Sitting at 38,000 feet seems like the perfect place to reflect on my first trip to the new Wembley Stadium – on Saturday we went to see Muse live, supported by Dirty Pretty Thing, the Streets and Rodrigo Y Gabriela.
We rolled up at about 6pm – and found it easy (but expensive) to park – short walk into the stadium, followed by 5 of the longest escalators I have ever seen, we had seats in the top tier but not far back from the stage – so we had a pretty good view. Dirty Pretty Things were just finishing – with ‘Bang, Bang you’re Dead!’ After a short wait, The Streets took to the stage, sounding altogether a bit lost in the massive space, I also thought they looked a bit out of space amongst all the satellite dishes and strange decor that was ready for Muse. Mike Skinner tried some rabble rousing singing, channeling Freddie Mercury in between the hits.
About 8.40 – the lights dimmed (and it was just getting dusky) – and classical music struck up, with Muse emerging from under the floor (probably near the center circle) and parading back to the stage flanked by a troop of guys in what looked like chemical hazard suits.
And then – all hell got let loose…
Anthem after anthem, hit after hit…2 hours of bombastic space-techno-rock. Superb drumming, fearsome guitar playing and great vocals added up to one of the best live experiences I’ve ever had. The lights and effects coupled with a brilliant show and 70,000 people were completely enthralled.
Highlights for me : Plug in Baby, Take a Bow and the crazy scanning satellite dishes that had huge spotlights in the middle of them.
My gallery of photos from Muse at Wembley on June 16th is here.
By: mattr
Category: music
I’m starting to think that British Airways have a vendetta – twice in two long-haul trips, they have managed to ‘misplace’ my luggage.
I arrived at Seattle at 5.30ish local time yesterday afternoon, and whilst waiting in line for immigration I heard my name being paged in the baggage arrival hall below – I immediately got that sinking feeling after having the same thing at Dusseldorf a couple of months ago.
Finally got down to the BA agent, who told me that my bag didn’t make it onto the plane and I should expect to get it when the next flights arrived, on Monday (today) – so now I’m waiting.
Of course, that started a panic last night of trying to buy some emergency toiletries (man, they have strange deodorant here in the US) – and this morning I had to come in late whilst I bought some underwear, socks and a clean shirt.
Now my fingers are crossed that it arrives this evening!
Blogs seem to be popping up everywhere to keep a track of whats happening on Facebook (and its platform) – its early days, so I’m not sure how they’ll fare – but here are three of the first I’ve seen:
- facereviews.com – reviews all of the applications that are currently being launched on facebook
- allfacebook.com - the unofficial facebook blog – although I suspect they all are apart from this one
- insidefacebook.com – which claims to track all the latest news and apps in the facebook world
Oh, and if you are wondering what facebook is – where have you been? Facebook is the latest social network phenomenon, adding users like its going out of fashion. I tell everyone its like a myspace, without the ugly.
I’m over here on Facebook – add me as a friend if you want!
Now – theres some instructions I’d be happy to follow…want more?
Complaining is silly. Either act or forget.
Thinking life will be better in the future is stupid. I have to live now.
Being not truthful works against me.
Helping other people helps me.
Organizing a charity group is surprisingly easy.
Everything I do always comes back to me.
Drugs feel great in the beginning and become a drag later on.
Over time I get used to everything and start taking if for granted.
Money does not make me happy.
Traveling alone is helpful for a new perspective on life.
Assuming is stifling.
Keeping a diary supports my personal development.
Trying to look good limits my life.
Worrying solves nothing.
Material luxuries are best enjoyed in small doses.
Having guts always works out for me.
Taken from : ChrisGlass.com
14:45 Gates open
16:30 – 17:15 Rodrigo Y Gabriela
17:45 – 18:30 Dirty Pretty Things
19:00 – 20:00 The Streets
20:30 – 22:30 Muse
Very excited to go and see Muse at the wonderful Wembley Stadium tomorrow…this should be a pretty good day out, luckily Wembley is mostly under cover, because the weather looks really mixed.
Never mind though – I’m sure we’ll all be nicely dry and warmed up by 8.30!
By: mattr
Category: music
The gents toilet is not somewhere that has been overwhelmed by technological advances in recent years – the urinal, sink, cubicle combo is difficult to improve on – they can be well designed, but never really advanced…its just plumbing after all.
Now, super techno wizard James Dyson storms into the bathroom (er…) with some innovation in the ablutions area. They have installed these wicked devices in the gents (and I assume the ladies) at the fantastic Malmaison in Liverpool (my chosen hotel when visiting the banks of the Mersey).
You just pop your hands in the slot at the top – and then slowly withdraw. ‘Blades’ of air (hence the ‘Airblade’ name) sort of ‘scrape’ the water from your hands, leaving them virtually dry (most hand dryers are useless for this, unless you stand for about 4 minutes and are willing to get a chillblain).
The Airblades make a fearsome noise, like a couple of jet engines torching your hands – but boy, you leave the lav feeling clean (until you touch the door handle to leave).
With technology like this, maybe more blokes will wash their hands properly!
I don’t rock ‘the suit’ very much – I’m lucky that I can get away with jeans at work, and a polo shirt…but miraculously I do own a couple of suits. I’ve also promised myself a new suit when I get down to my target weight – maybe an armani or something slinky to befit my future figure…its a reward for the end of my quest.
If there was one thing that could persuade me – its combining the stylish with the geekish…and Marks and Spencer are right on the money with this new beauty – a single breasted, pin-stripe suit, with BUILT IN ipod controls.
So when you see sweaty, spotty little urchins on the tube fiddling with their lapels – you’ll know that they are just skipping through the dull tracks on on the Ibiza Hits 2007 CD.
Everyone’s a winner baby…
My first weigh-day – I set my goal to lose 40kilos by the time I hit 40 exactly two weeks ago today. I’ve mostly stuck to a diet (nothing crazy, just healthy food and less rubbish) – and I’ve been working out regularly. I’m please that I’ve actually shown some difference.
Only 35.9 more to go, but if I can reach 10% of my target in 2 weeks…I reckon I can do this! Big thanks for all the support and encouragement so far!
The most interesting thing – is that even with the small amount I’e done so far, I feel motivated, energised each day and able to get more done with my life – I suppose dropping off 4 bags of sugar from your load – makes you move faster.
Big Brother 8 is barely a week old, and despite the fact its crammed full of cackling, bitchy girls, it has so far taken the same line as the previous events. Tears about hair straightners, cooking duties and who said what to who – introducing a single bloke into 11 women has predictably generated enough bitching to start a minor global conflict, and so it goes - those are the rules of BB, and this years group are no exception.
Also just as predictably (bearing in mind the storm in the celebrity version this year) – we’ve had our first forced removal from the house, when one of the 11 dizzy bints (Emily) said something racist and Channel 4 protected themselves (much like they should have done a few months back. Anyway – we’re down to 10 girlies already!
Only 12 more weeks to go people…
Not sure how to take that – but I think its kinda cool…
Sitting at 38,000 feet seems like the perfect place to reflect on my first trip to the new Wembley Stadium – on Saturday we went to see Muse live, supported by Dirty Pretty Thing, the Streets and Rodrigo Y Gabriela.
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