I first caught Rites of Hadda at the Easton Punk Festival, 2024.
During the set singer Wasperella jumped into the crowd to embrace members of the audience; in the process, I was lucky enough to be recipient of a juicy Continue reading
London
The Thing About People From Croydon
There’s a thing about people from Croydon
Not that I’m from there
No
I just happened to live nearby
For a fair while
Now this thing about people from Croydon Continue reading
Double Trouble: GLU & Split Dogs Drop Awesome Vids; New Albums Incoming!
The last few days have seen two bands from UK’s punk scene drop videos so scorching hot they more than make-up for the utterly dismal summer. Continue reading
Run On Mawr
Poetry possibly inspired by a number of childhood memories being cobbled together.
With thanks to Dina Nasyrova for use of the header image—licensing—which is not of Merthyr Mawr. Continue reading
The Bedbugs Bite Back
A BBC news article (link below) caught my eye the other day for being on the subject of bedbugs; one of the worst types of pests one could suffer an infestation of, second perhaps only to scabies (based on all those that we were trained to treat for).
An unusual article, in that when reporting on an outbreak of bedbugs in Paris, it was uncertain on certain details, questioning whether reports of them biting people on the Metro system were true or just internet scaremongering; an uncertainty that perhaps stems from the extremely out of date notion bedbugs aren’t really a problem anymore. Continue reading
Don’t Be the One
Thoughts on negative reactions to live music; inspired in particular by Billy Nomates / Tor playing Glastonbury 2023 and The Who in Toronto 2016: Continue reading
The Incarnation of God Who DID Visit Weston-super-Mare
While it’s safe to say Jesus Christ didn’t visit Weston-super-Mare, what about anyone else thought an incarnation of God by followers of a religion?
How about that incarnation of God also being someone once given weapons and ammunition by the Nazis with which to fight a war?
Or to up the ante more so, the person not only being black, but in the same year—2020—as the much covered throwing of Edward Colston’s statue into Bristol Harbour, one of this individual got smashed to bits in a London park with hardly a mention in the press?
Girls Like Us: Bitter ‘Til The Bitter End; a review
Girls Like Us (GLU) released Bitter ‘Til The Bitter End the same weekend I caught the band live at the Chelsea Inn, Bristol.
It was a blistering set, part of another top night there (In With the Inn Crowd), during which I was about to turn to a mate and say, ‘killer bass line’ only for him to beat me to it with the exact same words.
The debut album certainly lives up to its name with lyrics plenty raw enough to suggest lived experience fuelling its theme of two-timing, dickhead boyfriends/blokes more often than not from entitled backgrounds. Continue reading
Will the Real Chas ‘n’ Dave Please Stand Up
I found out something the other day about one of my favourite songs that blew my mind: cheeky cockney duo Chas ‘n’ Dave were part of the backing band for Labi Siffre’s ‘I Got The…’. Continue reading
Dark Face at the Door
Watching TV with my mum over Christmas there was a programme on featuring some of the oldest buildings known in Scotland. Discussing them was Scottish comedian and historical tour guide Bruce Fummey, who is black; relevant, as when discussing old New Year traditions, he said he’d have been a very welcome visitor due to being so thanks to the tradition that the first person over the threshold once the New Year commenced should be of dark hue.
My grandfather—mum’s dad—was also from Scotland; my mum said she remembered this tradition from her childhood, which was in London (she being born there), predominately growing up in Dudley House, Paddington, the family having been lucky enough to be offered one of the council flats built in 1938. Continue reading
N. P. Ryan 