Ok, so I actually live here, but it's quite rare I stick around for the weekend and don't pop into London/somewhere else to go for a gig or something.
Went out last night with a bunch of people down to BoBs, and had ourselves some drinking and geek-talk. Found out that some of them are more interesting than would initially seem (Jo), some drink more than I thought they did (Emily, Rob - er.. one of the Robs) and yeah - good times.
After they all left around 10pm, I sat around with Andy and we just generally caught up, and found that he has a substantially better taste in music than I typically give him credit for. That was nice.
After some more drinking we headed for Reflex because some cheesy dancing was definitely in order. We met up with Phil there and I mainly just bounced around like a lunatic for a couple of hours, it just seemed appropriate somehow :)
So hurrah, I have friends that I actually like, and I'm looking forward to doing even more stuff with them on the very rare occasions I'm not out doing stuff just by myself.
Speaking of doing stuff with friends, Rob (not the Rob above, but the other Rob) mentioned he was doing to a record fair in Reading to purchase many fine records. I don't own a record player but I figured it would be a good chance to get my hands on some cheap CDs that I haven't got around to buying yet and maybe get some vinyls anyway as I should think I'll be getting a record player next month seeming as my collection of vinyls keeps increasing just because I keep getting them along with the CDs I've been buying. (It's a conspiracy I tell you).
I also figured it would be a cheap way to buy a load of singles that are missing from my collection, and it would be a good way to buy a load of singles from bands I haven't listened to yet without having to buy/download their entire albums. I'm not paying for MP3s on iTunes dammit - MP3s are for stealing, Records are for owning.
My word, what a collection of stuff you can find at a record fair. I'll be going next time (March) with a lot more money. A LOT more money.
I went with £40 and somehow ended up with the following:
Menomena - Under an Hour (Album CD)Parts + Labor & Tyondai Braxton - Rise, Rise, Rise (Album CD)Galaxie 500 - This is Our Music (12" Album)
British Sea Power - It Ended On An Oily Stage (Single CD)British Sea Power - Remember Me (7" Single)The National - Cherry Tree (Single CD)Beirut - Elephant Gun (Single CD)Brakes - Ring A Ding Ding (7" Single)Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - In This Home On Ice (7" Single)Brakes - Hold Me In the River (7" Single)Broken Social Scene - 714 (Shoreline) (7" Single)The Fiery Furnaces - Crystal Clear (7" Single)
So, really not a bad haul for the money spent and it was just quite a lot of fun browsing everything and realising how much music I actually really want to own. I now own nearly every single BSP single/album ever done, I'm only missing a couple of singles - so my inner-completist is sighing with happiness.
I'm incredibly proud of the Rise, Rise Rise album - I never knew that even existed and the moment I saw "Parts & Labor" AND Tyondai Braxton on the same physical media I got a bit excited and made the guy put it on so I could give it a listen before I handed over my money.
I saw Parts & Labor live a few months ago when they were supporting Battles and I was incredibly impressed (with their beards as well as their music) and I've never heard any of Tyondai's solo stuff before so I figured what the hell.
I've almost finished listening to that one and my ears have just been blown off. Awesome stuff.
Next up I'll be doing Under an Hour by Menomena, I'll be interested to see what their instrumental stuff is like having only previously hearing their two studio albums.
What a pleasant weekend.
Remember Me