Monday 26 August 2019

Tank Girl





I've just read Tank Girl: The Odyssey, In which post-apocalyptic scruff-bag hero Tank Girl goes on an epic journey to find her adopted son's actual mother. The story is based on Homer's Odyssey, the Greek myth. I have not read that one. There have been some 'adjustments' to the story, the main one being her son has a TV set for a head.


I thought the zany commentary and dialogue was a little corny but the story can't be faulted, especially when you're lifting a classic.

What isn't a classic was the movie adaptation with Lori Petty (the bird off Point Break) in the title role. The short animated interludes suggested a fully drawn movie might have gone down much better.


There isn't much happening this weekend but next Saturday there's time for a meetup. So expect one soon.

Sunday 25 August 2019

Last night's meetup went down a treat:

Manchester Cool Bars started in Flok in Stevenson Square, the whole area rammed with stragglers from Manchester Pride on the other side of town. I had ran this meetup maybe a year ago, and we'd had to change bars as we couldn't get in anywhere- everywhere we tried was full.

This time we got straight into Soup Kitchen, which was quiet, but with great funk music, and straight into Eastern Bloc, playing what I think might have been acid house and was serving sweet treats like rocky road from behind the counter. I love it there but I think it might have been a bit niche for the group. After this we headed away from Stevenson Square up to Hold Fast, on the way to the Piccadilly Station end of the Northern Quarter. This nautical-themed bar has accessible SNES consoles at the back of the bar, where 1991 beat-em-up classic Street Fighter II was programmed to play. We all had a go, bashing away randomly at the handsets and occasionally pulling off some coincidental submission move, with 70s disco pumping out of the sound system. Cain and Grain followed, (indie on the ground floor, dance upstairs) which led into The Freemount, Matt and Phred's Jazz Club (both dead and dear), the we ended at Behind Closed Doors, a porno-chic smut-themed den with tiled walls, 70s mucky mags plastered to the insides, booths with phones connected to the bar and other booths, and a risqué cocktail menu, all set to an obscure disco soundtrack. Fantastic. It's a small bar so there was a queue to get in, but it was worth it.

Around 15 people showed up for the meetup- one of the most popular nights I've ran. I'll probably run it again.

Away from the bar scene I read Memoirs of a Very Stable Genius, a graphic novel from Shannon Wheeler. Mostly a series of one-frame newspaper-style visual jokes, the book can be whipped through quickly; intermittently it features multiple-panel story strips- some humorous, some interesting. Some somewhat pointless. Well worth the £2 I spent on it. Not worth the $20 RRP.

Wednesday 21 August 2019

Brassic Premiere in Manchester

When I get into Manchester I realise I've brought last year's diary, no notebook and no pen, hardly the best start to my first press screening. Still, my name is on the list and I'm welcomed into the foyer of The Printworks' Vue in time for the viewing to start. I manage to cadge a pen and use the back pages of my diary.

I'm not exactly sure how this has happened, but Sky TV have invited me to a press screening of Brassic, a new 6-part comedy series set in Hawley, Lancashire. It's Tuesday 20th. The cast and crew have been given an arc of seats in front of the screen for a discussion before the start, including ITV's Katy Rickett, screenwriter / cast member Joe Gilgun (also Eli Dingle in Emmerdale and Woody in This is England), Cast member Ryan Sampson, Sky exec John Montague, screenwriter Danny Brocklehurst and cast members Tom Hanson and Michelle Keegan (Tina McIntyre in Coronation Street and Lance Corporal Georgie Lane Our Girl).

John explains that Brassic is part of Sky's 'biggest push' into comedy. Breeders, Intelligence and Hitmen are also new shows coming down the pipe.

We'll be getting a sneak preview of the show, which Joe describes as 'out there and potty-mouthed.' Michelle tells us that, although the characters are misfit minor criminals, the location is beautiful and was filmed offering a very different light to the image TV frequently portrays of 'grim-up-north.' It's not for BBC1. Shameless it ain't. Plenty of wide shots of the countryside lead into scenes of ponies, pikeys, stolen cars and formaldehyde, which all play their part in the twist-filled laugh-a-minute pilot. Joe describes it as 'a love letter to the North West.'



A few people have said, 'It reminds me of where I'm from,'” says Joe. “Little towns where people find ways to survive. I grew up in Chorley. I've had a colourful past.” He takes a sip of beer. “I'm pissed, by the way.” This gets a cheer.

Michelle agreed, as a northern lass, that it was great to “come back to her roots.”


The script made me laugh out loud. I've loved every second. It's been a year since filming ended but it felt like last month.”

The people of Hawley, the fictional town based on Chorley, are working class and underserved, something Joe hopes the show will redress, but they make the town what it is. Brassic will also highlight bipolar disorder, something Joe himself has. “It was definitely important to bring that into the show,” he tells. “The information you see is accurate, including the meds. I'm not a role model. I'm raising awareness, but I'm telling a story. I would always encourage talking therapy before medication. You must talk about those thoughts.” Joe explains he always tries to respond to people about mental health. He questions the appropriateness of multiple choice questionnaires being used with bipolar patients, in which “one minute you're up in the fucking air and the next minute you're down.”

What was also accurate were the colourful characters from which he drew inspiration: the local wheeler dealers who perhaps blurred the lines of the law. “I had to reassure people that nothing from real life will get anyone in trouble,” admits Joe. So far, so good.




“How much is true?” asks one journalist.


Joe scratches his head. “Let's not go there,” he replies. He admits he had to talk to his legal people on a few issues.

Before the talk ends the conversation weaves through similar themes to the show: researching a scene in a sex dungeon by visiting a naked club in Berlin (it's debated as to whether this was really research), Joe having a meltdown over the wrong dildo being brought to set, and actor Ryan Sampson researching his character's stutter with help from the British Stammering Association.


One neurologist there has a stammer,” explains Ryan. “He'd he tried to kill himself. That's why no-one in the programme takes the piss. I tried to make it authentic for the stammering community.”

Sky TV,” tells Joe, “are unbelievable. We couldn't be with a kinder network: the way they treat and promote mental health. They never missed a single note. I think that's why it is the way it is. I'm gonna need some water, me, I'm fucking smashed out of me head, I'm sorry. I forget that I've gotta eat. Y'know? I'm so off me head that I forget that you've gotta fuel yourself. I kept having these moments with my PA, Jack. I said, 'Jack-' I have a PA 'cause I can't read. It's not 'cause I want a smoothie at 3 o' fucking clock. I said to Jack, I keep having these moments, Jack, I think it's like vertigo!' He's like, 'You've not fucking eaten anything, you stupid cunt. I gave you a banana 3 hours ago and it's still in your pocket!' I'm so lucky to have the network around me.”

After this we dropped into nearby Pilcrow.
 
Joe Gilgan





Michelle Keegan


Free t-shirt

The pilot is set to air Thursday night on Sky One at 10pm.

Monday 19 August 2019

Join this Northern Quarter Bar Crawl!


I finished reading Michael Wolff's hit political expose Fire and Fury last week. The bestselling book on Donald Trump's chaotic first few months of his presidency details the run-up to his election, his inauguration (which Bush Jr described as 'some weird shit'), and the chaotic settling-in period, in which we're reminded of all these now long-gone relics of his White House Starter-Pack: Hicks, Bannon, Flynn, Ailes (not only a former Employee of Trump, but also now dead)- it's bizarre how many high-ranking staff members Trump disposed of, but more so that this happened so frequently that I'd forgotten these names until I started reading.

Wolff, too, brings fury to the book- his understandable disgust in Trump's presidency cracks on every page, but this does come with a writing style so obtuse and highbrow that you need Google at your side. Dictionay.com won't always offer suggestions, and Google, in these instances, tend to reference the book's use of these words, highlighting their obscurity.

There is a follow-up book, Siege: Trump Under Fire. I've not heard much about this. If I find it in a charity shop massively reduced, as I did with Fire and Fury, I might make a purchase.

What are you doing on Saturday night? Last year I ran a meetup to a few bars around the Stevenson Square area, and it went down a treat, with around 15 people showing up. A lot of the bars were full, so the plans chopped and changed, but the Northern Quarter area has no shortage of bars, and we had no other problems getting in anywhere.

I've been meaning to run this night again, but one thing or another has got in the way. This Saturday I've managed to get it boxed off. Come down to Flok and meet me and the group at 9pm!

Sunday 18 August 2019

Club Eden Launch

On Friday Manchester Cool Bars Meetup group dropped into Eden, the new botanical-themed club in The Printworks.

Starting in Hard Rock Cafe next door, we dropped into Eden a little before 11pm and before any queues built up. Eden, the club that occupies the space that once was Tiger Tiger, has populated the 3 floors with garden-fuls of ivy and blossom, weaving it into the walls and stair rails, punctuating it with bursts of glowing neon. Each room has a different DJ, some playing more dance, some more hip hop, but still keeping a traditional early-naughties big-club feel. Among the DJs, I spotted Lewis Barlow, formerly of Venus club, playing house and Sarah Giggle playing hip-hop.

Drinks are served up in quaint tin cans.

Part of the club- you may remember it as the Boogie Wonderland room playing disco music, in its former guise- is kitted out with VIP booths, in which I gather some Coronation Street stars were drinking.

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In one of the bigger rooms, TOWIE's Mark Wright took to the decks.


Eden is a gorgeous venue but it is still in need of a few licks of paint. With it being such a massive building, and with bar culture way more popular than clubs at the moment, filling it will be a challenge. It deserves to be busy, though, having good range and aesthetics. A fun night. I want to go back on a Saturday soon.






Saturday 17 August 2019

Back to Social Dieting / Running Month

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Earlier this month I described how I'd beaten a long-standing PB at the gym after a few weeks of 'Social Dieting'-  eating clean unless it's a social occasion; buying clean in the supermarket- no sweet treats or takeaways- and only drinking alcohol or getting a takeaway if with friends. It worked. I've since lapsed on this, and have bought some junk food in Tesco, and I've not managed to lift that particular weight- 2x40kg dumbbell fly- since. Well, duh.

The oldest record I have is 10-minute run, which I managed 14.1km/ph at, back in May 2013. I've tried this in more recent weeks, running at that speed, and managed about 4 minutes if I really pushed myself. I am a LOT heavier than I was 6 years ago. I have the feeling that if I genuinely focussed on this movement until I beat it, I'd lose most of my strength. No thanks. So, I'm going to give this a bash for a month only. I'll still do hand weights at home, probably while watching Breaking Bad S5 and Designated Survivor S2, and I'll throw in an outdoor run that will take about 45 mins. I might even do a Parkrun.

This starts now!

Thursday 15 August 2019

Blogger Dinner at The Mitre Hotel


Last night the picturesque Mitre Hotel opened its doors for a group of Manchester bloggers. The 300-year-old building, nestled between Harvey Nicks and Manchester Cathedral, is undergoing a complete refit.

General Manager Finn gave us a tour of the 24-hour hotel. The clinical white has been replaced with an oak and gold theme, with vintage photographs of key city landmarks reframed and displayed on the different floors. New carpets, new bathrooms and a new 8-room studio apartment on the top floor are all in the pipeline.

If you're interested in staying, you might want to check what's happening in the city first. Due to its proximity to the Manchester Arena, the prices can fluctuate, like many other hotels. If a popular act is on, you could be looking at £250 for the night. Get yourself a late on a quiet night, and you might only pay £50. Next week in Manchester Pride festival, so expect a price hike.

After the tour, we were seated for some good pub grub. We got to choose from the menu, so I started with the spiced halloumi fries and mayonnaise. I followed it with more spice- shashlyk kebabs, to be specific- and rounded off (and I felt very round by the end of it) with a chocolate fudge brownie. All delicious. Hat-tip goes to chef Steve.

A great evening organised by Go PR and Events.

Monday 12 August 2019

Eden Launches This Friday

On the blog: another blogger dinner where I'll be reviewing restaurant food.

In the city: Manchester club Eden launches on Friday night. In the unit that once housed Tiger Tiger, the printworks venue will now offer a 'botanical paradise, with three iconic club rooms, exclusive late night entertainment, delectable all day dining options, handcrafted, innovative drinks selections and bespoke private hire.'

Manchester Cool Bars will be some of the first to check it out, and you can be part of it too. Also in attendance: TOWIE's Mark Wright.

On Saturday night, Oldham's Andy's Man Club are holding a charity fundraiser in Waterhead Rugby Club.Suicide is the leading cause of death in men under 50. The aim of the charity is to reduce the suicide rate in men in the UK. To do this- to reach out to as many men as possible- we need to raise both funds and awareness of the subject. We'll still have a laugh and a joke, though, so don't expect it to be anything less than a fun evening.


Sunday 11 August 2019

RoboCop vs Starship Troopers



Other than a mental 80's night in an Oldham pub, playing outrageous party games, and bodypopping to The Human League whilst dressed as RoboCop, there isn't a lot to say. Other than that.

I did however, read Starship Troopers, the graphic novel based on the1998 movie (not the original Heinlein novel. May check that out one day). It's faithful to the movie, albeit faster-paced. A vibrantly-coloured military sci-fi treat featuring a totalitarian future where young men and women are sent to die in a war against asteroid-firing, brain-sucking giant bugs. Great fun.


Saturday 10 August 2019

New Phone

I have a new phone! The agonising issue of a piss-weak battery and no storage space is done away with, and I am now the proud owner of a Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra.


I can now get back to making notes, taking pictures, updating my calendar, and badgering people over social media. I'll try and keep the latter to a minimum. It has a 23MP main camera, a 1080p display, a dual selfie camera and 32GB internal memory. Pictures, notes, Google Maps, a calendar and a strong 3580 mAh battery are all positives when you're relying on a device to remember things for you. I'm looking forward to using it for blogging.

Tuesday 6 August 2019

Jasmine Blogger Dinner

Last night Manchester restaurant Jasmine Grill, in conjunction with Go PR and Events, ran a blogger's dinner evening. The newly-opened Turkish-Lebanese establishment opened their doors for a handful of Manchester bloggers, and had set aside a private dining table in an exquisitely-designed side room. Head chef Alex welcomed us in and served a tasty range of kebabs (sheesh, chicken, cheesy chicken), along with peri-peri chicken, lamb, salad and a platter of dips: some pleasantly mild, some blow-your-head-off spicy (I like a challenge, so it's all good).

After this we just about had room for the baklava dessert, a cheesy, mildly spicy layered pastry sweet. Imagine a sugary, tiny lasagne. A good thing to imagine, yeah?

Jasmine is situated on Chorlton Street in the City Centre.








Monday 5 August 2019

Meal at The Ivy; 4-Year Record Broken

I dropped into The Ivy in Spinningfields with the parents for mine and my mum's birthdays last Tuesday. We got in early so hid from the rain in nearby Alchemist.






 


 


In other food-related news, I've been eating mostly clean food and hammering the gym. After 4 years of hammering horizontal dumbbell fly seeing no progress, I've finally hit a PB. In August 2015 I hit 10 reps on 2 x 38kgs. I've just done 10 reps on 2 x 40kgs yesterday. It's possible when you eat your greens and meat, avoid junk, get good sleep and persist at the gym.

That said, I had a chicken burger meal on Friday night, so it' not as if I haven't occasionally broken my diet. But it was social.

Nothing much happening this week, but there is a new club opening the weekend after. Eden launches Friday 16th, in the unit that once housed Tiger Tiger, so stay tuned for that.

Separate issue: I've read Aliens: Life and Death, a graphic novel from Dark Horse that I found at Oldham Comic Con. Fun but routine rescue mission story about a lesbian married couple, featuring a Predator, even though it's not an Aliens vs Predator story. Odd.