Hello, I am that American kid in London, and my name is Andrew Barton. This is my first post, as I only joined the list a month ago. I have to say that I don't know what the hell I'm doing here and writing this, but alas, here I am. As you can imagine, being an American high school student, there aren't many B & S fans around. My best friend and I are rather alone on this front, so it's quite nice to see this many people who love the same music. I got into Belle & Sebastian quite late I'm afraid. Carey, my best friend, picked up "Fold you hands child..." by chance because he had recently become a Donovan fanatic, and had read something about B&S. He called me imediately after getting home and had listened to the album. "I Fought In A War" came over the phone. During the first 30 seconds of Stuart singing with the faint guitar in the background, my mouth dropped open. When he took away the phone I asked him to put it back again. So I listened the the rest of the song, and spent the next days, weeks, and months listening to the other albums and e.p.'s. I didn't have a favorite band before then, and it came along at just the right time. We drove from Southern Oregon to Olypia Washington to see the gig this September, and it was one of the best days I've had. I remeber on the way back I was listening to "If You're Feeling Sinister" on my walkman, falling in and out of sleep. When "Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying" came on I woke up and bobbed my head to it looking out the window at the moon. When it was over I drifted off to sleep again, hearing the songs played that night over and over in my head as I slept. All of my memories of Belle & Sebastian songs are like that. Hazy but also clear. I can never get sick of those songs, and don't think I ever will. I feel like a twit for asking this- but I'll ask it anyway. I have a theatre engagment on Monday that was planned months ago. As you all know, Monday the 14th is the day Radio 1 is broadcasting the Belfast gig. Obviously, I won't be there to tape it. If anyone could possibly dub an extra tape or burn an extra cd for me, I would be exceedingly greatful. I don't have anything special to offer in return, other than a tape of the radio broadcast of Bowlie, if someone doesn't have that. And of course money for the tape and other expenses rendered. If this is possible for anyone, please contact me personally. I really didn't want to include something like this in my introduction to everyone, asking a favor of people I don't even know. But I would have given anything to have been there. Please don't think I posted just to ask for the above, I didn't. I wanted to introduce myself to everyone, and say something about why I like the band. So, in conclusion- I love Belle & Sebastian (as if all of you didn't), and I love reading your posts. I look forward to the clever thoughts and stories every day. After blabbering for this long, I will say thank you for your time. All the best, Andrew _________________________________________________________________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ 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! +-+ +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+