Nostalgia

No need to tell me I'm not old, after all I'm only 22, but I'm beginning to feel old.  Not because of the reasons I listed in 22, 22 years ago, though these reasons are all still valid, but because things that have happened recently seem like lightyears ago.

Tomorrow Caleb, my little brother, is coming round to collect his birthday present before he goes on holiday.  He'll turn four in a few weeks whilst he's at the seaside.  Four years ago I was betting with the boy's mother and her friends, whilst at the seaside, how many hours my mother would be in labour and how heavy he would be.  That feels like another lifetime.  Understandable as it was four years ago and I was a different person then.  I was wondering if I would stay with the boy through university (we broke up days later), how well I'd do (I'd get a first) and would I make friends (yes...and I lost some of them rather quickly after leaving too).

What I don't understand is that as I listened to Stereophonics on the way to work this morning their gig in Cardiff, which was a mere few months ago, also seems like years ago.  Personally I think I'm going crazy.  I'm hearing things, I'm seeing things and these things aren't there.  It's quite possible I am becoming an old person...in mind terms.  This is bad.  How do you stop premature nostalgia?

Here's the opener from the gig: Trouble.  Please let me marry a man like Kelly Jones.  Only taller please.

Stuart Cable Tribute

Devastatingly for many Stuart Cable, the original drummer of the Stereophonics died this morning.  After raving about the latest line up of Stereophonics only yesterday it feels so sad to be writing of his death now.

What do I most remember Stuart Cable for?  Other than his time in the Stereophonics it has to be his deep gravelly voice, enhanced only by his strong Welsh twand, which was completely compelling when he presented on Kerrang! Radio.  His radio show, Rock N Roll Years, as well as his appearances on other shows never failed to brighten my day. Kerrang! are today adjusting their schedules in tribute, playing a range of Stuart's favourite music as well as interviews and live sets Stuart Cable performed for Kerrang! with his new Welsh band Killing for Company.

The most interesting news piece I've seen comes from the BBC where Kelly Jones tells of how the drummer said only two weeks ago on his 40th birthday that he thought he'd never reach 40.  Check it out here as Kelly talks on the day of his uncles funeral, who was honoured at the Cardiff gig, mourns the loss of another man close to him.

Here's one of my favourite Stereophonics songs from back in 1998...RIP Stuart x

Stereophonics: Summer in the City at Cardiff City Stadium

Last night the Stereophonics did a one off gig as the first band to ever headline at the new Cardiff City Stadium, supported by 4th Street Traffic (competition winners handpicked by Stereophonics), Kids in Glass Houses and Doves.  Good bunch that.

Photograph from Stereophonics' Twitter

Oh...and I was there :o)  Now I won't gush, even though I want to, but it was amazing.  The sold out gig only showed its true colours when Stereophonics took to the stage, before that despite the good names on offer not everybody deemed them worthy of a watch.  Opening with Trouble, not my favourite I'll be honest, the anticipation was amazing as we all listened and watched their silhouettes through the bold, red, Keep Calm and Carry On curtain that covered the stage and was dropped to raptuous applause.

Kelly Jones, charming as he is, regaled us with stories of a quiet night "in the old town" where "I woke up to the sound of my own voice and thought I was tripping.  I almost opened the door and said 'what's the crack like?'"  I wish he had, can you imagine the faces of those at that party if Kelly Jones turned up.  Epic.

Photograph from Wales Online

Phone in hand, I rang my friend as Same Size Feet belted across the stadium (it's his favourite) only for it to be delayed due to some idiots that thought standing on the very precarious roof of a temporary bar was a good idea.  Kelly Jones was stopped by security and announced: "Now I know you're having an amazing time lads but can you get off the fucking bar, it's about to collapse."

And it was oh so Welsh...with Doves the only act that wasn't Welsh, the Welsh anthem playing before Stereophonics took to the stage, flags flying everywhere, Kelly Jones' wonderful Welsh twang and fireworks and streams exploding at the end...in Welsh white, red and green of course!

Ok....enough with my little stories, I'm still too wrapped up in it all.  Enjoy with me?



...I really enjoyed this one live.  There was something quite transcendent about it.  Well...until the fat old man next to me started grinding into thin air thinking he was very sexy.  He wasn't...but Kelly Jones was.