Before I go to bed at night I try to read for half an hour. As the years have gone by reading has become an increased pleasure and now new e-readers make everything so simple. I love downloading library books to my Sony Reader or books from the Kindle Store to my Kindle. They are so easy to carry around for the odd half hour waiting somewhere or travelling on a bus etc.
Just occasionally I actually read a printed book and libraries are still my favourite place to visit. I was able to spend an hour in Norwich's excellent Millennium Library yesterday. I love this building. Apparently it is the most visited library in the country. Many years ago the old library was destroyed by fire. Everyone thought it was a disaster. Thankfully thousands of books were saved but, above all else, a wonderful Phoenix rose from the ashes in the shape of the award winning Forum building which also hosts restaurants, archive centres and many other delights with regular sales and exhibitions in the large foyer.
It puts the old and new together in Norwich. Within a few yards you have the historic Guildhall, City Hall, the Theatre Royal, St Peter Mancroft Church and Norwich Market Place. Oh and that's not forgetting the very new Chapelfield shopping mall which is accessible by walking through a church graveyard.
So yesterday I took out a novel entitled "Richard" by Ben Myers which is based on the life of tragic Manic Street Preacher Richie Edwards who mysteriously went missing in 1995 and was presumed dead in 2008. I have never been a huge fan of the Manics but reading the first 100 pages of this book has tempted me to return to their back catalogue with renewed interest and particularly to their album The Holy Bible.
Edwards was a tortured soul - anorexic, a self harmer who suffered severe bouts of depression. He had very limited talent as a musician and often used to mime on stage. So where lies his appeal? Edwards was no Syd Vicious character. He was a humble man from a solid Welsh family background, erudite and intelligent, who got straight A grades and a 2:1 degree at University. He almost masterminded the lyrics and musical direction of the Manics but was always somebody who could relate to others suffering the same anguish as himself. I was particularly interested to read whilst doing some research that one of his most notorious incidents took place at the excellent Norwich Arts Centre which over the years, despite being a small former redundant church, has hosted some the rock musics greatest from the Manics to Nirvana, Muse to Coldplay, the Stone Roses to Kasabian and two of my all time favourite artists Judy Collins and Jimmy Webb. The incident in question saw Edwards carve the words "4 Real" into his forearm with a razor blade after an argument with DJ Steve Lamacq over the band's authenticity and values. The photograph of this incident has become one of the most famous in rock history.
Ordered tickets for the Maccabees concert at the University of East Anglia in March. Not only do we now have to pay a ridiculous £1.50 per ticket booking fee but we also have to pay for postage costs as well. I think shortly live venues are going to shoot themselves in the foot with these hidden additional charges. Anyway back to the Maccabees. Their latest album Given to the Wild is my favourite of the year so far, which admittedly isn't saying a lot. I'm sure it will be overtaken by a number of others as the year progresses but it is a half decent effort and they will be worth seeing live.
Loudness at concerts is one of my pet hates and it isn't my age. I love to pump up the volume with the best of them but when you go to see a live band and they are so loud that every song sounds the same and the lyrics cannot be heard over the noise it all becomes pointless. This was really illustrated last year when I went to see an American band called the Hold Steady. Sometimes myself and my mate take what we call "a punt" on bands. The Hold Steady were recommended by some mutual friends and are one of the favourite bands of Uncut magazine which I subscribe to. They are known for their literate songwriting. They were playing a small venue - Norwich Waterfront. I have to say it isn't one of my favourites. the acoustics aren't great and there always seems to be a preponderance for heavy bass.
We left the Hold Steady gig before the end (first time I have done this for many years). They were over the top, ear shattering loud and listening to them (if listening is the right word) was a complete waste of time. If bands want to be so loud and indistinct why bother to write lyrics. They may as well just scream into the microphone which is basically exactly what they were doing.
Sadly you can never be sure how loud a band will be. So I will report on the Maccabees and their volume control in due course.
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