Gigs and bits.

Another brilliant gig last Monday- Rise Against.

After having to join a MONSTER queue, we were plucked out by an O2 Angel who after a swift look at our phones, took us to the priority customer queue and we walked straight in! So there IS an advantage to being an o2 customer after 10 years!

The crowd wasn't quite as friendly as the Incubus crowd, but I expected from two very different bands. I did feel a bit old, and quickly realised that I was going to be much more comfortable watching this particular gig from a distance but all in all they lived up to my expectations. They even played Audience of One which is one of my favorites.

Tom Morrello was supporting and proved to be a fantastic warm up act. Great frontman- though I wasn't sure about all his music. Listenable but not as angsty as I thought it might be- particularly for the political-slant he seemed to take. I loved that he came on stage in his Guy-Fawkes-Occupy mask and tried to get the kids to consider politics, socialism and the Occupy movement. Awesome work Mr Morrello. Two thumbs up.

Suprisingly I think I enjoyed Incubus slightly more- and not just because of the incredibly, hot, sultry, half-naked man on the stage, but because I could connect more with the music, knew more words to sing along and wasn't distracted by having to protect my feet and arms from bruising and tissue damage.

I'm already on the look at for other gigs in December but haven't seen any that take my fancy yet. The Download 2012 headliners are being announced slowly but surely over the next few weeks- Metallica headlining, which I guessed months ago. I'm not suprised if it's going to have a very retro vibe with it being the 10th anniversary so I may be giving it a miss next year. There'd have to be some pretty amazing names up there like NIN or A Perfect Circle to get me to go. We'll see... but I'm not exactly going to be rushing out to get tickets yet.

I'm 80% done with Christmas shopping which isn't bad for mid November. Still a number of things to get, and relatively on budget so all going well there.

Quiet(ish) weekend ahead... a cosy night in with some good TV including Derren Brown.