urban75 blog

Barry Island photos

noreply@blogger.com (urban75) — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:05:00 +0000

I fucking loves Barry Island (or "Barry's Island" if you've been watching the fantastic Gavin and Stacey BBC TV prog). It's right tidy.

Here's a few pics:

Offline with Shazia Mirza and more

noreply@blogger.com (urban75) — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:39:00 +0000

Phew! That was a whle heap of fun last night with a fantastic bill including Shazia Mirza, Gin Riots, Mark Hibbett, The Boycott Coca Cola Experience, Vic Lambrusco, Richard Allen and DJs Nipsla, Bluestreak, Torchsong and Editor.

Comedian Shazia Mirza was absolutely hilarious, managing to insult just about everyone in the venue - and quite probably the surrounding area - while keeping us in stitches of laughter.

Look out for the next Offline on May 17th at the Albert!

Offline website

Cardiff 3 Barnsley 0

noreply@blogger.com (urban75) — Wed, 07 May 2008 00:24:00 +0000

The game was a whole load more fun than our recent Wembley semi final clash with Barnsley and it was a great way to end the season.

Who would have thought that Cardiff would end up in the FA Cup Final, but we'll be there on May 17th!! (Well, I say "we" but it looks like I haven't got a hope in hell of getting a ticket).

Come on City!!!

Boris Johnson? You're having a laugh.

noreply@blogger.com (urban75) — Fri, 02 May 2008 20:40:00 +0000

Latest reports have that toff fop buffoon Boris ahead in the London mayoral election.

He might be a right laugh as a dinner guest, but having that clown in charge of London would be no fucking joke.

Ken Livingstone in Brixton

noreply@blogger.com (urban75) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:04:00 +0000

Me: Hello Ken. I run the urban75 website where Paddick used to post
Livingstone: Is that the Anarchist website?
Me: No. The press made that up in an attempt to discredit Paddick - it's never claimed to be an 'anarchist website'
Livingstone: That should teach me not to believe what I read in the press!

Save your local pub!

noreply@blogger.com (urban75) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:15:00 +0000

After documenting the depressing roll call of closed Brixton pubs, I decided to collate some useful information together and provide a short guide to Saving Your Local Pub.

There's some excellent downloadable PDF files on the page full of tips, information and strategies for keeping your local open, so check it out pronto if your boozer looks like it;s about to close.

It can work too: the community around one of my old pubs in Cardiff recently fought a long and hard battle against developers and emerged victorious!

Pantmawr Inn saved!

More: Save your local pub: a guide

Offline returns to Crystal Palace!

noreply@blogger.com (urban75) — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 15:58:00 +0000

On Friday we headed south and up hills for an Offline gig back at the Alma, a friendly old school boozer on Church Road.

We had the No Frills Band playing a set and they were excellent as usual. You gotta love a band that packs mandolins, a tuba and a spoon player!

More pics here: Offline at the Alma

On Saturday, we grabbed a couple of beers at Mango Landing in Brixton. It's a nice, friendly bar but the service is mighty s-l-o-w.

We wrapped up the evening's drinking at the daftly named Hootananny, a large Brixton boozer which - despite some opposition from locals - has managed to get a bit of a good thing going, with free nights offering live acts.

A walk around Ashtead and Epsom Commons

noreply@blogger.com (urban75) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:24:00 +0000

A few photos from a short (6 mile) birthday walk around Ashtead and Epsom Commons on the borders of Surrey and London.

Ashtead station faces right out into the countryside, so you're straight off the train and getting down with nature in seconds.

It was pretty much deserted for the walk, but the ground got very muddy later on, forcing us city slickers to delicately tip toe over deep, troublesome puddles.

Groovy stripy tree.

Cast iron London boundary markers were situated in amongst the trees. Which was a bit odd.

Read the full story of the walk here: Ashtead and Epsom Commons - a short six mile, birthday walk

More lost pubs of Brixton

noreply@blogger.com (urban75) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:06:00 +0000

Pubs are still continuing to disappear from the area at a worrying rate of knots.

Today I took a look up Lyham Road, Brixton SW2, a road that has lost no less than four of its five pubs in the last five years or so.

I'd rushed up to catch the last rites of the Royal Oak at 2, Lyham Road - the pub was open for business only a couple of weeks ago, but the digger moved in late last week and had promptly set to work.

Attractive etched glass window on half-demolished wall. Judging by the destruction of the rest of the pub, I don't think any of these lovely windows are going to be preserved.

Another casualty was the Waggon and Horses at 206 Lyham Road, which, despite appearances, has been closed for some time.

The old Duke of Cornwall at 89, Lyham Road has had some rather bizarre alternations made to it, and the building looks quite ugly with its bolt on balconies..

There's barely anything left of the Red Lion at 191, Lyham Road, with the frontage being completely rebuilt.

Happily, the sole remaining boozer in Lyham Road, the Prince of Wales, appears to be in reasonable health for now.

See the ever growing list of closed Brixton pubs here: Lost pubs of Brixton

'Folkaoke' at the Railway, Tulse Hill

noreply@blogger.com (urban75) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 10:57:00 +0000

With so much going on every night on Brixton, I rarely venture south for a night, but I was glad I made the effort to go nearby Tulse Hill for a few ales at the Railway.

It's a lovely friendly boozer with regular live events upstairs. I caught the tail end of the Folkaoke (Karoake with a full on folk band) going on upstairs and it was a hoot!

We might be putting on an Offline event there soon, so stay tuned! Oh, and don't forget - we're at the Alma in Crystal Palace next Friday with the excellent No Frils band. It's going to rock!

offline-club.com

The Brighton Sea Railway

noreply@blogger.com (urban75) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:14:00 +0000

I've just been sent an interesting YouTube animation of one of the most bonkers railways ever built - Volk's Brighton to Rottingdean Seashore Electric railway.

This mad piece of Victorian eccentricity saw what amounted to a part-submerged moving pier travelling through the sea from Brighton to Rottingdean.

The whole venture lasted less than seven years, but you can see a short animation of the electric railway tram, 'Pioneer,' which was officially classified as a ship and had to be piloted by a trained sea captain!

Photographers Rights & The Law

noreply@blogger.com (urban75) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:02:00 +0000

In the face of increasing heavy manners towards photographers doing their job, I've posted up a guide to your rights when you're out snapping on the streets.

It can get a little complex, but fundamentally, if you're on a public right of way - such as a public pavement, footpath or public highway - you're free to take photographs for personal and commercial use of whatever you like.

Photographers Rights And The Law In The UK

Amycanbe at Offline

noreply@blogger.com (urban75) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 19:58:00 +0000

What a terrific night it was at the Albert in Brixton last night!

Jason from the Bridport Dagger gave us a great solo set.

Amycanbe are one of my very favourite Offline bands and I enjoyed every minute of their set. Check out their MySpace site for some of their tunes.

I love 'Yellow Suit!'

Offline party pics

noreply@blogger.com (urban75) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:19:00 +0000

Last night's Offline at JAMM was a real treat with some great acts and a top atmosphere. Here's some pics:

Captain Hotknives was absolutely hilarious. We definitely want to get him back to Brixton soon!

Ukulele Gangsters sport their Slade-meets-ska image!

I later remembered that this was the 50th 'big' Offline night (so that's not including all the Albert, Alma, Charterhouse, Birkbeck College and NYC gigs). Blimey!

FA Cup semi final: Barnsley 0 Cardiff 1

noreply@blogger.com (urban75) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:47:00 +0000

I've just posted up my photo report of this glorious day. And there's also a short video of delirious Cardiff fans after we scored the winning goal too. Oh yes indeedy!

Snowball fight in Brixton to start the day.

Behold! The majesty of Wembley!

Check out the full match report by our roving ace reporter Paul Davies here: Barnsley 0 Cardiff 1

Offline - more photos

noreply@blogger.com (urban75) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:02:00 +0000

Some more photos from Friday's almighty mash-up!

Don't forget - the next Offline is this Thursday with top comedian Luke Toulson and three great live acts, plus cabaret.

More info here: Offline Club, 10th April

Cardiff City win!

noreply@blogger.com (urban75) — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 22:53:00 +0000

Oh joy! In a tense (and, let's be honest) frankly dull game, the mighty Cardiff City beat Barnsley at Wembley 1-0 to go through to the final of the FA Cup for the first time since 1927. Fantastic!

The view was great, but the corporate soundtracks and huge space made it difficult to really get a good atmosphere going.

Five minutes after the final whistle and the Barnsley fans have disappeared,

A Barnsley fan. Bless 'im.

Brixton: Rock'n'Roll, Fire and Snow

noreply@blogger.com (urban75) — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 10:27:00 +0000

There was an almighty night at the Albert on Friday with two top bands - the DeBretts and I Wanna Be Sedated, a UK film premiere of the Last Days Of CBGBs and a stand up set from Vic Lambrusco. And it was my birthday party too!

Check out the mosh pit action!

We woke up to find a huge fire going on Brixton Road which resulted in some of our friends nearby being evacuated and the tube being closed.

Last night I was doing the sound and DJing at the Albert, with the excellent Petunia playing a live set. The (very mixed) crowd were a very lively bunch so me and Nipsla had to work hard on the decks to keep 'em entertained (and I got away with playing the mighty Welsh rockers Budgie again!)!

Best of all, woke up this morning to find Brixton covered in a layer of snow. Lovely!

Right now, London protesters are doing themselves proud turning the Olympic torch procession into a total PR farce, and we're getting ready to head off to Wembley to see the mighty, mighty Cardiff City play Barnsley in the FA Cup semi final.

Come on you Blooooobirds!

New York photo updates

noreply@blogger.com (urban75) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 22:17:00 +0000

I'm slowly getting through the huge backlog of photos from our December 2007 trip to New York. Here's some updates - hope you like 'em!

New York street photos part 1

New York street photos part 2

New York street photos part 3

London photos

noreply@blogger.com (urban75) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 22:00:00 +0000

A few snaps from around London town, taken with my trusty Ricoh GX100 camera.

Man with a hat, Bedford Square.

Penguin and passer by.

Bins, Ogle Street.

More London photos

Brixton snow!

noreply@blogger.com (urban75) — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 11:49:00 +0000

OK, not a flake settled and it soon turned into bloody rain, but for a moment Brixton looked lovely and wintery.

I love snow. In fact, I love winter too, but the deep, thick, crisp snowfalls of my youth seem a far distant memory now.

One of my favourite memories was waiting for a train at Cefn Onn station in Cardiff after a big snowstorm:

During the winter of 1977, the snow was so bad that I found myself stood waist high in a snowdrift waiting for the morning train. Needless to say, the driver failed to see me as he hurtled past my platform, and I got blasted with a covering of snow for my troubles!

Seeing this as a sign from above to go home, put my feet up and stay in the warm, I called in sick!
Cefn Onn memories

When it comes to snow, Chicago knows how to dish up the stuff, and on my visit there in 1999 (to be a guest on the Jenny Jones Show), I was rewarded with some astonishingly beautiful snowscapes.

Chicago snow

We have been blessed with a few snowy days in Brixton over the years though, even if the snow didn't tarry for long. I miss snow.

Brixton snow 2003
Brixton snow 2004
Brixton snow 2007
Brixton snow 2007 (2)

Draw An Album Cover In MSPaint

noreply@blogger.com (urban75) — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:32:00 +0000

From a classic timewasting thread on the urban75 boards today, here's two of my efforts to draw an album cover using nothing more than MS Paint.

Can you guess what they are? ;)

Hebden Bridge & Haworth photos

noreply@blogger.com (urban75) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 21:21:00 +0000

I've just uploaded a big new photo feature on our walking holiday in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire. Here's a few pics for you:

Hebden Bridge station is a beautifully preserved Victorian station - why can't all stations look like this?

Hebden Bridge railway station

Hebden Bridge is a delightful northern town with a cosmopolitan vibe that has given it the nickname of the 'St Ives of the north'.

Hebden Bridge photos

We walked the eight miles or so from Hebden Bridge to Haworth and were lucky enough to just miss the rain that thundered down as soon as we hit the pub!

Hebden Bridge to Haworth walk

Haworth is an astonishingly pretty village. Check out the photos here: Haworth village photos

We also took a steam train trip to Keighley and Oxenhope on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. It was lovely!

Keighley & Worth Valley Railway trip

On Sunday we shook off the hangover with a short walk to Gibson Mill in Hardcastle Crag. It's well worth a visit!
Hardcastle Crags walk

Fox & Goose, Hebden Bridge

noreply@blogger.com (urban75) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:04:00 +0000

We've just come back from a fantastic walking weekend in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.

Once scattered with corduroy and worsted mills, the area has retained a rugged northern beauty and now thrives as a major tourist destination with a very healthy 'alternative' community.

We loved the place and the people. Above are some photos from a lovely night in the excellent Fox & Goose boozer.

Expect some more photos soon!

Palm Centro review

noreply@blogger.com (urban75) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 10:30:00 +0000

I'm loving my new Palm Centro phone which took over from my well battered Treo 650. It's a pint sized Palm OS smartphone, with offers a ton of functionality in a bijou package.

It's a great little phone and comes well recommended!

Read my full review here: Palm Centro review