Winston's Zen

Hooray! I've just returned from the hospital with the joyous news that it's time to throw away the crutches and the Stormtrooper boot and become bipedal again. Damn good timing too, my tickets for V2008 arrived this morning, so I've got ten days or so to work on the heel and get it strong enough for the rigours of a whole weekend in a field many miles from the nearest footstool. Can't wait for the weekend to come now, plenty of 'virgin' gigs for me. I've never seen The Prodigy's live show and I'll bet it's awesome, I'm desperate to see The Courteeners for the first time, and I really hope I can catch Noah and The Whale after missing out on their Scala gig a few weeks back. And then The Verve and Kings of Leon back to back on Sunday night - that's gonna be some finale to the weekend, if either of their Glastonbury performances are anything to go by.

Brimming with the kind of confidence that only being able to walk properly for the first time in three months can bring, Winston's Zen is set to make a special V related announcement later this week so... watch this space.....

Gotta mention the Dig Deep gig at the Islington Academy the other night. A charity night in aid of The Hampstead Marie Curie Cancer Care Hospice. A very worthy cause, and credit to everyone involved. Sol Devious were irresistably baggy and instantly likeable and carried a surprisingly large following with them into the venue early on. Jersey Budd may not be my thing, but he's a tight performer and a talented songwriter... the girls certainly seemed to like it. Headliners The Rifles skipped a dozen rungs and climbed a whole ladder in my estimation, as much for their performance as for the fact that their own management appeared to know nothing about the hastily arranged benefit show when Mrs Roache spoke to them as late as that very afternoon. A band making it's own decisions is always to be applauded. And it was nice to see Joel outside chatting to fans and posing for photo's after the show.

Being still technically injured, I managed to snag a front row spot, check out the video of Spend A Lifetime below - and see Winston's Zen's YouTube channel for more....


Pictures of it all in my Web Album's here.....

Well all except for Speed Circus who filled the unenviable post-last-tube slot, but including Starsailor's James Walsh, who played an intriguing cover of Liam Gallaghers Songbird. And before anyone says anything about my choice of host, Picassa's ok! And anyway, I'm still waiting for my FlickrPro account to activate.

Elsewhere in Winston's World, the Giglog expanded slightly, despite the slim pickings out there right now. (You've HAVE seen the Giglog, yeah? It's over on there on the right ---------------------------> check it out, it's where I'm gonna be.) As well as the afore mentioned V festival, (soon to be mentioned again in a VERY special announcement, remember?) I've cooked up plans to catch recent Zendar tinglers Four Dead In Ohio next month as well as Bournemouth boys Air Traffic at the very intimate 229 Great Portland Street in September. Tickets still available for both gigs. Highly recommended.

Talking of Zendar tinglers, this weeks ears have been thoroughly pricked by the Blues soaked Northern Soul oozing from Alan McGee backed The Heys album Young Bored & Broke. Weller fans everywhere should make a dash for this deceptively mature sounding debut.

That's all folks!

Oooh! Did I mention the VERY special V2008 announcement? Keep watching....

Back soon,
Winston