Dark Satanic Mills?

During my somewhat nomadic existence, I have lived in quite a few places in the UK. From the rolling warm hills of Dorset to the wild Fylde coast, I have experienced some of the many lifestyles available to the lucky citizen of this sceptred isle. I now live in South Manchester, not you would think an obvious choice for the discerning Bedouin, but Manchester is a very surprising city, full of contradiction yet maintaining a comforting traditional side too. I love the fact that it’s full of trees and parks. I always think that you can tell a good city by how many parks it has and Manchester fulfils this criterion nicely. It’s just the right size for my ageing limbs to wander about in and there’s always some kind of art/music festival to go to. Of course the fact that it’s home to some of the best modern music in the world doesn’t hurt either. But most of all (as the genius known as Greg has just reminded me) the thing I love about Manchester is me in it.

What is wrong with these people?

Yes, I know, it’s a little hysterical but I bet it got your attention. The thing is, why do people insist on drinking so much at gigs? If they want to get drunk surely it’s cheaper to go to a pub? Every gig I’ve been to, from George Benson at the MEN to Radiohead at the Cricket Club, has been infested with people who cannot sit still and listen to the music, but must drink the insipid overpriced beer.

What happened to the days when people (old hippies like me) used to go to a gig to listen to the band? People nowadays are so interested in showing themselves off they hardly notice the artist. Perhaps this is why at nearly every gig I’ve been to the band has played a very limited encore, almost like they couldn’t wait to leave. I can’t blame them. The ambient noise at the MEN is atrocious. Soon the artists will have to sign. Shut up, sit down and let me hear the music!