Gig 06: Damien Rice - Hammersmith Apollo

Damien Rice // Fionn Regan
02.27.04.07 @ Hammersmith Apollo (Queen Caroline Street London W1)

Elodie wasn't feeling well, I accompanied her to Hammersmith Apollo (not Palais this time) to see her favourite, Damien Rice. The venue was quite packed as we arrived. It was size a tad smaller than Massey Hall without seats on the Orchestra level. We missed the support act but we made it in time for the headliner. We located ourselves near the front onto one side of the stage. Poor Elodie kept sitting down half the show as she wasn't feeling too well. I've never seen Damien Rice at all, but heard lots of great things about him and now I know why.

The best part was the encore, where he rang too much wine whilst telling the audience the story during "Cheers Darlin'". "The Blower's Daughter" was the song that blew me away and left me almost had tears in my eyes.

The Professor/La fille danse
Elephant
Volcano
Older Chests
Coconut Skins
She Comes Out so slow (on piano) one verse >>> into Rootless Tree
Random Man on the Motorway
Delicate
Me My Yoke and I
Dogs >>> aborted
Baby Sister
Amie >>> spaceship effect >>> Sex Change >>> Eskimo
I Remember

***

Cheers Darlin'
The Blower's Daughter

Cannonball (2nd encore - acoustic)

Gig 05: Idlewild - Hammersmith Palais

Idlewild // Now It's Overhead
05.23.04.07 @ Hammersmith Palais (230 Shepherd Bush Road W6 7NL)

It has been a frustrating day dealing with inconsiderate people. Elodie called for a girly pre-drink with Annie at Match Bar Clerkenwell. They agreed that my friends were being insensitive as well but there was a little people can do about it, though Elodie and Annie are on my side and will support me. I needed a drink. One daiquiri after another, we proceeded to Cicada for more drinks.

Elodie and I walked to Holborn and took the tube to Hammersmith. Except, we went to the Apollo not the Palais. When we finally got to the correct venue, Idlewild has been playing for a bit already. We walked in when "Love steals us from loneliness" was playing. They seemed to be covering all specs from new to old favourites. Roddy seemed fine despite the sickness on tour that they had to cancelled 2 shows this tour. It's also the debut of the new bassist, Gareth. It was great to see them again, they were still great as usual! I miss them!

Below was a setlist:

When I argue I see shapes
You held the world in your arms
If it takes you home
Live in a hiding place
No emotion
American English
Roseability
Once in your life
Little discourage
Love steals us from loneliness
A modern way of letting go
Future works
These wooden ideas
El Capitan
Everything (as it moves)
In remote part/Scottish fiction
- - - -
In competition for the worst time
Everyone says you're so fragile
(I am) what I am not

We were later told that this show was one of the last shows at the Hammersmith Apollo as it was to be tear down the following week after. This is the last look inside the venue.

After the show, I went down to the soundboard to look for Richie. It was so nice to see him again. We went to the aftershow area, we sat down and had a drink. We met Madeline's sister and had a long chat. She was a newly wed and quite lovely. Turned out that it was Madeline's birthday at midnight. Richie went backstage to fix us some drinks. Also saw Dom, he didn't remembered my name. But when I told him I was a friend of Kimmy's from Toronto. He remembered that we went for sushi. We didn't talked long as he was always in a hurry, always had things to take care of. I was on route to the bathroom and I saw Allan walking towards me. I didn't thought he would remember me but i said hi anyway, he was like "Wow, i haven't seen you for years" i told him i recently moved to London. He was like "yeah i know. i read it on your myspace" (REALLY?!?) We talked a bit. He said, "it's hard to sum up the past few years innit?" At the end of the night he saw me leaving so he came over and said bye and wish me luck here. And he said "YES, COME TO SCOTLAND AND SEE DESALVO!"

Aww.. Allan. I adore Allan! x

Fashion: I'm Not A Plastic Bag

Anya Hindmarch has agreed to design an environmental bag for We Are What We Do. Due to popular demand, the website has stopped taking pre-orders. The snobby fashionista Dover Street Market's waiting list for the bag was also full and has refused to take down any more names. The website announced there is a small limited quantity available in the Anya stores, Harrods and Harvey Nichols on 20 March, 2007.

On the day of, I got to the Notting Hill location half an hour before the store opens. The queue was all the way around the corner already. I was about 75 people in queue. Surprisingly, there were lots of unfashionable looking "men" in the queue. Possibly queuing for e-bay or for their stylish girlfriends/wives. There was a 2 bags per customer policy. The lady in front of me actually had her mum at Harrods lining up for the bag. Good strategy. I was just one horse man since Elodie has to work. I would have bought a couple more if I could. After waiting for an hour and a half, finally got into the store and got the bags!!

The limited quantities have been sold out. There will be more available across nation at Sainsbury's on 25th April, 2007. But Elodie and I can enjoy our bag a month before everyone else!

Check my photoblog here for the photos I took that day.

Food Finds: Paul Boulangerie & Pattiserie

Paul Boulangerie & Pattiserie (29/30 Bedford Street, Covent Garden, WC2 - 020 7836 3304)


Window display at Paul's


Delicious and decadent looking cakes and macaroons

Been hearing about Paul Boulangerie & Pattiserie for ages. I finally went to one to search for my favourite croissants in London. I ordered a pain au chocolat. It was slightly disappointing. It was a bit stale and dry, perhaps it was the end of the day. But the display of various flans, cakes, tarts, claufouti and sweets sure look delicious!

Fashion: Giles for Gold

Giles Deacon has agreed to design 4 collections for New Look this year. Yesterday launched the first one. I went to the New Look flagship store around shyly after midday, there were still lots of merchandise left (wasn't as crazy as the Stella McCartney and Viktor & Rolf lines for H&M).

Here are some pix of me trying on some of the pieces for this collection.

Due to my jobless status, I'm only allowed to buy one item. I bought the bling-bling skinny jeans.

Cooking: A Very British Dinner

I made a very British dinner tonight: Bangers (Pork & Apple) and Garlic Mash with sautéed Savoy Cabbage and Mushroom Onion Gravy.

Sighting: Luna Eclipse

Luna Eclipse - Saturday, 3rd March, 2007


Londoners queuing up on The Strand trying to catch a glimpse of the rare Luna Eclipse

Niki and I met up at Harrods, and we walked to V&A hoping to see the newly opened Kylie Exhibition. We got there too late, all the tickets of the day for the exhibition was sold out. We just browsed around the permanent collection until it was time to meet up with her friends at the ICA.

After the museum, we went for tea and a sit down gossip on Knightsbridge. We walked to ICAsince we had time to kill. We had dinner there after we purchase our tickets for "The Bridge". A critically acclaimed documentary about suicides from the Golden Gate Bridge. The documentary left us quite uneasy.

After the film, we decided to go to The Strand for a pint. As we were walking, Niki and I couldn't help noticing the moon looked different tonight. Then we saw people queuing up, so we asked what it was about. Turned out that it was a luna eclipse and everyone is trying to look at it in between the buildings. We joined and looked for a while. Niki's friends said goodbye. I was still quite excited about the eclipse as I've never seen it before. I wanted to share this moment with someone, so I txted Mike. Surprisingly, he replied quickly. He was packing for his conference in Colorado. Niki and I went for a pint at the pub and chatted more afterwards.