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Published: October 12th 2007
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Ross Nable - inflatable talking head
At the start of the gig this inflatable head read out all the no phone/camera etc warnings and silly ramble as only Ross can, The eyes etc moved as well which was kinda cool. Well the new temp job is going well, everyone is really nice (lots of silly, insane conversations and lots of laughing so naturally I’m fitting in nicely), it’s been great being able to walk to work and working in the city centre amongst all the shops (I have resisted clothes shopping during lunch, well so far anyhow!). Speaking about clothes - casual dress every day (I still suit up most days though).
The offices are located near St Ann’s square which is full of fancy boutiques (think King St, Perth), old buildings and a small market area with heaps of yummy food. The area is really pretty (see pics and note the beautiful blue sky, a few really nice sunny, almost warm days were had) and the office building is also pretty - ornate cornices and painted ceiling.
I’ve been processing an insane number of bills (crappy little ₤35 and ₤200 insurance bills); laughing at their internal practices (things like anticipated are eerily similar to Mallies procedures) and have started doing some credit control (Margaret - you’d be impressed with their notes system!).
Gig wise things have been a little quiet (don’t worry, lots more gigs coming up!
LOL). Wednesday night I saw Stars, a Canadian pop/rock band with two great singers. The male lead really belted out the lyrics in an almost theatrical style (I kept thinking he could be lead in a Llyod Webber production not that I’ve ever been to one …) and for the finale he sang without microphone but still managed to be heard over the rest of the band and the cheering crowd - damn powerful lungs!
Thursday night was the premier of Control, the movie on the life of Ian Curtis, lead singer of Joy Division who committed suicide in 1980 on the eve of the bands first tour of the USA and impending commercial success. Obviously not a cheery film made even more somber by being filmed in black and white, the acting and the story were brilliant (based on the book by his wife) and the live scenes were all performed by the actors who made a very compelling cover band. Waiting to get into the cinema I was standing an arm’s length from Joy Division’s Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and wife Gillian Gilbert (of New Order) - so cool to be surrounded by my musical heroes!!!
Friday night was a performance by Geordie comedian Ross Noble (married to an aussie and now lives in country Victoria for half of the year). This was the third time I’d seen Ross live and he just gets better.
In typical Noble style, about 1% was scripted and the rest was mostly just talking to the crowd for two hours (picking on one Liverpudian woman who kept interrupting him which then set off a lot of Manchester v Liverpool scouser jokes and booing from the crowd). Also typical of Ross he keeps going off on random tangents and never finishes a funny anecdote until the end of the performance.
On Sunday I went on a walking tour of Manchester with C P Lee (local musician from the 70s) concentrating on he important landmarks around the Joy Division/The Smiths/Oasis and Happy Mondays bands.
Tuesday was indie/electro band Maps, second time I’ve seen them in Manchester and had a great time yet again.
Wednesday was meant to be indie lit rockers The Decemberists in Liverpool but this gig was cancelled due to a sickness in the band (doh!).
Thursday was The Maccabees at the refurbished Academy 1
venue. The Maccabees play extremely poppy rock music with some cool/funny lyrics. The gig was pretty awesome with lots of sings alongs and moshing dancing although I was at least ten years older than the average gigger and struggled to keep up!
Friday night I head down to London to crash with Vaughan and Lucy yet again as Saturday night we are going out for Lee-Ann’s leaving party - should be a fun one!
Return to Manchester on the Sunday and have a gig every night from Sunday to Thursday. Friday will be mad packing for Prague early Saturday morning - a busy week indeed!
Hope you are all well and over all the football madness for a few months!
Pete
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