Categories: annals-of-a-rock-nerd, rejoice-with-me, news-from-depressionland
Tags: music, funeral, Genius Brat, ups and downs
Date: 13 June 2011 15:26:06
What to say? The funeral went well, with nearly 100 people there, but I think we are all still recovering (especially The Grouch who had to plan the whole thing). Since then we have had our last church lunch at the London Mennonite Centre before it closes, which was painful; I have preached again on Bible characters facing change (Lot and Hagar this time); I have had several downs but always managed to get up again (cue Chumbawamba...); we have failed to procure home tuition for Genius Brat but we have got local authority transport to get him to school, which is a great relief as otherwise it would be two buses and two walks. And we have managed to get him at least twice a week to his voluntary work by dint of paying him for it (he is saving up for a new computer since his last one exploded, projecting ball bearings everywhere).
My sleep has been all over the place but this is largely due to my being a dirty stopout - I had three interesting musical experiences in as many weeks:
First was an Elvis impersonator who was quite good but very loud - we left at the interval. I'm not into Elvis anyway but it was a fundraiser for the local autism group and I thought I'd see people I knew there, which I didn't (the audience seemed to be entirely made up of the Elvis impersonator's fans, all women of a certain age...)
Second up was an evening listening to Botown, a group who do 'Bollywood soul' and who are mates of my Pakistani friend's husband. Bollywood soul seems to consist of a soul-style backing with lots of brass, and Bollywood style Indian singing on top. Actually it was a surprisingly fun evening, though I was in a very small white minority in the audience! And it was too loud as well, though not as loud as Elvis.
Third (and best) was the opening night of the Meltdown Festival at the South Bank, this year curated by Ray Davies (he of the Kinks and the lovely legs). So of course it had to open with Ray and his current band doing all the old Kinks singles (and fining himself 5p for charity every time he said 'Kinks'). Also too loud, but fabulous fun especially as he encouraged us all to sing along (which also happened at the Botown gig but I couldn't oblige as all the songs were in some Indian language). Of course I knew all the words...
Why do all these events have to be so loud? They are all attended by a distinctly middle aged audience, and I doubt if any of them want it so loud. The music is so much better when you don't have to stick your fingers in your ears... My friend had £150 ear defenders - I think if I continue to relive my youth at this rate, I will need some too.