Parisian hotel room 1984

Parisian hotel room 1984
Originally uploaded by Southcoasting

This weekend's theme is a lonely room. I found a bundle of old photographs recently that I'd taken when I was travelling and still in my teens. This was one of them.

It wasn't all loneliness, although travelling on my own with little money wasn't all roses either. It was memorable, and a life experience, and looking back at the photographs reminds me just how blessed I was to have the sense to grab life and see some before I got too old.

Five songs on the lesser theme for now:

• Beach Boys - In My Room mp3
• Nina Nastasia - Jim's Room (Daytrotter session) mp3
• Handsome Family - Tesla's Hotel Room mp3
• Julie Mairs & Chris Stowel - Another hotel room mp3
• Damien Rice - Grey room mp3
  

I saw the Smiths

Morrissey and the Smiths
Originally uploaded by Southcoasting

Playing live at a 'Save the GLC' festival at County Hall (now the Satchi Galery) on the South Bank in London. This picture was probably taken around 1984 and is a bit of personal folklore.

I always thought I had seen the Smiths play live but I couldn't actually remember it. Then the kids came across a box of my old photos at their grandmother's the other day, and this was one of the pictures. Still can't recall the gig tho'. Must have been a good one.

My friend Craig was with me on the day and remembers it more clearly. The concert was in the car park behind City Hall. The Redskins also played and were attacked by far-right skinheads. Craig also says it was also the night Mark Hateley played for England against Brazil and scored. He was a Portsmouth player at the time.

Two reminders:

• The Smiths - Bigmouth strikes again mp3
• The Redskins - Keep on keeping on mp3
  

Book table

Book table
Originally uploaded by Southcoasting

Artists' Book Fair and exhibition at the Phoenix Gallery today. I'd forgotten it was on, but walked past and so popped in. It was a bit overwhelming - there used to be a time when I'd be really into these sorts of things, but now it just makes me want to lie down. Mind you, the great Mark Pawson was there, and that alone made it worthwhile.

• Echo & the Bunnymen - Read it in books mp3
  

Are you ready to rock?

Are you ready to rock?
Originally uploaded by Southcoasting

Three songs on rotation from my latest mixtape.

• The Wave Pictures - Three songs called Louise mp3
  
• Hiawatha Telephone Company - One Step Ahead (demo) mp3
  
• Blind Melon - Three is a magic number mp3
  

The International Mixtape Project rocks!