So – faced between buying a cheap boring ubiquitous Japanese bike, or a twice as expensive much more exciting European bike – I opted for a cheap odd 30-year old Japanese bike. Behold The Spectre – the shaft-driven Kawasaki KZ750 which nobody in this country has ever heard of (although I believe they are widespread in North America)…
According to the nice man, and the odometer – nearly 30 years old, yet under 15,000 miles under the belt. And – I nearly believe it… it’s either been sitting unused in a shed for 30 years, or somebody really has done an amazing job in making it look like new.
Anyway – within a week, I’d added 1,500 miles onto it, having visited Hastings, Scotland, and Wales. I have also figured out how to check the oil – realised I have a serious leak (although only overnight – perhaps leaking from the oil tray when cold?), and that it is very likely I rode all the way up to Scotland with zero oil.
Also – gigs…
Afghan Whigs – I can’t remember going to this… I must have skipped it for some reason?
Of Monsters And Men, again… and again – good. They’re starting to play to the crowd a bit more, which I’m not sure is a good thing (the whole getting guys to sing one lyric, girls the next… it’s just divisive, you know? And anyway – I paid to listen to them sing, not the tuneless jerks around me). But yeah, good – had bought multiple tickets, meaning to insist that some people come with me – as it’s music which is impossible to not enjoy… but forgot until the actual evening… managed to get Jess along, who claimed to enjoy it – so all good.
Tiki Taane – claiming to be an acoustic/solo gig. Which it was, sort of. And then he used the loop-hole of claiming the gig was over. BUT – he would stay on stage and sing over some phat beats for a while. So – rather than being a solely acoustic gig, it was really more of a game of two halves Bob-Dylan-at-Royal-Albert-Hall type deal. I left once the use of dub-step was becoming the overwhelming factor.
And Leonard Cohen – went to see him. Was ultra tired, and fell asleep a couple of time. Not happy with myself. Excellent gig – amazing voice on the old fella. And next time he tours, I’ll definitely take the time to head into Europe to see him playing in some awesome old castle or roman ampitheatre, rather than at bloody Wembley Arena.
And that’s about it – much more happened, but I’m still ultra-tired, and just trying to put my life, and house, back together after an extended visit by australians. Luckily, champagne didn’t raise its ugly head until about 1.5 hours before Ben’s flight left. And yet we somehow managed to get through 2 bottles. I believe we actually started the second bottle after he was supposed to start boarding.