The Editors @ The Roundhouse
The Roundhouse is yet another magnificent venue walking distance from Camden station and recently reopened after renovations starting in 2004. On Wednesday I went there to see The Editors supported by two man band, I Was a Club Scout, and the bigger quartet, The Envy Corps. Out of all of the venues I’ve been to so far in London, this venue has a size ideal for more intimate gigs being slightly bigger than the Islington Academy. Only formed with two floors, the first is all standing directly underneath the dome, and the second being a circular row of seats. Most seats have a great view of the stage except for those unlucky enough to be directly behind the poles that hold up the roof.
The support acts were not bad although most of the concert goers sat outside on the first level roof indulging in the long lasting sunshine and warm weather we’ve been having lately. I’m not quite sure how to rate The Editors - I found their set a strange choice combining their popular old songs with many of their new songs from their yet to be release album, An End Has A Start. Although I, like much of the audience, enjoyed many of their songs that I knew, I found it hard to react to songs that I’d never heard before. Watching from the second floor, the standing crowd also definitely didn’t know how to react with songs either receiving the all-arms-in-the-air treatment or the stand-and-listen-and-be-relatively-silent for all the new songs. They still played a decent set though I cannot say it was very memorable.
They still played well and I had a lot of fun listening to perform. I’ll now have to watch out for their new album.
TheKua.com Rating: 6 out of 10
Surprise Package!
About two months ago I read that the Arts Council were giving away 100 000 specially designed Oyster Card ticket wallets to celebrate their 60th anniversary. I applied not expecting to receive one and so was pleasantly surprised when I received one in the mail yesterday.
The page showing the wallets to be given out no long appears to be online. My oyster wallet was designed by Michael Clarke and is a birds eye view of London. Very cool to be carrying around!
Lime and Coconut Friands
This weekend’s weather has been very poor though apparently representative of classic English spring weather. Dreary grey skies, moderate to fairly heavy down pours put a damper on wanting to actually get out and do some stuff. Being slightly inspired to do something I thought I’d whip up a batch of some lime and coconut friands I used to make back home, and since I couldn’t find the recipe I previously used, adapted one found on the ABC website.
I had to improvise since I didn’t have a friand tin, though a small muffin tin worked out well. According to wikipedia, friands are popular in Australian cafes though I have seen a few in a number of French stores and cafes here in London.
Read on for the recipe. (more…)
Comments(5)Spiderman 3 @ The Electric Cinema
On Tuesday I saw the latest Marvel comic based movie released by director Sam Raimi, Spiderman 3. I saw it at the amazingly stylish theatre on Portobello Road, The Electric Cinema, something I’ll write about another time and highly recommend anyone the cinematic experience it offers.
The movie met most of my expectations – some good visual effects, a nice adaptation of the comic book story to introduce and link some of the characters as best could be fit into a two hour movie, the standard cameo appearance of Marvel comic book writer Stan Lee and the poor acting and cheesy scenes that always seem to make it in.
It’s easy to say that none of the actors in the film will win any Oscars, and I think Tobey Maguire wins the award for worst overall performance with too many frustrating scenes of endless cheese. The choice of Thomas Haden Church to play new villain Sandman worked out really well, and very much looked the part after donning the classic green and black striped t-shirt though I though Topher Grace, playing Peter Parker and Spiderman’s nemesis Eddie Brock and Venom turned out as a poor choice as he was far too small to fill his role.
The movie, like most comic-based ones focuses excessively on the action with some fantastic fight scenes that are very enjoyable to watch, though the viewers need to suspend a certain amount of belief and logic to make it believable. The movie certainly wasn’t produced for die-hard fans and is a film worth watching if you want some light hearted action entertainment.
TheKua.com Rating: 6 out of 10
Parkour in Motion
Over the weekend I cross St Pauls on the way home and saw a bunch of guys practising the modern sport of Parkour in one of the gardens out front. They were leaping about the gardens and just having a go at random flips and some very impressive backflips.
I have to admit it takes a certain amount of talent to do what they do and I’m glad I didn’t see anyone fall badly.
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Porgy and Bess
The latest musical showing at The Savoy Theatre on the Strand is the apparently popular Porgy and Bess production. It’s set in the 1930s and revolves around the life of a group of African Americans, and the strange relationship that develops between the cripple and beggar, Porgy and wild seductress Bess after the murder of one of the town folk. From a story point of view, it shows the hardship of the poor, and something that I think is a rather tragic story all up.
Like most West End musicals, even on a Tuesday evening, the theatre was almost full. The audience was composed of much older people than many other West End shows I’ve been to, probably because I don’t think Porgy and Bess appeals to a much younger crowd. The music is entertaining, with a couple of songs that I’d recognised although I started to find them slightly monotonous towards the end.
I can’t recommend this show for everyone although it is something a little bit different.
TheKua.Com Rating: 6.5 out 10