unpopular

belle and sebastian - 10, originally uploaded by unpop.

 

Pandora's Golden Heebie Jeebies

We had a rather fine Exeter Goes Pop! last night with many fine tunes being spun, and a fair few people hanging around appreciatively. Quite how many actually came out for us on purpose is open to debate of course, but what the heck. The guy selling t-shirts for Jello Biafra (who was doing a spoken word show in the main auditorium) certainly seemed to enjoy it, and asked about at least a couple of tracks (Garland’s take on Wham!’s ‘Freedom’ and Gravenhurst’s ‘See My Friends’). We also made the acquaintance of the People On Sunday folks (who seemed impressed at my Sarlota Zalatanay selection. And indeed why would they not be?) and I am tempted to head out to catch their next event at the Angel this Sunday. It is sure to be an eclectic and obscure confection.

Anyway, Martijn played a fine collection of tunes, with a lot of sweet sixties girl groop Pop which made me smile. My own set lists are below. See what you missed?

Emily On Sunday - Clapham Junction
Sagittarius - Octopus
Rainbow Man – The Fool
Light Flight - Pentangle
Papercuts - Broadcast
Hair - The Finishing School
The Freak (Gsodabogák) - Sarolta Zalatnay
Give Yourself A Chance - Agnes Strange
Let's Get Together - H.P. Lovecraft
A Walk In The Sky - The Flower Pot Men

Favourite Days - The Action
Bill Drummond Said - Julian Cope
See Emily Play - Pink Floyd
Baby It's Real - Curt Boettcher
The Ways I Love You - The Millennium
I've Got Something On My Mind - Left Banke
Pandora's Golden Heebie Jeebies - The Association
I See You - The Byrds
She Comes In Colors - Love
She's a Rainbow - World Of Twist
Broaden a New Sound - Nobody & Mystic Chords of Memory
Confusion Is Nothing New - Beachwood Sparks

Look What's She Done To Your Mind – The Rain Parade
Tracy Had A Hard Day Sunday - West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band
Music Is Love - David Crosby
Wicked Anabella - The Kinks
See My Friends - Gravenhurst

losing the plot

belle and sebastian promo photo, originally uploaded by unpop.

On returning home and actually looking at that Belle & Sebastian promo photo, I admit I am rather confused as to why my photo of the girls drawing reminded me of it… I argue to myself that it must be to do with the tonal composition or something, but really I think I am just losing the plot. Anyway, at least it made me scan in the old press photo and post it. I’m going to add the other ones and assorted B&S ephemera I have filed away over the following days/weeks/months…

your bloody valentine

I bet they don't look like that anymore..

it's cold

it's cold, originally uploaded by unpop.

Today's drawing was made whilst listening to Smoosh.

Waiting at the Tate

waiting at the Tate, originally uploaded by unpop.

We went down to St Ives with the Year 10 and 11 students yesterday. As always, it was a really enjoyable day, despite getting soaked on the walk up the hill to the coach park at the end of the day! I managed to get a lot of drawing done myself, making rough sketches for about a month’s worth of daily drawings, in between talking to the students about their work and discussing the exhibits. Or maybe it was the other way round… Whatever, it was a great day. We got a photo permit for the gallery too, so for the first time in ages I was able to keep a record of the day. My favourite shot, though, was taken outside. On my Flickr page I called it my attempt at a Tony Ray-Jones shot. He’s one of my favourite photographers, and I love the way he captured the people around him. I’m not a great people photographer as a rule, though I sometimes wonder if that’s just because I don’t have many opportunities. Not that I think I could ever be great, but you know, maybe just okay would be cool.

Anyway, I do really love that photo of the students waiting outside the Tate. I cropped the original very slightly, but there is still, I think, a lovely (albeit largely accidental) composition and many intriguing little relationships and interactions going on between the characters.

Also, there’s a shot on my Flickr page of two girls drawing, and for some reason it really reminds me of that old Belle & Sebastian promo shot of Stuart David (was it Stuart?) leaning over that sculpture of the prone nun. Do you know that photo? I have a folder full of those old promo photos in the Geek Lair somewhere. It is quite terrifying to realise how old they are now. And erk, having just mentioned them, I suddenly feel the need to listen to them. Nothing like a bit of nostalgia, is there?

see emily play

see emily play, originally uploaded by unpop.

Today's drawing was made whilst listening to The Pink Floyd.

Pandora's Golden Heebie Jeebies

I’ve just been digging out CDs for Thursday’s episode of Exeter Goes (a bit Psych) Pop! As usual, far too many possible discs to fit in the box, and way, way too many to fill the few hours I’ll have behind the ‘decks’. Still, rather too many options than too few, I guess. In the past I’ve always had a pretty clear idea of set lists, but this time I’ll be winging it very much, relying on my memory of the records in question. And the way my memory is these days, well, let’s just say it could be interesting. Certainly should make it worth coming along to the Exeter Phoenix for a giggle at the very least. And you never know, you might actually like some of the tunes…

And looking ahead, I worked on the poster for the December instalment at the weekend. My first effort used a photo of my Little Enid doll, but I wasn’t too happy with it. So I did the obvious Pop Art thing and ripped off a comic book cover… And actually I’m rather delighted with the results. I’ll post it soon after Thursday’s event is over.

axis mundi

axis mundi, originally uploaded by unpop.

Today's drawing was made whilst listening to Magik Markers.

Lee Remick

Lee Remick, originally uploaded by unpop.

Today's drawing was made whilst listening to The Go-Betweens.