Manchester rising

"Seen from the approaches to Piccadilly Station -- the gateway for trains from London -- the city's architecture seems a monument to its hardscrabble history: from the hulks of red-brick mills and factories of the Industrial Revolution that made Manchester the grimy textile center of imperial Britain to the 1960's concrete high-rises that would not have looked out of place in Dresden or Bucharest during the Communist era."

By Alan Cowell

Published: June 24, 2001 in NY Times Travel

Wonder why I feel like home here....

Now what?

When I finished high-school, I said there are 2 things I'll never do: buy a suit and set foot in Russia. I've already done the first.... Now I'm scared that I have a passport.

Gig No 2 - General Fiasco

Oh, how I wish I was living in Manchester when I was 16! That was the average age (again) at the concert the other night. But leaving the crowd aside, the gig was good. I mean, yeah, I've-seen-RHCP-and-Manu-Chao-and-Gogol-Bordello-and-still-enjoyed-this-one good.

A nice surprise was one of the opening acts. Only one, the other band was terrible. So, Pegasus Bridge, worth a check, even if one of their songs is called Ribena. If you don't know what that means, google it like I did and you'll immediately loose interest in the lyrics whatsoever...

But back to General Fiasco, what was nice was that they played all songs on the album, including the wonderful Buildings. When I saw the setlist, this song was replaced by a new one, but on stage it wasn't the case. One more reason of joy for me :D Plus, there were other new songs, good ones, but all we really wanted was the chance to scream from the top of our lungs "Does the rebel get by". And we did. Yeap, we all did.

It took me a while to appreciate the power of connecting to an audience. Sure, they're all there for your songs and/or performance, but talking to them, telling stories, making them laugh, this is one of the many great bonuses I got the chance to experience in my time as concert-goer. Wasn't the case with General Fiasco. But then again, it wasn't that necessary. Not everybody can master the stage in that way, and in that case, a clean, nice set is all we need. And it was what we got from General Fiasco.

Next on the bill is one busy week in December, when both Biffy Clyro AND Kings of Leon are in town, and Arcade Fire at a 2 hour bus ride away. And yes, I am the happy owner of tickets for all three gigs. I can't say no to an early Christmas present and a little bit of pampering, even if I have to pay for them myself.

Gig No 1 – I Am Arrows

British kids living in big cities have a huge advantage: they can see the likes of Muse and Kings of Leon and Biffy Clyro every tour. AND they can also see the likes of Frightened Rabbit or I Am Arrows. Which, for someone who even barely considers having something remotely connected to music, is huge. Imagine the music that then, in their turn, these kids should make. Imagine the criticism and the refinement and the coolness that these kids should have. I guess it’s no wonder the biggest bands and songs come from the UK.

Now imagine some who, let’s say, went to their first big gig at 19. Who heard about indie music in magazines and had no people to play it for her. Who bought tickets to Depeche Mode not because she loved them, but because she was excited someone she had heard of would play in her town. That someone goes to an I Am Arrows concert and listens! Listens and sings if she knows the words and doesn’t get bloody drunk halfway through the set. That someone has a long way to go in order to measure up to the other concert-goers around her. But that someone enjoys the music, not the drinks or the fellows at the show. Because that someone can go alone and still have a fabulous time. And that someone is proud of it.

Oh, and to clear things up, girls always fall for the guitarists in the band :P

First impressions on Earth

See, I knew it was no good being home. Nothing ever happens to me, nothing worth writing about. I used to be so much more excited and amazed by everything in Paris. Oh well, good that I'm no longer home, right?

For the moment I have only one photo and one song to share. Oh, and the fact that my first concert here is tonight :D

Time for some more

....songs. Just two this time. Oh, but with these addictive and gorgeous tunes, two is more than enough.

So, first, Sleigh Bells - Rill rill

And after that I Am Arrows - Nun

Enjoy!

WRONG

Why, oh why did Placebo ever decide to cover Depeche Mode's "I feel you"? Brian Molko's voice is just.. horrible on this track. It used to be this angry, powerful love (of drugs) song. When I heard Placebo's version for the first time, a grimace of pain appeared on my face. That voice, that highly pitched voice, ruining this oh, so beautiful song. Gahan was perfect and no one should meddle with that. As much as I enjoy Placebo and Molko's voice on some of their own stuff, this cover is pure torture for my ears. Depeche Mode have another great song for what Molko&co did here: WRONG.