Oh Joy!

So it's been a fun week yet again. Tuesday I went to work then that night Meredith and I went to see Laura Marling at Scala. The venue was pretty small which was great for this show, and we were right up front again but to the side so there were a few heads in my way but yet again we had a pretty good spot. There were two openers, the first guy was ok, but nothing too special. The second opener was Jay Jay Pistolet. He was great. I got his EP and t-shirt for only 8 quid! I've been listening to him pretty much nonstop since. Then after an oddly long wait Laura Marling came on. She was pretty much amazing. She did some stuff just here solo with a guitar (for one song she did play the banjo which was pretty cool) and she had a backing band as well who would go in and out depending on the song. She played a lot of stuff that I didn't know, I probably only knew about one-third of the songs she played but I loved them all. During one song I couldn't really see and I thought that the band was playing with but then I realized that she was solo. She is that great. Then after we just headed back to MTH since it was pretty late.

Wednesday I worked and then after work I almost headed to Scala to try to see Laura Marling again but on my way to the bus stop Jon Marx texted me and he and a few friends were meeting at ISHbar so I ended up just hanging out there for the night. It was a good time.

Thursday during work my boss Anthea took me to the Sir John Soane museum. He was an architect and a collector of art and other things. The museum is in his former home. The home is rather small but he made the most of the space he had, there is just so much stuff in there. You can't take bags in because odds are lots of stuff would get knocked about since it's such tight quarters. Then we just walked about and looked at some architecture around where I work. It was a nice little break from actually working. Then that night there was an International Dinner. There was free food and drinks and beanbags. That was good. Then Shawn and I went to the Wilmington Arms to see a few bands. The band that we went to see is The Joy Formidable. We saw them open up for Does It Offend You, Yeah? a few weeks ago and they were great. After we talked to them for a little bit and they were really nice and they actually remembered us from when we complimented them on their show from a few weeks ago. After we went to ISH and just hung out a bit there.

Yesterday I woke up rather late then went to Primark. I needed some hangers and a warm layer and I ended up getting that and a pair of slippers and 2 t-shirts but it was only 15 quid for all that. As much as I dislike Primark I do like how cheap it is. Then after I met up with Kris at the Tate Modern and we checked out the instillation in the Turbine Hall and looked around a little bit. Then we headed to Camden and went to a Thai place for dinner. After we went to a hookah bar and had some strawberry hookah and chai and just hung out and people watched for a while. Then after we went to the Hawley Arms. I've wanted to go there for a while so I'm glad I finally made it there. The pub was pretty cool. It just reopened a few weeks ago because it burned down in the fires in February. The bathrooms were pretty great because not only did the have cool stable like doors (it's right by the old horse stables) but it also had a Dyson Airblade hand dryer. I had been wanting to use one for so long so I was really excited about washing my hands. Also the pub had a rooftop terrace. It's right off of Camden High St and right by the big sign that says Camden Lock so it was cool to just be able to look around. After that we went to the biggest pub I've ever been in, The World's End. There were a few levels and it just kept going. I was just amazed with the space, it was pretty busy but there was still room to walk around. Then after that we just caught the bus back to ISH and I ended my night there.

Today I woke up and just bummed around and read for a while. Then I got ready and walked around. I ended up going to Leicester Square and read for a while then I went to the National Portrait Gallery. Right now there is a special exhibit from a photography contest. There were some really great photos from all over the world there. After I just hung out in Trafalgar Square for a bit then headed back to MTH since I had to do laundry and maybe take a nap.

some pictures
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2100499&id=219703240&saved

review of the laura marling concert.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/music/gig-23356764-details/Laura+Marling/gigReview.do?reviewId=23585685

laura marling myspace
http://www.myspace.com/lauramarling

jay jay pistolet myspace
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=77130318

the joy formidable myspace
http://www.myspace.com/thejoyformidable