As you can gather, I didn't sleep so well last night, and it is Monday morning.
On the other hand, when I was a lad, I did enjoy the likes of Slade, Sweet, T-Rex, Mud and so on. I wasn't so keen on Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, but they did have a few good hits. And I'm one for a good pop tune. Friends asked us if we'd like to go and see Steve Harley last week, so I shrugged my shoulders and said, "Why not?". The night before we spent the evening on You Tube trying to remember all those Steve Harley songs which have long been forgotten and found such gems as Judy Teen, Mr Raffles, Here comes the Sun (yes, yes, I know it wasn't his originally, but he does sing it pretty damned well) and of course Come Up and make Me Smile. Along we trotted to Shepherds Bush to listen for a couple of hours. And what a cracking couple of hours it was. New, songs, old songs sung with energy, enthusiasm and gusto...he clearly loves to be on the stage. And it was nice that for once I was the youngest in the audience rather than the oldest.
Only one mystery. By the end of the '70's he was definitely as bald as Elton John. And now he has a full head of hair. How can that be?
Another evening's pleasure has been to see the extraordinary Money by Shunt. It's pretty hard to describe...an interactive performance about why people are motivated by speculation...of the money kind. That totally undersells it, and if you have an evening free, chance an arm and go along and see it...it's on in dear Bermondsey Street for the rest of June...and if you're passing I'll buy you a pint in The Garrison before you get shunted into place by Banksy-esque policemen with their pretty balloons. The boy was given a Mars Bar as part of the performance , "An indulgent choice youn man" which he scoffed down in one mouthful...I'd have treasured it until it was rotten myself.
MONEY BY SHUNT from Susanne Dietz on Vimeo.
And here's the mad, mad, song that got us all going....
Money from Susanne Dietz on Vimeo.
It can be found at www.shuntmoney.co.uk
