ZzZzZz

Time to make this blog useful. Since I arrived to UK I am having trouble waking up in the morning. In the end I loose half of a day for nothing, and then look out of a window and all my motivation for going out of the house vanishes into nothing.

Suggest some techniques/tips for waking up early! (or going to bed earlier).

UK

OK, my fourth country this year (after Estonia, Czech Republic and France): United Kingdom.

UK greeted me with showers and freezing wind, as was expected. Just like at home...

I decided to settle in Birmingham, the second largest city in the UK, that has around 4 million residents taking into account its suburbs.

Bullring, one of the largest shopping centres in Europe:

My neighbourhood:

Occupy Birmingham...

...aka 99%:

Ducks on on of the channels of Birmingham enjoying pleasant British weather:

And same ducks flying south:

I didn't have enough time (or just became lazy) to look for new alternative venues/events, but I promise to upload some footage very soon.

One good thing is that you can still hear Balkan music on some streets here, just like in France...

Another good thing is that I missed some roughness in France (probably same as in Estonia), and even in general England seems like one of the most dangerous countries I've been to; more than Uzbekistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, whatever... Or maybe I don't know it well enough yet... 

Outsider music + Manifesto

Here I solemnly present you one of the finest examples of proto-psychobillie/rocabilly or however-you-may-call-it music. 

This music is simply awesome; as it is described on Amazon review: "Outsider musicians can be the product of damaged DNA, alien abduction, drug fry, demonic possession, or simply sheer obliviousness."

Ledge: THE LEGENDARY STARDUST COWBOY - Standing In A Trash Can

Wesley Willis-Rock'n' Roll McDonalds

Into Outer Space With Lucia Pamela

CD Arf! Arf! Records

One publisher and a reviewer puts it like this: "Sincerity and lack of self-awareness rarely earn musicians platinum status or a spot on MTV. Thankfully, for every manufactured boy band and lip-synching pin-up there are 10 "outsiders"--the earnest, often psychotic and not necessarily ingenious stars..."
(Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.)

These and many more songs are part of an album Songs in the Key of Z: The Curious Universe of Outsider Music. You can buy the book with CD here!


In the end I want to publish Roman's Manifesto:

"I refuse to follow the guidlines of conventional slick design and correct spelling. I will do everything I can so my blog does not become a part of one of these "lip-synching pin-ups". Following examples of the above geniuses (and true musicians), I will try to incorporate bad design, awful sound and video quality and misleading judgement, presented as philosophy with critical thinking, in my blog.

That is where true sincerity lies."

Amen

North Korean Megamix

Here you can listen to some excerpts from the last year's Servataguse Muusika festival organized in Tallinn, Estonia. Mostly for fans of untraditional music... This year's festival will be held in Tallinn again, on 4,5,6 November 2011. So if anyone is interested in unusual music of the Northern Europe, this is the place for you!


And for the fans of Sublime Frequencies, possibly one of the best record labels I am aware of, Motherland Megamix - Radio Pyongyang:

Ça Fait Zizir Festival, Lyon France

Never mind the quality of these videos, as well my hands were shaking like always...

It was the first day of a three-day Ça Fait Zizir Festival in Lyon. Some good French performance with gypsy influences... Or not gypsy? Does anyone know if ska punk has to do anything with gypsy music? I know that use of trumpets in music does not necessarily signify it is gypsy music, but still...?

A very angry-looking lead singer.

The crowd.

Nantes, France

View on the hostel I am staying in. Nantes, France.

Open window at night. Still too hot.

Castle of Nantes

Flag of Nantes.

Wall in one of the toilets in old town.

Residents of Nantes are very proud of a giant moving elephant, that moves across the town once a year.

Anarchists are active in Nantes.

Poster for the unification of Brittany. Nationalists with a leftist influence. Breton language, now close to extinction is one of few Celtic languages (Cornish in South-West England, Welsh, Scottish, Irish and Isle of Man area)

 Musée des Beaux Arts.

After the battle of Waterloo. Morning.

 

Another scene from  Musée des Beaux Arts.

Was walking around old town, trying to find language schools. Found protesters, demonstrating against the new airport that Nantes wants to build not far from the town. 

I asked a guy in the beret cap if they are going to occupy the square. He told me that they do not like violence, and just want to spread information, but if they have to, they will resist. I told him that in Eastern Europe people do not tend to protest. He agreed, citing his friend from Russia. I liked the young Lenin, but had to keep walking.

Action-art!

Typical street in Nantes Old Town.

Sebastian is master of unexpected encounters. I am not sure he is aware of it himself.

Audience:

Backstage action