Back to Scotland

Box Social returns to Edinburgh tomorrow. Hopefully reviews (less this time, as I'm skint) will appear from Thursday morning through til next Tuesday).

Txt spk is taking over

How to sell an Edinburgh show...

pretend you're still at school (Teechers)


stay in miserable teutonic character all day (dieclatterschenkenfietermaus)


pretend you're dead, possibly as a result of free love


strike a light


ask about an exotic animals whereabouts


attach your press to your flyers, but keep the wimple on


exposure is the key


pretend you're dead again, but this time at the hands of a Nazi general

Robin Cook RIP

Since being away for weddings and holidays, Robin Cook has passed away, and as one of the good ones, in my view (and that is a view I have as someone who has never voted Labour), he will be greatly missed from the House of Commons.

While I was in Edinburgh, of course, his funeral was held along the Royal Mile, and this meant I could stand with many others outside and listen to the service. It certainly was very moving, and Gordon Brown's eulogy was particularly good. "a 30 year masterclass in effective eloquence" I think he said. How so.

The slight breeze was taking the broadcast of John McCririck's bit slightly away from my ears and so I wasn't entirely aware why people were clapping when he stated, as I found out later, his criticisms of Tony Blair. I'm not sure that the funeral was entirely the right time for it though.

Nice to be able to pay my respects though. Rest in peace.

Edinburgh Fringe Diary

...has kicked off now over at Box Social for those interested.

VP update 04aug05

Added to www.vanityproject.co.uk today.

Album Reviews
*Architecture In Helsinki – In Case We Die (Moshimoshi).
*Bell Orchestra – Recording A Tape The Colours Of The Light (Rough Trade).
*The Lucksmiths – Warmer Corners (Fortuna Pop!).
*Mostly Autumn – Storms Over Still Water (Autumn).
*Quit Your Day Job – Sweden We Got A Problem (Bad Taste).
*Red Letter Day – Everything Matters (Zip).
*Shout Out Louds – Howl Howl Gaff Gaff (Capitol).
*Vacabou – Vacabou (All Saints).

Single Reviews:
*Aeon Spoke – Emmanuel (Mercy Stroll).
*The Fallout Trust – When We Are Gone (At Large).
*Hammer Vs The Snake – In It For The Money.
*Harrisons – Wishing Well (Melodic).
*Helen Love – Long Hot Summer (Invicta Hi-Fi).
*Hush Collector – Flowby (Candy Cone).
*Jynxt – Electric Knives (Halo).
*Letrix – Something Beautiful (Interference).
*Math & Physics Club – Movie Ending Romance (Matinée).
*The Modern – Industry (Vertigo).
*The New Shapes – You’ve Got Me Running Round (Pop).
*The Voltaires – Anti-Love EP (This Is Art).
*The White Stripes – My Doorbell (XL).

Live Reviews:
*Dropscience, Bangkok, The Bridge, Z- List Tears. Warrington Parr Hall. 29jul05.

Edinburgh Nights, Evenings, Afternoons and Mornings

Just to flag up, I'll be doing an Edinburgh festival diary thing over at sister site Box Social while I'm there on holiday next week and at the end of the month.

Hopefully it'll be a daily thing.

Captain Blogheart

The posts on here are becoming a bit Beefheart centric, but we'll keep it going anyhow.

There's a new Beefheart blog available detailing stuff about gigs played and such.

View it here.