30 Wednesday Oct 2013
Posted in Family History, Music
As another year passes and I grow older and probably unwiser, I remember all the wonderful people I have met in my life, and all the wonderful people that fill it now.
To top the day off my new Swans CD, ‘Not Here/Not Now, arrived today, and if you venture down to the centre of the universe (Woodside and South Norwood Social Club) you may even see some funky dancing like Gira.
16 Friday Nov 2012
After two and a half hours and music so loud your body literally moved, Swans were at their brilliant creative best. At the end I thought they had done eight songs, but it actually turns out to be seven. Yes seven songs in two and a half hours – this was Swans in full sonic scope ecstasy; the music was at a level that your body didn’t know what had hit it. No commercialism here, no self promotion – only three songs of new album, three new songs, and one from many years ago – this was just music for the live of music.
Michael ‘Justin Beiber’ Gira conducted the group through a journey of powerful aggressive yet the most beautiful gentle music that you felt in the pit of your stomach. If you are an aspiring musician your motto should be ‘When I grow up I want to be a Swan!”‘
Setlist: To Be Kind, Avatar, She Loves Us, Coward, The Seer, Nathalie, The Apostate
For a taster:
15 Thursday Nov 2012
Posted in Music
Tags
alternative, Gira, koko, Swans, westberg
Their previous London gig in 2010 was classed by manner as the greatest gig of the year – this was no reunion tour to milk the profits from nostalgia. Michael Gira and Norman Westberg were just as ferocious with the new line up, as they ever were in the 80’s. If anything Swans have become more technical, more complicated music structures bur still deliver the intensity that they became renowned for.
This time on the back of the release of ‘The Seer’, tonight promises to be another spectacular. Gira hasn’t dismissed the past but older songs are usually reworked if they are to be played.
Review tomorrow
09 Friday Sep 2011
Posted in Religion
Tags
blasphemy, faith schools, freedom of choice, Gira, God, Mighty Lord, religious denominations, religious taunts
The older I have got, the stronger I become an advocate of atheism but it is strangely curious that I am fascinated by religious references and imagery; blasphemy, religious taunts and humour have become common place in our house. Offensive? It depends on your point of view. I find it more offensive that faith schools are meant to allow 25% of their intake to other religious denominations in their schools (reality is more like 10%) unless you are atheist, then there is no way in (don’t know why an atheist would want to send their child to a faith school, but freedom of choice etc.)
“Oh come and swing your sword Oh might Lord!” – M Gira 2007
Jason E Cooper 