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Published: February 11th 2008
First up a slightly sad but I think cool thing: the other week Manchester had its first snow of the season. It wasn’t much but it was the first time I’ve seen snow fall and it was kinda cool seeing and feeling the snow from my bedroom window.
This weekend I've been in Stockholm, Sweden - random trip this one, loving all things Swedish (from their uber cool bands to Ikea - lol) I couldn’t turn up the prospects of a cheap flight, cool hostel and a good concert.
Arrived way late (early ???) Saturday morning after leaving Manchester Friday evening (and after hassles getting to Liverpool airport, long bus ride from Stockholm airport to the city centre and then a long walk plus getting lost en route to my hostel at 2am …).
My hostel is an old prison that was in use up until the 70s. So my dorm room is an old cell with two beds and few luxuries. It is a little cramp but I just love the idea that I’m staying in a prison. No ghosts though.
After a nice sleep in I ventured the trendy bar/café/shop area of the Sodermalm stopping
off at one too many cafes for latte and muffin/cream bun (blah traveling is not for the health conscious!).
Saturday night I went and saw The Cure - yes that band fronted by Robert Smith of white make up, out there hair and the red lipstick thingy. Although not a die hard fan, their big singles are such great songs so I couldn’t resist the temptation of seeing them live.
Support came from 65daysofstatic, one of my favourite English bands and they put on a blisteringly intense set that shocked a few of the goth Cure fans - yes there were heaps of kids running around dressed in black, with white faces and crazy hair.
The Cure themselves were pretty good, played lots of newer stuff which was a bit boring but when they played the 80s stuff it was great - Boy’s Don’t Cry; Just Like Heaven; Close to Me; Pictures of You; Love Song; Killing an Arab; Why Can’t I be You. Sadly no Friday I’m in Love which was a bit of a travesty but the band played for 3 hours and did three ‘encores’ so can’t complain in that regard.
The gig
sold out but managed to get a ticket online from a fan, a girl from London (via SoCal and NY) bought the other spare ticket for the seat next tome so we met before the gig for dinner and then after the gig we headed out to a couple of really cool bars.
Robin was staying at Hotel Rival which is owned by ABBA member Benny Andersson - so cool! So yeah the bars at her hotel were cool but the drinks costs $15 each and the crowd were all way too cool Swedes but we still had fun and did a little dancing and before we knew it was 3am and time for me to head back to my cell to crash!
Sunday morning we met up again and visited the Vasa museum which contains a 17th century war ship that sunk on its maiden voyage (Titanic anyone?) and has since been recovered and restored. Might sound a tad boring but the museum was so interesting and the displays well laid out that it was a pity we had to leave so that Robin could catch her flight back to London.
For the rest of the
day I visited the Old Town with its typical European cobble stoned streets, narrow alleys and shops galore. Very pretty but no different to any other city I suppose.
After a nice dinner (cooked by a Swedish chef? Or is that a Norwegian chef??? - Maria I hope you get that ‘joke’!) it was off to a gig by David Bazan, a sing songwriter from Seattle. Totally random this one, never heard his stuff before but saw he was playing, downloaded some tracks, liked what I heard and brought a ticket - this is why I find myself going to so many gigs, damn internet makes it so easy!
The gig was pretty good but the cool thing was the venue - Hotel Bern in the middle of the city and the club room is apparently one of the most exclusive in Sweden. Plasma screens throughout and comfy red velvet couches, it was a nice change form the usual dingy pub.
More touristy stuff on Monday (today) and then head back home this evening and back to work in the morning.
I’m gonna rest sometime soon …as its been a busy couple of weeks since Marrakech:
The previous weekend I was in Dublin courtesy of a free flight when I booked my Stockholm flight with Ryanair (yeah I know, I’m all class!).
I didn’t really enjoy Dublin when I went there in 2004 but that was probably because the weather was so crap - I remember meeting up with Robby Denny and all it did was rain, rain, rain for three days.
This time the weather was pretty good with blue skies and cool but not freezing temps and so I enjoyed myself a lot more.
As promised, my gigging has kicked back into gear:
Teddy Thompson - rock singer with a recent album of country cover songs - boot scooting baby!
Explosions in the Sky - Texan post rockers in Dublin, blistering set with amazing guitar work
Explosions in the Sky - yep same band, this time back in Manchester. They are my third favourite band and if I could I would have gone to every gig on their UK tour
Stephen Fretwell - honoury Mancunian, crowd were pretty crazy for this singer songwriter
Apostle of Hustle and Stars - some great bands from Canada
The Cure with 65daysofststic - old skool meets new breed
David Bazan - Seattle singer songwriter
And speaking of Canada … I now have a Visa to work and live in Canada for two years. The set up is the same as the UK Visa I am on. At this stage I plan to move to Canada in early June when my lease runs out but will keep you all posted on my Canada plans.
Take care and hope you are all well.
Pete
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Kelly U
non-member comment
Canada!
Holy crap! You're going to Canada! If you're thinking about Vancouver, tell me and I'll put you in touch with my sister - she works for Tourism Vancouver and has lived there since 1998. Canada rocks. It really does.