Stranger than fishin'

Lets see quick 10 recap...last Thursday, Bedouin soundclash in the water rats, beers in the flag probably for the last time in Watford on Friday, Sick of it All and Gallows in the Borderline on Sunday, and I just got back from a breakneck visit to the Boardmasters in Newquay.

Bedouin were great, despite Jay having almost no voice, it was a special show in an intimate venue. I love watchin 3 piece bands, and they were on form, in front of no more than 150 people. I wrote about seeing them in the Astoria 2 what was the last show I saw with my bro and the last time I saw a gig in the LA2 I believe. The crowd was atrocious, but it was oversold and nobody could move an inch.Really disapointed with the experience but that was December 2007. This time it was summer and the weather suited the music and so did the venue, people could move see the show and actually dance. Played All the classics from Sounding Amosaic, and a few more from Street Gospels. Nothing from Root Fire though, shame like Santa Monica.

Gallows were ace this time I was familiar with their stuff - culled mainly from grey Britain, but they gave everything, sad not to see any of them playing in the crowd, but they did manage to get one kid swinging from the sewage pipe on the ceiling.

If the Gallows were good, Sick Of It Alll were majestic, again unlike last time on a very cold and wet London winter night in the half empty Forum. Any HC show is much better suited to a tiny club rather than a big theatre.Not that SOIA cant command a big crowd, Ive seen them blow the Astoria theatre away, the Forum show just didnt get going cause the crowd was in a slump, I could feel it for sure back then. This night was another matter, the crowd was going off it was fun rather than overly violent unlike the Astoria gig which involved recieving a lot more punches from big skinheads. They wheeled out all the classics and a couple of the best songs off the new record - which is the best since Call to Arms IMHO. Great show, took me back.

On Friday I finally got to get a surf, as my German friend Michaela was visting, so being Boardmasters weekend and the only decent looking night of music being the Friday night what was I to do? Caught the end of Seasick Steves set, and then Newton Faulkner who was good - can play the fuck out of an acoustic guitar, kind of reminiscent of Ani Difrancos guitar style i thought. Bastarding wicked pop hooks still in my head. We were falling asleep by the end, but I knew The Gallows were playing in the side tent. I had to show Michaela something differnt and unashamedly British and HC. She didnt like it at all, but fairplay she gave it a chance. Clearly not impressed by a circle pit running out of one door and in through the other. I loved it and I was sober as a judge(almost), good sound, pure vitriol on stage, crowd was hopping too.Also a difernt set to Sunday night which was good, opened with the riverbed singing "Let it rain..." as the heavens opened outside, nice touch that weather control.

Opted to surf Watergate twice. The bay was way too small, and didnt even wanna see what state Fistral was in. Plus got parking for the festival on Friday night and surfing in the afternoon. Friday was pretty small but surfable, Not at all clean, pretty windy, and the ocean was rippy. I was too hot in the 5/3 suit, and I had to paddle out about 5 times. Noy great but I started using the Spider 70s fish,, for the first time properly since west coast Costa Rica. One thing struck me, that board is very fast! Got Michaela out to the bigger waves outback once, quite brave that one.

Saturday, went back and it was bigger, and uglier. Some big faces popping up, but quite fat and lacking power. The fish is duckable, but shorter so gotta do it with my knees. Got a few nice ones. Blown out of the foam on a big one and connected up a longer ride. The board comes out the bottom turn really fast and loose in a natural long sweeping curve. then tried to race it down the line until I clipped a rail and got hit by the lip. Im gonna need a bit more practice, but it felt great, would love to try it on a nice point like Anchors or Balingan. Really want to try a long cutback on it.