I've Been Hit, I've Been Hit, I've Been Hit

I missed out on We Are Scientists when they came to Berlin to play at Rosis, a little over a week ago. I remember seeing a flyer on the ground somewhere or a notice in Zitty or something and their name caught my eye, but i didn't pay any more attention. AND THAT IS REALLY BAD BECAUSE THEY ARE REALLY GOOD. It's A Hit, Great Escape, Nobody Move, Inaction = great songs! And dammit, their upcoming tours are only in America and the UK. Their website is fun. I've just watched the video for "Great Escape" probably ten times. Talking about the director of the videos, Chris added "the good parts of the videos are always his idea...damn him."
Damn why did i miss that gig? Fuck.

O! The Irony! Download "inaction".

"Not Shy" -- I've been listening to this record a bit alot these past few days. I bought it last May when I was just finishing up at uni in Northern Ireland (where there are loads of great second-hand stores.) The album is by Walter Egan & was released in 1978; apparently one of the songs on it, "Magnet and Steel", was a hit -- according to his official website:
"Twenty-five years later, Walter's signature song is a staple on the radio, and can also be heard in feature films and on television."
Stevie Nicks sings on alot of the tracks, Lindsey Buckhingham and Mick Fleetwood also appear on drums/guitars, so the sound is very Fleetwood Mac-y. Whatever about "Magnet and Steel", there are two really great songs on it. "I Wannit" and "Make it Alone". They're making me feel like it's summer and not winter. Which is confusing, but good.

Open Mic night was on tonight; it was strange. It used to be on in my favourite bar, but now...well, the bar is all changed and stuff. There are some new owners or something, and they just went and ruined the only good place to go dancing / hear live music. Fuckers. They left the dingy furniture but took out the circle bar; changed the Funk Up to the Shindig; instead of Open Mic night taking place in the small and intimate cosiness of Bar Eile (a smaller bar-space adjoinging the main bar of the Garavogue) it now takes place in the main bar area. Which is pants because however difficult it sometimes was to keep a small roomful of people quiet when somebody was braving the fairy-lit stage, now it's absolutely impossible. The Funk Up has been moved downstairs too. Which is wierd, because upstairs is mostly dancefloor. But downstairs is mostly seating -- albeit with a bigger dancefloor than upstairs...it's just wierd. Didn't stop us though. Oh no. Saturday night, Karl C played Amerie, Nerd, the Doors, White Stripes, Arctic Monkeys, Talking Heads...

I mean the positive thing about these changes is that more people can dance, and more people get to experience Open Mic night. But i know performers will be put off because the small and friendly atmosphere of Bar Eile is no more. Though it was nice the way they crowded comfy couches around the stage. And well, nobody cares about their dancing when they get drunk enough so im sure the Funk Up will continue to be the funnest dancing on a Saturday night evereverever. I thought I wouldn't even get to go to ONE Funk Up while i was home, but it was on at the weekend! and there's another on Stephen's night! Usually its only on the first weekend of every month, all special like. Coincidentally, this evening at Open Mic as i was recoiling in horror at the photographical evidence of our dancefloor hooliganism from Saturday night, local hero / singer/songwriter Wayne O'Connor was singing a new song about being drunk and looking stupid, with the repeated, damning line, "the state of you." Ha HA! Other notable performers from tonights Open Mic were Anthony Mannion (lovelovelove his "Stiletto" song) and Billy "the voice" (from the Deadflags) -- fulfilling a sort of dont-get-off-the-stage-yet-! request, he sang "This Charming Man", some people prefer it to the real thing.

I'm just pissed. I miss Berlin really bad. I can't stop listening to one of Cat Powers new songs, "the greatest", which is so fucking sad and beautiful. I've been home nearly a week and haven't found somewhere to practise drumming and my favourite bar is all changed. Boo.