Sunday – Flash Poem

I think that
If I could find a comfortable position
a comfortable temperature
and some tea
I could survive Sunday

Now,
if only the room could stop
spinning
long enough for me
to find
anything…

#dearvalentine Episode 1

Slam. You turn around. Something moving in the shadows. Your heart quickens. Your head screams. Flee.

A note, sealed with wax, sits atop your dresser. You break the seal, delicately, and unfold the paper. A message, written in his hand. Come to the docks, it says, I have something to show you.

You turn away. An open door a few feet away. The shadows are approaching. Their footsteps get louder. You run for the door.

Something to show you? A surprise. A gift of some sorts? Your excitement builds as you fold the note closed with your fingers. Your curiosity must be sated. You will go to meet him.

Dim lights adorn the container yard. The black stretches out for what seems like miles. You hear the shadows breathing. Panting. Wanting blood. No choice. You run for the darkness.

You prepare yourself. A simple cotton dress, white. A pair of flat shoes. A plain black cardigan. No makeup. Well, maybe a little. Nothing to garish. Accentuate the positives.

A stone in your path. You trip. Face first into cold concrete. Your face is bleeding. Stained by blood. By dirt. By tears.

You arrive at the docks. It is dark now, but warm. A simple table, candlelit. An envelope with his seal.

You limp on towards the darkness. You seek respite. Shelter. Somewhere to hide from it. From the shadow. No use.

You break the seal slowly and open the envelope. A single photograph: you with a man – not him, the other one – at a table not unlike this one, kissing. Your hands shake. You turn over the photograph. A message.

You cower against the steel container, gasping for air, pleading forgiveness as the shadow draws its knife…

I know, it says. Start running.

I have not updated my blog for a while…

Should probably fix that, shouldn’t I?

The Hunger Games: A Review (Part 1)

I desperately needed to write something today. I feel like I’ve spent the best part of the last week with my nose in a book. This is, of course, not strictly the case.

I’ve spent the best part of this week with my nose in TWO books.

No Surprises – Radiohead A Cappella Cover

Everyone’s covered this song recently, so I figured I’d add my own little twist to it.

The band on my shirt is Medusa’s Curse, you should probably go check them out cause I occasionally play bass for them.

Carnivores – Scottish Football/Horses Of The Galaxy Review

There are few bands operating in Scotland today that I give a shit about. There, I said it. It’s out there. Get over it, OK?

Fact is, we’ve had so many great bands come through this tiny island that I expect better from this generation. But since Biffy Clyro broke through a few years ago, few other bands have come close to meeting my expectations as far as a good Scottish rock band goes.

Carnivores, however, are one of those fantastic few.

(Fanboy alert: I kinda am one. Kinda.)

The band’s new double A side single Scottish Football/Horses Of The Galaxy is a delightfully meaty sample of what we can expect from the band’s forthcoming début album, which I am most excited about its arrival in early 2012. It’s a clashing affair, with Scottish Football, itself a decidedly anti-sectarian anthem of sorts, sounding like a mix of the aforementioned Biffy Clyro meets Anti-Flag, while Horses Of The Galaxy sounds, dare I say, poppy in comparison, with a mash of synths and electro beats adding a deliciously delicate texture to the band’s generally grungy sound.

Clearly, the boys from Paisley are well aware of their influences (guitarist Kenny cites Queen and Refused, I can hear plenty of QOTSA amongst others), and aren’t afraid to wear them on their sleeves. My only real complaint with the band is that everything I’ve heard from them comes from the realm of the punchy, in-your-face school of rock, and, while much of their music betrays a poppy sense of melody and structure, makes me wonder if the band could keep up this level of punch for long.

However, the band just don’t seem to be willing to slow down any time soon. An absolute belter of a year, 2011 has seen the band touring with Sucioperro and The Blackout, giving top notch performances at T In The Park and Belladrum, and building themselves a reputation as one of the fiercest live acts in the country today. With this sort of momentum behind them, I’d be really surprised if 2012 isn’t even better for these boys.

‘Scottish Football/Horses of the Galaxy’ is available from all major digital stores and physically from carnivores1.bandcamp.com and at gigs.

 Contact carnivoresuk@hotmail.com for more information

NaNoWriMo Tips and Tricks

Apologies to those who’ve come here looking for my word count planning device. Upon beginning the export of this week’s video, I realised that some of my formulas aren’t exactly conducive to the spreadsheet being easily altered for other people’s needs. Promise I’ll have a tinker with it and get it to you toot sweet!

Till then, enjoy the video!

Also… feel free to sponsor me, yeah?