The young 'un came home from school the other day singing Carols Of The Bells, specifically from the version by Pentatonix, which she is learning in music lessons.

So we've been watching and enjoying that on YouTube a lot, but I couldn't help having a look at a (lovely) sub-two minute solo classical guitar version, which also helpfully has tab.

Long story short, last night I started attempting to learn it, but didn't realise it's much trickier than a proper professional player makes it look, so I almost abandoned it within two minutes; I'm a strummer and picker, not a fingerstyle plucker, and my brain wasn't having any of the alien shapes and changes required.

But I persevered, and within an hour my playing resembled something like the video, albeit very rough around the edges, being a bit slower, more hesitant etc etc

But I was delighted and surprised I made decent progress from scratch and I'll be practising it regularly now.

Love Lies Bleeding

The main draw of this film for me was that it's the feature sophomore effort of British director Rose Glass, whose striking debut Saint Maud is one of the best psychological horrors of recent years and effusively recommended if you haven't seen it.

This though is more of a throwback noir, with a dark 80s vibe and more than one shot that I'm convinced is in homage to David Lynch (particularly his nightmarish noir Lost Highway).

There's eroticism too as the leading characters, terrifically played by Kirsten Stewart and Katy M O'Brian, fall hard into a relationship and go about righting wrongs, albeit with spiralling consequences, which also brings in Ed Harris's possible mob boss.

It's more of a pot-boiler than the wild ride it may sound, but it's never less than than intriguing, and Glass provides further evidence that she's a formidable talent for whom the sky is the limit.  Watch this space.

Rating: ***

A real shame this but completely understandable of course.

I've got to say when I saw them at Leeds Arena last year, only a few months after his stroke, I thought they played and sounded as good as they have in years, so happening upon his statement today was a bit surprising in that respect.

But fair play to him - what a career.

Quote from: Thenop on December 07, 2024, 03:09:20 PMI am not the biggest U2 fan, but out of all those songs Larry got it very right on this one:

Great choice.  Also the track uses only one chord throughout, which accentuates the rhythm section, and features one of The Edge's best guitar solos, which is all the more impactful because of the above reasons.

Today is 9 years to the day since my "Cryptogenic cerebrovascular accident", so everything made my day today. 

However, the village Christmas Tree lights were switched on tonight, followed by a stage school performance and songs in which my young 'un featured, so that was a special treat. 

Fri 9th Feb
STEWART LEE, Leeds Playhouse ****
Sat 16th Mar
SIMPLE MINDS, Manchester AO Arena ****
Sat 13th Apr
PAUL FOOT, Halifax Square Chapel
Thu 18th Apr
STEWART LEE, Bradford St George's Hall
Fri 3rd May
MOVING PICTURES, Leeds Brudenell ****
Sun 5th May
FM, Leeds Brudenell
Wed 22nd May
RICHARD MARX, London Royal Albert Hall ****
Thu 23rd May
YES, Manchester Bridgewater Hall
Thu 13th Jun
SHERYL CROW, Halifax Piece Hall ***
Sun 16th Jun
NILE RODGERS & CHIC, Halifax Piece Hall ****
Fri 21st Jun
THE KILLERS, Manchester Co-op Arena *****
Sat 22nd Jun
GRACE JONES, Halifax Piece Hall **
Sun 7th Jul
RICK ASTLEY, Halifax Piece Hall ***
Fri 12th Jul
TOM JONES, Halifax Piece Hall ****
Sat 31st Aug
BRAVADO, Sheffield City Hall
Fri 18th Oct
RITA, SUE & BOB TOO, Halifax Victoria Theatre ***
Sat 19th Oct
BRAVADO (Eucon), Chester Live Rooms ****
Tue 22nd Oct
The Libertines, Leeds O2 Academy #
Sat 2nd Nov
FM, Athens Piraeus Academy ****
Sun 10th Nov
FM, Wakefield Venue 23 ***
Thu 14th Nov
THE SAW DOCTORS, Leeds O2 Academy ****
Sat 14th Dec
DAN REED, Ballymena Diamond Rock Club

2025

Sat 1st Feb
MICK MILLER, Bradford Tapestry
Sat 10th May
STEWART LEE, Leeds Playhouse
Fri 6th Jun
JAMES, Halifax Piece Hall (tkt for sale )
Sat 7th Jun
JAMES, Halifax Piece Hall
Mon 7th Jul
SIMPLE MINDS, Halifax Piece Hall
Fri 11th Jul
THE HUMAN LEAGUE, Halifax Piece Hall
Sat 2nd Aug
THE SAW DOCTORS, Halifax Piece Hall
Fri 8th Aug
The Libertines, Halifax Piece Hall ##

# Chaperone duty
## Trying to get out of chaperone duty

Quote from: Slim on December 02, 2024, 10:41:32 PMThe BBC's culture editor, Katie Razall, used the term "piece of piss" just now on 5 Live. Made me smile.

I find her quite irritating on Radio 4 - she can't help herself interjecting with cringeworthy attempts at bon mots when speaking to guests much, much brainier than she is. 

Quote from: David L on December 02, 2024, 10:27:51 PM

Quote from: Matt2112 on December 02, 2024, 01:34:18 PM

Quote from: David L on November 30, 2024, 09:38:20 AM

Quote from: David L on February 14, 2024, 01:51:01 PMAs in most cases a negotiation is how this will end, the alternative is too bleak to contemplate.

Zelensky talking up 'NATO membership for surrendering occupied territory' deal:

https://www.gbnews.com/news/world/zelensky-ceasefire-russia-war-ukraine-nato-membership

Excellent, that also suits the Russians who can concentrate on levelling half of Syria instead.

I suppose we'll be told we're supporting the 'rebels' in that one.
Shush! Don't mention ISIS 

Heard an interview with a humanitarian chap on Radio 4 during the commute home today who was asked which group in Syria we in the West should support.

"There's a really easy answer to that:", he replied, "the Syrian people".

Quote from: David L on November 30, 2024, 09:38:20 AM

Quote from: David L on February 14, 2024, 01:51:01 PMAs in most cases a negotiation is how this will end, the alternative is too bleak to contemplate.

Zelensky talking up 'NATO membership for surrendering occupied territory' deal:

https://www.gbnews.com/news/world/zelensky-ceasefire-russia-war-ukraine-nato-membership

Excellent, that also suits the Russians who can concentrate on levelling half of Syria instead.

Simple solution - disestablish the CofE, at the very least.  That's another progressive societal move that's way, way overdue.

Pleased to see my MP (Kate Dearden, Lab) voted aye.

Yes, hope for a speedy recovery.

When our dog was neutered he simply went into a massive huff and blanked everyone for 24 hours.

Richard Tice strongly indicated he would vote in favour, which surprised me.

Anyway, I'm delighted the bill has passed; it's great to see enlightenment principles winning out.

Back more on topic: I'm watching the HoC debate as I work from home.

I've got to say that although I consider Kim Leadbeater pretty much criminally negligent on the issue of the Batley school teacher, on this particular issue she's been an outstanding ambassador for the cause, with a superb opening speech.

I was also hugely impressed by the contribution of Tory MP Kit Malthouse, who spoke with magnificent eloquence in his allotted 8 minutes or so.

I do hope this bill gets passed.

How is the word "sect" belittling?  It's a statement of simple fact.  As I said, Christianity is not a monolithic bloc; it has sects - just the 45,000 of them according to a quick internet search.  All, by the way, mutually exclusive - and therefore mutually blasphemous - by definition.

It seems a common characteristic of the religious that they think automatic deference should be given when discussing their beliefs; in other words, in the arena of discourse there should be a hierarchy of protection of ideas, with religious ones at the top. 

It's telling that almost all responses when religious ideas are attacked are not slam-dunk rebuttals in return, but only righteous indignation they're being attacked at all.