37. ‘Crabbuckit' K-OS (2004)
(1043) 1%


38. ‘High School Confidential' by Rough Trade (1980)
(1055) 1%


39. ‘Brother Down' Sam Roberts (2001)
(1003) 1%


40. ‘Diana' by Paul Anka (1957)
(994) 1%


41. ‘Sonny's Dream' by The Wonderful Grand Band (1981)
(941) 1%


42. ‘Tower of Song' by Leonard Cohen (1988)
(924) 1%


43. ‘Sh-Boom (Life Could Be A Dream)' by the Crew Cuts (1954)
(890) 1%


44. ‘Rise Up' by The Parachute Club (1983)
(874) 1%


45. ‘Coax Me” by Sloan (1994)
(832) 1%


46. ‘Let Your Backbone Slide' Maestro Fresh-Wes (1990)
(809) 1%


47. ‘I'll Never Smile Again' by Ruth Lowe, performed by the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (1940)
(619) 1%


48. “Fly By Night” by Rush (1975)
(552) 1%


49. ‘Disco Sucks ' by D.O.A. (1978)
(366) 0%


50. ‘My Swiss Moonlight Lullaby' by Wilf Carter (1933)
(250) 0%

Mixin' it up a little

And old logo I made a few years ago, and a new list of songs that I dig right now (in no particular order)...

1) Slow Disco - Izabo

2) Jerusalem - Matisyahu

3) Sota - Shantel

4) Joyeux Calvaire - Les Cowboys Fringants

5) How Can I Protect You - Aslan

I'm neither proud nor ashamed of anything is this list! They're all songs that I like, some I hear all the time, others that I've only heard a couple of times. Hopefully some of them you've never heard either and like what you hear! Let me know which of the 5 you like best!

What in the world...

I don't really know what to say about this. Please watch it and leave your thoughts as comments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hYtUYiuzkw

Actually, perhaps it's best that some of you (you'll know who you are) do NOT leave their thoughts as comments. After this video, I'm not sure how much more I can take!

Enjoying the good life

Last night I went to the Crane Bar, in Galway's west side, to say farewell to a Swiss friend of mine. I've often been to the Crane as it has the best, and cheapest pint of Guiness in the city. (This fact is of course open to contestation.)

The difference was, this time I really listened to the music, and it was very good! I've often thought it very special and lucky to be able to hear music like this any given day of the week, but have rarely actually sat down and appreciated it. Last night I did just that, and broke down to do the 'tourist' thing a take a video of the whole thing.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27258209@N07/3384396927/

Anyone wanting to visit is more than welcome!

Travel Journal

So here's the deal. Last time I came abroad I kept a pretty good travel journal. It turned out to be an amazing pain in my ass, so this time I've been more neglect. This has turned out to be a stupid choice as now I have no written record of my adventures. And to compound the problem I've been updating my blog about as often as I experience sunny days in Ireland.



SO...



For now I'm not going to chronicle anything. going to contribute a picture of me and my old shoes at Fiona's birthday party, and a link to a cool music video I found on my Uncle's you tube channel. The man in the video is NOT my uncle.

The picture...

The video... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ5FvaASrs0

Disco Disco

This guy is big in Turkey. I'd have guessed him Bulgarian and so did my Turkish hosts in fact, but as it turns out, he's not! He does however play exactly the type of music that I'm into at the moment.

See what you think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gViaOYgV8yI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=be7O4m9rOZE