Fac51 The Hacienda - Walton Hall and Gardens

Yesterday Kath and I went to our first ever rave Fac51 Hacienda at Walton Hall and Gardens. An outdoor concert celebrating the classics of the Factory records and the Hacienda 

I was slightly too young to have even been to the Hacienda but it had a huge impact on the Manchester music scene and collective memory.

We arrived with an open mind, Kath was working tomorrow so opted to drive there. Walton hall is a bit out of the way near Warrington so no easy train commute (maybe one day if the new Manchester Liverpool line is built, if ever! It turned out there were a lot of middle age people like us the event clearly going for the nostalgia factor rather than attracting the youth audience. 

It seemed like a lot of people must have been in the same boat considering that the bars sold out of alcohol free beer before 9pm. I bought tickets a while ago and opted for the VIP experience. This proved to be a great idea as it was much more chilled out than the main event and had posh toilets rather than porta-potties. We managed to grab a couple of the deck chairs dotted about pointed ourselves at the stage and enjoyed the atmosphere.

The VIP area also had a VIP section at the front which was really fun though some people were super hardcore. 

The line up

• Justin Robertson
• Peter Hook
• Jon Dasilva
• Erol Alkan B2B DJ Paulette
• Mike Pickering
• Danny Tenaglia
• Leftfield
• Orbital

My stand out moment was Danny Tenaglia playing Blue Monday which got a huge crowd reaction. Overall it was a really fun event and lucky with the weather it would have been awful in the rain!

It's a rush

What an incredible night at the O2 Academy Manchester seeing Japanese Breakfast! Michelle Zauner was absolutely on fire, dancing and bringing so much energy to the stage.

The highlight for me had to be "Paprika" in the encore, especially when she theatrically hit that gong during the chorus – pure magic!

To top it all off, I managed to snag a signed copy of her latest album, "For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women)," from the merch store. Their merch is always fantastic!

It was a perfect date night with my wife, Katarzyna, and a much-needed treat while the parents looked after our son. Still buzzing from the performance!

Edit this setlist | More Japanese Breakfast setlists

Father John Misty

Last night Kath and I headed to Manchester to see Father John Misty at the Apollo.

First stop was Bundobust for some dinner. We caught the last day of their info Chinese menu. The salt and pepper okra fries were amazing, as was the sesame gobi toast. Kath washed hers down with a sesame and ginger old fashioned. While I had a Python premium lager. Great way to get set up for a gig.

We walked to the Apollo, we had seats in the circle which gave a pretty impressive view. I normally stand but this was pretty nice got to see a bit more of the grandeur of the venue.

Opening was a county singer Butch Bastard I had never heard of him but it was an enjoyable opening.

Father John Misty's set was amazing, a dreamy mix of his old and new material. It is the third time we have seen him and he never disappoints.

Alive

A long time ago, before Thom and pre covid 19 I booked tickets to see Pearl Jam in Hyde park. After several re-scheduallings Kath and I finally got the change to go to the gig. Pearl Jam produced one of my favourite albums and I have always wanted to see them live.

Nina and Bruce stepped in to take care of Thom overnight, so Kath and I could have a free time at the gig. We took the train and checked into the Pullman Hotel in St Pancras in time for lunch. We ate in the restaurant which was super cool but with a price tag to match. Overall I couldn’t recommend it for the food, but not bad for a cocktail in style.

After lunch and a quick change we headed out to Hyde Park to British summer time event. We arrived in time to grab a beer and catch Jonny Marr. The event was sponsored by American Express and they had a special setup where we picked up a free water bottle and tote. The weather was amazing, really sunny and warm, so the water was a good touch.

Next up was Stereophonics, they were the first band I saw live way back in 1999. They were really good and I enjoyed it very much.

We had a posh had a posh hamburger and celebrated being child free and out on a night out for the first time in months with a bottle of Moët. Kath also queued up and bought me a tour t shirt, very cool. Next up it was time for the main event. The set was amazing all my favourites and great banter. It must have been hot on the Great Oak stage with the full sun beaming in, I bet that they were glad when the sun set. 

There were times during the set where I was back to being a teenager listening to ten again, or Vs. It felt really good.

The tube was super busy on the return, we were lucky to get on. When were arrived back at the hotel from the 11 floor we had the most amazing view over the city. 

We woke up early the next day so checked out and got the train back to Wilmslow. We took Bruce and Nina out for lunch to thank them for looking after Thom. He seemed in great spirits. I think he had enjoyed seeing Connie too. 

Hardwired

Kath and I got tickets to go and see Metallica at the Ethihad stadium in Manchester. I had been trying to see them a few years ago at the arena

The playlist was awesome a mixture of their latest album hardwired to self destruct along with some of their greatest hits. Finishing with an encore of Nothing else matters and enter sandman.

They even played a version of the Stone Roses I want to be adored which was awesome as we had seen the Stone Roses at this stadium a few years ago.

It was typical Manchester weather with the rain coming down but the band played on Lars hammering the drum knocking water into the air from the cymbals.

Our seats were the cheapest so we were right at the back of the stadium it felt at moments as if we were watching people watching a gig, but with he visual effect and the huge screens not to mention the excellent sound set up we mostly rocked out to the music.

Pure comedy

Pure comedy opened the evening for Father John Misty at the O2 Apollo on Sunday. I had gone with Kath after discovering Father John Misty thanks to Jo Whiley.  She was interviewing him one night after I had dropped Kath off in Chester before she had her car.

Father John really knows how to keep the crowd entertained with his music. I was impressed as a solo artist that he shared the stage with so many other musicians, there a was a string quartet, a couple of brass players as well as the usual keyboard and drums.

The setlist was impressive covering all his albums. There were some frightening visuals to accompany the songs from Pure Comedy. I really enjoyed the show. The crowd was full of die hard fans singing along, which was nice, not just an event to be there as some concerts have become.

Something about Father John reminds me of Radiohead. I'm not sure if its the electronic sounds or the choice of images, or a combination but I could hear something of the Hail to the Thief era sound in there.

In a way he also reminded my of my friend Paul back in his Australian days playing songs like mean to be mean. They have similar mannerisms and something androgynous in their nature.

Everlong

Wednesday Night Kath and I started our mini break to Edinburgh in Manchester as went to see the Foo Fighters at Old Trafford Cricket club.

I had a bit of back ache thanks to an over enthusiastic training session at the gym. The painkillers meant that I couldn't drink so we opted to drive to Didsbury and catch the metro to Trafford park from there.

Kath has never been to a stadium gig before, so I was excited taking her. I little dismayed that the weather was true to Manchester form, rain! Fortunately just before the start of the gig the rain lightened then petered out.

We arrived early at 7 but weren't in time to catch the support acts. The Foos started early with a promise they wold play as long as possible with no encore. The set list was amazing starting off with Everlong, and covering all there hits. They also did a set of covers including an amazing version of Queens under pressure with Taylor Hawkins doing a perfect Freddy Mercury.

Filing out of the concert with 40,000 people our ears were ringing but we had smiles on our faces. Joe B posted on Facebook he could hear the concert 5 miles away in Levenshulme.

Sun

After a lot of deliberation I finally decided to change my car. The Focus I bought as a cheap stop gap back in 2008 after my Saab bit the dust. At the time I had just bought my house, and then been put onto a four day week at work so my funds were extremely depleted.

Kath had been over on the weekend, so we went to view the car together. A 2008 model Nissan Qasqhai. It was really nice and we were both very  impressed. It had no marks, and all the options I bearly bought it on the spot but decided to have dinner and think about it.

Dinner was Mexican at Chiqutos, I had the jambalaya.  After dinner we headed into Manchester to catch Radiohead at the Manchester Arena. They were supported by Carribou, who provided an excellent warm up. Radiohead were awesome, highlights were Paranoid Android and Everything In Its Right Place it made me want to listen to all there old albums again. They did three encores finally finishing on a high with Idioteque. As usual for Radiohead the sounds was super clear, and the lighting effects were really impressive. They had a series of screens with their images projected on. Which moved around during the performance.

Set List

• Lotus Flower 
• Airbag
• Bloom 
• The Daily Mail
• Myxomatosis 
• The Gloaming 
• Separator
• These Are My Twisted Words
• Pyramid Song 
• Nude
• Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
• Reckoner
• There There
• The National Anthem 
• Feral 
• Paranoid Android
   
• You And Whose Army? 
• Full Stop
•  Morning Mr Magpie
• Planet Telex
• How To Disappear Completely
• Give Up The Ghost
• Everything In Its Right Place
• Idioteque

It was the second time I had been to a gig with Kath, thought this was seated in the Manchester Arena list time was the Manic Street Preachers at the Apollo. Normally I would have preferred to be in the crowd but Kath had a cold and had been travelling, so the day was long. It was nice to sit and enjoy the concert.

I decided to buy the car on Monday, had to wait until Tuesday to pick it up by which time Kath had already headed back to Poland.

Thursday started my first Polish lesson, the pace was pretty quick. We started with pronunciation and introduction. I am hoping to practise with Kath and become a bit more proficient before the wedding next year.

Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)

I am trying out the new blogger interface, its very slick, web 2.0 all the way! I am still way behind on the blogging. Kath was in the UK for the long weekend. The weather was typical Manchester rain so we didn't get out much. We did however visit a serious amount shopping. Kath needed a dress for Goofys upcoming wedding. I was a dutiful shopping asstant and after much searching we finally found a very pretty dress for her at M&S. Apart from that we watched a few films including Toy Story 3 which I liked, NEDS which was good if depressing and the killer inside me. The Killer inside me is pretty horrific, told in the first person we follow a killer who beats to death (in a very graphic way) his lover player by Jessica Alba. It actually quite depressed me, I can't quite believe that someone could happily beat their partner to death then the next morning go make a cup of coffee whistling away. So much that I actually started reading up on antisocial personality disorder, and yes some pyschopaths can behave exactly like that. Theirs brains are essentially wired differently, they feel no remorse, the concept is alien to them. Dr Robert Hare, professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia believes there might be a significant proportion of the population who are Psychopaths. So most of them are able to function in society unbound by the moral rules which chain us, quiet scary really but they I think I have met a few people like that in my career. From Psychopaths to nights out. I had a bit of a windfall yesterday, due to work commitments I landed a couple of free tickets to see Arcade Fire at the MEN. I only had one evening to find someone to go with so posted on Facebook, Danny was the first response so spare ticket went his way. I met him in Manchester, after taking the train in. I hit 1000 check-ins on foursquare buying a sandwich from the Coop. Danny met me near Victoria station, he was slightly out of sorts thanks to a bout of "man flu". Been a while since I had been out with him in a setting where we could actually talk and was good to be reminded what good company he can be. Full of his usual exploits including an alleged menage a trois following a stag party at Bredbury Hall. We were seated up in the gods on the second row to the back. This actually didn't turn out two bad given the band had everyone out of their seats. The Setlist was excellent, full of energy really getting the crowd going on Wake up, Mountains beyond mountains and Powerout. The band consisted of eight members playing varying different instruments singing dancing cavorting backed up with some amazing keyboard and guitars sounds. It was almost like being at some sort of post modern orchestra. They are certainly different than the usual indie band! It was a really good gig, I enjoyed it very much and still have Sprawl II and Wake up running round my head.

Shades of Grey

I spent the day trying to get some bit on my house done, I was feeling tired but went out to Salford to see Sandbox.

They were playing at the Kings Arms in Salford, and I think that is was their best show yet,
There set included
Million Marlbolo lights
Broken G-string
Mother knows best to end

I had a great time and I walked out with their new single.

Late Room

Yesterday I had a semi productive day, mowed the lawns cleaned my car did a few little bits of paperwork, then had a bbq yum.
In the evening I went into Manchester with a group of people to listen to paul. He was playing at the late room and quiet a few people came out to see him, most of Sandbox, Danny an Lynn, Berger and Holly even Nick and Becs made an appearence, remembered my camera for a change some photos here.
I enjoyed his set though my ears were ringing after listening to the first band (the loud and agressive alternative influence). They got told off by the engineer for throwing gear on the floor. Pauls sound wasnt the best I dont think the engineers were too hot, the place has the loudest system for such a small venue you can literally feel the music rather than here it. I am glad I went out it was good to see everyone, and dispite everything its always worth listening to Paul.
Nick Becs Danny went off for somethign to eat I was stuffed after the bbq so Phil and I went to bar thirty eight (we couldnt take the noise of late room anymore). I drank too much gin and started to go under a bit luckly Becs gave us a lift home after thier meal.