Warsaw: Morrissey Concert Poster

Here we go, a fly poster advertising Morrissey's upcoming concert in Warsaw next week.  And of all places:  this fly poster is on the wall surrounding the newly built silver mosque up near the Blue City shopping centre.  Wonder if the Muhammadans (in Warsaw) like Morrissey?

Warsaw: Koło Woods

After a wonderful Indian summer (after a great initial summer), Warsaw is now genuinely turning into autumn with, unfortunately, the first tinges of winter.

Still, I had a nice, pleasant walk through Koło Woods (above) the other day.  As can be seen in the picture above, the leaves are now quickly departing the trees.  However, Koło Woods is still worth a stroll, as there's still a few red/brown squirrels around.

Discovering Interesting Music: 'Flash' by The Moving Sidewalks

What is my music discovery of the day, the product of my Youtube surfing today?  Well, today, it's the 1968 psychaedelic blues album, 'Flash' by The Moving Sidewalks:

As soon as I started playing this, the first thing I asked was "Is that Billy Gibbons on vocals?".  And after a quick Internet search, I found out that it indeed was Mr. Gibbons, also with the great guitar work, of course.

Only seen ZZ Top twice, once at Manchester Apollo in 1983 on the 'Eliminator' tour when me and my old mate Phil Taylor got tickets just before it sold out, and the other time at Castle Donington in 1985 when they topped a fascinating line-up made up of Magnum; Ratt; Metallica; Bon Jovi; and Marillion (nothing wrong with that line-up for variety).

My favourite ZZ Top tune?  That would have to be 'Pearl Necklace'; 'Party on the Patio' or 'Got Me Under Pressure' (below):

Remember seeing the above too on the old Channel 4 music show, The Tube.

Warsaw: The Politically-'Correct' Rainbow at Plac Zbawiciela

This is one of the most contentious symbols in Warsaw.  But why?

Well, once upon a time, the rainbow was a beautiful symbol of rejuvenation and regeneration after personal adversity.  Of course, this is the sublime meaning behind DH Lawrence's masterpiece 'The Rainbow' (for me, the greatest novel ever written in English language).

However, the rainbow enforced on Plac Zbawiciela in Warsaw has a far more sinister meaning behind it.  Plac Zbawiciela, which means 'The Square of the Saviour' (or 'The Saviour's Square') in English, contains one of the most beautiful churches in Warsaw which can be seen on the right-hand side in the pictures above and below.  Moreover, more or less everybody is now aware that the rainbow image/symbol has been hijacked by Western politically-'correct' ideological movements e.g. homosexuals/lesbians; the (trans)gender movement.  Thus, many Poles interpret the rainbow at Plac Zbawiciela as a Western politically-'correct' assault on their traditional Catholic culture.

Thus, it comes as little surprise that the politically-'correct' rainbow at Plac Zbawiciela regularly gets burnt down.  So why does it keep getting rebuilt?  Surely, it's a pure waste of money to keep rebuilding such a provocative symbol!  Well, there's a simple answer to this, I think:  Western politically-'correct' imperialism is determined to impose its ugly politically-'correct' ideology on central/eastern European countries like Poland. 

Song of the Day: 'The North Star Grassman and the Ravens' by Sandy Denny

My favourite Sandy Denny tune:  'The North Star Grassman and the Ravens'.  Until recently was more familiar with the BBC live version below, but now really love the more 'organ-sounding' version above (love both versions, to be honest).  

Thank goodness we have the BBC live recordings of Sandy Denny to remember her by.  Many thanks to my old mate Phil Taylor for introducing me to Sandy Denny's music by giving me 'Unhalfbricking' by Fairport Convention many years ago.

Remembrance Sunday 2014: My Grandfather and His Three Brothers

The picture above is taken from 1939 showing my grandfather (George) and his three brothers in their British army uniforms.  Besides my grandfather, I only ever met his brother Fred, my mother's uncle.  Never really heard about what happened to Bill and Andrew so I must find out.

Also, in two days time, it will be my late mother's third anniversary as she passed away at 11 o'clock on the 11th November 2011.  Below, there are a couple of pictures of my mother as a child just after the 2nd World War years:

Really happy that I still have these pictures of my late mother and grandfather (and his brothers) to remember them all by:

Discovering Great Albums: 'On the Shore' by Trees

Literally discovered this fantastic album about an hour ago through Youtube surfing. 

The first description/comparison that springs to mind is that Trees are like a more psychaedelic version of the Sandy Denny-era Fairport Convention.  Thus, no surprise to find out that both Trees albums were released in 1970, hot on the heels of the classic 1969 Fairport Convention albums (incredible to think that 'What We Did on Our Holidays'; 'Unhalfbricking'; and 'Liege & Lief' were all released in the same year).

Thus, no surprise that I found 'On the Shore' through Youtube surfing Sandy Denny/Fairport Convention material. 

Will definitely give the other 1970 Trees album, 'The Garden of Jane Delawney', a listen later tonight. 

Was only 3-4 years old in 1969/1970, but I'm just glad that I'm discovering a band like Trees now rather than never. 

Really thankful that my old mate, Phil Taylor, introduced me to (especially Sandy Denny-era) Fairport Convention many moons ago.