Dear DC
I wasn't expecting to feel sad about my departure but it's hard not to wish I wasn't leaving. The fast half was tough I'll admit but in the last six months i feel like we've really become great friends. It's hard to know what to say so I think maybe i should turn to the words of another "splendid bugger", Stephen Merritt of Magnetic Fields.
W a-s-h i-n-g t-o-n, baby, D.C.!
W a-s-h i-n-g t-o-n, baby, D.C.!
Washington, D.C.
It's paradise to me
It's not because it is the grand old seat
Of precious freedom and democracy
No, no, no
It's not the greenery turning gold in fall
The scenery circling the Mall
It's just that's where my baby lives
That's all.
Washington D.C.!
It's the greatest place to be
It's not the cherries everywhere in bloom
It's not the way they put folks on the moon
No, no, no
It's not the spectacles and pagaentry
The thousand things you've got to see
It's just that's where my baby waits for me
W a-s-h i-n-g t-o-n, baby D.C.!
W a-s-h i-n-g t-o-n, baby D.C.!
Washington, D.C.!
It fits me to a T
It's not the people doing something real
It's not the way the springtime makes you feel
No, no, no
It ain't no famous name on a golden plaque
That keeps me that makes me ride that railroad track
It's my baby's kiss that keeps me coming back
It's my baby's kiss that keeps me coming back
I'll be back.
Nick
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
And you know this
1. Americans are NOT stupid.
Yes they have a very stupid president but really, judging an entire people on its political leaders is no more legitimate than judging it on its big brother contestants. The paradoxical truth is that the people who would be best in the job are those who wouldn't in a million years dream of applying for it.
2. American beer is better than British beer.
Admittedly the top-seelling brews taste like piss but as a rule, these come in shiny silver and blue cans and the word "light" follows the brand name and these are hence easily avoided. If you drink beer because you enjoy its flavour (i'm back in England now, I don't need to spell it 'flavor' anymore and don't feel i'm ghetto enough to spell it 'flava') then the selection of fabulous ickle breweries in the states is stupendous.
3. Americans drink to get drunk.
Casual drinking is out. Mid-week drinking? Don't think so. Paraletic at weekends? Hell yeah.
4. Any job worth doing in America has a white face attached.
Of COURSE that's an absurd generalization and by America I really mean DC but the truth is, when it comes to the service sector at least, the shittier the job is the less likely it is to be a white guy doing it.
Yes they have a very stupid president but really, judging an entire people on its political leaders is no more legitimate than judging it on its big brother contestants. The paradoxical truth is that the people who would be best in the job are those who wouldn't in a million years dream of applying for it.
2. American beer is better than British beer.
Admittedly the top-seelling brews taste like piss but as a rule, these come in shiny silver and blue cans and the word "light" follows the brand name and these are hence easily avoided. If you drink beer because you enjoy its flavour (i'm back in England now, I don't need to spell it 'flavor' anymore and don't feel i'm ghetto enough to spell it 'flava') then the selection of fabulous ickle breweries in the states is stupendous.
3. Americans drink to get drunk.
Casual drinking is out. Mid-week drinking? Don't think so. Paraletic at weekends? Hell yeah.
4. Any job worth doing in America has a white face attached.
Of COURSE that's an absurd generalization and by America I really mean DC but the truth is, when it comes to the service sector at least, the shittier the job is the less likely it is to be a white guy doing it.
Monday, May 15, 2006
It's 2.16am and I'm sitting at a computer screen attempting to power my way through to 4.30 when my shuttle picks me up to take me to Baltimore airport from where I'm flying to Seattle. I figured now was as good a time as any to update you on goings-on stateside considering how lame I've been on that front of late, with the only recent entries being album reviews written for Subculture. Here's another one by the way: Casiotone for the Painfully Alone.
So yes, I'm lissnin to nineties ladmag throwback Chris Moyles live on Radio1. Which is weird. he is a dick but I admire his ability to talk for half an hour straight without playing a choon. radio geeks will tell you that's a cardinal sin and one I also used to enjoy breaking back at good old URF when I think my record approached 45 minutes for straight talking without either playing a song or allowing anyone else - including Damien who was on the phone from Sheffield - a word in. (heard the station's gone somewhat down the crapper in my absence this past year, that is quite sad :( but maybe can be reinvigorated upon my return. Currently planning a reunion show with Chris and Arnie in early June. keep yez updated on that one.)
So. Umm. Yeah. (2.28am) What's been going on eh? My intramural football team made it to the final of the IM cup. Which was rather impressive considering we didn't lead a single game for a single minute in five group games and three playoff matches. The first round of playoffs we won on penalties, the second we went through when the other team were defaulted for fielding several ineligible players. Sadly our run of luck did not continue in the final. 0-0 after 90 (by which i mean 40) minutes including a goal that should have been (by us) but was judged not to cross the line. a last minute counter-attack in extra time from them lead to a cock-up by our last man (who had played a stonking game apart from that) and the prize t-shirt that seemed so close was snatched from grasp. ah well, maybe next year.
What else? Mr. Alex Murray came to stay in April. That was a cracker of a week. Went canoeing on the Potomac and to a few gigs including one at DC9 (audience of about 20 including at least 8 or so people from the other bands) by Lair of the Minotaur who are noisy and screamy and quite cheesy and growl a lot but was fun and not the sort of thing i'd normally go to. Also Regina Spektor the previous night at 9:30 Club who was sweet and weird and plays a chair with a stick. Oh yeah, and we spent the first day Al was here at RFK stadium enjoying baseball and beers in the sunshine. I swear there is no better way to spend a summer's afternoon.
2.49am
Other gigs. Nickel Creek at 930 club. They were grand and was especialyl satifying given that last time they came to Washington I buggered the date up and was in Pittsburgh. They played a supoib bluegrass cover of Britney's Toxic and The Weight by The Band which, as it always does, made me think of Franny and all those trips of yore in his little car when I would belt out "get a load of franny" to successfully piss off the boy behind the wheel. Good times. I was a little dismayed to see the average age of the audience was far higher than I'm used to which obviously means only one thing. is my music taste that middle of the road??!?!
My mind is a bit blank. Umm. Lots of work been done up until last week when I officially finished my Georgetown academic career. Essays of the lowest quality coming out of my arse. Kinda appropriate that. Had my last proper night out in DC for a while yesterday involving a meal at Front Page with Eel and Evie, a game of Kings, The Black Cat and falling asleep in The Diner. This is deemed to be a "party foul" and the result was exploitation/abuse by my compatriots: Close-up photos of my be-jeaned groin and simulated acts of an inappropriate nature. Will pose 'em up soon unless my mother tells me not too. Got back to my room at 6am and then had to be all packed up and checked out by noon. Tough day.
3.06am. I'm really struggling now. It's late. And I have to head to Seattle to reunite with Christina and then going to music festival Sasquatch to see Beck, the Shins, Nine Inch Nails and others. That is, i'll be going if I can find a way of getting there. I was told it happens at the Gorge near Seattle. Then spoke to Nate who informed me that it is in fact five hours outside Seattle. Okay. Lissenup Americans: 5 hours away IS NOT NEAR! Or maybe it is. And Brighton is NEAR Manchester. Grrr.
Hokay, i'm pretty much done for now. And done with my Georgeotwn experience completely. I shall continue blogging back in Britain cos it's kinda fun although I assume no-one'll really give a shit what I'm up to and if you do you'll either ask me when you see me or be doing it with me. Nonetheless the blog will be cleverly re-titled The South-East Coast Sound - cos i'm gonna be in Brighton durrrr.
Update: 3.59am.
I'm still here. I feel dead.
So yes, I'm lissnin to nineties ladmag throwback Chris Moyles live on Radio1. Which is weird. he is a dick but I admire his ability to talk for half an hour straight without playing a choon. radio geeks will tell you that's a cardinal sin and one I also used to enjoy breaking back at good old URF when I think my record approached 45 minutes for straight talking without either playing a song or allowing anyone else - including Damien who was on the phone from Sheffield - a word in. (heard the station's gone somewhat down the crapper in my absence this past year, that is quite sad :( but maybe can be reinvigorated upon my return. Currently planning a reunion show with Chris and Arnie in early June. keep yez updated on that one.)
So. Umm. Yeah. (2.28am) What's been going on eh? My intramural football team made it to the final of the IM cup. Which was rather impressive considering we didn't lead a single game for a single minute in five group games and three playoff matches. The first round of playoffs we won on penalties, the second we went through when the other team were defaulted for fielding several ineligible players. Sadly our run of luck did not continue in the final. 0-0 after 90 (by which i mean 40) minutes including a goal that should have been (by us) but was judged not to cross the line. a last minute counter-attack in extra time from them lead to a cock-up by our last man (who had played a stonking game apart from that) and the prize t-shirt that seemed so close was snatched from grasp. ah well, maybe next year.
What else? Mr. Alex Murray came to stay in April. That was a cracker of a week. Went canoeing on the Potomac and to a few gigs including one at DC9 (audience of about 20 including at least 8 or so people from the other bands) by Lair of the Minotaur who are noisy and screamy and quite cheesy and growl a lot but was fun and not the sort of thing i'd normally go to. Also Regina Spektor the previous night at 9:30 Club who was sweet and weird and plays a chair with a stick. Oh yeah, and we spent the first day Al was here at RFK stadium enjoying baseball and beers in the sunshine. I swear there is no better way to spend a summer's afternoon.
2.49am
Other gigs. Nickel Creek at 930 club. They were grand and was especialyl satifying given that last time they came to Washington I buggered the date up and was in Pittsburgh. They played a supoib bluegrass cover of Britney's Toxic and The Weight by The Band which, as it always does, made me think of Franny and all those trips of yore in his little car when I would belt out "get a load of franny" to successfully piss off the boy behind the wheel. Good times. I was a little dismayed to see the average age of the audience was far higher than I'm used to which obviously means only one thing. is my music taste that middle of the road??!?!
My mind is a bit blank. Umm. Lots of work been done up until last week when I officially finished my Georgetown academic career. Essays of the lowest quality coming out of my arse. Kinda appropriate that. Had my last proper night out in DC for a while yesterday involving a meal at Front Page with Eel and Evie, a game of Kings, The Black Cat and falling asleep in The Diner. This is deemed to be a "party foul" and the result was exploitation/abuse by my compatriots: Close-up photos of my be-jeaned groin and simulated acts of an inappropriate nature. Will pose 'em up soon unless my mother tells me not too. Got back to my room at 6am and then had to be all packed up and checked out by noon. Tough day.
3.06am. I'm really struggling now. It's late. And I have to head to Seattle to reunite with Christina and then going to music festival Sasquatch to see Beck, the Shins, Nine Inch Nails and others. That is, i'll be going if I can find a way of getting there. I was told it happens at the Gorge near Seattle. Then spoke to Nate who informed me that it is in fact five hours outside Seattle. Okay. Lissenup Americans: 5 hours away IS NOT NEAR! Or maybe it is. And Brighton is NEAR Manchester. Grrr.
Hokay, i'm pretty much done for now. And done with my Georgeotwn experience completely. I shall continue blogging back in Britain cos it's kinda fun although I assume no-one'll really give a shit what I'm up to and if you do you'll either ask me when you see me or be doing it with me. Nonetheless the blog will be cleverly re-titled The South-East Coast Sound - cos i'm gonna be in Brighton durrrr.
Update: 3.59am.
I'm still here. I feel dead.
Monday, May 08, 2006
So it seems I haven't had the time/inclination of late to update youse mofos on my continuing adventures in democracyland. Writing to order takes it out of you a tad. Here's my latest offering to subculturemagazine: Click Morrissey
Who says the album's been out for a month already?
Who says the album's been out for a month already?
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