Aubergine surprise

I like the look of aubergines, but never quite know what to do with them. Nigel Slater recently had an interesting sounding recipe in The Observer Magazine: ‘Pasta Aubergine and Pine Kernels’. And, you know, it looked simple. Unfortunately, unless you get the basics right it can be downhill from there, as twas!
The split and scored aubergine had to be baked for 25 mins or until soft. Oops, should have kept it in the oven for a while longer. Because the next instruction was: “beating constantly, pour in the olive oil until you have a smooth paste, just thick enough to coat the pasta”. Jays, I would have had to use an industrial food processor to get a smooth paste. So I settled for small, and medium, lumps :¬)

It didn’t taste tooo bad, the lemon, basil, and lemon juice combined nicely.
Here’s a pic – shockin’ lookin’ eh? At least it wasn't inflicted on anyone. I'm so out of cooking practice.

Bruni, anyone?

Haven’t been able to appreciate what all the fuss is about (ok model, singer etc etc, blah blah). Her looks kind of remind me of Odo in Deep Space Nine (a less extreme version), all the bumps smoothed out, except maybe for the cheekbones. Am I totally off the mark here?

Retail therapy

For the first time went shopping for footwear when it's coming into the shops, usually I'm too late. Haven't bought Docs for years, too many memories of blistered heels while breaking them in. But... couldn't resist these:

The photo doesn't really pick up their dark green colour, and there's a zip, so you don't have to lace up each time, easy peasy.

Zombies in the U.S.

Just read the kind of pro-feminist, liberal article in Salon that fires the enthusiasm. Here's a couple of choice paras:

"What Palin so seductively represents, not only to Donny Deutsch but to the general populace, is a form of feminine power that is utterly digestible to those who have no intellectual or political use for actual women. It's like some dystopian future ... feminism without any feminists."

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"But while the Republicans would have us believe that Palin can simply stand in for Hillary Clinton, there is nothing interchangeable about these politicians. We began this history-making election with one kind of woman and have ended up being asked to accept her polar opposite. Clinton's brand of femininity is the kind that remains slightly unpalatable in America. It is based on competence, political confidence and an assumption of authority that upends comfortable roles for men and women. It's a kind of power that has nothing to do with the flirtatious or the girly, nothing to do with the traditionally feminine. It is authority that is threatening because it so closely and calmly resembles the kind of power that the rest of the guys on a presidential stage never question their right to wield."

Other Leccie Picnic views

Lauren has some nice bits about the bands at the Picnic.

Una, not so much about the music though.

Lots of comments on Jim's blog.

Jim Carroll & Josh Ritter.

Electric Picnic roundup

A bit late with the EP final entry, but work's been busy. Anyway, for immediacy I did text a few mini reviews to LouderVoice over the weekend.

Highlights: My Bloody Valentine, Santogold, Elbow, Martina Topley-Bird. Food. Mochas.

Lowlight: Sound problems: The Kills, CSS, Martina Topley-Bird

Missed: Dawn Landes, Wilco, The Gossip, Grinderman

Days: Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Friday
Journey from Cork, via Kilkenny, was surprisingly Ok. Arrived onsite and caught the end of Tinariwen on the main stage. Very exotic in their Tuareg clothing. Very funky sounds, contrasting with the female backing singers' ululating. Fascinating.
Arrived too late for Dawn Landes though, and haven't heard even a murmur about her set.
T.is a Joan As Policewoman fan and so dragged me along; while I knew the name I didn't know her music. Fantastic set and nice interaction with the crowd, came across as bright, and funny. Used to sing with Antony and the Js. Playing the Button Factory on 16th Dec.
Only caught the end of Goldfrapp in the main arena, balls! Happiness, Ooh La La, Caravan Girl all had the crowd dancing, especially Ooh La La. Looked like they'd put on a great show.
Hands up, I'll admit that I didn't wait for Sigur Ros (had to look after the dog in KK Fri night). J. n T. said they were brilliant, L. admitted that listening to the same song for 90 minutes was hard going - 'nuff said!

Saturday
Cathy Davey: She got off to a good start, crowd were into it. But after the 5th or 6th number, it just went flat. So I left.
The Kills: Love The Kills album, Midnight Boom, and it was great to hear tracks from the album, opening with U.R.A. Fever, but they were badly let down by the shite sound provided in the Crawdaddy marquee. And the stage seemed a little empty with just Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince - but then that's their usual minimalist style. The sound defeated me in the end, so I moved next door to:
The Breeders: Kim and the gang were about 2/3s through their set, starting No Aloha, I think. They're just so familiar to me now, having been a fan for years, and seeing them earlier this year. Didn't get the same thrill as in Vicar St, possibly the smaller venue and the anticipation heightened the experience then. At EP Happiness is a Warm Gun and Cannonball were still crackers, and couple of numbers from Mountain Battles.
Met RuthMc afterwards who was in a trance and couldn't speak, has been enthralled by Kim Deal since the Pixies :~)
Elbow: Again, T. recommended them. And we were both blown away. Amazing, impressive set. The music had a richness and depth which captivated. They finished off with One Day Like This - gorgeous!
Grace Jones: Mightn't have bothered, only S. wanted to go (wouldn't mind but she buggered off after 3 songs). Grace came on and climbed onto a raised platform at the back of the stage, her silhouette adding to the drama. Her basic costume consisted of a leotard (is she 60? Amazing!) and she simply changed the outer gear for every single song - great performer. Really, you don't go for the music, but the spectacle.
Franz Ferdinand: Have never been a great fan, prefer the Arctic Monkeys, just filling in time before Santogold. Still, the boys had the crowd going and a couple of their numbers were fun. Won't be rushing out for their albums though.
Santogold: One of the gigs I was looking forward to, and she didn't disappoint. The small Cosby marquee was packed, and we all got hot and sweaty from the bopping. She got through most of the tracks from the album, and the band were brilliant. Special mention to the 2 backing singers/dancers. 1 on either side of the stage, dressed identically, in big, big sunglasses, and perfectly synchronized in their movements for the entire show. The audience was wowed and demanded an encore, Santogold obliged, which no other act had. Cool.

I wimped out of the camping. T&S, J&L had rented a house near Emo and the offer of a bed and a bathroom was too strong to refuse. Just having a shower Sun morning was worth it. Anyway, the drive was no hassle cos I didn't bother drinking at the weekend - too much to see; got by on tea, mochas, and bottles of water.
And I know it's not really the done thing to buy a band's t-shirt that you've not heard, should've gone to see Wilco, but couldn't resist the t-shirt, a sweet grey-striped one (had to be stripes!).

Sunday
Hercules & Love Affair: Went for the novelty and lasted 2 numbers. Reports afterwards were that they were great, but they didn't grab me.
CSS: Another act on my list. But had to leave the Electric Arena marquee, the sound was appalling! Later on Sunday one girl said that CSS were the main reason she came to EP and her experience was ruined. I can't understand how something so fundamental to a music festival can be so badly managed.
Foals: Had no expectations, they're one of the many boy brit indie bands. Very enjoyable, sparky, sharp, fun.

There was a bit of a balls-up with our car parking, so I'd to dash out and move the car, and then helped T&S move their stuff, so by the time I eventually got back I'd missed The Gossip and Grinderman, but you can't have it all, and a banana n nutella crepe kept me going ;-)

My Bloody Valentine: Outstanding. One of those legendary bands you're not sure how they'll pan out live. No worries, an amazing show. The sound, lights, and video images on screen were hypnotic. Repeating a line from my mini-review: "...jaayysus, the crescendos during the final number made you want to scream for release."
Martina Topley-Bird: I've been a big fan since a Jools Holland appearance, and 'Quixotic'. And was thrilled when she was added late to the EP bill. After MBV, I bombed across the site to meet T&S by the Body and Soul stage. Thought I'd be late, but we ended up sitting around for an hour. Don't think it was M T-B's fault, the organisation was a shambles. When she did come on, and opened with 'Lying' I slid down the side of the hill to the front of the small stage. Those of us in the first 4 rows were able to sit on the bark mulch and drink it in. But... the buggerin' sound was screwed up again, back up the hill apparently the feedback was brutal. M T-B was so charming and patient through it all. She played 3 or 4 numbers from Quixotic, and a couple from 'The Blue God', but even if she'd sang 'Humpty Dumpty' that would've been enough for me.

Driving back to KK at 1.30am it started to rain.