Whirlwind!

Hey Everybody,

It all just gets crazier.

I didn't have time to blog this last night because I was running to the EveryTimeIDie show, and I had to pull laundry out of my washer.

Anyways:

I left myself about an hour to get to the Universal offices in St James Square, and even after dawdling through Picadilly I managed to arrive with five minutes to spare. It would have been ten minutes but I took the long way checking the numbers on the buildings.

The pretty girl at the front desk announced me and printed off a pass that I had to wear at all times. Four flights of stair up and I met my contact, who led me to an office where the usual occupant was away. She turned up the stereo, a girl gave me a glass of water and I had my own private preview of the new AFI album.

Which is pretty damn good, even if it is slick as a greased eel.

I even got to hear it twice. And see the video for Miss Murder. Which is actually pretty cool (it was directed by the same bloke that did I'm Not Okay by My Chemical Romance. It has an interesting kind of vibe to it, at one stage a model carries a black rabbit somewhere. Do rabbits come in black?

Anyways, I got one of the Promotions department staff to take a photo of my standing next to the plaque at the front of the building, then I took a walk down to Pall Mall. I think I took a picture of some interesting building with a uniformed armed guard in the front.

I wandered back to Leicester Square, had two slices of pizza (cheap pizza can be found at Leicester Square) and the wandered back to Tottenham Court Road station, to take the tube back to leytonstone (I wouldn't have gone back, but I wanted to dump my bag and pull clothes out of the washer).

Back at Leytonstone I told Nenad about the Job interview on this coming Monday, and he gave me some tips (don't pace, keep answers short and to the point, don't ramble, be comfortable etc). Tomorrow afternoon we are going to run through mock interview etc.

Next it was the tube back to Tottenham Court Road and into the Mean Fiddler for the ETID show.

I was surprised to run into Phil and a couple of the kids from The Scare. I had missed them on Thursday, but I told them that I would go see them on Sunday night, since they were on early, but I would have to leave early.

I had missed at least one of the supports, but the suppport I saw (It Dies Today) were pretty dull. An thirty minute summary of what makes Hardcore/Metalcore less interesting right now: unispired riffing, lacklustre vocals, breakdowns every ten seconds, melodic bits thrown in for no good reason, stiff stage moves etc. Although their guitarist did have a moustache that made him look like he was in Frankie Goes to Hollywood.

In contrast, Every Time I Die were incredible. The power and intensity and presence and I could go on and on. They were that good, even if all the touring etc is obviously starting to take a toll on the boys.

After the show I was supposed to go the Crobar with a couple of the Scare Boys before heading to Koko, but the Crowbar was one-in-one out plus three pounds, and I was feeling pretty tired anyway. Add to which, my new jacket rubs on my neck enough to give it some kind of heatrash (I might throw the jacket in the washing machine, or change the way I wear the collar (I get the feeling it might not be meant to be folded over) or I might unpick the zipper that is in the back of the collar for no apparent reason. Or even put something between the zipper and my neck.

Today I put some savlon creme on my neck and wore my denim jacket instead.

Also: I exchanged SMSs with my landlady to find out what she is doing about getting a new boiler for the flat (Nenad and Cecil are kvetching pretty intensely about it... me, I'm insane so I just take cold showers). She told me that she is hassling the bank to send her the paperwork.

Anyways, I took the late tube home and collapsed into bed.

Today: got up late (it's a Saturday, fuckin' sue me).

Got up, cold shower, Cecil thinks Nenad is stealing his Bananas, I need to iron Jeans. Note from Stratford Library: Fool's Errand has come in and I have three books overdue.

I head out and discover that there is a Model Train Display at a local church, so I pay the pound fifty to get in and have my mind blown by some of the Model Train Scenes created. I also took photos. Expect some online when I get the chance to upload them.

Then it is the tube to Stratford => get the book => extend the lending on the others => go to Dixons in Stratford Mall => buy spare batteries and tapes => tube to Leytonstone and walk to here.

I'm still trying not to freak out that I'm doing an interview tonight.

I hope that I am prepared enough.

I hope I don't talk too much or come off looking like an Amateur (which I am) or a jerkoff (which I hope I am not).

I'm hoping that I get the Tape Recorder Placement right and that I don't accidently leave it on pause.

I'm hoping I don't accidently mention some rumours I've heard about the band (email if you want to know what I mean) and mortally offend them.

Moreover, I hope that I do well enough with this interview that I can do a whole lot more of them.

Anyways, time to go. I have to iron another pair of jeans, make final preparations, get in the right mind frame and jump on the tube.

Wish me luck, though by the time you read this it will probably be over.

Over and out.

J