Mew O2 ABC Glasgow - 5/11/09

Mew deliver a strong performance for their Glasgow fans.

On a typically cold Scottish night, my brother and I set out for the ABC on Sauchiehall Street to attend the Mew Concert.

We missed the support act and arrived just prior to Mew taking the stage. I have seen the venue much busier, but those who were in attendance showed their appreciation, for an on song performance, throughout the gig.

There was a good mixture of older and newer songs - something that brought about some disagreement between my brother and I. He prefers the more complicated and innovative newer songs, a style that could be described as 'Space Rock', where as I like the rawer riffs from the first album. Perhaps this is because, at times, some of these riffs remind me of the gone but not forgotten Afghan Whigs.

Anyway, it is a mute point as all the songs were performed with precision and plenty of noise throughout. The band have a tight sound that holds the attention and left this concert-goer satisfied that the ticket was money well spent.

Also worth mentioning were the visual elements to the show. Although the frequent strobe lighting was at times uncomfortable, the animation scenes projected onto large screens definitely enhanced the spectacle - in particular the creepy old lady (who reminded me of a distorted Helen Mirren), and the lamenting Teddy Bear (who sounded gruffer than Barry White).

Overall, the concert exceeded my expectations and I would encouraged Mew fans who have yet to see them live to do so next time they play. I know I will be there.

View: 4/5

Dead Man's Shoes

I watched the film Dead Man's Shoes (2004), directed by Shane Meadows (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0276349/), earlier today and found it to be very engaging and enjoyable.

It is often difficult to deal with violent themes without descending into gratuitous violence, but Meadow's film manages this by leaving much to the imagination where other film-makers may have chosen a gorier path. Further, such scenes are balanced with moments that are both poignant and emotive.

I won't give details of the plot away as to do so would detract from viewing pleasure due to the way the narrative unfolds, where flashbacks playing an important part. But, what I will say is that the film could be seen as a post-modern western. Richard (played by the excellent Paddy Considine) takes on the role of the lone gunman returning to a lawless town (there is no mention or evidence of the existence of the police) to take care of a bunch of no-good bandits lead by Sonny (Gary Stretch).

If I am honest, I often give British cinema (and television) a wide berth, preferring to spend my time gazing at the offerings from America, Asia, and mainland Europe. There is no specific reason for this that I can think of, but if I was to hazard a guess then a conclusion involving the work (?) of a certain Mr Ritchie may be reached.

However, Dead Man's Shoes has made me re-address my attitude towards British films and I will be actively seeking out the other films' from the director's oeuvre, in particular This is England (2006) and Somers Town (2008) both of which I never got round to seeing on release.

Is it time for a BBC Sports Channel?

This post is on a general sport-related theme but is also relevant to the BBC as a whole.

In recent years, the quality and variety of the BBC's sports coverage has decreased significantly as it struggles to compete with the huge buying power of SKY. With the exception of a few trophies, the cabinet is looking somewhat bare.

A solution for this could be found through the creation of a dedicated BBC sports channel. This channel would allow the BBC to keep all its sports coverage in the one place, pleasing sports and non-sports fans alike, as the main BBC channels would not be clogged with sports coverage.

The BBC already gains its revenue for broadcasting through the license fee. What I propose is a 'supplementary fee' for those wanting to watch live sports on the BBC. This extra subscription fee would allow the BBC to compete again for some of the big sporting events: the ashes, EPL, SPL, international football, tennis and golf majors, the list goes on.

In the wake of the Setanta meltdown, what better time could there be for the BBC to make its move and provide a great product at a decent price for the financially-stretched customer?

For example, the BBC sports channel could work on a pay-per-view system and coincide its launch with a bid for live coverage of Scottish Premier League football. This could be gained at a good price (a lot less than the ridiculous figure Setanta offered) and there is a reasonably large market of subscribers willing to pay for this product. Why should British subscribers line the pocket of multi-national media corporations, like SKY or ESPN, when we have a great platform in our own country? Further, the BBC could move Formula One to this channel and recoup some of the money spent to gain the rights to broadcast this premium sport.

The BBC is an attractive proposition to a possible subscriber. There are many people out there who do not want to subscribe to SKY due to its affiliation with Rupert Murdoch and his News Corporation. The BBC does not have this problem.

Many people will argue that the license fee is already high enough, but they must be realistic: if you want to see the very best sport then you have to be willing to pay for it. I think that the BBC could provide this service and at a reasonable price. The BBC is unique in the world of broadcasting but it must evolve with the time to provide the licence fee payer with the programming they want. This sports channel could herald a new chapter in the corporations history, and a refreshing one at that.

I'm interested to hear what others think...