CucosBlog

Going to gigs is knackering. By the time I had met Antony outside the Scala in King’s Cross, I was already painfully tired. Why? Read the rest of this entry »

I went to quite a lot of trouble to attend this gig and witness with mine own eyes the greatness of Ariel Pink, probably the most exciting music phenomenon of this period. The fact that Cluster and Howlin Rain were on the bill too made it unmissable. Read the rest of this entry »

I regard myself as an excellent joint roller and this afternoon, while wrapping a present for my god daughter’s 1st birthday, I realised that the same finger dexterity gives me an advantage when it comes to wrapping gifts. Read the rest of this entry »

Here are most of the CDs I listened to while in the US. Yes that’s right I made a note of them as I went along. I thought I may as well. There’s a few that I’ve forgotten so you can blame the mota for that. Read the rest of this entry »

Another Neil Young gig… Expectations were kind of low after the last Greendale tour, when he seemed to have transformed into an overly quaint Garrison Keillor storyteller dude. But as you know, I only review gigs I like… Read the rest of this entry »

On the back of the ATP weekend, I wasn’t particularly excited to be going to yet another gig the very next day. But tickets get booked in that moment of desire/excitement/curiosity, and having already shelled out at £16 a pop I had to make the effort. It turned out to be an inspiring and moving experience. Read the rest of this entry »

Birthdays are the perfect opportunity for a wander down memory lane. What a great expression. There are roads and lanes aren’t there - well trodden superhighways, massive distances connected by lightning modes of travel - and then quiet little paths that take some effort even to be found. Read the rest of this entry »

The seven best records of all time - in order - are (drumroll please) Read the rest of this entry »

Another night out going to see a gig in a vain attempt to see something which is beautiful and dangerous and moving… Oh Jesus, it really seems like I am going to have to make this shit myself. Read the rest of this entry »

So anyway, that was the kind of mental baggage I brought along with me to the ATP festival. Being in that environment - the Butlins holiday camp in Minehead just south of Bristol - was not pleasant. I understood that it was supposed to be ironic, or could be understood to be tacky-cool. Read the rest of this entry »