I am (a) Kloot (convert)

When I was asked by a friend what I was doing this weekend, I really didn't have much to say ( I had hoped that I could get home on Friday night, have something to eat, maybe the first beer since New Year and then sleep through the weekend so that I would be ready for Monday morning.....well maybe go for another run if my legs will allow [see last blog] - what a lifestyle)

Instead they offered me a spare ticket to see a band that I had never heard of on Saturday night. Well after attempting to prevaricate I ended up saying that it would be great, and desperately searching the Internet for any links to their music. I know that I had heard of I am Kloot and that they had a fantastic reputation, but I really didn't want to admit my ignorance to my friend, my sister and her boyfriend, who were constantly talking about them.

I admit that I found one or two tracks online that I recognised, but was still not sure what to expect. I had been to The Duchess in York which is a great location, and to be honest, despite what I have said, I love watching live music, and don't mind what it is.

Arriving in York (always a great event for me anyway) we made our way through to the Duchess, where we had managed to miss the opening act, but the atmosphere was fantastic, and the surround music was great, and then at about 9:00pm I am Kloot arrived on stage...............and they were amazing! The Duchess is a small, intimate venue, and I'm sorry cos it sounds like I am gushing, but I don't know how to say how great the gig was. Being so intimate everyone was feet from the band, you could see everything.

And when the set was over, and queueing up to get the mandatory T-shirt I felt a hand on my back, and turning round found myself next to John Bramwell, the lead singer who was coming through to sign tour posters, CDs and tickets. It was very strange as he really isn't what you would expect of a lead singer in a band, but it just rounded off the evening perfectly.

And I think what I am trying to say is that the despite not being keen on going I would have really missed out if I had not gone! To be with great friends in a location with a great atmosphere and great music is the way to spend your free time!

Music calms the savage beast!

It is amazing how music is able to bring so many different emotions, how you can choose a track that you know is going to match your mood perfectly......to pick you up....to bring you down.....to chill you out.....or to get your arse out of the door for a night out.

For me Moby's - Why does my heart will always bring a tear to my eye, as will My Immortal by Evanescene, and there are times when everyone has to cry (admittedly I am a big kinda wuss....I mean I'm a big rufty toughty caveman! Honest.....well one that admits to having shed a few tears over Extreme Makeovers Home Edition). I think that there has to be times when you can close yourself away in your room and release all your pent up emotions. I found this especially hard when I was in a relationship, as although there were times that we were apart, it was difficult to shed a tear. One of my favourite places to go to be by myself is Beverley Westwood, especially in the autumn at either dusk or dawn, to see the sun rising of setting through bare trees with mist flowing.

Viva la Vida by Coldplay will always remind me of happier times after seeing them at one of the most amzing concerts that I have ever been to (Chris Martin was amazing, and I don't think anyone will be able to cover any of his tracks because of his unique voice!)

Scooter's Nessaja's lyrics always make me smile. I dont think that I can hear "It's not bird, it's not a plane, it must be Dave who's on the train!" without laughing out loud! Anything by Radiohead will calm me down (I think they can probably calm anyone down.....just not the type of music to listen to when your down though! Kinda messy!) and anything by Linkin Park will lift me up.

I went through a period when whatever mood I wanted to feel I could play Linkin Park to take me there, from "Numb" to "What I've done".

My musical tastes match my mind completely, eclectic. I grew up dancing to the sounds of Guns and Roses and Meatloaf, and somehow progressed to dancing around in warehouses to hardcore dance mixes. I haven't changed at all and will dance to anything (I have to admit that now it takes two or three drinks to get me on the floor now) ......when I stayed in York we would go out about once a week dancing, and I miss it.....crazy as I used to live a few doors down from Welly Club in Hull.....kinda stupid not to use what was on the doorstep, but very rarely did! I hope that this can change shortly when I move to Manchester!

I love music, and the way that it can affect you psychologically.