I started writing this days ago... but was too distracted to send, then too down to send... then too busy to send. But now I'm finally going to get this sent. I have the new Elbow CD on... #6, "Asleep in the Back" is really amazing... philly show - I got to the Tower Theatre in time to catch just five songs or so... I guess that works out to be a song for every hour spent getting there! It was worth it. The venue was perfect aside from being in a sketchy neighborhood. I liked the formality of the ushers' black and white suits. The lights were amazing. We found seats better than my ticketed ones, which was nice, but we weren't in them long. I sat for Seymour Stein but had to dance for the next one. And what exactly *was* that song? The one with all the clapping... it was fantastic. So was the crowd. The band not only sounded astounding but they looked like they were genuinely having a good time up there. Did anyone note a setlist for Philly? I didn't see one. On the way out I bought one of the tea-towels... which I have deemed "most interesting concert souvenir ever bought" (closely followed by my Man or Astroman? pennant, Sof' Boy comic by Archer Prewitt and Madness fleece....). Who was the fella in the tan corduroys who had travelled over from the U.K. who was looking for the after-party? I hope he found it ok. Thanks to two quite friendly and helpful locals (the people in Philly are great!), we managed to find our way into the after-party club after someone had apparently just set off a fire extinguisher. A nosebleed and several drinks after, we were dancing to a fun mix of records. I learned a few things on my trip, the first one being that if you wait until 6 a.m. to try and get a hotel room, you can essentially get the next night free because they list it as Saturday morning. After sleeping a couple of hours, we headed out to the zoo, where I learned more new stuff like the fact that black spider monkeys have no thumbs and that zoo hot dogs are extremely vile. Well, I kinda knew that last part ahead of time. I saw these funky little nekkid animals that are the world's only hairless mammal. ** Amusingly, they sold little stuffed naked mole rats in the gift shop, which I have deemed "most interesting zoo souvenir ever bought." It's all pink and squishy with funny teeth... reminds me of someone I used to date! haha d.c. show - The friend who left me with an extra PA ticket is also making my D.C. trip plans difficult. I think I need new "friends." Anyway, I'm not missing any part of this one *or* Sleater-Kinney. Dammit. I was trying to set up some kind of fun pre-show party/meet with some friends of mine who have a record shop up there... but guess what week they decide to move the *entire* shop? Sigh. And Belle and Sebastian has long been their best-seller in the shop. So it coulda been huge. Vilkas and I were talking about doing something also. Does anyone know if there are good places to meet near DAR Constitution Hall? I've never been there since I tend to stick to the Black Cat and other small venues. Drop me a line if you have ideas. A picnic on the mall lawn with kites could be fun... but weather, parking and several other things could be problems... Luv from - Jenny ** Want to see some nekkid mole rats too? http://natzoo.si.edu/Webcams/molerat1/nmcam.htm These guys are indecent. Somebody oughta crochet them little sweaters or somethin'. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the 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 +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "peculiarly deranged fanbase" +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +-+ "frighteningly named Sinister List organisation" - NME May 2000 +-+ +-+ "sick posse of f**ked in the head psycho-fans" - NME June 2001 +-+ +-+ Nee, nee mun pish, chan pai dee kwa +-+ +-+ Snipp snapp snut, sa var sagan slut! +-+ +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+