The Adventures and Misadventures of La Adder Noir

Hello! My name is Liam and I go to a lot of gigs/events and I figured it'd be cool to share some of my experiences. Most of these will be in and around the Glasgow area but some might be a bit further afield..

[laaddernoir2-blog]

Event - Braufest 2016

Venue - Revaler Str. 99, 10245 Berlin

Date - 10/09/16

I love beer.

I love the taste, trying different ones, the graphics that the craft beers use for their labels and did I mention the taste? Imagine my delight when I found out that during my four days in Berlin the city was hosting it's annual beer festival? A total coincidence too, and very very good one at that.

Firstly a few words about the location. I have no fucking clue what was going on around that part of the city but it was great. How to describe it.. Well it wasn't in the centre, quite far out actually. I would say it was in the "Art district", its a maze of seemingly derelict buildings all covered in graffiti. But they are far from derelict, there's pubs, clubs, restaurants and even a skatepark inside them. It's an amazingly diverse place that was probably my favourite part of the city and slap bang in the middle was Braufest.

I was unsure of what to expect, I always saw German Beer festivals as indoor affairs (long benches, lederhosen ect ect), what I got was something like a beer market. We showed out tickets got ushered inside and handed a pint glass. And then we had something like 50 stalls (with a few beers each) to pick and choose frrom, I was in heaven! The sun was shining, the DJ was playing some chilled out dance music and everyone was having a good time.

How many beers did I have? No idea, I probably had something like 10 half pints (It was so cheap 2 euros for 0.3L), I remember my favourite being "Miami Wiess" (not just because of the name), but there was also an instantly strong one which was about 9% that was actually pretty tasty.

And the food! Before I left everyone was telling me to try Currywurst, which while is ten-a-penny veggie ones unfortunately are not. That is until the beer fest where they just happen to have a veggie Currywurst stand. It was nice, it'd gladly have it again. It's like a sausage in a curry/tomato sauce. Jolly good! Before we knew it the sun was setting over the derelict buildings and the time was up! But what a day (the night carried on for quite a while), like the rest of the trip everything just fell into place and it was perfect.

[laaddernoir2-blog]

Movie - One more time with feeling

Venue - Kino Theatre, Berlin

Date - 08/09/16

Firstly a note about movie going. I won’t normally be including trips to the cinema on this list, but I felt that this was a special occasion, as it was a once time worldwide event. And plus Nick Cave.

Jesus Christ, that was difficult to watch. Basically the film is about Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds recording their latest album “The Skeleton Tree”, this would no doubt make a good documentary by itself, but no they are recording the album only 5 months after the tragic death of 15 year old Arthur Cave, Nick’s eldest son. Like I said, difficult to watch.

The film is incredibly intimate look at Nick Cave, his family and the band, they are still clearly in shock and in deep grief. I’m not sure why he agreed to let them film him during this fragile time, maybe he felt like he need to voice certain things.

Nick Cave is one of my heroes (He was responsible for the greatest gig and maybe night of my life), usually (at least publicly) he’s a man full of mysterious charm and charisma, a larger than life character who is obviously no stranger to the darker side, but this look at him shows a much different man. After a take of one the songs hes narrating about the performance and muses “I should have sung stronger, I think I’m losing my voice’”. He uncharacteristically is full of indecision and doubt, but thankfully we have Warren Ellis, on paper he’s a member of the band, Nick’s often collaborator and friend and but in reality he’s so much more than that “ What would I do without him?” Cave muses. “He is holding everything together.” I wonder if he knows how invaluable he is to Cave?

It’s strange that something so devastating can be so beautiful, it’s an incredibly stunning film to look at. It’s filing in black and using a 3D camera, which really helps with the intimacy.

It was truly an experience that’ll never forget. 

[laaddernoir2-blog]

Band - Pup

Venue - King Tut’s

Date - 06/09/16

I don’t think there is a better venue when it rocking than King Tut’s and last night it was rocking bit time.

Firstly a few words on the support bands, first up was Shit Present - Always tough being the first band on the bill, but they were good, sounded fine and I enjoyed watching them. Next up was Solids, they benefited from a larger crowd than Shit Present and bloody hell they really delivered, they sounded great, the crowd liked them too, the frantic energy coming off the stage was difficult not to enjoy. I’d go and see these guys again tomorrow. 

Then it was time for the headliners, Pup. It became apparent that myself and partner in crime where the only people there who didn’t know them, because as soon as they stepped on the stage the place went fucking nuts. The usual Glasgow chant of  “ here we, here we, here we fucking go” greeted the band soon as they stepped foot on stage (much to their enjoyment) and despite their youthful appearance they played like punk veterans. It was a set blistering with energy and the crowd lapped it it and threw it right back at the band. There youth became apparent when it was still like this 8 songs in.

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any wilder (the most crowd surfing I’ve seen in KT’s), pup finished and ended up giving us an encore, something they’re not accustomed too apparently. They end up bring on the the bassist from Shit Present, who turns out to be the lead singer of punk band Gnarwolves! They play what I’d guess is a Gnarwolves song and again the crowd goes ape. The new singer was literally standing on the crowd  and singing down to them and that song alone was worth the price of admission.

Just a quick note - It was great seeing a band clearly enjoying the experience. Pup, you’re welcome back anytime!

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Sportz!?

When I first had the idea for this blog, I didn’t think it would have started with a sporting event, no I probably should have started it last weekend when I went to the Glasgow Summer Sessions on the Saturday and Leeds Festival on Sunday, but I’m lazy so you get sport.

But what a fucking sport to start with! I’ve never been into Ice Hockey and the though of a Glasgow based hockey team filled me with a little bit of dread (Much like when Americans play football, it’s just not quite right), I can safely say that I was not only surprised but that I actually loved it!

Firstly the crowd - I harboured a fear it would be quite empty and lacking in any atmosphere, again I was wrong (Something you’ll hear me say quite often), the nearly sold out crowd went for it bit time, we had chats, booing, slander and of course cheers. Everything a sporting event needs right? Also everyone (included at least one baby) was rocking a Braehead Clan Jersey. An A+ for the crowd.

You go to an ice hockey game expecting one thing.. violence (well I do), and we had it in abundance. This was no amateur friendly, this was a full blooded affair (Post game I wasn’t shocked to learn that the majority of the players were Canadian and this was their profession), it was marvellous.

The final result was the only downside, we lost 3-4 to the“Fife Flyers”, but the loss included - The Clan taking the lead but then losing only to score an equaliser in dying embers of the final period to drag the game into SUDDEN DEATH (very tense), they scored again and we lost.

So a great day was had, a day full of surprises,  I’ll definitely be going back (with my Braehead Clan Jersey). We play Edinburgh soon...