05 November 2021 Remember remember the fifth of November, Gun powder, treason and plot. So today is Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Night. The night where we celebrate the foiling of a plot to blow up parliament while King James the First and Sixth was visiting. There has been lots of fireworks going off. Certainly more than last year. Partly as public fireworks displays seem possible and partly as people want to let off steam I guess. It is a night typically celebrated through having a large bonfire, watching fireworks and feeling rather chilly. So chilly in fact that you might tolerate paying silly money for a burger from a dubious fund raising organisation. It is often a good idea to try and raise funds from organising a fire and fireworkds. When I was a Scout, it was a key fund raising night where we would go down the local big house and make use of their large lawn. It helped it was an old folks home so they didn't care too much about the large bonfire. We had a huge fire. The sort which was several people tall and roasted you while standing 5 metres away. Perfect. People used to make a 'Guy' or dummy made of old clothes to go beg for a 'penny for the Guy'. This poor effigy would then find itself on the top of the bonfire. I have only taken part in Guy creation once. It was at a boarding Sixth Form (for 16 to 18 year olds) where we have a competition between the houses. Houses are where the students are organised into loose organisations to have rivalry and to encourage cooperation within the house. Anyhow, we essentially had a competition to make the biggest bang. Cue pressurised deodorant cans galore and shrapnel risks at a ridiculous level. It was fun. Alongside bonfire night, we have also had the delights of Diwali, a celebration of lights amoung those with a south Asian heritage. It tends to be around the end of October and early November. This year it was on the 4th November so near enough bonfire night. Lots more fireworks as a result. Part of the fun of a multicultural city! Anyhow, enough of this malarky. I was intending to write about last night's gig. So I went to the gig. It was at the O2 Institute, a venue I have been several times to. I first experienced the Growlers there along with my first drag act as well as seeing Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra (a great show) and Sharon Von Etten. I was not expecting a warm up act. There was one. This artist appeared and created a wonderful soundscape. Then it sort of never ended. She kept singing in a manner which made words and then didn't and then did. There was a watery effect along with a feeling of drifting and a sound of wailing. This lasted 40 minutes. It would have been wonderful as a 10 minute affair or if there were more drama in a way. She did well and I am extremely impressed with the skill at making complicated and mostly interesting music for 40 minutes. However, I was standing and it was too long for someone standing. I would have lost sense of time if I was not drinking a rather expensive pint of beer. Soon it was time for the main act. A band appeared in a sort of uniform of white with black zig-zags. Excitement rose. The crowd was either elderly, without kids or young. There was a clear lack of those who probably have children under 16 in there. It makes sense on a Thursday though. Anyhow, the music started and I was correct. It is challenging music albeit in 3 minute bursts. Feeling the deep bass rhythms was magnificent. Anna was a delight and humourous with a keen desire for us to buy from the merch stand. We got an extended advert with muzak and all. Wonderfully funny. Her band consists of a drummer, guitarist, celloist and tuba player while Anna plays the laptop, synthy stuff, glockenspiel and extra drums. Big, bold and bloody wonderful stuff which went quickly. I heartily recommend seeing Anna Meredith and her band. They are fun, interesting and a delight. The band ended with Nothing Compares 2 U morphing into Purple Rain in a manner which was unexpected and yet made total sense. A perfect finale to a fun night.