The hour when the ship comes in

Sometimes things happen which makes all the tomfoolery of this blog appear irrelevant. What's going on right now in Myanmar, previously known as Burma, is one of those occassions.

I'll leave it to others to comment, this is not supposed to be a political blog, but you get the feeling that a militaristic regime as odious as that in power would have been tackled by the international communty a long time ago, had it had vast amounts of oil reserves (see also Mugabe in Zimbabwe).

However, perhaps we could be on the brink of change anyway with the Monks, students and civilians deciding to take to the streets to protest. What sparked this all off was an increase in fuel duty. So oil is still tied into this all anyway. The country has been getting poorer and poorer and is adrift from the international community with only China as a real friend, meanwhile thousands of refugees are fleeing the country on a daily basis.

One feels a little bit helpless really, looking at this through a computer, but it may well be the first popular revolution broadcast via the internet. This could become a moment of history in the same way that fall of Eastern Europe was, or Tianamen Square. But this time the net is giving people their information and allowing people a say, and we're not watching it through TV sets. This could be a moment in history for us too.

As of time of writing the facebook group to show support to the people of Burma has over 13,000 members. Websites such as the Guardian and BBC are focusing on this issue with a rolling blog and extensive reporting and videos. The Irrawaddy News is covering this extensively too (a South East Asian based news service/blog). Other videos have been posted over at YouTube. The Burnese based blogs reporting this protest are being blocked at the moment, mobile phone coverage has been disabled and internet cafes have been forcefully closed but as the Prime Minister said at the Labour Party Conference today, "The whole world is now watching Burma". You can petition the PM to keep up his actions on Burma, by visiting this website and signing the petition.

Finally, the anarchist in me loves this - you can annoy these companies who do business with the regime. Fuckers. They have no soul.

I hope that a peaceful outcome will arise where members of the military decide not to shoot their own people and turn their guns on the corrupt tyrants running this country. Whatever the outcome the whole world will be watching, blogging and discussing it via the internet.

And you readers will know me well enough now... I couldn't help but think about 'When the Ship Comes In', Bob Dylan's song from The Times They Are A-Changin'... Everything with me comes back to Bob, but it's worth listening to this song, I know I will be tonight..

"Oh the foes will rise

With the sleep still in their eyes

And they'll jerk from their beds and think they're dreamin'.

But they'll pinch themselves and squeal

And know that it's for real,

The hour when the ship comes in.

Then they'll raise their hands,

Sayin' we'll meet all your demands,

But we'll shout from the bow your days are numbered.

And like Pharaoh's tribe,

They'll be drownded in the tide,

And like Goliath, they'll be conquered."

When the Ship Comes In

See the cross-eyed pirates sitting

Something that crossed my mind. Last week it was 'International Talk Like a Pirate Day'.

This week Gabrielle is plugging her new song.

Coincidence? I think not.


Read my review of Johnny Flynn's gig at the Royal Albert Hall. Pukka.

Farewell Angelina

Well, I just can't rest without you, love, I need your company

Here's a Bukowski poem for you... It's called 'Men without Women'

finally,
goaded by the high price of
female relationships
he lashed his ankles to the
bedpoles
and tried to reach his
own
penis
with his
mouth:
close but no
cigar.
another of nature's dirtytricks.

finally, in a fury, he gave it a last
madattempt.
something cracked in his
back
and a blue flame
engulfed hisbrain.

after 45 minutes ofagony
he got himself off
the bed,
found he couldn't stand straight.
each time he tried
a hundred knives cut
into both his back andhis soul.

the next day he managed to drive tothe doctor's
office
bent low over the steering wheel
barely able to see through the
windshield.

"how did you do this?"
the
doctor
asked.

he told the doctor
the honest
truth
because he felt
that an informed
diagnosis
was the only chance
for a complete
cure.

"what" said thedoctor.
"you'rekidding?"

"no, that's whathappened."
"please excuse me,
I'll be rightback."

there was a deadsilence.
then he heard the
soft laughter of
the doctor and the
nurse from
behind the door.
then it grewlouder.

he sat there
looking out the office
window:
there was a park outside
with lovely mature trees, it was
a fine summer afternoon
the birds were out in force and
for some odd reason
he longed for a shimmering bowl
of cool wet grapes.

the laughter behind the door
grew softer again
and then died out
as he sat therewaiting.

Up to Me

Backstreets III - Friday 5th October

I'm organising another gig night. Feel free to come down and bring as many freinds and/or family as you like. This will be another awesome night of musical carnage.

Friday October 5th at the Windmill in Brixton. Four english pounds on the door, doors are 8pm 'til late.

CAPTAIN BLACK (Camden)
This year they've toured the UK with the Holloways and received BBC Radio One airplay thanks to Colin Murray who is a fan. Mixing elements of country, skiffle, punk and pop they live outside any musical scene and their electric live shows have seen them build a large fan base. Perfect Friday night music to get drunk and shake your ass to.

RESTLESSLIST (Brighton)
Perhaps the most original band in yonks... The brain-child of Matt Thwaits (Electric Soft Parade) and Ben Elliot, the line-up was expanded to include Tom White (The Brakes, Electric Soft Parade) and the band Zettasaur. Their debut album, 'The Rise and Fall of the Curtain Club' was released in June on Life is Easy Records and they've toured with Battles and Mystery Jets. Sounds like a madman on crack at some horrific funfair. Has to be heard, and seen, to be believed.

IT HUGS BACK (Kent)
Kent's finest muscial export bring their country rock influenced tunes back to the Windmill. Mixing elements of Wilco and Sonic Youth, they flirt between country-punk rock and melancholia in a heart-beat. They've had a busy year playing a session for Rob DaBank on BBC Radio One, playing the Bestival and End of the Road festivals in September. They've recently released a new single 'Carefully' on Too Pure Records.

ALPHABET BACKWARDS (Oxford)
Windmill debut for this Oxford band who mix nu-folk, country and pop and craft intimate yet atmospheric tunes. One to keep an eye out for in the future.

Plus, as always, Rockbeatstone contributors Jamie & Will spinning tunes until the early hours of the morning!



More information:
Rockbeatstone
Backstreets MySpazz
Windmill website

And you thinks it's funny

Got these sent to me by a mate, I have no idea where they came from. They made me laugh though!




Lasty Thoughts on Woody Guthrie

Magic in a magical land

Well hello. I know I haven't been on here in ages. I spent most of last couple of weeks fuming at the indignity of not being able to get a ticket for Bruce Springsteen's O2 show. It looks like i'll be searching the internet fan sites for a while yet. Failing that there's the option of a tout. And it is close to Xmas so I guess that could be my present. But having said that fuck you to the touts who sold two tickets for £670 on ebay. Scum bags, I hope that you die, but not before you sell me one at below face value, two minutes before the band are onstage and you start to panic because you need to sell the tickets.

Otherwise, I should have some news about the third band-night that I'm organising. I'll post that here tomorrow.

Oh yes, I also went to see the Hold Steady at the Electric Ballroom. Read what I thought of the band when I first saw them a few months ago. My latitude review is also up. And I've written a review of the new Bruce album which leaked to me on Friday.

What have I got coming up? An unsigned concert at the Bull & Gate tomorrow, Eric Andersen on Saturday (which will be brilliant), then Manu Chao in October at Brixton Academy, finally for the month my gig night at the Windmill on Friday October 5th. Looking at November, I've got tickets for Wilco...again. In December I should be seeing Lucero and Okkervil River.

Mozambique