Musings, cogitations and recommendations

Cass McCombs – a new discovery January 27, 2011

County Line

The Unthanks @ Union Chapel December 31, 2010

Earlier in December, I was lucky enough to catch the Unthanks at the lovely Union Chapel, one of my favourite venues for its ability to bring you up close and intimate to the performers. No Northumbrian folk songs this time, but a concert of Antony Hegarty’s and Robert Wyatt’s music which both suited the girls’ fine voices but the latter a tad more so I would say. Indeed I think the pitch of Antony’s voice is so much higher than both of Rachel and Becky’s voices. They did a wonderful job though, especially on Paddy’s Gone with a seven voice chorus format.

But the second half of the show was an immense treat with heartbreakingly beautiful songs from Robert Wyatt. One of the songs he recommended for them, Cuckoo Madame, was the hardest of all to sing but they tackled it bravely. My favourite Last Will and Testament was also performed by the end of the concert I felt that Robert Wyatt really wrote songs that the Unthanks were built to sing. Hopefully they will record an album of these songs as they said they may. I will buy it for sure.

Happy fucking New Year everyone! December 31, 2010

Gabby Young and Other Animals December 3, 2010

The wonderfully rich tones of Ms Gabby Young with her animals

Useless gobshites December 3, 2010

Couldn't have said it better meself

Now I’m not a fan of the tabloid Irish Daily Star but really they took the words out of the collective Irish beal with this headlline in the wake of Ireland’s economic meltdown…

Surely Fianna Fail are finished as a political force in Ireland given all that has recently happened. They are a fucking disgrace but then again they always were. From Charlie Haughey, master criminal, who narrowly escaped real punishment cos his accountant happened to die in a car crash (handy that) to Bertie Ahern who was the cutest hoor of them all according to Haughey and went down after the tribunal decided that taking a loan from friends while Finance Minister did smack of oooh corruption to the latest debacle led by Biffo (Big Ignorant Fucker From Offaly – in case you didn’t know). My sister tells me their support is at an all time low of 13% – here’s hoping that parish pump politics in Ireland is over and the legacy of FF is dead and buried. Then we might have some chance of survival…

The Sphinx Dining Club triumphs, 16 October 2010 October 26, 2010

Well my life was taken over by the fundraiser which I started trying to organise way back in May this year. After a summer of looking, the venue presented itself – St John the Evangelist Church was a bigger challenge than I had originally envisaged taking on but once the vicar said yes there was no turning back.

Things really got going in mid-August once the blog was launched and ticket sales began. Needless to say we sold out easily and there were many disappointed. Volunteers came and went, but the core of people who stayed for the ride were really exceptional and I couldn’t have done it without them. Special mention goes to Russell, art director and set builder extraordinaire and Yun our head chef who produced some wonderful food in difficult conditions. Everyone else contributed massively and it was truly a team effort. Check the Flickr stream for pictures from the event – http://www.flickr.com/photos/craig_r1978/sets/72157625184132306/

The Sphinx Dining Club gathers pace August 22, 2010

Well it’s about five weeks since the vicar of St John the Evangelist’s, the very Rev Bev, said yes to us holding a benefit event in the actual church and it’s become a bit of a behemoth. The event is now a banquet dinner for 120 people with a concert of local artistes, all overlaid with our Victorian theme which feels just right for such a beautifully perfect example of Gothic Victorian architecture such as this church is:

St John's by Craig Richardson

People are queuing up to give up their skills, time and energies for free. It’s so encouraging to find that we still want to be part of something, still want to give of ourselves for a good cause, even in Londontown. But then this is Crystal Palace and this is a special place. It’s not part of the greater mass of London where the faceless, unfriendly, self-aggrandising masses seethe. This is a place of community, with passionate enthusiasm for our green and beautiful suburb.

Sphinx, Crystal Palace park

Sometimes I feel like I am dangling from a crane, there is so much to do and so much money to raise to cover costs but it’s a good feeling and I know that there’s a soft landing. Putting your heart and soul into a project like this feels good and feels right. It can only be be a roaring success with so much positive energy and contributions from so many talented people. I know it will be a night to remember.

The transmitter from the park

The Beauty Queen of Leenane – a wickedly funny tale of loneliness and madness August 7, 2010

A bit of an oxymoron there – wickedly funny loneliness and madness but that’s what Martin McDonagh’s break through play delivers in spades. Maureen Folan, a spinster with a history of mental illness, is trapped in the remote Leenane in Connemara, with her bitter, nasty mother. At first you feel Mags, her mother, deserves all she gets but that’s just words. When things turn physically violent you begin to realise that Maureen is not the full shilling. A night of fun with Pato, home from England, gives her the motivation to finally get out but all is not what it seems in the Beauty Queen of Leenane and sure of course – you weren’t hoping for a happy ending, were ya? Whishit – no chance of that!

I wouldn't get in the middle of that one, Pato

Incredible acting from Susan Lynch, Rosaleen Linehan and David Hanly, razor sharp script with such an ear for dialogue and the accent of Connemara and of course McDonagh’s trademark wildly dark comedy. Go see.