No disruption to report in this 'hood but "the London" has ground to a halt after something like 6 inches of snow. We're supposed to take a hammering tonight but I'll believe it when I get up tomorrow and find out I can't get to work. Once again, the UK has proven itself to be utterly incapable of handling something that really shouldn't make one iota of difference.

It's just damp and slushy here. Fairly unpleasant with the possibility of slipping and landing on one's tucus high. And I have to go bloody out in it... maybe you do too? You have my sympathies if that's the case. I've mislaid the links I was gonna put up here. That's clever isn't it?

It's actually snowed overnight so that should present some fun in getting around today.

How about that, the weather report was actually right(ish) for once. Let's hear it for "severe disruption across Britain". Provided that you're not stuck in it or have been affected.

There's stuff to attend to that means a lengthy post here today won't be happening. Plus there are a couple of movies on Film 4 this afternoon that have caught my attention. The "Bless This House", a TV show spin off period piece that actually resonates with the present day. Plus its bloody funny. And also "The Bells of St Mary's" with Crosby and Bergman. I figure I'm due some time off for reasonable behaviour.

Meanwhile, read Tim Broun on The Ruts at Perfect Sound Forever.

I found a clip of Annika Norlin doing "Glory Days" at Debaser Medis in Stockholm the other night. It's only partial but you'll get the idea.

Johan Kugelberg on Record Fairs (Tip from Joss's Facebook status)

Living life Without Loving The Beatles? Me too...

Hey, I had every intention of posting something today but had more pressing matters to attend to. I guess that could well come together tomorrow. Or not.

Another two down...

RIP - John Martyn

RIP - Billy Powell (Lynyrd Skynyrd)

also, I missed this...

RIP - Angela Morley (composer)

So yeah, "The Transatlantic Feedback" was the latest instalment of the Monorail Film Club on Sunday past. The fact that a documentary like this exists in the first place is a testament to the influence of the subject and the temerity of the film-makers. The influence of these five GI's pioneering work in deconstructing sound has been recognised and reverberates constantly throughout the oeuvre of much of today's music. Mr Cruickshank has a theory that their "managers" were aping what Chris Stamp and Kit Lambert were doing with The Who. The suggestion that the band was engineered by these individuals burst the bubble for several people who attended the screening. I think they'd rather that revelation hadn't been floated. However, there's no disputing that seeing those Beat Club clips in such great shape indicated just what a force of nature that the monks were.

The way the story is told is a departure from how these things often play out. The guys tell their own story and the talking heads are kept to a minimum. There will be a lot more by way of extras on the DVD release and you can sit in your living rooms and get to grips with those. Meanwhile it was a joy to see it on a cinema screen and hopefully there are still a few places out there where you can catch it on the big screen.

I think Roger passed away before the film was finished and of course, Dave Day died last year. It was to my eternal torment that we couldn't hear his banjo to full effect during the London show. still you cannae win them all. It must be a trip to experience someone who never heard these guys before. The film was introduced by John Cooper who went to great lengths to organise this loan from Dietmar at Play Loud! He told the story of his long quest to get a hold of the album which is almost impossible in this day and age, when you can just make a pitstop at a website or whatever to ease whatever particular jones.

The throng gathered in that place of worship known as the GFT certainly appreciated his efforts in getting the film here. The DVD is available now I understand and me reckon that you NBT types will dig it a great deal. If you can't hold out for the cinematic experience, and sadly this ain't heading to any multiplex soon, then roll the heck up.

Next month's MFC film (part of Glasgow Film Festival) is "The Wrecking Crew", to be introduced by, er, me...

It was an effort but I managed to drag myself out of the house yesterday.

There was an early screening of "The Wrestler" that I figured would help bookend the proceedings. Being that I was to attend the screening of "Transatlantic Feedback" in the evening. "The Wrestler" is pretty good and not at all like most modern movies. Rourke is pretty amazing and so is Marisa Tomei. I guess it's a case of championing the underdog whilst keeping uncertainty intact. The end is as open to conjecture as another New Jersey based drama was of late. You want to see a decent flick? Then this is it...

In these days of dwindling audiences and general indifference , it was jarring to see such a horde of youngsters queuing to get into The Garage. Earlier in the day, I'd seen a gaggle of little "emo types" hanging about the back of the place as I made my way up Hill St to the flyover. On the way back into town we find it's a band called Escape The Fate. I had never heard of them until that point and wondered how a band with such a crummy name could elicit such a following. I imagine it's the internet and having found out they're on Epitaph then that at least explains their profile.

Obviously there are still labels out there that can garner an audience that is entirely parallel to any alleged mainstream hype. I'd say the oldest of the kids were perhaps 15 or 16. Now I got a look at a band arriving in their van and they looked like McFly going to a costume party as My Chemical Romance. Not a good look to a fogie like me but then again, I'm well out of the range of the target demographic. Actually, I have no flippin' idea if that was ETF or not but what these kids do clearly works in a way that so many other things aren't. For a start, here was evidence of a physical following. Not massaged numbers. And there's your generation gap right there.

I checked out their myspace and it turns out that it sounds like that sanitised pap that masquarades as "alternative". At least to me. But it's not for me so good luck to them. Maybe they're all over Kerrang, an important part of what happens in this day and age is that you don't have anything to do with stuff that is of no interest. I do like to hear everything but I don't have to. I do like to try and keep some kinda finger on the pulse. Just as a marker.

But anyway, I just looked at the time and it suggests that it's time I wasn't here. I'll get to The Monks in due course. But not tonight...

In keeping with my recent inability to organise, this may be my only post today. If I stick to the original plan then that will almost certainly be the case.

Either way, don't forget the screening of The Monks documentary tonight. Particularly if you're in a 50 mile radius of the GFT blast zone. There's also a Jamaican Burns Supper at The Old Fruitmarket that involves Sly and Robbie, Edwyn Collins, Norman Blake, Sushil Pilot, Duglas T. Stewart and Rachel Allison. And food.

Now, I could reproduce the entire Norton Newsletter here or you could skip over there and read it for yourself. Complete with fantastic photos and news of the upcoming A-Bones extravaganza! I figured as much...

Just click on Norton News when you get there.

Browse the online brochure for the 2009 Glasgow Film Festival...

It's official. The UK is in recession but Scotland won't be officially screwed until April. That's either got something to do with the way that the stats are compiled or they're expecting the Homecoming/Burns hype to turn our economy around. Haggis sales this weekend are expected to be brisk. Whatever credibility Rabbie ever had was dealt a heavy disservice when Eddie Reader decided to make an album of his songs. Somehow, this led the charge to wheedle in a whole bunch of professional Scots. Walking effigies of the heather and biscuit tin, tartan toting albatross that is considered an aberration by those who are trying to forge a "brand".

I hate, hate, hate the expression "brand". Those with a vested interest try to make it mean more than "logo" but at least there was a place for one of those. Provided that it's not plastered all over the place to try and eke out a little glamour by association. Anyways, tis Friday again (slipped in a wee bit o' Rabbiespeak, oops it happened again... my appo-loggies) and this is good irrespective of the sinking ship status we find ourselves in.

Banker, merchant or otherwise has long been rhyming slang but has taken on a whole new meaning of late. Bankers have joined the ranks of politicians as the individuals that we can have no confidence in. And a couple of days into hearing "President Obama" referred to, I have to admit that I'm a little sick of it. Some of my closest and dearest friends are believers and I hope for their sakes especially that he will indeed make a diggerence. The fact that he's too "shiney" for my tastes are neither here or there. There are two words athat i've used in conversation to wind people up lately but i'll refrain from using those here.

It's not the Barack fella's fault that he's inherited a big bowl of wrong but I think that all the hope and goodwill should be tempered with a modicum of "what about the people round about him". On the upside, when I hear him talk, he reminds me of Dave Alvin for some reason. If Dave were President then I'd KNOW the US was in good hands.

But anyway, we are indeed in this thing together. Despite the default human condition being seemingly set to "arse-covering", let's hope that we can salvage something from the alleged long tunnel of austerity. Miniscule green shoots and tiny little lights at the end notwithstanding.

So yeah, "school" is out until Monday so things are pretty buoyant. The Monks film is on at GFT on Sunday so I hope to see a whole bunch of you locals there. I'm inclined to keep the Rabbie Burn's theme going as I close this segment. I could e-mail an mp3 of my father doing "The address to the haggis" to anyone exiled away from "the daftest wee country in the world" or whatever the tag-line is. All you have to do is send a message via the contact link with "Haggis mp3" in the subject box.

RIP - Mickey Gee

Oh dear, long time pal Fenderwoods has started a blog so he can share the "highlights" of his collection with us mere mortals... Dig in at own risk...