My Most Memorable Concert: Foo Fighters at Milton Keynes Bowl, 2011

My most memorable concert happily coincides with my first ‘proper’ concert (that is, unless you count an 8 year old me bopping along to S Club 7). In July 2011, I was lucky enough to see Foo Fighters perform on one of two dates at Milton Keynes Bowl, at the height of their Wasting Lighttour.

The value I attribute to this concert probably has quite a lot to do with having hailed Foo Fighters as one of my favourite bands of all time- thanks to the introduction by my mum. That said, I’m not sure I had a lot of choice what with One by One being blared out in the car at any given opportunity!

I can still clearly remember my excitement when Foo Fighters took to the stage, opening with ‘Rope’. ‘Rope’, which also marked the opening of Wasting Light, was a perfect opening. I don’t think anyone there – which, at the hands of the bowl-shaped venue, had an absolutely amazing sound – could have escaped the contagious excitement. Before Foo Fighters’ slot, Tame Impala, Death Cab for Cutie and Biffy Clyro had all performed throughout the evening. Having seen Tame Impala and Biffy Clyro since, I think I definitely should have appreciated them more at the time- but I think I was just a little bit too geared up for the main event.

Highlights of Foo Fighters’ set were hard to pin down at the time, as they still are now. But, as an all-time favourite track, singing to ‘Best of You’ at the top of my lungs whilst crushed in a crowd of people twice my height was definitely up there.

It wasn’t until the Wasting Light tour that I had really been old enough to go to a concert and properly enjoy it, so I think that’s part of why this particular concert stands out so much. I’m glad to have seen Foo Fighters at the age I was, because all too often now I see bands as part of festivals which always end up a little bit hazy.

It’s probably mostly the nostalgic attachments I have to this concert that have prompted me to choose it as my most memorable one, but it truly was an amazing night of music and I hope that I get the chance to see them again soon.

WARNING

Am about to post an influx of various reviews and what not that I have (fairly) recently written for an entertainment publication at my university, The Edge. Apologies in advance anyone who may be watching this space (that I admit has been inactive for some months now) but I thought I would make some use of it.

April Goals

I was reading another blog earlier and saw that every month, the writer set herself goals for things to achieve in the forthcoming month. I thought it was a lovely idea, hence this post being here! It will be nice to carry this on throughout the year so that I can actually see that I'm doing something, and it'll be an easy way to blog more. So, here are April's goals...

1. go running

There was a stage after Christmas where I was running pretty much every other day, and I started to really enjoy it. I think I stopped when I restarted Tae Kwon Do because that was a more sociable form of exercise, but now that I'm home for Easter I'm not able to train- so I definitely need to do something! As of tomorrow I will start running every other day again, and I will hopefully carry it on once back in Southampton too...because I don't really fancy turning into a huge blob over the Easter break!

2. be motivated

I noticed that towards the end of last term (probably for the last 3 or so weeks) I've had little or no motivation for anything to do with university work, despite the fact that I was still really enjoying my modules and do want to do well. So, I'm going to get back on track this month. I've already started planning for my Stage and Screen module portfolio (which isn't due until 22nd May...gasp) and have planned out an essay that isn't due until 5th May- hopefully I will knuckle down this holiday and get some proper work done so that when I go back to Southampton I can feel a little less stressed and crazy!

3. read more books

I realised that I haven't actually read a book that I want to read, that is, outside of my university course, since reading Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (a review of which can be found here). In fairness, I haven't actually been reading all that much for university either, so I don't have any excuse not to be reading! I still have a stack of books left from my last book splurge, so I think I will get myself back into the swing of reading with either William Burrough's Junky, or Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being as I have both of those at home with me!

4. worry less

Another thing I found towards the end of last term was that I was worrying about everything. Even things that don't need worrying about. So, I think I need to concentrate on worrying about things that I can actually do something about...and instead of sitting about in an anxious mess, actually doing something productive about the things that I'm worrying about. It's definitely easier said than done, but if I manage to get my motivation back on track hopefully I'll find myself with less on my mind!

Update on...pretty much everything!

Seeing as I've just come to the end of my second term at Southampton (gasp, time please slow down) it seems fitting to do a little round up of recent happenings, especially as this term has been a pretty hectic one! I've also realised that I haven't blogged in a very long time...I spend a lot of time being busy doing nothing when I'm at university, but I'm hoping to get back on track with this blog from now on!

The last time I actually did any sort of life update was way way back in November, so five months down the line you'd think I'd have a lot to talk about- and I probably do, but I can't really remember everything I've been doing. It's probably easiest to do little sub-headings of important parts so that I can get everything down (which is probably better than plodding through month by month!).

I'll start with University:

Work-wise, everything seems to be going pretty much okay. I managed to bag myself a couple of firsts on some of the assignments that I was completing over the Christmas holidays, and a first in my Old English exam, so that stuff was good. A new semester meant new modules, and I think almost everyone taking the Old English module last semester was extremely happy to say goodbye to it! My modules this semester have been far better than the ones I was formerly taking- but I have to say that I really miss doing a proper Film module. My favourite at the moment is Stage and Screen, which as the name would suggest is about as close to a Film module as English can get. We've been looking specifically at the Classic Hollywood period, along with looking at theatre too- and it was this module that bagged us all a free ticket to see Caryl Churchill's A Number at the Nuffield Theatre (my little write up can be found here). Surprisingly, I've really enjoyed Critical Theory too- even though after most of the lectures I exit questioning almost everything about my life and literature! The last part of this year, when I go back to Southampton after Easter, is probably going to be the most important part of the year. I haven't got any exams (high five to English degrees) but I do have two 'take away' essays (that unfortunately do not include take aways, though I'm sure my flatmate Becca and I will reaching for the late night Dominos when writing them), and two portfolios...so I think things will be pretty hectic once I'm back. My only worry is the horrible lack of motivation I've had for the last few weeks or so, I found myself submitting work that I knew could probably be better whilst saying that I didn't care- which for anyone who knows me, is really, really unlike me. I'm hoping that a little time off and a break will help get me back on track and that once I'm back in Southampton I will get my bum back into gear and finish this year well!

Whilst writing that, I've kind of realised that I'm going to bore anyone who reads this to death if I carry on rambling, so for the rest I'll just do a little summation of good stuff that has happened! Nick coming to stay in February was ace, as you will know if you've read my blogpost about it! It was really cool being touristy in a place I've lived in for about 7 months now, and was great fun showing Nick around. The lovely Georgia also came to stay at the end of term, and it's fair to say we remember very little of it...but I think two great nights out were what we needed! In March, I went to see Joanna,  a friend from a module last semester, in a play called The God of Carnage (which I didn't review and I feel a little bad about) and it was hands down the funniest play I have ever seen, and it was only composed of one scene with four cast members. I need to carry on doing nice little things like going to the theatre, and I think after I've finished my assignments for this semester I may have to treat myself to another trip. In March I was also lucky enough to go to the Student Tae Kwon Do Nationals (yep, after six years I have started Tae Kwon Do again) with Southampton's club which was an amazing experience- not only because we won overall, but being part of such a great team was incredible. A more recent cool thing was seeing Wild Beasts in Cambridge on Monday, which was absolutely amazing (...and another thing I haven't reviewed but should have done). They were supported by a really cool guy called East India Youth, who is very temptingly playing at Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth soon- so I might have to go to that. Looking at all of the good things that have happened over the term show how great it's been, and I have lots more to look forward to! On 2nd May I have the Athletics Union Ball with Tae Kwon Do, on 6th I'm finally seeing Arcade Fire with Georgia and Bradley, and I've also put the deposit down on my Reading ticket for this year- so things are looking good!

Georgia in Southampton feat. most of my flatmates!

SUTKD!

Sorry for such a heavy text based post, I will hopefully have some more interesting stuff to come soon! (watch out for a denim jacket post feat. Ladybird Likes, more book reviews when I get myself back into reading, and probably a post about the AU Ball!)

Gallivanting...in Portsmouth with Fhionna and Owen

After hearing about Pie and Vinyl in Portsmouth a little while ago, I've been itching to take a trip- and today we finally got around to it! Despite having lived in Southampton for near enough six months now, we haven't done a whole lot of exploring, so today was an ace opportunity for me and two of my flatmates (Owen and Fhionna) to be a little bit touristy and venture further afield than Southampton town centre. Apologies again for the slightly rubbishy photos- I made use of my film camera rather than using a digital one, so will of course have to wait to get them developed! The best way to go about this post is probably a simple picture-and-caption affair, so here we go...

Thanks to Fhionna's (ahem, Fhionna's phone's) navigation, we made it safely and swiftly to Southsea's Pie & Vinyl after a nice little train journey from Southampton. I didn't realise how nice it would be to escape Southampton for a bit, it was ace to be in a new place and be able to look around and new things- and Portsmouth is so damn pretty! 

I absolutely loved the little dividers between the records that were used, and that the vinyl was all kept in old suitcases. The vinyl room was a little smaller than we expected but it was so full up that it made up for it in content! I don't have any pictures of the room as a whole, but it was so, so cool and I'd quite like to set up camp there and live there for forever. I somehow managed not to buy any vinyl (well done me and my self-control) but instead treated myself to a baseball-style top with the shop's logo on, which I am very happy with!

After spending quite a while browsing the vinyl, we decided to sit down for some pie- and it was possibly the best decision we've ever made! As you can see from the pictures, the whole place is really ace and the atmosphere was so lovely. We had a chat with one of the staff members and he made us feel very welcome, and we have promised to return at some point.

I had a chicken/bacon/garlic/all things wonderful pie. It was the best pie I have ever eaten.

Owen and Fhi looking lovely post-pie

After leaving Pie & Vinyl we headed towards the sea and walked along the wall. It was lovely to be by the sea but at the same time it made us a little bit jealous- I really wish we had a beach in Southampton!

Lots of stone-skimming happened. Owen was crowned King of Stone-Skimming.

Wall-walking shenanigans

We had a great day, even though we managed to miss the stop at Southampton and ended up in Romsey for half an hour. We found out in that half an hour that there isn't a lot to do in Romsey. I think we will definitely be visiting Portsmouth again, it'll be lovely in the Summer!

Gallivanting...in Southampton with Nick

Earlier this week Nick took a little trip to Southampton to see me, and we had an ace few days. Despite having been here for near enough 6 months now, I haven't really done much of the touristy stuff like trawling around the docks and walking around exploring, so it was really nice to have an excuse to do that. Highlight of the days was definitely Ed's Diner though- although Mettricks Coffee (a little coffee house in Old Southampton that I started visiting a few weeks ago) still reigns on as my favourite place in Southampton so far! Sorry for the pretty rubbishy phone photos, took the opportunity to take the film camera out so a lot of nicer ones are on there! 

1 & 2. Evidence that Ed's Diner is a place of wonderful food and milkshakes. Nick had a peanut butter milkshake and it was b-e-a-utiful!

3. We paid a visit to the docks...and um, the docks are quite boring...we saw some boats...and that was about it

4. I thought it was cool that nice old houses like this are about when I'm so used to the boring old city ones around town!

5. I just liked the old lamppost and old pub so took a picture of them together.

6. We stumbled across a pretty cool-looking restaurant that serves Greek, Italian and something else...will hopefully be paying them a visit!

7 & 8. Mettricks is the loveliest little coffee house I've been to in ages, it was the last stop on mine and Nick's Southampton adventure before he hopped on the train home! Nick treated me to a pot of 'Char Winter Fairytale' and it was the nicest tea I have ever had- will definitely need to stock up on it at some point! 

Overall Nick and I had an ace few days, and I'm really excited for him to come and stay again! 

Foals at Alexandra Palace (15.02.14)

On Saturday Chloe and I ventured to the lovely Alexandra Palace to see Foals- which after trying countless times to get tickets, was absolutely amazing. The first ace thing about the night was the venue- I've never been there before and it was absolutely beautiful, I'm a bit of a sucker for stain glass windows and nice buildings! As always, I was a little too short to be taking photographs in a big crowd, so this post is going to be a little lacking in pictures but I will see what I can pinch from the ones that Chlo took.

Doors opened at 6:30 which was a little earlier than I find most places do, but it meant we had time to have a nice little wander around all of the yummy food and drink stalls inside (as well as spend about twenty minutes umm-ing and arr-ing over which t-shirts to buy!). I treated myself to a Chicken Katsu Curry and a really cool baseball style Foals shirt, which I have pretty much been wearing since the gig and you will have seen if you follow me on Instagram or Tumblr. They also had a little live band in the middle of the hall and it set a lovely atmosphere.

The first of the two bands before Foals (I feel really awful for not knowing their name!) was a little, um, different- they was no singing but a lot of pretty awesome guitar solos. It was nice to have something out of the ordinary to kick start the night but I think it just made everyone all the more anxious for Cage the Elephant and Foals to come on stage! Cage the Elephant aren't a band I know very well, other than the obvious 'Shake Me Down' that I really love, but their energy on stage was amazing, and the songs I did know were ace to sing along to which helped to get us into the 'spirit' of the night. Then it was time for Foals, who of course everyone was waiting for. Their set was a little disappointingly short, I think they were only on for a total of about ninety minutes, but it may have been a blessing in disguise because the crowd was a little bit nuts on Saturday!

Photo Credit to: vicstaa.tumblr.com

They entered the stage in darkness and began playing the Prelude from their latest album, Holy Fire and then kicked off the gig with 'Total Life Forever' which has always been a song I've liked so it was a nice way to start. They played all the greats, focusing a lot on their newer stuff like 'Inhaler' (which was absolutely insane, even more so than when they played at Reading '13) and 'My Number' which really suited the crowd and everyone was singing along and being all crazy. A highlight for me was 'Spanish Sahara' and I think that could be said for literally any time I see them, because it is, and probably always will be, my favourite song of theirs. As they did at Reading, they made everyone get down onto the floor (which was ace for me, because it meant I could actually see the stage!) and then rise up at the chorus- everyone was belting it out and there was a really great atmosphere. One of the only disappointments of the night was them not playing 'Cassius' which was the first Foals song I ever heard, but hey ho.

All in all it was an amazing night and would very much like to go back and relive it! Next up, Wild Beasts on 31st March at Cambridge Corn Exchange.