Hello, Regular viewers will be aware of my long-standing obsession with all things Swedish, and Stockholm in particular. So when the opportunity arose to see that band you all keep going on about in my favourite city, with several of my best friends, and all for the low, low price of 70 pounds, wild horses wouldn't keep me away. This obviously leaves ample scope for people to consider me, at best, a deeply sad human being, and at worst, a stalker, but of course, nothing could be further from the truth. On the contrary, I can recommend wanton spur-of-the-moment jetsetting to anyone. I managed to pull off a once in a lifetime stunt of showing up without actually telling a couple of my friends I was going, tapping them on the shoulder, and watching their surprised expressions. "What the hell are you doing here?" That was almost worth the airfare in itself. At the venue, there was no Symington (surely the Bez of B&S), so instead of blistering soul tunes, it was all a terribly 'indie', although I liked hearing "Candyskin". Ah well, some people love that sort of thing, I guess. (Incidentally, I won't go on about this, but when I keep seeing posts where the word "twee" is used as a compliment? It isn't - it's an insult, and certainly not something to aspire to. Excuses that the word is being used "ironically" or being reclaimed as a weapon against an uncaring world don't wash with me, I'm afraid. But I digress). I didn't meet any Sinister kids this time, which was a shame, but I didn't have time, sorry. Anyway, the show.... Well, I'm not very good at compliments, I guess the very fact I'm on this list speaks volumes about how fond I am of Belle and Sebastian, but this show was special. I've rarely seen a band so obviously happy to be playing, and to one of the loveliest crowds I've ever witnessed. I do love seeing groups abroad, I think that European audiences are more appreciative than their British equivalents, maybe they're not so complacent cos they don't get so many chances, but they weren't simpering and sycophantic, they just liked what they heard and showed it. It all seemed to come together on Saturday, the venue was the perfect size, the crowd a delight, and B&S responded accordingly, and were just fucking great, better than I've ever seen them. Afterwards, we went to a bar and we all got drunk, as is the custom; had a fascinating debate about whether or not Celts were better than Vikings; listened to The Clash (although Jani wanted to hear "Horny"), and encountered a lunatic woman at the bar who told me off for drinking Swedish beer - "it tastes of shit", she said, repeatedly. She looked vaguely psychotic so I wasn't about to argue with her. I had four hours sleep all weekend, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world. I love Stockholm and next time, I'm taking you (yes, you), baby. Love Tag xxx +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister@majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo@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" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+