Jesus, I swear I updated this thing only yesterday.
It's been a pretty busy month all-round, really. Obviously it all kicked off with the multitudinous shenanigans detailed in my last entry, but certainly didn't slow down.
On the work front, I've finally finished. The End of Uni, No More Education, Free To Learn WHAT I WANT. Mmm, feels good.
I downed the 6000 word essay in about a week, cheerfully detailing the Anti-Poll Tax Protest and the Queen Bitch who was Margaret Thatcher. I'd never have made it if my mum hadn't been so kind as to read it over while she was on holiday, with increments of 1000 words getting fired over on a near-daily basis. It passed muster and despite my computer nearly eating it at the last hurdle it was submitted without advent.
And the final hurdle? A 3-hour exam about Identity, Self and Society. I actually really enjoyed doing it, and revising for it, because my lecturer (Mr Kilminster) was awesome and I took solid notes. I think it went well.
So with University done and dusted, what else have I been filling my time with? Well, all month has seen the final burst of Leeds-savouring, consisting of a few nights out and various dalliances with a number of fine people. Lunchtime drinks with Eve and Sam were nice, as was seeing Tim at North Bar the night before he flew home to Ireland, surrounded by his mates and watching him smoke his pipe. He's a great guy, and getting married on April 14th next year. A weird thing to think, but c'est la vie.
I returned to gig-going with a vengeance, too. Accompanied by Hannah I saw 3 gigs in the space of a week. Monday the 15th saw Tim join us and allowed us to introduce him to the joys of the Evil Eye, then saw us at the Fibbers for the fine supports of Suffrajets and Komakino. The former were a female-dominated rock band with a penchant for HOTT LIXX and so forth, and were wonderful. The latter have built a steadily-growing buzz about them, homegrown as they are, and possess a singer with vocals reminiscent of Brian Molko. Likewise, they were grand. As if this was not enough those delightful Canadians Metric unleashed themselves with shocking frenzy onto the stage, doling out surprisingly rocky songs for a good 20 minutes before subsiding into their more introspective recent material. Singer Emily Haines was incredible, her voice staying strong despite her mad headbanging and freely-spent energy. Climaxing with a massively extended, absorbing 'Dead Disco' that spent ten minutes building and rolling back on itself before crashing into tumultuous feedback and scattered, smiling waves, the band left us stunned and happy.
The 17th saw us miss the first support, but in time to absorb the curious Semifinalists. Their multi-national stylings come across better live than on record, but they provided a good range of textured indie sounds, overlayed with vocals by the Asian guitarist, the female singer/keyboardist, or both. Surprising as they were, they didn't detract from the wonderful impact of Tilly and the Wall. This band are gaining the spotlight no doubt in part to their signing to Conor Oberst's own label, and their use of a tapdancer in place of a drummer. However, they still deserve a look for the appeal of their music, a tri-vocaled whirl of indie Americana with folksy rhythms meeting delightful vocals. Fun to watch, great to listen to, and a prospect who do much to make themselves memorable.
And lastly, on the 19th, saw Hannah and I spend much of the day shopping at various stores. Wandering the boutiques of Leeds we cooed over Vivienne Westwood and wandered through the consummate delights of Harvey Nichols. I managed to rein myself in and just pick up some nice shirts and things from Joy and Topman, although there remain still a few things I want to pick up. This was followed by a languid tapas dinner and a bottle of wine at Nu's new lounge, with a couple of free cocktails thrown in. Marvellous as it was we sadly missed the adorable-sounding husband-and-wife duo that is Mates of State. All confused we entered and were confronted by the New Pornographers. Something of a Canadian indie supergroup, each of their songs is packed with hummable pop melodies and wonderful bi-gendered vocal duets. I'd never dug them properly before, but now something really clicked and I couldn't stop my foot from tapping. Abbreviated as it was, I still enjoyed myself and since then I've listened to them a heck of a lot more!
Other than that there has been nothing of great event, although I regret skipping seeing Dallas Green/City and Colour in York due to sheer laziness and lack of a companion. Ah well. Oh, and there is of course my trip to Aberystwyth to relate, but that can wait until next time!
Adieu!
It's been a pretty busy month all-round, really. Obviously it all kicked off with the multitudinous shenanigans detailed in my last entry, but certainly didn't slow down.
On the work front, I've finally finished. The End of Uni, No More Education, Free To Learn WHAT I WANT. Mmm, feels good.
I downed the 6000 word essay in about a week, cheerfully detailing the Anti-Poll Tax Protest and the Queen Bitch who was Margaret Thatcher. I'd never have made it if my mum hadn't been so kind as to read it over while she was on holiday, with increments of 1000 words getting fired over on a near-daily basis. It passed muster and despite my computer nearly eating it at the last hurdle it was submitted without advent.
And the final hurdle? A 3-hour exam about Identity, Self and Society. I actually really enjoyed doing it, and revising for it, because my lecturer (Mr Kilminster) was awesome and I took solid notes. I think it went well.
So with University done and dusted, what else have I been filling my time with? Well, all month has seen the final burst of Leeds-savouring, consisting of a few nights out and various dalliances with a number of fine people. Lunchtime drinks with Eve and Sam were nice, as was seeing Tim at North Bar the night before he flew home to Ireland, surrounded by his mates and watching him smoke his pipe. He's a great guy, and getting married on April 14th next year. A weird thing to think, but c'est la vie.
I returned to gig-going with a vengeance, too. Accompanied by Hannah I saw 3 gigs in the space of a week. Monday the 15th saw Tim join us and allowed us to introduce him to the joys of the Evil Eye, then saw us at the Fibbers for the fine supports of Suffrajets and Komakino. The former were a female-dominated rock band with a penchant for HOTT LIXX and so forth, and were wonderful. The latter have built a steadily-growing buzz about them, homegrown as they are, and possess a singer with vocals reminiscent of Brian Molko. Likewise, they were grand. As if this was not enough those delightful Canadians Metric unleashed themselves with shocking frenzy onto the stage, doling out surprisingly rocky songs for a good 20 minutes before subsiding into their more introspective recent material. Singer Emily Haines was incredible, her voice staying strong despite her mad headbanging and freely-spent energy. Climaxing with a massively extended, absorbing 'Dead Disco' that spent ten minutes building and rolling back on itself before crashing into tumultuous feedback and scattered, smiling waves, the band left us stunned and happy.
The 17th saw us miss the first support, but in time to absorb the curious Semifinalists. Their multi-national stylings come across better live than on record, but they provided a good range of textured indie sounds, overlayed with vocals by the Asian guitarist, the female singer/keyboardist, or both. Surprising as they were, they didn't detract from the wonderful impact of Tilly and the Wall. This band are gaining the spotlight no doubt in part to their signing to Conor Oberst's own label, and their use of a tapdancer in place of a drummer. However, they still deserve a look for the appeal of their music, a tri-vocaled whirl of indie Americana with folksy rhythms meeting delightful vocals. Fun to watch, great to listen to, and a prospect who do much to make themselves memorable.
And lastly, on the 19th, saw Hannah and I spend much of the day shopping at various stores. Wandering the boutiques of Leeds we cooed over Vivienne Westwood and wandered through the consummate delights of Harvey Nichols. I managed to rein myself in and just pick up some nice shirts and things from Joy and Topman, although there remain still a few things I want to pick up. This was followed by a languid tapas dinner and a bottle of wine at Nu's new lounge, with a couple of free cocktails thrown in. Marvellous as it was we sadly missed the adorable-sounding husband-and-wife duo that is Mates of State. All confused we entered and were confronted by the New Pornographers. Something of a Canadian indie supergroup, each of their songs is packed with hummable pop melodies and wonderful bi-gendered vocal duets. I'd never dug them properly before, but now something really clicked and I couldn't stop my foot from tapping. Abbreviated as it was, I still enjoyed myself and since then I've listened to them a heck of a lot more!
Other than that there has been nothing of great event, although I regret skipping seeing Dallas Green/City and Colour in York due to sheer laziness and lack of a companion. Ah well. Oh, and there is of course my trip to Aberystwyth to relate, but that can wait until next time!
Adieu!
faithe:
i couldn't be fucked with education so i decided to move to the other side of the world for a year! i take my hat off to u for completin uni!