So, as part of my two weeks of holiday, last night I went over to Brixton Academy to see Elbow complete their UK tour in support of their new album 'The Seldom Kid'. If you don't own it, buy it. It's a great record - slightly understated, typically affecting Garvey lyrics, maybe not quite so good as Leaders of the Free World or Asleep in the Back.

Anyway. Support was from Two Gallants, an bluesy American two-piece who I've heard played on the radio a few times and were very enjoyable. They didn't do much but what they did they did well. Etc.

Elbow were, once again, magnificent. This time they've boosted their sound by the inclusion of a string trio (introduced as Jyoti, Stella and Margaret) who also sang some backing vocals. They really added to the sound in both the new and older songs. So the band came onstage to Starlings, miming (I suspect) the trumpet bits in the intro. They followed up with The Bones of You and Leaders of the Free World.

I must say, much as I enjoyed the show Elbow seem to have got to the annoying bit in their career where they have to start ignoring the back catalogue in favour of the newer (better known?) material and the album they have to promote. So the bulk of songs tonight are from the last two records, with just two from Asleep... and only one from Cast... which is a bit disappointing. However we do get an awesome version of Great Expectations and Richard Hawley comes on stage to guest during 'The Fix'. Other highlights included Guy messing up the intro to New Born and asking us all to boo him! The big singalongs to 'Some Day Like This' and 'Grace under Pressure' were also pretty good :-)

All in all a great night, slightly marred by difficulties in getting home caused by the Victoria line switching off before 11pm. Grrr. Will have to bare that in mind on Thursday for Portishead.

So yeah, Friday night I went over to Birmingham to watch The Cooper Temple Clause doing a gig. The last time I saw them was at Warwick uni in late 2004, so it's been quite a wait for me until I got to see them for this, the 5th time.

One word: absolutely fucking awesomely immmense.

OK, so they've lost Didz, but I tell you what, they can still pack out that enormous wall of sound, especially on the last verse of Film-Maker when everything goes up 11. And for the record I love the rearranged Panzer Attack, the way it just builds and builds and everybody spazs out at the end. And the new stuff. Oh, the new stuff. I've put the setlist in a cut at the end in case anybody reading this wants a surprise if they're going to see them, but they played 7 new songs (balanced with 7 old songs), and I swear they're all excellent. Head and Connect are mutant stompers, Damage is fab, I adore Isn't It Strange, All I see is you is wall-of-sound like Music Box...although I wasn't too keen on Homo Sapiens or Waiting Game. Still, I can't wait for the new album to be released. AND! ANDANDAND! They're playing the Godiva festival in Coventry in July, so I'll get to see them again! I saw them live for the first time at the 2001 fetival, so it'll be good to see them in that situation again.

Wow. I love TCTC.

Also met up with Richard and Andy for drinks afterwards, so that was cool to catch up.

One thing that did worry me about that night was when I got into my hotel room, and the air conditioning was set to 30 DEGREES! 30?!?! Who was staying there before me? A FUCKING LIZARD? turned it down to a pleasant 27 so I could sleep ;-)

( Setlist )