Been up to Mischief

2 days away and traffic has deteriorated! So it's true this is what happens! Well what a great excuse to make sure I try and blog everyday for as long as I can.

So where have I been? Well..... I'm currently in Vermont, USA on a long vacation (been here 5 weeks, sadly only 1 left) visiting my partner Lara.

Last few days I ended up seeing 2 great gigs.

On Wednesday night we saw a great Australian band called The Cat Empire. A very schizophrenic band who mixes up ska, cuban style, salsa, jazz, rock and DJ beats and just parties like there is no tomorrow. We saw that they were playing when we drove past the venue (Higher Ground) and as I had tried to get tickets earlier this year for their London gig I was excitedly shouting that we should go. In London they sold out 2 nights in a row in a venue that I imagine was about 7000 capacity so when they were playing a little 1000 venue in Vermont I was amazed. I got the tickets online and we put out the idea to a few others that they should come along.
Going to the venue I was preparing myself for the typical gig crush and tiredness from standing around in a sweaty strange position and attempting to dance in a space just enough to only have one foot on the floor at a time. So I took a breath and entered............. "hmmmmmmmm only about 150 people there!! People must come out late here" I thought. This was a strange feeling, this huge band and no one here to see them! Well luckily they filled up to about 300 by the time they came on but I was still very confused. I guess they just are not that big in the states. Of the 5 others I was with only me and my partner had heard of the band but I can safely say everybody shook their behinds and had a great time. At only $16 it was a deal too. I would advise you to check them out!

Last night we went all gangster (well gangster for me y'all!!!) or is it gangsta, oh dear I dunno, can't really do the cool hip hop thing but do like listening to the music every now and then. We went to a very small venue in downtown Burlington called Metronome and saw part of the Hieroglyphics crew called Souls of Mischief. These guys I was told were Underground Gangsta Hip Hop which didn't really appeal to me but... I had heard some of their stuff and knew I liked it. Del the Funkee Homosapien of Gorillaz fame is also part of the Hiero crew (sadly he wasn't tpresent last night) and I guess his fame and my partners love of these guys were they only reason I ended up at the show and I was very glad indeed.
Slightly drunk and feeling a little cynical I was very impressed when the opener Icon The Mic, King Kaze came on with a huge toothy smile and a great slightly arrogant but fun attitude. His pinnacle came when he blindfolded himself and had a member of the crowd hand him random objects that he would have to guess and freestyle about. Whether you like Hip Hop or not there was no way on earth that ou could deny this act was impressive. Whilst feeling and rapping and thinking he managed to keep flowing and correctly guess every object.
Souls of Mischief came on after Icon had well and truly done his job and worked everybody into a friendly frenzy and they solidly and honestly worked through their set. Sadly being not very Hip Hoppy I had trouble with some of the lyrics and didn't particularily like some of their skits on women but I guess it's the nature of the sound and I was expecting it a little. Overall another great night.

Off to a family (not my family) BBQ tonight, well not looking forward so much as it's raining, but hey I need to chill out and it will give me time to think about more posts!

I think I'm getting used to having hangovers, I best detox for a bit!

Speak to y'all soon :) Take care.