Sport & Leisure
London 0 Hull 4
Out of my several thousand tracks on my iPod, few have survived my personal test of time like London 0 Hull 4, the début album in the short career of The Housemartins, that was released in 1986. What is so striking and indeed depressing about it, is that so many of the tracks are as relevant in 2014 as they were in the summer of 1986. Mixing the anger of The Clash, the soulful voice of Paul Heaton and some catchy, almost poppy sounding ...
The V Festival
When I went to the first V Festival in Chelmsford in 1997, the last thing that entered my mind was that some 17 years later I would going again with my two lads, George and Harry, along with George's mate Alex. Even more bizarre than that, is the fact that I saw performing, the object of my first sexual fantasy (Blondie) some 35 years after a poster of her on my sisters bedroom wall confirmed heterosexuality as my sexual orientation. How...
Grandiose Paint, Cover Versions and Apocalyptic Weather Forecasts!
I was in my new local haunt, B&Q, for the umpteenth time last Friday and after spending an eternity looking at paint manufacturers with grandiose brand titles such as 'Le Petite Palais' and "Timeless Classics" I eventually put my neck on the line went for 'Sophisticated Sage.' I Showed My Class by Going for Sophisticated Sage It was with dubious irony that I chose 'Sophisticated Sage' as it was from the 'Timeless Classics' range ...
Hull, Heaton, The Housemartins and Cameron
Like everyone else, I was quite surprised to hear that humble old Hull had put itself in the limelight by being nominated the 2017 'City of Culture'. However, not as surprised as I was to hear that leader of the Aristocrat and Fraudulent Banking Party, David Cameron, was once a fan of the four sons of Hull, The Housemartins. This was like a red rag to a bull for former Housemartins and Beautiful South frontman, Paul Heaton, who needs ...
The Men They Should Never Hang!
I went down to The Joiners in Southampton last night to watch The Men They Couldn't Hang for the third time in the last eighteen months and as usual, they did not disappoint. Southampton as a city is relatively alien territory to me, a North Hampshire boy brought up out in the sticks of Baughurst and now living in semi-surburban safety just south of Basingstoke. I didn’t realise what a tough old place it is; parts Southampton makes Popley ...