Tag: music

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!

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ Leave a comment

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.

 

Billy Bragg: Tooth and Nail

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 1 Comment

With his first studio album for five years, Billy Bragg is most certainly back…..only now we see the more relaxed-into-middle-age Bragg, an album about love, loss and hope, as opposed to fight, struggle and protest. As much as this album lacks a bit of the old fiery protest singer, what it does show is that Billy has lost none of his songwriting skills: touching and poignant throughout.

The album has a definite Americana influence, lots of slide guitar and a country feel in places. Bragg still manages to produce an album that feels perfectly balanced between the polemical and the out-and-out love songs.

The album is littered with the songs of struggle – only now it is the struggle with relationships, loneliness and loss. As much as Bragg is associated with protest songs, he does, in my opinion, sing about love even better. Take 'Your Name on my Tongue' a song about love and longing, or 'Handyman Blues' a wry look at modern relationships.

“I'm not any good at pottery, so let's lose a 't' and shift back the 'e', and I'll find a way to make my poetry build a roof over our heads”

Following on from the Mermaid Avenue album's of Guthrie lyrics put to music, Bragg has included one Woody cover: 'I Ain't got no Home' – an anthemic track about a migrant worker trying to survive the depression the 1930s.

He does still sing about changing the world, but in a calmer, less anxious way: 'Tomorrow's Going to be a Better Day', 'There Will be a Reckoning' and 'Do Unto Others' all have something to say about people and politicians alike, but with a softer tone and more philosophical approach – perhaps Bragg is mellowing in his old age!

“There will be a reckoning for the pedlars of hate who spread their poison all across this estate and a reckoning too for the politicians who left us to this fate”

Overall, 'Tooth and Nail' is a great album, it has a back-to-basics feel to it, it feels like we are welcoming an old friend back…

 

Beans on Toast at the Cookie Jar!

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It has not gone unnoticed that this post has lots of food items in the title. So, if you have come across this post hoping for either a new funky recipe or a video of someone eating beans on toast by a cookie jar you are going to be extremely disappointed.

Last weekend saw a rare visit to Leicester to watch the fantastic, folky and a little bit sweary Beans on Toast. The Venue: The Cookie Jar – a basement venue beneath the coffee shop The Crumblin' Cookie.

Considering 'Beans' wasn't on until 10.15pm, and it was a Sunday night, an impressively sized audience had gathered. Now, if you've ever listened to Beans on Toast before you will understand that musically they are not the most complicated and complex melodies, in fact 'Beans' will be first to point out that they all sound the same. But what you get is a great collection of simple intelligently written songs, with lyrics that immediately strike a cord with listeners. 'Beans' has a way of breaking down the barrier between artist and audience.

It's not just great little songs you get with Beans on Toast, it's an evening of entertainment: funny stories, requests, forgetting verses, impromptu 'beat boxer' from the audience, and my personal favourite….”Right Leicester who likes blowjobs?”.

It was a great set, funny and quirky – bizarre in places – but what you ultimately get is a 'real' singer/songwriter without a glimmer of pretence, and with it a very enjoyable evening.

 

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!

 

Juneathon Day 16

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 3 Comments

You may be feeling a bit of deja vu going on….

WOT! NO DAY 15?

Yes, once again, I have managed to fail in my attempt at running everyday. Although, given that I now have a new lazy relaxed approach to the whole Juneathon challenge, I’m not beating myself up about it. The excuse I offer to the Gods of Juneathon, to quote many a teenager: “I couldn’t be bothered!”.

Anyway….onwards and upwards….Day 16….

After a lovely lay in, some blog reading and some bacon sarnies, I was ready for a run. A nice relaxing dog jog around the woods – not heard that phrase before!!? (Not to self: must make the runs sound more dynamic).

Headed off for the woods and some trail running. Weather forecast said: “Very windy and possible scattered showers”. It was very windy but once in the shelter of the woods it was pretty pleasant, until the said showers appeared! But as true to their wood as the weather people are, they were ‘scattered’ and didn’t last for long. A pretty uneventful run, I took in most of the trails, as you can see by the route. I don’t want to start the #runart off again, but does it look like a man sat on a rock contemplating the future?

One mildly interesting thing happened, I passed the same hiker three times. On the first time he said, “Good afternoon,” on the second time he gave me a knowing smile, and on the third time he completely ignored me! I’m sure this means something….but I can’t think what!!??

iPod was on shuffle and it came up with some great tunes. I also heard some great lyrics that I hadn’t heard for a while and feel the need to share them with the world:

It’s hard to see the light when the fridge door is closed.
Tip-Toe down the hall, open the door, found out that God is a small sausage roll.

‘Full Fat’ by Newton Faulkner

I think Newton Faulkner is great. He is a genius with the guitar and a fantastic songwriter. Saw him at Cambridge Folk Festival last year and he comes across as a really nice bloke. Definitely on the list of gigs to see.

Who’s that gut lord marching, you should cut down on your porklife mate, get some exercise.

‘Parklife’ by Blur

I was never a great Blur fan, I preferred Oasis, but I love that line, and rather relevant with Juneathon in progress.

Total Juneathon mileage after day 16 = 54.12