Friday, 31 August 2018
An idiots guide to an Idiot: New albums, new music.
An idiots guide to an Idiot: New albums, new music.: You'll know, if you've read any of my blogs about music that I still get excited when I get hold of a new album. I got three absolu...
New albums, new music.
You'll know, if you've read any of my blogs about music that I still get excited when I get hold of a new album. I got three absolute gems earlier on in the year, namely Saxon's album 'Thunderbolt,' Magnum's newy 'Lost on the road to eternity' & Judas Priest's offering of 'Firepower.' Three finer CD's I defy you to find.
I suppose I've got the new album bug as it were. You can pre order most if not all new albums off Amazon so you get it if not the day of release not far after, depending on what you've signed up for and of course what you pay. Admittedly if I waited months & months after release date I could probably, but not always, get the album cheaper but it wouldn't be the same, as good as it may be it would have lost that certain je ne sais quoi. (oooo look at him with his French phrases!)
Long story short, I've pre ordered one or two other new albums from bands I like. I've had another three since I last blogged about them. These are 'Vicious' by Halestorm, 'Forever warriors forever united' by Doro & 'Full Nelson' by Massive Wagons.
I won't do an in depth thing as I have tried to do with other albums but I hope to give you a flavour in case albeit unlikely, you decide to invest.
Halestorm then, this is their fourth studio album, got abit slated by one critic in Planet Rock magazine for being the same as the previous three though with Halestorm you do know what you're going to get. Is that a bad thing? I think not. Lzzy Hales has a great Rock/Metal voice and she gives it some welly on this album. It's loud and fiery, not an album you could sleep though. High spots for me are 'Conflicted' and 'Whitedress.' Lzzy's brother Arejay makes a good fist of the drums and the guitar & bass combo of Joseph Hottinger & Josh Smith make this an album that knocks yer socks off. It's probably not as good as their first three albums to be fair but it's worth getting.
I suppose I've got the new album bug as it were. You can pre order most if not all new albums off Amazon so you get it if not the day of release not far after, depending on what you've signed up for and of course what you pay. Admittedly if I waited months & months after release date I could probably, but not always, get the album cheaper but it wouldn't be the same, as good as it may be it would have lost that certain je ne sais quoi. (oooo look at him with his French phrases!)
Long story short, I've pre ordered one or two other new albums from bands I like. I've had another three since I last blogged about them. These are 'Vicious' by Halestorm, 'Forever warriors forever united' by Doro & 'Full Nelson' by Massive Wagons.
I won't do an in depth thing as I have tried to do with other albums but I hope to give you a flavour in case albeit unlikely, you decide to invest.
Halestorm then, this is their fourth studio album, got abit slated by one critic in Planet Rock magazine for being the same as the previous three though with Halestorm you do know what you're going to get. Is that a bad thing? I think not. Lzzy Hales has a great Rock/Metal voice and she gives it some welly on this album. It's loud and fiery, not an album you could sleep though. High spots for me are 'Conflicted' and 'Whitedress.' Lzzy's brother Arejay makes a good fist of the drums and the guitar & bass combo of Joseph Hottinger & Josh Smith make this an album that knocks yer socks off. It's probably not as good as their first three albums to be fair but it's worth getting.
Now to Doro or Dorothee Pesch to give her full name. From Germany (where metal bands seem constantly to be in the ascendance as with alot of Germanic & Norse countries) Known by some people ( not sure who!) as the 'Queen of heavy metal.' With a band called Warlock to start with Doro as an entity took shape in 1990. She's a funny old bird, younger than me but has obviously lived a hard life. Only seen her once and that was as a guest appearance at a Saxon gig! She can belt out a rock/metal number so she's OK by me.
This album is a two disc affair one called 'Forever warriors' the other, not surprisingly 'Forever united.' It's a mixed bag but has a quality and power that I can't help liking and have had this one playing in the car quite a bit! I have never been a fan of the very low growly vocal that some types of metal band adopted so Johan Hegg's guest appearance on the 'If I can't have you-no one will' has left me cold. It's a good track but ditch the monster type vocal.
Wasn't sure whether I liked Doro's voice to start with but I have to say I really like it now. I only have one other album by Doro and that's a compilation so I've had a taste of what they have done throughout their time and I do like this later stuff. I suppose if 'Forever warriors' has the rocky songs that knock you over then 'Forever united' has a few more ballady type songs '1000 years' being a good example. I really like this album, so much so that if she toured in the UK I'd try and see her & it's a racing certainty that I'll be investing in more Doro albums.
I have left the best till last, in my humble opinion anyway. Massive Wagons have only been going since 2009 I first heard them when their tribute to the late Rick Parfitt of The Quo was released as a single called 'Back to the stack'. It's a great track and features on this their forth album. I love the line that goes 'Why don't you raise your glass to Rick cos I'm raising mine.' Must say I get goosepimples when I hear that line, it's a great tribute song to one of the all time rock n roll beasts. It even mentions two Quo songs in the lyrics 'Blue for you' and 'Down Down.'
I can't believe I haven't taken notice of this band before, hailing from Lancaster in the NE of England they are quite simply bloody marvellous! I've played and played this album, particularly in the car where I can join in and sound good (really!?)
There's not really a duff track on the album 'Last on the list' is another fave, anti religious it fits my profile as well! 'Northern Boy' is a good un too.
So in true Desert Island discs style which of these albums would I rescue if the others got washed away? Has to be Massive Wagons 'Full Nelson.' A verity of tracks that would keep me amused and singing.
That's it really, just afew thoughts on 3 new albums, all well worth a listen. Stay tuned for the new releases from 'Beyond the Black,' 'Uriah Heap,' and a re-release from The Quireboys!
Sunday, 26 August 2018
An idiots guide to an Idiot: The eagle has landed or the joy of family.
An idiots guide to an Idiot: The eagle has landed or the joy of family.: Not the moon landings, not the film or book but Number 2 Son back in the UK for a couple of weeks.To say we've been looking forward to ...
An idiots guide to an Idiot: The eagle has landed or the joy of family.
An idiots guide to an Idiot: The eagle has landed or the joy of family.: Not the moon landings, not the film or book but Number 2 Son back in the UK for a couple of weeks.To say we've been looking forward to ...
An idiots guide to an Idiot: The eagle has landed or the joy of family.
An idiots guide to an Idiot: The eagle has landed or the joy of family.: Not the moon landings, not the film or book but Number 2 Son back in the UK for a couple of weeks.To say we've been looking forward to ...
The eagle has landed or the joy of family.
Not the moon landings, not the film or book but Number 2 Son back in the UK for a couple of weeks.To say we've been looking forward to it is an understatement!
Tara was there to pick up Alec, & Kathy to get Laura. First off a family dinner with Gary & Ellie, Olly & Laura & Ella & Julian at ours. Alec and Laura have really been pulled from pillar to post as so many people wanted to see them, of the many high spots with them was a BBQ we'd arranged , had about 20 friends and family round and with the weather so glorious it went very well. Massively over catered but what the hell, also got some beautiful ale from Tring Brewery. 'Side pocket for a toad' a delicious brew, chilled nicely and at 3.6% a good quaffable beer, though not many people seemed to drink it, it did all go though! The day went really well and nobody seemed in a hurry to leave. How many extra bottles of Prosecco Laura, Eilish & Laura bought & drank I really don't know! Luckily for everyone Olly took over the BBQing, he reckon I was mullering the chicken legs, have to say he did a great job! It was really really lovely to see everyone, and Alec & Laura mingled, after all everyone was there to see them! Much hilarity when Laura tried (and eventually succeeded) in getting a group photo of us all after a few takes with first Ellie then Beren missing from the shot. Got there in the end though, the results are absolutely cracking!
We hadn't seen as much of Laura as we'd hoped as her Mum had all her brood in one place for the first time in quite a while & took them away for a week, this did mean we saw abit more of Alec I think. I know A&L appreciated our efforts & our goodbyes at the end of the evening when they went off were quite emotional. I've never been very good at this stiff upper lip nonsense, in fact I'm not sure it was ever a healthy thing anyway,nevertheless we'd all had a brilliant day.
We also had a very nice walk with Alec from the Ashridge Monument down into Aldbury for a pub lunch in The Greyhound, they could cater for gluten intolerance and also allowed dogs in. Shows how hot its been as the village pond was bone dry, someone had placed 3 rubber ducks in it as the real ones are elsewhere!
Did what had become bit of a Christmas tradition with Gary, Alec & Olly, namely a trip to the RAF Museum in Hendon. It's had a re launch with it being 100 years since the formation of the RAF though we all thought it wasn't as good as the former layout. There's alot more interactive things to play on, (you can fly a drone but can't bomb anything! PC gone mad again maybe?) but it was a great trip, we returned home, picked up Tara & Ida and went for excellent lunch at The Bell in Studham.
Ellie joined us later as we were going to the cinema, an outdoor cinema in Priory Gardens. They were showing the 1986 film Labyrinth that starred David Bowie & also all the Jim Henson creations in a fantasy film. An odd choice you may think, but its a film the boys liked when they were little. Viewing it again about 25 years on the film seemed rather slow, though there was alot of people there to watch it too, and not many of them were children! Decanted to The Victoria after & met Alec & Laura's friend Kelly & her family who all seemed really nice, we spent awhile there and went home
Lost track of the order of these events, not that it is integral to the blog. Alec had told us he's missed a proper English brekky, so we picked up Ella & Julian one morning and went down to the Halfway House for a good feed....though I forgot to order sausage for mine! Another evening, T was feeling a ropey when Alec invited me to join him & Big Man for a beer at The Victoria, it was an excellent evening & good to get to know BM alittle better, he really is a top man.
Our final evening with Alec came all too quickly we had pizza's at home then went down to The Highwayman.
Got them both to Heathrow for their flight back to Oz, the bag check took ages and an added complication was the fact that the system had Alec & Laura still in Australia! Once that was sorted, & it took a time, it was time for them to go airside. More emotional goodbyes. I didn't say much, I just couldn't. Then they were off.
On route back after dropping Kathy off we decided on dinner at the Farmers Boy. One of Tara 's friends sent her a heartfelt message about the unconditional love of parents and it was better than I could ever encapsulate in words.
Unfortunately for them Alec & Laura had a two hour delay at Heathrow which threw out all their connecting flights so what was a 36 hour trip turned into 45 hours! Can't tell you how much we enjoyed seeing Alec and Laura, the time went all too fast. They won't be home anytime soon so we really will have to sort out going to see them.
Tara was there to pick up Alec, & Kathy to get Laura. First off a family dinner with Gary & Ellie, Olly & Laura & Ella & Julian at ours. Alec and Laura have really been pulled from pillar to post as so many people wanted to see them, of the many high spots with them was a BBQ we'd arranged , had about 20 friends and family round and with the weather so glorious it went very well. Massively over catered but what the hell, also got some beautiful ale from Tring Brewery. 'Side pocket for a toad' a delicious brew, chilled nicely and at 3.6% a good quaffable beer, though not many people seemed to drink it, it did all go though! The day went really well and nobody seemed in a hurry to leave. How many extra bottles of Prosecco Laura, Eilish & Laura bought & drank I really don't know! Luckily for everyone Olly took over the BBQing, he reckon I was mullering the chicken legs, have to say he did a great job! It was really really lovely to see everyone, and Alec & Laura mingled, after all everyone was there to see them! Much hilarity when Laura tried (and eventually succeeded) in getting a group photo of us all after a few takes with first Ellie then Beren missing from the shot. Got there in the end though, the results are absolutely cracking!
We hadn't seen as much of Laura as we'd hoped as her Mum had all her brood in one place for the first time in quite a while & took them away for a week, this did mean we saw abit more of Alec I think. I know A&L appreciated our efforts & our goodbyes at the end of the evening when they went off were quite emotional. I've never been very good at this stiff upper lip nonsense, in fact I'm not sure it was ever a healthy thing anyway,nevertheless we'd all had a brilliant day.
We also had a very nice walk with Alec from the Ashridge Monument down into Aldbury for a pub lunch in The Greyhound, they could cater for gluten intolerance and also allowed dogs in. Shows how hot its been as the village pond was bone dry, someone had placed 3 rubber ducks in it as the real ones are elsewhere!
Ellie joined us later as we were going to the cinema, an outdoor cinema in Priory Gardens. They were showing the 1986 film Labyrinth that starred David Bowie & also all the Jim Henson creations in a fantasy film. An odd choice you may think, but its a film the boys liked when they were little. Viewing it again about 25 years on the film seemed rather slow, though there was alot of people there to watch it too, and not many of them were children! Decanted to The Victoria after & met Alec & Laura's friend Kelly & her family who all seemed really nice, we spent awhile there and went home
Lost track of the order of these events, not that it is integral to the blog. Alec had told us he's missed a proper English brekky, so we picked up Ella & Julian one morning and went down to the Halfway House for a good feed....though I forgot to order sausage for mine! Another evening, T was feeling a ropey when Alec invited me to join him & Big Man for a beer at The Victoria, it was an excellent evening & good to get to know BM alittle better, he really is a top man.
Our final evening with Alec came all too quickly we had pizza's at home then went down to The Highwayman.
Got them both to Heathrow for their flight back to Oz, the bag check took ages and an added complication was the fact that the system had Alec & Laura still in Australia! Once that was sorted, & it took a time, it was time for them to go airside. More emotional goodbyes. I didn't say much, I just couldn't. Then they were off.
On route back after dropping Kathy off we decided on dinner at the Farmers Boy. One of Tara 's friends sent her a heartfelt message about the unconditional love of parents and it was better than I could ever encapsulate in words.
Unfortunately for them Alec & Laura had a two hour delay at Heathrow which threw out all their connecting flights so what was a 36 hour trip turned into 45 hours! Can't tell you how much we enjoyed seeing Alec and Laura, the time went all too fast. They won't be home anytime soon so we really will have to sort out going to see them.
Sunday, 29 July 2018
An idiots guide to an Idiot: Wedding Day Ambush.
An idiots guide to an Idiot: Wedding Day Ambush.: This is a blog of two parts really, first and most importantly we were invited to the wedding evening do of a young man we've known sin...
Wedding Day Ambush.
This is a blog of two parts really, first and most importantly we were invited to the wedding evening do of a young man we've known since he was about 2 years old. Alec's best buddy Sparky. Alec was to be one of the Ushers and we were very touched to be invited as well.
The boys were all there for the whole day so we came along in the evening bringing all the girls with us, it was lovely hearing them all chirruping away, all obviously getting on well and excited about the evening.Who doesn't love a wedding? We very much enjoyed their company and if I'm honest regard them as the daughters we never had. We love them all.
It was a long journey there but we got there eventually. I wanted to get a photo of everyone before we went in but all needed the toilet by the time we arrived and rushed in, so my photo opportunity was missed. Bugger! The very hot weather we've been having finished yesterday and it was quite chilly and then wet, not that dampened any spirits. Good to catch up with some great lads , many of whom we have known since they were little chaps. James, Darren, Big Man, Sparky of course, Liam, Ben,Dan, Lee to mention but a few. It's a funny thing to reminisce, thinking of sleep overs the boys had, the football matches & tournaments we watched them play, it is truly touching to see what fine young men they've all grown into. It warmed the cockles of my heart.
Sparky & Emma make a lovely couple, if they are as happy as Tara & I are then they'll be doing alright.
The boys were all there for the whole day so we came along in the evening bringing all the girls with us, it was lovely hearing them all chirruping away, all obviously getting on well and excited about the evening.Who doesn't love a wedding? We very much enjoyed their company and if I'm honest regard them as the daughters we never had. We love them all.
It was a long journey there but we got there eventually. I wanted to get a photo of everyone before we went in but all needed the toilet by the time we arrived and rushed in, so my photo opportunity was missed. Bugger! The very hot weather we've been having finished yesterday and it was quite chilly and then wet, not that dampened any spirits. Good to catch up with some great lads , many of whom we have known since they were little chaps. James, Darren, Big Man, Sparky of course, Liam, Ben,Dan, Lee to mention but a few. It's a funny thing to reminisce, thinking of sleep overs the boys had, the football matches & tournaments we watched them play, it is truly touching to see what fine young men they've all grown into. It warmed the cockles of my heart.
Sparky & Emma make a lovely couple, if they are as happy as Tara & I are then they'll be doing alright.
The ambush? Ah yes. It is of course traditional to try to embarrass your parents and our boys, & their friends it turns out have been able to do it with aplomb. A question to me whether I prefer flats or heels & a comment heard by Olly about 'lying down shoes' led to much mirth at our expense. It was however very very funny!
Friday, 27 July 2018
An idiots guide to an Idiot: Away again
An idiots guide to an Idiot: Away again: New job, new gig and away in a different part of the country. Stayed near Arundel in a delightful part of Sussex, it was called the Roundab...
Away again
New job, new gig and away in a different part of the country. Stayed near Arundel in a delightful part of Sussex, it was called the Roundabout Hotel & without reading the blurb properly I expected a motel type place on, obviously, a roundabout! Wrong! It was in a village called West Chiltington which itself was the brainchild of a Reginald Wells, he built an estate of houses in this part of the world in the 1920' calling them the Roundabouts, this hotel ,although older than that harks back to an old coaching inn. Not a roundabout to be seen! It was a rally pleasant stay with of course a couple of refreshing golden ales. Namely Horsham Brewery's Hophead, at 3.8% definitely a quaffing beer. An excellent dinner of seafood salad and then lamb made a very good end to a long and hot day. I'd stay here again!
Wednesday, 18 July 2018
An idiots guide to an Idiot: Redbournestoke Morris
An idiots guide to an Idiot: Redbournestoke Morris: Met our dear friends Kas & Stan in Toddington last night. The Morris side that Stan & Dan first belonged to were doing their annual...
Redbournestoke Morris
Met our dear friends Kas & Stan in Toddington last night. The Morris side that Stan & Dan first belonged to were doing their annual tour of Toddington to dance outside each pub in the village. This gig was different as it was to be their last hurrah as the side is folding due to lack of new members.
We took Kevin along as well who proved he wasn't a Morris fan but was a cider fan. We took Ida of course & also this weeks guest Charlie. There's a great like micro pub opened up called The Cuckoo, it was very friendly and served good beer, essential on the warm evening that it was. It was nice to see that a number of other sides had turned out to see Redbournestoke off in style. It was a grand evening.
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