bringing it all back on

Early afternoon, a city centre office:

Some of that done so that tomorrow I can get on with the more important and more learny-things this tomorrow and might be able to take most if not all of Friday as the holiday-day I had intended it to be.

Although the 15:30 finish for the second winter-festive-period-work-meal may result in less available working-time than required and necessary.

Hmmmm.

That evening, Cabaret Voltaire on Blair St:

OH DEAR. There's a bar area where the music is considerably quieter than by the stage. The music is still perfectly audible though peoplespeak is at the level of irritation. Nevertheless... some people who are talking rather than listening come down to the near-the-stage bit and continue their conversation in shouting-mode to the detriment of the their own experience as well as that of everyone nearby. Most odd; it's almost as if they were STUPID CRETINS or something. Apart from that, so far so good: sound levels below the level likely to result in permanent damage, not too crowded, not too warm and the support bloke had goodish material, adequate yet humble talents and a friendly accent. No idea what he's called, though. Perhaps it'll say on his product.

And then, Ben Ottewell. All Hail.

A few confident steps up the playing-ability staircase and several million miles better at the voice stuff. Every now and then he'll get a bit close to the mic and people will flinch a little. Mostly Gomez stuff reduced to one voice and one guitar, a couple of covers and a couple of tracks from the new album, apparently out in March. Judging from those two it should be worth a listen.

Yet still a couple of people speak. Speaking. Whilst Ben Ottewell was singing.

Twats.

Never did make out what the support was called either.