Delivering refreshment

Carlsberg, originally uploaded by Grant S.

Just fancy a beer right now, now which brand to choose?

Reasons that bikers wear boots…

I have always taken protection fairly seriously. As a seasoned all year round rider one learns what works and what doesn’t, and also what can make the difference between bruising and broken limbs.

So I have always worn boots, sometimes massive knee length Motocross style, currently lightweight shin length. And sometimes one sees other reasons why boots are a good idea. I will let my comrade Mr Snark regale you with the tale in his own inimitable fashion. I still have the mental image engraved like a snapshot in my mind

You can’t see me…

…but I can see you!

Old farts rejoice! The Cure hit Singapore!

There are those amongst us who have passed the midway point of 40 years of age, and thus have vast reservoirs of nostalgia for bands/groups/beat combos that they enjoyed in their youth, and that still rouse them to passionate heights of ecstasy years, nay, decades later.

I am still proud that I saw Led Zeppelin play their 3rd to last ever concert in 1980, courted my then girlfriend through countless Rush/Rainbow/Iron Maiden/Motorhead/Queen & many, many more concerts in the 1980-1983 period. The fact that she is now my wife says volumes for her tolerance of my bad taste, but good intentions

But I always had a foot in both camps, so to speak, and was moved to white riot by The Clash, The Stranglers, Stiff Little Fingers, Husker Du, Magazine, and ultimately The Cure. A band that epitomized gloom and despondency throughout their first three albums, then became all cheerful and eighties pop-py, before mixing the two into glorious swashes of scintillating sound. First level of perfection was achieved at the Glastonbury festival in 1986 when Lucy’s Diamonds *cough/reference* and pouring rain provided an experience like no other. Eerie, dark, potent.

Then the 90’s. Amalgamation, further consolidation of a unique sound with experimentation and raw power. The seminal 1990 album “Disintegration.” Several more excellent albums followed before “Bloodflowers” in 2000. End of an era, end of the band? Hiatus.

2004 - Eponymous album “The Cure.” A raging, screaming, howling return to form. Shredded licks with wah-wah goodness. Multi-vitamins for the starving brain.

2007 - First ever Singapore concert as The Cure tour the World again, with another album in the pipeline.

I grew up with this band’s music more than any other, more empathy, more passion, more joy than any other (with the possible exception of Hawkwind, but that is another story for another drug day) so at precisely 9:00am today I booked my best seats, booked the hotel, and Singapore; here we come! Maybe the last time, maybe the last chance, but Mrs S and I will be there, and it will be absolutely euphoric and emotional and uplifting to the heart and soul.

And I can’t bloody wait!!!!!!!!!!!