Warsaw (Poland): Entering the Old Town

Never grow tired of photographing the spectacular entrance to Warsaw Old Town:

Warsaw (Poland): Jefff's Steak House Lit-Up in the Dark

Always see Jeff's Steak House when I go up to the Proxima for a concert, but I've never been inside the place:

Have heard widely diverse opinions about the quality of food at Jeff's, so I guess I must try the place out for myself one day.

Warsaw (Poland): Ice-Skating in the Old Town Marketplace

Few nice mobile shots of people ice-skating round the mermaid statue in the Old Town marketplace in Warsaw here:

First time I've been to the Old Town in ages, and never realised that an ice rink had been set up there:

Warsaw (Poland): The Psychaedelic Tea Advertisement

Love the psychaedelic tea advertisement above that I saw at a tram stop in Warsaw after the Steve Rothery concert last week.

Warsaw (Poland): Another New Glass Building near Metro Gdanski

Last year, I was photographing this new glass building in the process of being built, but now here it is in its full completed, sundown glory:

Don't mind this new glass building at all, as like many such glass buildings dotted around Warsaw, it has been designed quite tastefully, and is far from an eyesore:

I kind of take an interest in such things having done a module called 'Ethics & the Environment' while studying Philosophy at university many moons ago.

LizZard Live at Warsaw Klub Progresja 21st February 2016

A few shots of French band LizZard opening for the Adrian Belew Power Trio from Sunday night:

Of course, a lot of the photographer attention was focused on ace drummer, Katy Elwell:

Really glad the band did 'The Roots Within', think this is a wonderful, bouncy tune.

Have noticed that there are some really interesting French bands around (really like Alcest and Lazuli as well as LizZard).

Adrian Belew Power Trio Live at Warsaw Klub Progresja 21st February 2016

Still being spoilt for top-notch concerts early on in 2016, and last night, it was wonderful to catch the Adrian Belew Power Trio up at Warsaw Klub Progresja.

A couple of years ago, I saw Belew, Julie Slick and Tobias Ralph in the Crimson ProjeKCt at Warsaw Palladium, but I think I may've preferred the Power Trio last night, that's how good it was.

The set, divided into two 50-60 minute halves, was incredibly well-balanced between the 1980s King Crimson stuff ('Frame by Frame'; 'Neurotica'; 'Three of a Perfect Pair'; 'Indiscipline' etc.); well-constructed medleys (loved the 'Heartbeat' one that kicked off the second half of the show); Power Trio tunes; and amazing musical improvisation (the latter was probably my favourite feature of the show):

 

Below, the band are taking in the applause at the end of a thoroughly entertaining show:

Really feel honoured to have seen the show last night.

Warsaw (Poland): Part of a Hare Krishna Wall Covering

Here's part of a Hare Krishna (or Hare Krishna-type) wall covering from a vegan restaurant in Warsaw.  This part of the wall covering just kind of caught my eye.

Wishbone Ash Concert Poster in Warsaw

Poster advertising the two Wishbone Ash gigs in Poland last week.  Saw the gig in Warsaw which was excellent.

Warsaw (Poland): School of Economics Building

At last, I've managed to get a couple of decent shots of Warsaw School of Economics at Pole Mokotowskie lit up in the dark:

Always think that this building looks wonderful, especially lit up in the dark.

Steve Rothery Band Live at Warsaw Klub Progresja 15th February 2016

Being spoilt with great concerts at the moment, and last night it was the turn of the fantastic Steve Rothery Band up at the Klub Progresja in Warsaw.

And the Marillion guitar maestro and his band served up a real (over two-and-a-half hour) treat:

The gig was very nicely organised into three parts, starting off with the band doing tunes from their 'Ghosts of Pripyat' album, from which 'Old Man of the Sea' and 'White Pass' were always going to be my favourites:

And the man himself, gave us a non-stop demonstration of deeply melodic, sublime guitar work:

Also really liked how the band genuinely worked as a band:

And after a short break, Martin Jakubski joined the band on stage to do 'Misplaced Childhood' all the way through (something I wasn't expecting):

But my favourite part of the evening's entertainment was the last third when the band did a wonderful assortment of Marillion goodies, including 'Slainte Mhath'; 'Cinderella Search'; 'Sugar Mice; and 'Afraid of Sunlight' (was really nice to see a Hogarth-era Marillion tune in the set):

But the two tunes that brought the house down were 'Fugazi' (probably my favourite Fish-era Marillion tune) and 'Incubus', as the band absolutely nailed these.

And at the end of a really wonderful evening, the band were taking their fully deserved plaudits:

Yeah, almost three hours of first-class Prog, Monday (or any other) evenings don't come any better than this.

Two Happy Cats

Wonderful shot taken by my wife of her parents' two cats (great to see a young ginger Tom).

Warsaw (Poland): Proxima Light Bulb Clusters

Also loved the clusters of light bulbs at the Proxima on Saturday night.

Lizard Live at Warsaw Proxima 13th February 2016

Really glad I got to the Proxima in time to see Lizard (Polish band) opening for Wishbone Ash on Saturday night.  Lizard were right up my street with 8-9 minute Prog songs; a solid rhythm section; great guitarist and keyboard player; and cool vocalist.

Wishbone Ash Live at Warsaw Proxima 13th February 2016

Loved every minute of this, a wonderful, two-hour set full of old favourites done with passion, not just going through the motions.  Like many people I guess, 'Argus' is my favourite Wishbone Ash album, and early in the set, the crowd were treated to 'Warrior' and 'Throw Down the Sword'.

Andy Powell, flying-V in hand, is a great frontman:

Used to (try to) play bass guitar myself so I found myself marvelling at Bob Skeat on stage (he just played so well and made things look effortless):

And the most popular tune of the night?  Well, that would have to be 'Sometime World'.

However, my favourite tunes of the night would have to be the encores:  'Persephone' and especially (the 17 minute or so) 'Phoenix', the latter being absolutely mesmerising/mindblowing.

A few years ago, I saw Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash at Bury Derby Hall, which I also enjoyed, and last night it was good to see (Andy Powell's) Wishbone Ash to kind of feel that I've seen the band completely.

St. Augustine's Abbey (Canterbury, Kent): The Old Latin Mass

When I used to live in Canterbury, Kent during the late 1990s/early 2000s, I used to love going to the Old Latin Mass which is held once a year inside St. Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury, to mark the end of a long walking pilgrimage organised by the Society of St. Pius X.

Yeah, the Old Latin Mass in such a noble setting, the pinnacle of high Western culture (something which is sadly in massive decline today).