I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice-cream

So, two weeks later than I originally envisaged, to Clapham Common Ben & Jerry's Summer Sundae on, er, Saturday. Following the success of last years event, they decided to repeat it this year, again on a Sunday but the tickets sold out before I spotted them ... and I wouldn't have been too fussed by Jose Gonzalez and The Wonderstuff anyway. But then they added the Saturday with Echo & The Bunnymen, Badly Drawn Boy and the promise of free ice-cream ... for a fiver ... well it would be rude not to.

We arrived just in time to see The Pippettes on stage but I wasn't over-impressed from what I heard from a distance so we headed off for the free ice-cream instead, starting in the far corner next to the Vauxhall City Farm animals, including a pair of ferrets on a lead who seemed very friendly (but I wouldn't want them down my trousers - sharp teeth!). Cherry Garcia and another chocolate-based one with bits of cookie in .. very nice thank-you ... followed not long after by some Apple Pie ice-cream, complete with bits of pastry ... oops, too much too soon, that's enough ice-cream before I start getting giddy ... time for beer.

Having seen the sites - a gorgeous old (or maybe just old looking?) helter-skelter, various eco-friendly stalls, toe-wrestling, coconut shy, chocolate fountain with marshmallows for dipping, various people dressed up in animal suits - we made our way to the music stage where the recently arrived Larrakin Love had caught my ear.

I knew nothing of them - they're from London and were described as 'troubadours' in the promotional material - not a bad description that gives you an idea of what to expect but I was surprised how good they were. The music was a ramshackle mix of guitars, folk, ska, trumpets, fronted by an incredibly energetic (and bendy) lead singer who
pulled the whole thing together. Having got a bit jaded of the music scene of late, it's always good to come across something new and exciting - last time I got this buzz was seeing Art Brut at the Rhythm Factory. I shall be checking out their last couple of singles and hunting for that hard-to-find first EP.



Echo & The Bunnymen looked and sounded great during their set consisting mainly of hits of yore - The Killing Moon, Seven Seas, Bring on the Dancing Horses, The Back of Love, Never Stop and a blistering rendition of The Cutter to finish. Only a slightly plodding Nothing Ever Lasts Forever let them down.

Badly Drawn Boy is one of those artists I've always loved but never got round to seeing. It was a nice enough set and if there'd been someone on after him, I'd probably have come away with a more positive memory, but it did seem a bit of a flat end to proceedings.

Too old to rock'n'roll

An update is overdue so to start with I'm harking back a week or two ... with numerous rock and roll event coming up, for this weekend a more sedate option was chosen - a day trip to the seaside, Whitstable to be precise for the Oyster Festival. It seems strange having this in July when the native season doesn't start 'til September but hey, it's a nice day out in the (thankfully hazy) sunshine.

I don't generally enjoy train journeys but a Sunday paper passed the hour and twenty minutes from Victoria station, through the Medway Towns, out to the coast. Walking down from the station we first hit the harbour which, being the first place that everyone reached when coming from the station and car-parks, was rather crammed, but a few more minutes walk and there was space, fresh air and sea-food opportunities a plenty.

After a pint by the East Quay, we wandered around looking for somewhere suitable for a late lunch. Somehow we'd both forgotten about the original Wheelers Oyster Bar. In fact, we only came across it due to S's hunt for cigarettes (which I'd had a good old moan about until the bright pink edifice appeared). There are only a few tables in the restaurant section at the back and the hand-written list on an A4 sheet of paper was already full at the day, but we were told the same menu was available to eat at the counter - hooray, fine by us!

But the posh menu didn't seem quite right, and instead we opted to 'graze' from the lighter bites menus - devilled herring roes for S, a cracked crab salad for me, devilled whitebait and oysters forestiere (mushrooms, cream, paramasan and what may have been spring onion) to share ... we opted correctly! There was something quite pleasing about sitting their at the counter as people came in for the tub of whelks, or sat down for a quick half dozen rocks (or queued to sit down).

The evening, as evenings often do, ended at the Retro for some beers in convivial company - all very civilised - perhaps it's the way forward.

Look No Strings!

Last week was the sixth time I've seen Eels live, beating near contenders The Pixies and Beck for most seen artist (it might have been Pete Doherty in his various guises if he'd turned up to every show he was meant to). It was an excellent gig, as good as all the previous ones whilst, as ever, keeping it fresh.

The first time I saw him (for 'tis really him, with a constantly evolving band) was at The Dominion Theatre supporting the 'Dasies in the Galaxy album'. It was all very upbeat, big brass band, people dressed up as animals, Santa Claus etc (cf The Flaming Lips). It was here I first learnt their trick which still impresses and amuses me today, which involves doing an encore, a second encore, maybe a third encore and then the house lights come up and the music comes on ... then about five minutes later, they dash back on stage with the lights up to rattle through one or two more tracks, as people dash back in, coats half on. It feels a bit like a treat for the old fans, those in the know.

So the second time at The Forum, I was expecting a show along the same lines. Not at all ... he came on wearing a duffel coat and huge beard, looking like the Unabomber, and spent the whole show hunched over his keyboard. The show was at the time of 'Souljacker' and the mood fitted the album ... even a cover of 'Get Yr Freak On' was scary.

So the third time, at the Royal Festival Hall ('Shootenanny' era), I knew not to expect anything - what we got was a five piece, guitar heavy band dressed in red boiler suits, E starting the show at the back of the hall, winding his way down through the audience with his harmonica.

The fourth and fifth time (RHF and QEH) was flagged Eels with Strings, so for once we had an idea of what was coming - string quartet, guy on double bass and a drummer playing suitcases, a bin and other assorted items (bit like the Tiger Lillies drummer). These shows, captured on the live 'Eels with Strings' albums were sublime, beautifully showcasing the double 'Blinking Lights and Other Revelations' album, but also re-interpreting many old tracks in new ways - something that he does in each show. The shows were preceded by a wonderful 20 minute Eastern European cartoon and a short montage of footage from previous shows, cut with interviews - including a sublime moment when he was being interviewed by an American pop presenter where he espouses, with a totally straight face, the merits of Britney Spears, which culminates in him declaring her probably more important than Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon and Kurt Cobain combined.

This time? Well it based billed as "No Strings Attached", and I guessed after the last shows it would be a rather louder affair and so it was. A three-piece band, plus a "security guard" who would come out with one liners between tracks (E didn't speak), play the odd bit of percussion (a bell here, some steel there) and, under the direction of Mr E, give high fives or squirt cream into audience members mouths. Blinking Lights being a double album, I've only ever once listened to it straight through and have generally gone straight to the 2nd CD - this show brought out some of the other tracks not covered with strings - 'Mother Mary' really stood out, but I adore 'Railroad Man'.

I feel like an old railroad man
Getting on board at the end of an age
The station's empty and the whistle blows
Things are faster now
And this train is just too slow
And i know i can walk along the tracks
It may take a little longer
But i'll know how to find my way back

Tracks off 'Souljacker' worked particuarly well - 'Souljacker Part I' and 'That's Not Really Funny', the other track people realise they know apart from 'Novacaine for the Soul' when you tell them it's the theme from Monkey Dust (well they know the instrumental bits anyway) ... and you can usually get a reaction if you say 'My Beloved Monster', you know, that one out of Shrek - covered here in Country & Western style. There were also slower more poignant moments, usually accompanied by E on hammond organ. Only one encore this time ... well, and the extra one of course.

At the usual rate of output we should be due another album and visit early next year ... I shall be there.