Steve Faster’s blog

Bradfield Vs Warby: Top 5 War Films

nobody@vox.com(Steve Faster) — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 23:17:13 +0100

James Dean Bradfield:

1. Come & See

2. Letters From Iwo Jima

3. Zulu

4. Apocalypse Now

5. Das Boot

Steve Warby:

1. Apocalypse Now

2. The Big Red One

3. Full Metal Jacket

4. The Battle Of Algiers

5. MASH

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Friday night....

nobody@vox.com(Steve Faster) — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 20:41:19 +0100

Friday night was spent at home, finally having a proper dinner for the first time this week. Peep Show's on the tele, a re-run, but stil hilarious. The laughs are short lived mind you as I need to be in Camden for a gig at 12:30am. That mean's leaving my house at 11:30pm just as the pubs are kicking out. I share a 45min bus journey with some of North London's drunkest people....one of them, sitting opposite me, throws up where she thinks nobody can see her. She may be unable to control the eruptions of alcohol gushing backwards from her stomach, but 5 minutes later and she's perfectly focused on skinning up a spliff with the ease of someone perfectly sober. Remarkable.

The 10 minute walk from the Camden bus stop to the venue is one of the most depressing I will ever take. Every other person I pass is either a dealer trying to flog me some dodgy gear or a policeman grappling with another Friday night casualty. Alot of people tell me this is what makes London so colourful, but I'm afraid at 12:15am on a cold March early morning with me feeling tired and miserable, I just can't see it this way.

Step inside the venue and I'm in a different world. There's not one person in here not having a good time and my spirits are instantly lifted. I clock a couple of friends who get me a beer and introduce me to a couple of bands who have played earlier in the evening and we all head upstairs to watch Man Like Me, the band that are the reason for me out and about tonight in the first place. Man Like Me are 2 producers and a vocalist, totally infectious electro with some of the sharpest lyrics about the grime and shit of everyday life - yet their wry take on it all is at times truly hilarious. Watching the 3 of them dance about the stage like Madness while the crowd climb atop of each other's shoulders and bounce around the venue, invading the stage 3 times, is wholly uplifting and the thought of the journey here couldn't be further from my mind.

Gig over in what feels like the blink of an eyelide, I head home. The walk back to the bus stop is uneventful, the dealers and the cops are still there in force yet I manage to phase it all out, thinking only of Oxford's game against Burton Albion the next day. A win would help cement a play off place, wouldn't that be nice?

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It's a beautiful day in the neighbourhood

nobody@vox.com(Steve Faster) — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 21:59:09 +0100

Apparently this blog was featured on popjustice.com today....that makes me like a minor celebrity. If you are reading as a result of this, then welcome.

Hi, welcome to my blog

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This Week's Gigs....

nobody@vox.com(Steve Faster) — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 12:49:09 +0100

It's been a busy week of gigs.....

Monday - Oxford United vs Dagenham & Redbridge - this isn't actually a gig at all.......what it was, was one of the greatest football moments the conference has seen all season. A total thriller with Oxford back playing to their full potential. Apart, that is, from letting in Dagenham's last minute equaliser.

Tuesday - Gravity Crisis - great full throtle rock band from the midlands. Set opener Battle is a favourite track of mine right now.

Aela - lunatic art pop from Scandinavia. Completely bonkers and worth seeing again.

Children Collide - the second time i have seen them recently. The most melodic moments of Sonic Youth with a full on energetic stage show. The guitarist cracked an audience member in the head with his guitar during the last song. Apparently there was a bit of bleeding.

Wednesday - The Social - very English indie pop with dark undercurrents. Great voice.

The Darling Buds - are these guys models? I'm not sure i was good looking enough to be at this gig.

Nat Jenkins And The Delmars - heard rumours there is some sort of Kooks connection here. They certainly look like they could have been part of the same band.

Joe Lean & The Jing Jang Jong - pulled an enormous crowd of industry types. Singer reminds me of Marc Bolan or early Mick Jagger. Unfortunately the sound in the venue was a bit ropey so will see them again.

Thursday - Invasion - awesome thunderous rock noise. Only their second gig with new singer so still finding their feet, but worth keeping an eye on.

Another night of gigs tonight, and then Oxford are due to give Burton a good thrashing in the Conference tomorrow. Might have a long lie down on Sunday.

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Lets all move to Holloway Road

nobody@vox.com(Steve Faster) — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 10:28:31 +0000

When did Holloway Road go upmarket? Last night I ventured to my brother's new flat just behind Holloway Road tube with some mates, some beer, and a dirty great curry to watch Oxford United on Sky Sports. Despite the grubby reality of Holloway Road itself, take any turn off from the main road and you are face to face with some of the poshest new flats London has to offer. My brother lives on 7th floor of one of these that overlooks nearly ALL of London. Apparently, if you buy one of said flats you get an Arsenal seasonal ticket thrown in for free?!

Anyway, Oxford could only manage a paltry 1-1 draw with lowly Halifax town. In a game devoid of any quality (why would we want to make ourselves look any good in front of the TV cameras?) we took the lead with a goal from big Marvin Robinson - who did his best to miss from 1 yard - before our defence packed up and went home. It was a well taken goal from Halifax - but the chap who scored was literally the only man in the 18 yard box.

Ho hum....playoffs it is then.

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Steve with Sharks

nobody@vox.com(Steve Faster) — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 09:41:42 +0000

I am one totally hard bastard

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3 Things You Should Check Out Today.....

nobody@vox.com(Steve Faster) — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 15:45:38 +0000

1. The Race's 'Be Your Alibi' album....

Quirky off kilter Americana....only from Berkshire. If they were from mid-west America, had enormous beards and wore truckers caps we'd all be raving about them. Saw them last night at a Fopp instore and they were great. Go check them out.

www.myspace.com/raceuk or www.theraceuk.com

2. Little Miss Sunshine.....

Wonderful uplifting film about a dysfunctional family and their journey to a beauty pageant. Nowhere near as pretentious as the advertising made it look when released in the cinema. Alot of care went into the making of this film.

3. Brief History Of Oxford United......

say no more.

Oxford United FC - Brief visual history.

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Valderrama iV: A New Hope

nobody@vox.com(Steve Faster) — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 09:24:21 +0000

Hello Valderrama faithful, 100 thanks to you all for your support on Saturday....what a success it was - the best ever?

Our enormous gratitude to the wonderful Hoosiers....a great band with some great songs and some remarkable facial hair. Anyone that didn't catch them should check here for their songs: www.myspace.com/thehoosiers

The day was rounded off nicely with a much needed 3-0 away win at Altrincham by the mighty Oxford. It's still not too late for that automatic promotion place you know.

See you next month.....

Valderamma-march17

Corcorran's goal against Altrincham

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Taste The Rainbow.....NO

nobody@vox.com(Steve Faster) — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 13:15:28 +0000

don't you just hate whispering? it really drives me round the fucking bend. It's like, just speak up you dickheads. a bit like that Skittles advert from the 90's.....you know, "taste the rainbow". Could there ever have been a more annoying tv ad? that uses whispering to sell its product. what could be worse? it's both annoying and causes you to lose money on sugary pellets. I wanted to add the video clip of that here, but couldn't find it. Instead, check out this Skittles ad with totally awesome music soundbed:

skittles

and here's a couple of prats mucking about:

taste the rainbow while sleeping

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And You Will Know Us By The Trail of my gas

nobody@vox.com(Steve Faster) — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 12:25:36 +0000

Hello bloggers, last night i went to see the mighty And You Will know Us By The Trail Of The Dead...at London's Koko. It totally rocked. I drank 7 pints of very fizzy lager and have terrible gas today. Mistakes And Regrets remains the band's finest hour if you ask me:

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