Fun Guy Three

In reverse order to that promised in this blog's strapline here's a link to my winter commute courtesy of Garmin. Out along the canals of east London as light by the time I get to Bethnal Green but back along the road as dark by the time I leave work.

Vapour trails in the sunrise over Brixton

Swans on the canal were asleep but disturbed by pit bull being walked along the canal

Alongside Victoria Park

River of fire sunrise over east London 

Cauldron-like Olympic Stadium

The football bit... The Arsenal are finally playing like we ought at the new stadium and back where we should be. Standing for most of the match against Marseille with old songs like the Clock End singing to the North Bank name checking our old ground. Bliss. We won two nil. I missed our 2nd as nipped to the bog during a quiet patch of the game. Or so I thought! Chris who I went with tried to persuade me to go again ten minutes later to get the 3rd.

We're the Clock End We're the Clock End We're the Clock End Highbury

Music. Really the impetus for this blog. After seeing a couple of storming sets by Metamono recently I'm looking forward to tonight's gig at the Norwood Book and Record Bar where I first saw them. This time I'm with Simon and Jules so after swinging by their place we cycle down the hill from the Brixton Streatham borders to Norwood. We're early and the band are hanging around outside so we three pop across the road to the pub which for some odd reason is showing the previous night's drubbing of England by the Aussies. Not a pretty sight. After a couple we head back to the venue and the band are already on. Not as busy as the last times I've seen them but as such a small place it doesn't feel empty by any means. The band start slowly with a laid back jazzy electronica melding which gets a few feet tapping and us warmed up after the cold night air. Gradually we're drawn into the music as the beat picks up hitting a funkier disco vibe and before we know it Simon Jules and I are bopping around like we're back in an 80's club. Simon's looking good in his airman's helmet complete with leads which he thrusts at folk but not sure about the kingfisher. Anyway the crowd gets livelier and there are a few dancing with various levels of energy ranging from foot shuffling to all out gliding around the floor pumping arms and head banging. Yep, the latter describes me and the boy wonder. By this time Metamono have found their groove and we're overjoyed to be stuck in that rut with them. They have built up to a massive full on techno dance spaced out sound which at times nears the nirvana of a Hawkwind Prodigy mix that has me entranced eyes closed feet obeying the beat mind lost in the soaring synths. In short it's great. The light show is mesmerising really complementing the music and, again, wouldn't be out of place at a Hawkwind gig. Only thing it could've done with is a couple of those syrupy light filters and a heavy strobe kicking in. Metamono finish on a tune that gets more and more urgent before ending in brilliant crescendo before releasing us back to earth. After, Jono explains that the last song sped up as he was dying for a leak. Very punk rock. We hang around chatting to people including a local car mechanic who seems to be drumming up Volvo repair work. Mark from the band says that Plums and Custard, my favourite track from the album, is named after a funghi as are two other tracks. Can you boys and girls guess which? Also that they're off on a European tour soundtracking some short films starting in Bradford in Mark's home county. Eventually we toddle off saying our goodbyes and grunt our way up the hill. I leave Simon and Jules en route and glide down to Balham. Another great night Jono and friends. Cheers.

Metamono get colourful except for Kumo

Demented Airmen Are Go!!

Dads Dancing