Andrew Jones (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} dimbyd) wrote,@ 2007-03-05 23:47:00 |
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Across the weekend
Friday afternoon saw the latest gadget arrive direct from the US of A- a Sony Blu-Ray player, so now I have both competing hi-def disc formats. Set up was easy- the machine is solidly built and the ergonomics well thought out. It feels like a more solid, more reliable piece of high tech than the Toshiba HD-DVD player I also own. Can't really tell much difference in picture quality though. Thursday had seen the first blu-ray disc arrive- The Departed, Scorsese's Oscar winning Boston gangster film which is both a remake of a Hong Kong gangster film- Internal Affairs- and also inspired by an Irish American gangster Chalkie Bulger. Excellent film. Saturday saw another Scorsese film arrive- The Last Waltz- the film of the Band's last concert complete with a Who's Who of '70s singer songwriters and old bluesmen (and Neil Diamond). A damn fine film, abieu one partially parodied in Spinal Tap- the documentary director in Tap is a Scorsese lookalike. (Of course, most of the Band got back together again and went on reunion tours to decreasing popularity and with tragic effect for Richard Manual and Rick Danko- victims of their addictions. I suppose I should mention now, that Rick Danko's 1977 solo album remains my favourite ex Band member solo album, its a shame that the momentum just faded away from him.
Apart from downloading and watching the most recent 2 episodes of Lost, I mainly slept on Saturday and Sunday. Actually that's not quite true, I did go out to see Fairport Convention at the St David's Hall. It was the first time I had seen them in many years- last time they had Dave Mattocks on drums and Maartin Allock on various; this time Chris Leslie has been with the band some 10 years, as had Gerry Conway on drums. As ever a blend of fine music and corny jokes and welcome kudos for Ian Burgess who runs their fanzine. While Fairport's glory days are well behind them, they avoid the twin sins for any long established band- either becoming their own tribute act or ignoring their past.
As a total contrast to Fairport the support act Tiny Tin Lady- one of whom has only just reached the age of consent. Their energy and lunacy brought a welcome counterpoint to Fairport's not quite jaded but informed view of life on the road.
But sleep did dominate things.
Friday afternoon saw the latest gadget arrive direct from the US of A- a Sony Blu-Ray player, so now I have both competing hi-def disc formats. Set up was easy- the machine is solidly built and the ergonomics well thought out. It feels like a more solid, more reliable piece of high tech than the Toshiba HD-DVD player I also own. Can't really tell much difference in picture quality though. Thursday had seen the first blu-ray disc arrive- The Departed, Scorsese's Oscar winning Boston gangster film which is both a remake of a Hong Kong gangster film- Internal Affairs- and also inspired by an Irish American gangster Chalkie Bulger. Excellent film. Saturday saw another Scorsese film arrive- The Last Waltz- the film of the Band's last concert complete with a Who's Who of '70s singer songwriters and old bluesmen (and Neil Diamond). A damn fine film, abieu one partially parodied in Spinal Tap- the documentary director in Tap is a Scorsese lookalike. (Of course, most of the Band got back together again and went on reunion tours to decreasing popularity and with tragic effect for Richard Manual and Rick Danko- victims of their addictions. I suppose I should mention now, that Rick Danko's 1977 solo album remains my favourite ex Band member solo album, its a shame that the momentum just faded away from him.
Apart from downloading and watching the most recent 2 episodes of Lost, I mainly slept on Saturday and Sunday. Actually that's not quite true, I did go out to see Fairport Convention at the St David's Hall. It was the first time I had seen them in many years- last time they had Dave Mattocks on drums and Maartin Allock on various; this time Chris Leslie has been with the band some 10 years, as had Gerry Conway on drums. As ever a blend of fine music and corny jokes and welcome kudos for Ian Burgess who runs their fanzine. While Fairport's glory days are well behind them, they avoid the twin sins for any long established band- either becoming their own tribute act or ignoring their past.
As a total contrast to Fairport the support act Tiny Tin Lady- one of whom has only just reached the age of consent. Their energy and lunacy brought a welcome counterpoint to Fairport's not quite jaded but informed view of life on the road.
But sleep did dominate things.
