Strange things Bank holidays. Very British. Invented by some Liberal MP called John Lubbock in the last-but-one century, they are a capital idea, but I wish they could have more imaginative names, like commemorating events or people in history like they do in many countries. Anyway, Oxford is a little bizarre because there are large numbers of people here whose employers don't recognise them and so their employees have to scowl and swelter indoors whilst everyone else is enjoying themselves. I made the mistake of asking two friends what they were going to do and received the vitriolic response "Grrr...I'm working" The students of the older of the two Universities here also have to work like any other day, but with three eight-week terms and huge long vacations they don't tend to get the same levels of sympathy. Anyway yesterday was a bank holiday and I went as I always do to Fun in the Parks, an event at South Park, Headington. Maybe it was the mood I was in at the time, but it didn't seem as good as in previous years. The funfair seemed smaller and there wasn't the usual plethora of stalls of various local worthy organizations with tombola, plant and book sales etc. But there was at least a BBC Music Live stage where a folk band called Back of Beyond were playing. Usually I don't go for this sort of music, but they were really good, playing songs from every continent (with one obvious exception, penguins and well-wrapped geological researchers not being noted for their songwriting prowess). I remember one song from Burundi and one from Bhutan called 'Mountain song'. Time to reply to a few people now....
WEB COMMUNITY
Caroline, I don't get embarrassed about being on the list and I don't know anyone who does, but I must concede that I do get occasional comments about it being "a bit sad". I think such comments can be attributed to jealousy; they are typically made by people who don't have an interest which they share with lots of people that would warrant the creation of a list and so they are denied the opportunity to make new friends all over the world.
SING-SING
Haven't heard any of their stuff...sorry. Bit out of touch, which members of Lush are in Sing-Sing? Miki and Emma? Lush changed their sound quite a bit in their career didn't they? The later stuff was more polished and immediate and a good deal more chirpy..."Single Girl", "Ladykiller" etc.
'Family Twee', you see, had its 'controversial' lyrics penned by Stuart himself. In what way controversial, Nick? I can imagine more people finding 'Chalet Lines' controversial.
I also wish to join the crowd that wants The Loneliness of a Middle Distance Runner to be officially released, ooh, yes me too. I so want it to be the next single, but I can well understand if the band makes us wait a little longer. After all, we had to wait a long time for the release of Tigermilk on CD.
I am going to have to unsubscribe soon, but only temporarily, as I'm going to Canada for three weeks from 8th-28th June inclusive and much as I'd love to, I know I won't be able to read all the messages that will accrue in that time. I have mentioned this to some of you already, but if there are any listees in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa or (bit of a long shot, this) Thunder Bay who would like to meet up, listen to some B&S etc. then please e-mail me privately and I'll let you have details of my itinerary. There'll be much travelling about on the Greyhound to begin with, including a trip to Niagara. I intend to go to the BlowUp and International Colouring Contest club nights in Toronto, but as yet I don't have many definite plans. My next post will have a subject line containing a band name completely unrelated to what follows. Cue chant of "Copycat, copycat I know what you're playing at". Bye for now, Mark. -------------------------------------------------- Mark Hester Assistant Local Applications Manager Elsevier Science Limited The Boulevard Langford Lane Oxford OX5 1GB Tel. +44 (0)1865 843455 Fax +44 (0)1865 853319 Web: http://www.elsevier.nl/ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the undead Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister@missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo@missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "tech-heads and students" +-+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +-+ "peculiarly deranged fanbase" "frighteningly named +-+ +-+ Sinister List organisation" - NME May 2000 +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+