Tamara Drewe

Adapted from Posy Simmonds's Guardian comic strip we thoroughly enjoyed this BBC film probably more so because we knew nothing about the comic strip or even the film itself. After all it was a Saturday night and nothing to do after such a fun packed weekend previously.

And it was that fun packed weekend that for us was the key. Set in Dorset, which becomes more attractive everytime we set eyes on it, that link was quickly established, and the writers, living in Oxford, became oh so real. Then the double whammy, Tamara Drewe, being a journalist, goes off to do some work, open shot of music festival with in the foreground the Tipi Tent and the Big Top beyond, surely not the EOTR festival? Oh yes it is, for next shot is the Garden Stage looking out at the audience with the trees and follies forming the backdrop of the outside auditorium. Full crowd and we were there only six days previous. Could not believe our eyes.
The storyline gets a bit thin from the middle onwards as it tries to resolve itself in this compressed format but excellent performance by Tamsin Grieg as the wife and Roger Hallam as the philandering author, and Gemma Arterton is not bad as Tamara Drewe.
Again I have to agree with Rotten Tomatoes rating
7.8 / 10

The Felice Brothers @ The Troxy

So three days after seeing them at EOTR, here we are on the Commercial Road in London's east end seeing the Felices again.

The Troxy is a grade 2 listed Art deco cinema converted into a multi use venue. Holding 2600 it certainly is not a Hammersmith Apollo, or the old fabulous Rainbow, let alone Shepherds Bush Empire, a fact the James Felice obliquely refers to during the gig. It is a cavernous space, with a small stage and a poor sound system.

We arrived and made our way down to the front, previous act just finishing off, when the Felices come out and start setting up their gear. The drum kit is assembled before our eyes and then everything is then all miked up. This did not look right to me, main act should not be having to do this, and it ate into their allotted time.

Trigger, Roger Lloyd-Pack, came and stood in front of me with his daughter Emily Lloyd in tow (it could have been the other way around) and we proceeded to have a pleasant chat whilst the stage was readied, that is his mop of grey hair in the photo taken from my phone.

Anyway we got a full set, with I think three new songs, one of which sounded promising, 'Helen Fry' was added, but no St Stephens End, and to the disappointment of sections of the audience, no 'Whiskey in my Whiskey'.I thought they reluctantly did it at EOTR so maybe they are dropping it from their repertoire.

James F as always was immense in all meanings of the word. Farley was enjoying himself roving around the set. doubling up with the drumming occasionally near the end and using his washboard to crash the crash symbols. But their antics were restricted by the small stage.

The gospel song 'Two Hands' as second encore concluded the proceedings.

The Felices have hardened their sound, and listening to a bootleg recording of a year previous afterwards confirms this.

The Troxy's sound system mushed everything.

Set List

1. Marlboro Man
2. White Limo
3. Run Chicken Run
4. Murder By Mistletoe
5. Step Dad
6. River Jordan
7. Love Me Tenderly
8. Goddamn You, Jim
9. Roll On Arte
10. Fire!
11. Frankie's Gun
12. Turn On The TV
13. Frontiers
14. Let Me Come Home
15. Take This Bread

Encore

1. Helen Fry
2. Two Hands

End of The Road Festival

Finally after getting the tickets some two months previous, we arrive at the festival with it already underway. We check into our B&B just over a mile away, and go for an early evening meal in the 'Museum Pub' in the village of Farnham where we were staying. It is fair to say that it was the most expensive gastropub I have ever been in, but I can easily attest, I had the best steak I have ever had, wit for the first time, tripple cooked chips. Superb poached fig afterwards which we shared and it was back to the B&B where the other half not surprisingly opted for an early bed whilst I got on my bed, and in the pitch dark...no road lights..I cycled up the road then track heading for the lights and banners, then tents, then tall Indian folly standing in a field, then find the entrance, then given my first arm band of honour.

Our friends were already at the Garden Stage for Modest Mouse, and with reasonably explicit directions went to find them. I was wearing a Hi-Viz orange jacket and although I hand told Mike that was what I was wearing, must have walked straight past them, and not to meet up with them until the next morning.

So what follows are all the bands we got to see in chronological order.

But one interesting note, the hi-viz gives you access, or questions...'do you know when its predicted to rain' was one such question. Walk through a crowd, easy they just part aside. Big 35mm digital camera around your neck and you pass for officialdom.

Modest Mouse

All I knew about Modest Mouse was a colleague at work said they were a bit to heavy for his tastes having seen them at Glastonbury this year. And so it turned out. Driven on by two drummers sitting side by side, a sight I have not seen since the mid 70s with the likes of the Dobbie Brothers and Weather Report, it was not surprising, but throw into that mix, lead guitarist, Issac Brook playing Ukele and banjo as well, then an interesting mix is guaranteed. At times very good but yes, a bit to heavy. 

Edwin Collins

Just caught the closing numbers of this set and the first time I had seen him. Considering he has suffered two strokes I was mightily impressed. He bowed out to a great version of his hit, 'A Girl Like You' which featured a first rate guitar solo from an unknown woman. Who was she? (if it was a she)

The New Pornographers

Looking forward to this gig of the closing headliners in the Big Top but was a little disappointed. Went close to the stage to begin with but the vocal mix was poor so headed to behind the mixing desk which did improve the sound somewhat. But the lightness of their vocal interplay on the record was missing for most parts but the sound of four of them whistling in harmony on one particular song was a joy. But again like Modest Mouse, interesting in places. 

Citay

Never heard of Citay until a few days beforehand when I got notice from The Band Room in the North York Moors that they were playing there the night before this gig. The boys up in North Yorks know their music so that was good enough for me. We arrived late after a memourable tour around Salisbury Cathedral and they sounded rather good in a Grateful Dead type of way. Must look out for them again.

The Unthanks

First revelation of the weekend, these girls were brilliant, why have I not seen them before, a mystery! Folk music could describe it but it was much more than that.

Caitlin Rose

Second revelation of the festival following immediately after The Unthanks for me as I had heard only two tracks from her first record 'Own Side Now'. Only 23 years old, all her own songs and a killer voice, she mentioned off handely to the audience something like 'I am not a diva' but she is sure on her way to becoming one in the Patsy Cline / Loretta Lynn mode. She is more contemporary than those two giants and the sound although backed with telecaster and pedal steel is certainly not twangy in the Nashville way. Could do with adding a drummer to her live performances to give it a bit more steel. She was very well recieved from the crowd in the Local Tent, and performed a rare encore for the festival which kept strictly to their timings. One to watch out for.

Brakes

Caught a couple of songs from this Brighton based group, post punk with a bit of attitude, worth looking out for again.

Yo La Tenga

Never even heard of this cult New York band before a I have never heard such a schizophrenic group like this before. For a three piece they made a lot of noise, when they got a rhythm going it was like Scissors Sisters but only better, or it got little more experimental they were good. But then they started messing around either with extreme guitar feedback or some very twee songs and they were rubbish. In the end I did not know what to make of it. 

The Felice Brothers

The last day and after a late morning and early afternoon spent down on the coast, here are the real reason that bought us here, The Felice Brothers. We got a good position, just left of centre near the front but not to close. And what a joy they are. Songs were sung a long with by the crowd, humour appreciated, and although not as animated as we had previously seen probably because of the limitations of the stage, it was good to see a group really engaged with the crowd. James Felice, the big bear of a man, wielding his accordion around with gay abandon is the real star, overshadowing his brother Ian the lead singer. Greg Farley on violin and washboard is the mad man on stage and although restrained  today he still added as usual to the whole performance. It was interesting to note that Dave Turbeville had his drum kit set up right of stage, slightly elevated and facing in onto the stage with Christmas the bass player longside. Such a great idea as he occasionally would stand up to get more force into his bass pedal movement and it all felt more at one with the rest of the group rather than playing facing out at the rear of the rest of the group.  A curtailed set because of strict adherence to festival timings and finishing on a reluctant 'Whiskey in my Whiskey' Their sound was harder than a year ago and listening to a bootleg recording noticeably so.. The crowd wanted more and James Felice looked apologetically at us when he came back onto the stage to clear away their gear.

The festival crowd's favourite band IMHO 

Mountain Man

We came over to the Tipi Tent for a quick session of Mountain Man, three women to be precise, singing a cappella with the occasional acoustic guitar accompaniment. A sweet sound they did indeed make and worth exploring more. We stood behind the mixing desk which had a warning notice stuck to it which read, Tipi Tent, levels not to exceed 90db, No Exceptions. (90db is not particularly loud), but give him his dues, the engineer did in fact take measurements 

The Low Anthem

And now the third revelation of the weekend, The Low Anthem. Their latest cd, Charlie Darwin is OK but that just about it, but the live performance was something else. Playing mostly acoustic instruments, including a bowed saw, they filled the garden stage with a beautiful sound, slightly haunting, but fresh and quite removed from anything else we heard all weekend, and any other time to be truthful. Very enjoyable, and annoyingly they played the Bully on the Cowley Road a year ago.

Wilco

And finally the last act of the weekend, Wilco, big stage presence, a good light show, and a tremendous noise making a fitting ending to a great weekend. Will need to check out Wilco properly.

Next years earlybird tickets sold out within 9 hours of going on sale this week, and that shows what a great festival the End of The Road is. Will we go again? 

 

The Old Rectory, Farnham

Partial view of where we stayed only just over a mile from the festival site albeit downhill of it. A good steady climb up but a free wheel back down in virtual darkness. Well recommended.

 

Mike's Sunday Morning Breakfast

Sunday late morning, Mike who only had a coffee so far, was hungry and decided that it was time for breakfast (or entree for lunch later) so for that it was a beaker of jellied eels and whelks. Its called a strong stomach. 

The Secret in Their Eyes

Knew little of this film apart from seeing the odd good review which had mentioned that it won best foreign language film at the Oscars (not that is anything to go by).
So with no baggage associated with it, we went off to see it in our local 'art house' cinema The Phoenix, in Oxford.
Disastrous start when wife managed to spill her piping hot coffee over some guys leg, scalding her hand, and no doubt soaking his trousers. To be followed by us dropping the packet of MMs' all over the floor and due to the low rake of the seating, ten minutes of bobbing and weaving to read the subtitles because of heads obstructing the line of sight. Eventually a couple two rows in front of us got up and left so we regained clear line of site. But the problem maker, a tall guy in the front row remained bolt upright, still obscuring the view for others below but thankfully not for us.
The film needless to say was very good, good believable central roles well acted, set against Buenos Aires during the Peron years.
Worth seeing.
However, one small complaint, the subtitling is poor at times with text set over white or yellow background and therefore unreadable. I could have done with having headphones on with an english dub translation being run simultaneously, but open enough so that you could hear the sound of the film as well. Now there is an idea.

8.5/10

S.C.M. Waterstones, Oxford

Up to humour, terminal free, and rather quickly Second Class Male is up on the screen. Step back, phone camera out, click, step back a few paces and click. Left it on there.
Walked along to Blackwells (the worlds premier bookshop...possibly) but they are a bit old fashioned and no terminals to be had.
Got home, bugger, out of focus, but notice the backdrop is cookery. now there is a subject that has not been used yet.

Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Our local 'Art' picture house showed the first movie as I guess a pre-cursor to the new one, so with nothing to do off we went. Knew nothing about the book or the film apart from the hype over the books success, which probably accounted for us not seeing it in the first place. One of our fellow commuters was an editor for the UK publishers, Quercus, who on mentioning the book to me a year ago, meant nothing.
Anyway, thoroughly enjoyed the film even though it did get to the stage of all films of this genre of plot reveal, plot reveal, plot reveal..... But nevertheless, well made and shot, good performances all round with believable characters, and this being Swedish, actors unknown to you, and a decent plot. A couple of very arresting scenes, and revelation that the Swedes had their own version of the Nazi party. Although now I can remember that the founder of Ikea had been accused of one time membership.
However what is astonishing is that Hollywood are doing a remake of it with Daniel Craig in the lead (have you ever seen a chiseled looking hack???) and Emily Watson (her of this parish) as the girl with the tattoo. Cut her hair short for the audition apparently. Cant imagine the girl who sat on this sofa three years ago doing those scenes of a sexual nature.
Rotten tomatoes score correct.
8.7/10

Richie Hayward

Richie Hayward the drummer and founding member of the group Little Feat died yesterday from liver cancer.
I shook hands and chatted with him in Oxford a year ago before their gig at the Zodiac club in the Cowley Road. He was slight and showed the obvious signs of being a rock musician on the road. But given his slightness, he was a remarkably powerful drummer, and I admired his playing at the gig in the way he orchestrated the group from his perch behind the drums.
What was also remarkable was that I heard this on the BBC radio news last night, and they devoted quite a bit of time on it. This for a group that is hardly known in the UK apart from the affectionadoes.