Tag: frank hamilton

I must confess…

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ Leave a comment

….it has been three weeks since my last blog.

Quite a lot has happened in that time….

A trip to The Engine Shed in Lincoln to see the rather fabulous Lucy Rose. Since buying the album 'Like I Used To' I've been a fan….and when I heard she was to play Lincoln I was on it like a rat up a drainpipe.

Lucy Rose has been described as an English Suzanne Vega and been likened to Laura Marling…so what could go wrong? Nothing. The set was full of her own brand of acoustic folk/pop yet mixed with jazz-funk rhythm that cannot fail to entertain. Good gig – she's going to do well me thinks.

Next up was a trip to the ole smoke to see Frank Hamilton (again) at The Borderline. Although not the best gig of his I've been to, due in part to the big heffer standing in front of us who seemed intent on trying to step on the feet of everyone, complete with her ridiculous boyfriend who thought just because he had a big camera this gave him the right to be a complete arsehole. And what is it with girls in London and their stupidly huge handbags that that refuse to put down, they just hang around their elbows sticking them in you. Now I'm a Londoner and proud of it, but things have definitely changed.

But Frank himself was on top form, not the best set list he's every played, but he is slowly attracting more and more acclaim, I think 2013 is going to be a good year for the man.

There was also a very early, or should I say late, Christmas with my sister that I somehow remembered to blog about here.

School has been absolutely crazy: workshops, immersion days and so much exam prep that if my boys and girls don't pass I'm not sure what to do. This week we said goodbye to the Y11s…I've really enjoyed the last couple of years with my group, they've all done really well and developed into lovely young men and women over the years. I wish them all the luck for the future.

But half-term has finally arrived….a relaxing week in store with a few bits and pieces to do at home….mum's birthday party…Billy Bragg gig….and on the horizon we even have #juneathon. Oh crap!

 

What an evening!

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The Date: Monday 22nd April 2013

The Venue: The Cookie Jar, Leicester

The Artist: The fabulous Frank Hamilton

If you ever want to experience a fantastic singer/songwriter you can do a lot worse that attend a Frank Hamilton gig. Following on from #onesongaweek in 2012 that culminated in a sold out gig at London's The Borderline in Camden, Frank has followed it up with a UK tour…..

Tonight was the second night of the tour – held at a great little live music venue in Leicester, The Cookie Jar located in the basement of The Crumblin' Cookie. Frank was on top from, sharing his own brand of indie-folk-pop music and brilliant song writing skills. He is a very likeable fella, lyrics that express Frank's emotions and experiences, from travelling around, moving to a new city, through to finding and losing love.

It was a great set, including the fantastic, 'Things I do', 'Make Things Make Sense' and the splendid 'Flaws and Ceilings'. Frank manages to write about things that relate to everyone: a soundtrack for life. Who can't relate to this….

“I wonder what she's thinking when she lies in bed, coz when I wake up when she's in my head, and I'm thinking in few years time will I still be yours, will you still be mine”

If you get a chance go and see Frank Hamilton: you won't be disappointed.

 

Back in the Blogosphere…

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 4 Comments

Let's be honest: Janathon was a disappointment. Only managed to run for 22 days, barely reached the 100 mile mark and found the second half of the month very tough. Cue an endless list of excuses: cold, snow, ice, busy at work, snow, cold, ice, dark nights, busy at work and it was very cold.

Following on from the monthly projects in 2012 and Janathon I feel like a bit of a rest is needed in February.

Work has been very busy and I've been working hard to catch-up with marking in an attempt to have a pretty quiet and relaxing half-term. The hard work has paid off and I've somehow managed to do everything apart from a class set of Y10 controlled assessments that need doing. A week to recharge the batteries this week because the next term is probably going to be very busy: exam preparation, after school sessions and other general rubbish.

So the start of half-term began with beer, some vodka martini in a James Bond style, some blue stuff…

….followed by some green stuff….

In other news….I have managed to bag some tickets for a few gigs in the coming months:

 

Frank Hamilton and #decembeer

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 1 Comment

Last night we had a mosey down to The Barfly in Camden, North London, to see the fabulous Frank Hamilton.

Still celebrating movember...

The gig was excellent – the first and last #OneSongaWeek live show. In celebration of the fact that Frank Hamilton has written a song every week of the year so far, with just one more week remaining. Frank had various special guests who had played a part in various songs throughout the year, including Newton Faulkner. This was quite a difference from the last time we saw Frank, at Cambridge with another dozen people. I think this is going to be a big year for Frank Hamilton. Have a look at the Frank Hamilton blog for more info, videos and pictures. And click here for all the year's songs.

Frank and Newton

One slightly disappointing part of the evening was the selection of beer. There was no draft beer on offer and the only bottle beer was 'Old Speckled Hen' which I had the other day. So not the best place for someone participating in #decembeer. So #24 is Guinness….also in the excitement of being at a Frank Hamilton gig I forgot a picture, although is pretty much what it looked like….

Which brings us to tonight's offering, #25, from Belvoir Brewery….Old Dalby….

It is probably important to say that the weird folks around this part pronounce Belvoir as 'Beaver' – don't ask why, it's just what they do, they are very strange around here. This is actually a fine beer. Ruby red in colour, very malty, with good strong flavour. Still not getting the 'roasted flavours' – just very beery and very nice!

 

Frank Turner…..again!

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My love affair with the fantastic Frank Turner continues……and so a blog post was inevitable….

Last Sunday it was the turn of The Engine Shed in Lincoln to host another great Turner gig. It was another sold out gig which is now the norm for Frank Turner.

Support took the form of Jim Lockey and the Solemn Sun, and Tim Barry. Jim Lockey and the Solemn Sun are a band from Cheltenham, tipped to be big in the near future. Tim Barry an American singer/songwriter playing a rather depressing set that kicked off with a song about a fella who ended up serving time for shooting his sister's husband.

Frank Turner yet again showed why he is becoming so popular, an audience featuring young and old danced and sang the night away in an attempt to knock Wolverhampton off the dance-off top step. Frank played tunes from all four studio albums and a couple from the new album due in 2013. It was also great to see a favourite track of mine, 'Romantic Fatigue', seen played live.

The evening ended with the usual rendition of 'Photosynthesis', complete with a packed Engine Shed sitting down before jumping up and singing and dancing, in what has become a trademark finish to the night.

Overall another brilliant night, and thanks to Twitter I even shifted a spare ticket I had, at face value of course!

Next gig: Frank Hamilton at The Barfly in Camden on the 20th December.

 

Juneathon Day 9

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A morning dog jog was the plan. Got downstairs in running kit and, looking for a bit of sympathy, told Helen I was feeling a tad achy. Her reply:

“Well you will do these silly challenges!”.

Enough said, and off I went….

By the time I got to the woods my lethargic state had evaporated and I enjoyed a nice gentle jog. Lots of people about this morning, dog walkers, runners and even a man walking backwards!? I didn’t ask.

Summary
******
Distance: 3.15mi
Time taken: 00:26:37
Average/Max Speed : 7.11/9.03 mph
Average/Min Pace : 00:08:27/00:06:38
Calories: 374

Total Juneathon mileage after day 9 = 34.54

Runners passed = 4

Music accompaniment = Frank Turner – ‘Love, Ire and Song’

What with Euro 2012 underway, how about taking a listen to the Unofficial England Euro 2012 Song by Frank Hamilton….