Confident and Excited

I don't want you to think I've gone all maudlin on you after Monday's double post In fact, I am feeling quite up. I am getting more confident. I am commenting on other people's blogs.

I am also pathetically excited that The Vinyl Villain has added me to his list of Blogs.That Blog was one of the reasons I started blogging myself and he does find some great music which is really good for music obsessed people like myself. Not many of you are checking this site out but then again I haven't really done any promotion. I am still finding my way, not sure what I am trying to achieve. Some days it's an online diary, others a simple music blog.

For those of you who are interested, my wife and I are on speaking terms and friends again. Which is good as my parents arrive from Norfolk tomorrow for the weekend. I love my parents but don't see them much as they live 200 plus miles away from Newcastle. They are as dull as ditch water but seem quite content in their little bubble of old age and life by the seaside in Hunstanton.

As a youngster we went to Sunny Hunny a couple of times. I think my Dad especially liked it because it was only a couple of hours drive from Ware. I never particularly enjoyed our holidays there - I preferred Wales and the Isle of Wight and I definitely I never thought they'd move there after my younger sister left home to get married. But they did and they have been there longer now than they lived in Ware. Life - it really is funny.

I've mentioned Bill Nelson before and how he was(as part of Be Bop Deluxe) my first musical obsession.I remember going into school on a Monday morning to tell my friends of this great new band I had heard, I would have been 13 or 14 I even wrote some of the lyrics out for them to marvel at.But it was his guitar wizardry that really caught my attention and that of my friend Steve who wasn't a bad guitarist himself.
I checked his website earlier today www.billnelson.com and found he had written a new diary entry- only his second this year.This and the fact my parent's are coming up to visit made me think of his music again.
This song was probably the first one I heard by Be Bop on Alan Freeman's Saturday afternoon show on Radio 1. I remember seeing the posters for the album in record shop (remember them!) windows whilst on holiday on the Isle of Wight.Very early to mid 70's prog rock, man



Axe Victim - Be Bop Deluxe

Its a funny old thing, life

As I get older I seem to increasingly reflect on my life. That was part of the reason for me starting to write this Blog I wanted to reflect on my life and loves (the title of the Blog gives a clue as to what they may be). Part of me yearns for the carefree optimism and selfishness of youth, maybe because I see my 18 year old son being well just young and self absorbed (OK may be he is not that bad, but you get my general picture). He is young and full of ideals and dreams, he is never going to work for some corporation or a suntanned boss. Anyway here I am 48 years old two teenage children a wife asleep in bed as usual (some things never change) working in a job that I have been doing for years.I have many things to be happy about and grateful for but I feel... nothing much really.

Running. Running will keep me sane. It has done for the last 12 years. I have rarely felt the same elation and sense of achievement and worth as when I finish a race.

Love Will Tear Us Apart

Another argument with the wife yesterday, we "are not friends" apparently. A restless night , couldn't sleep so consequently I am tired today. I didn't feel too good over the weekend (Swine Flu?) but feel a bit better today.

Anyway this song seem quite appropriate for today. It s a live recording from March 1980. A very good version too.

Love Will Tear Us Apart- Joy Division March 1980 ULU

I saw Joy Division on this tour albeit in Manchester not London where this comes from. That was a great night. I'd been at The Apollo with a new mate at Uni, Dennis from Liverpool, to see Iggy Pop and The Psychedelic Furs- who had really caught my attention- so I had already had a great night. We had heard that Joy Division were in the audience at The Apollo and so we took a chance on legging it over to The Osbourne Club on Oldham Road to see if we could catch them. We did and caught the end of A Certain Ratio. A truly great night. Dennis where are you now, mate?

I can't honestly say I thought that this song would be revered as a classic when I heard it played live, I thought Transmission was better. It stunned me when it came out as single several months later and I caught all the words. With Ian Curtis's death still current the despair and the desperation of the lyrics made , and continue to make, a real impact on me. On the other hand I played it to a good friend that summer and his comment was "nice tune but that bloke can't sing". Notwithstanding that it must be in most people- of- a- certain- age's top 10 of best ever songs.

Random Song Post

Hi, Nothing much to say. It's Sunday, all the kids are back at home. It's Summer and the weather is not bad although I could do with a bit less rain, thank you very much.

Sunderland Air Show is on, so there are lots of stargnge aircraft flying overhead- Military helicopters and old fashioned Bi planes and just now the Police Helicopter is hovering overhead- although I don't think that has much to do with the airshow!!

I always loved this song by Amen Corner. Random fact No.1: I once lived just by Amen Corner in Tooting. I didn't think much of it.
Random fact No. 2. Andy Fairweather Low was in Amen Corner.

Half As Nice- Amen Corner

Tyneside Cinema

My wife is A big Harry Potter fan. Me I can take it or leave it. We went out last night to see the latest Potter epic at the Tyneside Cinema. My wife wanted to be in the Classic Circle where you can - according to the website- ..(relax)in the comfort of our original 1930s art deco gem The Classic, kitted out with leather sofas.
Well this is a bit of an exaggeration as the decor is barely art deco- what's left of it- the sofas could easily be plastic and I am definitely not convinced it was worth £9.80 a ticket. Nevertheless it was a rare night out for us on our own and this buys me some credit with the wife after her weekend moan. Here is the Cinema's website. If you are in Newcastle and fancy a a foreign language or off the wall type film, the Tyneside Cinema is for you.It's better than popcorn, hot dog stinking chain cinemas at least, if no cheaper.

We went out for a meal first on the Quayside at Big Mussel, one of my favourite places to eat as I love mussels. Food was good as always.I had 1kg pot with amatriciana sauce and a pint of Amstel. The wife had the 1kg classic mussels and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc.We both shared some olives and a basket of bread as a starter. Cost £26.05. Not bad really.

The film is over long but quite gripping and really aimed at young adults rather than children.

We got our son to drive into town and pick us up after. Funny!!

Hope and Social again, another free track that is available from their website . Again I really rate this band and you should check them out here

Oh My Darling- Hope and Social

Music

I loaded up some new stuff on the MP3 player over the weekend, this song came up on my run home from work tonight. Kennedy -A classic track from The Wedding Present. This is a live version from a gig in Koln in 2006.

The Wedding Present and Cinerama should be massive but Gedge is a contrary bloke and seems to content to play to his hardcore fanbase. I have to admire him for his adherence to the principles of punk. Its his way or no way, even when he was signed to a major label(RCA). I mean Ukrainian songs and a single a month!!! No wonder they dropped them like hot bricks as soon as they could.

Kennedy- The Wedding Present

Guitar based music doesn't get any better than this in my opinion. Sure it's not his best song ever but it rocks my world every time I hear it either live or on CD. Go Get 'Em, David.

Monday

After the complete washout that was Friday - I got soaked to the skin walking home- and Saturday- started off fine then pissed down, Sunday was a pleasant Summer's day and I was out in the garden for most of it. Today is OK as well and I am looking forward to the walk home with the MP3 player on.

My son returned home safely and is already and I quote "bored". This was supposed to be the "best Summer ever" and it seems everybody is either away (like he has been) or working. He needs a job to get some money to recoup what he spent in Germany. My wife is pleased to have him back. So am I.

Apparently we don't go out enough. I have pointed out that she (the wife) is nearly always too tired and we have never gone out much but this has not washed. We have to go out more.

I listened to a lot of The Jam this weekend, this was because I Got By In Time came up on my MP3 player when I was out walking the dog on Saturday morning. Listening to it as an old(er) man I was surprised by the perception and maturity of the lyrics bearing in mind Weller was only 18 when he wrote it. The Jam and All Mod Cons in particular remains Weller's finest work. I can understand his don't look back, you should never look back approach and even admire him for it but I would pay stupidly obscene amounts of money to see The Jam play together again. Come on, Paul, do it for the kids!!!

This song isn't by The Jam. Its a Northern Soul song that I came across by chance on another site. It was The Jam's Non Stop Dancing from their first album that got me interested in Northern Soul. I don't know if a young Paul Weller danced the night away in Woking to this but it is a classic. Enjoy!

Boy Watcher- Ginger Thompson

Summer

The summer has deteriorated into its usual wet wet wet mode. It is absolutely pissing down outside my office window. Its not cold though.

Things are starting to get back to normal in the Cowhut household.

We picked the dog up from kennels on Monday afternoon.He didn't really speak to us until Wednesday. He does not like the kennels. His bark is just starting to come back now. He must bark his head off all day there.
Our son returns from Germany today from his 3 and a half week tour of the fatherland. I wonder if it will change him? He is a man now anyway and will be off (I hope) to Uni in September.
My daughter is still in USA for another week. She has already run out of money. We got a phone call last night to request more funds in her bank account. We had a budget and I knew she would spend it. So I wasn't surpried to get the call.

Not listened to much music these last few days. I have been very busy at work- two evening meetings in Dinnington has disrupted my usual pattern.

This song however has been going round and round in my head for weeks now. It's another song from Hope and Social from their album Architect of This Church. You really should buy the album it is full of cracking good songs.

Anyway this song is my favourite and sort of fits in with the theme of homecomings.

San Francisco- Hope and Social

Terminal Street

The days just fly by! We dropped our daughter off at Heathrow Terminal 5 on Friday for her fortnight with the millionaires in Naples, FLA. What an impressive building, very easily accessed from the M25 as well. I thought Manchester airport was big, but, bearing in mind this was just one Terminal, Heathrow must be fucking enormous.

We spent the weekend with Julie's sister and husband in deepest darkest commuter land (Surrey/ Hampshire borders). They live in a small village just outside Aldershot in a Toblerone style house. After dropping my daughter off we went to Portsmouth for the day. It was OK. Gunwharf Quays outlet was a very decent place to pick up some designer clothes bargains and I bought a couple of shirts.My brother in law is working on the production line at Johnsons and Johnsons.Its eight hour shifts, not physical but you are on the go all the time.He is a temp worker but he says they treat all staff well.

Saw The Killers at T in the Park on Saturday night on BBC 3. A very good set.

Wife and I are back in the house on our own until Friday when my son returns from Germany. We haven't been on our own at home for more than 24 hours since before the kids were born. Watch this space!!!

Jackson Memorial Service

Did you see that weirdness on the TV. Why was it on the TV in the first place?

I loved Off The Wall. Billie Jean was good but everything after was shite.The man was talented a long time ago but any greatness is forever tinged with the kiddie fiddling rumours. Too many to not be true.

RIP Michael Jackson. I hope your victims can lead a normal life now you're gone.

Not much To Say

I am winding down for the Summer- although due to insuring my son to drive the car and paying for my daughter's trip to Miami - she goes later this week- we haven't booked any holiday. Still at least we seem to be having a proper Summer- thunderstorms and baking hot days. I think I will take odd days off over the next six weeks and chill and probably do some jobs around the house. My wife will want a holiday.

I ran for three miles yesterday, it felt good, or rather it felt good after about half an hour after I'd finished, during the run it felt not very good at all.

Today I couldn't concentrate at work. Richard has gone now - ironically to Mick's old job- so I am back on my own. But I am off for two days and that- apart from money- is all I could think of.

I am listening to A Casa Verde by Terry de Castro. It's growing on me more and more.

The Day After

Was out last night which in itself is a miracle as I don't go out much, especially not with work colleagues. But this was something special. My mate Mick McGuinness has left work and is moving to Belgium with his family. I've mentioned him before. He is a musician, author, father, partner (to Karin) and all round top bloke. I will miss him a lot. We didn't hang out much, didn't even talk that much but he was there and I knew he was there. Now he is not there.

The Internet, mobiles etc will make keeping in contact easier but I will miss him. He was quite emotional at the end of the evening standing outside the bar on Osborne Road. So was I, I hugged him twice before walking home over the Moor.

His book, a collection of short stories called Blunt Wound Trauma is available from Amazon. Its chilling, a good read and hints at a greater work to come. Buy it and help him make a go of it.

Good luck, Mick and au revoir or whatever it is in Flemish. You're a brave man, braver than me.

At this time of year I always feel that I should listen to more Spanish music and read more Spanish/Lat Am literature. I don't, of course , but I still feel it.

This band Vetusta Morla are a good Spanish rock band and worth a listen

Iglus- Vetusta Morla

You can google them for their website and download this EP.It's not earth shatteringly original but they have an edge, a presence which crosses any linguistic boundaries. They're based in Madrid and touring this summer.

England World Cup 2018 Campaign Widget

Despite the title,this Blog is as much about football as anything else. Regulars will know I am a Peterborough United fan Most of all I am a fan of the Beautiful game. Lets all get behind our World Cup bid and bring football home again.

Hot Hot Hot

Still too damn hot in this place, but at least the sun has come out again after a very muggy and sweaty couple of days.This has meant that I haven't done much running this week. I had intended to run home last night but the heavens opened, there was thunder and lightning as bad as Canada last year so I got my wife to give me a lift instead.

The wife is not happy. Her new boss has produced a new structure that downgrades her role and salary. She is upset. I am trying to get her to be angry and challenge the assumptions made. Her boss has come from the private sector and is now working for the NHS to "give something back". There are enougth twats around in the public sector already without arrogant ones coming in from the private sector to add to it.

After the weekend TV Glastonbury Fest I am missing live music again. I only have 1 gig on the horizon - Fleet Foxes in September and I haven't been to a gig since last December and The Wedding Present. Talking of which the Bass player with TWP, Terry de Castro, has a solo album out. It's an album of covers (including a Wedding Present and Cinerama one). Its lo fi acoustic vibe and Terry's distinctive voice makes it an really good summer's evening listen.Its called A Casa Verde and you can buy it here. If you're in London tomorrow night you can catch her and Decoration and The Container Drivers PLUS a DJ set from David Gedge himself at The Half Moon in Putney starts at 7pm.Wish I could be there.