Amazing Baby, Little Boots and Mystery Jets at Shepherd's Bush Empire

I went to see a great line-up last Friday and finally got the chance to see Little Boots (a.k.a Victoria Hesketh) perform to, erm, boot.

After Amazing Baby had warmed-up the young crowd, Little Boots made her entrance and the sparks really began to fly. Many Kylie comparisons have been drawn and yes, vocally the similarities are there. Performance-wise (although her renditions stirred) there is still some work to be done before her success reaches the Australian Popstrel’s peak standard. The potential is there and goodness knows we need a fresh face to shake things up a bit. I remember reading an interview in the Observer Magazine with Little Boots and being impressed with her apparent assertiveness and her unwillingness to ‘only sing songs about love.’ Magic and unicorns are more inspirational to the artist and this fresh outlook combined with songs like ‘Stuck on Repeat’ (la la la, la la la la la…la la la la la la la la, I just can’t get you…) and the brilliant ‘Mathematics’ are sure to catapult her to infinity and well beyond.

I have listened to Mystery Jets’ last album ‘Twenty One’ so many times-my favourite tracks are ‘Young Love’ (for which Laura Marling made a special appearance), the anthemic ‘Flakes’ and the rousing ‘2 Doors Down.’ All of these were performed with true aplomb and there wasn’t a single song I felt I could miss by going to the toilet or the bar. This is one of the major litmus tests of a good gig in my opinion.

Amazing Baby

Little Boots takes a break after her performance to watch the Mystery Jets

Mystery Jets

Snow What?

Despite the fact that I live in north east London (nowhere near a tube) and work south west, I managed to get into the office last Monday. Frankly, this is still irritating me. Does anyone else see a problem with the fact that our country lost billions and billions of pounds so we could have a 'Snow Day?' So that bankers could strap their previously desk-ridden backsides to a makeshift sleigh instead of a plush leather chair? Strap some old tennis rackets onto the base of your stilettos and bloody get on with things, I say. NHS radiographer Peter Cartwright walked 18 miles to get to Guy’s Hospital. What a guy! I think everyone who 'battled' their way to work deserves some kind of recognition, perhaps a duvet-coddling day off? A little bonus maybe? Who's with me?

I documented the day with photographs (unfortunately the snowman pictured is not my creation-I had work to do).

The night before 'Snow Day'

Look how pretty!

I sport the lastest in snow dressing: a Chanel-style hat and a scarf knitted by me and my mum!

Icy eh?

I managed to get a train from this station, goodness knows how...

...and was then greeted by this cheerful sight

Oh yeah.

After work, we took refuge in this pretty pub for a nice reward of Guinness

They had this rather miserable-looking snowman

(perhaps he was unhappy because drunken fools were discussing how best to construct a 'snow cock' within earshot.)

Shhh! Klaxons Secret Gig

I joined the likes of Mark Ronson, Alex James (possibly a tenuous spot) and Anthony Rossamando (of Dirty Pretty Things) and a truckload of scenesters to watch the Klaxons play their secret gig. Picking my way through a veritable sea of pleather skirts, checked capes and ankle boots (and that was just the boys!) I eventually managed to clamber atop a stained padded bench to get a look at the stage.

The band played hits from their previous album (‘Myths of the Near Future’) luckily playing crowd favourites ‘Atlantis to Interzone’ and ‘Golden Skans.’ For fans, the intrigue lay in hearing new songs from the forthcoming album. Stronger and rockier, the band seem to have moved away from their popular and poppy electro sound, perhaps not always for the better. Maybe the Mercury award-winning band’s front man might be hiding another ‘Golden Skans’ somewhere up his tutu. Let’s hope so.

I think pictures can sometimes speak louder than words so here is what I saw in Madame Jojos' that fateful night…

(Warning: if you have good eyesight in the dark and get queasy about irritating, sycophantic, practically naked, stage-hogging fame-guzzlers, then I suggest you ignore the first photo.)

Thomas Vicary Salon Show

Thomas Vicary is a designer who has been on my radar for a while now so I jumped at the chance to see his salon show last night.

Held at London’s prestigious members club, Home House, and hosted by the up-and-coming Fluff Pr, the city’s art and fashion elite all turned up to find out what the designer had in store for Autumn/Winter ’09.

Deconstructed satin shift dresses with exposed zips and raw edges featured in a dark and mysterious palette of burgundy and black. The overall look was fresh but also strongly sophisticated. The models were sent out slowly in groups enabling onlookers to appreciate the clothes thoroughly. The ‘salon feel’ of the show was a welcome break from the sometimes exhausting speed and modernity of modern catwalks.

After the subtle panache of the show was over, guests lingered to sup the remains of their Tanqueray cocktails before heading bravely out to the icy night.

Anyone remember a certain 'Apprentice'? I know I did!

Ben of Fluff PR with man of the moment, Mr Vicary

The slicked back hair was sculpted and 'done' yet refined, allowing Vicary's strong silhouettes to really shine through. Wella Professionals and their team created the unique show styles. I really must find out stole my crimpers and try to recreate!

Mmm exposed zip-love it!

LOOK at this fabulous fitting (ever get worried you are starting to appreciate things you would never have before? Sign of aging methinks!)

mmm

Fiendishly Great Telly

Very thin, very attractive ‘teenagers’? Check. Fashion so exclusive and pricey that Ivana Trump may baulk at buying? Check. Hot men for every age group? Big ol’ check. The new 90210 meets and then surpasses every requirement for the perfect American Teeniecom. Aside from the Hills it’s actually the best terrible TV I have seen for a very long time. Fashion Slant prediction? That fringed bob (pictured below) with feature on most heads very soon…

If you fancy some Americana, look at a TV on Monday at 9pm when it’s shown on E4-lets face it, aside from lamenting the end of the weekend, what else would you do?

I sensed my flatmate getting slightly uncomfortable when I started taking pictures but what the hell, here you go:

Cheesy fun for all the family!

Hot mama


Charmingly eccentric, mildly alcoholic gran? Check.

Angst-fueled romance? Oh yeah.



Sandwich anyone?

The bob

The bob in action

D.I.L.F

Seriously, if this dude was my teacher I would have 100% attendance. Yum yum.

Two words, on of them "yes" and the other one "please"

Bunch of Vultures

Left a party without being branded with an indelible marker? Not a good enough party in my opinion. The launch of Vulture Magazine coincided with Rori and Ed’s birthdays and a raucous night was had by all.

Held in one of London’s last remaining clubs, (bitter about the closure of the Astoria and the End-moi?!) Movida, it seemed that everywhere you looked were great -looking scenesters and über-rich totty. That is my kind of party. Unfortunately the best I can do picture-wise is this glorious one of my arm-it is so dark in that club that I couldn’t get a single decent one. Amateurish but sadly true.

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