YOU... HUUURRRTTT... MMMYYY.. FRRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEENNNNND

Whilst I am not one who likes to put someone down who is successful, there are a certain few that I tend to laugh at, as they were loser hardcore kids in a former life.

Frank Turner is one of these people. Over a decade ago, there was an incident involving Frank, the then singer of awful band, Kneejerk, and Pierre from Knuckledust. I could go into details but it’s a really old story and I have told it over a thousand times. But it leads to much hilarity when I spot him at a show, (and walk past girls whispering about him) and, as loud as I can, without shouting, say “YOU HURT MY FRIIIIEEENNNDDD”. I usually get a frown, but it provides me with hours of amusement. Good on him though.. he has done well for himself, and worked really hard promoting himself.. Last I heard, he was supporting Green Day on their arena tour. The only way I am ever going to stop teasing him, though, is for him to write one of his depressing “I feel sorry for myself way too much” songs with the above phrase as the words of the chorus.

Andrew O’Neill.…THIS GUY.. In the few years that I used to see him at hardcore shows, I don’t think I ever once saw him smile.. Now don’t get me wrong.. I did not know this guy at all.. he could have been the nicest guy on planet earth, but I knew him as the strange, miserable boy who would come to shows and do a funny “late 90s pointing and looking at the sky” hardcore move, and would often wear skirts. He disappeared around 3-4 years after I first got into hardcore, and the next thing I see, around a decade later, is that he is a comedian……… Wait.. WHAT?!?!?! A COMEDIAN? REALLY? Again, have not seen his stage show, nor, to be honest, do I care to.. but that’s a turnaround for the books!

Saying that, with the amount of people that have come and gone, I am actually surprised that I don’t see more of them on tv, the radio, etc etc etc.

The art of bitchiness. If you wouldn’t say the same thing to someone’s face, then it’s probably best to keep your mouth shut.

And moving on…

- The new Eminem record, Recovery- Not going to lie. Totally picked this record because of Steve’s video below. That song is terribly catchy. And the whole album is fantastic, and this is coming from someone who was never really a massive Eminem fan. Personal highlights- (other than his song with Rhianna of course).. him sampling both “What is love?” by Haddaway and “Changes”. Nice. Pick it up.. download it.. whatever.

- Donnybrook are touring at the end of this year. Currently only mainland dates have been announced but here’s hoping for UK dates.

- The hoards descending on Sonisphere festival began lunchtime today at Victoria station. If you are going, enjoy, be safe and take an umbrella as apparently its going to rain. And check out Sick of it all, as they are the best band on the planet.

- If I say your band sucks, it means I think your band sucks. If you cannot deal with a. criticism b.someone else opinion, you should not be in a band. Please also see this post.

- Pretty Little Liars. Get on this show. I have only watched the first episode, but so far so good.

- Toy Story 3. Am i going to cry?

Current Top 10- July 2010

10. Nails: I have said it about a billion times. Everything that Todd Jones touches turns to gold. He was in Carry On. My favourite Terror album, Lowest of The Low? He plays guitar and was the songwriter. He made Blacklisted that little bit MORE awesome for a while.. Betrayed? One of my favourite hardcore bands. GOLD. He now plays in a band called Nails, who are incredible. They have an album out on Six Feet Under Records called Unsilent Death (Check it out) and will be touring Europe and the UK at the end of the year, with Harms Way, and Rise and Fall. Apparently they have just signed to Southern Lord Records too.

9. Summer fest season finally being here: The best thing about summer.. A ton of hardcore bands play a ton of awesome fests and shows. Magical.

8. Laughing at people with IPads: Posey idiots.

7. Laughing at people with IPhone 4s: You have a faulty phone. What has always been the rule with Apple, people? You NEVER buy the first generation of anything! Yes, I know this is the 3rd generation IPhone, but it isnt really, now is it? You need to give Apple at least a year to iron out all the kinks. Alternatively, you can hold your phone in an abnormal way to make sure you dont lose all signal. HAH. Blackberry all the WAY.

6. Wedding Season: Nothing like seeing people you care about being all happy and lovey and stuff.. Congratulations to everyone getting married in 2010 :)

5. Flip Flop/Summer dress season: Flip flops rule. Summer dresses rule. Maxi dresses rule. Dont be haters.

4. Primark and TK Maxx: "Cheap" clothes are awesome. How can you have never ever bought anything from Primark. Do you know what you are missing!??!!? Just because your top cost double the price of mine (or even maybe triple), doesnt mean it looks better. Money cant buy you taste.

3. Blood for Blood "reunion": No white trash Rob? BUT, winter is looking up! Everyone email MAD and get Wisdom in Chains and Death Before Dishonor on this bill!!!!

2. REALLY wanting to cowtip people on bikes: You arent better than me because you cycle to work. You dont have the right to run a red light, and i WILL cross when i am supposed to, even if i see you coming. Hipster fucks. Public transport > being all hot, sweaty and stinky when i turn up to my destination.

1. Sick of it All doing a ton of shows: SOIA/Madball tour at the end of the year? Borderline? FUCK YEAH!

Every summer, a small, quiet town in Belgium gets invaded by just under 5000 punk and hardcore kids. The locals and tourists alike gaze bemused as the “kids” descend to Ieper for a weekend of loud music, new and old friends and good times.

Ieperfest has been going for 18 years. Organised by Bruno and the folk at Genet records, the fest has more heart and dedication put into it than any other hardcore/punk fest on planet earth. Over three days, on two stages, just over 100 bands play to fans from around the world. The atmosphere is electric, and you are pressed to find someone in the crowd that isn’t smiling.

The Ieper team have thought of everything.. Disabled access with a separate platform, a “More than music stage” for people who want to learn or just get away from the “noise” for a bit (Davin from Kingdoms talk last year was on of the highlights of the fest), an afterparty for the crowd goers that are simply not done (last year, apparently this lasted till 6am the first 2 nights), a pre show for all the travelling folk (this year its being held by a separate promotions team but the line up is still fantastic with Pound for Pound playing), and finally, the most green festival around. The fest has around a hundred volunteers that make sure that the site is kept clean and tidy, and that there is no unnecessary waste left behind.

This is a fest by hardcore fans for hardcore fans.. and will remain number one in Europe for many years to come. Long live Ieperfest!

Whilst many of you wont remember this, in the early 90s, this was a MASSIVE hit in the Middle East and Asia (and I imagine, the US). Featured on every mix tape of my teens, this song is definitely one of the most catchy from this era, regularly popping into my head every couple of months over a decade later..

The treat (other than being mesmorised by her amazing eyebrows) was to find that Rakim, who, in my limited hip hop understanding, is one of the most respected rappers on the planet (please correct me if im wrong!) was the “guest vocalist”. His rap is up there with John Barnes’ effort in “World In Motion”. OK maybe not that bad, but...

I wish it were the 90s again.

Incept.. *snore*

Not going to lie, but I love previews. And last week, I was “lucky” enough to go to one of the worst.. Nothing to do with the film, oh, no, not at all. The screen this preview was shown in, at the Empire, Leicester Square, was not made for people under 5’5. I couldn’t see the bottom quarter of the screen, and my view was highly impaired by a woman with quite a large head. Considering these previews are to spread word of mouth about how good a film is, the surroundings just put me off doing that.

Inception was ok, and not the masterpiece that all discussing it will make you believe. Maybe its because I only really like romcoms, or maybe because im not impressed with too much CGI. Leonardo DiCaprio, on the whole, irritates me, which I find amusing as I used to think he was cute when he was in Growing Pains and parenthood (I was 12). Unlike everyone else who has been talking about this film, I did not walk out after the film thinking “WTF” and I didn’t really care if the spinning top fell. Also, whilst I understand that it was vital to the story line to explain Leos, why did 10 mins of the film have to be dedicated to her making one? That’s 10 mins of my life I will not get back.

Best part of the film? Tom Hardy. I spent half the film trying to place him. Hes the Kleenex crying man!!!!

Sometimes

(OMG. Not a post about Steve? Holy heavens!).

Sometimes, this world seems like its so full of hate, jealousy, and contempt, that it gets me down. Sometimes, I think of all the people that have done me wrong, and all the people that have hurt me or my loved ones, and I wonder whats wrong with the human race.

On those days.. the days when nothing seems to cheer me up and its grey and gloomy outside? On days when I think that there is no love in this world.. what do i do those days?

I go here. You think im joking?

http://www.ourlaboroflove.com/

Yes, its essentially a wedding photos website, there are also baby pictures, birthday pictures and engagement pictures. My favourite photographer is Matt, a guy I used to know.. which was how i was alerted to the site.

Not only does the site have the most beautiful pictures i have ever seen, but they are full of happiness and joy and so much love.

This renews my faith in the human race.

"No we must not dwell, no not today, we can't. Not on Rex Manning day!"

Of the late, his videos have been my tool to cheer people up, and they always work.


Do you think that if i asked Steve to make me a video, he would? He totally should. Pref with something by the black eyed peas as that would simply be amazing. SIMPLY. AMAZING.

Anyhow, this is his latest offering.

I love you Steve.