Bombay Bicycle Club

Bombay Bicycle Club is a indie band from London and have released there début album " I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose" in 2009.

They have realsed one album, 5 singles and 2 EP's.

I find the band original and sound like a breath of fresh air to me musically, there top songs on there début album for me is " Evening/Morning" "Always Like This" and "Magnet".

They won Best New Band at the NME Awards in February 2010.

check out there website for where there playing and latest news on the band: http://www.bombaybicycleclubmusic.com/

They are also on Twitter: http://twitter.com/bombaybicycle

There debut album:

Melchiot relaxed about the club surviving the drop.

Info taken from http://aggbot.com/docs/link.php?id=8997443&r=tw&c=54

Wigan captain Mario Melchiot is confident his side will avoid relegation from the Premier League.

The Latics are now just four points above the drop zone having played a game more than 18th-placed Hull.

However, Melchiot insists the Wigan squad have the belief that they can stay up.

"Everyone knows we are a great side, we've all got that belief," Melchiot told the club's website.

"The only thing is that we just haven't had the luck you need at this level to help us get what we've deserved.

"It's all still in our own hands which is the most important thing, and that's the situation you want going into the final games of the season."

"Film of the day"

Scarface was released in 1983 ( its a remake of the 1932 classic) staring Al Pacino as Tony Montana whos a cuban whos come to america for a better life and ends up getting lucky and becomes a high flying gangster...And has to face the consequences of his actions.

The film also has a famous line " Say hello to my little friend"

here is some stills from the 1983 film.

The start of the downfall...

"Say hello to my little friend"

The film was orginally made in 1932 and was based on real-life gangster Al-Capone.

The film concentrates on gang warfare and police intervention when rival gangs fight for control of the city, I shall be picking it up at HMV in the near-future.

" a meeting"

The actual gangster that the film is based on, Al Capone.

Fanzines?

Are the days of the written fan opinion going down the drain or is it still living and one of the breathing hearts of the football clubs that we all love?

At Wigan the fanzine that the people over on www.mudhutsmedia.co.uk produce is top notch, I buy it whenever they come out and have contributed to an article in one which I wrote about the then up-coming film about Away days.

The fanzine they produce is called "MFE" and is quite a bulky fanzine for £1.50 you do get a lot for value and the opinions within there fanzine is the genreal opinion of the supporters of Wigan Athletic, Be it the JCL Internet-based never come to a game ex Wigan Warriors fans that we can and do have.

Anyway go over to there good website and check out there match previews,Forum general stuff top work lads!

Band of the day.

Local Band The Substitutes are a cover band from the Wigan Area, They originally did there own songs but have moved into covers and do gigs all around the Wigan area.

When I have seen them live they have always been top notch all the band members are excellent at there instruments and There main vocalist has an original voice.

This is what the band say about themselves on there myspace:

"the Substitutes are an outstanding Indie/Rock covers band from Wigan, England who formed in early 2008. The line up consists of Ste Gough (Lead Vocals), Jonathan Fox (Rhythm Guitar / Backing Vocals), Stu Andrews (Lead Guitar), Ben Ogden (Bass Guitar) and Josh Buckley (Drums). Formed from several bands which over the last 15 years have performed both their own original material and cover songs, The Substitutes now specialise in performing indie rock cover songs at private parties and weddings as well as being regulars on the North West pub circuit. The Substitutes play a catalogue of covers taking the audience from 1960s/70s rock like The Beatles, The Who & Led Zeppelin through 1990’s Indie tunes by bands like Oasis & The Stone Roses right up to modern Indie/Rock hits by bands like Kings Of Leon and Arctic Monkeys. They also boast the option of performing special requests as required. The band offer competitive prices for up to 2 x 45 minute sets of live music providing a full PA system and stage lighting, and can also “DJ” for the night on request.

Check them out and listen to some of there songs at http://www.myspace.com/thesubstitutesmusic

Or even better, If your in the Wigan area check out one of there gigs:

there next gig is at : The Waters Edge, Appley Bridge,Wigan on the 24th April. If your in the area get down there!

Book Review.

Rolling with the 6.57 crew by Cass Pennant and Rob Silvester.

Thanks to The Hovian who sent me this up ( I will get your book sent off tomorrow) check him out at: www.thehovian.com a blog about Brighton and Hove Albion, casuals and football a top read always.

Anyway on with the book...The name 6.57 comes from the train that they lads used to catch to the away-games and the book mentions the old boot boys etc and how it went into the casual movement and then it got to " we did them they ran" sort of hooligan book which is what most of them are like....

It does mention Wigan but in one line " Wigan away - Trouble".

I did manage to read it all but it was your typical hooligan book.

If you do want to read this book.....walk don't run to the book shop.

3/5

Twitter

Yes. I have joined the hype so i can post stupid stuff about this blog and whats going on at Wigan Athletic...

http://twitter.com/redandcoal

Manchester City vs Wigan Athletic

I shall be heading tonight over to Eastlands to watch Wigan Athletic play Manchester City, However, I will be in the home end due to free tickets, Hopefully corporate ( Prawn Sandwich for the day anyone?)

Anyway here's a little preview for today's game....

Its Roberto vs Roberto tonight at Eastlands, For us we are looking to put more points behind us and secure for a 6Th season in the premier league where as city are looking to secure a top four spot two diffrent goals but to both teams are important.

Injury doubts

For latics Charles N'Zogbia looks like he will miss out on the game due to a hip problem

Emerson Boyce is looking to be unfit for the game for the same problem.

Paul Sharner should be starting but if he will is another story..

For Manchester City:

Stephen Islands fitness will be assessed before the game to see if he can play

and Emmanuel Adebayor looks available after coming back from his 4 match ban.

At the moment Manchester City are inform And i reckon that we will be good for a point tonight...however we must go fighting for 3 points.

Roberto vs Roberto

"Film of the day"

"The Godfather" based on a novel of the same name by Mario Puzo, The film included the immortal tag line " I'm going to make him an offer he cant refuse" and is classed as one of Cinemas classics.
Released in 1972, and staring the legendary actor Marlon Brando as "Don" Vito Corleone the head of a criminal family in America during the "mob" era and is set in New York.
The film portrays the aging head of the crime family his sons and there work and also all the problems they happen to come across and "offers".....
The film won the academy award for best picture and best writing ( screen play)
It also won best actor ( Marlon Brando)
The film has two sequels, The Godfather part II and The Godfather part III.

"The Don at work in his office" - Marlon Brando in his role

"The Dons daughters wedding"

Nostalgia ....

I may be only 18 years old but I thought came into my head as I was reading a section of " Modern football is rubbish" by Nick Davidson & Shaun Hunt. The section is about Football Sticker albums and more to the point Pannini sticker albums.

The football albums I grew up with is "Merlin" and there was the premier league ones since it had just been formed ( according to sky football has only been around since 1992 but that's another story.

The first sticker album I got was Merlin Premier League 1995-6 I would have been 6 years old and when I got older my gran would send me to Jeans shop on the estate to pick up the Radio Times and as a treat I would get a pound. I would get a packet of stickers and could not wait to see what I got it was it one of the illusive foil badges or swaps?

As a young Tics fan I would have loved to have seen my team in the books...However that would come later on in what is the new " football card" craze.

Times gone by that wont be replaced, Sitting on my bed with my sticker album in the terrace house on Skull House Lane...Innocent times.

Great memories..

" Retro Skull Duggery"

Here is an interview with the Yorkshire artist Retro Skull Duggery Thanks for taking the time to answer questions and keep up the good work!

" Retro Skull Duggery" how did that name come about and why?

i remember around 2003/2004 i sketched out two characters clobbered up in fila, adidas etc, i was going through a 'lad' phase... that is where 'retro' comes into it yeah as i was influenced by the 80s football casual era, the 'skull-duggery' is paying homage to sayings that are long gone, i remember in my youth 'skull-duggery' meant to be naughty like 'skally-wag' so i thought i would bring it back, and it hadn't been used anywhere else.

Who are the main influences when you try and draw/paint a new peice and who do you take insperation from?

I follow many art, culture blogs/zines such as Faesthetic, Juxtapoz and VNA, i get major influence from artists and idea's on there, but i have had a varied taste over the years, i have massive respect for Manga, specifially Katsuhiro Otomo who created Akira, that was what opened my eyes to the art world, two of my other favourite artists are Don Hertzfeldt and Mike Judge. Just lately i have been into alot more urban/underground art, the work of D*Face and Mike Giant are what i aim to be doing in the near future, the amount of detail and swift lines are exceptional.

I notice that some of your work has a vague pop art feel to it, Do you mean for this to come across?

I feel that many art styles have been done to death and for new artists it is hard for them to decipher their own unique style, for me i have used the bold black outline and colourful cartoon fills from as far back as i can remember, i am a fan of pop art, Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol mainly, but i try to keep doing things to my style.

Did you do any art-based qualifications at school or are you just a natural at what you do?

At secondary school i choose graphic design and art as my options, and i went on to do a BTEC National Diploma in graphics at college, i didn't really learn anything during this time apart from how to use illustrator and photoshop, so i skipped university and ended up in a dead end job, so it is pretty much natural talent.

Who do you follow in Football?

I support leeds utd, all my life... through the ups and downs, in fact mainly all downs haha

and last but not least does music inspire you to draw/write?

Music plays a massive part in my life and also in my inspiration, i have my ipod on shuffle when i draw, depending on what mood i am in, lately to get me going iv been banging out some Massive Attack-Blue Lines and some old school hip hop like Beastie Boys and A Tribe Called Quest, britpop is the main influence in my work, the ;lad' generation but when im feeling emotional i usually slap on some MTV Unplugged Nirvana, the grunge scene has an atmosphere to it which makes me excel yeah, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Silverchair, Sound garden,dinosaur jr,Black Flag, Minor Threat, Clash and Specials, to name a few.

Keep it foolish yeah?

You can read his blog at: http://retro-skull-duggery.blogspot.com/

join his Facebook group which shows some of his art : http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=44552089259&ref=ts

he also has most of his art-work up on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/retroskull-duggery/

The man is also into his music and his clothes!

here is some of his art-work I find it original and also a breath of fresh air and it also has his unique style.

"Pack Lads"

"Film of the day"

Stanley Kubricks A Clockwork Orange.

Synopsis borrowed fro IMDB - http://www.imbd.com/

" In Future Britain,Charismatic Delinquent Alex DeLarge is Jailed and later volunteers for an experimental aversion theorpy developed by the government in an effort to society's crime problem...but not goes to plan"

This film is one of my favorites it has so many original and also "cult" scenes and of course Kubrick is on fantastic form and Malcolm McDowell stars as Alex is one of the best performances I have ever scene.

The film itself was nominated for 4 Oscars.

Contrary to "popular" belief, The film was not banned from Britain an but Stanley Kubrick withdrew its realease

here is some of its most iconic scenes and also one of them contains one of Kubrick's famous stares......

Alex and his droogs...

The doogs and there leader in the milk bar....

Alex inflicts a reality check into his droogies..

Casual-Co

Casualco are tee-shirt designers from the north west of England, I will let what they say on there website do the talking.

"Who are we? A small team of three, Based in the North-West of
England.
With Regular collaborators and use professional expert companies to produce
our workings
our ethos is fairly simple,Our aim is to be quirky, Alternative, Individual
and original and full of passion!
our designs are based around "casual" and "popular culture" in general, We
are a self- sufficient brand which hopes to grow further as we develop new
ideas.
Our t-shirts are professionally screen printed, our accessory's are made by
professionals with many years experience.
We have big plans to progress into other items of clothing to. We are
always looking at new and original to develop ourselves as a brand. We are a
work in progress."

That its the nail on the head. From what I have seen there tee's are spot on quality wise and are very orginal.

I have got myself the "members only" tee which was produced for the members on the forum, When I got it it was very good quality and had some very good details and ofcourse the fit was great.

I plan on getting more of there tees over summer as I think they are great for the summer weather.

Check them out at : http://www.casualco.com/

here are some of there Designs, As I said very orginal.

"Last Watched..."

Here is a list and sort of mini-review of the films that I have watched recently...Some good and some bad.

Alice And Wounderland in 3D....

a modern take with that all the range 3D...I found the film dragged a bit and that the 3D did not fit well in places, Good but not as Good as I wanted it to be...

Next up.......

Have given a few "casual" films a re-viewing since It's been a while since I have watched them and wanting to see if my opinion of the film has changed over time.....

"Cass"

The "silver screen" biogrophy of Cass Pennant, one of the Infamous Hammers and also makes a cheeky Cameo in the film.

I have read his Biogrophy recently and found it a good read howver I found the film was lacking somewhat and although there wasnt many scenes of the good old ultra-Violance it was quite good....

From a dressers point of view theres a few nice items of clothing...Lacoste ( I presume IZOD..) Cardigans etc...

"The Firm"

Nick Loves re-make of the almost-Cult 1980s made-for-TV film " The Firm" however it takes a twist from the orginal films plot of bexie making a super-firm for England to a young lad trying to become part of the firm etc......Quite a good film with nice bits of Clothing on other however the sports-wear is a bit to much and is really a "Overkill"

They also included some of the scenes from the orginal film...Bex in his room at his mums house with the baton etc..

"Lets have ya!"

Can be fustrating....

Following Wigan Athletic, Last night we played Aston Villa at home and even though James Mcarthy scored a own goal to give Villa the lead we came back within around 10-15 minutes when Gary Cadwell scored, villa put the pressure on us and then the game was sealed when Milners long ranged shot sealed the 2-1 victory for them and also to be still be the only unbeaten team in the premier league.
Was what felt like a long walk back down the cut to our lift back to WN6.
We play Burnley at home on sat will be going to the pub to watch it since I can not afford to go and also i have applied for a new job which i hope to get.

"Last sup"

Well's Bombardier " Burning Gold"

Appearance: Clear golden colour, small white head, and little lace.

Armoma: Citrus

Taste: Citrus,Sweet,slight bitter aftertaste.

5/5




Jennings Cumberland Ale, A firm favorite of mine.

full flavoured ale with a delicate hop character.

A carefully-balanced hop character combined with residual flavours from the malt, gives this beer its refreshing taste and unique characteristics.

Landscape in art......

Appley bridge,WN6 the area of Wigan that im from, mix of Urban and Rural....

Film...

Watched a british horror/slasher film in the afternoon yesterday, Creep which revolves around a girl who falls asleep on the underground and awakes to find herself locked in and encounters homeless people and the main protaganist int he film whos name we only know is "craig" from later on in the film and seems to be the result of human experimentation.

The film builds up the suspension and then when we find out who the main protaganist is it seems to go down hill....fast and to cover this the director seems to just up the gore-count and it really does get gory and quit sick in some-cases.

however some scenes in the film reminded me of the american werewolf in london the way its filmed etc and ofcourse the underground scenes in which the film is set...

Passed the time and was an alright british film.

trying to run away......

Reminds me of American Werewolf...

scene in Creep..

scene in American Werewolf..

Wigan 1 Liverpool 0

Well would you thought you would see that in the blog title? me too....

Monday night was the night that Wigan Athletic Football Club finally beat Liverpool FC....the first time in our history, and boy are we raveling in it.

Hugo Rodellga managed to sneak in a goal which saw the DW stadium erupt and then keep everything then can crossed and hope that we could wait it out and grab 3 points...and put Hugo down in the history books at the club.

What does this mean to Liverpool? Will there morale be down? Will Raffa be looking behind his back? Will he be worried about being in the managerial role at Liverpool? who knows.....

The game, Wigan should have had a penalty in the second half where a man went down in the box [genuinely] and the lines-man was waving his flag like a lunatic the ref just said play on...

Wigan also had more chances than Liverpool although Liverpool came very close and it was squeaky bum time for most of the match.

Wigan Athletic 1 Liverpool 0, Just say that to yourself.

The fans and the team have done the club proud.

We all live in a tub of margarine..

Hugo's goal sneaks past reinna.

Hugo celebrates his goal...

Sisha....Tropical Island....Bangkok

This post has eventually been penned....my trip east in Thailand.

an amazing place and country and it was genuinely the trip of a life-time for me i loved everyday over there and wish i could go back again but I know i more than likely wont be able to due to flight costs etc...
I loved the country and immersed myself into the culture, Learning basic Thai words and also sampling local foods etc, For instance I ate of street stalls and you could get a full meal for around 40 Thai baht which is less than a quid and tasted fantastic as well as no grease and they
used fresh ingredients...
Our first place where we stopped was Pattaya city, which is what i would class as Blackpool of Thailand...However there was a lot of street stalls etc.
the city is famous for its go-go bars which are strip clubs/brothels and the one thing that shocked me while out there is how open the prostitution is out there...
anyway after sun-bathing i normally went exploring going up side streets getting street food and going for a nice cold drink while watching the world go by.....
The city is famous for walking street which is like a strip of shops/bars/restaurants and the place really came to life at night like most of the city's of Thailand..however the thing that really got me was seeing 60 year old fat westerners with 17/18 year old girls it just shows what people will do for money.....
While in Pattaya we headed to the sanctuary of truth which really amazed me the building was made out of wood all hand made.....no nails, The pictures speak for themselves...



After Pattaya we headed to Jomtien which is just down the road and is a quieter part of the city and is where my nan and grandad live when they go out there, Very nice place however not as busy as Pattaya.
While we where here we went to the tiger farm which was a experience since I got to hold tiger cubs stroke tigers,elephants etc however during two out of the three shows we watched they didn't seem to care for animal rights and how they where treated and made me feel quite upset really.


here is yours truly feeding a little tiger cub and really made my day and i loved the experience....



also here are the cubs themselves...I wanted to try and get them through customs I loved them!



after Jomtien we drove to Bangkok and caught a flight to the beautiful tropical island of Koh Samoui....This place took my breath away.
I loved it and just wish we spent more time there and time spent traveling the island however due to my grandad breaking his ankle after coming off his scooter that was out of the question however at night i ended up exploring the town we where stopping in and walking down the beach etc...and ended up having one of the most bizarre nights of my life.
Ended up going into a bar and playing pool with a Thai bird and she asked if I wanted to buy her a drink...Ended up saying yeah if you win me at pool..she hammed me didn't she, I'm a man of my word and got her a drink then left.
Ended up in a sisha bar and I'm sure there was more in it since i was stoned afterwords anyway....Ended up playing pool on a round pool table and going into a toilet that looked like the tardis of Dr.Who..stoned? of course!
oh and a Thai lass came and sat next to me and saying " i go dancing alone" i politely say ok and make basic conversation then she puts her hand on my lap and go "no...I go dancing alone in Bangkok" yet again i polity said ok and then asked for the bill and left for the night...bizarre night of course!
And I went jet-skiing while there and bloody loved it ended up doing it twice...
Loved the island and one day i will go back.

our hotel swimming pool....was paradise....



the beach...pure paradise....







after the island vist we ended up going back to Bangkok and spent a few nights in the capital city i have more pictures of it on my other camera and will upload them at a later date, The pictures I do have are of lizards that just ran through Lumpini Park and was quite surprised by them really...
While in bangkok we took in the markets, Went to Chattachuck market and got the sky train there this was like a Bizzare and was a massive place, We also went to Koh sam road which is a famous back packers street...and also took in the Pattpong the night market and red light district of Bangkok and got offered to go to a ping pong show....Which reminded me of Phonix Nights......



yours truly having a pint in Bangkok......




It really was the trip of a life time and would love to go back one day.