I'm headed to India for a couple of weeks (via the Betsey Trotwood in London for a Champs press show tonight).
Don't worry, I won't forget your postcard
One of my favourite bands.
Ghosts and Vodka stem from Cap'n Jazz, a highly influential Chicago-based early emo band active in the early nineties (listen to Oh Messy Life on Analphabetapolothology).
Sadly they split up all too soon, their entire catalogue collated on a single retrospective album. However, their being sowed the seed for several other great Chicago-scene bands to come and go over years - a couple of my other favourites are Owls and Joan of Arc.
I discovered Ghosts and Vodka quite organically in a journal about constructing communities through independent music subcultures in Chicago that I was reading as part of my research for my dissertation. I loved 'em from the start and listened loads when I was living in Canton, Cardiff.
Unusually for me (at least nowadays) it's entirely instrumental. But don't be scared! Dive in and have a listen to Andrea Loves Horses and It's All About Right Then:
For me it's all about the guitarist Victor Villarreal. His unique sound and style define everything he's involved with. Unfortunately he succumbed to the temptations of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle, which was probably partly responsible for the band splitting in 2001 (again their entire catalogue sitting comfortably on an appropriately-titled single album: Addicts and Drunks...)
From what I can gather, they never really achieved much outside Chicago. Heck, I guess that's part of the charm for me. Being in bands and making music is a great way to live your life, and these guys were doing it and being great at it.
We ventured out Dublin way for a really great Champs/Fionn show amidst the snowfall...
...Dublin looked great in the morning light...
...I picked up a great pair of Tom Ford MAX Sunglasses in the duty free...
...Sunday night we headed straight into Islington for Growlers 30th Birthday celebrations at the Lexington. Happy returns to the chap! What a great guy.
Merry belated Christmas also. I've been uber busy lately - lots of exciting happenings planned for the new year - not to mention blogs upcoming of my recent BOV victories!!!
...of winter in Oxfordshire today.
I've a sure feeling it'll be a white Christmas next week...!
It's been a fun filled few days.
On Monday Dusty and friends (including Jason Russo who was over with Mercury Rev and his fine friend Alex, fresh from NYC via Paris) recorded at Coldroom in Oxford with the Sam Williams.
Sam was great, and it was a real eye-opener
First thing Tuesday morning, Growler and I flew over to Cork, then drove across to an old fishing village called Dingle right on the Atlantic.
Dingle was a quaint place with an interesting but really nice and remote atmosphere. The tannoy system dispersed around the village playing old Christmas carols and hymns probably contributed.
We were there to do a TV show called Other Voices with Fionn Regan. The show airs in a series of 6 episodes early each year. Filming takes over the village and there were a few familiar faces at the bar.
On the evening of the Tuesday we performed a short set in the church. Before us played The Temper Trap and Brett Anderson of Suede. It was a slick operation, and having never done TV before, quite exhilarating!
Then on Wednesday morning, feeling slightly the worse for wear and requiring significantly longer in the makeup chair, we did an acoustic song in an incredible (if suspiciously named...) drinking house called Dick Mack's. A sign outside read "Where's Dicks Mack's? Opposite the church. Where's the church? Opposite Dick Mack's." Amazing.
Check out the stylish barman:
All too soon we were headed off. The scenery on the way to tiny Kerry airport was incredible.
Hope to be on the Dingle peninsular again some day...
On Monday Dusty and friends (including Jason Russo who was over with Mercury Rev and his fine friend Alex, fresh from NYC via Paris) recorded at Coldroom in Oxford with the Sam Williams.
Sam was great, and it was a real eye-opener
First thing Tuesday morning, Growler and I flew over to Cork, then drove across to an old fishing village called Dingle right on the Atlantic.
Dingle was a quaint place with an interesting but really nice and remote atmosphere. The tannoy system dispersed around the village playing old Christmas carols and hymns probably contributed.
We were there to do a TV show called Other Voices with Fionn Regan. The show airs in a series of 6 episodes early each year. Filming takes over the village and there were a few familiar faces at the bar.
On the evening of the Tuesday we performed a short set in the church. Before us played The Temper Trap and Brett Anderson of Suede. It was a slick operation, and having never done TV before, quite exhilarating!
Then on Wednesday morning, feeling slightly the worse for wear and requiring significantly longer in the makeup chair, we did an acoustic song in an incredible (if suspiciously named...) drinking house called Dick Mack's. A sign outside read "Where's Dicks Mack's? Opposite the church. Where's the church? Opposite Dick Mack's." Amazing.
Check out the stylish barman:
All too soon we were headed off. The scenery on the way to tiny Kerry airport was incredible.
Hope to be on the Dingle peninsular again some day...
From a review of the recent Fionn tour:
"The Paul Dano lookalike drummer battles away behind his kit to keep things nice and loud as he tries his hardest to join the Movember movement, and the rest of the band equally keep the momentum going."
Many good times and Fink Brau were had at 24 Treorky Street. Normally, the two went hand-in-hand.
Actually, back then most things went Fink Brau-in-hand.
Actually, back then most things went Fink Brau-in-hand.
This amazing bottle of Champagne (it's actually brandy) was in my shop today. It's from 1812 and apparently sailed to this country on a ship with Napoleon. It was found in someones garage during a house clearance and has been sent to auction with a estimate of £600!
I spent the last two weeks rehearsing and then touring with Fionn Regan and the Champs.
It began with a long Monday morning queue on the M40.
We rehearsed in Shepherds Bush next door to Alison Moyet.
Next we headed out on tour. First stop: Glasgow.
Manchester was a cool venue with a maaaaassive d.i.s.c.o ball!
London was great.
Next up was Cardiff where Tom was hard at work mixing the amazing Man Without Country tracks in his crunked-up bedroom!
And finally Brighton. The weather was gale-force but doesn't Growler look victorious in the van.
Unless I'm mistaken, every night was sold out. Good times!
It began with a long Monday morning queue on the M40.
We rehearsed in Shepherds Bush next door to Alison Moyet.
Next we headed out on tour. First stop: Glasgow.
Manchester was a cool venue with a maaaaassive d.i.s.c.o ball!
London was great.
Next up was Cardiff where Tom was hard at work mixing the amazing Man Without Country tracks in his crunked-up bedroom!
And finally Brighton. The weather was gale-force but doesn't Growler look victorious in the van.
Unless I'm mistaken, every night was sold out. Good times!
As fate should have it, there did turn out to be an amazing pair of boots waiting for me at BOV!
Rev was on good form as ever. She's off to Canadia for some 6 months of ski mania as of Sunday - sad times.
It's party time in her honour tonight, then I'm rehearsing and touring with Fionn Regan for two weeks as of Monday - expect more bloggings. Until then...
Rev was on good form as ever. She's off to Canadia for some 6 months of ski mania as of Sunday - sad times.
It's party time in her honour tonight, then I'm rehearsing and touring with Fionn Regan for two weeks as of Monday - expect more bloggings. Until then...
Found these boots reduced at the Tommy Hilfiger store at SOV yestereve.
They're just right for winter 09/10, but sadly the last pair they had were uncomfortably small on me!
In other news I'm on an outlet-village binge so headed out to BOV tonight with Rev. Who knows, perhaps fate will have a pair waiting there for me...
UPDATE: This page seems to be getting a lot of hits! Do you know where I can get a pair of these? If so let me know in the comments!!!
They're just right for winter 09/10, but sadly the last pair they had were uncomfortably small on me!
In other news I'm on an outlet-village binge so headed out to BOV tonight with Rev. Who knows, perhaps fate will have a pair waiting there for me...
UPDATE: This page seems to be getting a lot of hits! Do you know where I can get a pair of these? If so let me know in the comments!!!
Subsequent to our victorious trip to Mallorca, Danny and the Champions of the World headed out to Belfast's11th Open House Festival where we played with the incredible Foy Vance
Went for a pint with Dusty on Monday
I'll say it's about time for a couple of updates after a busy month out and about.
At the start of September I went to visit Lee in Stuttgart where he works as a Fliesenleger (floor tiler) - not a Fleischerschlachter (slaughterman) as my poor accent led people to think I meant...
You may notice a pink flamingo soaring about the upper right side of many of my photos. His name is Aubrey and he flew into my life when I dropped my Viewty camera-phone. As fond of him as I am, I don't intend for him to be around for long.
Anyway. The weather was great in Deutchland all week and we partook in many beers by many pools.
As you can see, Aubrey had a wonderful time meandering about TV Tower:
Stuttgart is home to Western Europes largest mineral spa. Swimming in the water is like being in a bottle of lucozade and the water has a strange fizzy metallic taste.
Ludwigsburg Palace was amazing. While walking around the grounds, we stumbled upon...
...the 10th Annual Pumpkin Festival where famous fairy tales had scenes modeled entirely from pumpkins! Quite disconcerting.
The festival also featured an impressive display of pumpkin strains from around the world...
One pumpkin too many more like.
Moving on.
Finally we went to the amazing Mercedes Benz museum. Much like Oxford, Stuttgarts economy relies heavily on the automobile industry.
Then I flew home (Aubrey close below).
Next up: gigs with DADS and Champs at home and away...
At the start of September I went to visit Lee in Stuttgart where he works as a Fliesenleger (floor tiler) - not a Fleischerschlachter (slaughterman) as my poor accent led people to think I meant...
You may notice a pink flamingo soaring about the upper right side of many of my photos. His name is Aubrey and he flew into my life when I dropped my Viewty camera-phone. As fond of him as I am, I don't intend for him to be around for long.
Anyway. The weather was great in Deutchland all week and we partook in many beers by many pools.
As you can see, Aubrey had a wonderful time meandering about TV Tower:
Stuttgart is home to Western Europes largest mineral spa. Swimming in the water is like being in a bottle of lucozade and the water has a strange fizzy metallic taste.
Ludwigsburg Palace was amazing. While walking around the grounds, we stumbled upon...
...the 10th Annual Pumpkin Festival where famous fairy tales had scenes modeled entirely from pumpkins! Quite disconcerting.
The festival also featured an impressive display of pumpkin strains from around the world...
One pumpkin too many more like.
Moving on.
Finally we went to the amazing Mercedes Benz museum. Much like Oxford, Stuttgarts economy relies heavily on the automobile industry.
Then I flew home (Aubrey close below).
Next up: gigs with DADS and Champs at home and away...
I've been a busy boy!
First up was a Tuesday night trip to London to see Sophie...
...then on Thursday a journey to Cardiff to hang out with Beautiful Matt and Jon. We went to see Man Without Country...
... on Saturday we headed to Nottingham to celebrate my mothers' 60th Birthday!
Then finally back to Oxford in the evening for a great gig with Dusty & The Dreaming Spires supporting 22-20s. What did you think girls...?
Ha.
Anyway, no rest for me just yet - tomorrow I'm off to stay with Lee (via Heathrow T5!) for a week in Stuttgart.
I should get packing.
First up was a Tuesday night trip to London to see Sophie...
...then on Thursday a journey to Cardiff to hang out with Beautiful Matt and Jon. We went to see Man Without Country...
... on Saturday we headed to Nottingham to celebrate my mothers' 60th Birthday!
Then finally back to Oxford in the evening for a great gig with Dusty & The Dreaming Spires supporting 22-20s. What did you think girls...?
Ha.
Anyway, no rest for me just yet - tomorrow I'm off to stay with Lee (via Heathrow T5!) for a week in Stuttgart.
I should get packing.
Last weekend Dusty, Joe, Growler, Danny George Wilson, Garo and myself went to Mallorca to do two gigs. The first was in an old Monastery that had been converted into a music school in Muro. The second was in a rock club in Palma. Both were pretty great.
![P300809_15.59[02].JPG](http://www.mikemonaghan.co.uk/mmblog/http:/www.mikemonaghan.co.uk/mmblog/images/2009-09/P300809_15.59%5B02%5D.JPG)
![P300809_15.55[01].JPG](http://www.mikemonaghan.co.uk/mmblog/http:/www.mikemonaghan.co.uk/mmblog/images/2009-09/P300809_15.55%5B01%5D.JPG)
Next stop: Cardiff.
Next stop: Cardiff.
Yesterday I went shopping for a sleeping bag at Cotswold Outdoor.
So many exciting things in that store - I got distracted and nearly bought this amazing RAB Microlight Jacket and these Buffalo Pile Mitts.
I'm off to Spain tomorrow for the much anticipated DADS/Champs gigs in Palma. Wish me luck...
So many exciting things in that store - I got distracted and nearly bought this amazing RAB Microlight Jacket and these Buffalo Pile Mitts.
I'm off to Spain tomorrow for the much anticipated DADS/Champs gigs in Palma. Wish me luck...
Right now is a good time for the Oxford shirt.
I just bought this great short sleeved yellow Ben Sherman Oxford shirt from Swindon Outlet Village for £15.
This is how I'm rocking the Oxford shirt right now. The shirt pictured is from Aquascutum at Bicester Outlet Village reduced to just £10!
I just bought this great short sleeved yellow Ben Sherman Oxford shirt from Swindon Outlet Village for £15.
This is how I'm rocking the Oxford shirt right now. The shirt pictured is from Aquascutum at Bicester Outlet Village reduced to just £10!
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