News and Reviews: 15th January 2012
Saturday was a full day out in South West London.14 Jan 2012.2pm to 5pm.Dick Whittington Panto live at New Wimbledon Theatre,London.This theatre has got some big names for its annual panto recently.In 2009 i saw Pamela Anderson here then the following year was David Hasselhoff and this year it is aussie legend Dame Edna.
Two sets of 75 mins and 70 mins.Dame Edna arrives and departs on a chair on wires suspended over the crowd.Lots of nice costumes and colour.Plenty of topical gags,local gags,corny gags and of course audience partipation.Dame Edna was on great form with various over the top outfits.We had a 5 mins interlude to watch some 3D film too.
Very entertaining.Really good fun.
then
Chickenfoot live at Brixton Academy,London.
My first gig in three weeks as this time of the year is so quiet for quality bands playing.
Great to see two ex members of Van Halen on stage.Original VH bassist Michael Anthony and Sammy Hagar who replaced David Lee Roth in VH.
Also here is ace guitarist Joe Satriani.
I saw them a couple of years ago at Shepherds Bush Empire when the first album came out.They are over here again to promote their confusingly titled second album "Chickenfoot III".
On stage for around 1 hour 45 mins.The setlist is pretty much the best tracks of the two albums.Sammy Hagar was enjoying himself and looking and sounding like Robert Plant in the old days.Like other recent supergroups Them Crooked Vultures and Black Country Communion they play a really good live rock show but there are no real standout classic tracks.
Tracks played included "Three And A Half Letters","Future In The Past" and encores "Different Devil","Oh Yeah" and the only cover of the night "Foxy Lady"(Jimi Hendrix).
34 years ago.Sex Pistols played their last show with Sid Vicious on 14 Jan 1978 in San Francisco.
12 Jan 2012.I went to two events tonight.First
5.15pm to 7.15pm was The BRIT Awards Nominations Launch Party at The Savoy Hotel,London WC1.
Around 400 media here in this very nice ballroom.
Freebie wines and beers for all.Quite a few people here i know.Radio 1 dj Greg James announces the nominations and this years host of the main awards on 21 Feb James Cordon says a few words.Jessie J handed Emile Sande the Critics Choice Award and Emile then sang a song.
Then Ed Sheeran sang a song.His album has sold over 900,000 and he leads the way with four nominations this year.Also here was Sir Peter Blake who has designed the awards this year.Also Chase And Status,Professor Green and Rizzle Kicks.
The live acts for this year are confirmed as Coldplay,Noel Gallagher,Rihanna,Adele.Ed Sheeran,Bruno Mars and Florence And The Machine who all play a song each and Blur who will play a short set at the end as they win The Outstanding Contribution To Music Award.
then
8pm to 9pm i was at a showcase for new club DSTRKT,9 Rupert Street,London W1.
This multi million pound club opened its doors a month ago.It is located around the corner from Cafe De Paris.Discreet entrance with stairs leading down to a very impressive huge space which is split into a dining area and a club area with lots of vip tables and dj booth.Looks like they are aiming for the older upmarket crowd.We had a couple of free cocktails for an hour.Looking forward to going there again.
11 Jan 2012.I went to two events tonight.First 6.30pm to 8pm.Launch party for MADD,53 Rupert Street,London W1.Great location in the heart of Soho just a few yards from Madame Jojos for MADD which is the UKs first dessert bar dedicated to mango.The decor is full of nice bright orange and yellow tones.We have freebie mango based cocktails,mango based smoothies and a yummy array of mango based desserts.They also do coffees and teas.Dessert bars are popular in countries like Thailand.
See www.wearemadd.com
then 8.30pm to 11pm i was at 10 Trinity Square,Tower Hill,London EC3 for The Wallpaper Design Awards 2012.
Great views over the Tower Of London here.
Over 500 very cool folks here in this historic building for this magazine awards which are seen as "the oscars of the design world".We have freebie Veuve Clicquot champers,cocktails, beers,bowl food and canapes.Dj here as well.
Awards are based around design/interiors/fashion/art/lifestyle.
London won the best city award.
Everyone got a free copy of Feb 2012 Wallpaper mag that has full pictures and interviews with the winners.It is in the shops for £4.95.
Also check www.wallpaper.com.
A great party.
10 Jan 2012.6.15pm to 9pm.Tourism South East Media Party at The Waterloo Bar And Grill,London SE1.
Around 100 press folks here to attend this event that promotes great places to visit and stay at in the region which covers the Oxford/Chilterns
area and all the way around to Sussex and Kent.
Complimentary wines,burgers and canapes for all.
A good networking event with friendly chat.
A nice goodie bag here for all attendees.
A wide range of interesting places to visit including theme parks,hotels,museums and much much more.
My luck has changed as i won a great raffle prize here.Two nights for two at a posh hotel in Windsor,Berkshire with all food included.Nice.
For the full list of places to visit see www.visitsoutheastengland.com
Also a couple of nice hotels worth a visit.
Priory Hotel Isle Of Wight.
Ideal for IOW Festival and Bestival.
www.priorybay.co.uk
Compleat Angler Hotel,Marlow,Bucks.
A lovely four star hotel.
www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/compleatangler
The Rebellion Festival to be held in Blackpool August 2012 has confirmed some headliners.
Check the website link on the right of this page for info on early bird tix etc.
Over 100 bands will play over the weekend.
RANCID
THE ONLY ONES
BOW WOW WOW
SLAUGHTER AND THE DOGS
THE BOYS
SNUFF
THE SLACKERS
THE BUSINESS
PENETRATION
UK SUBS
Another venue with a change of name.
I have been there a couple of times.The Birmingham Academy is now called The Birmingham Ballroom as it is back in the hands of independent owners(it used to be The Hummingbird before The Academy) – now three venues – there will be two stages plus an acoustic stage.
Sunday 08 Jan sees the 65th birthday of David Bowie.This music legend has kept a low profile in New York since a health scare a few years ago.
An influence on so many acts old and new there is no doubt he would clean up if he toured again but that seems very unlikely.I was lucky to have seen him loads of times over the last 35 years.
Happy birthday David.
06 Jan 2012.The Boat Show at Excel,London.
12.30pm to 7pm.I was here for the opening press day.It was opened by Tamara Ecclestone and famous sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnson is walking around all afternoon.Lots of stunning luxury yachts and boats here that you can go on and peek around.They really do have the wow factor.
The big ones from the likes of Sunseeker, Princess and Fairline are all in the million pound plus range.Lots of speed boats,jet skis and other related items here.You can practise water sports in the full size "action pool".
As it is press day many of the companies here are having receptions for the press so plenty of free booze,nibbles and goodie bags floating about.I must mention www.universalstoneuk.com who gave me a full bag of their German designed eco friendly all purpose top quality cleaning products.
Enjoyable day.The Boat Show is here until
15 Jan 2012.See www.londonboatshow.com
05 Jan 2012.Cirque Du Soleil "Totem" live at The Royal Albert Hall,London.
Tonight was the press/vip opening night for this "posh folks circus" that has played six week stints at The Royal Albert Hall for many years at this time of year.
I have a great grand tier seat in a press box.
In the box next to me is music promoter Harvey Goldsmith and The Who manager Bill Curbishley and in the box on the other side is Paloma Faith.
A big sprinkling of faces here including Sir Bob Geldof,Nick Mason,Sophie Ellis Bextor,Eva Hertzigova,Tim Minchin,Jimmy Carr,Ben Elton,Natasha Kaplinsky,Tamer Hassan,Esther Rantzen,Diversity,Nicholas Parsons,Arlene Phillips and errr Timmy Mallett.
Had some free booze and canapes during the interval in the press hospitality area.
The show is visually great with lots of eye-popping skill and strength on display.Lots of colour with great cosumes,great projected images and a live band too.We have acrobats,clowns,a balancing act,juggling and much more.Two sets of 70 mins each.Very enjoyable even if the ticket prices are a bit steep.They start from £20 and rise to a whopping £80 Tues to Thur and £90 Fri to Sun for best seats.