redfiona99

I did mean to say a little more about seeing Travis live because they were awesome.

Like all of my best gig stories, I only got to go by accident. I'd forgotten to get tickets and the gig had sold out. Boyfriend of a friend unexpectedly couldn't go and she sent me a text asking "so, do you like Travis?" It took all of my restraint not to go "Yes!!!" Anyway, I ended up going with her instead of her boyfriend.

The support act, Thomas J Speight (http://thomasjspeight.bigcartel.com/) was pleasingly jangly*.

Then Travis came on and the place went mad. They basically played a best of with a couple of new songs. They even played "Blue Flashing Light" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCbErWNRv1g) which is my favourite song of theirs** and is a hidden track on The Man Who.

And, having regressed to being 14 again, I was all high pitched and squeaky because OMG!!! Dougie smiled at me and, yeah, no, that's another bass player crush I have not got over. Then I felt guilty for focussing on him since he was on the other side of the stage and Andy was right in front of me and the man can play. Which I always knew but now I have proof. (Also, P is the best person in the world to go to gigs with and managed to elbow us to having second row standing space.)

They were all so awesome.

P that I was with did have a minor fret because Fran has gone completely gray and we could both remember him before he had even the slightly bit of silver.

I also loved that they apologised for taking a break because, as Fran said, they hadn't split up, they'd just all had kids at the same time and that was more important. Of course, half the crowd were going "aww" and Fran was saying that he could hear the men in the audience going "stop making us look bad."

They just looked so happy to be playing together and we were so happy to see them and it was so :D

Before their last song Fran said "we want you to know we're still your band, we've always been your band". And, trust me, the Birmingham O2 would have stormed the Bastille for them at that point.

It was also so :D

Some photos were taken (see below). Any good ones were by P.

( Photos )

* I have not been bribed although I admit that Thomas J Speight's twitter did give me a free download for mentioning them on Twitter.

** Blue Flashing Light is the track where I knew that if Travis were less happy, jangly and Scottish, the music press would be all over them for being brilliant because, yes, that track hits hard.

It's also the founder member of the music category "that's good but I hope never to be in a position where I can write a track like that" see also Ocean Spray by the Manics.

Not that I don't appreciate it (and given the Manics love their sport, I'm sure they love it too) but an instrumental version of "Design For Life" is an interesting choice for a Paralympic advert. I'm assuming, if any thought went into it beyond whee! good music, it was chosen because of the theme of the song, fighting against the tide of life that wants to wear us down.

(Actual advert - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jel6Ckee8cE)

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Virgin Media still suck, but this is a good advert - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB6LH62llrg

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Person of Interest has been moved to 9 pm. I'd love to believe it's because Channel 5 have seen sense, but I suspect it's because of Big Brother scheduling.

( Person of Interest )
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( TNA )

( TNA: )

I've discovered the perfect way to avoid excess TNA stupid; don't watch the second hour.

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Something I meant to say about the F1, which actually relate more to Singapore, but it's an interesting point that lead Pirelli guy made, which is that the only driver to visit the Pirelli factory was Sebastian Vettel.

Equally interesting, the only driver to stay around for the engine-changing/much engineering work part of the Singapore GP was one M. Schumacher.

The master and his apprentice, with a vengence.

I think part of the reason that Hamilton is so frustrated is that Vettel is having the career he thinks he should be having. I mean, the parallels are quite remarkable, they've both been trained up by one team since a young age, they're naturally fast drivers, and they're both driven young men.

The difference is that Vettel was able to kick on after his first title because the team produced a brilliant car that no-one else could catch in the first half of the season. McLaren couldn't do that after Hamilton's title winning season.

I do think a lot of Hamilton's problems are due to frustration, because it's not like Sebastian 'brief rush of the blood to the head' Vettel is more emotionally stable, it's just that the British press like playing up to certain Teutonic stereotypes.

That and this present McLaren needs the kind of gentle nursing that Button provides but Hamilton is incapable of. Not a dig at Hamilton by the by, Kimi Raikonnen, to name another recent champion, would be awful in this McLaren.

Also, by the by, anyone who says the only reason Vettel is winning is because the Red Bull is unstoppable, I'd like to point out the present points of one M. Webber who has the exact same car as him. I grant the awesome of the Red Bull car is why Vettel is so far ahead and has won the world championship with four races to go, but he's got a wonderful combination of determination, skill, calculation and no fear. There's a reason Toro Rosso got their win first and his name is Sebastian Vettel.

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The Fades: ( Spoilers )

The free music this is a free download of an acoustic version of 'Love's Sweet Exile' from Amazon - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005O4SH98?ie=UTF8&tag=columbiadm-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B005O4SH98 Not sure if it'll work for non-UK users, but hopefully it will. If anyone feels like sending me it if they download it, I'll be grateful because I can't get the Amazon downloader to work for me.

Is from Gold Against the Soul, the original album where everyone declared that the Manics had sold out. It is their second album, and I'll admit that I can see why people didn't like it as much as Generation Terrorists. And it shares the same problem in that the last three songs are terrible. But damn it, it has La Tristessa (http://www.box.net/shared/c7u33uyagu) and Roses In The Hospital (http://www.box.net/shared/th1qmn3zkp). It also has From Despair To Where which I really ought to have uploaded, but have Sleepflower instead (http://www.box.net/shared/56c35xnie0)

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It's almost like they know I'm going to buy the new Manics album sight unheard, as it were.

Basically, there's been nothing going on my life, well there has been but it's mostly been lab stuff and recovering from Danny's 28th birthday party, parts 1 and 2.

I'll post the Top Fives once I'm done with them. Someone, who shall remain nameless, but pyroyale knows who she is, suggested 'top 5 Manics songs'. I have a top 25 that I am whittling. It could take some time.

Either I'm going mad, or they really are using a slowed down instrumental version of the Manics 'Roses in the Hospital' for the Grey's Anatomy ads.

Finally managed to watch Blink. In between the giggling at timey-wimey, the tearing up and the absolute terror, I enjoyed myself immensely. Well done that man Moffat. Thankfully the angels weren't quite as terrifying as the gas-mask children, but they were so fantastically well done. And some of us squeamish types did not need the repeated warning at the end ;)

Robin Hood actually left me speechless with glee at points, because yes, they finally seem to have gotten Crusades != good and Eleanor of Aquitaine = awesome (also Lynda Bellingham was both a great casting choice and good in it). Also = awesome was LaGrange and Little John and that the Queen was so regal and I'm sorry but Robin Hood has been upgraded from useless to fun.

And next week's preview looks so interesting from them casting Stephen Waddington as the Lionheart to the situation that's been set up. One does wonder what happened to Carter and to Lardiner. Although Carter turning up to rescue them would make my Christmas just that little bit more complete (finding out that he'd been killed would upset me though - this season's episode guests have been so much better).

Of course the big things was ( Great big squee causing spoiler )

Caught Blood Ties as well, which is my second favourite present vampire show, because they've done some interesting stuff and minimised the brooding angst that was starting to take over the genre. It's very much a case of come for the occult wierdness and vampires, stay for the most wonderfully balanced love triangle.

Must find and read the books it's based on.

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As for my favourite present vampire show, it would be 'Young Dracula' (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0876219/) it's pitched at the young teenage audience but is one of the most fun things on the show.

You've got Vlad who doesn't want to be a vampire (his Dad being the Count and his older sister being Ingrid (which I just love as a possible Ingrid Pitt reference). His best friend Robin wants to be a vampire. There's Renfield and the Van Helsings (father and son). The Elder Van Helsing teachs Vlad and Robin woodwork and has a pyschotherapist wife who thinks he's insane and they all know each other and it's the most genius thing on TV.

Even if it's part of Cardiff's plot to take over the world.

Which leads me on to the re-run of Charlotte Church's chat show which is possibly the worst programme ever to be shown on TV, but did feature the Manics and John Barrowman in one of the wierder guest line-ups ever. I love that they re-jigged 'Your Love Alone' for her and James's singing is still too high.

Given that this week I've also seen Jonathan Firth on Ghost Whisperer, it's been a good tv week, even if you count trying to terrify myself with ghost stories on the box, two so far, one a Dennis Wheatley adaptation with Julian Sands, Scott Handy (one of my favourite 'you know, thingy's) and the boy that played Cedric Diggory who did a marvellous job of someone slowly losing his mind.

Add that to an MR James ghost story tonight (and OMG I've found out that they did audios of all his stories voiced by Silver from Sapphire and Steel and I may have to buy them for Mother) and the angels and I may never sleep again ;)
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In case you haven't guessed by the overall tone, lame has been found so Mother will not murder me, for at at least.

Dear Brian Ashton, why must you put me in such an awkward position? I hate the way England play rugby union with a passion and therefore should want them to lose. Except now you've put Andy Farrell at number 10 in the make or break match and if they lose, he'll be blamed, and since he's a convert from League, my code will be looked down on more, so I now have to cheer them on, and it just feels wrong.

Anyhow, a couple of days ago, I promised music so here it is. Rather sadly the last few albums I bought have been either Manics albums or ancient.

So here I bring 'Wisemen' by James Blunt

http://download.yousendit.com/F5DBAE580421EB86

I still don't get why people think he's cuddly rather than actually quite odd. I mean, quite a lot of his songs are angry, not a lot, but quite a bit. And this is the song that I think that shows that best.

Of course he's one of those people who's 20 times better live hence you-tubing:

Goodbye my lover - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3YTWNSyYWvI

You're Beautiful - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=SwpbtmFK4BM

Other songs better (or even better) live:

Blurry - Puddle of Mudd - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=OIHSUJr5jeM&mode=related&search=

Run - Snow Patrol - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=CmK6IEDnvAk
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pmrfuYerPDs

Manics - You Stole the Sun From My Heart - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pYLUGSX8Wig

Which I hate on record but love live. I will never understand that.

Anyway, onto their latest album 'Send Away the Tigers' which really isn't quite the return to form everyone says it is but it's not far from it. At least 5 of the tracks are fantastic. So a track by track review is called for.

( Send Away the Tigers )
( Underdogs )
( Your Love Alone Is Not Enough )
( Indian Summer )
( The Second Great Depression )
( Rendition )
( Autumnsong )
( I'm Just a Patsy )
( Imperial Bodybags )
( Winterlovers )
( Working Class Hero - Hidden track on the end of Winterlovers )

The whole album is available to listen to on their website, as are their previous ones - www.manics.co.uk

Go listen. They're fantastic.

But then I realised I might be the last person left alive who thinks that the Manics are sublime. Anyhow, they performed in BBC Radio 6's Hub (their version of Jo Whiley's live lounge, I think), link here http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/events/hub/

Go have a look. Not only are they in fine fettle (a gorgeous acoustic version of 'Your Love Alone is Not Enough, laughing, smiling, joking, Nicky looking dangerous and JDB being his straight man, people having kendo as their excuse for being absent) but the two new tracks they play make me even more excited for their new album.

Plus, there's a fair few other bands up.

Now for the ridiculous portion of our programming:

Eurovision

Which makes me wish I had a spangly font on here, for if anything deserves spangles it is Eurovision.

I ended up watching this with fencers, which was probably just as well, since the others I would have watch it with were already drunk and well, I have a higher tolerance for booze and they're a little wearisome when drunk.

( Country by Country thoughts on the final songs )

Videos of all of these, and those knocked out at the semi-final stage can be found here : http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/eurovision/2007/contestants/

If Fionaland were allowed a vote, the votes would have been distributed as follows:

1 - Belarus
2 - Finland
3 - Sweden
4 - Ukraine
5 - Lithuania
6 - Slovenia
7 - Georgia
8 - Greece
10 - Romania
12 - France

Anyway, because of a general dislike for the British entry and a general love for the madness of the Ukrainian one (me being the dissenting vote cheering for France as I was) the house was cheering for the Ukraine.

So the first couple of nations are Balkan states and Serbia gets a lot more votes than expected but it's quite close between them and the Ukraine. However they start to pull away and mental arithmatic starts having to be used to try and figure out how close the Ukraine are and how the votes would have to go.

Of course, in the end, Serbia won by a lot, and claims were made in the house that there was bribery and corruption. This was funny because the night was started with cries of how pointless and boring Eurovision was.

I really don't get why people are complaining about block voting, hell a good song won. Not my favourite, but one of the best straight songs on show. And really I don't see why Britain is getting it's knickers in a twist given that they sent Scooch a band so laughably bad that they're not funny. Germany and France have long since given up on winning and they don't get their knickers in a twist when the joke acts they send don't win.

Also this whole thing about block votes. Yes, it happens, and Turkey will always get 12 points from Germany etc. But you know what, Lordi won, and okay, yes, the Scandanavians vote for each other, but Lordi got points of everyone else too. If the UK wants to win, it needs to send a good song, that's what wins things.