Pinch.

Hello, March! What a kicking way to start a new month.
Here's my nails, but sadly they've chipped and don't look like this anymore.

This part might be a bit dull, but I began the day baking a cake for Moon's birthday, although it was actually terrible, I don't know why but the finished product didn't live up to any kind of standard - think, slightly thick, sweet pizza, vom.

This is how I wrapped Moon's birthday presents, a bit simple but I quite like it, and there's no decent wrapping paper about at the moment, plus I ended up not having the time.



I had a helper though and as a reward she was allowed to hunt invisible things in the garden for a little while.


Moon arrived late in the afternoon and brought over some really pretty flowers, I hope that Dolly doesn't eat them.


After catching up with this week's American TV shows, we headed off to the first part of Dry the River day, a really beautiful, intimate in-store acoustic set at Banquet Records.
Here's what I wore, I only took one photo while we were at Banquet as you could hear a pin drop and I didn't want to be 'one of those people'.

Blazer: Primark
Dress: Yumi
Necklaces: Primark, H&M
Belt: Primark
Tights: Primark
Shoes: Primark





They had copies of 'Shallow Bed', Dry the River's debut album all laid out, letting everyone know that we wouldn't be able to get them until Monday. Apart from that wasn't true, guess who's got a signed copy and has already given it three full listens? It's so good! I did think it was a bit weird to have an album launch party before the album was even released.




This is Moon with my copy, but we got one each, because we're losers...
After having dinner at Mum's restaurant, we went back into Kingston for New Slang. I think it was actually my first 'clubbing' night out since finishing University, which is weird. We were primarily there to catch Dry the River again, but we stayed and had a little dance and actually had a smashing-great time.












How great is this girl's t-shirt? I may have cornered her like a creep, it's from Drop Dead, super cute. ♥


Got a cheeky snap with Scott from Dry the River, he's nice, and tall. He tried to make me feel less small by hunching, but I told him I was fine.



It was a pretty great night out, to celebrate Moon's actual birthday, which is today, we went down to Brighton, it was a pity that the weather wasn't as nice as it could have been but we had another nice day, photos to follow soon. I'm pretty pleased with how some of the gig photos came out, given that I was contending with being in the second row, everything about yesterday was a great excuse to change the scenery and get snapping.

The Maccabees, Brixton Academy.

I'm behind on my life right now, but I'm back on top, so hello.
Pretty much don't need to tell you that I thought The Maccabees were absolutely amazing on Thursday night, probably the best that I've ever heard them sound. It was a bit of a shame because Moon had bought us circle tickets and for some reason we weren't allowed to stand up at all (but we all did at the end and it was amazing to collectively feel so much love for the band). Despite this, it was pretty much a perfect set, with them playing my favourite song from each of their albums, which is always a winner when going to a gig.

They were supported by the Trailer Trash Tracies, who were a bit of a disappointment, with songs mainly consisting of self-indulgent wailing and an off-time drumbeat. They were only on for half an hour but it does make me a bit sad that I didn't get another Josh Weller or Mumford and Sons out of this show. I don't want to seem like this was in anyway a big deal, because it definitely wasn't, anyone could have played and it still wouldn't have taken away from my excitement over seeing The Maccabees again.

Thank you so much, Maccabees for putting on such a brilliant show and I'm already looking forward to seeing you in June at Alexandra Palace. ♥

In relation to my previous Maccabees-related post, I did pick up another t-shirt, so that's six now, but I got Bolognese sauce all over it when I wore it yesterday so I can't share it with you. I also got my hands on one of their awesome fabric posters which I've put away safely and am waiting to put in a frame.

I didn't take many photos because I was too busy being in awe and swooning, but here are some that I did take.


'I don't mind telling you, that I was a bit nervous about tonight. We've been hear before but it was different then, there's a lot more to it, with a new album. It's the best album, in my opinion, you can ask theirs later...'
Orlando Weeks

We got given free sweets and pretzels in the queue by an O2 rep. Although it didn't matter in the end because we were seated, I thought it was pretty cheeky, not the mention unfair, that people who just happened to be on O2 were allowed into the venue first despite the fact that there were people who had arrived much earlier and the fact that the former probably didn't even realise that they got the perks, talk about negative-marketing.

There were two girls next to us who must have taken at least 50 photos posed like this in their seats, why? We only took this one, then Moon took about 7 on my phone of us looking ugly from horrible angles :(

This is the impressive amount of legroom we got for most of The Trailer Trash Tracies. I'm fairly certain it wasn't even the people in front's fault, but for some reason their seats pushed back really far when they sat a certain way so we had nowhere to really put ourselves.

Sorry the photos are so noisy, I only took my point-and-shoot and although it serves me well in this kind of situation, I think we were just too far away to get any decent ones. However, I think it's much more fun to go to a gig and listen to the music and enjoy what's happening than take photos all the time. I don't understand people who go to gigs and video all the songs, I'm sure that they would enjoy it ten-fold if they just relaxed.

Although my photos don't really show it, the light for their set was brilliant and had a great mix of colours from really good angles. At the back of the stage they also played snippets of their short film, Given to the Wild, which accompanies the album.

Take at look at Moon's review of the gig on TuneLove, the music blog he writes for; Click here.

Not A Collector.

Part of me kind of wishes I did have a passion about collecting something, because it's quit neat, but I've never been that way inclined, I'm attempting a frame collection at the moment and it's very nearly not even got off the ground yet. However, I do manage to accumulate lots of similar items anyway, horse dresses, tote bags I don't use, and apparently Maccabees t-shirts.

I hardly really even wear these because I'm not really a trousers girl, but The Maccabees always have the best t-shirts and what kind of fan would I be if I didn't buy one, with most of them, I believe, designed by the fair Orlando Weeks, himself.

I'm now faced with the dilemma of which one I wear to their show tonight. Sadly, doing so would make me a 'gig wanker', but frankly, I don't give a shit. I've waited such a long time to hear a new album and see them, that demonstrating my admiration through clothing is the least I can do. You know what, I'll be a wanker if I want to.

Sadly, although it is the most comfy of the lot, I can't bring myself to wear their latest Topman tee, which I was searching for for ages and eventually found, very well hidden, within the sale rails. I don't think it would reflect my long-time fandom very well at all, especially due to the outcry of people claiming that people will buy it just because it's a cool t-shirt, rather than because they like or have even heard of the band, but that's a different story. Maybe Topshop and Topman should stick to bands like Nirvana and The Ramones, but I could probably write a whole essay on the problem with the fact that they even use them.



2008, Toothpaste Kisses.


2009, Wall of Arms.


2010, Wall of Arms artwork.


2010, Limited edition Trekstock & Gio-Goi


2011, Topman
Maybe I have a problem and I'm probably going to be faced with the challenge of whether to get another one tonight, I'll probably cave. Annoyingly warming to the new designs.