The Euro's and Down!

So, it's the Euro 2012 competition and England are looking good to progress!

I have been impressed with Roy Hodgson's faith in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and the successful tactic he's set up. The 4-4-1-1 that we've seen a few times recently with Ashley Young playing as a support to Danny Welbeck / Andy Carroll. Also, it's very nice to see Danny Welbeck - a player I have watched progress through the Man United Youth and Reserve teams - fronting England's strike force and performing well. Just 1 point is needed to get through to the quarter finals and I am hopeful that we can do that, considering that Wayne Rooney is eligible for this game.

Some excellent news that I was recently greeted with was that metal supergroup Down are playing a few gigs in England in October! I will most definitely be attending one of these dates and cannot wait! Down feature frontman Phil Anselmo who I love from being the Pantera singer back in the day. Down are a great band, with sludgy, funky, chilled vibes that can do no wrong in my eyes - have a listen to this and tell me what you think!

Thanks for reading!
-Andy.

Half-term!

So, as the title suggests, this past week I've been on a half term from school (A week off) woo!

Overall it wasn't anything special, just a welcome rest from hectic revising and exams. On Monday (4th June - Diamond Jubilee) The Miners Arms pub in Morda put on a day of music - 2pm til 12pm - in recognition of the Jubilee and to raise money for a little girl called Evie Lou who needs money for an operation. I arrived promptly at 2pm with my good friend and dancing partner Declan, kicking off the day was Tom Stedman with an acoustic set. Tom is my friend Jamie (Silent Blackout lead guitarist) 's guitar teacher and he plays Andy McKee style music, where he produces mystical and dreamy notes and taps the strings and body of the instrument at the same time to provide a real chilled, intense and calm effect to his music. I thoroughly enjoyed his set and look forward to the next gig!

Another of the highlights and early in the day performers were a band from Welshpool called The Misty Blue Trio who I hadn't seen or heard of before Monday. They played some really cool funky styled stuff, lighter than what I usually listen to but it was truly entertaining, some simple but effective guitar playing, a very powerful and soulful voice, a dominant and electric bassline and solid drums. Excellent stuff! The only real downside to the day was probably and old school teacher called Mr Jandrell who performed a rather dodgy set, the less said about that the better.

If you're curious, check out both Tom Stedman and The Misty Blue Trio on YouTube and Facebook now to see what I'm getting it and let me know what you think! The rest of the week flew by, Tuesday I stayed at my Nan's and with the company of my Nan and Ian watched a very informative and entertaining Che Guevara film about how the Cuban revolution came about, then the ever brilliant Bad Boys. Wednesday took me, Tom and Declan to Wrexham in rather sour weather, I obtained a few cds, had a day full of 'funnies' and ate exquisitely at the plush McDonald's. Thursday I decided to brave the rain and play football, a decision that saw me returning home drenched from head to toe, still good fun though! Friday I watched Transformers 3 for the fist time, I was a little disappointed as it's far more slow to kick than the other two and is too long.

The only upside of going back to school is of course seeing friends and every day brings me one day closer to June 25th (the day of my final exam)!

Thanks for reading!
-Andy.