It's great when you get back in contact with someone you haven't heard from in absolutely ages.  I've just exchanged e-mails with Bela, late of this parish (both 'sinister' and Oxford) and now back in her native California.  I asked her if she went to ATP at UCLA and she informed me how it had been cancelled because of the events of 11th September, as I suspected it might be.  Thoughts are turning to the UK ATP2002 round these parts.  A few work people have expressed an (admittedly vague) interest and it's a bit different this time around as it's actually taking place on two weekends.  Now, some of you have said that you wouldn't bother with ATP next year, which is a great shame.  Mind you, I never went to ATP2000 or the Bowlie weekender and this year was my first, which is probably key.   There are some good names on the bill for next year including Low, the Fall and the Breeders.  I'm determined to do it properly this time, ie take on the mantle of chalet mummy and actually !
book , rather than have a mad rush round for a spare chalet-space at the last minute.

Emma and I went to what was undoubtably the strangest band I've seen all year on Wednesday, that being LAPSUS LINGUAE.  First up were White Buffalo, of which more later.  Then compere MC Sarge kept reminding us that LL was Latin for "slip of the tongue", which was nice of him and he also kept telling us that we were "just X minutes away" from the band's appearance.  Now I know he wouldn't take kindly to being compared to a muppet, but it was all rather reminiscent of "Five minutes to curtain, Kermit."

LL are definitely in the "fun to watch but would never buy in a million years" category.  The guitar sounds crashed in and out again, competing with waves of reasonably accomplished keyboard.  And there was much FITE-ing between the band members...even after they left the stage a couple were seen brawling on the floor in front of the stage.

There were also lots of exchanges with various members of the audience.  None of the kind of polite banter you get at Trembling Blue Stars gigs either - I heard the sound of bile being spat.  Still, they had matching t-shirts with the band's name on them. All that cutting out of gold material and sewing....must have taken them ages.  Maybe they got their mums to help.  Wouldn't have missed it for anything, speshly as they made Emma laugh so much.  I also have a suspicion that the man Chu might like them...I'm not sure why.

On the way home, Emma described White Buffalo as "sweet" and naturally I asked her to elaborate on this.  She told me they had the air of a band just starting out and looking all bewildered and not really knowing which direction to take their music etc.  Their set actually reminded me of seeing JJ72 at the same venue at a similar stage in their career and of course they later sold lots of records but became (imho) dull-dull-dull-dull, so I'm wondering whether White Buffalo will do the same.


Archel's points about trains were well made.  I prefer them for longer journeys too, even Oxford to London....it's only since I've been going to things like Strangefruit and making small hours trips home that I've been using the bus instead.  At least the London-Oxford buses are comfortable enough to sleep on although that sleep is rudely interrupted by the announcement "GREEN ROAD!" (first stop in Oxford) over the tannoy.

Carsmile's bit about trying to do "L.O.V.E" in the style of "Y.M.C.A" made me giggle, because I attempted to do the same thing to the "K.L.F" in said band's song, um, now here's where my memory gets a little sketchy, was it "3am eternal" or was it "Last Train to Transcentral?".  The one that goes "KLF is gonna rock you!", anyway.  The 'K' and the 'F' were dead easy, natch, but the 'L' involved sitting down rapidly with legs outstretched and then standing up again, with the inevitable BBC* injuries of the type that the likes of Kate Adie and John Simpson would probably not recognise.

And I haven't heard "eyewooty" either, incidentally.

James DansonHatcher I won't be able to make your picnic.  It isn't the cold that's keeping me away, but rather a plethora of things I have to do in Oxford including buying presents for people and tracking down Stereolab tickets and later entertaining Emma's mum who's coming down from Northumberland for the weekend.  Still, I'm sure it won't just be you and if you go to the Spread Eagle there's a chance you might spot some famous types on t'other side of the road (see archives for details) you never know.

Now, where's that Sodastream cd I ordered?  It should've come through the mail by now......

Mark




* Badly Bruised Coccyx

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