Ready Steady Cook – 15th November

It’s that time of year again when we take a trip to see Ready Steady Cook being recorded at Capital Studios in Wandsworth. At this time of year they record their Xmas specials. Hoping for some z-list celebrity of the calibre of Toby Antis or Bobby Davro, we unfortunately got 2 young Scout Leaders. Not exactly the panto dame calibre we were hoping for. Still we got to see Gino D’Acampo preening himself for the girls… urghh.

Sufjan Stevens at the Barbican Hall, 3rd November 2006

I must be getting old, sitting down for nearly an entire gig, it’s either my legs, or it’s the band and surroundings. We went to see Sufjan Stevens perform at the Barbican this week. A very twee sit down affair, very little standing was done, some ran down to the front as Sufjan threw out blow up supermen or santas to the crowds. The only dancing that was done was during Chicago.

Sufjan and his troop of musicians arrived on stage dressed as butterflies, resplendent with their fairy wings, how much more twee can you get?


In fact how much more special can you get? I’m a sucker for the little gimmicks, throwing the blow up supermen out to the crowd during Man of Steel. Throwing out Santas for the Christmas songs. The mad little stories inbetween each setting up the premise to the next song. Sufjan makes an engaging host for the evening.


And it helps that the music was so fantastic. Mostly playing hits from Come on feel the Illnoise, the highlight for me was the The Predatory Wasp. The only downside came when we had to leave before the end to catch the train back.

Can you find Rudy?

Well it's nearly Christmas folks. Have you started the shopping yet? I started to think about it, does that count.

Anyways, how do you guys fancy winning some toys?

All you've got to do is find Rudy?