Fearless Vampire Killers: Oxford - 14th April 2013

As it is now a week since our trip to Oxford it is certainly time to get off my backside (figuratively speaking as I am currently say at my computer) and write it up.

The decision to go was a simple enough one.  I may have been an FVK fan for all of 5 minutes but I really wanted to see them live.  There was no particular date on Fearless Vampire Killers' (FVK) Diamonds and Disgrace (D&D) Tour (at that point) that would be easier for us to get to than another.  The two April dates in Bristol didn't apply - the first being as a support act for the Misfits, the second being the first day of the Hit The Deck Festival.  Sorry, but I'm just not that fussed about other bands - I just want to see my boys so the D&D tour dates it had to be.  I picked Oxford because it's not so very far from my parents in Reading, it's a great place to visit and because it was a Sunday so I thought it'd be the most convenient for us.

Unfortunately, being a bit of an idiot I bought the tickets before I actually checked the train times and that was where it all became a bit more of an adventure...

So then I had to book a B&B for the night.  I won't go into how badly I cocked that up.  Let's just point out that I'd never done such a thing before and the chap had a really difficult accent and leave it there.  We got it all figured out in the end and we checked in okay in the end so no harm done, except to my pride.

My elder daughter Erin (17) was pretty excited about our trip as she's really into FVK too.  My younger daughter Kathleen (14) was less so because she is unbelievably weird and got very upset about having to miss school on the Monday.  And she wonders why she's such a misunderstood beastie...

Last Sunday we got all our bits and bobs together and headed out.  It was a pretty long journey - one of the Intercity trains to Reading that stops at every lamppost y'know?  The times I'd been given were all wrong and the journey took almost 2 hours longer than anticipated.  Then a regular train north to Oxford.  Looking out of the windows we realised just what a long and brutal winter it has been.  Here we are in mid April yet the fields are still waterlogged and the trees largely bare.

Arriving in Oxford we mooched through town getting our bearings and making our way to the B&B.  I haven't been to Oxford since I was a kid so it was essentially all new to me too.  We checked in okay and then collapsed in our room for a bit before getting into our outfits, sorting out our makeup and generally being quite girly.

Doors at the O2 Academy were 7pm and I reckon we got there to lurk a little after 6.  Not because we were mad keen to queue but because the anticipation was getting to us.  Erin was so keen to get in the queue that she sailed straight past lead guitarist Shane "Cyrus Barrone" Sumner - her favourite Fearless Vampire Killer - who was out front meeting fans.  I've been teasing her about that ever since!

We headed in and made our was to the merch stand for hoodies and wristbands all round.

There were three support acts: What Now?, The Reaper and Fort Hope.  Erin was quite taken with What Now? and later in the evening bought their CD and got it signed by two thirds of the band.  The Reaper were amazing - when a bunch of kids take to the stage you don't quite know what to expect but they rocked.  I bought their CD on the spot!

By the time Fort Hope came on we'd picked our positions for the evening.  Kathleen had decided to lurk near the backstage door which was the same side of the stage as bass guitarist Drew would be playing and had already managed to nab him for a photo.

Drew Woolnough & Kathleen

Erin and I were on the opposite side of the room cos she wanted to be in front of Barrone, I joined her at the start of Fort Hope's set cos my feet were killing me and there was some seating along the side.  It turned out to be an excellent spot.

When Barrone came on stage as part of the setting up the crowd gave him a "woooo!" and he looked up and gave the cutest grin, I can so see what Erin sees in him!  Luke meanwhile gave a royal wave - he's such a sweetie!

The show was great, our photos were less so given the lighting and hazy atmosphere.  That and the fact they bounce around the stage like dingbats...

Fearless Vampire Killers by Kathleen

For me the highlight had to be Fetish For The Finite cos it nearly killed me.  For some reason I can't find the YouTube video through Blogspot but this is the link if you're interested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt16A1tFJLA

Two minutes in, at the beginning of the line "I can't stand another night" I swear Laurence is looking right at me...there weren't a lot of other candidates in that corner with a wall right behind.  I forgot how to breathe.  Then, on the line "knowing you're not mine", he stretched out and pointed my way.  I damn near fainted!

There is I'm afraid no denying now that I have a serious crush on Laurence Beveridge.  Poor boy.

Barrone & Erin

After the show we lurked around for autographs and photo opportunities.  Erin didn't miss Barrone this time...although she did walk straight past Kier completely oblivious!!!  I gave my Militia Of The Lost deluxe CD to Kathleen and she got it signed by Luke, Drew and Barrone but then insisted I got Kier & Laurence's autographs myself.  Unfortunately, while we were lurking close to Laurence the O2 Academy booted us all out for the 11pm curfew but Laurence & Kier being total darlings they came outside with us.

We got Kier's autographs and photos with him first and then lurked in Laurence's direction again.  Seriously, I was doing okay up to that point...  Then Laurence looks over at me and says something like "hey, you're Heggie, right?" and...and...and...well YOU try having a coherent thought left in your head when the rockstar you're waiting to meet for the first time recognises you and remembers your name from a grand total of 15 tweets he's sent you!!!

I honestly have very little idea what happened from that point.  I remember him pulling the lid off the gold paint pen and popping it between his lips when he signed my CD...  And he said something about it being great to meet me at last...it was a damn good thing he had his arm around me at that point!  I mean HONESTLY what the hell do you say to that even if what's left of your brain hasn't melted and leaked away???

Laurence & I

It was all topsy-turvy and I didn't have the slightest clue what to say but it was an amazing night.  I practically floated back to the B&B...whereupon I had a good cry as it all got to me!

Espantapájaros

So today (03 April 2013) I got a new tatdoodle - my second.  Did I ever post about my first?  I forget, so here it is just in case...

It's my own design, the top symbol being based on something my mother once designed and my dad built into the family home...it's an O, J and H overlaid (O for Owen - my dad, J for Janet - my mum, H for moi - the only child) and, in my version there's a little nod to the family cat as well.  The second symbol is similarly an E and K for my kids.
I agonised about it forever (that is obviously a slight exaggeration) and finally got it inked in the summer of 2011.
The new one was a much quicker process - about 6 months in the planning, which by my standards is a rush job!  In fact, I booked the appointment the day I finalised the design.  As the meaning behind it is kind of 'carpe diem' it seemed ridiculous to agonise about it so I seized the day and went for it...made me nervous as hell!!!
So here it is...

'Espantapájaros' is Spanish for scarecrow...it was initially inspired by the My Chemical Romance song of the same name - I found a video on YouTube with Spanish subtitles and I just thought it was the coolest word ever (^_~).  But there's a lot more to it than "ooh, funky foreign word!"
To me, this is all about fear.  Scarecrows are kind of scary even if you're not a crow but for me it's about the fear of being a scarecrow - rooted to the spot, unable to move, watching the world pass me by.  I've spent a lot of time feeling like I'm standing still, constrained by circumstances or afraid to take a chance.
It's on my left wrist...'left' is 'sinister' in Latin.  The second 'a' is an open heart-shaped padlock - emotional vulnerability being a fairly obvious fear.  The star over the 'j' is a nod to "reaching for the stars" - being afraid of failure tends to lead to not aiming high, or even setting goals.
The inclusion of the Fearless Vampire Killers fangs logo was a more recent tweak; the 'o' was originally going to be Frank Iero's 'Fun Ghoul' logo and actually only got scrapped at the last minute.  I'd been trying to work the fangs in for a while but it was just getting too big...and this is not a subtle design. I don't have dainty wrists and this wraps around so you can't see it all at once (I don't want to make it too easy for anyone to read me!).  On being asked about the bandname FVK stress that they aren't fearless...

Ideally this tat will eventually have a 'sister' on my right wrist - it's emotional counterpart.  I haven't figured out a design yet but it'll be "te mantendré a salve esta noche" which is again Spanish and a line from the same song - specifically "I'll keep you safe tonight".  To me that's the polar opposite to fear - having someone to hold your hand and tell you it'll all be okay...and yes, maybe I'll be saying that to myself but what the hell.  Just as this tat features the colour red the other might have green.  That was an idea my eldest just came up with today, so don't hold me to it!

I know this tatdoodle isn't the best doodled tat ever but at least it's personal and unique.  Maybe I'm a bit of a control freak but I'd rather do my own than pick something generic.  Having a super-arty friend would be seriously handy of course *sigh*
I have to admit it hurt a good bit, nothing unbearable but a good few deep breaths and a bit of eye crossing.  Wrists are pretty sensitive.  The two ends - the 'E' and the fangs were the worst, and for some reason part of the padlock...although that may have been as it went over an old burn scar?  I'm not too much of a wimp, I hope - I have had two kids and a good number of painful experiences over the years, and like all things it passes.

Twentieth

So...looking back at my old blogs I see that my younger daughter got me to watch the My Chemical Romance video for I'm Not Okay (I Promise) on September 20th 2012, with my obsession for the band starting the very next day.
Gerard Way tweeted on 20th December:-

"was hoping FearlessVampireKillers was going to sound like StiffsINC. 

They don't but still sound great and could have toured with them"

Followed by a second tweet of the same date:-

"Wow..@fvkillers...greatEP. Anyone remember The Gories? Sounds a little like them"

That was where one chapter of my life bled into another.  I went and looked up Fearless Vampire Killers, thought they were awesome and got hooked!
Fearless Vampire Killers are a British band which makes a pleasant change for me; they're from a place called Beccles but are based in London.  Abbreviated to FVK they're a "theatrical alternative rock" band - their self-released 1st album is a rock opera / concept album.  Fabulous stuff.
Fearless Vampire Killers are five lads - Kier (vocals & rhythm guitar), Laurence (vocals & rhythm guitar; author of the concept stories), Shane / Barrone (lead guitar; does the artwork and merchandise design), Drew (bass guitar; co-wrote all the 1st album songs with Laurence) and Luke (drums; he's also the band's happy-pill) - aged currently 23-25...but they've been at this for YEARS!  FVK formed in 2008 but the other members (not including Luke who joined in 2011 following a string of other drummers) had been in various configurations of other bands for years previously.  For a bunch of young guys these are lads who are really working hard for this.  They are entirely self-funded working full time jobs (until this week) and sharing a 2 bedroom flat to channel everything into the band.

L-R: Shane AKA Barrone, Laurence, Kier, Luke, Drew

So from late December I started getting into FVK...a much slower development than with MCR but all the same, by the time tickets for the Diamonds and Disgrace tour went on sale on February 20th I'd bought the album as well as pre-ordered the next EP and an FVK pin badge.  On 20th February I bought tickets to see them in Oxford on April 14th.
Are you seeing the connection regarding my blog title?

• September 20th - discovered MCR...then three months until...
• December 20th - discovered FVK, thanks to Gerard Way...then two months until...
• February 20th - bought tickets to FVK; the whole MCR thing having eased up and developing a crush on Laurence...then one month until...
• March 20th - Laurence started following me on Tumblr after seeing and reblogging THIS:

This being a "portrait" I painted of FVK inspired by their appearances in 

Kerrang! magazine's Pandora Strip

My birthday is March 22nd...Kier tweeted a photo I'd posted on Tumblr (which Laurence had also liked on Tumblr, commented "fucking awesome!" and reblogged.  Here it is:

I also got a tweet from Drew and two from Laurence...all, I might add, without any kind of "Please Tweet me, it's my birthday!!!" crap.  I love that I'm into a band that are still small enough to really interact with fans.  It was a pretty cool day.
But for many March 22nd 2013 is going down as a bloody awful day.  It's the day My Chemical Romance broke up.  In the UK it was some time in the wee small hours of the 23rd...I heard via Tumblr.  Gerard and Frank had both tweeted but in such vague terms you had to be clued in to get the connection.  All there was by way of an official announcement was the following post on their official website:

Being in this band for the past 12 years has been a true blessing. 

We've gotten to go places we never knew we would. 

We've been able to see and experience things we never imagined possible. 

We've shared the stage with people we admire, people we look up to, and best of all, our friends. And now, like all great things, it has come time for it to end. 

Thanks for all of your support, and for being part of the adventure.

My Chemical Romance

Well!  I didn't feel it as keenly as other fans, some of whom had been following the band for over eleven years, or others who as emotionally charged teenagers took it very hard indeed.  But it was a shock and to be honest, I was disgusted!  One crappy paragraph? No explanation, no apology, no we still love our fans dearly???  And then there was silence.  The fan base reeled, the music world reeled.  Brian Schecter, MCRs former manager who they had sacked some years earlier was comforting fans via Twitter.  Kerrang! magazine was trying to find answers. The editor, James McMahon tweeted:

Kerrang! did ask MCR's PR (who's one of my favourite people in the music industry) 

what was going on and they said "nothing to add, sorry"

I got the decided impression they were bloody appalled with the lack of MCR attempting to handle the situation; it was as if once having decided to quit they just walked out without working out their notice and leaving everyone else to clear up their mess.  I thought MCR had integrity and I felt bitterly disappointed in them and it was days before Gerard posted a blog via Twitlonger with any kind of explanation.
I get it.  I really do.  I did from the outset - people change, grow, move on.  if your heart isn't in it you shouldn't be doing it.  They'd started out as quite a dark group and when they released Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys - a happy, colourful album - their die hard fans didn't like it.  But the band were now in their 30s, and things had changed; all four were married, two had kids - just before the split Mikey's marriage broke down so some fans have blamed his new girlfriend for being splitting them up, like she's a Yoko Ono figure.  But that's all nonsense.  If  a band is strong, no single person is going to split it up; the cracks already have to be there.  True of MCR, true of The Beatles.  Something was wrong, and probably had been for quite some time.
No matter how well I, or anyone else, understands their motivations it doesn't excuse their actions.  You spend over a decade building a devoted fan-base and then just abandon them with a short, cold, impersonal paragraph?  Sorry, but in my book that's wrong.  It's akin to dumping a lover after more than a decade, with no warning, by text and refusing to take their calls.  It'll be a while before I can properly *forgive* that.  Perhaps you shouldn't judge people... but it's hard not to when they've hurt a lot of people.
Hopefully other bands have taken note and will do better in due course.

Prince Harry

Seriously felt this deserved a comment.  WTF is all this hoo-haa about Prince Harry shooting Taliban enemies on active duty in Afghanistan???  I seriously don't get it.

1) He's a soldier on active duty...what exactly are you expecting him to do out there?  Bake them cupcakes?!  If he was out in Afghanistan NOT shooting at the enemy there'd be an outcry that he was a fake soldier, not defending liberty, justice and whatnot.

2) To the anti-war mob: if you think the Taliban should not be shot at - I pity you.  If you are still naive enough to believe that all situations can be solved with compromise and diplomacy you are either in for a nasty shock or exceptionally stupid.  I am no fan of warfare but it has existed since the dawn of time and won't be eradicated until the end of it!  Some people can never be reasoned with and never allowed free reign - accept it.

3 (a) I read somewhere that Piers Morgan had criticised Prince Harry for talking about his operational duties...really???  A JOURNALIST arguing against total transparency?!  Sorry, I can't believe THAT.

3 (b) Aside from journalists always demanding total transparency what about all the republican types who are always bitching that the Royal Family cost too much and don't do anything?!  Here is clear evidence that they DO do something - quite a lot actually if you look into it - and he's doing just what princes (and kings) traditionally did, going into battle and acquitting himself with honour.

4) Yet another comment I heard was that Prince Harry had likened the experience to playing computer war games...  Again, what do you expect?!  Computer war games are supposed to be realistic and they exist for a reason.  Do you expect him to be all agonised about doing his job?  If he wasn't able to deal with it, distance himself emotionally he'd be a damn poor soldier and better off making cupcakes a la point 1.  Maybe it sounds a little blasé but it's part of the job, surely?

I feel a bit better for getting that out of my system.  Honestly the older I get the more I feel the need to rant.

Update 1/13

Just a quick update...
Both beasties had good birthdays, number two is very taken with her guitar and is just putting in her GCSE options: Computing, French, History and Design Technology: Resistant Materials (woodwork for the rest of y'all).
After an all time (I hope!) worst OU score of 45% I hit a high with 88% on the next assignment. Am consequently feeling happier at the moment.
Still MCR obsessed but I am now studying Green Day and getting into those nommable boys of Fearless Vampire Killers...

New Year's Resolution the First: Fuck Up Hair (A Lot)

Well, that was Atlantic Blue and I'm now on Apple Green...but my elder beastie took photos on the wrong camera.

New Year's Resolution the Second: Make Art My Weapon

This is "My Little Killjoys" - My Chemical Romance reimagined as My Little Ponies. There's a Care Bears variant in the works too. Sharpie and acrylic on canvas, if you're interested.

New Year's Resolution the Third: Go Veggie
Still got a lot of dead animal in the freezer and larder so it'll be a while yet. However, I have been making and freezing my own veggie burgers this week in two flavours: curried chickpea and spinach and 4C (challot*, chestnut, carrot and cumin)

Summing Up 2012

Well folks, 2012 was always going to be a doozy of a year but it exceeded expectations in all sorts of highly unexpected ways.  Obviously this post is going to include a fair bit of repetition of previous blogs but tough shit - what would you expect from a year summary?!
Let's see...

JANUARY
The big deal in January is always my kids' birthdays.  This year was a landmark year as Kathleen finally hit her teens and Erin turned 16.  Naturally having midwinter birthdays it was obvious to have a Hawaiian themed Sweet Sixteen although technically that happened in February.  I did however bust my knee attempting Limbo.

FEBRUARY
After months of anticipation I finally started my first ever university course with The Open University.  Naturally I promptly contracted a chest infection that left me feeling like I was about to die.  Fabulous timing!

MARCH
Turned 34. Least said about that the better.

APRIL
Maybe nothing happened...I can't remember!!!

MAY
Went along to see the Olympic flame on it's way through Taunton and got to see Will.I.Am too!

JUNE
Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee in February was marked in June by a long weekend and a number of televised events that we watched...and munched on any number of themed treats!

Erin's prom...didn't she look gorgeous?! Scary how grown up she is...

JULY - AUGUST
Having decided to go the London 2012 Olympics on the day it was announced - in fact, the first my mum heard of it was when I phoned her about 5 minutes later asking if we could come camp on her floor...in seven years time! - it was a long time coming and a tremendous relief to get there.
We saw Water Polo, Dressage and Synchronised Swimming.  It was a pity we never got into the stadium but you can't have everything.

SEPTEMBER
Erin having got her GCSE results in August - 1 x A, 4 x B, 4 x C, 2 x D - Erin started at 6th form college in September eventually settling on A/S levels in Mathematics, Classical Civilisations, Sociology and History.
My 1st OU course came to an end - I would eventually get awarded a distinction - and started my 2nd.
Kathleen had me watch the video for My Chemical Romance's "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" in late September.  This was not the first time I became aware of the band but for some reason it kicked off an MCR obsession that knocked me for six!  Having been a Blockhead for 22 and a bit years I thought that was the extent of my fan-girl issues...how wrong I was! 

I Cinderella at a castle and I'd love this Knight to come rescue me...

OCTOBER
Working in a castle is pretty cool.  Having a prince visit "your" castle is also pretty cool.  Being invited to the Royal Opening when you're the cleaning lady is surreal beyond words.

October was also about endings.  I finally ended a long standing friendship that had become very negative; which has ended up being a high point of the year.  Taking control of your own happiness and distancing yourself from people who, in whatever way, bring you down is liberating and empowering.  The other end was dropping out of my second OU course.  Despite having always wanted to learn Latin it became abundantly clear that I may be able to scrape through the TMAs but I was never going to pass the end of course exam, so I reluctantly admitted defeat.

NOVEMBER
Started what is now going to be my actual 2nd OU course - Archaeology.  As I was only taking the course to make up the points around the now dropped-out-of Latin it's proving to be a bit of a challenge.  The textbook is dry and I'm not getting into it at all.  Hopefully I can scrape a pass or my entire academic year is kaput and I'd be in danger of not completing my degree on schedule!  It's all a bit worrying.

DECEMBER
The world did not end on December 21st with the end of the Mayan long count calendar so I guess I will have to get my backside in gear to write an essay about them for my Archaeology course. *sigh*

Apocalypse Day

So the world was supposed to end today cos the Mayan Long Count Calendar came to an end.  Just nip down to the shops and buy a new one, guys!  Rather bizarrely I'm doing Mesoamerica on my Archaeology course this week...including the Mayans and their assorted calendars!  Kinda creepy coincidence.

So glad the world didn't end cos I'm not at all sure if they have MCR in the afterlife!  Yup, my obsession is still going strong - three months today.  It's calmed down a little thank goodness; the music in my head is playing at a slightly lower volume and I can (mostly) hear myself think again.
That said, Conventional Weapons Part 3 came out on Tuesday..."The Light Behind Your Eyes" might possibly be the most beautiful thing I have heard in my life.  Right now I can't function if I don't play it at least once every couple of hours!  The other song, "The World Is Ugly," almost didn't get a look in being unfortunately eclipsed by its sister track but it's truly awesome.

In the last couple of weeks I have also stumbled belatedly and zombie-like across the awesomeness of the films "Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz"; it seems appropriate to mention this here for two reasons - firstly, thanks to Shaun I now have a zombie apocalypse survival plan.  So if the Mayan doodah turned out to be zombies I was sorted!  Secondly, these two films are part of 'the Cornetto trilogy' - the principal photography of the final instalment wrapped today...it is most appropriately titled "The World's End"!!!  Another good reason for the world not to end cos I really want to see that!  Roll on next August (^_~)

Just a few days to go until Christmas.  Can't say I'm too fussed.  Between a nasty cold, work, study (I keep falling asleep on my textbook) and zombies I can't really be bothered.  Plus there's no ostrich steaks at Lidl for my Xmas Day BBQ.
Mind you, one of my New Year's Resolutions is a long overdue return to vegetarianism.  I like meat but I was deeply disturbed by a recent story that Halal meat is being served 'secretly' to the general public.  I have no objection to Halal meat per se but the exemption is on religious grounds - for it to be served to non-Muslims in this way is flouting laws put in place to prevent animal cruelty.  Highly unethical and really ought to be illegal.
My other New Year's Resolution is "to fuck up my hair, a lot."  I'm currently enjoying a green phase and I have a pot of blue dye.  In 2013 I pretty much plan to work through the entire range, trying out blends and colour combinations along the way.  Should be fun!