Once in a while you stumble upon something that makes you, once again, praise the lord that you live in a teeming metropolis, rather than out in the sticks.

Karauke: The fusion of Karaoke and Ukelele playing. In a trendy bar in Hoxton. Tres chic.

This apparently happens once a month. I had a great time at this recent event, and plan on being there again, with a few friends, next month. Maybe I’ll brush up a few songs.

Facebook fan page here.

..Or Nightmares.

Ruby’s top Halloween Treats are here!!!

Firstly a massive big up has to go out to my Friends over at Bringstuff. Tonight for one night only they will be teaming up with the Almighty Celebrity Murder Party for a night of frightful fund-raising for Charity Camp Cando. BringStuff headed up by Giacomo and Katy, are the people that brought you Black and White Ball and more recently the fantabulous Bring Pirates Pub Boat Brawl!

Its been brought to our attention that there are still over 150 tickets available for this Dreams and Nightmares themed event. If you go to the Bringstuff website or befriend either him or the Group you may well be able to arrange a ticket, the Pre-Party meet-up is at London Bridge 8pm. Alternatively make sure you’re one of the first 150 people at Hays Galleria before 8pm, get your free shot, buy some raffle tickets and get ready for a night that you will not forget!

Still on the Southside of Town is the Lost Society Haloween Weekender.

Lost Society is a renovated 16th Century Barn which originally formed part of the ‘Claphampton’ Manor Estate (get that!). Historically a Banquet was held there in honour of Elizabeth the First, and the Artistic flair and flamboyance of Elizabeth’s England remains present thorough the modern day Decor.

Emma LostSociety hosts special events through the year, Fondue Thursdays, Cocktail class (truly awesome) and the ever Popular Halo Events.

If you only fancy paying a fiver to get your Halloween kicks Lost Society is the Place for you!!

Last but but least is the old faithful William IV on the Harrow Road. Tonight is a Cowboy and Indians Party – which I find kind of refreshing considering that *everyone* is going to be dressed as the living dead this evening (not my best look). Free, funky and in West, this is where I will be heading this evening… Have a good one!

Hackney man critically ill after catching Anthrax from bongo drums!

OK – that’s a bit of a silly way to put it, but someone is, sadly, very ill after inhaling anthrax spores from animal skins while making drums. Apparently it’s not unheard of. A quick google-around tells me that someone in Scotland died in 2006, and another drum-maker from Greenwich Village had the same problem a while back. Oh, the dangers of being a bohemian!

Well, I hope our Hackney drum-maker gets well soon, and that his goat skins remain ever anthrax free in future.

Real story on BBC news here.

Next time you’re at a party and someone gets the bongoes out – time to pop out into the garden for a bit of fresh air, I think…

Last Thursday I was lucky enough to go to the press launch of the new “super club” in London’s O2. Matter really is a hell of a place. It has a huge amount going for it as it can be and will be a club that will play an eclectic amount of music having dance and indie nights as well as having live acts as well.

With its location in the dome the best way to get there is pretty much the best way to travel around London and that is by boat which will take take you a to a 2 minute walk from getting into the club. The boat trips on London are superb and really get your anticipating a good night ahead. Not only that but boats will be running all night on club nights so you can get back into town with ease.

The club itself has a huge amount of cool stuff, the decor is basic (all concrete) but the dance floor in the main auditorium vibrates with the bass of the music and turns your body into a speaker itself. In the vip the is a walkway which goes over the main dance floor which is some 30 foot below.

Check out the Matter website for all their events which are upcoming i will definitely be going again as they have some huge names which will be entertaining.

I thought I was going to be a Radiohead widow on Tango Tuesday. Kirmann had managed to get a ticket for PJ, but there was no joy for me. At the last possible minute, Mitlepunkt came through with a dodgey eBay purchase.

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Having lived in London for 8 years, I can’t really gage anymore. When I first came to London, I had not been drinking for about 3 years. Nothing horrible…I just stopped one day in an effort to drop a few pounds and never started up again. So, when I came here, I was clean. Slowly, slowly, I started drinking.

Fast forward to the present and on the Saturday I had two pints before walking from Covent Garden to Great Eastern Street then another three pints of bitter at the gig. All of this over about a 5 hour period. Brits would call me a light drinker, however, Americans would say that I am binging.
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This is something that happens to me a lot in clubs. I’ll be shaking my bootie to some tronic, and the guy next to me will shout: “Yeah! I love this tune! Don’t you love this tune!” I just shake my head in affirmation because I don’t want to embarrass myself by saying: “I have never heard this tune before, I think it’s crap, and I’m only dancing because if I sit down I will fall asleep.”

I really want to go to one of the Shellac Sisters gigs. From their website: “The Shellac Sisters are four glamorous retrochics who dress in all things vintage and play 78rpm records on 1920s wind-up gramophones.” Yeah. And I’d like to wear a dress…a nice one with frills. And a hat too.

Myspace link here.

Thanks to Boing Boing.

So one of the most amazing guitar players in the world is performing at Roundhouse in Camden Friday and Saturday night. I actually got my arse out of bed at 5 AM just to tell you this. Roundhouse of course being an incredible venue in London to see a gig. Listen to Kaki and both your brain and heart will melt together. She played a gig with the Foo Fighters in November, one that was sorely missed by yours truly. Be sure not to miss this one, really. Cancel your date with grandmother, mother, father, television, girl/boyfriend or whatever, or better yet bring them with you (not your TV). This will most likely sell out soon, so you’ve been warned. I think the Friday night gig is already proper sold out.
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I used to subscribe to TimeOut until I realized that I never actually went anywhere, and I certainly never planned anything in advance. Each week the beast would arrive on my doorstep, to be added to a pile of unread others, and I fell more and more behind on the goal of ‘living life to the fullest’ rather than ‘watching Living TV while full.’

Reader Lynsie Camuso sent in a link to her rather jazzy concert planning site, ShowClix. The site seems to have some very useful and nicely-implemented features, such as the ability to track concerts from your favourite artists. Lot’s of groovy Web 2.0 stuff there, such as seeing how many other people are interested in, although like any of these things, it helps if there are other people who like the same artists as you.

Maybe this will help me get out to some live music sometime soon. Does anyone else have suggestions for how to winnow out London’s infinite entertainment options?

“I think it’s just about time for everyone to get dirty, digital and live.” Rich Mchardy

I’ve read in the papers that this is the most depressing week of the year, so do yourself a favor, and get down to Brixton tomorrow night for the monthly “Talk is Cheap” DJ/Live Band extravaganza.

The line up is one step beyond awesome with Hardwire, Stathis L, Boxtronica, Chris Murphy & Filthy G, Lewis Ryder & Javier Espanol and Enterprize.

My mate Rich puts on these monthly events, which go on ’til 6 a.m. The crowd is warm and friendly, and the music will make even the grumpiest among you shake your booties.

Read more for the flyer and guest list info. I hope to see you all there.
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