Hello handsome

[alexsarll]

More than the usual weekend dose of Doctor Who; on Friday, after catching my first seven elephants (including James Bond elephant!) and a brief stop at Poptimism, I was one of the five Doctors at Are Friends Eclectic?. The eighth, obviously, because his TV career may not have been great but his outfit was the best. There may have been certain breaches of the First Law of Time and the Blinovitch Limitation Effect. AFE is great.
And then on Saturday, 'Vampires of Venice'. For some reason I hadn't got that excited in advance of this episode, in spite of having already seen the library card business. And there was plenty more to love, mainly in the interplay between the Doctor, Amy and Rory - the bouncing up and down with excitement, "let's not go there", hushing, combat deployment of Your Mum gags. But ultimately, it dragged a bit, resolution by Adam West-style climbing was anticlimactic, and how did it make any sense at all that a species change should be easier than a sex change? Not a disaster by any means, but a flawed mid-season entertainment. It's weird how even with Moffat in charge, Who is never consistently perfect. Perversely, I think it's somehow right that way.

Saturday: another Keith TOTP/Indelicates show. I've run out of things to say about these except that I swear 'I Hate Your Band' and 'Savages' get even better every time. Some Thee Faction-style intra-band ideological controversy when Simon said "our drummer's had to go to emergency homosexual rehabilitation camp"; this surprised me if only because Julia let him get away with "she said 'snatch'!" again. There was another band in between whose set seemed to last about 26 years, of which the first song was OK. They tried to flog us vinyl afterwards and I could quite legitimately reply "I don't buy records from people who diss Tesla". This on a night when I'd already discussed unicycles with the Vessel. I love my life. Would have hung around to give Black Daniel another chance, but my presence was required for dancing to pop at Don't Stop Moving. Mmmm, pop.

Strolled over to Hampstead yesterday for a combined birthday/engagement/welcome back to Britain drinks. Saw two puzzling things en route. One was a life-sized model camel which I somehow missed last time I went to ALE MEAT CIDER, even though it's just down the road. The other was a street sign where the legitimate N7 had been crossed out and graffiti added: 'N19! w@nkers'. I've heard about these youth gangs going by postcode affiliation, but they seem not really to have grasped how the system works. Terribly sad. Though as a Shield/Sons of Anarchy fan, I have to wonder whether these N19 loyalists call themselves One-Niners.

Comments

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

They do seem to have fans scattered around the place - apparently the chap who runs Wood Green's lovely Big Green Bookshop is also a fan. Also, obviously, Neil Gaiman. As such, their not being bloody massive - or at least as cult-famous as eg The National (who spring to mind because I am currently listening to their new album) is increasingly puzzling to me.

[xandratheblue.livejournal.com]

Is The National cult famous? They've got one song as far as I'm aware, and whilst that's pretty excellent in a "MOAR INTERPOL BEFORE THEY WENT A BIT SHIT" way, the rest of their works seems a bit pedestrian. However, I am happy to have my opinion challenged on this.

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

They are essentially the midpoint between Tindersticks and The National. I love how swoony they sound when they're on, yet almost never think "You know, what I really want to hear right now is The National". However, they are big enough to eg get on Jools Holland's TV show (this week, I believe), and The Indelicates are not, and that seems wrong.

[xandratheblue.livejournal.com]

People want to listen to the Tinder sticks? Then again, people buy Coldplay records.

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

There are not many people who'd get away with making that comparison, but I shall let you off because you are otherwise adorable. :p

[xandratheblue.livejournal.com]

I never understood the tindersticks. Again, feel fre to show me what I'm missing, but seriously, what's the deal?

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

In my experience it's not something where people can really be convinced away from their first impression; either the epic world-weariness makes sense, or you just think "why is Vic Reeves doing his club singer bit with orchestral backing?"

[steve586.livejournal.com]

Go listen to Travelling Light. Or even better, watch the video, which not only features my old housemate Ilona, but also Edwin, her cat. Beautiful song.

[p-dan-tic.livejournal.com]

tbh, flatmates in videos non withstanding, I think no more affairs is the best introduction to the tindersticks.... and like barry says, when you hear that, you'll know whether you like them or not

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

I'd agree that 'No More Affairs' is probably the perfect expression of What Tindersticks Do, but I can see the case for trying doubters on something a bit atypical instead.

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

It's Alex who needs convincing, not me! Though you may have a point about the duets as a good way in.

[xandratheblue.livejournal.com]

I think I'll go watch it, just to see Edwin! Where is he in the video?

[p-dan-tic.livejournal.com]

*open mouthed*

[puzzled-anwen.livejournal.com]

(I've never even heard of them, but then I am a PCL)