Sacre vache!

Published on Mon 5 Apr 2010

It's been a good long weekend, though I have spent the last couple of days sneezing with streaming eyes because we took a partition wall down in my house and I've not managed to clear it of dust properly yet. I'm so allergic to things. Well annoying.

On Friday Chris and I went down to London to hang around for the afternoon and then watch Daniel Johnston playing with an orchestra. After a quick pint in the Wetherspoon by Liverpool Street, where we met up with Jason, who's just moved to London, we went to this place on Commercial Street, which is loveably grotty.

Being in the pub in the afternoon is one of my favourite things, especially since I've been working. I was about to say I wish I got to do it more, but it's probably a good thing I don't - there was an old guy wearing a straw hat and fluorescent green fingerless gloves who kept going up to strangers and telling them he'd just got divorced, and kept dancing to some tune that was only in his head. I guess it wouldn't be the worst way to end up mind you. We wandered across to Brick Lane after a while 

and went to Vibe Bar over the road from 93 Feet East, which is pretty cool but was full of pissed up lads (presumably a stag do) who kept hitting a metal tray and shouting. They were selling pretty nice burgers, which they claimed were the tastiest you'd find that side of London. Dunno how that works bearing in mind we were in London...

The gig itself was a bit of a mixed bag. The Troxy is a really nice theatre venue, if a bit hard to get to. The first act on, Tommygun (from Brussels as they insisted on telling us over and over - presumably that already makes them the second most famous band from Belgium, in fact it probably makes them the 8th-12th most famous people from Belgium) were ok. They shifted between genres quite a lot I thought which made it a bit hard to get into them. 

The female vocalist had a good voice, but seemed a bit unsure of herself and kept looking at the rest of the band for approval, and doing a Trevor and Simon swing your pants dance with her dress which kept us amused during the jazzier songs.

Jeffrey Lewis (semi-ably assisted by Franic from the Wave Pictures on the mandolin - forming what must've be the most cuddleable musical act in history) was predictably brilliant. I've come to the conclusion that anyone who doesn't like Jeffrey Lewis doesn't much like music. His song about the guy trying to kill himself but seemingly not quite managing it was a highlight, as was the rap about killing mosquitos. No "Don't Be Upset" or "Williamsburg Will Oldham Horror" or "Good Old Pig, Gone to Avalon" but we did get "To Be Objectified" and we'll be seeing him again at Primavera in a couple of months so maybe we'll get the others there. 

I'm not massively familiar with Daniel Johnston, and to be honest haven't really been sure about what I have heard, but so many people claim him as an influence that I figured he must be worth seeing. He's obviously quite ill - he talks like a child and seemed genuinely confused about where he was at one point before remembering, and asking if there were and comic book shops nearby. It was actually pretty upsetting seeing him shaking and staring intently at his words - I felt a bit bad to be watching him go through it. He started off on his own with the worst sounding (and weirdest looking) guitar I've heard in ages (how does that happen in a professional gig?) and then the 11 piece orchestra came out. It was a bit of a strange combination I thought - Johnston shaking and mumbling and doing his best bless him, and a group of highly trained, everything spot on musicians. I don't know if it worked really, but they did sound good. Glad I've seen him, but I don't think I need to again. I'll watch that film about him though if I get the chance.

It's been a good while since I got a decent picture of Chris falling violently asleep. I'm hoping for some more at Primavera.

On Saturday night I went to The Globe on Hills Road to watch The B of The Bang and The Dawn Chorus, who are on tour together and are good bands and nice chaps. The B of The Bang have filled out their line up a bit and sounded even better than last time I saw them. There was a band in the middle whose name I didn't catch, and I didn't really like. They were doing that gypsy jazz vaudeville thing, so I was never going to be keen.

The Dawn Chorus played almost entirely new songs which is impressive but a bit of a shame for me because they have a lot of good songs that I know. It was still great though - they're just so exuberant when they play, and seem to totally believe in what they're doing. Also, every time they seem to have more instruments. There were 3 trumpets this time (well, one of them might have been something similar that wasn't quite a trumpet). It was a great moment when one of the trumpeters got up on a table, not realising that that was going to mean the PA was right in his ear. I meant to buy their new CD but managed to not get round to it, and then they'd gone. The bits I've heard online sound great.

Last night I went to The Portland to see The Pony Collaboration and, as ever they were lovely. I put their album onto my iPhone recently (I never thought it'd happen but I got tired of listening exclusively to Okkervil River) and it has been making me happy on a regular basis. It was their last gig with their current keyboard player, so that seemed a bit emotional. It'll be interesting to see how they sound without him - he's very good at doing just the right thing. They were supporting a band called Last Harbour, who were alright I think, but didn't really grab me. Maybe if the bill had been the other way around...

All a bit music filled this time. Sorry. The next exciting installment will not be. Here's a picture of a "waxing" sign with a cleverly placed lamppost.