All I Need Is A Tube Of Smoky Bacon Pringles And A Place From Which To Stand...

Hello everyone!  How are you all?  Comfortable?  You'd better be...

I have had an interesting weekend, in which I played a support gig for the superb Dead Radio Society, which was very nice indeed.  (I've known them for a year and a half, and this is the first time we've been able to share a billing, and - I hope - not the last.)  I then spent the weekend with friends, playing games, watching DVDs and going for a pub meal.  My weekend was briefly marred by a slightly rude cashier at a supermarket in Leek, who asked me for ID whilst I was buying a bottle of beer.  Apparently, I have to look over 25 in order to buy alcohol, and apparently, I don't.  I don't have any other form of ID than my passport, and I have never needed to take my passport to my supermarket.  I have only needed my passport in order to go to Greece.

Now seems to be a good time to mention that my 32nd birthday is this Friday, and also that my friends (who, incidentally, bought all the beer they could fit in a carrier bag or two each), who were with me in the queue, averaged at about eight years younger than me.  The irony is not lost on me that had I been unable to buy alcohol this weekend, it would have ruined a weekend of playing games and watching cartoons.

One thing I was able to buy without fear of reprisals was Pringles.  Oh, blogwatchers, I do love me some Pringles.  I know this constitutes product endorsement, and were I a well-established, internationally loved career-musician, I would be sitting here with my fingers crossed, looking out of my bedroom window in case a giant Pringles lorry crawled down my road, crunching wing-mirrors on the way past (for 'tis a small road bejewelled with cars), delivering the lifetime supply of moreish crisps I so crave.

(I also loved Cheese Bugles - an occasionally recurrent theme on Facebook and Twitter is my sorrow and teeth-gnashing disbelief that they are no longer available in the UK.  This is probably wonderful news for my arteries, who, years ago, had to sustain me despite my filling them with conical corn tastiness for several months.)

It gladdens my heart to see new flavours appearing as I gaze at the Pringles section in supermarkets these days.  I don't go for spicy flavours, nor do I like anything too oniony (cheese & onion has never appealed to me, largely because of the smell, but also because I used to sit next to someone who scoffed them at lunchtime, and then would breathe cheese & onion crumb-gas into my face - I still retch a little even now), no - my flavours of choice are either plain or something with a meaty theme.

Thus I was really curious (and my curiosity cannot be fully described on this humble blog without graphs and descriptive etchings) when I saw, on the shelf before me, Spaghetti Bolognese flavour Pringles.  And, two shelves down, Smoky Bacon.  Paydirt.  As far as the bolognese goes, they are doing a range of dinner flavours, it seems, as there was also steak & ale (or onion, I forget) pie flavour, spicy fajita, and macaroni cheese (this one's next on the "To-Try" list).  As for smoky bacon, I'd not seen these before, and I just love bacon.

I can entertainedly report that, once I'd bought my beer from Tesco's (self-service till, authorisation needed, staff-member didn't even look, just swiped the card & let me buy the beer - THAT'S HOW IT'S DONE!), and we all got back to my friends' house, the bolognese Pringles were tentatively tried & ambivalence was the main verdict.  However, when I came downstairs the next morning, they had been polished off and it was agreed that, yes - the more you eat, the better they get.

I am not a connoisseur of food, it must be said.  I love a good meal and will happily eat in whatever decent restaurant you plonk me in, but start talking snacks & I will compare happy/outraged memories, share out bags of crisps for taste-testing (and also a glass of water or lemonade, you don't want to cross-pollinate flavoursome crumbs for fear of spoiling the judgement), and hide Monster-Munch in a bottomless crevass (I have no desire to smear my teeth in orange gunk, thankyouverymuch, and the same goes for Wotsits).

I can imagine you being a bit concerned by these paragraphs, so I will take a moment to assure you that this is not an obsession.  I have, in recent months, become aware of how many bags of crisps I can get through during weekends and time at work.  I recently cut crisps from my lunchtime diet, and a tube of Pringles is a rare treat for me.  I would expect them to stay that way too, otherwise the beauty of them would just be lost in a haze of dry-mouthed salt-lust.

Anyway, I think you all know me that little bit extra now, and I feel a little bit easier plugging my wares.  As you all know, I am writing a mailing list and I would continue to urge you to join up and receive an e-mail from me once a fortnight.  It'll be largely upcoming gig lists and the like, but I would make efforts to send the odd e-mailable free gift (I have just laughed whilst typing this, as there is no way of e-mailing something you would have to pay for, and I currently have no items for sale - although I am now working on this).  I do recommend the mailing list, as it will prevent any confusion regarding the location of any gigs I'm playing at, and any other pertinent information.  I am slightly better at giving out all the relevent details on the mailing list, and it's a friendly little mailout as well.  Ask anyone who's on it!

If you'd like to join (and after that cosy ad, why wouldn't you?), go to www.wix.com/mrjohnmacleod/music and go to the 'Contact' page, where there is an e-mail form to fill in.  That goes straight to me, and I'll add you to the list.  If you're going to this site through your smartphone, you will instead see a link that says "Get in touch" - you'll be able to e-mail me through that.  You would be most welcome and will receive the digital equivalent of a nice hot cup of tea and the biscuits of your choice (I could talk about that now, but it's a whole other blog...).

Meantime, if you chaps would like to know where I am up to at the moment, I am still looking at songs and wondering what to do with them.  It's an odd thing, I am very, very eager to put songs somewhere where you can download/buy/keep them, and that is now quite high on my priority list.  I am thinking of one or two EPs of home demo material while I work at what I would like my "album" to be.  So I will keep plugging away at home demoes (and, more importantly, getting them right) with which to do this.  So please do keep bearing with me while I'm working this out, because I feel I am not that far from having things I can present to you (that aren't diatribes about crisps).

In the meantime, I hope you have finished your cup of tea before it went cold, and if you feel you need something stronger and alcoholic to drink (my blogs can have this effect, I've had the tests done), make sure you take your passport with you when you go to buy it.

Take care folks,
John.xx

A Long And Enigmatic Pause (Meeting Your Heroes Isn't Always A Bad Thing)

Nerina Pallot & I, 4th October 2011

Hello Blogwatchers! (Yes, I realise I come up with a different name for you every time I write here, but this is something that we are all going to have to live with.  I'm sorry, but there it is.)  Since last we spoke, I have returned from holiday, gone back to work for a week, and then taken most of the next week off to go & see Nerina Pallot play at the Manchester Academy 2.  More on that later, but I thought I would mention it now so as to explain the opening photograph that graces this post.

First, there is business to deal with.  SICKENING business!  Last time, I was telling you about my situation with drumming and the potential of the noise carrying over to next door due to very thin walls, was I not?  I would just like to quote for you, a segment from the last blog:

"...(It also occurs to me that I have, at this house, never had that moment where my blood runs cold because I realise I can clearly hear next door bonking - evidently they too are scared stiff, if you'll pardon the phrasing)..."

Just mull that quote over to yourselves, dear readers.  The following week after I wrote those words, the Friday, to be precise, I was putting my shoes on to go to a works dinner (Chinese food, fantastic restaurant, just down the road from me - delicious!), I heard a funny noise.  I thought it was me sitting on my bed at first.  Then it happened again while I was sitting still and I realised it was not from my side of the wall.  It wasn't until the fourth or fifth moan that I realised exactly what it was, and that it was not, after all, a creaky door.

Oh dear.

Of course, I would never pour scorn upon a couple doing whatever they wish to do in their own home, but it does rather shine a poor light upon the sound insulation in terraced houses.  Nearly two years ago, when I moved into this house, one of the people next door came upstairs and said "Goodnight!" to someone, to which I (who was sitting on my settee reading a book) replied "G'night!"  That's how thin the walls are.

And yes, in some ways I am grumbling about two peoples evident happiness and contentment, but I don't want to hear that every night! And it has been every night up until last night.  It's a bit quieter now, so I'm either successfully blocking it out or it's not on the menu at the moment.  Either way, THANK YOU.  But you haven't come here for prurient gossip about my neighbours, have you. (Have you?)  No, of course you haven't.  You've come here to find out what happens when you go Manchester to see a favourite musician, and share a room with four other people.  Well, even if you haven't, that's what you're getting.

I had elected to travel light, but in doing so, completely forgot I was staying in a shared hostel, so realising I had forgotten to pack sleepwear and a towel was something of a revelation.  Thankfully I could hire a towel for a pound, so that was fine.  I did have to snoop round Primark for cheap jimjams though, which I managed to find.  My room had three bunkbeds in it, one of which was to be unoccupied, so all in all there five of us.  When I went to see Bright Eyes in July, I was sadly late for the gig and missed half the support set.  I didn't want this to happen again, so I left the hostel earlier and got to the Academy in plenty of time.

A chap named Samuel Taylor kicked the night off as a solo acoustic act, and was really good.  His stage banter improved as his set progressed, and his songs were excellent.  It almost seemed a pity that by the time he had a really good rapport with the audience, it was his last song, but it's how these things go.  After him, Jodie Marie was the second support act.  Again, excellent songs, a very strong voice, and good musicians backing her, on percussion and acoustic guitar.

After a fairly short pause while the instruments & gear were set up, Nerina and her band took to the stage...

Nerina Pallot & her band, Manchester Academy 2, 04/10/2011

Nerina's concert was a blinder, and an inspiring one, albeit in a different way to the Bright Eyes gig.  It's a hard one to put into words, but it was like instead of going to a gig, it felt as if we'd all been invited into a party.  Nerina does a wonderful line in stage banter, and so much of the gig can be given to stories and ruminations.  Sometimes it will be relevant to an upcoming song, sometimes it won't, but it will always be funny, entertaining and welcomed by the audience.  Two songs into the set, Nerina's first words to us, after a long and enigmatic pause, were: "Oh fuck it, I was going to do this whole gig and not say a word, but that would be wrong, wouldn't it?"

From then on there were some lovely moments with stories of friends of hers who'd met at university and got married, a couple in the audience got engaged between songs, thoughts were shared on the real reason people wear sunglasses indoors, and her first gig at Acedemy 2 ten years ago was discussed.  Oh, and there were songs, lots of brilliant songs.  Some of Nerina Pallot's music puts a lump in my throat no matter where I hear it, and  'History Boys' is one of the new songs which does this, and the emotional impact was not lost onstage, in fact it was intensified (and I am half-glad that 'If I Lost You Now' or 'Grace' didn't show up, as they get me the most).

It was a lovely concert, and I am glad to have made it to Manchester to see it (any excuse to come to Manchester, really).  I hung around the Merchandise stall, as that is apparently where Nerina goes post-show to chin-wag with fans, and after a short while and no Nerina, security herded us out to the entrance hall where we were told she'd come down shortly.  After a further few minutes or so, security then asked everyone to leave the building.  I had started chatting to Jenny, Anneka and Elga, from Germany, who were in England to see all Nerina's shows (like a travelling holiday but with more music), and I asked security, as much on their behalf as mine, what was happening, as we were hoping to say hi etc.  "Nah, you'll have missed her," was the reply, so we left the building.

I didn't think the security chap was entirely right, as there's usually loads of equipment loading and palaver after a gig, and I didn't think it'd hurt to check round the side of the venue, and sure enough there was a van being loaded with stuff, and one or two other people standing around in a hopeful sort of way.  And yes, after a short while, Nerina came out.  She had come, Sharpie in hand, to where she thought everyone would be, in the building, but found it empty after security had cleared everyone out, so didn't get to meet many people afterwards, somewhat unfairly both for her and for the people who were hoping to see her.

I would like to say in print (well, blogprint at any rate) that Nerina Pallot is such a cheerful and lovely person to meet.  She is always genuinely excited that people listen to her music, and knows what a lucky & unqiue position she is in, and that enthusiasm shows in everything she does.  I think that enthusiasm stopped me feeling too nervous (I have written before about an incident concerning Neil Finn and my gabbling to him over my wallet, which had been stolen earlier in the day), and also the fact that she recognised me from my tweetings and YouTube competition entry, which, while there's no reason it should, surprised me.  It was nice to have a natter (she loves Staffordshire oatcakes, and if there's ever one reason to briefly visit, that's it).  I have been something of a vociferous supporter of her of late (see my "John MacLeod Speaks To The Internet" YouTube series), and, I have always felt, with good reason.  If you don't already listen, track down her albums & do so.

The evening ended with Jenny, Anneka, Elga and I walking through Manchester to our respective hotels, talking about music and the way the internet has changed how musicians can interact with their fans, and spread their listenership.  Jenny & I also talked about her travels to the UK to see touring musicians, and I would reckon she's seen more of the UK than I have!  This is another thing I love about going to gigs - should you happen to make a friend, it can be a rather nice thing.

I got to my hostel at probably about quarter past midnight.  I quietly tiptoed into my room, to find I wasn't the last one in (yes - small victory!)  I got changed in the bathroom and tried to put all my stuff in an orderly pile without making too much noise (there was a paper bag which could not have crinkled any louder, to my exasperation), I climbed the ladder to my bunk, lay down, and completely and utterly failed to get to sleep.  I must only have nodded off for the few minutes that Occupant #5 turned up & got into bed.  Other than that, I was very, very aware that a further four people were breathing/snoring/sleeping, and I could not nod off for love nor money.  Still, for one night it was perfectly comfortable and would go there again next time.  So long as the hot water's fixed (the cold shower I had to endure the following morning was the least enjoyable shower I've had in a long time).

So that's a recap of the last few days, dear Blogwatchers.  I hope you have enjoyed reading it, as I certainly have enjoyed writing it.  If you would like to receive fortnightly ramblings and news from me, I have started a mailing list which will include any forthcoming live dates, news, and the occasional free gift (the sort that could be attached to an e-mail, of course).  If you would like to join it, I would urge you to get your skates on and go to http://www.wix.com/mrjohnmacleod/music where, on the Contact page, is a little form you can fill in to send me an e-mail.  Once you've done that, I will add you to the mailing list and you can get updates from me about stuff.  Please do sign up if you're interested in my doings, as could prove to be a handy reminder for anything you might miss on Twitter!

Right, the hour is late, rain is pattering against my window, and I am getting up and playing badminton with a friend of mine tomorrow.  I do not wish to appear zombie-like.  I wish you all a lovely sleep, and take care.  Thank you for reading,

Love,
John.xx