September 1998 - Sinister

Sinister: A century of strippers
by Aurore 09 Sep '98

09 Sep '98

*---* HAPPY BIRTHDAY SINISTER BABIES *---* Those of you who were at the gig in Leeds will know what I'm talking about - maybe someone else from the list has mentioned the rearranged lines of "A century of fakers" , but I was flooded in sinister-digests which I couldn't read in their totality. It might be getting a bit late for another gig-review, I might say things that have already been said, but my friend Myles told me I should post something to the list so there you go. I should have written that ages ago, but work didn't allow me to. Those of you who served a few years at the Edinburgh observatory (am I thinking of anyone in particular? Paul?) might know about the horror of writing observing proposals. There were a few of us (basically Stephane, Myles and myself) to have come from Frogland especially for the Belle and Sebastian gig. We met Stephane at the Duchess of York, 2 hours after we'd said we would. Blame British Midland for the delay that made us miss the bus, and the (crap) Leeds Airport bus services - one bus to the town centre every 2 hours. So we had to have a pint at the airport to kill time while waiting for the bus. How dreadful. The Duchess is somewhat different from what I'd expected, and I didn't feel like staying there a long time. And luckily, Stephane spotted us, because we'd only briefly met before and I wasn't sure to recognise him if he wasn't wearing his B&S T-shirt (and he wasn't). Anyway, I will pass on the not-so-exciting details of the afternoon to go directly to the pre-gig meet-up at the Whitelocks pub. We arrived pretty early and kept waving a Belle and Sebastian badge at each new person we saw - alas, in vain! But we did look stupid alright. So we walked outside and studied the faces of the various young people enjoying their well-deserved Friday night pint(s). I suppose some people must look more Belle&Sebastian than others since it didn't take us long to spot them, all smiles, chatting in front of their drinks. Looking back, I find it very strange that the first group of people I walked up to and said "I'm looking for people out of the B&S mailing list" actually said "Well that's us". Weirder still was to hear their names and remember seeing them on the list. Wow, Nick Dastoor really *does* exist. Well it was great meeting you all - sorry about not having been very social and gone to the club, but I have to say the after-gig hang-out had its moments and nice surprises, too (which I'll tell only if you ask nicely - not that it's that interesting anyway). I was especially pleased to meet Pam Berry (hello Pam!) again. Now that was a very nice surprise. WAITING FOR THE DOORS TO OPEN: of course we wanted to choose our seats near the front, so we started waiting in front of the venue fairly early. There, we met other Frenchies who'd come to see Eliott Smith without tickets and who were desperately looking for some. One of them went to wander the streets to pursue his quest, and came back ten minutes later smiling like a Cheshire cat. "I haven't got tickets" he said "but we're seeing the concert anyway". He explained "I was asking random passers-by if they had any spare tickets, when this bloke comes up to me and says: I think I can do something for you. I'm the singer of the band and I can put you on the guest-list". THE GIG: I won't comment on Eliott Smith who I didn't know at all before the gig (and indeed the fellow sitting next to me would make a much better description in his broad Yorkshire accent) except that he's a bloody good guitarist. Then Belle & Sebastian came onstage for an hour of pure brillance. The sound was very good, not too loud (I wasn't deaf for 3 days afterwards. These details turn out to be important when you're an ageing popkid like me), the voice came out very soft and clear. I don't have the set-list, but I remember they played, among others and in no particular order: the boy with the arab strap is it wicked not to care judy and the dream of horses get me away I'm dying spaceboy dream I don't love anyone a century of fakers beautiful seeing other people like dylan in the movies oops, I may get a few of those wrong. The songs didn't sound too dissimilar from the LP versions, as far as I can remember, which is not a bad thing, as you all know how good the songs sound on the records. Anyway, I could go on and on about how good they were that night. There were some lovely moments when Stuart forgot the lyrics, and Isobel and Sarah could not play their recorders properly because they were giggling too much. An honourable mention goes to the guy at the front who kept shouting at the band and saying he wanted to dance, and to the both Stuarts for their witty remarks and improvised lyrics concerning that event. A criticism? Yes, the gig was too short :) It was too good to stop after just one hour. But the hour was so charming that you can't really be angry about that. On the whole, it was great. I don't regret a single penny that I've spent going over to Leeds from Paris (and it must have cost me 180-190 quid!) to see Belle & Sebastian. I'll just breathe a word about the after-gig (not the one at the night-club, as we were tired and lazy and hung out outside the venue for quite some time afterwards). Then this bloke comes up with his tape-recorder and says he's writing an article about how mad B&S fans are (he didn't quite put it like this, and said something more like "I'd like to interview people who'd come from far away for the gig") and I ask if it's for a fanzine and he says it's for the Melody Maker... So we went on raving about how good B&S are. But, ok, enough of that. sorry for writing so much, and a special hello to all those I met at the Whitelocks, Aurore ps: Another honourable mention goes to the bathroom of the B&B we were staying at: the walls were painted in a sky-blue fresco representing nude nymphs and Greek Gods. On the floor was a stuffed duck. And in front of the entrance door stood two carved stones in the shape of a lion shagging a sheep (we thought)... ---------------------------------------------------- MUMBLY - http://www.mygale.org/00/aurore/emumbly.htm ---------------------------------------------------- +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo(a)majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: All around my hat
by Funkyseb＠aol.com 09 Sep '98

09 Sep '98

*---* HAPPY BIRTHDAY SINISTER BABIES *---* Folk+Rock. How did Steeleye Span get it so very wrong?Hmm. Giles wrote: <<Reasons for liking B&S? They seem to be a very "human" band. In that I mean that they act like real people and not like star-struck seek-fame-at-the-expense-of-all-else fools that so many bands seem to develop into...>> Bang on! I think that's why they're so very special. For most bands, being 'real' means pretending never to have read a book, making sure everyone knows just how fiercely heterosexual you are and writing tawdry, 3 chord songs about drinking a lot, or writing love songs in the style of someone who's never known anything but lust. Belle and Sebastian don't seem to put anything on, they don't have big rock star egos- and the line between audience, friends and band members seems very fine indeed- hence, possibly the ever increasing number of band members. The band seem as happy on stage as they would making a cup of tea. << I find B&S to be an inspirational group of people, especially Stuart David's Ink Polaroids...and the music is good too.>> And they make me want to get off my arse and do things- write reviews (i'm getting on with it!), take photos, write plays, form a band. Now if all the new fans feel the same...it'll be an artistic revolution! And then Giles ends with a Richard Dawkins quote! I like you a lot already-I remember Dawkins from my theology days-I think it was him that called creationism 'intellectual excrement of the first order'. What a quote. What a god. Anyway, besides mopping up various old threads, this post had a point. Yeah! I wish to complain! Mark wrote: <<When i went to the Islington one it was one of the most annoying gigs EVER because everyone was being so REVERENT. I actually heard people saying "Just think in years to come we will be able to say we were here" BEFORE they'd even got into the building!>> Um, I think I was one of the ones saying that. But we were only joking. I don't think anyone dreamed back then that B&S would *really* make it, well, I didn't, and I still keep expecting to wake up from this fabulous dream. Anyway, we didn't mean it in a snobby way, it was more a way of expressing the incredible excitment, and atmosphere that the band generate live-each of their 'gigs' feels like the 'classic gigs of all time' that the idiots in Mojo go on about. And Belle and Sebastian demand reverence- (and irreverence of course, just look at the list.) But at least the 'London wankers' at Union Chapel kept their bloody mouths shut, and didn't heckle the band. Anyway, sorry for that half arselicking, half flaming post. In future I shall stick to writing about buses. (experts among you will have noticed that I said Maryhill, last time when I meant Hillhead. wrists slapped.) seb, (who thinks a short residency is nearly as good an idea as a floating venue, but not as good as playing the top deck of a southdown bus) +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo(a)majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: lollipop, lollipop...non! baby pop!
by dave cohen 09 Sep '98

09 Sep '98

*---* HAPPY BIRTHDAY SINISTER BABIES *---* > > *---* HAPPY BIRTHDAY SINISTER BABIES *---* > > answer me this oh fellows: > > is it france gall or is it frances gall (from france)? > > yours, > > > [the pedantic] lady penelope. c'est france gall, et elle est belle! pick up any compilation of her pre-1968 singles (you can also hear Heavenly cover another great song she did-- nous ne sommes pas des anges, on Operation Heavenly) very bouncy popfrancais (but filling!) picked up the album he did, --the lapis with the arab strap +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo(a)majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: Poor Honey / Shepherds Bush
by Kevan Cooke 09 Sep '98

09 Sep '98

*---* HAPPY BIRTHDAY SINISTER BABIES *---* Honey's computer must be creaking under the weight of messages, what with the album release AND the gigs for everyone to talk about, so I'll try to keep this fairly short... I'd like to think that the rainbow over Basingstoke first thing on Monday morning was directly above the record shop where they were playing TBWTAS. Not enough time to learn all the words by the evening, so I spent the day learning the handclaps instead. Met lots of listees, but didn't spend nearly enough time chatting with you all. Gig highlights: "Shhhhhhh" and "That was ill advised" Special thanks to John for his hospitality and floor space, and also to Vicky and Rod for the kind words that they have posted to the list since the gig. Flattery will get you everywhere. Kevan The Fat Slug +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo(a)majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: Turning Tables Round in M&S
by brier＠pipeline.com 09 Sep '98

09 Sep '98

Hi Sinister; Once and for all, can ANYONE more fluent in Brittish tell me what Stuart could have possibly meant when he sang "now I spend my days turning tables round"??? I know what Marks & Spencer is, but what tables and how turning? Just got Boy and am on 2nd listen. No song has yet grabbed my attention like "Get Me Away From Here..." or "Seeing Other People"... but then again my favorite of all, "The State.." didn't grab me till listen #3. All will be well I'm sure. Any others from California who want to do a little pre-planning for an LA area gig? (I'm in Santa Barbara.) I wonder where (and IF) they'll play here. Ooohh, the new T shirts are divine. Katrina, any chance of the IYFS one being in any color other than black soon? I can't stand myself in black T shirts (or any clothes) despite what Morrissey said. I guess it just makes me feel too.... too.... sinister. And Jessica, I'd love to be your B&S crush but California is too far. Can I have West Coast Status, though? Love, Brier

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Sinister: chupa chup, chupa chup...
by padraic doorey 09 Sep '98

09 Sep '98

*---* HAPPY BIRTHDAY SINISTER BABIES *---* wow! thanks julien. you were quick off the mark! lady p (sans tiara) _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo(a)majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: lollipop, lollipop...
by padraic doorey 09 Sep '98

09 Sep '98

*---* HAPPY BIRTHDAY SINISTER BABIES *---* answer me this oh fellows: is it france gall or is it frances gall (from france)? yours, [the pedantic] lady penelope. *mwah* ************* PS - my hands have recovered, thank you for your concerns, mark & travis. PPS - is anyone seeing cornelius tonight at the astoria? _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo(a)majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: london
by andrew dean 09 Sep '98

09 Sep '98

*---* HAPPY BIRTHDAY SINISTER BABIES *---* ok, you've read enough about this already no doubt so i'll keep this short: lows: the wait, the crush, the heat waiting for 30 minutes for a taxi at hemel station at 1:30 in the morning turning up at 3 o'clock at the poetry cafe the day after to find no-one else there... highs: isobel shaking her head and frowning during the finale 'that was pish' shouted from the audience after the looper song. must've been someone from the list. anyone care to own up? stuart m's admittance that it was, maybe, 'ill-advised' the bass during the aforementioned looper song, played by tony the manager the pub beforehand and not being able to walk 5 ft without bumping into someone you knew presents from thailand 8) isobel's little disclaimer before the finale - 'i've got a frog in my throat' - i'm sure france gall was in a similar position once upon a time... 8) but yeah, too many people there. i think back to edinburgh and how we stood almost within touching distance of the band and how impossible that'd be now a mere 18 months later... new york even, exactly a year prior to the london gig, a medium sized venue which still had space to move around in it... new lp is nice. production is well done i thought. nice to be able to hear studio versions of live favourites with all the delicacies intact. yeah, ok, with b&s i often prefer session versions of things cos they have more life but, hey, i have those as well... andy == andrew dean (koogydelbbog(a)yahoo.com) _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo(a)majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: Concert Roddington Shenanigans
by Keith Watson 09 Sep '98

09 Sep '98

*---* HAPPY BIRTHDAY SINISTER BABIES *---* >I don't want to jump to conclusions or anything but at the after show thing at >Brighton Beach in leeds, i was getting all the 'stars' autographs when this >strange little fella go my TOTP POP autographs book and signed what looks to >be Keith Watson. Is that keith off of this list? > >esteban Haha! Sorry about that, I really couldn't resist it, it was just I was in the right place at the right time... I was a bit pissed up on a clear liquid called booze. I thought - hey this'll be a laugh, I kind of thought afterwards it'd be quite funny if the person was on the list. However then thought oh dear, I hope I haven't spoilt your big pile of autographs. Let me know if it pissed you off. Also frankly given the daft scribble that I did I'm surprised it looks like my name at all, it doesn't look much like my name at the best of times. Was absolutely lovely to meet everyone at the concerts, and can I just say Vicky I'm disappointed not to have met you too, hopefully I'll get a chance some other time, terrible really, it was so busy though and I didn't know what you looked like. Everyone I met was really cool, and there were plenty of them. It's so much better meeting people in person than via email as you get such a better impression of what they're like rather than essentially what comes out as daft little soundbites via email. I hope everyone enjoyed the concerts as much as I did. The whole thing seems like one big blur mind you, just cause it went so fast. All great fun though, seen loads of places I've never been to before too. Apologies to David, Katrina and all the other people around on Monday night for my drunken behaviour, I paid for it on the way back to Edinburgh on the train. I tried to go to sleep in a flowerbed that night. That's what you get for being a drunken twat. Hope everyone in the US and Europe's all keyed up to see the band soon and I hope you all enjoy it as much as we did. Cheers, Keith. +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo(a)majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: Rememberence of things past
by John Johnston 09 Sep '98

09 Sep '98

*---* HAPPY BIRTHDAY SINISTER BABIES *---* Gang I forgot to add a delicious moment from Monday's gig to my previous list. It was Stuart's supremely arch delivery of the line "what do you make of the cool set in London" from the end of the TBWTAS. The last word was very much his. I love the TBWTAS. Just when you think that it can't get any better, Sarah joins in on the recorder and it does! Went to see Buddy last night at the theatre. My flatmate's friend played the drummer in the Crickets. It was great fun ("Buddy Brilliant" as the reviewer must have written in his sleep) but it set me wondering. What will the big show be in 30 yrs time. Will it be "The Stone Roses Story"; the epic tale about a group who wanted to play their music, their way...."There's no such thing as Indie-Dance, Boy!!", the triumphant music in a short span of time before their tragic disappearance, up their own arses. I also used to wonder whether the town hall in Oxford would still have tea dances in 40 years time. Will it be Acid House afternoons? But that'll be just the same as first time around; loads of people moving in a jerky, unstable manner and everyone on pills. Plus ca change... xx JJ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo(a)majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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