Albums of 2007

I thought I'd get in early this year, before all the crits have their say.

1. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

2. Cherry Ghost - Thirst for Romance

3. The Decemberists - Crane Wife

4. Editors - An End Has A Start

5. Laura Veirs - Saltbreakers

6. Artic Monkeys -Favourite Worst Nightmare

7. Richard Hawley -Lady’s Bridge

8. The New Pornographers - Challengers

9. Edwyn Collins - Home Again

10. LCD Sound System - Sound of Silver

What do you think?

I look forward to your lists....

Open Neck Shirt November 2007

Open Neck Shirt 2007 will commence this Friday 16 November at 1.15pm in the Salutation Public House, All Saints , Manchester, England.

Enjoy!

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=384210&y=396896&z=0&ar=Y

Still Worth Seeing Live?

Still worth seeing live - which musicians have stood the test of time?
Who would you still go and see after all these years?

I'm afraid some groups are just past their 'sell out by date'. The Police, Pink Floyd and Status Quo now provide a cabaret for the over 60's. They really should forget it.

I recently saw the Blue Nile at the Bridgewater Hall and they certainly managed to recapture their heyday, but as you may know the Blue Nile are hardly the most animated group on stage.

I think Talking Heads could still cut it, I saw David Byrne a couple of years ago and he still has an incredible creative energy. Elvis Costello is another who can still rock it, when he sees fit.

Howard Devoto and Magazine would be worth seeing, especially if they could re-create the ground breaking 'Real Life. Although Howard and friends probably decided years ago that it was best not to remake some 'Secondhand Daylight'.

I suppose the Jam would be incredibly popular, but I can’t see Paul Weller getting back together with Bruce Foxton & Rick Buckler.

The Smiths would be an unlikely reunion given their acrimonious split, but if the original line up did get back together, I'm sure they could hack it.

My personal favourite would be Cathal Coughlan, at the controls with Microdisney or raging with the Fatima Mansions, either incarnation would be a very special event.

Cathal Coughlan - Only Losers Take The Bus

Cherry Ghost - Thirst for Romance

How could anybody from Bolton be this talented?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXi6hg90LUU

The Return of Phil 'the Swagman' Sorah

The Return of the Swagman.

Rumour has it that Phil 'from down under' Sorah is due to return to dear old blighty on October 15.

After three years in the outback, Phil and his Jillaroo Margaret have decided to return to the northern hemisphere and what we like to call civilisation.

If all goes plan Phil will be joining us at the next Open Neck Shirt on Friday 16 November 2007.

I'm sure we are all looking forward to hear his stories of how he wrestled crocodiles and had to eat witchitty grubs.

Welcome back the Swagman.

MyFootballClub

Well I've finally gone and done it....I've bought a share in a football club. Bizarrely it's not Wigan - I can't afford a Premier League club and Mr Whelan is running things quite nicely - I've signed up for a share in 'MyFootballClub' http://www.myfootballclub.co.uk/

Perhaps for the first time in football history, fans have been given the opportunity to buy and then take control of a professional football club – both on and off the pitch. Every MyFootballClub member has an equal say in team selection, player transfers and the running of the club. Members own the club through their MyFootballClub Trust, and together will attempt to guide the football club to success.

I have chosen Halifax for several reasons: firstly, both my children were born in Halifax hospital, secondly, Halifax are on the verge of financial extinction - see http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/halifax_town/6975489.stm

and thirdly, they fit the criteria of a lower league club with the potential for expansion.

The most popular club, as voted for by MyFootballClub members, and the one that most closely meets the following criteria, will be purchased:

• 51% or more of the football club shares can be bought
• There is none, or a manageable debt
• The club has the potential to reach the Premiership
• The size of the stadium and the availability of public transport
• The club is amenable to our approach

When you pay your membership fee, you will become a member of the MyFootballClub Trust. The Trust will purchase a controlling interest in the football club, in effect making you a joint owner of your football club. The MyFootballClub membership fee is £35. £27.50 will go towards purchasing a football club, buying new players and other club expenditure. £7.50 will go towards the administration of the MyFootballClub Trust and the building and management of the MyFootballClub website.

Looks like Fantasy Football can become a reality. Why not sign up and maybe save Halifax Town in the process.

Tony Wilson

Relecting on the life and times of Tony Wilson, I think it is only right and appropriate that there is a tribute on the open neck shirt blog.

BoredByTheBig4

There is a strong feeling that monopoly power is condemning the ideal of the people's game to an early twenty-first century grave. Not only do the 'Big 4' have the Premiership and Cups to themselves year after year, the rich runners-up Euro league guarantees them wealth in perpetuity. And as for the TV, radio and back pages, they fill the lot. I know that many of you are supporters of the 'Big 4', particularly Man Utd, but I think it is time for a re-assessment of how the power is divided. The T shirt entrepreneurs Philosophy Football have produced a special T shirt to highlight the problem at http://www.philosophyfootball.com/
Some of you may want to join the fans resistance with the Club 88 second choice strip.

Hitlers Sheffield Utd Suffer Their Downfall

A meisterwerk....

The Summer Open Neck Shirt 2007

The Summer Open Neck Shirt will commence at Dukes 92 in Castlefield, Manchester, England

at 12.45 on Friday 13 July 2007.
Full location details at: http://www.dukes92.com/location.php
See you there...

A Conversation....

harry

just had a look at the blog, very interesting mate, good work.
excellent weather isn't it ?
went to see a french thriller called "tell no one" yesterday, very good indeed.
didn't watch much glastonbury but really enjoyed the arctic monkeys on friday night although i was a bit drunk.
nice to see you last wed, turned into a very nice evening and the loch fyne oyster bar was excellent, hope the office move has gone well.

peter

Pete,

Glad you enjoyed the blog - I've had an email from Clarkey, I think he's interested in joining us on the 13th. Do we have an itinerary yet? I think it would be good to take in the Festival Pavilion at some point. Good to see you as well - went to the X Keys again on Thursday. Office move isn't until mid July - just planning where everyone will sit at the moment.

Cheers Harry
PS Let me know when we have an itinerary and I will blog it!

harry
itinerary ?
don't really know. meet about 12.30-1.00 is
if the weather is okay then somewhere outside like dukes 92 would be good.
visit festival pavilion.
eat something.
go home not too late.
i haven't heard anything from clarky.
i'm on hols next week but will concentrate on details upon my return and e mail people.
bought the editors cd yesterday, very good indeed.

cheers
peter

Manchester International Festival

Manchester International Festival (28 June - 15 July) http://www.manchesterinternationalfestival.com/ fortunately happens to coincide with the latest summer open neck shirt on Friday 13 July - full timings of the day to follow shortly.

Personal highlights of the festival include The Blue Nile, the Festival Futures lectures, The Fall (I know I can't make it Neil) and Damon Albarn and his Monkey - sorry Damon! But there's masses more including the recently announced Festival Pavilion - so get your asses down to Mcr City Centre this summer.

The Festival Pavilion is set to become the hub of the Festival. Located at Manchester Central (formerly G-MEX and the MICC) the Pavilion will be at the epicentre of the Festival itself. It will feature a range of live music, visitors to the Pavilion can use the space to relax between shows, have something to eat or simply soak up the Festival’s ambience and energy....or just get out of the rain.

The Pavilion site will house some unique offerings; from an exclusive screening of unseen Sex Pistols and Buzzcocks footage, to multi-award winning chef Heston Blumenthal’s bespoke Festival culinary creations, to an eclectic programme of international music. Additionally, a programme of Artists in Conversation (Not Piss Artists) will take place in Manchester Central.

The Pavilion has programmed a diverse range of musicians to play lunchtime and rush hour concerts. Spanning jazz, world and classical music, the music programme picked some of the best artists from Manchester. The lunchtime concerts will run from 12.30pm – 2pm; while rush hour concerts will take place from 5pm – 7.30pm.

A wide range (so they say) of food will be available in the Pavilion.
Eyck Zimmer, National and Manchester Chef of The Year 2006, and executive chef at the 5 star Lowry Hotel, will be creating simple, classic northwest fine food, (Steak Pudding, Chips, Peas & Gravy then) in conjunction with the team led by world masterchef, Larry Serra. There will be plenty of wine, beers and spirits on site.

Multi-award winning chef Heston Blumenthal will create three chilled summer treats to be sold exclusively at the Pavilion site. Bringing Blumenthal’s innovative culinary methods to Manchester for the first time, the unique dishes have been created especially for the Festival.

The Festival will screen exclusive footage of two of the most revolutionary bands, at one of their most historic gigs – The Sex Pistols and err The Buzzcocks at The Free Trade Hall on 20th July 1976.

You don't need to be a ticket holder to enjoy the Festival Pavilion. It’s open from early until late, between Friday 29 June and Sunday 15 July. See you there....

joy division

The provisional date for the summer open neck shirt is now Friday 13th July! In the meantime here's Joy Division performing Transmission with an intro and an outro by JCC performing Chickentown.

A Certain Ratio - Shack Up

Just spotted this seminal video from ACR on the phenomenon that is YouTube. If you are not already addicted to YouTube, it is only a matter of time....

The Word Interview with Stuart Maconie

Stuart Maconie recently did an interview with David Hepworth of The Word magazine about his recommended new book 'Pies and Prejudice - In Search of the North'. Here's a link to the piecast for you to download:

http://laxman.audioblog.com/rss/wordpodcast.xml

Football, Photography & the World

I've been a fan of Stuart Clarke's photography for a number of years having bought his wonderful book 'Football in Our Time' - A Photographic Record of Our National Game' back in 2003. He's now introduced a brand new website at: http://www.homesoffootball.co.uk/
The new look website aims to reflect Stuart's wider body of work. The intention is to put his entire collection online, which means you'll be able to browse, search and even request to purchase individual photographs. The brand new 'Football, Photography & The World' will feature music festivals and environmental issues as well as, of course, his great specialism footy. Stuart has enjoyed great success with his Homes Of Football Exhibition in Ambleside, Cumbria over the past 15 years. His work has had a huge impact on the changing the face of football culture. A record-breaking 15 year exhibition tour to 88 cities and 2 million people. A staggering 1,200 media interviews, five books, two TV programmes, three quarters of a million visitors to the Ambleside headquarters and the plaudits of football legends, national team managers and even some heads of government. Stuart Clarke's own Giant Step Book Publishing will be releasing a series of books over the coming years, reflecting the growth in the archive. There are currently 2012 photos online... and counting. Definitely worth a look methinks!

Pies and Prejudice - In Search of the North

Well it finally arrived yesterday Stuart Maconie's new book 'Pies and Prejudice - In Search of the North'. I'm only half way through, but it's another quality offering from the author of 'Cider With Roadies'. A social commentary with laugh out loud moments and witty observations about our friends in the North. A top Wiganer and a long time Latics supporter as well. It's available online at: www.amazon.co.uk
or from the usual bookshops. Rush out and order a copy now.