Wednesday 21/10/09

I'm not as miserable as this blog, or meeting me and having a conversation, would lead you to believe. I love as many things as I hate. Although I do hate the Compare the Market/Meerkat adverts as much as I love all of my favourite bands, comedians and TV shows put together. That's for another day, though.

This week has been bookended by seeing two of my heroes; Stewart Lee and Green Day. I probably listened to more Green Day as a teenager than could be considered healthy. I saw them when I was 14, the first gig I went to, and the die was cast; I was hooked into their admittedly simple but catchy pop punk. While they have become something approaching a parody they still hold a place in my heart, which is why I went to see them on a whim in Cologne earlier this year and shall see them a few more times in London this week.

I'll probably be let down this time as the best Green Day show I've been to was at Reading Festival 2004 where they played a greatest hits of their pre-American Idiot tunes along with a load of other covers. They played a massive set because 50 Cent had just been bottled off and had me hooked for the 2 1/2 hours they were onstage. As I said, they will probably let me down this time with too much emphasis on their excellent/shit (I can't decide) new album and the crowd will have more screaming girls than a party hosted by Ian Huntley.

Stewart Lee is a more recent addition to my list of idols. There's not a lot to say about him because I couldn't do him justice. So I'll leave it there

I also hold a great amount of respect for Brian Setzer. Not only because his is probably the greatest rock and roll guitarist I have ever seen (and yes, I have seen Status Quo), my opinion of him went up massively when I read this week that he has paid his 17 piece orchestra from his own pocket when times have been hard. He puts his money where his mouth is and has consistently played music that he likes and has a passion for (whether there's commercial interest in it or not) with the Stray Cats, the Brian Setzer Orchestra or his solo stuff.

There we are; a 21 year old idolises rock stars and comedians. Somebody alert the media. I'll be really blowing your minds and telling you I masturbate next.

Which I don't, because my family may read this.

Actually, they may be worried that I'm mentally ill if they think I don't. So for peace of mind, you can be assured that I do.