Excuse me while I post AWESOME.

Also, added videos to all the gig review blogs.

Just got back from seeing them, and they were ace, but before I talk about the gig, I'll tell you a tale of hijinks, adventure and someone getting really, really hammered.

So, for this to work at all you'll have to know some names. There's me, David, the dashingly handsome stallion of a man, there's Alex, who's really tall, there's Johnny, who's really tall, there's Callum, who's really tall and has a blue beard, there's Joe, who ISN'T really tall, and there's Bettsy who REALLY isn't really tall, has a massive head, and looks about 12.

Anyway, we'd arranged to meet at the Metro station at 6. Me and Alex were going up sober, while Johnny, Callum, Joe and Bettsy were drinking at Johnny's beforehand. I arrive at the station, and Alex is there, and a few minutes later Johnny and Callum turn up, drunk, but still sober enough to operate ticket machines and hold a decent conversation. A few minutes later, stumbling around the corner, comes Bettsy. He's hanging on Joe's shoulder, clearly struggling to walk. Keep in mind, he's about 5 foot tall, and looks 12. Before they can get to the station, they're stopped by community wardens, who are basically police without the powers. We wait a bit, watching from a distance, staying uninvolved, until it's clear Bettsy isn't going anywhere. Me, Alex, Johnny and Callum leave, Joe is stuck with Bettsy.

A few stops down the line we get a text from Joe telling us to get off the train and wait for him and Bettsy, so we do, and wander about trying to find an alley to piss in while they catch up. About 10 minutes, and 0 alleys later, we get another text, saying to get back on the train, and that Bettsy has thrown up 3 times, all over himself and Joe, has smashed his face on the floor, and is off to hospital. Eventually we end up at the gig, and wait outside for Joe to turn up who reiterates what he's already said in the text.

We later find out Bettsy got home fine after all of this, but that's besides the point.

Anyway, the gig. If you've never heard Gogol Bordello, they're quite a unique band, billing themselves as "Ukrainian Gypsy Punk", but it doesn't matter what you call them, because they're fucking insane. They played a solid hour and a quarter, without ANY breaks between songs, just one into the next, went off, and then did the same for a forty minute encore. I was absolutely exhausted by the end, which is a shame since they ended on my favourite song by them, Undestructible, and I was too tired to enjoy it properly.

They were good, but they're hardly the best band I've seen. Probably would have enjoyed it more if I knew more of their songs, but most of what they played was new to me. American Wedding was brilliant, though (SUPER TARANTA-ANTA-ANTA, SUPER TARANTA-TA!), and so was Start Wearing Purple. Don't go out of your way to go and see them, but if you ever have the chance, take it.

In what I hope to make a yearly event, I've been to see Stiff Little Fingers again. Saw them for the first time last year, and found out this year that they actually tour at the same time every year, building it around their St. Patrick's Day gig in Glasgow. Anyway, I was only just getting into them when I first saw them, and they were amazing, and got me hooked. Naturally, I was dead excited about getting to see them again.

So, I arranged to meet my mate at the Metro station at 6:10, so by the time it had gotten to 6:30, I was getting a bit concerned. I get my phone out to text him, but before I get the chance, I get one from him.

-"Where are you?"

I look around, to see if I've just not noticed him, or if he's just pulling up in a car or something. I don't see him, so I reply.

"Chi"

-"Yeah, I said Shields"

Yep, I'd gone to the wrong station. A few frantically typed text messages later, and we're sorted, and I'm just going to hop on the train he's on as it comes through the station.

Anyway, we get up there without any more incident, and get into the venue at about 7:15. We go straight through and stand at the side, waiting for the support band. So we're standing there, just talking about the last time we saw them and the like, and this drunk bloke comes up to me.

-"Hey lads, is your T-Shirt an album?"

"Eh?"

-"Is your T-Shirt an album?"

"Err, nah mate, I think it's something they just made up for the tour"

At this point he spots my mate's shirt, which is loads of beer labels edited to say "Stiff Little Fingers" instead of the brand name.

-"Ahhw man, Newcastle Brown Ale, I've got that tattooed on my shoulder!"

We sort of nod along, and he talks about how he's been seeing Stiff Little Fingers every year for the past however many years, and how it's nice to see young people listening to them.

-"I'm Tom, by the way."

So I shake his hand, and go "David".

-"Brian?"

"David."

-"Brian?"

"David."

-"Brian?"

"Alright."

After this he starts complaining about the smoking ban, and then wanders off, leaving his mate who's just come back from the bar standing with two pints, looking very confused.

Anyway, the gig. Support were alright, nothing to shout about. SLF were as brilliant as I was expecting, not much to say, really, it's not like The Tossers where I was expecting mediocrity and was met with brilliance, I was expecting a quality gig, and got exactly that.

Played all their big hits, apart from Gotta Gettaway, but I've heard Jake Burns doesn't feel that's relevant anymore, and it's not been in the set list for a while, so that's alright. Speaking of Burns, he's brilliant at playing to the crowd. He's got all these little stories behind his songs which he tells before playing them, and they're all great.

So yeah, quality gig. If you get the chance, definitely go and see them. They're brilliant.

T-shirt buying time is go.

I want a new Dropkick Murphys shirt, because mine is completely washed out, and isn't even that good in the first place.

I've narrowed it down to two.

Either one with an eagle on the front with "United we stand, divided we fall" written on it, and "This man so humble/this man so brave/a legend to many/he fought to his grave/saved family and friends/from the hardship and horror/in a land of depression/he gave hope for tomorrow" on the back.

OR

One with a skeleton in a kilt playing bagpipes on the front, with "It's so lonely/round the/Fields of Athenry" on the back.

Basically, this or this?

Just got back from seeing them live, in a tiny venue with about 100 other people, and it was fucking brilliant. One of, if not the best gig I've ever been to.

The support band was a bit shit, which was disappointing since BibleCodeSundays were supposed to be playing, and if that was them, they've changed their style for the worse. Don't think it was them, mind, totally different style of music. Didn't catch the name, either way.

Anyway, I'm not even that into The Tossers, I've only got one album and a few odd tracks, and I was only going because it was £5 and they're a decent band, but they were so fucking good live. Most bands live have a slightly worse sound, balanced out by the atmosphere of being at a gig, but with them, you couldn't have told the difference between their recorded stuff and what they played. They were that good.

And the lead singer is incredible. One of the band members had to go off stage, don't know if it was a problem with an instrument or what, but whatever the case they all leave except him. So, he's left on by himself, looks around for a few seconds, steps up to the mic, and belts out a absolutely brilliant version of The Auld Triangle, by himself, without any backing music.

I thought that would be the highlight of the night, but as the band comes back on and starts getting set up again, the guitarist starts strumming this chord, the first chord of one of my all time favourite songs, and I'm like, "Nah, they can't be, it's one of their own that sounds similar", but no, he steps up to the mic, and sings "I MET MY LOVE, BY THE GAS WORKS WALL. DREAMED A DREAM, BY THE OLD CANAL. I KISSED MY GIRL, BY THE FACTORY WALL. DIRTY OLD TOWN, DIRTY OLD TOWN". The whole crowd went mental, and their version easily matched The Pogues original.

At this point I'm sure they can't get any better, but no, he shouts "THAT WAS FOR SHANE, THIS ONE'S FOR SPIDER" and they burst into Turkish Song Of The Damned. It wasn't as good as Dirty Old Town, but it was still amazing.

Not finished yet, they do a version of Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya, that lacked the awesome of the Dropkick Murphys version, but was still better than the vast majority I've heard. They went on to do a few more of their own songs, and then the entire band leaves again, except him and the violinist, who do a brilliant version of The Parting Glass to put and end to a brilliant gig.

Other highlights included their version of Muirsheen Durkin, a version of The Limerick Rake, Dicey Riley, Never Enough and Good Mornin' Da.

Holy fuck I'm awesome.

Best film I've seen in ages. Basically, this bloke has lost 100,000 of whatever wacky currency they used in Germany before the Euro, and has to pay it to someone by 12 o'clock or he'll be killed. He phones his girlfriend with only 20 minutes left, and she promises to fix it. The clever bit is that you see the same basic film 3 times, with small differences, such as Lola tripping down the stairs, or bumping into a woman, which all greatly alter the final outcome (lolchaostheory).

Go watch it.

I never looked at the lyrics for this before, but they're brilliant. Even better, the site I found it on has it listed as a traditional song.

Youtube.

Now let me tell you a story
of a big ole' skinhead
On a tragic and fateful day
He put 10 cents in his pocket
kicked his wife and family
And went to ride on the M.B.T.A.

Did he ever return,
no he never returned
and his fate is still unknown
he may ride forever
neath the Streets of Boston
he's a skinhead who never returned.

Skinhead goes down to the Kendall Sq. Station
and he changes For Jamaica Plain,
the conductor says skinhead I need a nickel,
skinhead punches him in the brain.

Did he ever return,
no he never returned
and his fate is still unknown
he may ride forever
neath the Streets of Boston
he's a skinhead who never returned.

Now all night long
skinhead drives through the station
Wondering who can I go and see
Can't afford to buy crack in Chelsea
or a bundle in Roxbury.

Did he ever return,
no he never returned
and his fate is still unknown
he may ride forever
neath the Streets of Boston
he's a skinhead who never returned.

Skinhead's wife goes to the Scollay Square Station
Everyday at quarter past two,
and through the open window
She hands skinhead a grenade
as the train comes a rumbling through.

Did he ever return,
no he never returned
and his fate is still unknown
he may ride forever
neath the Streets of Boston
he's a skinhead who never returned.

Now you citizens of Boston
don't you think it's a scandal
How the skinhead stole the train
What's the big fuckin' deal,
he'll work for beer
Let skinhead drive that fuckin' train.

Did he ever return,
no he never returned
and his fate is still unknown
he may ride forever
neath the Streets of Boston
he's a skinhead who never returned.

Did he ever return,
no he never returned
and his fate is still unknown
he may ride forever
neath the Streets of Boston
he's a skinhead who never returned.

He's the skinhead who never returned.
He's the skinhead who never returned.
I said the skin never returns.

Did he ever return,
no he never returned
and his fate is still unknown
he may ride forever
neath the Streets of Boston
he's a skinhead who never returned.

Did he ever return,
no he never returned
and his fate is still unknown
he may ride forever
neath the Streets of Boston
he's a skinhead who never returned.

He's the skinhead who never returned.
He's the skinhead who never returned.