For over a year now I have been going to a pub in Purley on Friday nights to see bands. I don't go every Friday, but I do go quite often. I know several bar staff, and the manager, by their first names and I think I am known fairly well to them (because of my fairly distinctive looks I tend to stand out in a crowd and so people tend to remember me).
Because I drive to most places I go to I don't really drink so I am always well behaved and always enjoy myself and have a really good time (and a bit of a boogie to the music).
Recently they started posting bouncers on the doors to keep an eye on things and make sure there is no trouble.
Tonight I travelled the 20 minutes to get there only to be asked by the bouncers for ID.
Now, I don't normally carry ID with me for several reasons. Firstly, I don't have an ID card because they didn't exist when I was a teenager and long gone are the days when I could pass for under 21. This means that my only means of ID are my driving license and my passport. My driving license is still the bulky old paper one as it has not needed renewing yet. I don't like to carry about my driving license or passport if I don't need to because it would be an expensive hassle to replace either of them should they get lost. Also, they are awkward to stick in a back pocket and you don't really want to be sitting on them.
The pub had not put up any signs previously saying "make sure to bring ID because we'll be requiring it soon", nor did they have any warning of this on their website. So you can imagine my shock when they turned me away and wouldn't let me in because I couldn't produce ID. To make matters worse, one of the bar staff that I know was near the door and said that there was nothing he could do because they hire the bouncers to decide who gets in or out.
Now surely you would think in cases like this the staff (who have been there longer than the bouncers) would have the authority to say "look guys, I know this guy and can vouch for him. Let him in this time, but hey mate, make sure you bring your ID next time eh." Or something along those lines.
Frankly I think it is more than a little worrying that you can get in fewer and fewer places without first producing your "papers". Is this supposed to be a modern, democratic, enlightened, nation or a fascist state.
Anyway, I'm not sure I want to go there again now. When the manager won't let you in even though you've been a customer for longer than he has been the manager you have to start wondering how much he really values your patronage. It certainly doesn't inspire loyalty.
Contrast that without with the following two examples of the right way to do things.
A nightclub I started going to with a friend. They changed to an "ID always required" policy shortly after we started going (and without any warning). I did not have ID because I did not know it was going to be required so the bouncer said "ok, I'll let you in this time but make sure you bring it next time." I did make sure.
A pub I have been going to occasionally to see bands at for a few years requires a payment of £3 after 9:30pm. This is to keep out some of the crowd who come out of other pubs when they close (this one has a late licence). Recently the doorman only made me pay £1 because he "had to charge me something" but knew I was ok.
Those are examples of knowledgeable staff using intelligence and flexibility to reward loyalty. I wish the staff at the pub in Purley had been more like that.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Aroused pet camel smothers woman, 60
What a horrible fate, and what a mortifying way to die.
http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/247792
http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/247792
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Recovery Day
Having a day off today to recover from the last few hectic days. I should have taken yesterday off, but I forgot to book it. Fool!
I have a few too many late nights and early mornings and need to catch up on my rest.
Thursday night I went to the comedy club and saw Maeve Higgins and Adam Hills doing their Edinburgh Preview shows. I could not really tell what Maeve was like properly because I was eating my dinner at the back and missed quite a bit of it. She did not really seem to get a lot of laughs though.
Adam Hills was really funny and at the end said that he needed to take this audience with him to Edinburgh.
I had a fairly late night and had to get up early the next morning for work.
On Friday night I went to the Abbeyfest at Merton Abbey Mills to see the second half of the free jazz on the bandstand and the two comedy acts.
The jazz act was called Liane Carroll and is an acclaimed jazz performer. She was very good, but not all of the music was to my taste (I am not the biggest jazz fan).
The comedy was supposed to be Pete Firman and Craig Campbell; both doing their Edinburgh previews. Craig Campbell pulled out late in the day though and was replaced by another comedian whose name I cannot recall for the life of me (even though I have seen him once before).
Pete Firman (a magician who appeared in Monkey Magic on Channel 4) was very good. Probably the most impressive trick was when he got a female volunteer from the audience and drew a crude stick figure picture of her on a small whiteboard and got her to draw a picture of him on another whiteboard. He gave her a big padded envelope to put her picture in and put his in another envelope. He then got her to pull her picture partially out whilst he pulled his partially out, just to show that the right pictures were in the envelopes. Then they slid the pictures back in, he said some magic words, they pulled the pictures out and the pictures had swapped places. Very clever.
The other guy (whose name I cannot recall) did clever musical stuff with a guitar, some effects pedals, and a recording device that allowed him to overlay his playing in real time and accompany himself. Oh, and he did some comedy as well :-)
This did not finish until almost half past midnight and I had to get up fairly early on Saturday.
On Saturday I went to a friends birthday party in the afternoon and was there until about quarter to nine in the evening when we all flocked to the pub to see a band called Fire & Water. This excellent band does Free and Bad Company songs in the first set and Led Zeppelin in the second set. They are all first rate performers and well worth seeing if you like that sort of music.
When the pub closed the party restarted where it had left off and I did not depart my friends house until about half two in the morning.
I then had to get up at about 8:30 Sunday morning so that I could make my way to another friends house (who had also been at the party) so that we could travel to Guildford for the Guilfest.
My friend had a rather monumental hangover and was feeling (and looking) pretty rough until we had brunch in Guildford. It was here we met up with the rest of our group and walked to the festival.
The festival itself was good with a lot of excellent bands. The headliners for the day were Madness who treated everyone to all of their best known hits. We left the main stage a little early so that we could see my friends cousin who was headlining one of the smaller tents with his band.
All in all I had a great weekend, but I was knackered on Monday and really regretted not thinking to book the day off.
I have a few too many late nights and early mornings and need to catch up on my rest.
Thursday night I went to the comedy club and saw Maeve Higgins and Adam Hills doing their Edinburgh Preview shows. I could not really tell what Maeve was like properly because I was eating my dinner at the back and missed quite a bit of it. She did not really seem to get a lot of laughs though.
Adam Hills was really funny and at the end said that he needed to take this audience with him to Edinburgh.
I had a fairly late night and had to get up early the next morning for work.
On Friday night I went to the Abbeyfest at Merton Abbey Mills to see the second half of the free jazz on the bandstand and the two comedy acts.
The jazz act was called Liane Carroll and is an acclaimed jazz performer. She was very good, but not all of the music was to my taste (I am not the biggest jazz fan).
The comedy was supposed to be Pete Firman and Craig Campbell; both doing their Edinburgh previews. Craig Campbell pulled out late in the day though and was replaced by another comedian whose name I cannot recall for the life of me (even though I have seen him once before).
Pete Firman (a magician who appeared in Monkey Magic on Channel 4) was very good. Probably the most impressive trick was when he got a female volunteer from the audience and drew a crude stick figure picture of her on a small whiteboard and got her to draw a picture of him on another whiteboard. He gave her a big padded envelope to put her picture in and put his in another envelope. He then got her to pull her picture partially out whilst he pulled his partially out, just to show that the right pictures were in the envelopes. Then they slid the pictures back in, he said some magic words, they pulled the pictures out and the pictures had swapped places. Very clever.
The other guy (whose name I cannot recall) did clever musical stuff with a guitar, some effects pedals, and a recording device that allowed him to overlay his playing in real time and accompany himself. Oh, and he did some comedy as well :-)
This did not finish until almost half past midnight and I had to get up fairly early on Saturday.
On Saturday I went to a friends birthday party in the afternoon and was there until about quarter to nine in the evening when we all flocked to the pub to see a band called Fire & Water. This excellent band does Free and Bad Company songs in the first set and Led Zeppelin in the second set. They are all first rate performers and well worth seeing if you like that sort of music.
When the pub closed the party restarted where it had left off and I did not depart my friends house until about half two in the morning.
I then had to get up at about 8:30 Sunday morning so that I could make my way to another friends house (who had also been at the party) so that we could travel to Guildford for the Guilfest.
My friend had a rather monumental hangover and was feeling (and looking) pretty rough until we had brunch in Guildford. It was here we met up with the rest of our group and walked to the festival.
The festival itself was good with a lot of excellent bands. The headliners for the day were Madness who treated everyone to all of their best known hits. We left the main stage a little early so that we could see my friends cousin who was headlining one of the smaller tents with his band.
All in all I had a great weekend, but I was knackered on Monday and really regretted not thinking to book the day off.
Monday, July 09, 2007
Shifting Into Gear
Yesterday, whilst washing up, I listened to the "Paul Lamb & The King Snakes" album "Shifting Into Gear". This is one of my favourite albums. I have seen this band twice at a blues club I used to go to on a Sunday night. I enjoyed them so much the first time that I bought their album. I didn't regret it.
Paul Lamb plays harmonica and is absolutely brilliant. Even Mark Knopfler thinks he is one of the best blues harp players around. (There is a quote from him on the back of the album.)
The singer, Chad Strentz, who is also one of the guitar players has one of the most amazing and powerful voices I have heard. I would love to be able to sing like that.
Several of their songs have lyrics that strike a personal chord with me, but probably my favourite lyric on the album comes from a song called "Feel So Good" and I think it really evokes the feeling you get when you first fall in love with someone.
The lyric goes:
I've finally found a woman
who makes me lose my head
Someone who makes the room spin
Every time we hit the bed
I wake up in the morning
She rocks me long and slow
I feel so good
I don't know which way to go
But you really have to hear it to get the full effect because of the way Chad sings it.
This is one of those albums that I can listen to every track and enjoy them all.
I went out to see a band called B'Mused last night. I have known them for a while and am fairly good friends with them. They aren't the best covers band ever, but they are good. I think their main problem is that they play a lot of the "standards" that everyone plays.
A little while ago, just for a laugh, I compiled a list of about 12 songs. The list was a sort of "standards songbook" of songs that all rock covers bands play a few of. When I next saw B'Mused they played 9 out of the 12 songs which was a record that has remained so far unbeaten.
The pub was very empty to begin with last night, but it picked up later. A friend of mine who is always late said he would meet me there at 9:30 so I said to him "Okay, I'll see you at quarter to ten then". He laughed and said that he wanted to be on time now, to prove me wrong. He then proceeded to show up at ten to ten. I guess that showed me :-)
Paul Lamb plays harmonica and is absolutely brilliant. Even Mark Knopfler thinks he is one of the best blues harp players around. (There is a quote from him on the back of the album.)
The singer, Chad Strentz, who is also one of the guitar players has one of the most amazing and powerful voices I have heard. I would love to be able to sing like that.
Several of their songs have lyrics that strike a personal chord with me, but probably my favourite lyric on the album comes from a song called "Feel So Good" and I think it really evokes the feeling you get when you first fall in love with someone.
The lyric goes:
I've finally found a woman
who makes me lose my head
Someone who makes the room spin
Every time we hit the bed
I wake up in the morning
She rocks me long and slow
I feel so good
I don't know which way to go
But you really have to hear it to get the full effect because of the way Chad sings it.
This is one of those albums that I can listen to every track and enjoy them all.
I went out to see a band called B'Mused last night. I have known them for a while and am fairly good friends with them. They aren't the best covers band ever, but they are good. I think their main problem is that they play a lot of the "standards" that everyone plays.
A little while ago, just for a laugh, I compiled a list of about 12 songs. The list was a sort of "standards songbook" of songs that all rock covers bands play a few of. When I next saw B'Mused they played 9 out of the 12 songs which was a record that has remained so far unbeaten.
The pub was very empty to begin with last night, but it picked up later. A friend of mine who is always late said he would meet me there at 9:30 so I said to him "Okay, I'll see you at quarter to ten then". He laughed and said that he wanted to be on time now, to prove me wrong. He then proceeded to show up at ten to ten. I guess that showed me :-)
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Marcus Malone
Have been listening to Marcus Malone today. He is a Chicago Blues / Blues Rock singer that I saw at a blues club in Colliers Wood a few years ago.
He has a very powerful voice and a great touch on the guitar. Not a bad song writer either.
One of my favourite songs on the album "Blue Jeans" contains the line (as part of the chorus) "Baby what you do to them blue jeans" which I think is a sentiment most guys could relate to at times.
He has a very powerful voice and a great touch on the guitar. Not a bad song writer either.
One of my favourite songs on the album "Blue Jeans" contains the line (as part of the chorus) "Baby what you do to them blue jeans" which I think is a sentiment most guys could relate to at times.
Queens Of The Stone Age
I chose to listen to "Songs For The Deaf" yesterday, one of my favourite rock/metal albums. I love this sort of melodic metal, similar(ish) in feeling (though not style) to System Of A Down's more melodic songs.
My favourite tracks on the album are "No One Knows", "Do It Again", "God Is In The Radio", "Another Love Song", and "A Song For The Deaf". "Mosquito Song" is a great track as well.
It occurred to me the other day that Dave Grohl has been involved with some fantastic bands; Nirvana, Foo Fighters, and Queens Of The Stone Age just to name a few. Obviously a very creative guy.
My favourite tracks on the album are "No One Knows", "Do It Again", "God Is In The Radio", "Another Love Song", and "A Song For The Deaf". "Mosquito Song" is a great track as well.
It occurred to me the other day that Dave Grohl has been involved with some fantastic bands; Nirvana, Foo Fighters, and Queens Of The Stone Age just to name a few. Obviously a very creative guy.
Good band, disappointing evening
I saw a covers band called Inside Edge tonight that I really enjoy. They play a good mix of different songs from the old to the new. Songs they play include "Have A Nice Day", "You're So Vain", "I Predict A Riot", "Bohemian Like You", and "Purple Rain".
The singer is not always brilliant; there are some songs he sings really well and some not so well, but the playing is mostly excellent.
The evening was let down a bit by the fact that very few of my really good friends were about. Two were up north visiting family, another was visiting family as well. One of my clubbing buddies was off seeing Live Earth and the other was resting up because he is working a lot.
The result of all this is that I am at home writing this instead of out clubbing with my friends, or sitting in a kitchen listening to music and chatting to friends.
I did have plenty of people to talk to at the pub, but it's not the same without your REALLY good friends is it.
At least I got the chance to have a bit of a boogie to some good music.
The singer is not always brilliant; there are some songs he sings really well and some not so well, but the playing is mostly excellent.
The evening was let down a bit by the fact that very few of my really good friends were about. Two were up north visiting family, another was visiting family as well. One of my clubbing buddies was off seeing Live Earth and the other was resting up because he is working a lot.
The result of all this is that I am at home writing this instead of out clubbing with my friends, or sitting in a kitchen listening to music and chatting to friends.
I did have plenty of people to talk to at the pub, but it's not the same without your REALLY good friends is it.
At least I got the chance to have a bit of a boogie to some good music.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Die Hard 4 (possible spoiler warning)
Went to see Die Hard 4 with a friend last night; what a fantastic film. If you enjoyed the previous Die Hard films you will definitely enjoy this one.
The one thing I will comment about this sort of film is how super human everyone always is. One guy jumps out of a crashing helicopter and falls about 40 feet without sustaining any injury. A woman gets hit by an SUV and the crashed through several office walls with barely a scratch. Bruce Willis himself falls onto an (F16?) that is in the process of crashing and manages to escape unscathed.
Two years ago today I lost my balance whilst playing badminton, landed badly, and fractured my arm in possibly the worst place I could possibly fracture it. I had to have two operations, I was off work for six weeks, and I had to go through about three months of painful physiotherapy; JUST FOR FALLING OVER WHILST ON LEVEL GROUND. So I am extremely jealous of all these super humans who can fall through a hole in the floor, bounce (painfully) off of several big metal pipes, and land about 15 feet down without so much as a broken fingernail. :-)
The one thing I will comment about this sort of film is how super human everyone always is. One guy jumps out of a crashing helicopter and falls about 40 feet without sustaining any injury. A woman gets hit by an SUV and the crashed through several office walls with barely a scratch. Bruce Willis himself falls onto an (F16?) that is in the process of crashing and manages to escape unscathed.
Two years ago today I lost my balance whilst playing badminton, landed badly, and fractured my arm in possibly the worst place I could possibly fracture it. I had to have two operations, I was off work for six weeks, and I had to go through about three months of painful physiotherapy; JUST FOR FALLING OVER WHILST ON LEVEL GROUND. So I am extremely jealous of all these super humans who can fall through a hole in the floor, bounce (painfully) off of several big metal pipes, and land about 15 feet down without so much as a broken fingernail. :-)
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
The Fratellis
Was listening to "The Fratellis: Costello Music" album whilst washing up (and photographing rainbows). I love this album, it is just fun, feel-good, rock.
The first Fratellis track I ever heard was "Creepin Up The Backstairs" which was played on the Zane Lowe show on radio 1. I loved it, but it never really took off, not the way "Chelsea Dagger" and "Whistle For The Choir" did.
My absolute favourites on the album are probably "Whistle For The Choir" and "Doginabag". The lyrics for "Whistle" are just wonderful and the tune just carries you along. "Doginabag" is just an absolutely fantastic tune, I love the guitar in this one, and John Lawler's vocals are amazing.
The next tier would be "Creepin Up The Backstairs" (love the refrain), "Chelsea Dagger" (a real anthem), "Henrietta", "Vince The Loveable Stoner" (love the verses but find the chorus a bit... I don't know, out of place or something), and "Baby Fratelli".
The only one on the album I am not really that fond of is "Got Ma Nuts From A Hippy", although I have not made my mind up about "Ole Black 'n' Blue Eyes" either.
The first Fratellis track I ever heard was "Creepin Up The Backstairs" which was played on the Zane Lowe show on radio 1. I loved it, but it never really took off, not the way "Chelsea Dagger" and "Whistle For The Choir" did.
My absolute favourites on the album are probably "Whistle For The Choir" and "Doginabag". The lyrics for "Whistle" are just wonderful and the tune just carries you along. "Doginabag" is just an absolutely fantastic tune, I love the guitar in this one, and John Lawler's vocals are amazing.
The next tier would be "Creepin Up The Backstairs" (love the refrain), "Chelsea Dagger" (a real anthem), "Henrietta", "Vince The Loveable Stoner" (love the verses but find the chorus a bit... I don't know, out of place or something), and "Baby Fratelli".
The only one on the album I am not really that fond of is "Got Ma Nuts From A Hippy", although I have not made my mind up about "Ole Black 'n' Blue Eyes" either.
Double Rainbow
Was doing my washing up this evening whilst outside the rain lashed, thunder rumbled, and lightning flashed. Then, the rain slowed down, the sun came out, and a rainbow appeared. The rainbow got brighter and brighter, and then, slowly, another rainbow appeared above it.
I took some pictured through the window and the picture below was about the best I could get given the angle and conditions.
The second, fainter, rainbow can just be seen above the brighter rainbow. The lower rainbow was really bright.
I took some pictured through the window and the picture below was about the best I could get given the angle and conditions.
The second, fainter, rainbow can just be seen above the brighter rainbow. The lower rainbow was really bright.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Rap Music
I've been listening to a bit of rap over the last couple of days. A friend loaned me a big sub he wasn't using the other day so I have been testing it out listening to some thumping basslines.
I listened to Eminem: The Eminem Show yesterday and Busta Rhymes: Genesis today.
A lot of people don't like (or get) rap, mainly (I think) because gangsta rap tends to be the most "commercial" so it is what most people hear. This gives them the impression that all rap is "I'm gonna kill that mothafucka", "I'm gonna slap them bitches", and "I'm gonna fuck them ho's". It isn't all like that, that's just what tends to sell the most.
I tend to think of gangsta rap as being the black mans heavy metal; Very brash, in your face, and designed to piss off those who aren't into it.
I went to see a rock band called Bad Influence last night. Had an absolutely brilliant time. I have seen this band loads of times before and they always give a great show. They play a mixture of covers and originals. The covers include such songs as "Long Train Running" , "Breakdown", and "Mercury Blues". I think I like them because they are a very high energy band that really gets you going.
I listened to Eminem: The Eminem Show yesterday and Busta Rhymes: Genesis today.
A lot of people don't like (or get) rap, mainly (I think) because gangsta rap tends to be the most "commercial" so it is what most people hear. This gives them the impression that all rap is "I'm gonna kill that mothafucka", "I'm gonna slap them bitches", and "I'm gonna fuck them ho's". It isn't all like that, that's just what tends to sell the most.
I tend to think of gangsta rap as being the black mans heavy metal; Very brash, in your face, and designed to piss off those who aren't into it.
I went to see a rock band called Bad Influence last night. Had an absolutely brilliant time. I have seen this band loads of times before and they always give a great show. They play a mixture of covers and originals. The covers include such songs as "Long Train Running" , "Breakdown", and "Mercury Blues". I think I like them because they are a very high energy band that really gets you going.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Fat American Dogs (No, I am not talking about Texan women)
I was listening to the radio today and heard a story about a diet product for dogs that is about to be sold in America. What the fuck!!!
Seriously, some lab has developed a product, in liquid form, that Americans can feed to their obese dogs which will suppress their appetites. The only possible side effects are vomiting and diarrhoea.
So, let me get this straight. They overfeed their dog, don't give it enough exercise, and then feed it something that causes it to throw up and get the shits! doesn't that come under the heading "animal cruelty"?
Do these people seriously not realise that since they control what their dog can eat, all they have to do is not feed it so much? Oh, and taking it for a walk once in a while wouldn't hurt.
If they really want to tackle the problem with obese dogs in America, how about confiscating the dog, charging the owner with animal cruelty, and banning the owner from ever owning another pet again. Ever!
And if they really want to cure it with a pill; how about a pill that will give the owner a fucking clue.
Seriously, some lab has developed a product, in liquid form, that Americans can feed to their obese dogs which will suppress their appetites. The only possible side effects are vomiting and diarrhoea.
So, let me get this straight. They overfeed their dog, don't give it enough exercise, and then feed it something that causes it to throw up and get the shits! doesn't that come under the heading "animal cruelty"?
Do these people seriously not realise that since they control what their dog can eat, all they have to do is not feed it so much? Oh, and taking it for a walk once in a while wouldn't hurt.
If they really want to tackle the problem with obese dogs in America, how about confiscating the dog, charging the owner with animal cruelty, and banning the owner from ever owning another pet again. Ever!
And if they really want to cure it with a pill; how about a pill that will give the owner a fucking clue.
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