Saw The Dø at KCLSU

Two days after seeing Lily Allen for free, and exactly a week after A Camp at King’s College Union, I went with some friends to see The Dø at the same venue. The opener was Moriarty, a sort of folk/bluegrass band. Superb. I agreed with Julie that this was probably one of the best opening bands I’ve ever seen. When a band comes on stage with antique instruments and equipment like this, you really don’t know what to expect; the drummer used an old suitcase as a bass drum. They really rocked, I highly recommend them.

The Dø sounded excellent of course, and their show was much like the one I saw a couple months before. I got my hand shook by Olivia during one of her songs, for some reason. I also got handed Dan’s bass guitar during a particularly violent ending to a song. That was fun. These are the benefits to standing front and center. The only problem I have with being right on the stage is that the sound may not be balanced correctly, e.g. it will be harder to hear the vocals because the amps are all directed out toward the center or back of the venue. I’m a vocal-centric listener.

At the end of the encore, the audience joined in for the final chorus of the final song. They repeated it as the band left the stage. It continued for a while, until the band actually came back on stage for a third time, just to say thanks and leave again. I’m not an experienced concert-goer, but I’ve never seen that before, so that was cool.

Oh my god

“Oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god. Yes.”

That’s what I said to myself when I found those tickets for sale.

Screw finals. I’m going to spend my entire final term attending concerts by beautiful lady singers.

Just bought tickets

Just bought tickets to see A Camp on 6 May 2009 at King’s College Student Union. It’s been my dream to see Nina Persson in person for a many years. Although I would prefer The Cardigans because they are more rockin’, I can settle for A Camp. This may be my only chance to see Nina.

Jeremy Who?

Jeremy Bentham is a philosopher famous for his role in the establishment of utilitarianism (“the greatest good for the greatest number of people”, etc.). Bentham also had some influence in the founding of University College London (UCL; the university at which I am currently studying), to which he bequeathed his auto-icon:

Jeremy Bentham

The preserved body of the man is supposedly beneath those clothes. It’s probably mostly just a skeleton by now. Oh, and the real preserved head of Jeremy Bentham is locked away somewhere, that one on display is just a wax replica. It had to be hidden away because students from King’s College London, with whom UCL has a standing rivalry, stole it and played soccer with it. It’s on Wikipedia, so it must be true. Those bastards.

The doors to his wooden box are open during the day, so that you can go hang out with him if you so desire, and it’s in a very central building on campus, so it’s quite accessible. I say hello whenever I pass by. At night, when the doors to his box are closed, I can only assume that the ghost of Jeremy Bentham, yearning to be free, leaves his auto-icon, flies around London, and feasts on the flesh of the living.

I know what I’m being for Halloween…

I presume by know that you are as enthralled by Jeremy Bentham as I am. So now, I hereby issue my formal proposal for the mascot of University College London to be…The Fighting Benthams! Slightly cooler than Tufts University’s Jumbos, slightly less cool than Dartmouth College’s Keggy the Keg. Nothing is more intimidating than a philosopher and social reformer ready to kick some ass.

If you’re with me, throw your hands up.