Monday 15 November 2010
Sunday 14 November 2010
The Young Satellites at Atomrooms Gallery.
Atomrooms Gallery presents an exhibition curated by Brett Walker
showcasing the works of young photographers Jack Davison, Lydia Roberts
and Conor Williams. The exhibition will run from 8th – 24th December 2010, 6-9pm at AtomRooms’
Portobello Road Gallery.
Sacred Monsters No. 1: Kenneth Tynan.
Monday 24 September 2001
The Guardian
Tynan's gift was to make criticism glamorous and sexyGuardian theatre critic Michael Billington recalls an exceptional talent No one, they say, ever erected a statue to a critic. But Kenneth Tynan has bequeathed something even larger to posterity: a legendary life. This year has already seen the publication of a revelatory memoir, Life Itself, by his first wife, Elaine Dundy. The Tynan Diaries are imminent. And, as a prelude, we have an extraordinary last interview by Ann Louise Bardach. As a result I suspect a certain image of Tynan will prevail: the spanker, the star-fucker, the sexual obsessive, the suave and ultimately ailing hedonist. He comes to seem like a Marlovian over-reacher who was finally the victim of both emphysema and his own fixations. The danger is that we shall soon forget the very thing that made him famous: his ability to write about the theatre with a voluptuous commitment. Most dramatic criticism is as ephemeral as the work it describes. Very little survives as literature. Hazlitt's essays on Kean and Kemble have a vivid, bloodshot urgency. Shaw's Our Theatres in the Nineties memorably demolishes Irving and paves the way for Ibsen. Agate wrote about great actors with gusto and allusive wit. To that select list one has to add Tynan, who not only had the gift for pinning down a performance but also, as both critic and National Theatre literary manager, helped redefine British |
READ MORE.
Knock 2 Bag.
In the old days comedians would often start a show with the words: 'A funny thing happened on the way to the theatre'. Well nothing funny happened to me on the way to the theatre tonight, but a funny thing happened at the theatre; I laughed!
I never laugh. Ask anyone.
knock 2 Bag prides itself on its claim that it is more than just a knock about open mike type thing that most comedy nights have become. it wants to be taken more seriously as a considered showcase for real comedy as opposed to a bunch of studenty amateurs standing by a mic using the c word and jokes about Down's syndrome. By tonights' showing it is doing that; of course I did not laugh at everything and nor should I; comedy like everything else is a mixed bag indulging various tastes.
The first act Phil Kay was great, arriving in an anarchic physicality and ending in a virtuoso display of quick minded lyrical hilarity. The headline act: The boy with tape on his mouth was seriously good; a mime artist with a gash of tape across his mouth, surely a metaphor for Chaplins' moustache. He relied on nothing more than observational art and fantastic timing, involving members of the audience with sensitivity and great skill, producing a show that had me crying with laughter. The bit with the cup and ball on the end of his nose with a blindfolded stooge from the audience was priceless.
Between the beginning and ending high spots was a hard place to be for anyone but there was plenty of meat in the sandwich. On the strength of what I saw, Knock 2 Bag is a refreshing change from the unfunny comedy nights where the only people laughing are the promoters on the way to the bank.
A seriously hilarious night.
Oh. and if you laugh like a drain at everything you have a mind like a sewer.
Saturday 13 November 2010
Victoria Bean. Art & Language
I met Artist and Poet Victoria Bean today at an impromptu lunch. She was armed with something bubble wrapped. Another member of the party said: 'Have a look'.
My heart sank. Was this going to be one of those embarrassing, awkward, yes its lovely through gritted teeth moments?
No it wasn't.
Her work is sharp, concise, intelligent and well executed. Have a look at her website; click on her name above.
Friday 12 November 2010
My Notting Hill. Thank you.
A wonderful day in Notting Hill. Surrounded by the the people that make the place memorable; Chris and the Tabernacle especially, the barrister who shared a bottle of wine and advice, the journalist, the writer, the reliable academic and to my mind rock star, the locals, the perfect bum guy, the big Kiwi, the regulars and bar staff in the Cow, my friends. and the police too.
Hey everyone, thanks. Think I'll hang around.
Hey everyone, thanks. Think I'll hang around.
The Island Experiment 2nd birthday party.
This is one for the diary. Wade and his crew always produce a spontaneously joyful rabbit out of the hat.
It is at the Tabernacle on the 27th of this month. Be there!
Oh, and Ella Montclare is performing along with the usual and not so usual.
It is at the Tabernacle on the 27th of this month. Be there!
Oh, and Ella Montclare is performing along with the usual and not so usual.
Cafe Ravenous, Portobello Road.
The lasers have danced for the last time. Cafe Ravenous is no more.
Photo: Fiona Campbell
During its life time it was the place to party on the Portobello Road and the yurt in the garden made it rather special. A lot of people will be sad to see it go. Charlie and Ali who ran the crazy place were always welcoming and certainly entertaining; they offered me help and kindness during a period when I was not the happiest of men, we had our ups and downs. The reading I did there with Murray Lachlan Young and Sam Margin was remains a very happy memory.
the two of them will of course continue with their 'Ravenous' catering and I wish them success.
And thanks.
During its life time it was the place to party on the Portobello Road and the yurt in the garden made it rather special. A lot of people will be sad to see it go. Charlie and Ali who ran the crazy place were always welcoming and certainly entertaining; they offered me help and kindness during a period when I was not the happiest of men, we had our ups and downs. The reading I did there with Murray Lachlan Young and Sam Margin was remains a very happy memory.
the two of them will of course continue with their 'Ravenous' catering and I wish them success.
And thanks.
Thursday 11 November 2010
Blogger not arrested shock and the twitter arrest.
The police arrived at 12.30 am to arrest me. They did not arrest me. However we spent an interesting half hour surfing the net.
I am pleased to be able to say that blogging will continue as usual.
I am interested to learn of the Communications act of 2003 and specifically section 127 (a) which states that defamatory, obscene or threatening posts on a virtual social network is a criminal act as is being demonstrated by the arrest of the 'stoning twitter'.
I am pleased to be able to say that blogging will continue as usual.
I am interested to learn of the Communications act of 2003 and specifically section 127 (a) which states that defamatory, obscene or threatening posts on a virtual social network is a criminal act as is being demonstrated by the arrest of the 'stoning twitter'.
Wednesday 10 November 2010
The Tabernacle Bar and Kitchen.
Head chef Mark Richardson was one of the new arrivals; Mark had already proved himself to Christopher at the Bedford in South London so there was no guesswork to be done about Marks abilities. As well as the Bedford Marks career has taken him to such diversities as Glasgow's first organic restaurant and a stint in Sydney Australia where he developed his interest in what we now call 'Fusion'. Don't be put off by that word, there is not an ounce of pretension in the cooking here but there are welcome signs of an interested chef at work. Mark also has a good sense of humour which is often lacking in other chefs.
A pre-show dinner at the Tabernacle has now become an obvious choice, at my last visit the bar was full of show goers with a similar inclination, the service,from a very friendly young staff, has improved beyond recognition and the food is not overpriced. The menu offers a range of locally sourced options including breakfast, light snacks and full meals, resulting in the Tabernacle bar and kitchen becoming a cheerfully relaxed and pleasant destination in its own right and a welcome improvement to Notting Hill.
On busy market days on nearby Portobello Road the Tabernacle bar and kitchen is a very welcome oasis if only for coffee and chocolate cake, a glass of wine or a beer.
Snake oil, oily fish and Notting Hill parties.
Lots of oily fish the doctor said.
Yeah, as if.
Anyway a guy at a party handed me a bottle of omega 3 capsules and said try these.
If I am dead in 30 days it is because they don't work, nothing to do with the fact I'm dying anyway. If I'm alive in 30 days come for the party.
Makes a change from the usual Notting Hill snake oil salesmen.
Yeah, as if.
Anyway a guy at a party handed me a bottle of omega 3 capsules and said try these.
If I am dead in 30 days it is because they don't work, nothing to do with the fact I'm dying anyway. If I'm alive in 30 days come for the party.
Makes a change from the usual Notting Hill snake oil salesmen.
Tuesday 9 November 2010
Murray Lachlan Young is coming to the Tabernacle.
To my mind the best performance poet around is coming to Notting Hill on the 22nd and 23rd of this month. This gives me the excuse to post his showreel.
Tom Baxter and vashti Baxter are also on the bill.... See you there!
Tom Baxter and vashti Baxter are also on the bill.... See you there!
Monday 8 November 2010
Guerilla gardening in Powis Square.
A quiet evening beer at the Cow was interupted by a call to arms by a Guerilla Gardener friend; she was about to introduce a host of daffodils into Powis Square and needed help. there were only four of us (the Notting Hill promise applies at a time like this) but the task was completed without a hitch.
Something to look forward to in the spring.
Something to look forward to in the spring.
Saturday 6 November 2010
Simon and Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water Original Version
When I'm pissed off I listen to this.
when
when
Now read in Ho Chi Minh City.
In the old days they would research Notting hill via blue doors, film set book shops, Welsh actors in their shreddies, Hugh grant in Mary Poppins Portobello Road walk throughs....
Now they don't.
In Ho Chi Minh city they read Pre-Pentimento.
It is still all unintelligible bollocks to them but it is pre-pentimento bollocks; the bollocks you can savour world wide.
Pre-Pentimento bollocks; Tastier than a dog in any language*.
*translated by Lingling.
Now they don't.
In Ho Chi Minh city they read Pre-Pentimento.
It is still all unintelligible bollocks to them but it is pre-pentimento bollocks; the bollocks you can savour world wide.
Pre-Pentimento bollocks; Tastier than a dog in any language*.
*translated by Lingling.
Thursday 4 November 2010
Tuesday 2 November 2010
Great Western Studios comes down.
They have started tearing down the Great Western Studios; for years in view from my desk. First to go is the wood clad tower where once Banksy's highwayman reared.
In the buildings place... The entrance to the Crossrail tunnel.
Amedeo's decision
he could have saved his own
as well as those
Of Jeanne Hebuterne
and their daughter would he have done so?
I doubt it very much.
3 deaths is a small price to pay
Rumer at the Tabernacle.
Once on stage there was an air of nerviness about the singer, who, dressed simply in black, wearing shoes worthy of a second glance, launched straight into her set. It was not until a little bit of banter with her pianist put her more at ease and allowed some interaction with the audience. Her own songs are lovely; lyrical and gentle, she has a sweet voice to carry them and her lyrics poignant enough to actually want to listen to. Her new single "Aretha" was beautiful; I'd been listening to it enough at home beforehand to recognise it with a smile.
It is so refreshing to have a British artist who is happy enough to eschew the trendy Americanisation of female singers as well as avoiding sensationalism. We shall hear a great deal more from Rumer.
Monday 1 November 2010
Memories of the Muse in tattered tutu on a garlanded swing.
As I write this the happy cries of children leak into my room from the school yard next door.
I am usually impervious to these noises such is their ubiquitous status in my life but this morning for some reason I hear them... and am immediately transported (through a seemingly never ending succession of mediocre performance/installation art pieces put together by lazy, uninspired and uninspiring, talentless 'Artists' who use the sound of children playing a metaphor for innocence or some such hokum) back to a fondly remembered muse.
Years ago the Muse and I worked on a vignette for her MA show (before the crack and heroin really got to her) in which the muse, in the guise of Manet's ballerina, hooked on crack, tutu tattered and filthy from the constant abuse she endured as the price she paid to her chemical god, smiling numbly, finger in mouth and childishly singing some unintelligible ditty, swung too and fro on a garlanded swing in the middle of a warehouse.
The soundtrack to this was the innocent playground cries of children.
I think what the muse was trying to say was: Make the most of it girls because I am what men are going to turn you into!
I am usually impervious to these noises such is their ubiquitous status in my life but this morning for some reason I hear them... and am immediately transported (through a seemingly never ending succession of mediocre performance/installation art pieces put together by lazy, uninspired and uninspiring, talentless 'Artists' who use the sound of children playing a metaphor for innocence or some such hokum) back to a fondly remembered muse.
Years ago the Muse and I worked on a vignette for her MA show (before the crack and heroin really got to her) in which the muse, in the guise of Manet's ballerina, hooked on crack, tutu tattered and filthy from the constant abuse she endured as the price she paid to her chemical god, smiling numbly, finger in mouth and childishly singing some unintelligible ditty, swung too and fro on a garlanded swing in the middle of a warehouse.
The soundtrack to this was the innocent playground cries of children.
I think what the muse was trying to say was: Make the most of it girls because I am what men are going to turn you into!
Sunday 31 October 2010
Saturday 30 October 2010
Ryan O'Reilly band amuse the police on Portobello Road.
Got in touch with Ryan for details:
"Yeah. But I got them laughing and we had a chat about Mick Jones from the Clash and the Sargent seemed to warmto us after that so he marched us outside Orwell's house where there is a big no busking sign and said he gives us special permission to busk there. We got moved because the crowd was too big and spilling into the main road. Just another adventure in the life of a busker!"
Buskers such as Ryan and his band: http://www.ryanoreilly.co.uk/ are an important part of the life and soul of Portobello Road. Why can't the authorities work this out for themselves.
Here's an idea; Tell All Saints to bugger off and create an indoor busking site for the winter months.
Julian Temple and Requiem for Detroit at the Pop up Cinema, Portobello Road.
Piers Thompson writes:
REQUIEM FOR NAPOLI?
To the Pop Up Cinema on Friday night to watch Local Hero Julien
Temple introduce his lyrical masterpiece, Requiem For Detroit. It is
my third trip to our very own digital microplex and once more it is
packed. By now, we have all learnt to wrap up warm.
Julien has no equal as an iconographer. He filmed the Pistols’
Jubilee boat party. He made The Great Rock’n’ Roll Swindle
which moulded the Sex Pistols/McLaren mythology. He made
Absolute Beginners, turning Colin MacInnes’ seminal tale of the first
teenagers into a musical, with David Bowie dancing on the keys of a
giant typewriter.
He has flirted with the arts, making movies about Jean Vigo,
Wordsworth and Coleridge, and opera. But it is as the iconographer
of English Rock that he is destined to be remembered. The Filth
And The Fury (Sex Pistols revisited), The Future Is Unwritten (a
hagiography of Joe Strummer), Glastonbury, The Liberty Of Norton
Folgate (a contemporary music hall with Madness and Stomp) and
Oil City Confidential (an award winning account of Dr Feelgood)
have cemented his reputation as the go to guy if you are aiming for
posterity. He is working on The Kinks even as we speak.
Requiem To Detroit is a hymn to the rise and fall of Detroit that
combines a history of the Motor City through archive and the
parallel success of Motown with a very contemporary exploration
of the potential renaissance of the city by the subcultures that
are colonising the devastated ruins. And they are both ruins and
devastated.
as an inspiration for those of us left in MacInnes’ Napoli (that is
Notting Hill to you squares). The vacuum created by our decline as
a creative force allows lots of room for bindweeds like you and I to
prosper.
Requiem? Hallelujah! Amen.
Watch out for RoughlerTV's report from the penultimate night of the Pop Up for the year. Tonight is a special screening of Halloween. He's behind you.
Friday 29 October 2010
Thursday 28 October 2010
Notting Hill is finally getting it's mojo back.... At Maison du Chien.
I've spent the last eight years, grumpy as fuck, bitching about the lack of anything in Notting Hill other than the desire to yack around in pubs bars and clubs snivvelling up cocaine. I write poems about it, I alienate more people than you can shake a straw at, and you know what! I was right.
But now. At last. Notting Hill is finally finding it's mojo.
I went up to Maison du Chien, above the Bumkin in Westbourne Park Road tonight. I went up because Piers Thompson was celebrating Tanya's birthday (it is a bit like that in the Thompson household) by DJ ing in his inimitable style (new verb: to Piers) and making a happening in his wake.What I found was a mini cabaret; just two acts: Earl Okin (a bloke I've seen around for ever but never knew he could do what he did) and Kalki; the best hula hoopist on the planet who even Piers couldn't faze. I went home after this, I'm elderly and need my sleep but apparantly stuff happens into the early hours.
Maison du Chien is Mat Whitley's baby, born of Medium Rare, and I think interesting because it doesn't try to be anything other than good fun. and that is what it is. Good fun! A little bit of Burlesque type nudity always helps.
It is a long climb up to the top floor at Bumkin. It is a climb well worth attempting without assistance.
Maison du Chien is happening until it stops (I'll try to find a link) but until then go.
Failing that go to Medium Rare at the Tabernacle... Feel the mojo rising!
But now. At last. Notting Hill is finally finding it's mojo.
Maison du Chien is Mat Whitley's baby, born of Medium Rare, and I think interesting because it doesn't try to be anything other than good fun. and that is what it is. Good fun! A little bit of Burlesque type nudity always helps.
It is a long climb up to the top floor at Bumkin. It is a climb well worth attempting without assistance.
Maison du Chien is happening until it stops (I'll try to find a link) but until then go.
Failing that go to Medium Rare at the Tabernacle... Feel the mojo rising!
Wednesday 27 October 2010
Keith Richards at Proud Chelsea. Oh and the Beatles, Hendrix and Dylan too.
A busy day yesterday.
Lunch at the Tabernacle with the delightful singer/songwriter Rebecca Poole; more about her in later blogs.
Then off to Proud Chelsea: http://www.proud.co.uk in the Kings Road for the opening of an exhibition of photographs by Michael Joseph of a baby faced Keith from the 60's and early 70's. It is a small show but contains some iconic pictures.
Photo: Michael Joseph
A real bonus was the various images of Dylan, Hendrix, and Beatles also on show in the gallery; well worth a visit if only for the cover shot for 'Rubber Soul' and the naked ladies from 'Electric Ladyland'.
I managed a little schmoozing before dinner at the Stockpot: http://stockpotchelsea.com/ a place I have not visited for years. Glad it is still there though; a rare reminder of the Kings Road of old.
Lunch at the Tabernacle with the delightful singer/songwriter Rebecca Poole; more about her in later blogs.
Then off to Proud Chelsea: http://www.proud.co.uk in the Kings Road for the opening of an exhibition of photographs by Michael Joseph of a baby faced Keith from the 60's and early 70's. It is a small show but contains some iconic pictures.
A real bonus was the various images of Dylan, Hendrix, and Beatles also on show in the gallery; well worth a visit if only for the cover shot for 'Rubber Soul' and the naked ladies from 'Electric Ladyland'.
I managed a little schmoozing before dinner at the Stockpot: http://stockpotchelsea.com/ a place I have not visited for years. Glad it is still there though; a rare reminder of the Kings Road of old.
Tuesday 26 October 2010
Monday 25 October 2010
Channel 4's Seven Days; Weak.
I accidentally caught the Channel 4 reality show Seven Days last night, if you must know I had been watching something called Desperate Housewives (I don't own a TV so this was something of a novelty), and wish I hadn't but am glad I did.
Seven Days is typical of the sort of TV that causes me to not own a television; there is nothing remotely resembling reality in the show, it is merely a collection of smug, egoists (or is it egotists) serendipitously bumping into each other in the land of trite happen chance, talking about themselves in a seriously 'bigmeup' kind of way and the only reference point seems to be earlier episodes of the show.
This is television well and truly disappearing up it's own arsehole.
If you want to know about Notting Hill and the incredible cross section of people who inhabit it do not expect to learn anything from Seven Days.
Seven Days can only be seen to be attempting to follow (and failing miserably) in the footsteps of great shows such as Noddy, Camberwick Green, Trumpton and Postman Pat!
Seven Days..... Weak.
I am tempted to believe that aforementioned housewives desperation stemmed from having to watch the damn thing.
Seven Days is typical of the sort of TV that causes me to not own a television; there is nothing remotely resembling reality in the show, it is merely a collection of smug, egoists (or is it egotists) serendipitously bumping into each other in the land of trite happen chance, talking about themselves in a seriously 'bigmeup' kind of way and the only reference point seems to be earlier episodes of the show.
This is television well and truly disappearing up it's own arsehole.
If you want to know about Notting Hill and the incredible cross section of people who inhabit it do not expect to learn anything from Seven Days.
Seven Days can only be seen to be attempting to follow (and failing miserably) in the footsteps of great shows such as Noddy, Camberwick Green, Trumpton and Postman Pat!
Seven Days..... Weak.
I am tempted to believe that aforementioned housewives desperation stemmed from having to watch the damn thing.
Saturday 23 October 2010
What is Roughler TV?
I put that question to Piers Thompson (one of Roughler's movers and shakers) and as luck would have it, he had an answer:
The magazine was Sniffing Glue meets Tatler. The TV incarnation is a Rantblog meeting BBC4. It celebrates life in the shadow of the Westway. We try to rouse the ghosts of the past who made Notting Hill the most subculturally significant neighbourhood in the World, so they can inspire the young in the spirit of Rock n Roll rebellion. The channel started in 2007 during Portobello Film Festival in tandem with Roughler Gallery where you can buy yesterday's memories at today's prices. We have covered subjects as diverse as Unicycle Hockey under the Westway, to the opening of Poundland on Portobello Road; from Lily Allen's return to the Tabernacle to the Class War march on David Cameron's house; music includes Nick Laird-Clowes Greenpeace anthem Mayday, to Ray Roughler Jones' Recession Glee or John Bindon to Gaz Mayall and The Trojans. Interviews have included John Maybury, Peter Richardson, Tony Benn, Ian Bone of Class War, Molly Parkin, Jake Arnott and Rusty Egan.
Here's one they made earlier:
The magazine was Sniffing Glue meets Tatler. The TV incarnation is a Rantblog meeting BBC4. It celebrates life in the shadow of the Westway. We try to rouse the ghosts of the past who made Notting Hill the most subculturally significant neighbourhood in the World, so they can inspire the young in the spirit of Rock n Roll rebellion. The channel started in 2007 during Portobello Film Festival in tandem with Roughler Gallery where you can buy yesterday's memories at today's prices. We have covered subjects as diverse as Unicycle Hockey under the Westway, to the opening of Poundland on Portobello Road; from Lily Allen's return to the Tabernacle to the Class War march on David Cameron's house; music includes Nick Laird-Clowes Greenpeace anthem Mayday, to Ray Roughler Jones' Recession Glee or John Bindon to Gaz Mayall and The Trojans. Interviews have included John Maybury, Peter Richardson, Tony Benn, Ian Bone of Class War, Molly Parkin, Jake Arnott and Rusty Egan.
Here's one they made earlier:
Friday 22 October 2010
Banksy Film at the Pop up Cinema W11.(Banksy has aerosoled out) And the Rotting Hill Gang.
Oi Banksy! The place for street art is on the street not in the cinema.
The minute you place Plexiglas over a wall painting is the moment you condemn it to mediocrity. The minute you put it on celuloid (or video) the same. Street art IS because of it's ephemeral nature not because of it's self importance.
I started to watch a film narrated by someone pretending to be Banksy about an extremely boring bloke with a video camera. The high point for me was a length of green rope about 15 minutes into the video... Sorry Fillum.
PHEW!
Having said that, the pop up Cinema under the Westway is Great and should be celebrated.
Pop up Cinema 10 - Banksy 0
There was a great tribute to Ari Up beforehand though.
Do I get an award for reviewing this before the thing has ended...No. But I got to meet Gary from the Rotten Hill Gang outside the Muse in Portobello Road who asked me along to a gig up the road which is just up my graffiti bedecked street!
The minute you place Plexiglas over a wall painting is the moment you condemn it to mediocrity. The minute you put it on celuloid (or video) the same. Street art IS because of it's ephemeral nature not because of it's self importance.
I started to watch a film narrated by someone pretending to be Banksy about an extremely boring bloke with a video camera. The high point for me was a length of green rope about 15 minutes into the video... Sorry Fillum.
PHEW!
Having said that, the pop up Cinema under the Westway is Great and should be celebrated.
Pop up Cinema 10 - Banksy 0
There was a great tribute to Ari Up beforehand though.
Do I get an award for reviewing this before the thing has ended...No. But I got to meet Gary from the Rotten Hill Gang outside the Muse in Portobello Road who asked me along to a gig up the road which is just up my graffiti bedecked street!
Thursday 21 October 2010
Roughler Guide to Rotten Hill Bar & Grill 2
Just arrived in my inbox courtesy of Piers Thompson and Roughler TV.
A splendid afternoon in the heart of Notting Hill.
A splendid afternoon in the heart of Notting Hill.
Ari Up. R.I.P.
Wednesday 20 October 2010
5X15 at the Tabernacle. Howard Jacobson and the Booker prize.
How do you humanise a writer?
In Howard Jacobson's case you give him (desevedly) the Booker prize then get him on the stage at 5X15 at the Tabernacle a couple of days later.To a layman such as myself; I am not a 'completist' of the Jacobson Canon by a country mile, Jacobson came across as a Man pleasantly surprised by the award and pleased as punch to boot... A joy to listen to and an incitement to buy his books.
5X15 have got it right; 5 literary types are each given 15 minutes in which to talk, not read but talk to (from what I could see) a healthy looking knowledgeable audience. 15 minutes is spot on; short enough to leave you wanting more but not long enough to allow for waffling induced boredom. The auditorium at the Tabernacle is the perfect venue in being neither too small or too large with a sense of being somewhere special.
Jacobson was preceeded by Rachel Johnson, Alexander Masters, Diane Athill; an absolute delight and Alex Bellow; a sum greater than his parts (this is a very clever joke designed to get me invited to take part in 5X15) talking about numbers and keeping every ones attention, even at the back!
5X15 is a regular event at The Tabernacle and a high point in the calendar.
Photo: Christopher Scholey:
In Howard Jacobson's case you give him (desevedly) the Booker prize then get him on the stage at 5X15 at the Tabernacle a couple of days later.To a layman such as myself; I am not a 'completist' of the Jacobson Canon by a country mile, Jacobson came across as a Man pleasantly surprised by the award and pleased as punch to boot... A joy to listen to and an incitement to buy his books.
5X15 have got it right; 5 literary types are each given 15 minutes in which to talk, not read but talk to (from what I could see) a healthy looking knowledgeable audience. 15 minutes is spot on; short enough to leave you wanting more but not long enough to allow for waffling induced boredom. The auditorium at the Tabernacle is the perfect venue in being neither too small or too large with a sense of being somewhere special.
Jacobson was preceeded by Rachel Johnson, Alexander Masters, Diane Athill; an absolute delight and Alex Bellow; a sum greater than his parts (this is a very clever joke designed to get me invited to take part in 5X15) talking about numbers and keeping every ones attention, even at the back!
5X15 is a regular event at The Tabernacle and a high point in the calendar.
Tuesday 19 October 2010
Virtual Factory press release for Turf Freinz.
Due to the hijacking of Virtual Factory I no longer have any say. I wish the guys well and hope they can avoid unscrupulous types trying to make money out of them.
http://virtualfactoryone.blogspot.com/
http://virtualfactoryone.blogspot.com/
Monday 18 October 2010
O.K.
Ok. I start my blogs with OK quite often. but what does it mean?
OK. Hey Ho let's go; I got that from the Ramones back then and I'm old enough to remember the Ramones back then when they were alive and alive enough to remember me.
Ok. I am going to take time out. Enough.
OK. Hey Ho let's go; I got that from the Ramones back then and I'm old enough to remember the Ramones back then when they were alive and alive enough to remember me.
Ok. I am going to take time out. Enough.
Sunday 17 October 2010
Not so Rotten Hill Gang and the West Born.
Then on to Powis Square W11 for an afternoon of music courtesey of Pink Cigar and the delightful West Borns; who are certainly destined for greater things and considering their ages, something in the region of 13 years, have plenty of time, plus the debut of Gus Robertson and Johnny Borrell's new band topped by the irrepressible Rotten Hill Gang who were on great form.
There again it was a pretty Notting hill rock n roll type thing all round.
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