I’ll Grow Up Tomorrow, Maybe

I’m on the bus today as it’s too cold to cycle for an oldie like me.

L has her second personal training session but she’s had her fingers smacked already for trying to book a different trainer. Apparently you’re supposed to stick with just one of them whereas L was hoping to try them all and see which one she liked the most but clearly they’re not going to let her size up all the men.

I head over to Leicester in the evening to see the Vaccines. L had tried to get me to consider the train and I did but the last train back that doesn’t require changing at Derby was 10:45 which sounds too early. So I go in the car.

I arrive at the Academy in time to catch the main support Hatchie, having missed opener Jesse Jo Stark.

Hatchie is effectively a person, real name Harriette Pilbeam, rather than the band she arrives with. She’s an Aussie whose music has been described as ‘dream pop’ and she’s even been lumped in with the shoegazing era by some but this sounds mainly like bog standard indie pop to me. Admittedly with some very nice hooks. There’s a touch of the Dolores O'Riordan’s (aka The Cranberries) about her but she seems a bit lost amongst her band. She may need to decide if she’s a person or a band. In the meantime, her sound is extremely pleasant but not life altering.

Now on to... ah yes, rediscovering my youth with a band that weren't even around in my youth. Funny that but The Vaccines are the sort of band I would most definitely have seen back then, so I feel very at home. It’s also probably why there are many people of my own generation here and down the front with me as well.

Classic Queen, in the form of ‘I Want to Break Free’, heralds the band's arrival amongst the palm trees and glitter on the stage before they open with ‘Your Love Is My Favourite Band’, from last year’s 'Combat Sports', which is also emblazoned across the drum kit.

Then we're straight into the seemingly never ending list of the infectious songs with which they’ve made their name and all of course with immensely sing-able lyrics. The Vaccines are a engine of entertainment if at sometimes an unsophisticated one.

I mean... 'Teenage Icon'? Oh please, then perhaps I should just grow up but instead I bounce along with some twentysomething with purple hair. I’ll grow up tomorrow, maybe.

Lead guitarist Freddie Cowan may never grow up, he’s loving it out there, absolutely loving it. As of course is singer Justin Young who doesn’t say a huge amount tonight and keeps his focus mainly on the music.

Then 'Wetsuit' wraps itself around the hall. Everybody loves Wetsuit and, as ever, it moves me almost to tears. It reminds me of how old I am but also why I'm here. I’ll grow up tomorrow, maybe.

Justin does tell us that, apparently, their first gig as the Vaccines was in Leicester, although presumably not here, and that no one knew the words to 'Post Break-Up Sex'. That's certainly not the case tonight.

'Nørgaard' is mental, as ever, and then two new tracks ‘Lets Jump Off the Top’ and recent single ‘All My Friends Are Falling In Love’ hint perhaps at a slight change of direction away from the guitar heavy riffs.

Someone dances into me, holding his drink above his head which he then tips down me. He’s older than me and he apologises, I think. I can’t really hear what he was saying, perhaps he was saying he’ll grow up tomorrow, maybe. I nod my agreement and he goes off to bump into someone else.

The finale, after a frenetic ‘If You Wanna’ and ‘I Can't Quit’ is more measured. The slower ‘Rolling Stones’ closes the set but more pointedly gets the message across that that ‘this one's for you’.

They return with the brilliant ‘Put It on a T-Shirt’ that we didn’t get in Nottingham last year, followed by a rocking ‘Nightclub’ before, as is tradition, ‘All In White’ ends the night.

Cracking stuff and I’ll grow up tomorrow, honestly, maybe.

(Tuesday 5^th February)

Cowboy Builders

Tuesday is foul weather wise, so I don’t cycle and take the bus instead but still get soaked in the process.

We have an electrician come and look at some power sockets that haven’t worked for years. The resulting cables we’re had to string from the hall to the kitchen are a potential chew hazard for the Lad. Problem is the chap won't touch it. He says all our electrics contravene current safety regulations. He’s probably not wrong, we’re had a succession of cowboy builders and plumbers bodge it, now we just need another one to bodge the sockets but clearly not him obviously. Alternatively we can go for a full rewiring I suppose.

Tonight I’m off to see the ‘Vaccines’ at Rock City. In a moment of madness L has signed up to this one too but is clearly now regretting it, judging by the long face, as we head off to what will turn out to be the gig of the year so far. In my opinion anyway. 

First up are Dream Wife, an all girl band from Brighton, who I would say show definite similarities to Honeyblood but with more members. So obviously they appeal to me. They are a bit rawer and more punk rock than Honeyblood but no less riotously excellent for that.

We weren't actually sure we'd see the Vaccines again after what has been a turbulent year or two for them which included the loss of their drummer but here they are. They’re back and with a corking new album in 'Combat Sports' which is a real return to their roots after perhaps going off track in parts on their previous two records. 

In front of a long ago sold out Rock City, the band show that they have clearly got their mojo back. Their performance positively fizzes tonight aided in no small part by such a cracking selection of ridiculously catchy tunes. It is a set bookended the two excellent singles so far from the new record. The ferocious ‘Nightclub’ to open and the bouncy lively ‘I Can’t Quit’ to close.

In between Justin Young and co set a blistering pace, rattling off the numbers in very quick succession barely taking a breath. Sixteen of which have been listed as singles making this more of a greatest hits\non-hits tour than an album tour for ‘Combat Sports’.

Everything from their début single ‘Wreckin Bar (Ra Ra Ra)’, the perhaps slightly irritating perfect pop of ‘Teenage Icon’, the brooding ‘Dream Lover’, their big ‘hit’ (number 32 you know) ‘Post Break-up Sex’  through to the traditional mass sing-along to the lovely ‘Wetsuit’ and that's just the first fifteen minutes. 

Their ode to Amanda Nørgaard naturally brings the house down and there’s even an outing for non-album single ‘Melody Calling’. Meanwhile the new music fits in seamlessly with ‘Out On The Street’ and ‘Take It Easy’ particular stand outs.

In all the Vaccines rattle through 19 songs in just over an hour. Then return to do another three including a wonderfully seductive ‘All in White’ to close.

Then I take L to the pub to drown her sorrows.

(Tuesday 10^th April)

Doggo (10/08/2001 - 05/03/2018)

Sadly I lost my best mate today.

With the decision made Doggo typically decides to rally, starts walking a bit better, has breakfast and then curls up in the hall waiting for us to go to work.

Instead Daughter comes over to join us and we all head to the vets where having expected to have to carry the old man, he walks in and starts charming the vet. Everyone is in floods of tears and typically Doggo prolongs the agony by not going easy as they struggle to find a vein in his old body. He is easily the calmest one there, I think he knows its time to go.

There’s plenty to reflect on concerning life with possibly the most travelled dog in Britain. From the Isle Of Wight to the Hebrides, from the Lakeland Fells to the Scottish Ski resorts he was there with us on all our trips.

He was a constant presence in our lives for all of his sixteen and a half years. He was our running partner and although he never got to parkrun, he was a parkrun veteran and attended loads. Sadly his last one, on Saturday, ended up with him being carried away from it.

Then there’s his Agility, which we learnt together and muddled our way through to Crufts on two occasions. Happy days.

We almost thought he could go on for ever and he was still enjoying his walks with me last week. We were also so glad that it snowed for him in his final week, he always loved the snow.

“If at some point we all succumb, for goodness sake, let us be young. 'Cause time gets harder to outrun, and I'm nobody, I'm not done. With a cool, cool breeze and dirty knees, I rest on childhood memories. We all got old at breakneck speed, slow it down, go easy on me.”

Sadly, my friend, we’re done. RIP

(Monday 5^th March)

Favourite Albums Of 2011

Third part of my review of the year, the oddball selection of my favourite ten albums of the past year. Not one of the the better years I don't think and the lack of albums I bought probably reflects this.

10. Skying - The Horrors

Not for me anywhere near as good as 'Primary Colours' but it has its moments.

9. What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? - The Vaccines

A right mishmash but again it has it's moments.

8. The Big Roar - The Joy Formidable

This 'debut' album borrowed heavily from their previous 'debut', which apparently now wasn't an album at all but an 8 track EP..., without which it probably wouldn't have made this list. A band stuck in a bit of a rut.

7. England Keep My Bones - Frank Turner

Excellent as ever but not as excellent as his past efforts.

6. Thank You Happy Birthday - Cage The Elephant

Discovery of the year for me. They're trying so hard to be the Pixies. 10/10 for effort.

5. Palace - Chapel Club

Judging by what they already had in the public domain this was bound to be excellent and was.

4. Suck It And See - Arctic Monkeys

I love a good story and Alex Turner gets back to telling them. His solo 'Submarine' effort was pretty useful too.

3. Hello Sadness - Los Campesinos!

More stories and I could listen to Gareth from LC! telling them all day long. An acquired taste but I have that taste.

2. Yuck - Yuck

1990's throwback maybe but something else taht is to my taste. They're awesome live too.

1. Valhalla Dancehall - British Sea Power

Not everyone's cup of tea of course but BSP can do no wrong for me. As good as everything else they've done.

Fantasy Shuffle Selection: Twenty Something Tracks From 2010

As the final part of my review of the year, my second annual 'fantasy shuffle' selection. Again I tried really hard to whittle my ipod down to a varied selection of twenty-odd tracks that were released during 2010.

So here goes, in no particular order :-

Surfacing - Chapel Club
The Wrestle - Frightened Rabbit
I Don't Want To See You Like This - The Joy Formidable
Ready To Start - Arcade Fire
Lights - Interpol
The Boy Who Cried Wolf - Futures
Here It Comes - The Sunshine Underground
Bastard - Babybird
Bury Parts 1 and 3 - The Fall
Post Break Up Sex - The Vaccines
Renegades - Feeder
Bad Blood - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Palm Road - Wolf Parade
Brian Eno - Mgmt
The Weekenders - The Hold Steady
Sorrow - The National
Straight In At 101 - Los Campesinos!
I Don't Bite - We Are Scientists
The Lost Estate - Delays
Say No To Love - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
Chemistry - Detroit Social Club

Ok, so that's twenty one and as I'm getting carried away, here's three more, ones that I should be ashamed of... a festive one, a guilty pleasure and a cover version. Two of which are 80's retro!

Christmas Was Better In The 80's - Futureheads
The Only Exception - Paramore
Not In Love - Crystal Castles featuring Robert Smith