Hayseed Dixie - Carling Academy, Newcastle (15/11/2006)

If you have a look at my little ol' diary dates you'll notice that this week is packed full of gigs. Last night Darren picked me up straight from work and we went up to Newcastle. After getting a bit lost and eventually finding the right car park we needed to get fed. We ended up at Luigi's Ristorante on Groat Market. Absolutely fantastic. They do a "happy hour" special where you get a starter (choice of 4), any pizza or pasta dish and either ice-cream or a coffee for £5.50. We went for the potato skins and the garlic dough twists, then Darren had an arrabiata and I had the marinara. It was a good sized portion (sometimes you feel a bit cheated in happy hour), and there were loads of prawns and mussels in my dish. The meal including drinks came to £15 for the both of us - we'll definitely be going back if we get the chance.

We made it to the Academy in plenty of time for the gig. The support band were called Dark Water and they were excellent. I'm not generally into gothic emo-rock, maybe it works better live for me - I bought a sampler CD so I'll find out when I listen to it. They have a female lead singer with a lovely voice and good rapport with the audience. Heavy but melodic and passionate, very enjoyable.

I think there were a few Dark Water fans in the audience - I'm not sure what they'd have made of Hayseed Dixie! I've seen them a couple of times before at an HMV in-store and at V Festival (review here) but not for a full gig so I was a bit unsure as to whether I'd enjoy them for 2 hours. Still, it was just £12.50 a ticket, so I considered it a bargain. For the uninitiated, Hayseed Dixie are a rockgrass band. Basically they play rock classics (and a few of their original compositions) in a bluegrass style. There are four members, playing acoustic bass, banjo, mandolin and the lead singer who also plays guitar and fiddle. They set up the stage themselves, completely unpretentiously, and seem genuinely touched and amazed by the rapturous reception.

I love covers. Not your bog-standard, karaoke style covers, but I love it when someone takes a song and reinterprets it, and that's what Hayseed Dixie do. The set is largely made up of AC/DC tracks, but my favourites in their repertoire include Queen's Fat Bottomed Girls, Ace Of Spades by Motorhead, Walk This Way by Aerosmith, Black Sabbath's War Pigs and Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin. Also making an appearance was the Hayseed Dixie classic I'm Keeping Your Poop to huge applause.

They went off stage for just seconds before coming back for the encore - as singer Barley Scotch says, it's somewhat arrogant for a band to go off and drink beer just to hear the crowd shout their name. They finished with their fantastic version of Green Day's Holiday and a breathtaking performance of Duelling Banjos (originally written by the father of two of the members fact fans).

The set was beautifully balanced, a couple of covers then a couple of originals, so no-one who didn't know the band could get bored. They're really good fun, totally unpretentious, and I have a feeling that if you've got the time to hang around after the show (and don't have to get up for work in the morning) you'd probably see them in the bar within ten minutes of the show finishing. Go see!

Going Backwards

It's fantastic when you see a minority group really make inroads into being more integrated into society. When you see a group of people change and adapt to the 21st century. And it's so sad to see one small thing undermine all of that. Luton Town manager Mike Newell did that this week. And it's not women that he undermined. It's men.

I'm a full advocate of freedom of speech, especially if it means people actually say these things because it proves just how stupid they really are. If someone says something racist, sexist, xenophobic or homophobic, I don't get annoyed or offended. I laugh. It makes me laugh that people really think these sorts of things.

The even funnier thing is that Mike Newell didn't try to qualify his statement or back it up with any fact. He said, "I know that sounds sexist but I am sexist." As if he wants a medal for it!

I don't know how many women support Luton Town, but I hope they make their presence felt this weekend. Women now contribute a massive amount of cash to the ever-increasing football pot. I hope none of these supporters start feeling alienated just because of this idiotic comment.

Personally I reckon women would be able to control those 22 men much better. One flicker of nonsense and she'd get the red card out, no questions. The male refs are far too soft. Hmmm, maybe I've missed my calling...

20 Glorious Years

20 years ago I was 8 years old. I had absolutely no interest in football. But something happened that would probably add a new dimension to my life. It took a few years for the seeds to grow, but Alex Ferguson's appointment as manager of Manchester United was to be a life-changing moment for me...

It was 4 years later that I started to take an interest in the beautiful game. Back in the days when they used to show games every week on normal telly, my dad would watch and I found I actually enjoyed watching. The FA Cup Final seemed somehow magical, although I didn't really know why. I decided that I'd support whoever won. After a replay Manchester United were victorious and my fate was sealed.

I flirted with Spurs, especially when my dad took me to White Hart Lane for my first ever football match and I met Gazza and Gary Lineker. But it was never quite right. In my heart I was still cheering "United!" and enjoying their wins in the European Cup Winners Cup and League Cup. When they won the first Premier League in 1993, it was a truly joyous feeling. Even though I hadn't experienced the 26 years between League titles, I could still feel the relief of finally winning.

Eric Cantona was my hero. Still is. You can keep your Viera's, your Zidanes and your Henrys, Eric IS the greatest French footballer that the world has ever seen. He just added the final spark that was needed to fire up the great Red trophy winning machine. He won us the two Doubles, and inspired the team that won the Treble in 1999. I always thought it was a shame he never stuck around for that one...

Winning the Premiership doesn't get any less exciting the more you do it, although the ones that go down to the wire are always the most fun. Pipping Newcastle and Kevin Keegan is one of my favourite moments, listening to the commentary on the radio because we never had Sky. But cup finals are something else entirely. Knowing that it's a one-off, one slip up will cost you the title. Losing the FA Cup to a penalty in 1995, and losing again in a penalty shoot-out in 2005 hurts. But it makes the winning all the sweeter. Those last few minutes against Bayern Munich in 1999 will live forever in my memory. It was just the most amazing, ecstatic feeling.

I went to Old Trafford after that victory to join in the parade and the celebrations. I've never had the chance or the privilege of seeing Manchester United's first team live, but I have been to Old Trafford for a few England games. And the strange thing is, it feels like home. I've been to other football stadiums, but it's never the same as the warm fuzzy feeling I get at Old Trafford. People always throw criticism at me, saying I should support a club nearer to home or that I'm not a true supporter because I don't go to games. Have you ever tried getting tickets for Man Utd games? They're like gold dust! As for local teams, when you grow up in Essex there really aren't that many local teams! I've been following Colchester's excellent progress though, and I've been to Victoria Park to support Hartlepool a couple of times too. But my heart is in Old Trafford, and Old Trafford alone. After 16 years, I couldn't possibly change allegiance.

And so to a more local team for me in Southend. It looks like Sir Alex is taking this one a bit more seriously after the last gasp at Crewe a few weeks ago. It's a bit strange for my club to be playing one so close to where I'm from, but I'm definitely more of a Colchester supporter so beating Southend shouldn't be too much of a hardship for me! I hope that we can round off an excellent anniversary for Sir Alex, what with the league results all going our way last weekend. The man has achieved so much, you can't help but admire him.

I suppose ultimately I want to thank him. Manchester United have provided me with so much happiness over the last 16 years. Sometimes I think, if things had gone the other way I could have been a Crystal Palace supporter! And for rescuing me from that fate I am truly grateful.

I can't imagine the club without him, although we all know it will happen one day. Hopefully not too soon. Here's to another 20 years!

Madonna & Child

I can't quite understand this big commotion over Madonna wanting to adopt a Malawian child. I suppose it's another big stick people can try to bash her with. I don't entirely agree with adopting from a foreign country, but I don't know why a lot of people suddenly want to be so against it. There wasn't this fuss over Angelina Jolie. So, a couple of points to set straight:

• I think it's highly unlikely that she's just waltzed into the country, selected the one she wanted like a new pair of shoes and expected to waltz out again. She would have had to go through stringent assessment in the UK before even being allowed to approach the authorities in Malawi.
• "She's just doing it for publicity." Of course. That would explain why her publicist has been denying the story and trying to keep it hush hush...
• "Why doesn't she donate the money she would spend on the child here to charitable causes within Malawi." As if the $3 million she has already pledged just isn't enough.

I do think it's a bit odd that the child she has chosen does have living family (perhaps she wasn't aware of that at the time). And I wonder if Madonna - at 48 - has been turned down for adoption in this country due to her age. I may not entirely agree with foreign adoptions, but if it gives just one child a happier, healthier life with better prospects I don't see how it can be considered a bad thing. And I'm sure that she is doing it for all the right reasons.

It's Not Easy Being Green

But it's kinda addictive. I've been trying to live as ethically as possible this year. I guess it all started with the MakePovertyHistory thing last year. I never really agreed with it, but I could never quite work out why.

Then someone at work brought me a Traidcraft catalogue. FairTrade suddenly came into my consciousness and it all became clear. You can't make deals on these kinds of issues with politicians. They make empty promises that they can't keep and within 5 years those world leaders have been replaced and you have to start all over again. You have to tackle business. And from my relatively lowly position, there's only one way to make my voice heard - to vote with my purse.

So slowly but surely I've tried to buy FairTrade products whenever I can. It makes shopping a whole new experience! When you start to think about the hours that people have put in to make your clothes or farm your food it sheds a new light on things. I no longer want to wear clothes that people have slaved over for very little pay, or eat food produced by people who have little or no employment rights. I wouldn't want to have to work under those conditions, so why should I expect other people to just so that I can save a few pennies?

This kind of thinking escalates. Once you start on one small part of trying to make people's lives better, you want more. We've started getting fruit and veg delivered through an organic box scheme, and I try to buy organic wherever possible. I'm making a more concerted effort to recycle. I try to buy health and beauty products from the most ethical sources (Boots get a big green tick in The Good Shopping Guide). I try to save as much water and power as possible. I walk to work rather than driving, and try not to drive anywhere if it's possible. I try to buy FairTrade presents, and if anyone says they don't want anything I'll buy them one of Oxfam's funusual gifts.

People ask me why I care. Helping the environment is too big a thing, it won't affect us in our lifetime they say. To me "the environment" is not about the big wide world or a hole in the ozone layer. It's about the very air that everyone breathes, the landscape around you. "The environment" is much more immediate than the whole world. And it's already affecting us. I can't believe anyone can honestly look at masses of car fumes and say that makes for a nice place for people to live. I've heard people complain about having to separate their rubbish for recycling - I'm sure they'd complain a lot more when the local playing field is turned into the local rubbish dump or when an incinerator is built next to the local school. All that rubbish, it's got to go somewhere. And it's such a tiny thing to do, sorting your rubbish.

This is just a simple example of what I'm talking about. People do things without thinking. They buy things without thinking. I guess all I'm trying to do is put thinking back into my life. I'm far from perfect. I still shop at Tesco. I still use the dishwasher. I still fly from one end of the country to the other to visit my family. But I now get a twinge of guilt whenever I do these things, and everything I spend my money on now comes with the thought of whether it's the best ethical choice. It's become a second nature. And it's actually a lot more exciting than you probably expect...

Vroom Vroom!!!

When I asked Darren what he wanted last Christmas, he consisitantly said, "a Ferrari." So I got him one. Actually I got him two. Only for 3 laps each though!

On Saturday we cashed in his Drivers Dream Days voucher and went to Bruntingthorpe in Leicestershire. Firstly he was driven by an instructor in a Subaru to show him the track and the best way to drive it. Next up was 3 laps in a Ferrari 360 Spider (with the top down, natch!) On his last lap the instructor told him to miss out the chicane on the back straight and floor it - he reckons he hit 170mph!

We took his son Jordan to watch, and we got a pretty good view (thank goodness it was a nice sunny day). You could also get quite close to the cars - Jordan was particularly taken with an orange Lambourgini that made a massive roar every time it was started up! Next on Darren's agenda was go-karting. I got some good video of him, but unfortunately one was when he got overtaken!

We then tried to get a drink and a burger from the van on site before Darren's next drive. Fast cars, not so fast food. After waiting in an unmoving queue for 15 minutes, it was time for Darren to get in a Ferrari 355 for his next 3 laps. All was going well until the last lap where he spun it! He claims that the instructor hit the dual brake - all sounded like a bit of a misunderstanding to me...

We eventually got a drink and some nosh. Darren then decided to treat Jordan to a lap in "that" Lambourgini. 1 lap for £45 ain't cheap, but I'm sure he enjoyed telling his mates at school on Monday. Darren offered to pay for a lap for me, but I can think of better things to spend that kind of money on. Definitely a bloke thing!

Finally he had a "high-speed passenger ride" in a Subaru Impreza - this is where the instructors show you how it's done! I think Darren was suitably impressed. We were also entitled to a 4x4 passenger ride, but I think one of the 4x4s had broken down so we were looking at a 40+ minute wait and decided not to bother. Darren bought some professional photos and we headed home.

It's not cheap, but it's definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The staff were fantastic (apart from the twitchy instructor!) - all really friendly, especially with the young 'un. Only problem is he now wants a drive in something else...

Come On England!

OK, it was only the Under-18s, but when England come to town you really ought to go and support them. They were playing France in a friendly. In the end we lost 2-0 - probably a fair result but we played some good football. France were much better defensively and in the end that's what made the difference. Most promising (especially for me) was Febian Brandy, the only Man Utd player in the squad. He's very quick, but he hasn't quite got the finesse to get past defenders yet. Sometimes you think, "he's only young, he'll get there," but then you think of players like Wayne Rooney who were already playing senior football at that age. Football, it's a funny ol' game innit?

Cannot Compute

Our computer is currently kaput. I couldn't cope with listening to the same few albums I had on my ROKR anymore, so we borrowed the other half's work laptop and I put on a few of my favourite albums instead. And I thought I'd write a bit of blurb about them:

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - B.R.M.C.
I discovered this band when I was working in store for HMV and could pretty much play whatever I liked. It's a dark rock 'n' roll album - not dark as in Marilyn Manson though, much more tuneful than that. It's very soulful.

David Bowie - Black Tie White Noise
I don't use this word lightly, but the man's a genius. I know a lot of people think he's not as good as he was in the 70's, but I love his later work. I admire anyone who can diversify. I've always loved the two singles from this (the title track and Jump They Say) and recently got the album off eBay. I could listen to Jump They Say for hours...

Michael Jackson - Thriller
This was Darren's choice (I ran out of inspiration and asked him to pick a couple of surprises for me). I would have chosen Off The Wall myself, but Wanna Be Starting Something is probably my favourite MJ track and as for Billie Jean - I'll name that tune in 1!!!

Madonna - Confessions On A Dancefloor
She's not the greatest lyricist in the world, but it's great to hear dance music that's about more than love or dancing. The red string of Kabbalah threads through almost every song to make for a very philosophical and personal album. Musically it just makes you want to dance!

Marillion - marillion.com
Marillion at their most experimental. Funk, dub and blues fuse with their usual blend of progressive rock on this album. It's certainly not their most cohesive, but it's probably their most quirky, and contains two of their most beautiful songs, Go! and House.

Massive Attack - Mezzanine
Another one I wouldn't have chosen (I prefer Blue Lines). I don't know if I've actually listened to it all the way through yet - maybe that should be my album of choice for tomorrow!

The Mooney Suzuki - Alive & Amplified
The title track was played daily about 18 months back when I used to regularly listen to XFM and I love it. The rest of the album's pretty similar. Good, old-fashioned, rock 'n' roll that you want to sing, dance and make merry to.

Pink Floyd - Meddle
It's my favourite Floyd album, and not just for Echoes and One Of These Days. I love the bluesiness of it. Saint tropez is sooo cool you need to wear shades just to listen to it!

Suzanne Vega - Nine Objects Of Desire
Suzanne Vega is the reason I learnt to play guitar. I love the contrast of the simplicity of the music with the complexity of the lyrics. For years I only listened to the first two albums, but I eventually picked this one up and absolutely adore it, especially Caramel and Honeymoon Suite.