catfunt: the site they should have silenced

Hipbone Slim

Went out to Leytonstone to see what had been billed as a punk-surf-rockabilly band but that was mostly by me, and secondly mostly wrong. Slim Hipbone (or is it Hipbone Slim) and the Kneetremblers are much more Rock 'n' Roll, 50s Americana (Drums, standup Bass, Guitar) with a very lively set incluing the vocalist ("Baldie") making regular forays across the pub's tables. It's a good night, entrance is free (they have a slightly disorganised collection that it would be easy to avoid if you were a very mean person) and you can find more details at http://www.whatscookin.co.uk/.

The supporting band were called the Silver Saddles who played country numbers and hail from Sweden. Yol said "They're not very good". I said "You try writing and singing country music in your second language." She's working on a set that combines the Neapolitan tradition (Gigli, Caruso) with Nashville. Watch this space, as they say.

The Allotment

You see there's a really interesting looking picture and a really dull title 'The Allotment'. Sadly I think my days of post-modern discourse are all behind me and I'd rather spend the day at the allotment.
While we were getting ready to go out to some art thing last night my sister who's staying with us came across a gardening progarmme on Discovery called 'The Allotment'. It was only the idea that my sister might have thought even less of us that meant we still went out to see art (in this case a looped piece on 35mm neg with a big scratch along it projected via a video camera and a digital projector).

There are only cliches available to describe alloment gardening: the people are really friendly and helpful (actually they're also quite bitchy which is a real saving grace of the thing); stuff you've grown yourself tastes so-much better (with the exception of the tomatoes last year which were a real disappointment everything else was much nicer). If nothing else it means me and Yol can get some fresh air while we bicker away and try and take charge of the relationship. So far this year we have planted carrots, parsnips, leeks, onion and shallot sets, broad beans, garlic, artichokes. I'll put some more pictures up soon.

Happy St Patrick's Day

My brother texts our sister to wish her a Happy St Pat's Day but doesn't text me. I know because I'm standing next to my sister when she receives the text. What's that all about then? I'll call him and Pop later on. (Update: Because I know you're interested. I've spoken to brother and all is cool. I'm off to the studio to bastardise magazines and listen to Marty Robbins.)

Anyway it's a bright sunny day so we walk up Mare Street passing the Dolphin ("Private Party, Regulars only") where there's a load country music blaring out; The Ship ("Guiness £2.20"); Maddigans ("Guiness £2") and various other places with similar enticing offers but the best is the pub under the bridge by Marks and Spencers where between 2.30pm and 6.30pm you can get a £2 pint of Guiness with "complimentary Cabbage and Bacon". Hmmmmmmm. The fancy place opposite is doing an all inclusive Guiness, Irish stew and Irish coffee for £8 but that doesn't really do it for me.

This isn't one of my pictures, it's from the wonderful Houston Chapter of the GPA (Greyhound Pets of America) annual St Pat's Day Parade.

I thank the Lord I'm Welsh...

This is a picture of Yol's dad outside Cardiff prison having a decidedly Pinkie moment. It's not a new picture although it does remind me of the place that used to be in the Trocadero shopping centre where you could dress up as Victorian shop-keepers or Confederate soldiers and be photographed old-world style. Maybe there's a business in this or an art project or something. Anyway, Doctor Who looks like it'll be really good, Wales win at rugby and Robbie Savage announces his retirement from international football. A good week for Wales all round.

What do teenagers want? Death.

My latest "art project" involves interferring with magazines. Usually of the kind and quality that you find in doctor's waiting rooms. This one's an Obeserver special on Teenagers. Like anyone cares?

The Chinese Norman Wisdom: The Yellow Eminem

In The Guardian last week they had a piece about Jin Auyeung who's a rapper in the States. The piece was largely about his experiences as a Chinese American rapper. His angle was it would be great when (and if) the day comes when the fact that he's yellow is secondary to his music (I guess in those terms 'That guy really sucks' would be better than 'That chinky guy really sucks'). It's all very Guardian and cuddly but they kinda spoiled it by putting the headline 'Straight outta Chinatown' and using a photo where Jin looks like a Chinese Norman Wisdom. I didn't let this put me off ordering the album (via eBay in the US) - it should arrive as soon as stoner Jim in Cali gets round to posting it.

Mum and a pram

This is my favourite picture so far from the Zappaterra archives. It show Yol's mum with a pram outside the Hancock's Brewery on Crawshay Street in Cardiff. The plant was taken over by Bass in the late-1960s but this picture wouldn't have been any later than 1959 we think. Hancock's branded beers are still being brewed by Coors.

Zappaterra family

Yol's been scanning her mum's old photo albums. This one's probably taken in Northern Italy at the start of the sixties (Dad is from Berra near Ferrara; Mum's from Penta near Salerno. So he's northern Italy and Mum's from the south) . Yol's dad looks like he's auditioning for 'Brighton Rock' but isn't actually this scary in real life. Now he looks like a second lieutenant in 'The Godfather' (we'll load up the wedding photos shortly).