News and Reviews: 10th February 2012
08 Feb 2012.We had a lovely press dinner at The Guinea Grill,30 Bruton Place,Mayfair,London W1.This Youngs pub has been around for centuries.
They claim to serve the finest steak,fish and seafood in Mayfair.
Its location is at the rear of Stella McCartneys
shop which is in the busier Bruton Street.
We had a fantastic three course meal with drinks.It is a cosy traditional pub with a nice dining area at the back.I chose the sirlion steak with wild mushrooms and red wine sauce.I had a nice chat with Shaun who is their meeter and greeter.He said they get a lot of American tourists as well as local workers.He said Jamiroquai was in there last week.It really is one of those hidden away gems.
The Guinea Grill was established in 1952 but there has been an Inn here since 1423, when it was known as The Pound. The name changed in 1663 to celebrate the arrival of the new unit of currency - The Guinea.The Guinea pub at the front serves well kept Young's ales, Monday to Friday from 11.30am to 11pm and on Saturday from 6pm to 11pm. No reservations are taken in the bar, on a sunny day expect to see a large crowd outside the pub enjoying a pint of ale away from the hustle and bustle of New Bond Street and Berkeley Square.
The Grill is open Monday to Friday 12.30pm to 3pm for lunch, Monday to Saturday from 6pm to 10.30pm for dinner.
See www.theguinea.co.uk
06 Feb 2012.Monday sees the release of two albums.Paul McCartneys "Kisses On The Bottom".What a crap name for an album.
Also Van Halens comeback album with David Lee Roth "A Different Kind Of Truth".It comes with a tv advert saying the bold statement "featuring the worlds greatest guitarist and the worlds greatest front man".
Due to the success of his radio show Ronnie Wood has been given his own music tv show with Sky Arts.Each show will feature guest acts.
Sad to hear original Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward may not be taking part in the bands summer reunion as a proper contract has not been offered to him.Sounds like another case of lead singers and guitarists pulling stunts along with Sharon Osbourne pulling their strings.
02 Feb 2012.Trextasy live at The Beck Theatre, Hayes, Middlesex.
Without doubt one of the best tribute acts out there. I have seen Trextasy around 20 times since 1992 when they first started gigging including gigs supporting Gary Glitter at Wembley Arena in 1993 and i trekked out to Cambridge in 1997 when they played a special show with Trex bongo legend Mickey Finn.I was a bit too young to see Trex in their heyday but i did see Marc Bolans last ever show at The Rainbow in 1977 a few months before his fatal car crash.
Usually i see the band at a stand up rock club like The Standard in Walthamstow but tonight it is a cosy all seated theatre show.
Having said that lots of folks were up and dancing.Most of their shows are now in theatres.
On stage for 1 hour 50 mins over two sets this show was fantastic from start to finish.
Danielz the Marc lookalike is amazing.From his glam rock stage wear and corkscrew hair to the nailed on perfect renditions of the songs.
Opening with a couple of acoustic songs "Spaceball Ricoshet" and "Mystic Lady" from "The Slider" album and then it was a dream setlist of all the hits and lesser known gems from albums and b-sides.
Other tracks played included "Dreamy Lady","New York City","The Groover","Solid Gold Easy Action","Ride A White Swan" and "Get It On".Second set included
"Telegram Sam","Children Of The Revolution",
"Baby Strange","One Inch Rock","Thunderwing",
"Deborah","Metal Guru","Jeepster","20th Century Boy","I Love To Bogie" and the encore was a brilliant "Hot Love" with all the crowd dancing and singing along.
Marc Bolan is sadly missed but as Damielz said at the end "Always Keep A Bit Of Marc In Your Heart".A really great show.
The band play loads of gigs around the UK so check out their website www.trextasy.com
01 Feb 2012.6.40pm to 9.30pm i was at The Conde Nast Traveller Spa Awards at The Corinthia Hotel,Whitehall Place,London SW1.
This luxury 5 star hotel opened last year after a multl million pound makeover.I was at the launch party for it.It is a really superb venue.
A supremely elegant facade, 294 sumptuous rooms and suites, stylish bars and speciality restaurants, together with the city’s largest spa and wellness facility.
The 300 guests here had freebie Laurent Perrier champers along with some tasty food including oysters and duck.
The 11 awards were given out quite quickly.Some amazing spas from the UK and overseas.
The full list of winners and nominees along with pictures and interviews are in the latest copy of the magazine which is out now.
Got a couple of decent goodie bags here with ESPA items and other stuff.
Always nice to bump into music folks at any event.I had a nice chat with a guy from a band called The Juice who have played gigs here and overseas.Check them out on
www.myspace.com/iwantjuice
30 Jan 2012.6.30pm to 11.30pm.The Retail Trust London Ball at The Grosvenor House Hotel,Park Lane,London W1.Around 1000 folks here for this charity that supports the 3 million retail workers in the UK.A nice champers reception until 8pm then a three course dinner.Some faces here including Sir Phillip Green from The Arcadia Group(Topshop etc) who donated over £200k towards the £1 million raised tonight.Also here was Ultimo boss Michelle Mone,tv presenter George Lamb,Louise Redknapp and Emma Forbes.
Brian Conley was the host and was very funny. After the auction was a dodgy covers band called The Bogus Brothers.Got a nice goodie bag with a GHD Gold Classic Hairstyler that retails at around £100.
30 Jan 2012.Mon sees the debut album by Lana Del Rey "Born To Die" finally come out.She is the most hyped up new act of the year.
Three guitar bands who have been getting a lot of hype are Tribes,Howler and Spector so will be interesting how these four acts get on over the next 12 months.
28 Jan 2012.Football and wrestling today.
QPR 0 Chelsea 1......West London Megaclash.
One of those games that was a letdown compared to the prematch build up.Chelsea got a dodgy penalty but QPR never really got going.
then
TNA Impact Wrestling live at Wembley Arena,
London.
Last date of TNAs short UK arena tour.TNA are one of the main promoters of wrestling in the USA.
A very noisy crowd here chanting and holding up banners etc made it a great atmosphere.
Tonight was shown live to some countries and will be shown on Challenge TV in the UK.Around a dozen bouts with no real interval.Just three minute gaps between the action.Two of the bouts were between female wrestlers.
The headline act is the legendary Hulk Hogan with his first showing over here for 18 years.
The crowd went mental when he was in the ring.
Hogan enjoyed mainstream popularity in the mid 1980s through the early 1990s as the all-American character Hulk Hogan in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF—now WWE).
The other main guy was a wrestler named Sting who wore full KISS type make up.
Its all well rehearsed of course but there was still plenty of jumping off the top of the ropes that looked good.Its all very American razzle dazzle but visually entertaining good fun.
On Monday 30th Jan 2012 tickets go on sale for their January 2013 UK arena tour.