bookmark_border5km and Nike+

I’ve created a new category for these posts, it’s about time I think…

Anyway, completed the jogScotland Glasgow Green 5K tonight, in a 29 mins and 18 secs!! Woooohoooo. My private aim was under 30 minutes but given that I was still a little leg heavy after Sunday’s 10K I was doubtful I’d manage it, but I did!!

Last kilometre almost killed me mind you but hey, I’m still alive and feel vibrant. What a buzz.

The downside is that, given that this is a popular race (around 2500 entries I think they said) I am pretty sure the distance is accurate. Alas my Nike+ thinks I only ran 4.6km. I know it’s never going to be as accurate as a GPS system but it was only out by 100m on Sunday, yet tonight it’s lost .. ummm.. fractions were never my strong point.. let’s just say that it’s lost a ‘fair percentage’ of the distance I ran.

Of course I’ve yet to actually calibrate the thing properly, but to do that I need to find, ideally, a 400m running track and apparently Hamilton boasts only one and that is fenced off and locked up most of the time, and even then I doubt it’s going to be in very good condition from I could tell from peering through the gate.

Still, an new PB for me. This running thing could catch on you know…

bookmark_borderLive music

It’s getting close to the end of the year and the first ‘best of’ lists have begun to surface. I’m a huge fan of such lists because of my constant belief that I’ve missed some cultural zeitgeist or other, so much so that I am currently running about a year behind everyone else in a desperate attempt to keep up.

Aside from the usual culprits – book, cd, dvd, movie – on the more musically inclined lists there is always the ‘best gig of the year’ to be considered. And therein lies a sticky (literally for some venues) problem.

How do you rate the ‘best gig’? Is it the music? The atmosphere? The energy of the band on stage? The interaction with the crowd? The interaction IN the crowd? Or that undefinable something that pushes beyond your expectation? And after considering allof that do you also need to consider how much your pre-gig expectation will come to weigh on your decision?

And finally there is our old favourite ’emotional attachment’ to consider as well. Of all the gigs I’ve been to this year, a couple have had a definite advantage because they are already benefitting from a non-musical memory or influence. In that sense, given that I’m already pre-disposed to the gig itself, it’s quite possibly unfair to compare these gigs with others.

For example.
The Kings of Leon gig (last year) was excellent. They translated the album in a tight, powerful live act, handled the audience well and paced the gig well. It was easily one of the best gigs I attended. However, whilst the R.E.M. concert was musically better than I had expected, it wasn’t on a par with the Kings of Leon gig. Despite that I have no qualms stating that the R.E.M. gig was better. Not only was it in my ‘hometown’, but it was with the same group of friends that, in the very same spot some 14 years before, I saw Runrig. Now that’s entirely unfair on the Kings of Leon but hey, it’s not MY fault, right?

I have two gigs left this year. Next week I’m off to see Björn Again, and tonight is a gig which I’ve been anticipating for about eight years.

I bought their first album on the back of one song, something which broke my long standing “always hear three good songs before purchasing the CD” rule, and passed up the opportunity to see them the next year. I still regret that decision.

Since then I’ve not been able to see them when they appeared at Glasgow Green in a double-headline with the Red Hot Chili Peppers as I was boarding a plane at the time, nor when they headlined T in the Park this year as I was in Torquay. They’ve visited Scotland every year since I bought their first album and I’ve never managed to see them live. Until tonight.

And this is what I mean. I have such eager anticipation of the gig tonight, and that anticipation rides on the back of over eight years of yearning, that I’m worried it either won’t meet my expectations or that it will gain extra credibility because I’m finally seeing them live. It’s almost unfair to the other gigs I’ve been to this year.

Anyway, I have the t-shirt, I’ve got iTunes primed with their last couple of albums, and I’m certain of one thing. The Foo Fighters will rock.

bookmark_borderFingers crossed

I’m standing in Balloch Park as the rain falls, my beer has gone all watery and we’re all trying to be “cheery” because that’s what you do when you’ve been standing about in the rain for several hours. I feel like a stranger despite this being a “hometown” gig for me, and R.E.M. had better be as good as reported from the gig on Tuesday at Glasgow Green or the day will be a complete and literal washout.

OR

At this very moment I’m sitting on a rug in Balloch Park, it’s a little overcast but no sign of rain, I’m a few beers to the good and I’m enjoying a great day with my friends. I’ve spotted and chatted with some old friends and some of the peeps of the interwebnet that I knew were coming. R.E.M. are just about to come on stage and from what I’ve read about their gig on Tuesday at Glasgow Green it should be pretty damn good.

bookmark_borderT in the Park 2005

Lineup announced. Tickets on sale tomorrow. One of my fav bands, the Foo Fighters are confirmed!! I missed them two years ago when they played Glasgow Green with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and was majorly hacked off. I promised myself I’d catch them next time they appeared in Scotland.

Guess what.

I’m on holiday in Devon from the 4th to the 18th of July. When’s T in the Park? 9th and 10th of July.

Swearing follows…

Continue reading “T in the Park 2005”

bookmark_borderOops

Mega busy day.

Doctors to ear syringed (wasn’t too bad).
Barbers to get hair cut (holiday romp, severe!).
Clyde Valley with a friend to get her out of the house (poor soul isn’t well).
Various shops to get items from the ‘list’ sent by my father-in-law (tea-bags etc).
Glasgow Green for 5-a-side (didn’t injury myself either)
And now I’m doing the work I didn’t do during the day. I managed 4 hours, so only 4 or 5 to go… which means I’ll still be here at 1 a.m. (nothing new there then!)

And no, I’m not sure why I’ve used so many brackets (but I have an idea…).

Ohh and thank you for all your well wishes for our holiday and anniversary. I’ll do a last round of visits to you all tomorrow and then it’s no web for two weeks. Ohhh that’s scary.. might have to find an internet cafe… just once or twice though…