The ..rocking... Bishops

An excellent night was had on Monday.. a return to the long -ignored Gym , then a few agreeable hours watching the ..weird ..world go by on Canal Street , a drink in the Northern Quarter ,followed by a visit to the suitably squalid and exciting Roadhouse to chat with new band ..Four Foot Solders .. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=4043589 ..who were very friendly and enthusiastic...as the party pics above testify .. The main band ..Jam and Nuggets fans look out.. were The Bishops http://www.thebishopsband.com/ who rocked , jumped and shook about in a 3 man frenzy. [performing to no more than 25 apathetic punters ] and were all hot and sweaty in the dressing room.. as you can see above when I remove the plectrum from the guitarists mouth as his twin looks on ..!! Rock and roll.. Following that I need to read and relax in the garden..and fancy the new book by the Washington Post star reporter http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/25/books/25kaku.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin and his assessment of the current Iraq embarrassment ..aptly named "Fiasco " its a welcoming block of evidence for all the "Blaime America First " brigade...!! Read and weep...

Birthday bathing

Fabulous day showing friends around the City ...drinks,laughs and Chienese food...

Superman in love

Maybe I was expecting too much , and if you are going to spend your hard -earned on seeing this film then please don't read on ..

It all started well , the credits rolled over Brando' s missing speech and I felt all excited,esp when Kevin Spacey appeared..the brilliant direction and superb special effects..well I believed he could fly...were all top notch..even Superman himself was great with an uncanny similar voice and charisma of Reeve...I could even live with the fact that although Superman had been missing for 6 years he and Louis were at least 10 years younger than before..

However we now get to the knub of the problem ..the love story is FAR too listless , languid , laboured and basically unbelievable....

Finally I don't know if I dreamt it but when Superman rises ,Christ -like , back from the dead..I just wanted to get out of the Cinema....a wasted opportunity Brain ...

We want him to save the world..not make ridicules spooning eyes at a terrible Louis Lane...

Lazy Sunday afternoon

A glorious day was had by all of us outside the impressive Urbis .http://www.urbis.org.uk/Default.asp?f=1

http://www.swapfestival.co.uk/lineup.asp

..the atmosphere was great and everybody was smiling..

Entertained by Sandi Thom

http://www.sandithom.com/site/index.html

with her hit..."Iwish I were a punk rocker [with flowers in my hair ]..

local Prestwich boy ,Liam Frost http://www.liamfrost.co.uk/

a friendly guy as you can see above... I Am Kloot http://www.iamkloot.com/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/rockandalt/reviews/iamkloot_iamkloot.shtml were as usual perfect. chiled ,rockin and melodic..as the sun set Guy Garvey from Elbow http://www.elbow.co.uk/index.asp joined and the atmosphere reached a peak Superb day of local music..free and easy

Time trips..Knebworth frenzy.and the Lamb..

Due to the auspices of utube I can relive a superb gig from 30 YEARS ago.... Lynard Skynard ,supporting the Rolling Stones...love to see there set on video,considering the set list they played that night... and they are still packing them in.. http://www.nme.com/news/rolling-stones/23578 Then it just get better as I relive the Lamb tour ..vintage Genesis...ropey quality,,in 75 ..pops up And they say Prog is pretentious....

A new way to photograph

A new way to capture the sex experience...above is a couple making out Check out this inventive photographer http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/12/arts/design/12atta.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

Split Enz keep growing

Celebrating the return of the magnificent and downright wired New Zealand band Split Enz ,I remember how blown away I was when I first saw them..31 years ago, supporting ,the then trendy..!!...,Jack the Lad at a quarter full Free Trade Hall..I was hooked and saw them at every occasion possible as a teenager from Oldham..travelling to London 3 times..The Nashville, The Roundhouse and the Hammersmith Odean.. and even to Huddersfield and Sheffield,as well as 4 times in Manchester.. Why I even used to get Chrismas card from all the band .. I was a true and loyal "Friendz of the Enz" . http://www.frenz.com/splitenz/ Crowded House and Finn were excellent in there own way..but nobody has provided the downright wild,theatrical and exciting performances that Split Enz gave in their brief rule.. So you can imagine ,dear reader ,how excited I was when I was told that they are touring Australia in 2006.. I can only dream , hope and pray they come to England...

U Tube rules

The excellent UTube helps to ressurect even the most obscure artist.. Here is a video of Peter Hammill..that even I ..or perhaps even he... never knew existed..wonderful