Richard Lennox
Archive for August, 2006
Women With Standards
On Saturday night, Susan and Jenny took me along to see Women with Standards at the Gilded Balloon (Teviot). A group of 4 Australian vocalists and a local jazz trio making the most of some powerful voices belting out not only Jazz standards but other Diva-esque songs. And boy can those Women sing. I don;t know if any one has seen the TV advert for Sheila's Wheels insurance with four Australian Women singing a really dodgy song. Well having said yes I wouldn't mind being entertained with some Jazz standards on a Saturday night, Susan then puts that into my head and the vision of the dodgiest ad and those four Australian "singers", which got me looking. Was I not relieved when they belted out the first number.
The Filthy Six at The Lot
The Filthy Six are a Soul Jazz Funk sextet from London. Having read reasonably good things about them, I decided to go along to the Lot and check them out.
An interesting mix of players, as with many fringe music events they were using session players to cover for those with real jobs!! However the core seemed to be there. It was an unusual makeup with the down on their luck Russian Mafia Groovy Head Nodders on guitar and base, the "too cool for my jeans and flip-flops" band leader and trumpeter and the jiving Duracell bunny on Speed leading the way with some admittedly fabulous organ riffs.
Festival Recommendations Anyone?
So, I am looking for something to do this weekend, more specifically I am looking for inspiration for a Fringe show that is so good. Ideally it would be funny, [I don't enjoy much of the childish humour that can be found on today's TV, so need a comedy fix somewhere!] but I am not averse to something cultural or serious.
If anyone comes across this and has seen something of interest that they can recommend or even tell me what to avoid, please leave a comment. If you manage or are part of a particular show, tell me about it, tell me what it is about, how good you all are and where you are at and I might just come along and see your show!
I look forward to your recommendations!
Bill Bailey’s ***** Steampunk
I cannot recommend this Edinburgh Festival show highly enough! Not usually one for this behaviour but I must have guffawed my way through at least half of it! Absolutely hysterical in places!
Bailey puts on a dramatic twist to the genre of Stand-Up comedy. His act of slick jokes, musical interludes and the use of the big screen was hilarious. He had a new toy, a keyboard like instrument that distorted the images on the big screen!
His content sails a little close to the wind and using similar material (with the US the butt of his jokes) to the mainstream can seem a little old news but his new slant more than makes up for it. And don;t forget his musical prowess, a comic musician of the highest order. If you get the chance to see it, look out in particular for his superb Friends theme renditions and of course his legendary Hokey-Kokey in German!
Certainly one of the highlights of the Edinburgh Festival.
London Pictures
Following the trip to London I have placed some photos in the gallery. Feel free to enjoy them!
My Niece and I
I am not long back form a long weekend in London. While it was a good weekend. The real reason for going was to finally meet my brother's daughter and my niece, Isabel. Shes is just over 1 year old and a happy little child. She plays happily and is full of smiles despite the big scary strangers that spent Saturday afternoon playing with her! She is a very pretty girl who is full of life, a credit to her parents and a perfect addition to the family.
It has been a long time coming getting down to London to meet her but I am glad we finally made it! With one thing and another, both work constraints and financial constraints it was difficult to get down before now. A few months ago we decided we would just go and book the Holiday time at work and choose some flights. With Susan's sister living in London, accommodation is taken care of, which is always good! Thanks Jenny! But we decided we would have a few full days in London. It was almost like a mini holiday!
I have put all my Isabel photos in the gallery and will hopefully put the other London ones up soon. Check them out!