423: Dean Gaffney

Stood outside a bar in Manchester, in the straddling group of smokers taking a break from the wedding reception dancing, Dean Gaffney, the weird-looking lad with the dog from Eastenders, walked through our crowd and tried to go into the bar. The sign on the door informed him, and the wee bird on his arm, that it was closed to him -the public- for a private function. He trailed away with a disgruntled look, and my friend shouted down the street after him Robbie, Robbie, we've got the same name, Robbie. Also in the group was the comedian Tim Key and world famous members of the legendary hip hop supergroups Surreal Knowledge, Tactical Thinking and now Modern Medicine. It was like being in Hollywood or something, what with all these glittering stars, gathered together to celebrate the happy occasion: Congratulations to Ian and Nicola.

It's the wedding season in this world. One on Sunday, followed by my first experience of an Irish wedding on Thursday, as I visit Belfast to make preparations for my own Irish wedding. Hollywood can take a walk, and I'll calm myself with music and reading Captain Beefheart, The Biography by Mike Barnes (you know Mike, Mike Barnes. He's the guy who wrote Captain Beefheart, The Biography. It's a book, a biography, about a man called Don Vliet, calling himself Don Van Vliet, calling himself Captain Beefheart. I guess he's a singer.. of sorts. Yes that Mike Barnes.) and getting all excited about the descriptions of the guitar tangles that make up Trout Mask Replica (which isn't on spotify, damn you). Also being in Ireland it'd be a shame not to drink Guinness and whiskey, and yesterday I ate Irish lamb liver and champ, and enjoy some old time Irish good times, fiddling and crack n that. And a bit of traditional blog catch-up in this quite moment of hanging over.

So Dean Gaffney wandered off disappointed and when the mild surprise and mirth abated we took to the dance floor with cheese and crackers and Room's wildly inflated drinks prices, and gave praise to Eros and Cupid and Bacchus and the muses with our shifting and thrown shapes and shambolic sidling. Sorry you missed it Dean, but it was a good laugh, and a very happy occasion. They're good, aren't they, these happy occasions? I think more would be a good thing, what a revolutionary thought. You thought they should be rationed or even stripped from our timetable, but -no- I have a better idea. Let's get married. Drink and be drunk. Eat and be comfortable.

So, a wise, and newly-married man, gave good advice along the lines of: To anyone getting married soon, don't be nervous; it will be the best day of your life. Here here! Hear hear! (Hare here hare.) And I'll try my best to remember that as I'm picking suits, and preparing speeches and doing things that I don't even know need doing (waxing my elbows, braiding my shoes, and saddling my third cousin's dog). A grand day out that beats a trip to the moon into a cocked hat. Now I just have to work out how I can convince everyone that this should be our first dance (it is the catchiest most melodious song on the album, at least):

352: Surreal Knowledge at the O2 - c'mon!!!

They are Surreal Knowledge ; and I make no pretence to impartiality or journalistic integrity (I couldn't if I tried). They are my friends and I'm biased. However, I know good music when I hear it, and if Surreal Knowledge wasn't good (or better) I'd just quietly pretend nothing was going on and get back to blogging about scraps of paper I found on the bus and goofy people I've seen in shops. The fact is Surreal Knowledge are a world class hip-hop band, combining original (and in the case of Looking for Answers occassionally beautiful) lyrics, diverse combinations of music influence, live instrumentation, an exciting performance, and bloody good tunes. To top it all of they have a high level of production far exceeding what could be expected of an unsigned band.

Usually the words "do you want to listen to my mates' band?" would rightly be met with horror ; OMG, how will I tell this poor idiot that his mate's band are a shit rip-off of Nirvana? Well, believe me this is not a problem with Surreal Knowledge – this is a band to be proud of loving. Oh and before you say anything, the reason they are not a shit Nirvana rip-off is not because they are in actual fact a shit N.W.A., Beastie Boys or Jurrassic 5 rip-off. No, if they were I'm sure I would have noticed by now.

Surreal Knowledge have been recording amazing music, and trooping around playing empty clubs and crappy support slots for 10 years now. They have paid their dues, refined their art, and developed their sound and working methods. They have gone through line-up changes and internal squabbles, and even the occassional break-up ; but all this drama has only made them stronger. Hopefully tonight will mark a significant turning point towards deserved and well-earned success. After many gruelling auditions and knock-out rounds Surreal Knowledge have finally made it to tonight's Live and Unsigned grand final at London's O2 Arena. The prizes are mega: tours, a record deal, investment: mega!

Surreal Knowledge are proper sophisticated music for grown-ups (like Beethoven or some shit, innit); grown-ups who love hip-hop, silliness, and having a good time. Anyone in the house like having fun? No way, you like having fun? Me too! If you like fun then vote for Surreal Knowledge by texting UNSIGNED60 to 84222. Do it now ; quickly ; schnell, schnell. A vote against Surreal Knowledge is a vote against fun, life, happiness, music, and all that is right and decent in the world. And don't think about not voting either ; that counts as a vote against and will be noted in the great ledger in the sky. You have been warned.

My word on the quality of Surreal Knowledge should be enough for you. If it isn't here are some musics for your ears to do a hearing on. And some links for the clicking of.

 Ready To Go Sick by surrealknowledge

 Run by surrealknowledge

 The Way You Want It by surrealknowledge

 Rhyme Enforcers by surrealknowledge

 Looking For Answers by surrealknowledge 

Surreal Knowledge MySpace

Tactical Thinking (Surreal Knowledge crew/collaborators) 

289: best blog evar! best band evar!

I’ve started using twitter again.  It may only be temporary, or I may stick with it for some time – who knows.  If you are a big twitter user and want to follow me (and receive a tweet every time I post a blog) you can do so @iblogeveryday.  If you’re not into twitter, that’s fine; it’s not that great anyway.  Facebook is better; don’t be a twitter twot, be a Facebook friend, is the moral of the story (as yet unwritten).

  
  

I’ve also got all above-my-station, jumped-up, and convinced of my own worth, by nominating myself for four categories (the maximum allowed) at Blogger’s Choice Awards.  I decided to put my savoury little ass on the plate for Best Entertainment Blog, Best Blog About Blogging, Best Blog About Stuff, and Best Pop Culture Blog.  So please do your bit and vote for me in some or all of these categories; it’ll look pretty pathetic if I am not only self-nominated, but also having only received a vote from myself.  Well everyone else thinks you are shit, but at least you love yourself.  Leave a nice little comment too :)  P.S. You will need to register to vote.  And just to keep face here is some pop culture:

Next I’ll be nominating myself for Best Blog or Whatever in the Whole World or Wherever category of the Olympics.  And after that it’s onwards and upwards to Best Thing and Person Ever Ever EVAR!  But to err on the side of caution I’ll start off with Best Blog By Kevin Bradshaw, but knowing my luck I’ll probably lose out to this guy.  Give me back my name, blog-boy.....

Speaking of winning, today I will be attending the Live & Unsigned North West area finals to support my boys Surreal Knowledge.  When they storm the show, like Wyld Stallyns rocking God Gave Rock and Roll To You, they will go onto the Live & Unsigned national finals at the O2.  I’ve been following these hugely talented guys for years – by that I mean they are old friends so I may be a little biased.  Actually being their friend just means they are good for a laugh and a drink, and may lend you a tenner if you are in dire need.  If they were shit I would say, cos I’m that kinda guy.  But they are not.

They are a musically and lyrically sophisticated approach to hip hop, with the emphasis on fun and being awesome.  Their debut album The Tri-Spectrum Argument Phenomenon is in the can, and primed for release later this year, with the assistance of their larger crew Tactical Thinking.  If I can get my shit together I may be doing the artwork for the album cover; better pull my hand out of my arse and get started.

Enough from me, I’ll hand you over to Pete Cannon (aka Mr. Dick), Stoopid Ill (aka Derogatory), Jay Madden, plus new addition multi-instrumentalists Henry ‘Dank Zappa’ Roberts and Edward Marsden.  Via the magic of soundcloud:

 6.Ready to go sick by Surreal Knowledge-Hiphop
 4.Lookin for answers by Surreal Knowledge-Hiphop
 12.Mash it up by Surreal Knowledge-Hiphop
 5.Rhyme Enforcers by Surreal Knowledge-Hiphop