Can I ask a question?

REDIRECTION..

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:48:00 +0000

Time to move on..

Mpfalangi under a brand new roof :

http://mpfalangi.wordpress.com

Drop by for a visit

X ML

Live Review: Snow Patrol

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:55:00 +0000

Metro Arena – 5th February

The Scottish/Irish five piece kicked off 2012 announcing a third single is to be released from Fallen Empires.

‘In the End’ is to be released on February 13th, and they are celebrating it with a grandiose tour. Long before the release of their sixth album last November, the band suggested an open mind to the fans. Snow Patrol explored foreign territory and experimented with techno and electronic pop sounds. Melodies enriched with strings and brass, percussion and different keyboard sounds from the ever known melodica to dulcitone. The change in musical direction was evident even in the choice of support band, Everything Everything, a peculiar yet intriguing indie band.

Everything Everything’s witty lyrics, powerful off beat sounds, combined with front man Higgs’s signature falsettos, contributed to their own stigma. They started off strong, with beautifully arranged electronic elements, mesmerizing synths, and a Jack Black-esque performance from Newcastle native Higgs. Just when the crowd started warming up however, they were thrown off by Higgs high pitch vocals and mumbling lyrics which were impossible to follow. Everything Everything just did their own thing onstage; an unorthodox and eccentric band that can’t possibly cater for everyone’s taste. Unfortunately, after the nothing nothing reception from the crowd the awkwardness in the air was more than tangible.

Nonetheless, they set the mood for Snow Patrol to follow and they opened the concert with I’ll Never Let Go. A well organised set, with fantastic Muse-inspired lighting and elements that led back to their new album’s emblem were prominent: huge eagle’s feet-shaped screens, which moved and altered according to the needs of each song. Grand orchestral arrangements, and the singer’s engaging performance with intense body language; functioning almost as a maestro who brings this majestic symphony together.

“Let’s have some fuckin’ fun”, yelled an ecstatic Lightbody with his curls bouncing. And so it began. The band has clearly grown in confidence and stage presence over the years, Lightbody especially has evolved from the romantic shy guy of old into a true showman; his charming and comical persona finally shining through.

With a constant call for audience participation in ‘Shut Your Eyes’ and ‘This Isn’t Everything You Are’ the sold out arena complied with a massive chant-along. The band’s experiment with electronica was not always effective but when used conservatively to fit their signature style it felt more natural and effortless.

Some tracks when performed live brought more of a dance floor spirit with them, which came through unexpectedly better than on the album; like ‘Fallen Empires’. The rest of the night consisted of a brilliant mix of old and new tracks, sprinkled with hilarious intervals by the Lightbody, his attention to the audience was overwhelming.

Highlights like ‘Called Out In The Dark’, ‘Run’, and ‘Take Back The City’ followed with unmistakable vocals, crisp and clear sounds, managing to create a highly electrified atmosphere. Overall, the band engaged with the crowd to unprecedented levels, giving a very personal feel in such a large venue.

The much anticipated ‘Chasing Cars’ came as a catharsis for the fans, which burst into screams of joy and relief. Following an encore that featured all time favourite ‘Open Your Eyes’,the crowd went into a frenzy. Putting an end to an unforgettable night, the show reached its climax with the band asking us to ‘Just Say Yes’. Is there anything else left to say?

Yes Snow Patrol, a thousand times yes!

To read a review of Fallen Empires Click here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=llUMU1jy_4g

*As published in http://thecourieronline.co.uk/2012/02/live-review-snow-patrol/

Celebrate Christmas early with Globe Café

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 01:26:47 +0000

Local Christians to take 50 international students to the Lake District next weekend, reports Maria Loupa

Photograph: Globe Cafe

A local church is offering to take 50 international students on a weekend trip to the Lake District.

On 16th December, the Global Café, which is hosted by Jesmond Parish Church, will take the 50 students to the Bassenfell Manor in the Lake District, famous for its lakes, mountains and attractive market towns to celebrate an early Christmas (with traditional Christmas dinner).

The organisers say it will be a time full of fun and rest, activity and conversation – a chance to escape from the city. The cost is £70 per person and includes all food, accommodation and transport. The final date for bookings is this Monday, 12th December.

Globe Café is an international students’ meeting point that takes place in Jesmond Parish Church hall. Every Monday night from 7.30 to 10.00pm free coffee is served, and an additional meal provided for £2. A variety of activities are also organised, from “desserts from around the world” to line dancing. The café’s organisers say they understand how arriving in a foreign country can be very challenging for many students - the difference in customs and in culture can be radical so their purpose is to help make this transition a little less painful.

They also organise day trips and weekends away, like a recent visit to Hadrian’s Wall. The café, which has been running for more than 14 years, aims to offer a welcoming and safe meeting place for international students studying in Newcastle. Students get the opportunity to meet British people, to learn about their culture and practise their English. Organised by Christians who live locally, the café aims to help international students feel more at home in Newcastle during their time here and around 120 international students visit the café every Monday night.

For more information on the trip and the café’s activities, visit Globe Cafe’s website at www.the-globe.org

*As published in http://jesmondlocal.com/2011/12/celebrate-christmas-early-globe-caf/

M.L.

Seeing in the New Year with The Suggestibles

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 10:41:00 +0000

A night of film noir, musical theatre and impromptu sketches based on the audience’s suggestions with The Suggestibles, report Maria Loupa and Nelly Stavropoulou

The Suggestibles - Bev Fox, Gary Kitching, Ian McLaughlin, Carl Kennedy and Rob Atkinson - will be returning to Jesmond for their first ever New Year’s Eve performance at The Mixer.

event will begin at 9pm The and last until 2am, and includes a 2 hour improv show with interval snacks and drinks to “fuel” the audience’s suggestions. Everyone will be offered a complimentary glass of bubbly and the stage will transform into a dance floor until 2am.

The improv comedy group joined forces with Steve Steen - a regular guest with the Comedy Store Players at the Comedy Store in London - for a live show at The Mixer last month. Bev Fox and Gary Kitching from The Suggestibles talked to Jesmondlocal about their future plans, their relationship with the audience and gave their own point of view on the art of laughter.

You can watch their interview here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ixgzci050sM

http://www.thesuggestibles.co.uk/gig-diary

*As published in http://jesmondlocal.com/2011/12/year-suggestibles/

M.L.

Interview: Morning Parade

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 09:59:00 +0000

Not heard of Morning Parade yet? You soon will. This hotly tipped Essex band took some time out during their headline UK tour to chat to Maria Loupa as they ventured to the Toon for the very first time.

Frontman Steve Sparrow was friendly, approachable and modest when asked about the band’s work – at first glance, he didn’t give the same impression as his passionate on-stage persona.

So… why “Morning Parade”?

A lot of reasons! We wanted something to symbolize a fresh start – we all came from different bands and this was kind of a clean slate for everyone, and “morning” has this fresh meaning that we were going for. It also stands for all the early mornings we have to get up and travel to go to work, like we were joining the labour queue or something.

Would you say that you are a rock band?

Well, we are definitely a rock band but we don’t play classic rock. We use elements of electronic, dance and cinematic music. We experiment with different sounds and rhythms, anything from Daft Punk to Radiohead. We base our songs on lyrics and melody, but we also use layering techniques to achieve the result we want.

How long have you been together?

About four years. I’ve known Phil since I was 11; he was the one who taught me how to play the guitar and I turned out to be better, so he switched to playing the bass!

With Chad we were together in college, Ben and Andrew came later. We decided to get together and started jamming on Saturdays and stuff. Our music at the time was rubbish, our songs were 20 minutes long!

What inspires you?

Our inspirations are always changing.. We are inspired by what we see around us, you are always introduced to a different eye. I think our music is quite reflecting, our first single is a proof of that.

In what way is the new single, ‘Us and Ourselves’ reflecting?

We all try to get somewhere in life; no matter what we are doing, we are in a single journey, all in this together. It’s about looking to yourself and the world around us, like a universal kind of thing. Unfortunately some people don’t get our message, but that’s a risk you have to take; if you don’t get your feet in the challenge, you might as well say nothing.

How was the experience of performing in all these high profile support slots?

I don’t know how it came to be, we’ve been offered gigs from The Wombats, and it kind of spiraled from there. We’ve played with The Kooks, The Wombats, 30 Seconds to Mars. It was a great experience because we had the chance to play for a huge crowd. With 30 seconds to Mars in Switzerland there was 20,000 people , and with The Kooks about 10,000 a night in the UK.

We’ ve been touring a lot this year in the UK and mainland Europe ; Holland, Germany, Belgium, Russia.

What are your future plans?

Our main focus is on the album coming out on the first week of March and we’re really excited about it. These days, the way the world – and television – works, bands are not necessarily in the singles market; the album is what counts.

Having our own headline tour is amazing, and we’re looking forward to hitting the rest of the UK venues on our list. After the album is released, there’s going to be a lot of touring in the UK and the US next year.

I can’t do one, but can you give us your best Geordie accent?

I can’t even do it, and I’m from the South East!

*As published inhttp://thecourieronline.co.uk/2011/12/interview-morning-parade/

M.L.

48hrmag: A chat with Turner Prize nominee, and former...

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 09:55:00 +0000

48hrmag:

A chat with Turner Prize nominee, and former Northumbria student, Hilary Lloyd. Interview by Amy Bolton & Maria Loupa; filmed by Matthew Philip Smith.

My humble -and main- contribution to the 48 hour magazine.....

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:15:00 +0000

My humble -and main- contribution to the 48 hour magazine.. yours truly

M.L.

Turnaround: turned around

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:31:00 +0000

48hrmag:

Whilst the friendly folk at Newspaper Club work their magic on the presses, here’s a digital version of Turnaround for your viewing pleasure. Grab a printed copy this weekend at BALTIC, or if you’re super keen, from our launch party at Living Room in Newcastle on Friday evening.

Open publication on Issuu

Thanks of the memory of things I can’t forget.. wise Sinatra.. To everybody I’ ve met and worked with at the Baltic

..with the power of hindsight, what a priceless experience! One word to sum up my feelings: grateful.

Thanks guys

M.L.

"If interpreting art is integral to making art, then the question of how to teach interpretation..."

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:16:30 +0000

“If interpreting art is integral to making art, then the question of how to teach interpretation needs to be addressed.”

- http://www.tate.org.uk/research/tateresearch/tatepapers/04autumn/charman.htm (via 48hrmag)

Ladies and gents.. we did it!

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:14:00 +0000

Ladies and gents.. we did it!

Live Review: Morning Parade

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:23:00 +0000

O2 Academy2 – 22nd November

The upcoming Indie/Alt Rockers from Essex filled out Academy2 last week after the release of their first single.

The gig opened with support band Echohead, a bunch of fresh, enthusiastic lads with an unexpected amount of stage presence for their age. The mostly played songs from their demo; with the exception of some enjoyable jamming moments, which was interesting but not memorable. The lyrics struggled to get through and were often suffocated by the powerful music.

Nonetheless, they prepared the crowd for what was coming. At this point I have to admit that I hadn’t heard any of Morning Parade’s music until that night, but I was pleasantly surprised. After the first few moments of their performance, the comparison was inevitably in my head: these two bands are like a before and after shot. The young newcomers and the professionals, with Morning Parade being the latter of course. It wasn’t a matter of age, but a matter of musical ‘maturity’; Echohead were like an unripened fruit, not quite ready to harvest yet.

With their passionate, energetic performance, and the frontman’s standout vocals, it was hard not to parade with them; the connection with the audience was immediate. A combination of their 90s dance anthem influenced tunes combined with euphoric beats was enough to find myself dancing along. Swapping from electric/indie Muse-like sounds to more melodic and acoustic ones, like ‘Half Litre Bottle’, they owned the stage.

The gig only lasted for about an hour, which included singles such as the popular ‘Under The Stars’ and the recently released ‘Us And Ourselves’. In songs like ‘Headlights’ and ‘A&E’ the synth parts with the distinct rhythms and layered grooves portrayed a togethered, in total control band.

‘Speechless’, ‘Carousel’, and ‘Running Down The Aisle’ were just some more of the songs performed that complete the impression of a polished, well rehearsed band. An honest and straight forward band whose music comes from the heart with clear influences from Elbow and Delphic. It’s real and down to Earth like they are; of which their fan time after the show is proof. A band with a plan, firm believers in ‘the more you do the more you get offered’, they delivered a captivating show, with the crowd’s dedicating hands waving almost all the way through.

Are they are doing something original? No. I don’t believe there can be a virgin birth in the music industry anymore.
Have I heard people saying that they are yet another teenage rock band? Yes. But so what?
Their lyrics might be predictable at times but that also makes them memorable, and that’s what makes their music contagious. I don’t know if they will stand the test of time, all I know is that I came here ignorant and left humming their songs.

* As published inhttp://thecourieronline.co.uk/2011/11/live-review-morning-parade/ M.L.

Fundraising jazz night for St George’s

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 14:11:00 +0000

Church Blue Jazz Quintet to raise money for lighting fund, report Nelly Stavropoulou and Maria Loupa

St George’s hosts a jazz evening this weekend in aid of the church’s lighting fund.

Blue Jazz Quintet (Karen Rann on soprano sax, Jeff Smith on tenor sax, Chris Finch on piano, Dave Parker on double bass and Michael Howard on drums) will be performing this Saturday, 26th November in St George’s Church Hall from 7pm.

credit to St. George’s Church

Organisers say that despite the good acoustics that the Grade 1 listed church offers, many of the choirs and orchestras wishing to perform there are discouraged because of inadequate lighting facilities - extra lighting needs to be hired each time there a musical performance takes place.

Tickets can be purchased from the church office or at the door. Tickets cost £15 each (or £12 for Friends of St George’s members). The price also includes supper - home-made soup and rolls, plus sausages in buns.

*As published in http://jesmondlocal.com/2011/11/fundraising-jazz-night-st-georges/

M.L.

Fixing your face furniture

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:35:26 +0000

With Movember upon us, Maria Loupa dishes out advice on styling that ’tache

Upper lip feeling lonely and a perhaps a bit chilly? Well, now you can warm it up while serving a good cause. For those who don’t know, Movember is a global movement that raises awareness and funds for men’s health issues like prostate and testicular cancer. Before you go Movember-style, you should consider two very important factors: your face shape and features, and the image you want to portray. Moustaches come with dos and don’ts so choose them wisely.

After you’ve decided on the desired style, you should learn how to keep it up. There are some basic and simple grooming rules you should follow. Buy a moustache grooming kit (comb and scissors). Following the line of your upper lip, use the comb to align the moustache and clip the ends with the scissors. Start from the centre and proceed outwards; symmetry is everything.

For the rest of your face, you will need a standard razor. If you want to live the full moustache experience, you can go old-school and buy a shaving brush too. Always use shaving cream to avoid cuts; a lanolin-based one or even plain pomade will work best. Style it with a little wax, applying it on dry hair and then combing through. To avoid itchiness and dandruff wash with a mild shampoo, not soap. Using conditioner and moisturizing it with a little wine once or twice a day works well. Be patient; it takes time and experimentation with various products until you find the one that works best for you.

Dear hipsters, hammer pants of the world or just moustache-lovers, this is your time to shine… Happy Movember!

The ‘Hulk Hogan’

Are you more than six feet tall and so bulky that no one messes with you? If the answer is no, stick to a regular moustache; there’s a reason why Yosemite Sam is not real.

The ‘Hitler’

Don’t expect to avoid the direct link; trust me, no one will think ‘Charlie Chaplin’. This is not funny, not cool and definitely doesn’t look good. Do the world a favour and either get that thing off of your face or grow a proper one.

The ‘Tom Selleck’

Do you want to be a ‘big deal’? If you want to serve and protect 70s style, this rich moustache, which oozes with power, confidence and mahogany, is the right one for you. And you know a cigar would go great with that.

The ‘James Franco’

This one seems to be a very popular choice, as it is the most common outcome of not shaving your moustache for a month. The slimmer the more sophisticated. Who cares if you look like the Pringles guy in his prime?

The ‘Aunt Muriel’

If you look like you’ve just had a glass of milk, you’re doing it wrong. In order for you to ever feel a woman’s touch before the end of the month, wipe this thing off.

* As published in http://thecourieronline.co.uk/2011/11/fixing-your-face-furniture/

“If you buy a can, you can save a life”, said one of...

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 21:45:16 +0000

“If you buy a can, you can save a life”, said one of the kids.

Good point, my little friend, good point!

iCan Week: Children brainstorm ideas to tackle food poverty

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 21:38:50 +0000

West Jesmond Primary School students discuss ways of helping iCan project

As part of our iCan Week - five days of news stories, features, interviews, slideshows and videos in support of a local charity initiative that tackles food poverty - Year Six students at West Jesmond Primary School took a break from their afternoon lessons to discuss how they could help tackle food poverty in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Sixty pupils divided into small groups to brainstorm ideas on how their school could raise awareness about iCan - a scheme from FareShare North East whose organisers believe that if each person in Newcastle upon Tyne donated a single can of food, food poverty in the city could be eliminated.

In their separate groups, the children came up with can-collecting activities, and they shared some of their original ideas with JesmondLocal. Watch the video by our reporters Katrina Stevenson, Alexandra Carr and Maria Loupa here:

Some of the children suggested that each student could bring a...

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 21:27:00 +0000

Some of the children suggested that each student could bring a can for every item of school clothing they want to change to non-school uniform. A “pupils versus teachers” can collection contest was also on the iCan agenda - a popular choice, suggesting the children’s desire to compete against their teachers.

A bake sale, talent show, and a school fair were also discussed. The pupils proposed that friends and family should pay for the events in cans.

Since desperate times call for desperate measures, others came up with contemporary and fun concepts, such as a Lady Gaga can-dress design competition and dressing-up-as-a-can event.

Thinking outside of school activities, students considered the option of putting posters around Jesmond to spread the word about iCan.

Fifteen of the Year Six students then took up the role of grown-ups for half an hour and expanded their thoughts on the iCan project. They came up with ways in which the people of Newcastle could donate cans.

The accumulated cans are collected by FareShare and distributed to 36 different projects across the north east, including drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres and children’s breakfast clubs providing food to those most in need - including some who may go a day or more without a meal.

Our iCan week concludes on Saturday 19^th November, with a fundraising/can-raising night at the The Mixer on West Jesmond Avenue.

For more iCan details, visit www.icanfeed.org

*As published in http://jesmondlocal.com/2011/11/year-6-pupils-give-ideas-ican/

Trust me, that’s all you need to know.. *http://theoatmeal.com/pl/senior_year/math

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 21:27:00 +0000

Trust me, that’s all you need to know..

*http://theoatmeal.com/pl/senior_year/math

So now that you know the truth, drop it; it’s really...

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 15:12:00 +0000

So now that you know the truth, drop it; it’s really annoying!

*http://theoatmeal.com/pl/minor_differences/capslock

The Movember issue

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 15:08:00 +0000

Are you a guy and your upper lip feels lonely and chilly? Well, now you can warm it up while serving a good cause. For those who don’t know, Movember is a global movement that raises awareness and funds on men’s health issues (like prostate and testicular cancer).

We should applause the bravery of the ones embracing it, as they are willing to jeopardize their image. But before you go Movember-style, you should consider two very important factors: your face shape and features and the image you want to portray. Moustaches come in a variety of shapes and lengths and they are one of the few “tools” men can use to change their style. So use them wisely, as they come with do’s and don’ts:

The “James Franco”

You would look cool in that! This one seems to be a very popular choice, as it is the most common outcome of not shaving your moustache for a month. And guess what? It works! Who cares if you look like the Pringles guy in his prime?

The “Tom Selleck”

Do you want to be a “big deal”? Do you want to serve and protect 70s style? Accomplish your goal with this rich moustache, which oozes with power, confidence and mahogany. Plus, you do know a cigar would go great with that! So if your facial hair is growing fast, you should treat yourself to one of those fluffy beauties. Super Mario did it, why not you?

The “Aunt Muriel”

Otherwise known as the “girl repeller”. If all you have is a thin line on the top of your lip, like you just had a glass of milk, you’re doing it wrong. If you ever want to feel the touch of a woman, by the end of the month wipe this thing off. You don’t want to forever be known as that guy; but if you insist on keeping it, a “nobody knows I’m a lesbian” t-shirt would look good on you!

The “Under-aged”

Do you only have a hint of a moustache, that looks like alopecia is working its way through you? If your moustache looks like the equivalent of a 12 year old boy’s, you should expect to be treated as one! Solid effort, but you might consider stop trying to fight nature and shave.

The “Hitler”

Don’t expect to avoid the direct link; trust me, no one will think “Charlie Chaplin”. This is not funny, not cool and definitely doesn’t look good. If you want to be taken seriously, do the world a favour and either get that thing off of your face or grow a proper one.

The “Hulk Hogan”

Are you more than 6 feet tall and so bulky that no one messes with you? Wanna feel like a cowboy in the 1800’s? If you can pull it off, try it. If not, stick to a regular one; there’s a reason why Yosemite Sam is not real.

The “Daniel Day Lewis”

Did you enjoy “Bill the Butcher” and you want to sport one of these bad boys? This one has a life of its own, so on top of the grooming expenses, add some extra money for the pints it will enjoy at your expense. The time and effort required to grow this moustache will keep you busy for many Movembers to come.

The “Artist”

Do you want to feel like Salvador Dali for a month? Was it a dream of yours to look like a musketeer? Then sport one of these and you will be golden. Remember, the slimmer the more sophisticated, but also the weirder looking. If you want to go all the way, a monocle would be the perfect accessory-not.

After you’ve decided on the desired style, you should learn how to keep it up. There are some basic and simple grooming rules you should follow. First of all, buy a moustache grooming kit (comb and scissors). Following the line of your upper lip, use the comb to align the moustache and clip the ends with the scissors. Start from the center and proceed to each side; symmetry is everything. But be careful not to overdo it, as it might end up looking seriously uneven.

For the rest of your face, you will need a standard razor. If you want to live the full moustache experience, you can go old school and buy a shaving brush as well. Always use shaving cream to avoid cuts, a lanolin-based one or even plain pomade will work best. Style it with a little wax; apply it on dry hair and then comb through. To avoid itchiness and dandruff wash it with a mild shampoo, not soap. Conditioner is considered effective by many, moisturizing it with a tad of wine once or twice a day as well. It takes time and experimenting with various products until you find what works best for you.

So dear hipsters, hammer pants of the world or just moustache-lovers, this is your time to shine… I wish you all good luck.

Happy Movember everyone!

M.L.

For more information, http://www.movember.com/

Interview with Mamma Mia star

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:19:00 +0000

Nelly Stavropoulou and Maria Loupa talk with singer Tasha Seale, minutes before her live performance at The Cherry Tree

Tasha Seale returned to The Cherry Tree this week (Monday 7th November), keeping a promise she had made to restaurant owner Peter Wardle while touring with the Mamma Mia cast.

Seale, who was asked to step on stage for an impromptu song on her day off from a 2009 tour of the UK, was supported by the Stuart Collingwood Trio - Collingwood on piano, Neil Harland on bass and Paul Smith on drums. Working for the first time together, the ensemble offered their own twist on a selection of songs, the night opening with Frank Sinatra’s ‘The Lady is a Tramp’, which set the mood for a night of classic jazz and blues songs.

Her repertoire included songs by artists such as Billie Holiday and Peggy Lee who, as she told Jesmondlocal, shaped her musical taste while growing up. Seale also commented on the contemporary music landscape and the increasing return to the jazz element.

A Jesmond local herself - Seale used to live in the area - she described Jesmond’s atmosphere as friendly and vibrant. She said she was happy to be back and hopes to have the opportunity to visit again.

Listen to Seale’s interview: Tasha Seale talks to Jesmondlocal

Here’s a taste of Seale’s performance: Tasha Seale sings ‘The Lady Is A Tramp’

For more information on upcoming musical events, visit The Cherry Tree website.

*As published in http://jesmondlocal.com/2011/11/interview-mamma-mia-star/

p.s: You can also listen to a selection of Tashas’s songs here http://soundcloud.com/user9723680/tasha-seale-concert.. it could work as the ideal list to kick back with!

M.L.