Happiness.

friend (frěnd) n. A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts.

Someone said something to me this weekend that stuck in my mind and hasn't left. It made me think of friendships from the past, how people treated me, and how I want to be treated today.

And the best thing is, I'm finally at peace and not upset anymore. Not because I forgive nor forget. But because I realize that I simply don't care.

The need to bitch about people behind their backs left me a long time ago. Why? Because I don't feel the need to bully/put down anyone else. I am, by no means, perfect. Until you ARE perfect, until you are free of criticism by others, and until noone has a bad word to say about you then you too have no right to either.

I defend many people. People that are disliked by a lot. But what are you gaining? And have you heard the full story? Something that happened recently made me realize that I hadnt.

People make mistakes. People who dont go out to hurt people intentionally are the good people. The people I want to be around. People who dont go out to intentionally hurt ME are the people I want to be around.

So say what you like about me. People have spent YEARS trying to make other people hate me. Some have suceeded. I don't want to be mates with people that can be swayed by other people's opinion anyway. So talk shit because really.. I actually don't care.

and sometimes.. just sometimes.. saying nothing at all when people say stuff about me to you is worse than joining in the conversation.

And sometimes.. some things just can't be forgotten and I will never ever forgive.

RunningRiotFest is going on a hiatus

For the foreseeable future, there will be no fest. People keep telling me I will get the itch. And in all honesty, i dont think I will.

Thank you to all the bands that played both fests, all the punters that came out, everyone who helped (including the people that offered help) and thank you to all of my friends, especially the ones that travel over oceans to surprise me, because they know that it will make me happier than ever.

Heres to new friends, old friends and best friends of them all. Much love.

Treat others how you would like to be treated.

People that are TOO nice are the most two faced of them all.. You have to have some hate. If you dont, you arent human. But when you act like the hate doesnt exist, like its not even there, and say things to other people against someone who you smile and laugh to, its not that person that looks bad. Its you.

Especially if the person you hate is not a bad person at all.

Not aimed specifically at anyone, just a thought.

Mind= Blown

RunningRiotFest is in about a week.

It is nice that people that I didnt expect to have come out of the woodwork to help me with this.

This is the only thing I have to update.

"Youre as straight as the line..."

Seriously. I want to watch this movie. Why? I dont know. What are they going to say that I wasnt aware of before?

If tickets are super cheap, im going. If not, im going to stay at home and watch Edge of Quarrel. And no, im not joking.

Edge: The Movie.

Want Want Want

I am slightly obsessed with getting my hands on a pair of these trainers. I saw them in Footlocker this time last year and put off buying them for too long, and now they are gone. They are pretty much my perfect pair of Air Max's. All red? Yes please! Also, Nike ID is pretty lame. I am not paying over double what I usually pay for a pair of 90s so i can have the colourway that I want.

If ANYONE knows of a legit place online that isnt charging an arm and a leg for these, let me know. I need to have them.

RunningRiotFest

God only knows why once a year, I do this to myself. This year is a lot less stressful due to mainly uk bands and no work permits worries.

ANYHOW, the line up is as follows:

Saturday 24th October

Black Friday '29 (De)
Down and Outs
Deathskulls
Give (USA)
Diction
Hang The Bastard
Ironclad
Famine (Ire)
Union Town (Nl)
Hard Target

Sunday 25th October

Dead Swans
TRC
Deal With It
Injury Time
Cold Snap
Cold Ones
Chains of Hate
Horrorsttuck
Intentions
HalfPastDeath (De)
Breaking Point

Doors 1pm
First band on shortly after

Tax: £11 a day/ £20 for the weekend in Advance

for more info, please go to http://www.myspace.com/runningriotfest and look at the blog.

If you are bored, post up a flyer somewhere.

Oh Hardcore. How i love you.

A couple of things.

1. Pressurefest was awesome.
2. Check out the Ieperfest Line up. www.ieperfest.com
3. RunningRiotfest Line up is up..
4. add LDNLove on twitter. http://twitter.com/ldnlove
5. Pics up from the Dirty Money/Bitter End show up.

Click on the pic below to see them:

Bettie Mae Designs

A year ago, on a trip to Newquay, i was introduced by a good friend to Claire, who makes the most incredible handbags, the best hair flowers and now jewellery. I have spent so much money on her stuff, its ridiculous.. but all well worth it.. having a box come from her is like Christmas and my birthday rolled into one.



I REALLY want these earrings, but can't afford to buy anything that isnt food this month. ha.

Go and check out her Ebay store. You wont be disappointed.

O HAI!

Life is good. I am happy.

Summer is here. You wouldnt have thought it with the weather, but so far, its been bangin.

so far, been all about:

- him.
- Big Brother
- Booking RunningRiotFest (nearly all done!)
- Summer Dresses
- Trips away.
- Weddings
- Newquay, Rach, Ruby and Wayne.
- GRTBR.
- My new heels.

I am slightly obsessed with the new Black Eyed Peas song. The first time I heard it, I was in a hotel room in Germany waiting for Lynne to turn up, drifting off to sleep after travelling from Sweden. I hated it but now I love it and it is definetly my Summer 2009 song... I am well aware that it is not great. But still, I love it.




and finally, pics from the Gravemaker show I put on in April are up.. click on the pic for a link! Thanks to Joerg for finding these for me!!

A blog you should check out.

I met John McKaig a couple of years ago, but do not know him more than to say hello to when he pops up at shows here in London every once in a while.

He has a blog that every couple of months, I go back and check because I am reminded that he takes not only amazing photographs at shows, but he leads a pretty interesting life and every once in a while, someone I know will pop up in the pictures.

Click on the pic to get to his Livejournal:

"So rotten on the inside, guaranteed to die alone"

Oh Channel 4 News. How I love thee.

So here goes. 2 British National Party members get voted into the European Cabinet. Nick Griffin, the leader, being one, and Andrew Brons being the other. What do Channel 4 News do? Get their John Snow in to do the interview? No. They get Krishnan Guru-Murthy to do it. Genius. Watch this. Incredible

"Love the girl who holds the world in a paper cup..."

I love Me First and The Gimme Gimmes. I love them on record. I love their live shows. I just think they are awesome.

Last nights London show was incredible.

Anyhow, you should love them too.





There are a handful of bands that I reckon I could watch everyday and not get sick of them. I think Me First have enough covers for me to be able to see them every day for at least a couple of years.








Fuck. I love them.

Hardcore/Clothing Label Collabos

The Hundreds are releasing around half a dozen shirts as a "Tribute to Hardcore" along with other designers and Revelation Records.

Out of the whole bunch, the only one I find even vaguely appealing is the "Chain of Strength" shirt (as pictured above), and in reality, this is only because it looks so similar to the original COS shirt design.

The line will apparently be released tomorrow. Prices have not yet been released.

My thoughts?

If you want to do something for hardcore, to "thank hardcore for hardcore", then go to a show, support your local bands, support touring bands, buy merch from them.

But there is a link up there so make up your own mind.

A lovely "couple of things" update.

Insomnia is a bitch, and whilst one would rather be asleep, I am not going to attempt to do so before at least 10pm as it will frustrate me, thus making the insomnia even worse.

• LondonCalling has been updated. If you follow this blog, you should totally follow that one too. You should also follow the LondonCalling/LDNLove Twitter which is located HERE.

• H2O are touring. I'm 'cited. Lynne is 'cited. Should be awesome

• I love Nu-Metal:

• I also love Betrayed and cannot WAIT for Pressurefest.

Nemi

A very senior manager that I had previously worked with pointed out the similarities between myself and this comic strip character. I love her. Its the first part of The Metro that I read, and i often find myself chuckling at her predicament as I can usually totally relate.

GO READ THE STRIP IF YOU ARE BORED.

Is it worth risking eternal happiness in heaven for a fleeting happiness on earth.

Bitter End are playing in a couple of weeks. You should come.

Hardcore.

Its not about who you know. Its not about what you do. Its not about how much you have done.

The reality is that noone in hardcore is "cool". Go out on the street, and ask anyone if they know you, know your band, know what you do, and they would look at you like you are insane.

It has always been about respect... being able to voice an opinion (and God knows, I have been crucified for this).. being stood in a room where you feel safe... at home.

You aren't a legend. You aren't John Joseph. You arent Henry Rollins. You aren't Ian Mackaye. These people earned it. They are smart. Intelligent. Never bullied people into respecting them.

You are nothing. A nobody. Don't ever forget that.

I've been getting away with it all my life.

Electronic- Getting away with it.

This track is possibly one of my favourite songs ever written.. and the beauty of it is that its a track that isn't too well known. The song was released orginally in 1989 by the side project band, Electronic, which featured Neil Tennant from the Pet Shop Boys, Bernard Sumner from New Order and Jonny Marr, who used to guitar for the Smiths.

While none of the bands other releases interest me at all, this track will, at least once a week, stick in my head for at least a day.

Apparently, according to its WIKI page, it has only ever been performed live a handful of times and only reached number 12 in the UK charts (when the UK charts actually meant something unlike today).

(make sure you click to the right song as there are a bunch of videos on this one)


Electronic TV on MUZU.



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Lady Gaga was on Jonathan Ross on Friday night. It was possibly one of the most uncomfortable interviews I have had the misfortune to watch, and for the first time in my life, my heart went out to Ross. One word answers and coy glares at him. You arent mysterious, your music is rubbish, and you are odd looking. And it fucking sucks that your latest song is one of the catchiest songs being played EVERYWHERE at the moment.

I want to punch you in your po-po-poker face.

Football songs.

Like, never a good idea. But this one has always been my favourite. I mean, not only is it New Order, but its also got the John Barnes rap. THE BEST.

Susan Boyle

Can someone please explain to me how this woman has become such an icon?

She turned up to a talent show, was not the most normal looking lady (i am saying this because other blogs/newspaper articles have been pretty harsh about her.. calling her ugly.. so when i heard the story, i was expecting a beast..) who has never been kissed, and lives with cats.

And she can sing. Well.

She proved people judge based on looks alone.

I could have told you that in 30 seconds.

It is pretty cute though. You should watch it:

I need your help

Insomnia. Its a fucking bitch.

I would like to hear Todd Jones band, Nails, and google is not co-operating.

They must have some music up SOMEWHERE. HELP. ME.

Also, hardcore bands you should be checking out right now as they are fucking awesome:

- Trapped Under Ice
- Cheap Thrills
- The Ice
- Cold Snap (the uk band not US band)
- Gravemaker
- Freeze up
- Cold Ones

Podcast number 5 is done and should be online soon. Keep an eye out on http://www.totalrock.com and if you havent, download the other four (except the first as that one kinda sucks).

In desperate, dire need of a cheer up list

In no particular order:

:)

I was going to write a whole big post up about Vice and the hatred I feel towards the whole culture that surrounds this magazine/site, but I feel the need to post about more positive things. So here goes:

• - This coming friday, Gravemaker are playing. I am sure the flyer is down there somewhere, but here is a link to it again. Shows going to be awesome. Come down.

• - Pressurefest tickets for the June edition are onsale and I am the UK rep selling them. Shows going to be awesome. For more info, please go HERE.

• - Ryanair. This time last year, Ryanair charged £16 for the privilege of having airport check in and luggage stowed in the hold. This year, they are charging £40 for the same privilege. Is that even legal? My love affair with this airline is fast ending, and I feel i am going to be looking elsewhere for my trip to Germany this summer.. Understandable that costs for flights have gone up since the credit crunch, but this should be explained as opposed to implementing charges such as THIS. To add insult to injury, while I am aware that the pound isnt currently that much stronger than the euro, they are still charging 40€ for the same service they are charging £40 to provide us. I am currently looking into flying back to Heathrow, getting a meal on my flight and being able to put my bags in for £20 more.. and at least I know that oxygen masks will work.

• The amount that dentists charge is extortionate. The amount I am going to have to pay next week is worrying me, and I have no idea where im going to get it from.