Proper Magazine.

Here at Red bricks & coal we are keen readers of  the fanzine/magazine Proper magazine since issue one, They have come along way since then in terms of quality of the printing to becoming more known in the football/fashion/fanzine sort of scene as it where.

The writers are a collective from Manchester/Stockport who compiled a magazine that they themselves would like to purchase with there own hard earned and in doing so have crafted one of the best read publications you can buy out there.

We think its fantastic how in a age of digital media ( You just have to look at the amount of apps/smart phones there are and how newspapers have there own apps to purchase/subscribe to) that the magazine has gone from strength to strength that Issue 12 is on the horizon in the near future.

There articles have been as diverse from a summer camp in america to how Native craftworks are crafted and created into the quality shoe that they are known for, They also do some ace prizes on there website, For instance they are running one where you can create and have your own jacket made for you at one of the last remaining factories in Manchester.

You can purchase your copy over on :http://www.propermag.com/

Last thing Purchased.

Here is a Frostline 60/40 gortex parka in 'Burnt Orange'. From all the way in the United States where it was made lovingly by some man/women who had a interest in mountaineering.
Frostline was a brand which sold kits to craft you own jacket and add what/take away what you want and create your own jacket.

They did not just stop at jackets - You could make your own sleeping bag/bags to take up in the mountains, Just needed a sewing machine and a little bit of creativity.

The company stopped trading in mid - 2010 however the brand can be found on
 sites such as eBay, This one I purchased from a bloke in Cheshire.

Frostline is the brand which inspired Engineered Garments/Woolwich on there 60/40 jackets which continue to be a presence in there collection to this present day.

Images.

Arctic Monkeys - Concert review

Last night I took in the Arctic Monkeys at the Manchester Evening News Arena, With support from The Vaccines who are making waves with there music on the radio with songs like ' If you wanna' & 'Norgaard' gaining air play on Radio 1. They played a good set warming the crowd up and came across as a band that play really well live and could be destined for better things.


After a 30 minute interval, The Arctic Monkeys came on to ' You Sexy Thing' by Hot Chocolate, One thing I noted was that Alex Turner sported a Elvis like quiff and quickly got stuck into there set - Starting off with 'Dont Sit Down Cause I Moved Your Chair', ' Teddy Picker' & ' Crying Lighting' which came at you in a sound wave of rocking guitar riffs & fast paced yet interact drum beats.


The Monkeys took to the gig with ease as they blasted there way through the set list and got big cheers when they played tracks from there debut album - 'View From The Afternoon' & ' When The Sun Goes Down'.


It also must be noted that during the gig, Alex Turner took time to try and see which side of the 15,000 M.E.N crowd was loudest with boos & cheers and football inspired chants where sung.




The Sheffield indie group took up normal service and blasted out the tracks ' I Bet You Look Good 
on The Dance Floor' & ' Do Me A Favor'


They then set up for a 3 song encore. 




The set list for the night:  with a 18 song set list and 3 Encore songs...The crowd got value for money!

1. Intro
   ("You Sexy Thing" by Hot Chocolate)
1. Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair 
2. Teddy Picker 
3. Crying Lightning 
4. The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala 
5. Black Treacle 
6. Brianstorm 
7. The View From The Afternoon 
8. I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor 
9. Evil Twin 
10. Brick by Brick 
11. Pretty Visitors 
12. This House Is A Circus 
13. Still Take You Home 
14. Dance Little Liar 
15. She's Thunderstorms 
16. Fluorescent Adolescent 
17. Do Me A Favour 
18. When The Sun Goes Down 
19. Encore:
19. Suck It and See 
20. Mardy Bum 
    (Alternative live version)
21. 505 

In this town where I was born and raised.

Pictures of old Wigan & the surrounding areas of the town.

My area of town - Appley Bridge  in the early 1800's

And another from my area - In the Lino Works

Springfield Park - The old home of my football club Wigan Athletic

Maypole Pit - Abram, Wigan

Mesnes Park - Wigan

Globe inn pub - Standish, Wigan

Bird'th Hand - Hindley, Wigan

Soup Kitchen - For the miners on strike in 1893.

Wrightington Ponds - Wrightington














Wigan mill girls

Last thing swapped.

Traded my Guy Cotton derby jacket for a Barbour quilted International jacket...Toasty for the winter.

Got some very nice details - 4 pockets, 1 is slanted, Quited...YKK bottom zip with the traditional Barbour branded circular zip, Throat buckle.

Happy days.

The nights are getting colder.

Wake up in the morning its dark, Go home from work and its dark, Its also getting colder which means its time to think about what to wear on your head to the match/down to the local pub..

The Casual Connoisseurs have released what they are bringing out for winter head wear...And its a great selection, A new design the ' Mcmurphy' hat and the ever present and popular ' Weir' hat in its 4th year. In new colours. Strictly limited to 50 of each colour, These will fly out.