Wasting Time
Ale, music and enjoying life.
XTC Convention – September 15th-17th 2017, Swindon
The Prep
I was fortunate enough to be one of the 100 or so lucky punters to get a ticket for the sold out XTC convention in Swindon and fortunate enough that my house move landed a couple of weeks later than this convention (despite Lammy ribbing me “We’ll end up moving that weekend and you’ll have to miss you’re beloved XTC”!).
I have to declare my hand early here and confess that I was very late to the XTC party, not really fully discovering them until the late 90s. Whilst I merrily picked my way through their discography and discovering all the delights that it has to offer I missed the demise of the band and didn’t really discover Apple Venus and Wasp Star until Messrs Partridge and Moulding had firmly shut the door for the last time at XTC towers. So I wasn’t going to let the convention pass me by. A ticket was purchased for less than £30 for a full weekend of XTC fun and before I knew it I was making my way down the M1 then flooring it (don’t do it kids!) on the M5 to meet with fellow XTC mates Owen and Jacquie for a curry then on to the Friday night events.
Friday night
Arriving at the venue we were warmly greeted by the organisers and what a great bunch of people they are. They welcomed everyone on the way in and gave us all a goody bag with programme of events, badges and the weekend pass (each one signed by Andy Partridge). We got seated then split into teams for the XTC quiz. I think I managed to get about 3 questions right out of about 30. They were really nerdy, more so than the Stranglers convention I’d attended a few years earlier. But it was all jolly good fun and that continued with a tribute band and an open mic session. Easing us in nicely for the weekend’s events.
Saturday
Fairly early start, fed and watered and ready to go we have a lot to get in today. Starting with a walking tour of Swindon and pointing out the various XTC landmarks. This was great and incredibly organised. A lot of prep had gone into this and it showed. At times I felt it would’ve made a great Radio 4 documentary, those quiet moments walking in between sites and the bit where a local cyclist passes by and goes “What are you lot doing?” “Oh we’re doing a guided walk” …”What?! of Swindon? This dump” (says the local!) …”Yeah it’s for a band who were based here”….”Oh XTC? Enjoy” and off she cycles. We continue taking in various band members houses (admired from a distance) , music stores the band would frequent and such like.
Back to the venue and there’s a raffle. I don’t win anything but it’s great watching people jumping up and selecting an XTC goody. Again it’s such great value I can’t imagine any of the organisors profited off this (not that was the intention) and they clearly spent a lot of time and effort and investment in raffle prizes, treats on the table and even champagne! to toast the Bumper Book of Fun book launch.
Books Are Burning
A bit later John Moorish takes us through a slideshow and the XTC early days story. Most enjoyable and entertaining. What follows is an XTC discussion with various long standing fanzine and XTC authors. Mark Fisher then launches his XTC Bumper Book of Fun we all raise a toast and it’s a fantastic collection of XTC fanzine editions and refreshed with interviews with comedians (what is it about comedians liking XTC?) and various other bits and pieces.
The venue now goes a bit silent. Messers Moulding and Chambers are en-route! They walk into the venue, everyone applauds, they smile and wave. There’s a lot of love in the room. A queue forms and you can get records signed and have a chat. I have a brief chat with both Colin and Terry. Terry is so down to earth, you wouldn’t think he was bashing the crap out of the drums on many of the pivotal XTC albums. Colin as well is charming. Top blokes.
The afternoon wraps up and we grab food and get back to the venue where we are treated to 4! tribute bands and they’re all fucking great. Such talented bastards! I sit at the back taking it all in and nodding along with a nice glass of Malbec. As witnessed in this youtube vid…
Sunday
There’s a walking tour of the Uffington White Horse. It looks great and initially I was up for this but knowing I’m moving house next Fri or the Fri after (it was the latter in the end) I decide to head back up t’ut North! to pack boxes. But it’s been a complete blast! Geniunely a great time was had by all. Thanks again to everyone involved who made it a weekend I won’t forget.
Here’s to the next one. Now if only we can convince Andy Partridge to get involved! 🙂
Here’s a little sneaky peek into the Bumper Book of Fun – well recommended…..
Moq Vs Rhino Mocks
What follows is simply a few rough notes I made with experience with a Moq framework and converting to Rhino Mocks:
Asserting a method call
ISomethingRepository mockedSomethingRepository = MockRepository.GenerateMock();
var person = new Person { name = "Bob" };
// Act
var something = new Something(mockedSomethingReporsitory);
// Assert
mockedSomethingRepository.AssertWasCalled(x => x.Save(person));
Asserting a property was set
As above but assert on the property….
mockedSomethingRepository.AssertWasCalled(x => x.WasPersonSaved = true);
Using a Stub to control program flow
Similar to Setup with Moq we’d use a Stub to return the desired flow i.e:
ISomethingRepository mockedSomethingRepository = MockRepository.GenerateMock(); mockedSomethingRepository.Stub(x => x.ValidatePerson(Arg.Is.Anything)).Return(true));
Using a Stub to return the desired set on a property
ISomethingRepository mockedSomethingRepository = MockRepository.GenerateMock(); mockedSomethingRepository.Stub(x => x.IsValid).Return(true));
You can use GenerateStub here but the above setup for the stub keeps things syntactically the same in all mock setup instances.
Using Constraints to assert a method call with specific properties
In the first example we simply checked that a method was called. If we wanted to check the method was called passing in an object with specific properties we would do the following:
var personId = 23; mockedSomethingRepository.AssertWasCalled(x => x.Save(Arg.Matches(x => x.Id == personId));
Check out some of my other Mocking tips and tricks….
Hugh Cornwell – Louth Town Hall 1st November 2017
Just collected me thoughts after a mini break part of which took in Hugh at Louth.
Louth
I’m pretty familiar with Louth as my wife grew up there and has family there. I’m usually there 4 or 5 times a year. It’s a pretty weird place. Pleasant enough but a bit of a bitch to get to and seems like a place famous people retreat to. You can often see Robert Wyatt drinking coffee in the town square, Barbara Dixon at the Co-op and even Dave Formula in the Brown Cow. Like I say, pretty weird.
Incidentally, Dave Formula promoted a blistering British Sea Power gig at Louth Town hall in the Summer a couple of years back and this is where I return to tonight to see Mr Cornwell. I’m fearing a handful of punters for a dark midweek gig in the middle of no where but as we walk up the stairs and enter the main hall I’m pleasantly surprised to see a 3 quarter full Town Hall. This fills up to almost no seats in the house by the time Hugh enters the stage.
Setlist
It’s an interesting set. The first half consisting of Hugh’s solo material some of which he’s not played for a few years. Couple of audience members behind me talk throughout until it becomes unbearable “Paul….Paul!!” shouts one pissed up lass to some hippy looking bloke. Myself and a couple near me tell him to pipe down. He gets the message “Fuck this I’m off for a cig” 🙄 He gets up and duly fucks off. A small blemish on an otherwise great first half. I’ve my wife’s family with me who’ve not really heard much Stranglers stuff before let alone Hugh and they’re enjoying it.
An hour later Hugh reappears to give the crowd a blast from the past. It’s a strong set, the sound is perfect (possibly the best I’ve heard him). His guitar and vocals warm and rich. Fantastic effort to all concerned and the man himself. Highlights for me were Henry Moore (good to hear it again), Ships That Pass in the Night (which Hugh announces as like “playing a game of chess”), Big In America (sounding big!). To be honest it’s all good. Can’t wait for the next one which I believe will be around May time. See you then.
Top 10 Guitar Solos (as of September 2017)
Subject to change at any moment a dose of manflu allows me to indulge in the following during a fit of boredom. Which brings us nicely onto the first entry…
Buzzcocks – Boredom
A real punk two fingered salute to the prog rock guitar noodling before it. Shelley’s two note solo leads the way. B’dum b’dum!
XTC – Books Are Burning (Late Show Version)
XTC’s Andy Partridge called a halt to live performances following an unfortunate bout of anxiety whilst performing a gig in 1982 (captured on video below)
So he must’ve dug deep to perform on TV 10 years later to promote their fantastic Nonsuch album. Andy’s guitar solo has to be up there with the greatest.
David Bowie – Scary Monsters
Robert Fripp’s guitar work throughout this track is pretty nuts. The guitar work towards the end is quite something.
When Bowie toured in the 90s this was a regular in the setlist. Reeves Gabrels gives it some welly.
Incidentally Reeves throws a wonderful solo into Tin Machine’s Roxy Music cover of If There Is Something
Big Country – Wonderland
I have to throw Big Country into here. The band’s “bagpipe guitar” style and their output is worthy of a mention. Here we have Stuart Adamson and co extending the middle section in a live performance of Wonderland. They were always great live.
The Damned – Noise Noise Noise
I could’ve chosen just about any Sensible era Damned track for inclusion here. Captain Sensible is such an underrated guitarist. https://youtu.be/1yj_LwUnuac?t=2m10s
The Stranglers – Goodbye Toulouse
Taken from their first album this track paves the way forward for Hugh’s signature guitar sound (Telecaster, no pedals, “angular”). A unique guitar sound which would see The Stranglers as the most successful punk band and gave them hit after hit from 1977 to Hugh’s departure in 1990.
Ultravox – All Stood Still
Losing serious cool points here I know (not that I had any to lose). So Midge Ure makes it into my Top 10 guitar solos?! Yeah get over it. Another underrated guitarist. Legend has it that Midge was called up to play for Thin Lizzy when Gary Moore left. Midge didn’t have time to prepare and only had the Concorde flight from UK to US to learn the tracks by ear that he was about to perform. Not a massive fan of Ultravox or Midge but this deserves a nod.
Frank Black – Bad Wicked World
Frank’s Teenager Of The Year album is a humdinger from start to finish. So many great tracks and a natural progression from his time in the Pixies. And Pixies guitarist provides us with this quirky solo that made me LOL when I first heard it.
Velvet Underground – Heard Her Call My Name
The steam train progression and feedback all over this solo make it something to behold. The live version of this track is also worth a listen on their reformed 1993 Live album.
https://youtu.be/DtgM8IHDZx0?t=2m17s
Julian Cope – Charlotte Anne
Donald Ross Skinner laid down some fantastic guitar which was always buried in 80s production treacle. A great example is on Cope’s Charlotte Anne single from 88.
Docs 4 Life – Making a claim
Update
Since publishing this article Dr Martens have announced that they are ending their “Docs4Life” range. They will still honour existing owners so if you managed to get in there before they ended the range then you’ve potentially saved a bit of money in the long run.
Further Update
In addition to the above the claim process has changed slightly to the original process below. Notable changes are as follows:
- After contacting customer services they will instruct you to send the docs back to them by printing out pre-paid postage, Get a proof of postage and proof of payment of the £20 admin fee.
- Once you’ve carried out point 1 above and emailed them they will pretty much send the replacements on to you.
- You will receive a replacement pair from the “hardlife” range. With docs4life being discontinued you will never receive a branded docs4life pair was the original process (outlined below).
Disclaimer
Each process may differ slightly to the one I described below. Always start the process rolling by sending photos of your docs first (to contact@drmartens.com) with your docs4Life membership number).
Background
Ok I admit it I currently own 5 pairs of docs 🙂 . One of the pair I bought a couple of years ago were from “Docs4Life”. The Docs4life range cost a little bit more than standard docs but are reinforced in terms of their soles and for an admin fee of £20 you can chip your docs in once they’re knackered and receive a new pair. So I worked out that once I’ve put 1 claim in I’ve made my money back. So after 2 years (as you can see) my docs were in a pretty crappy state so it’s time to make a claim…..
The Process
In order to make a claim you’ll need your docs4life reference number and some photos of the wear and tear on the docs themselves. Email contact@drmartens.com and they will get back to you within 5 days. However, as you can see that’s a pretty generic email address and if you phone them once you’ve emailed and explain that you’ve sent them a claim they will dig your email out and process it quicker.
Once they’d assessed the photos and confirmed the damage I was advised to cut the tongues out of my doc martens?! and provide photos of the docs with the tongues cut out and photos of the tongues on their own. I realised that in doing this I’m effectively destroying my docs and there would be little point me posting these on. This was confirmed when customer services got back to me and stated that I wouldn’t have to post my docs out. All that was left was for me to pay the £20 admin fee.
Limited Replacement Range
Disappointed to learn that the brown docs I bought are no longer in the Docs4Life range. In face the only colours available (at time of writing) is black and red. Went for black and after 3 days the new pair arrived.
