Hallo there ohdearyme readers. I’m blogging to you from my bed… yes. I’ve had the dreaded swine flu. The horrible thing about it is that I was only in Athens for two day. I swiftly started to detoriate into a sweaty mess. Which was ever so strange considering girls don’t sweat. *Shock*. I didn’t know what was happening! Luckily my camera mate Michael was on hand to head on down to the festival to do some filming and this is what we managed to piece together of our experience. It was a shame we didn’t get to i/v Linkin Park but in the end… it doesn’t even mattuuuurghhhh… (true Linkin Park fans would get that). And I did so much research too – I swear to Pinocchio I was ready to sing every track they’d ever written back at them..
The best thing about having swine flu is that you have a great excuse to not leave the house (a doctor’s note for one ordering you into isolation) so you get to watch lots of films. Whooohoooo this is my Swine Flu list –
Revolutionary Road – (Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet) – Jesus. Well. This has put me off marriage I can tell you. It’s definitely worth a watch.. the pair act the hell of being cooped up in a claustrophobic suburban relationship very well indeed. Bit depressing. In fact every bloody film I watched had a depressive air about it. Anyone making happy movies still? This will get an 8 because it’s brilliant but won’t lift your flu’y spirits. next up: Hunger – by Steve McQueen – The cinematography in this film is amazing, although I think this is made for experiencing at the cinema. You need no other distractions so that you can concentrate fully on the dialogue that is offered. And my housemate started hoovering right at the part where there is a 20 minute static dialogue only shot.. (I know I know!!). So this is an 7.9 I’m afraid. It’s important viewing for another time. Probably cinema based to be honest…However, it will certainly make you appreciate your freedom. Rachel Getting Married - with Anne Hathaway – this was meant to be my chick flick movie. But oh god little did I know it’s about bleeding drug addiction. Another depressing film then!! Some shots were totally unneccessary and dragged the film out for far too long.. an ok watch. I will give it a 6.5 – easy swine flu watching – passes the time. Frost/Nixon – this film is brilliant. I would definitely recommend this. The cover makes it look soooo boring (terrible rule I know but we all do it) but this is an essential DVD rental. Frank Langella plays Nixon brilliantly and his facial expressions are undeniably charming. Michael Sheen pulls off the likeable TV presenter act – I wonder if he didn’t base it loosely on Austin Powers this is TEN OUT OF TEN RENT IT NOW ..
Both bands were flippin wicked. If you get the chance to see either… do it. I’m not sure about Frankmusik’s ballads so much – but I think he does upbeat pop perfectly like freshly baked pumpkin pie. Ahem. The atmosphere for Friendly Fires was just awesome though… best gig I’ve been to… since.. since.. Blur.
Check my highlights out:
Ended up at the Old Blue Last at the Dollop night – saw a band called O Children – cool as f*ck – check out their music video -
Tomorrow I fly out to Athens to meet up with Linkin Park and do a video blog for Vodafone (if you haven’t seen it already I’m the judge and vlogger for them – http://www.myspace.com/otw_uk … very excited. And then I touch down Wednesday and I will be a judge on Soho’s Got Talent *CANCELLED THE UPDATE IS: I HAVE SWINE FLU!!!!* – which launched VV Browns career last year. It’s all go go go! I am getting a little concerned however about my lack of holiday time left at work.. this is all great but need to keep paying the bills and all that!! Real life is a killer eh!! Well offsky so wish me luck.. here I go again.. aaaaahhhhhh
This is the video I created (presented/edited/directed) for the Moby gig in Malta that I went to – with interviews from Deadmau5, Ira Losco and Wintermoods
It’s a britpop summer. Blur last week. This week – Oasis. At Wembley. Admittedly my first time inside Wembley Stadium. I have stood outside it interviewing people about football.. however, this time I was going in!! OH F*CKING YEAHHHH. Because Oasis were on. I was always a closet Oasis fan when I was 15 but I was (DON’T FUCKING SHOOT ME) a die hard Blur fan. It’s true. And I’ve survived. Funnily enough. Both sets have been intensely amazing this summer. The bands are different and credible in their own rights so let’s not go on about it too much – its boring and should stay in the past. One thing I will say however: Wembley Stadium sucks. It’s claustrophobic and oppressive.. I was talking to a lovely lady in the toilet queue and her words were ‘it feels like a prison around these parts’ I mean come the f*ck on – if you’re paying 90 quid for a ticket and 4 pound a beer then you want to at least be able to go to the loo!! Hyde Park has the same problem. And in the time of a recession when 90 quid is on the way to a full price festival ticket where you can see many a band (at least 50) then why are you going to pay that much for one? Ok they’re living legends. But I want to see these money making venues sorting their act out and delivering the public more for their money. I am a lady don’t you know. Who needs to powder her nose from time to time.
Here’s a little video I made.
Other things Becki Burrows has been getting up to this week -
I went to see Chk Chk Chk or !!! at the Electric Ballroom. I love this band – but I was a little disappointed. Last time I saw Nic Offer he was far more sexual on stage and I have great memories about him gyrating onstage to the speakers. Yes. Sex can be a very amusing addition to a live show. I wanted more of that – but Nic Offer (lead singer) didn’t seem as keen as I did. *Devastation*. But bloody hell* – I hardly recognised him when he came on stage – he’s cut his hair, lost a load of weight. The crowd boo’ed when the band didn’t do an encore. But hey, they are still good.. I just think this is a band you should see at a festival. In the spirit of things. I also went to see Autokratz at Hoxton Bar and Grill. Really good. Really really good. I just wish it hadn’t been a Tuesday night with work on the next day. Scowl. That’s when you feel like you’re surrounded by students and the jealous factor hits you as you’re friend asks if you want another drink and danger signals bleep in your mind and you become fully aware of the 9 – 5 shift.
*I never (hardly ever) swear but I have just come back from an Oasis concert and I feel it is only appropriate to fuck fuckity fuck it when you’re delivering a blog about britpop music. Oh sh*t there go the sponsors..
I am listening to White Denim. Chew Lips. David Bowie. Blur. And Oasis. And my myspace band of the month are http://www.myspace.com/therumbleband. Their myspace pic sucked me in. Live and learn…
This is the video
I went to see Blur last night at Hyde Park. I f’ing love Blur. I stole my brothers Parklife CD when I was fifteen and developed a mild obsession (ie I wasn’t a nutcase). I have to say the gig last night was probably one of the best gigs I’ve ever been to. In my life. And I’ve been to a lot. The last time I saw this band I was 15 – at the NEC – back row – with binoculars. Very different to the festival experience of being a fully fledged adult. The atmosphere reminded me of what it was like to go to gigs back in the day. When you fell down the crowd picked you up. The crowd were there as one last night.. not like the atmosphere you get now at festivals such as V-Festival – where many members of the crowd fill their water bottles up with urine and chuck it about. For me – last night re-established the rules of what a gig is supposed to be about.
Dave Rowntree kicked arse on the drums. Best fifty quid I’ve ever spent!! I captured a few of the best moments on video below and quickly put them together –
