Sunday, Bloody Sunday

Sunday was odd. I had my hair cut for the first time in about 2 years, I normally shave it off myself and I thought I'd treat myself afterwards I went to an all day gig at The Fly in New Oxford Street. At 2pm I went to pick up the ticket I ordered but they just stamped my hand. So I stayed for a beer and listened to the DJ who was just starting. There were only a few people there at this point who must have been involved with the bands and DJs so I just sat and read my Breakfast at Tiffany's slowly sipping my beer not many people came in while I was there so I drank up and went for some breakfast.

I walked to Subway's at the boring end of Shaftsbury Avenue which was empty and I ordered a meatball marinara and a cookie. While I was eating a couple of Americans came in who sat and talked about U.S. colleges and the ivy league, apparently USC is OK but not that good and northwestern is better. I don't know why I remembered that but I like hearing American voices in especially in London that's why I don't mind giving directions, which happens a lot because of where I live, they look slightly bemused when I speak back to them my London twang is sometimes unintelligible if you're not used to it. I remember meeting a middle-aged American couple from Florida in my local once but that's for another time I've just noticed my digression.

So I was in Subway and over the voices There was music and I liked it. Now I wouldn't normally ask what it was because I'm a bit shy but I did this time I suppose it was the pre breakfast beer but anyway I asked the girl who made my sub who told me what it was, which, if you are interested was Orishas a Cuban hip hop outfit. So I sat and listened while I digested my meal a little bit then I strolled back to the all-dayer.

There were a few more people in there now and I didn't feel like a weirdo anymore for being there early so I got another beer and read more of the book at the same table I sat by earlier.. A different DJ was playing now and she played Maximo Park and The Zutons and I was happy to sit and listen while people went to the gig room to see one of the early acts.

I left again but this time I went to the pub around the corner to see the football. while there I had another pint and watched the first 15 minutes because the drinks were expensive so I went to my local instead where they pour my pint as I walk through the door which is much appreciated and I spoke to the landlord who gave me stick over the European result earlier that week, sodding Liverpool knocked us out in the semi finals, anyway I watched most of the rest of the match there then I went home to rest before going back to the bar to see the bands on in the evening.

When I got there my friend came along who was supposed to have been there from the start but I didn't mind. I watched him and his girlfriend watch the band until they noticed me and I went over.

The next band on were called The Natives and they were rather good in my opinion apart from them gloating about having just won the league when I told them to fuck off but they didn't hear me because all the fans they brought with them cheered at the same time, never mind. towards the end of their set it was packed and getting quite rowdy and my friends girlfriend didn't like being in the middle of it so I had to push people out of the way to get her out of what was quickly becoming a mosh pit. I went upstairs to the bar because I was tired and thirsty, I got a water and another beer, I drank the water upstairs and watched the DJ who looked a lot like another DJ but they couldn't be the same because this one was playing drum and bass and her doppelganger normally plays indie and kitsch, I put it down to dehydration and went back downstairs but the crowd had swelled and I couldn't get in so back upstairs I went and sipped my pint and watched the strange twin DJ until the band finished their set.

I noticed about half the people who were downstairs were now filtering out the front door and I went downstairs to my friends who ended up at the back of the room and we chatted a while until Marvin the Martian came on. After some technical difficulties They opened with Superman, a song they have only done live so far and until then had not heard, then they played I Hate My Job and I was screaming back every lyric and Jack Nimble came and shook my hand from the stage which made my night. They stormed through the set which included an appearance by an inflatable chicken and a shout to Paul Simonon to let them use the Guns of Brixton sample and for the last song, Boom Remix, with Tego another MC and the place just went nuts and we were bouncing around all over the place, so much so that i broke my glasses, it felt great.

I went upstairs to sit outside on the pavement to try and fix my glasses and catch my breath, no luck with the glasses but I felt better after the fresh air and I went back in. Once there I sat on a table by the bar and Marvin was coming past so I congratulated him on the set and said I'd seen him before at The Old Blue Last and he said he remembered which also made my night. I shook his hand and went back downstairs where I passed Jack from the set who said thanks for the support and shook my hand again and I was smiling which is rare.

I met my friends again who were still at the back and we chatted while waiting for Example who was the headliner. The first half of the set wasn't that good and his flow was a bit disjointed and some woman kept dancing next to me and bumping in to me with her bag but she moved away. Example was getting better and the crowd were getting behind him after some good usage of Britney's Toxic for a sample. I noticed a woman talking to my friend whispering something and then she walked away, my friend said she said "Be careful I think that man behind you is a pickpocket he was trying to get in my handbag" I felt a bit shocked and upset at being accused of such a thing, it turns out she was the one who was dancing next to me and bumping in to me and then i saw the funny side and laughed with my friend. I hope she saw and realised her mistake but it's still not nice to be accused.

When the set finished we left and said our goodbyes at the bus stop and I walked home to get some well deserved rest.

The next day I woke early and there was no hangover which was a bonus but as usual when I go out and have a good time there was some residue guilt that I can never seem to shake. I decided to go for a stroll around the park there was no one about because of the bank holiday and I was feeling better so I went and bought my sister a great big TV for her new flat and didn't tell her it was there and she found out when she went to look at her flat which made me happy.

My, that was a bit of a longun!