Hello all

Following the shameless plug a while back for mine and Geoff's band, here is an equally shameless reminder:

The Beatnik Filmstars will be playing their only gig of 2008 next Saturday 22nd November at the Cube Cinema to promote their new long player 'The Purple Fez 72 Club Social', which has been getting a fair bit of play on BBC Radio 6 and some very positive reviews. Here's what the nice people at Americana UK had to say about the album:

"They’ve only gone and recorded a lo-fi Americana album! Beatnik Filmstars have been around since the early 90s. For the most part they have been peddling lo-fi indie rock that has served them well over several albums and five (count ‘em) Peel sessions. Perhaps it is the fact that they are getting a bit old and grizzled, or perhaps it is because they just got bored, but the Beatniks have gone all Americana on our asses on this, their new release.

Recorded without using studios or computers, "The Purple Fez 72 Club Social" is an interesting album full to bursting with well written songs and lyrical quirks. Opener, "Animal Crackers" opens with the line ‘...There are racists in the USA who brand swastikas on their cattle...’ setting the lyrical bar high from the off. From here on the band effortlessly take us through indie-Americana ("Scrabbling") and dusty tex-mex landscapes ("25 miles, Long Road") without even breaking into a sweat.

"The Purple Fez….." is the sound of a band breaking free of their shackles, and playing music for the sheer joy of it, making the album a pleasure to listen to. It is probable that the band are too lo-fi, British and interesting to make huge strides into the Americana scene but for those that pick up on them, they will remain a hidden treasure to savour.

Americana UK album rating = 7 out of 10."

Imelda May

So... today i met Julien Temple... He's going to be directing a video for Imelda May and it's going to have scenes shot at the Louis before and during her show on the 18th Nov.
Tom, Rich, Cris, you're on the list and so is Sir Peter of Stillman.
I can get another 4 people on the list. It will be 1st come 1st served.

Fleet Foxes - For or Against?

Mmmm....well on the recommendations of Sean and Mig I have been listening to the Fleet Foxes ep today I've had the ep for a while thanks to Pete, but heard the opening couple of minutes of one of the tracks and thought 'Jesus'! and never went back. I have now gone back after hearing Sean's rave review of their live gig t'other night and seeing them on Jools Holland. I'm still not convinced actually, my first thought was, did they do the incidental music for Bagpuss and then I started to think did we fight the punk rock wars for nothing! To be honest its a bit too folky/proggy to me - it also reminded me of the worst bits of Low (the band not the Bowie album) when they do all that churchy type close harmony singing. I think Rich said it was a bit too twee for him and I'm inclined to agree although it possibly goes a bit beyond twee. To infinitwee and beyond anyone? Not me. Now if we're talking about Lambchop's new album (Oh) Ohio that is a contender for one of the best albums of the year in my opinion. Its lush. And the cover has a naked woman on it and on the inside sleeve too, although she's lying with a naked bloke, but you can't see his cock.

Should we have a best album, film, gig etc of the year on this Forum? It is coming up to the end of the year afterall.

Who Stuffed Alfred? - little film I helped make

Best in the West - according to The Times

Rajpoot, Rajpoot House, 4 Argyle Street, Bath BA2 4BA (01225 466833; www.rajpoot.com)

Rajpoot is justifiably proud of its accolades, including those from the likes of Brooke Shields (“Yum!”), Lionel Blair (“Great hot stuff”), and Ken Livingstone. Opened by Ahmed Chowdhury in 1980, it was once dubbed “Aladdin’s Cave” and the name has stuck. Set in a series of “caves” below street level, Rajpoot has been hugely popular for years and will soon double its size.

Try the Rajpoot spicy salmon steak, served with Rajpoot style Potatoes, Puloa Rice and salad, or perhaps one of the chef’s selection menus from £16.50.

Judges' verdict: "One of the many restaurants in the industry that has maintained very high standards over a long period of time yet is always prepared to innovate and move forward."

For when we do the 'Bath Visit'?

What hell happen?

Hello Dukes.
I don't know whats gotten into you lot but one evening of moaning about not being able to post under your own names and hey presto! The magic of curry! You can suddenly post under your own names. I loves curry me.
Hats of to top arm wrestling snapper and father of three strapping lads, Mr Pete Thorpe. A splendid evening.
Anyway as this is a blog, here's an amusing picture.

A Review

I thoroughly enjoyed last night's first official Dukes of Mumbai do, shame the food I chose didne match up to the Dukes general chitchat, wit and diversions.
A poor pickle selection imo, onions cut too large and lack of coriander(?) and what was that soy sauce type 'pickle/chutney'? WRONG!
Chef's Recommendation, Chicken Panch Mahal, was a huge disappoinment and tasted like minced chicken with bisto. I wish the curry house standards agency could decide what mild, medium or hot really is. On the menu my dish was listed as medium when this was clearly mild as milk. The Saag Bhaji wasn't too my taste either. Paratha just average.
Score: 4/10
Highlight/Odd moment? Dukes arm wrestling in the Victoria afterwards with tales from Pete Stilly of arms snapping at previous arm wrestles between butch men. And to end the evening, being turfed out of the pub by surprise celebrity barmaid Simon Amstel.