The Buchaille

The Buchaille, originally uploaded by gms.

He's trying to kill me

Oh, God

My family is coming to visit this week. My whiny brother and his equally petulant wife. Eeek.

'Shag anoofer bottle of Chardonnay?

Dior Haute Couture

Ahhh, the return of the supermodel. Nice.

Christian Dior's July 2 couture show is shaping up to be a blockbuster. First came the news that the models have been asked to arrive at the venue—a little place called Versailles—eight hours before showtime. Now we hear that none other than Naomi, Christy, Linda, and Kate will be walking the runway. (The last time John Galliano came close to having that much supermodel superpower on his catwalk was Dior's Fall 2005 couture show—and that season, Christy and Kate were otherwise occupied.) What's more, the fantastic foursome is said to be hosting the house's 60th anniversary after-party. Marie Antoinette, eat your heart out—

via Fashionologie

Nice!

First Kasabian, now The View. Does this mean that Christopher Bailey and I have the same taste in rock boys?

Most fashion houses' bi-annual campaigns are about showcasing collections. Burberry's campaigns have become the place to find exciting new talent.

Next season's advertising images are no exception, featuring the brightest British stars from the modelling and music worlds. Burberry discovered the model of the moment, Manchester-born Agyness Deyn, two seasons ago and she takes centre stage once more alongside fellow Brit-models Lily Donaldson, Kiera Gormley and Georgia Frost.

Christopher Bailey, the brand's creative director, has picked members of some of the country's hottest new bands to star alongside the girls, including The Paddingtons who are about to tour with Pete Doherty's band Babyshambles. The View, Larrikin Love and the 23-year-old singer /songwriter Patrick Wolf have also joined the Burberry team this season.

Random ten

1. Always On My Mind- Pet Shop Boys
2. For Once In My Life- Stevie Wonder
3. Miss Lucifer-Primal Scream
4. Elizabeth, My Dear- The Stone Roses
5. Push the Button- Sugababes
6. Wild Night- Van Morrison
7. A Certain Romance- Arctic Monkeys
8. Me and Mr. Jones- Amy Winehouse
9. What Katie Did- The Libertines
10. Face For the Radio- The View

Bonus-

11. Queen Bitch- David Bowie
12. Ready To Run- Dixie Chicks

No bitterness here

No sir, none at all...

A new documentary about The Smiths, as told by the band's former rhythm section; Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke, is to be released on DVD next month.

"InsideThe Smiths" tells the history of the band, and describes what it was like working with Morrissey and Johnny Marr. Mike Joyce says the reason he and Rourke have spoken for the first time on camera was that: “We wanted people to know what it was really like. It is more truthful than anything we have revealed in interviews before because we were relaxed with how it was done and who was doing it.”

Made of awesome

As much as I love Beckham- fwaaah, David, and as much as I adore the Fratellis-fwaaah Jon, Baz and Mince, this is too cool:

The Fratellis have turned down a chance to record the official song for David Beckham's first game as an LA Galaxy player.The Scots, who were asked to re-record The Beatles' 'Hello Goodbye' for the July football match, reportedly said, "No fucking way," according to Dotmusic."

We've turned down a huge list of ridiculous things like that," said frontman Jon Fratelli. "We're not a bunch of travelling salesmen. If we don't get successful on our own terms then we won't do it at all."He added: "We were like, 'No fucking way.' It would have got us noticed, of course, but we'd have lost our self-respect."

Snowdonia

Snowdonia, originally uploaded by Iconoclast!.

Men's Needs- The Cribs

Great song, cracked-out video

You don't say?

The headline? 'Blair attacks 'feral' media.

This is the picture that accompanied the story.

Wallace, Gromit- BACK AWAY FROM THE POODLE!

I can see it

Peter quite frequently looks like he's slid down a chimney, so I guess he's a natural for 'Chim-Chiminey'

Pete Doherty is set to perform 'Chim Chiminey' from the musical 'Mary Poppins'. The one-off will be part of a tribute to the Disney Songbook, which will take place at London's South Bank Centre in June. Along with Doherty, the event will see Disney covers from the likes of The Pogues singer Shane MacGowan, Nick Cave, Bryan Ferry, Baaba Maal, Ralph Steadman, Beth Orton and Jarvis Cocker.

Nicely done!

Way to go, Winehouse! And Keith did my favorite Keef song, 'Slipping Away.' Wonderful, just wonderful.

For the first time in 31 years, The Stones are back at a UK festival. And boy, do they pull out all the stops. Kicking off with fireworks (take that Muse!) it's a big stage show, the works, and in their 15-song set they wow us with the big hits (opener 'Start Me Up', 'Satisfaction', 'Brown Sugar'), a few more obscure (if they can ever be obscure, It's THE STONES) back catalogue numbers ('You Get Me Rocking', 'Rough Justice') - and a couple of special guests.

As we revealed on our blog earlier, the young 'uns got involved. Paolo Nutini came on to duet nobly on a cover of Robert Johnson's 'Love In Vain', while Amy Winehouse got her on her knees to play her part in a simmeringly sexy cover of The Temptations' 'Ain't Too Proud To Beg'.

As is custom at their live dates now, they went out to a tiny stage in the crowd and belted out a few classics, including disco classic 'Miss You' and a euphoric 'Honky Tonk Women'.

The NME is trying to kill me

part of an ongoing series-

They march onstage like they own the field and Muse should be sodding grateful to them for letting them go on last. They've got all the "are you having a good time PLACE NAME?" stadium patter down pat. They have a massive gong. They are Kasabian and a passing punter might think they're the headliners. Tom Meighan has certainly perfected the Liam swagger and the tunes are simply massive from an opening 'Shoot The Runner' through the Serge-sung classic 'Me Plus One' and the horn blasted Big Ballad 'The Doberman', right up to a storming 'LSF' that has the crowd chanting the 'la-la-la' bits right up until Muse. They bang a gong and, fittingly, they get it on.

Best Song: 'Me Plus One'
Best Moment: Tom: "this one's called 'Processed...'! (Checks setlist) Um, '...Beats'!

Update- OH, HELL YES! YouTube is the best!

Skag Trendy

From Radio1's Big Weekend 2006. They are just too cute. And fantastic little musicians!

Waaaheeeyyyy! What's all this?

The Winehouse might be making an appearance at The Stones set tomorrow at the Isle of Wight Festival. ONSTAGE.

From the NME news section-

She added that despite strong rumours she will perform with The Rolling Stones when they headline the festival tomorrow (June 10), nothing has been confirmed yet."Oh, I don't think it's true, but I hope," she explained. "That kind of thing would be amazing. I am looking forward to seeing them tomorrow. It's going to be the nuts!"

From the NME festival blog-

Yes, not only has Amy Winehouse turned up, but it seems she might be sticking around for an encore. A source told us that her people are desperately trying to find Amy a hotel room on the island for tonight. So where could she possibly fit on tomorrow's packed bill? Over to you Mr Jagger...

From The Sun-

In an interview with Virgin Radio Amy revealed she'd be playing a famous Stones song at the festival - but didn't perform a cover during her Saturday afternoon set.
Amy also booked a hotel to stay over on Saturday after originally planning to return home. A festival source told Bizarre: "Nothing is confirmed but the evidence suggests the biggest collaboration of Amy's short career."

We'll have to wait and see. Dammit. I hate being patient. Amo's not going to be able to rock the Louboutins like she usually does. She'd be a foot taller than Mick

Stone Gallery

Stone Gallery, originally uploaded by otrocalpe.

Amazing photo. I want to go to LDN again so badly, it actually hurts.

Random Ten

1. Picturesque- Manic Street Preachers
2. Living For the Weekend- Hard-Fi
3. Easy- Sugababes
4. I Remember Nothing- Joy Division
5. Harmony In My Head- Buzzcocks
6. Skag Trendy- The View
7. Butcher Blues- Kasabian
8. Bridge Over Troubled Water- Aretha Franklin
9. Take What You Take- Lily Allen
10. Sister Rosetta (Capture the Spirit)- Noisettes

Bonus-
11. This House Is a Circus- Arctic Monkeys
12. In the City- Paul Weller with Dirty Pretty Things

Stax Anniversary

Some of the bits of culture I was exposed to during my formative years- the things that really influenced me- were Monty Python's Flying Circus and the music of the Stax Records stars. God or whomever bless PBS and the soul radio stations out of Chicago.

I can't imagine what my childhood would have been like without the Ministry Of Silly Walks, The Fish Slapping Dance, Booker T. and the MGs, Otis Redding and Carla Thomas.

It's nice to see Mr. Stewart and Ms. Axton's massively influential label in the news again.

The sound was never exactly polished, but it had plenty of soul, and the Memphis sound created at Stax Records has found its own special place in the history of American music.Some of pop's most cherished recordings came out of the Stax studio, including Sam & Dave's "Soul Man," Otis Redding's "(Sitting On) The Dock of the Bay," and Isaac Hayes' Oscar-winning "Theme from Shaft."

Now, 50 years after a white country-fiddle player started down the road that led him to open a recording studio in a predominantly black, inner-city neighborhood, the Stax label is trying to make a comeback.

This is so cool

The BBC is currently doing a series on "The Seven Ages of Rock," and has a really cool section on their site that has pictures and information about all the bands profiled.

I love this pic of The Roses. God, they were babies!

I do have one problem, though.... WHERE THE FUCKING FUCK IS THE FUCKING JAM IN THIS FUCKING SERIES?

Brit Pop? Indie? Most music since 1978? Wouldn't have evolved in the same way without Paul, Bruce and Rick.

She so crazy

Oh, Posh. You seem to have forgotten your skirt. Is skirt off sick?

Victoria Beckham wins woman and entrepreneur of the year at the Glamour awards. She turned up wearing hotpants, corset and stockings.

One of my favorite cover versions, ever

Arctic Monkeys version of 'You Know I'm No Good,' written and originally performed by The Winehouse.

It's a filthy song, and somehow, Young Master Turner makes it sound even dirtier..... Bless.

But Jesus, Helders, what the hell is on your face? Have you been hanging around with My Thomas?

*wipes drool from chin*

In honor of Sweet, Sweet Carlito's b-day, I rather fancied watching YouTube clips featuring Mr. Barat.

Then I found this. My fav Libs song, sadly, with no Pete, but with added Stanley bonus action!

YouTube= possibly the best thing ever.

Happy birthday, baby!

sweaty-carl.jpg, originally uploaded by amandarg.

Nice tie, Carlos. As this look REALLY works for you, feel free to replicate whenever, wherever..... Please.

Um, yeah!

Hello, foresight! (the last bit- though the part about going to Mani's den of iniquity is hilarious)

You could be forgiven for assuming that in Pete Doherty's case, 'career' is just a verb, but The View have the Professional Unprofessional to thank for kickstarting theirs. In 2005, industrious bassist Kieren Webster dug out the thermals and camped out ahead of a Babyshambles gig in hometown Dundee, and thrust a homemade demo tape into his idol's clammy hands.

As if they'd slipped Lady Luck a fiver, after listening, Doherty was both impressed and lucid enough to offer the band a support slot for that evening's gig. Not only that, he recommended The View to James Endeacott - the man who discovered The Libertines and A&R'd The Strokes - who signed the emaciated scruffs to his
fledgling 1965 label.

In fact, drummer Steven Morrison was even the subject of much police - not to mention press attention - when he was caught beetling down a one-way street in a car with... oh, who else? Yes, you've guessed it: poodle-haired Welsh bellower Bonnie Tyler! (Oh, OK: it was Messer Doherty, but it's all a bit predicable, non?)

....

There's no denying The View, currently number three in the charts with their single, Same Jeans, have crammed more into their two-year existence than most bands accomplish in their entire career. They've supported the likes of The Kooks and Primal Scream ("the best band in Britain. We went to Mani's house!"), as well as earning plaudits from Oasis.
.....

By this time next year, expect them to have slayed Glastonbury, become
the Oasis for the MySpace Generation and generally done everything except being
caught in a compromising position with Bonnie Tyler.

The lads are on the Pyramid Stage at Glasto. Pretty damned good prediction, MEN......

This week's sign that the Apocalypse is upon us*

When my girl, Stace, and I saw The Strokes on their 2002 tour, Har Mar Superstar was the opening act.

I don't remember a lot about his set, other than the fact that he was, ahem, a bit portly, and he stripped down to his tightie whites and rolled about on the stage at one point. Icky.

The lack of recollection of his set has mainly to do with The Strokes BLOWING my mind during the main bit. Mmmm, 2002-era Julian. Fabbbbrrrrrrrriiiizioooo...... They knocked me out of my classic rock rut, they did!

So color me surprised Har Mar has his own teevee show in development.

*borrowed from S.I.

Fwaaaah, Spy Daddy

Jennifer Garner - with hubby Ben Affleck - caught her old Alias co-star Victor Garber Sunday night at the Huntington Theatre Company's revival of Noel Coward's Present Laughter in Boston.

Not only did Garber play Garner's father on the Alias but the actor also got a minster's license and married Ben and Jen in their private Caribbean ceremony.

They're like Katherine Heigl and T.R. Knight!

Sparkly! My favorite color!

I must have La Aguilera's handbag. Or her shoes. Or, ideally, both.

I know, I know

that it was the 40th anniversary of 'Sgt. Pepper's' last week, and that this is from 'A Hard Day's Night.'

But this is just lovely.....

Oooh, exactly!

So, we listen to a lot of Girls Aloud at the flower shop. Why? It's well-crafted pop nonsense with amazing production. And also, we all feel that we could be friends with Sarah and Nicola. They seem cool. (The blonde with the short hair and the ginger).

And women cannot subsist on a diet of The Fratellis, The View, Arctic Monkeys, Primal Scream, Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen and The Libertines alone.

But I digress....

Upon reading this review of GA's performance at Wembley Arena, I was struck by the following:

the closing "Biology" is perhaps GA/Xenomania's finest moment. It really shouldn't work, seeming to consist of two or three songs jammed together (it's Bowie's "Jean Genie" interbred with Wings' "Band On The Run"), but somehow it does.

Eureka! We have a winner! That's EXACTLY what the song sounds like! Go watch. It's big, fun stupid pop.

Me Plus One

The Fratellis
Notoriously one of Britain's most rabble-rousing bands, the tipple-friendly Glaswegians' rollicking anthems should go down a storm at Glasters. If you fancy drowning your mates in lager or dancing with underwear on your head, this is the band to provide the soundtrack.*
Where to see them: Friday, Pyramid Stage, 7.45pm

Kasabian
Before they were famous, Britain's "people's band" read about Altamont and staged their own mini-festivals on a Leicestershire farm. Now they're living out their fantasies for real,** and with festival-slaying anthems like Empire and bosom buddies like Oasis, you never know who (or what) might join them onstage.
Where to see them: Friday, Pyramid Stage, 9.15pm

With the announcement of the official lineup for Glasto yesterday, Queen Bee, Kazza and I have been talking a LOT about said lineup.

With QB, we've been mourning her inability to obtain tickets, despite making it into the ticket lottery.

(and I'm not sure she knows Dirty Pretty Things have been added to Saturday's bill. The same day as Babyshambles. Shhhhhh.....)

With Kaz, we've been speculating on potential backstage activities of the Friday bands. Because that's what we do.

I'm sure that all bands will go home early, for church (or synagogue).

Because, it's not like-

- Fratellis videos frequently feature half-dressed Vargas-type girls

- Kasabian- well, I'm sure the Lads from Leicester would never do anything naughty, despite Serge's resemblance to the Prince Of Darkness

- Amy Winehouse likes a drink or ten

- Young Alex Turner has ever dropped his trousers (while massively drunk) and urinated in front of Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz. Allegedly.

-Wee The View Lads have ever-

• drank 2 grand worth of booze (all of them) & knocked people over whilst doing running handstands (Kyle)

• been arrested driving the wrong way on a one-way street with one Peter Doherty (Steven)

• been banned from all Travelodge hotels after leaving the bathtub on while at the pub (Kieren)

• had a makeup artist cover up their zits and hickies before opening for Big Brother at the Prince's Trust concert series (all of them)

So, I'm not thinking much mischief will be made backstage.

*"If you fancy drowning your mates in lager or dancing with underwear on your head, this is the band to provide the soundtrack."

If I knew nothing else about the Fratellis, this sentence would make me buy their album.

**"Now they're living out their fantasies for real..."

Kasabian. Fantasies. Bet Thomas's involve Star Wars.

*falls over dead*

That Bloody Mary's lacking in Tabasco

Oh, the boy's a slag......

Arctic Monkeys are set to release 'Fluorescent Adolescent' as their next single on July 9. The single will be released on CD, seven-inch and 10-inch versions. The CD and 10-inch will feature the tracks 'The Bakery', 'Plastic Tramp' and 'Too Much To Ask'. The video of the track was made by 'Nathan Barley' director Richard Ayoade, and stars Stephen Graham, who acted in the 1998 gangster movie 'Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels'.

Mark my words, this song is going to be HUGE.

Stormy Weather

Today, a tornado hit to the north of us. No one was killed, but there's quite a bit of damage.

Around noon, we saw two State Troopers hauling ass up Highway 61 (Iowa's Coolest Flower Shop is right on the highway)- we knew something was up.

Unlike some of our local deputies, the troopers don't turn on their lights and floor it because they're late for lunch.

Growing up in the Midwest, you get used to tornado season, but it's always scary when one hits 20 fucking miles from your house.

They're slightly unusual round here, though. The Mississippi River generally causes them to skip over us and nail Illinois or stops them altogether.

Boy, wouldn't it be nice if the Iowa National Guard were stateside?

Go boys!

Sting may annoy the hell out of me, but this is huge for Jon, Barry and Mince. Go Fratellis!

Wow, Fratellis at Giants Stadium. That's just mind-boggling! Check below for all The Fratellis' summer coliseum/stadium dates with Sting & the gang.

Crazy times down at Costello Music, indeed.

6/13 Oakland, CA - McAfee Coliseum
*7/19 Philadelphia, PA - Citizens Bank Park
*8/5 East Rutherford, NJ - Giants Stadium*

Random Ten

1. Ride a White Horse- Goldfrapp
2. Saturday's Kids- The Jam
3. Miss Lucifer (album version)- Primal Scream
4. Gett Off- Prince
5. Time Has Come Today- The Chambers Brothers
6. The Don- The View
7. It's Tricky- Run-DMC
8. The Girl From Ipanema- Astrud Gilberto
9. There Is a Light That Never Goes Out (live in Moscow)- Noel Gallagher
10. Surrender- Cheap Trick

Bonus-
11. Reach Out (I'll Be There)- Four Tops
12. Where Angels Play- The Stone Roses

Darlene Love on Letterman May 2007 River Deep Mountain High

This was just on a repeat of Dave. Love Darlene. Love Dave. Love Dave loving Darlene.

OMFG! OMFG! OMFG! OMFG!

Fuck me, the Friday (pending) lineup is SPECTACULAR!

Friday (June 22)
Arctic Monkeys
Kasabian
The Fratellis
Bloc Party
The Magic Numbers
Amy Winehouse
Gogol Bordello
The Earlies
The View
Adjagas

Saturday (June 23)
The Killers
The Kooks
Paul Weller
Paolo Nutini
Lily Allen
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
Guillemots
The Pipettes
Seasick Steve
Liz Green

Sunday (June 24)
The Who
Kaiser Chiefs
Manic Street Preachers
Shirley Bassey
James Morrison
Damien Marley
Stephen Marley
The Waterboys
National Youth Orchestra (with Goldfrapp)
Glastonbury Town Band

AMY!

Girlfriend is on the cover of the Rolling Stone and Spin!

Get down with your bad self, Miz Amy Jade Winehouse!

Though I do have a small bone to pick-

why must media types refer to all female singers as "divas?"

While I adore Amy, Amy, Amy, the girl is 23, which is not nearly old enough to qualify for diva status. In my eyes, anyway.

35-36, then we're talking!

She may be many things,

but DAMN, La Moss is one cool bitch*. As is La Ditto. And I say that in the most respectful of tones.

The Gossip frontwoman Beth Ditto has declared new best pal Kate Moss "amazing." The unlikely pair have bonded in recent months and, speaking in this week's NME, Ditto has revealed that they are in agreement about one major issue.

"Kate is amazing. I spent one night talking to her and she just said the most amazing things about bodies," explained Ditto. At first I didn't think I was going to like her, but she just turned up to one of our shows and said, 'Do you know what I hate, Beth? I hate it when people tell my big girlfriends, 'You have a beautiful face...' I mean, that's a really radical concept."

She added: "You can't hate a person for dieting, and you can't blame a person for feeling shit about themselves. You have to blame the machine that feeds it, the thing that makes people feel like that. There are lots of things that are part of that machine, and it's too easy to lay the blame at the feet of women - men don't know what it feels like to be a woman and be expected to look a particular way all the time.

I had those conversations with Kate, and Kate agreed with me about it. She's a smart person."

*and also really, really, really good at spotting trends.

God, I love them

Them being Messieurs Brand and Gallagher. This is just hilarious....

The celeb swordsman quipped: “Happy 40th birthday, eternal rebel, poet laureate of the yob, scribbler of anthems, with the eyebrows of a neanderthal but the soul of NEIL YOUNG.

Now for God’s sake, hand over SARA MacDONALD. You’ve had a good run but you’re a very old man now. Give her and the baby a chance of a better life.

I’ll even raise it to be a lout, unless tests prove that it is, after all, mine.”

Mississippi River at Lansing, Iowa

Florida to Alaska on Bicycle (#55) June 12, 1997: Mississippi River, from Iowa, originally uploaded by worldwidewandering.

One of the prettiest spots in north Iowa.

What Cygirl Did

Had a smashing evening last night- my girl, Casey, celebrated her 29th (wink) birthday with a huge rave-up at her dad's dairy farm in north Iowa.

The morning? Well, I felt like smashing my head against the wall to make the blinding headache go away. I'm 29. (again, wink) When will I learn that Jagermeister is not, repeat not, my friend?

But I digress.

As I was driving through northern Iowa and southern Minnesota (on my way to get some quality time in with my niece), I was very amused by the contrast of the pastoral scenes and the occasional Amish horse and buggy, and with what I was listening to.

Which was? 'Dance Into the Night,' by Wee The View lads, ''Fluorescent Adolescent' by Arctic Monkeys, 'Fuck Forever' by Babyshambles and 'Country Girl' by Primal Scream.

Okay, that last one made sense, but seriously, it was really funny. Maybe that's Jager talking still.....

Face For the Radio

Gorgeous Wee The View Lads.

Shiver Me Timbers!

Without spoiling anyone, 'Pirates Of the Caribbean- At World's End' is chock full of awesome.

Love it, love it, love it. It's got KEEF for God's sake! And Captain Jack Sparrow. And Will Turner. And my girl, Elizabeth.

And the goofy pirates and a monkey!

Simply fab. Big, dumb summer entertainment. And y'all know how I love big and dumb.

And Cpt. Jack looks a bit, um, Khan-y, here.

Obsessions

Even with we obsessive fangirls, the muse leaves us-so to speak- every now and again. When this happens to me, musically, I return to the bands I love more than anything (The Jam, The Roses, Oasis, Primal Scream), and then build back up....

As part of the re-building up process, I've been listening to A LOT of the Manic Street Preachers.

Why? It's festival season in the Motherland, and strings and grandiose choruses sound fantastic when shouted along to by thousands of hammered people. The Manics do both of those really, really well. And the whole pinko Commie and eyeliner and dress wearing-things appeal to me. Again, A LOT.

Along my prediction of 'Fluorescent Adolescent' by Arctic Monkeys as the festival anthem of the summer, let me add 'Autumn Song' by the Manics. It's just lovely.

Random Ten

1. Movin' On Up- Primal Scream
2. Gin and Milk- Dirty Pretty Things
3. Solitary Man-Neil Diamond
4. Off the Hook- CSS
5. Valerie- (Zutons cover)-Amy Winehouse
6. Dance Into the Night- The View
7. What Is Hip?- Tower Of Power
8. Skag & Bone Man- The Libertines
9. Radio Radio- Elvis Costello
10. A Design For Life- Manic Street Preachers

Bonus-
11. I Knew the Bride (When She Used To Rock and Roll)- Nick Lowe
12. Careless Whisper- The Gossip

Mondays!

Shaun, Bez and Co. are back in fighting form. Seriously, they look good.

And this quote from Tony is so funny-

"I think people are genuinely excited that they are not dead...."

We are, Mr. Wilson. We are.

Control

I'm going to NEED to see this movie. Always a good sign when I get weepy during the trailer..... via The Slut

Screamers!

Ooo, I'm going to need this DVD.

'Primal Scream - Riot City Blues Tour', out June 25, features a live performance from the band recorded in November 2006 at London's Hammersmith Apollo.

The collection also features interviews backstage footage from the tour, and 12 of the band's promo videos.

Slashy! Me likey!

the view 1, originally uploaded by RJP Photography.

Wee Kyle and Wee Kieran are trying to kill me.

*nods*

Lake Vyrnwy

Lake Vyrnwy, originally uploaded by Mance.

So very Hogwarts.

Less than 2 months till OOTP movie and Year 7 book!

YAYS!

Oh, Big Brother

While Captain, My Captain, Sweet, Sweet Carlito and my Barely Legal Bit Of Stuff may consume a lot of my attention, Noel Thomas David Gallagher is my original "boyfriend," and this is why-

The Oasis rocker has blasted James Blunt, saying he wants to see his
head on a plate! Grumpy Noel launched his attack after being handed a birthday present on the latest edition of the Soccer AM TV show.

As he tore off the pressie's wrapping, Noel said:
"It's not James Blunt's head is it? I hope it is."

Much to the star's disappointment, the gift turned out to be a Manchester City FC jacket.

And, as always, Soccer AM is an endless source of amusement for we Yank Anglophiles.

So funny

Two items from that bastion of journalistic integrity, The Sun.

NATALIE PORTMAN stars in PAUL McCARTNEY’S new video for Dance Tonight, thanks to her friendship with his designer daughter STELLA.

Macca says: “I rang her and said, ‘I’m Stella’s dad’. Luckily, she was between films.”

and

Hold on to your skirts, ladies. A bulletin from RUSSELL BRAND on my MySpace page tells us his comedy gigs will act as “freedom rallies” so he can “establish a society of hanky panky”.

He welcomes “women aged between 18 and death”.

Guess guitar prodigies run in the family

Johnny Marr's son is set to play his first ever proper gig.

Nile Marr (who plays under the moniker Kid 0477) will hit the stage at the Bar Amp in Manchester on June 1st.

Earlier this year Nile was offered the support slot on Paolo Nutini's UK tour playing to 4,000 people a night... then they found out he was 15.

The View- Up The Junction

from Radio1's Big Weekend

Lily Allen - E! - The Daily 10

"Maybe their hoo-hoos smell bad and they need to air them out."

I love this girl. Love her.

via Stereogum

Go. Watch. Love.

I hate to harp on a subject....wait, no I don't.

The View. Go watch their performance from Radio1's Big Weekend.

They're quite good, especially when you know that they're 19. And so cute and so wee.

They have a song called 'Grans For Tea.' They want to go over to their respective grandma's houses. For tea.

Honestly, that's so darling, it should be submitted to Cute Overload.

Ah, to be a teenager. Only with common sense this time round.

Shoot The Runner

Live at Radio1's Big Weekend. Yes, those are the famous rose trousers.

I love the Internets

I just finished watching the entire Kasabian set from Radio 1's Big Weekend,

and am currently hitting F5 every ten seconds, waiting for Aunty Beeb to post The View's performance.

But then I found pictures of the show.

I realize that he's literally a teenager (19), and I'm definitely not, but I am powerless against the adorableness of Wee Kieran.

I think I could have kept myself under control, but the hat and the tank top were Just. Too. Much.

He's a pocket hottie.

Oh dear

My darling Thomas,

This is a nice picture.

I am very appreciative that your jeans could not be tighter, and I adore that sweater.


It shows your lovely wee tummy.

However, we must talk about your taste in eye wear.

It's crap, love.

This is at least the third pair of hideous shades I've seen you wear. You must consult Our Kid and Big Brother regarding this, ASAP. They can help, as their sunnies are usually drop-dead cool.

With much love and many impure thoughts,

Cygirl

PS- heard you, Sergio and the Other Fuckers, er, Chris and Ian, had a knockout performance today.

Well done!

PSS- I also hear there's a total slag named Kazza that thinks you're sex on a stick, and she has a bit of a thing for rock stars playing football, especially Mr. Pizzorno.

I'd steer clear of her if I were you. She's bad news....

Happy

No, not the Keef song from 'Exile On Main Street.'

I'm referring to my state of mind, since I get to work with my two favorite girls tomorrow-

Jen, my cheerleading buddy (former- I can't still do the Russian split jump, much to my disappointment, as I feel this would be a major plus when potentially wooing Brit rock stars)

and Hilly, the world's coolest teenager

So, to celebrate the occasion, I'm ripping them Cd's from my iTunes.

For Jen- Amy Winehouse, 'Back To Black' and Girls Aloud, 'The Sound of Girls Aloud'

For Hilly- The Fratellis, 'Costello Music' and The View, ' Hats Off To the Buskers'

YAY! Hopefully a minimum of stupid people will come into the shop tomorrow. Unlike today.

Congrats, Mr. & Mrs. Fielder-Civil!

lYou crazy kids! Best of luck to you!

As Us Weekly reported earlier today, Amy Winehouse wed fiance Blake Fielder-Civil in Miami, Florida this morning — just hours before taking part in a photoshoot for an upcoming issue of Rolling Stone. According to a source, the couple had actually planned to get hitched tomorrow, but when they dropped by City Hall today to get their marriage license, they decided to do it on the spot. “I don’t want to say it was on a whim, because that makes it sound whimsical,” said the groom, who was allegedly very giddy after the morning’s nuptials.

The View - Superstar Tradesman + Wasted Little DJs live

They are just adorable... very much looking forward to footage from this weekend's BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend.

(I believe the actual Wasted Little DJs are up on shoulders at the front)

Top 15 most played

on the old iTunes. Feeling a bit list-y tonight. Brit Bee is contagious.

1. L.S.F.- Kasabian (36)
2. Chelsea Dagger- The Fratellis (35)
3. Same Jeans- The View (31)
4. Country Girl- Primal Scream (30)
5. Me and Mr. Jones- Amy Winehouse (29)
6. Vince the Lovable Stoner- The Fratellis (28)
7. Your Love is Not Enough- Manic Street Preachers (26)
8. Claudia- The View (25)
9. Mersey Paradise- The Stone Roses (24)
10. Boys In the Band- The Libertines (22)
11. This Is the One- The Stone Roses (21)
12. High Fidelity- Elvis Costello (19)
13. Common People- Pulp (17)
14. Wasted Little Djs- The View (16)
15. Round Round- Sugababes (13)

Divalicious!

3 of my favorite ladies, together! So fierce! Yoko and Ana and Beth, OH MY!

I must have Ana's dress. Divine.

Random ten

Shake what your mama gave you, and let the good times roll.....


1. Balaclava- Arctic Monkeys
2. Jackie Big T*ts- The Kooks
3. Dance To the Music- Sly and the Family Stone
4. Tonight- Kate Walsh
5. I Believe In You- Kylie Minogue
6. Autumn Song- Manic Street Preachers
7. Crazy Train- Ozzy Osbourne
8. Killamangiro- Babyshambles
9. Ophelia- The Band
10. It's Oh So Quiet- Bjork

Bonus-

11. Man In the Cornershop- The Jam
12. Claudia- The View
13. Slide Away- Oasis
14. What Have I Done To Deserve This?- Pet Shop Boys

Let me be honest

I went to a VERY slashy place upon reading this news item this morning. Actually, I'm still giggling like Beavis and Butthead.

Oasis's Noel Gallagher has reacted to former Shockwaves NME Awards host Russell Brand's declaration of love for the guitarist.

In celebration of Gallagher's 40th birthday, which takes place on May 29, Brand posed wearing a garland round his neck with the legend: "Noel I love you too".

The Oasis star said: "The boy's desperate cries for love are pathetic, yet strangely compelling. I thought we had a strictly platonic relationship based on nothing more than our rapier-like wit and a mutual lusting for my missus."

He told The Sun: "Seems all along he's just wanted to use me like one of his blow-up dolls. I'm disgusted yet strangely intrigued."

Am picturing the Sex Insect using Big Brother.... Okay, I just squicked myself out a little there. Just a little, mind.

Thank God, the giggling seems to have calmed somewhat. Oh crap, 'Strict Machine' by Goldfrapp just came on the iTunes.

Damn, there I go again........

Manic Street Preachers - Your Love Alone Is Not Enough

This is a flawless pop song. Utterly perfect. The hooks, the strings- just absolutely wonderful.

And I want to look like Nina Perrson when I (finally) grow up. Sing like her, too.

Possibly the most fab shoes, evah

via FabSugar

Words I never thought

would come out of Mr. James Walcott's mouth.

I love Kylie Minogue.

This just makes me love him more. And this is hilarious-

Kylie was lunching at the Waverly Inn and no one alerted me. Had the batphone silently lit up, I would have zoomed downtown and loitered at the bar until I was able to fall at her shoes in a gallant swoon and say hi.

On my one visit to Waverly Inn, our posse was sandwiched between Ron Perelman and company were at one table, Rupert Murdoch and crew at another.

Stereo supermoguls: very nice. I might have popped by their tables to introduce myself if it hadn't been for the leg clamps. Just being in the vibrating vicinity of those two tycoons was invigoratingly buzzy.

But, I'm sorry, compared to Kylie they are but shadows in the forest and she the angelic sunlight breaking through the leafy canopy.

Nice to know that a writer that I idolize is a big honking fan boy, too.

Now THOSE are pink pants

From the Poiret do at the Met.

No rose trousers here, no, ma'am!

Vacuum cleaning our cat

1. There is no way that Holden, the world's most spoiled Persian would let me do this to him, though it would be all shades of awesome
2. How hilarious is this?
3. via cuteoverload.com

Claudia

I've listened to this song roughly 20 times in the past 24 hours. Love the lovely wee The View lads.

Entirely too romantic to have been written by teenagers.

And, " I blame it on your upbringing, you were made around the side of a van."

Are you joking me? That's utterly fantastic!

I felt I was one with you,
You probably didn't see.
Oh I'm a nervous one,
My pain it comes easily.

Should I revolve my world around you,
Should I revolve my light around you?

Claudia, Claudia,
You're taunting you're teasing,
You know I have feelings too,
They're all for you.
Claudia, Claudia,
Provoking my heart,
And I still have not broken the code,
To your heart now, oh no.....

I blame it on your upbringing,
You were made around the side of a van,
You call me the trusting one,
Trust it comes easy man

Should I revolve my world around you,
Should I revolve my light around you?

Claudia, Claudia,
You're taunting you're teasing,
You know I have feelings too.
They're all for you,
Claudia, Claudia,
Provoking my heart,
And I still have not broken the code,
To your heart now, to your heart now, whoa whoa whoa.

Fat-bottomed girl*

As part of my new Spartan diet and exercise routine, I've actually (HORRORS) joined a gym, and have started to eat more healthily (aka not eating mozzarella sticks for breakfast, lunch and dinner).

However, as I am possibly the least disciplined person on earth who is not one Peter Doherty, I needed some structure. So, I signed up for Body By Glamour.

Your point, Cy?

I had to weigh myself. It was a required field. I generally avoid scales, as I want to avoid returning to the frightening stick insect look that plagued me in college.

Backstory time-

I went through an ATROCIOUS breakup (I truly believed that the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse were going to be galloping down Lincoln Way at any time), my grandmother was diagnosed with A.L.S and I turned 21. Within about 4 months of each other.

And two of my best girlfriends also went through stomach-turning breakups and turned 21, too. Not a good combo.

We couldn't eat because it made us nauseous. We couldn't sleep for the nightmares. Since our exes were cheap bastards and we were sure to run into them, house parties weren't an option. So, we went to the bar. A lot.

Let's just put it this way, we could have given The Winehouse a SERIOUS run for her money in her pre-'Back To Black' days. Or now, really.

The only reason we were never photographed stumbling out of bars with mysterious white powdery substances on our persons, was that we didn't think to get ahold of any mysterious white powdery substances. And we weren't celebrities, other than with the local bar staff.

We drank most girls under the table. We drank most GUYS under the table, which was either sad or hilarious, since we didn't have 30% body fat between the three of us, total.

We didn't really eat anything before closing time. (Constant application of beer worked to quell the nausea somewhat). We all got far too thin. It wasn't a conscious choice, but it still happened.

We all snapped out of it eventually , but I've avoided weighing myself ever since. Maybe I'm afraid it will start again? Eh, who knows....

I sometimes wish I could go back in time, and let our younger selves know that a ratbag cheating redneck, a stoner Al Bundy-type and a posh boy from Chicago weren't worth what we were putting our livers, stomachs and checking accounts through.

This goes a long way towards explaining my affection for Ms. Amy's trainwreck self. Girl, I've been there.

But I digress.

I weighed myself today. And it wasn't as awful as I thought it was going to be. Don't get me wrong, I'm still a bit, er 20 pounds, over what my driver's license says I am, but it wasn't terrible.

Just thought I'd share.

We'll return to pop culture and political rants shortly.

*This is a joke. Anyone who knows me can tell you, I have no ass. But it made for a clever post title, don't you think?

812, 683 Ways To Please Your Man

From The Onion.

Sadly, this is not very far removed from actual magazine content.

Soundtrack

from Iowa's Coolest Flower Shop, Mother's Day weekend edition. Fairly bulletproof.

1. Vince the Lovable Stoner- The Fratellis
2. Take A Chance On Me- ABBA
3. Same Jeans- The View
4. Rehab- Amy Winehouse
5. Fluorescent Adolescent- Arctic Monkeys
6. The House That Jack Built- Aretha Franklin
7. Oh My Gosh- Basement Jaxx
8. I Don't Mind- Buzzcocks
9. Reach Out (I'll Be There)- Four Tops
10. Jump (For My Love)- Girls Aloud
11. Strict Machine- Goldfrapp
12. I Want You Back- Jackson 5
13. Town Called Malice- The Jam
14. It's Not Unusual- Tom Jones
15. Round Round- Sugababes
16. Listen Up!- The Gossip
17. Chelsea Dagger- The Fratellis
18. She's Electric- Oasis
19. Sally Cinnamon- The Stone Roses
20. Processed Beats- Kasabian

Bonus-
21. Common People- Pulp
22. 20th Century Boy- T.Rex
23. Wasted Little DJs- The View
24. Country Girl- Primal Scream

Mother's Day

Though I'm wont to compare the impending holiday to Valentine's Day, there really is no comparison. While not everyone has a sweetheart, nearly everyone has a mother or grandmother, or is a mother or grandmother. So, suffice to say, we are a tad busy at the flower shop.

And we have a wedding and a funeral tomorrow. Richard Curtis's next movie really should be about a florist finding love or similar.

So, we're a bit busy. My mom, being the business owner, is convinced that we are behind sales from years previous, and myself, along with the other designers, are convinced that she is tripping. Like Happy Mondays-level tripping. Ma is getting her Bez on.

As my beloved co-worker Patti says, we're busier than one-armed paper hangers.

To pass the time, and to keep spirits up, so to speak, we started to play "marry, shag or throw off a cliff." (pick three celebrities- you marry one, shag one and throw the other off said cliff). I think this originated in "Bridget Jones."

I would highly recommend this as a way to pass time. Very diverting.

I made Jen pick between Bez, The Reverend Shaun William Ryder and Peter Doherty. She cringed. I laughed my ass off.

Random Ten

Week of Mother's Day exhausted florist edition-

1. You Dropped a Bomb On Me- The Gap Band
2. Talk Tonight - Oasis
3. Trust a Fox- The Stone Roses
4. Vince the Lovable Stoner- The Fratellis
5. All Fired Up- Pat Benatar
6. Skag Trendy- The View
7. Rock N'Roll High School- The Ramones
8. Shoot the Runner- Kasabian
9. Fallen Angel- Poison
10. What Do I Get? - Buzzcocks


Bonus-
11. I Don't Feel Like Dancing- Scissor Sisters
12. Rock DJ- Robbie Williams
13. Queen Bitch- David Bowie
14. Surrender- Cheap Trick

Oasis - Lord Don't Slow Me Down (7of7)

t rex. get it on

Pulp - Common People live at Glastonbury (1995)

The textbook "the crowd goes wild."

The King

I purchased the May issue of Q magazine today, which had a feature on the best YouTube clips. Regarding the clip above-

"Sky Sports' Soccer AM features a segment in which guests attempt to kick a football through a target from 10 yards. Kasabian guitarist and former Nottingham Forest trialist Serge Pizzorno goes one better, deftly flicking the ball up before spectacularly volleying it through the target. Take note, Steve McLaren."

Bluebonnet Hill

Bluebonnet Hill, originally uploaded by jeffclow.

Because I miss my friends in Texas a lot right now. Not Texas, mind you, but Joy and Adeline.

"I don't think he's in regular correspondence with His Holiness"

This made me laugh so freaking hard that I spit water out my nose. Living large, my friends, living large.

I know it's "Anyone but United," but this is so funny!

* Pope Benedict XVI might want to look out for some unusual personal correspondence in the coming days.

His Holiness has not, to our knowledge, consumed industrial quantities of cortex-splitting pharmaceuticals, used the microwave on his tour bus to cook the aforementioned narcotics, vomited on Elvis's front door, bounced a ball off the head of Blur's Damon Albarn for some unknown misdeed, or been banned from Top of the Pops.*

The members of rock band Primal Scream have.

And I hear that the Scream's bassist, the loopy Mani, a Manchester United fan, has decided to write the Pope a letter calling for the canonisation of Man U manager Sir Alex Ferguson, after he won his ninth Premiership title with the club.

"Mani wants Fergie to be made a saint," says a friend, who faces eviction after Mani's excitable (mid-bender) stereo volume control upset the neighbours on Monday night.

"He says he's writing a letter to the Pope listing Fergie's miracles.

"I don't think he's in regular correspondence with His Holiness, but I've not spoken to him since last night, so for all I know he could be on the phone to him now."

If you doubt

for a minute that Oscar De La Renta has, shall we say, lost his touch, I would direct you to the ensemble he designed for First Lady Laura Bush for tonight's state dinner.

Disclaimer- I have many, many, MANY issues with the woman's husband. And she tends to say things that are completely insensitive/out-of-touch with any form of reality that I'm currently familiar with.

However, the fact remains that she is representing the United States on the international stage.

For God's sake, Laura, Liz Windsor has on a more flattering dress than you do , and she's 81!

As the Brits say, everything has gone a bit pear-shaped.

Peter, Peter, Peter

Sweetie darling,

You simply must stop this behavior. You see, I'm emotionally invested in you now, so you'd best straighten up and fly right.

Yes, I'll go all schoolteacher on your ass. You don't want that. Trust me.

Kisses,
Cygirl

PS- Ms. Moss- Let his ass SIT IN JAIL AND DETOX!

Thanks, love. Adore the new clothing line.

Red

Red, originally uploaded by Mance.