Hang Me Up To Dry

It's nice to have stuff to look forward to but I seem to be a bit spoilt for choice at the moment. Perhaps I deserve it this week though as I managed to get paint in my eye (and everwhere else) while doing some decorating. It's not the most pleasant experience although it did leave me looking like a kind of reverse-but-equally-scary-Clockwork Orange Alex with one very white eye which was quite fun.

To begin with, its the start of the Football Season on Saturday! It seems a bit weird to be kicking off in what seems like only the very beginning of summer but thats Murdoch for you. Despite the unnervingly nice weather, the first day of the season is one of the most exciting for fans of all clubs no matter their level as we all begin as equals, each with our own individual aims and desires. Over the next 9 months some teams will rise while some will fall but at 2:55pm on Saturday the optimism and wonder at what will lie in store over the season will be the same from Carlisle to Plymouth. Unless you're a Leeds fan that is. In that case you'll have to pray.

Anyway, on my way to Edgeley Park on Saturday for what is clearly the glamour tie of the day to watch my beloved Stockport County take on Dagenham & Redbridge in their first ever league match, I'll probably be listening to Malcolm Middleton's 'A Brighter Beat' record. It's overall bleakness dotted with moments of absolute elation always put me in the right mood before a match. On the train home after if we've won I can smile to myself at the wry lyrics (also probably at a fat and angry away fan realising they're in Stockport and have a massive journey ahead of them) and if we've lost I can wallow in another Malcolm's despair.

Malcolm Middleton - We're All Going To Die

I've got a couple of other reasons to be cheerful this week as straight from the match on Saturday I'm going straight up to Edinburgh to see a wee bit at the festival, a proper treat. We've got tickets booked for curly wonder Simon Amstell on Sunday for which I'm very excited having just watched that Buzzcocks where Preston walks off but not much else. I know that Texan guitar man and general legend Seasick Steve is playing on Tuesday night so I might try and get to that. But if I don't then its not too much bother because he's also playing at The Green Man Festival which is next weekend! Every time I look at the line-up I seem to spot something else I want to see. A couple of really annoying clashes too Joanna Newsom vs Tunng, Devandra Banhart vs Herman Dune. Argh!

I think thats enough boasting for now. I'll leave you with a track from Manchester's own The Beep Seals, one band I'll definitely be seeing at Green Man. They got 8/10 for their new single 'Stars' on Planet Sound on Channel 4 which is high praise indeed. It has that kind of 60s group feel to it but its also really soulful. Check it out. Also everyone should also go and buy Headlines new single 'Takeover', out on September 17th, another brilliant Manchester band who I should have seen at D-percussion. Having said that they were ace at the Night and Day on Monday. Phew! longest post so far that one I think! This will be a lot easier when I'm back at uni and not on bloody dial-up!

The Beep Seals - Chariot Song