Ben Christophers, Paradiso, Amsterdam

God damn The Frames’s audience who didn’t have the decency to shut. the. fuck. up. during Ben Christophers’ support slot in the Paradiso an hour or so ago.

His songs are so brittle and how beautiful they sounded in that quiet 14th century church in Dingle late last year.

I don’t think Ben enjoyed fighting the Paradiso din. He rushed through his encore.

Made a bad decision and ended up on the wrong side of his guitar, which makes for shite photos (Flickr set) and I didn’t feel like moving to the other side. George (because it was George and not that guy I knew in high school he looks a lot like which always confuses me) gave me his Sigma 70-200 to shoot with and I didn’t feel too good and didn’t feel like talking, especially with Ben playing.

I think I’ve a cold coming on.

And fuck the Frames anyway, I left before they came on. Thinking about that Sigma, of course. Fuck.

Continue reading

Everybody’s doing it, why not me

Best of my 2004
(records I played the most, no rationale involved)

* Declan O’Rourke – Since Kyabram
* U2 – How to dismantle an atomic bomb
* The Killers – Hot Fuss
* Robi Draco Rosa – Mad Love

Best of 2004
(records I should play more)

* Nick Cave – Abattoir Blues/Lyre of Orpheus
* Morrissey – You are the quarry
* 90 day men – Panda Park
* Nancy Sinatra – Nancy Sinatra
* Leonard Cohen – Dear Heather
* The Dears – No Cities Left
* Ben Christophers – Spaces in Between
* Tim Booth – Bone
* Scissor Sisters – Scissor Sisters
* Interpol – Antics

Best re-release / compilation

* Japan – back catalogue
* Kylie Minogue – Ultimate Kylie
* Virgin Prunes – back catalogue

Disappointments
(records I wanted to play, but didn’t live up to expectation)

* George Michael – Patience
* Marianne Faithful – Before the poison

I don’t get it
(records other people recommended)

* Arcade Fire – Funeral

Eclipsed
(records that didn’t survive the hype)

* Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand