I'm Digging That, Man

What a lovely day. Started off bright and breezy (that's what early nights can do - fascinating concept), and after a quick brekkie with B & K, I'm on my sewing machine again, getting on with the ever-expanding bunting empire (more of that in my next post...)

Get a call from Aussie Meg - I'm about to do a spot of flat-sitting at her place in Crouch End, so I need to get the lowdown on her pad's little foibles. Drive over to CE, and after dropping off my wares at The Haberdashery, I head over to Meg's place for a briefing. No rocket science required, so when Steve turns up (Meg's chap), they suggest we head off to the cricket field for a drink.

I've been to one cricket club in Crouch End, and I seem to remember it being a bit of a shed with a bit of grass attached. Turns out Crouch End has three cricket clubs (how very Middle England), and this one is lovely. Sadly, I'm driving, so a little booze is out of the question for me, which is a real shame - gorgeous, blue-sky and little fluffy clouds English summer's day. Perfect cider weather:

Steve, Meg, Sheila, Booze

I leave them to the cricket and sunshine and head back to Wood Green, as I know B & K are going over to their allotment for a fruitpicking stint. I'm a bit overexcited about this. Haven't been fruitpicking for donkeys. Dad used to pick blackberries every year so Mum could make jam when I was a kid and I was always chief assistant.

Their allotment is ace. I love it. Typically ramshackle as an allotment should be, it has all sorts of goodies sprouting up. Today's yield is blackcurrants and gooseberries:

That's NOT David Bellamy gwappling with the undergrowth

I always forget how many creepy crawlies you get when you do some proper gardening - this face says it all:

What the freak is THAT?

I get stuck into picking the gooseberries - hey have unfeasibly sharp thorns and I get scratched to fuck, if you'll pardon my language. But it's good to know that the pies and jam to come will all be coming from B & K's hard work and I've even been told I may get paid with a jar of my own in return for my picking skills:

Little and hairy (the gooseberries, not me)

Black Mountain, Dark Horses

So...when I hear that one of my top fave bands are going to be in town, I go to buy tickets. Sold out. SOLD OUT??? What? Why? Distraught, I start thinking about who I know (it's NEVER what I know...) who might be able to scratch backs/grease palms on my behalf. And then lo and behold, the Great Gig Deity deems that Black Mountain will do TWO dates at the Lexington and this denim-clad Cinderella will go to the ball.

I get to the Lexington unfeasibly early. Not cos I'm keen, I'll have you know, but because I finished work at 6 and it's not that far away. So, I grab food (Snickers), beverage (shandy) and settle down in a corner to wait for Nads to arrive. Am amazed to see band sitting right next to me. Not wanting to end up grinning like a nutter or coming out with some wank like "oooh, I love you lot", I occupy myself doing a bit of paperwork and a couple of overdue phone calls. Nads arrives and we head outside, saving me from suggesting a hairy group hug...

We have a catch up, then head up to see the support, Dark Horses. I liked them. Very cool girl singer, sporting a cape (I like capes - it's the 70's-meets-medieval-Flake-ad-wannabe in me), and clearly a heavy adoration of Ms Patti Smith, which is no bad thing. She has a really strong, clear voice, but can do the sweet thing too. They actually are quite dark, those Horses.

Was pleased to see Alex Milas, editor of Metalhammer there. Alex is a huge, hairy American and is very adorable. He's a talented journalist (winner of Press mag editor of the year 2009) and a friend of the Old Punk who sells him his Metal Blade wares for his magazine on a regular basis. Alex tells me he's never seen BM live, and is really quite excited. Well, that makes two of us, love.

But let's cut to the chase. When Black Mountain take the stage, there's a change in atmosphere (not least cos of dry ice - love a bit of that, dodgy ex-goth that I am). And when the opening strains of "Stormy High" ring out, you just know you're in for it. And as they follow it up with the next three tracks off "In The Future", I suddenly think I'm at an ATP Don't Look Back event by accident. All that changes with their latest offering "Old Fangs". Great. Check out the vid:

And there's more new stuff - and I love it all. Particularly a track which goes very 70s Heavy Load, and another which is heavier still. Could I love these people any more? (I may be gushing a bit now - jesus...). And then "Don't Run Our Hearts Around" and I know we're coming to a close. But they don't get off that easy, and an encore brings another couple, finishing with a bloody corking "Bright Lights". Stunning.

And then it's over. And all that shandy means a trip to the Ladies...after relieving myself, I bump into singer Amber BM, and relieve myself all over again by telling her how great they were. She's a real sweetheart. Turns out even more so, because seconds later I can't find my wallet and heading back into the loo to look, she comes out of the loo I've been in and has a look around with me, whilst telling me how much she loves my handbag. Turns out the big hippy handbag is the culprit and wallet is hiding within. I'm such a knobhead.

As we leave, Nads and I peruse merch - there's a megadeal for a ticket to see BM supported by The Black Angels AND a t-shirt - for £15!!! Ever the Yorkshirewomen, we love a bargain, and money changes hands...roll on the release of Wilderness Heart in September (which I'll be buying like some spod überfan when they play at End Of The Road, whilst wearing my t-shirt and having yet another big Black Mountain lovewankspoutoff, no doubt...)

Nice, Nice, Very Nice Mr Mangan

I'm a bit in love with Canada and I haven't even been there. The land of the Maple Leaf has produced some of my favourite artists of all time, topping the list are The Band and my fave heart of gold, Mr Neil Young. I'm having a wee love affair with Black Mountain too.

So when Howard Local tells me he's in cahoots with the Canucks to set up a Canada day celebration of musicians, I'm thinking I ought to slope along. Busy, busy at work, so being unsure if I'll make it, he's kind enough to let me and a friend turn up, on-spec kinda thing.

Lovely sunny evening, and Nads and I roll up to the Lexington, nice old boozer on the Pentonville Road, which has a decent venue above (reckon it holds a couple of hundred). Hook up with Howard and Andy, who turns out to run The Luminaire in Kilburn, which really is one of my fave venues ANYWHERE. He's a very charming Scot, and we end up chewing the fat until it's time to go inside for some music. We've missed the first act almost (The Mighty Low), so just see the very last number.

Next up is Artur Dyjencinski, who is just great. He has such energy, a great backing band (bizarrely, he has a hot blonde pouty rock chick guitarist on a classic Gibson SG, who looks like she should be knocking about with Motley Crüe) and they really get the crowd going.

Superb finale from Dan Mangan. He's charming, funny, immensely talented, and has the ability to sing the song "Basket" with such a passion that he reduced this lady to proper tears (this was a bittersweet moment, actually, as the last time I saw Dan play, I was in Oz with Mr Ward).

Normally, I'm a little embarrassed by sing-a-longs but when the crowd know every single word to "Robots", I really do love it (obviously, I'm not singing along - that'd be daft). I spot Steven Broken Family Band belting it out, which just makes me smile. Sometimes, the reward for not being a lazy get is SO worth it.

(postscript: on an energy roll, I head for the Macbeth the following night to see Elephant Stone and their Psychedelic Friends - who could resist??? And although I like Elephant Stone - Rishi Dhir is ex-High Dials, plays psych-sitar!!! - I much more enjoy the sunny, blissed out, swirly pop of Koolaid Electric Company. Nice Tom Wolfe reference too. And just as I was leaving, Mr Young was belting out "Cinnamon Girl. The perfect end to Canada Day.)