Highs and lows

Let's start with the lows, shall we? And by low I mean without a doubt *the* worst point of the year so far: without going into too much detail, Clubbie got massively smashed in the back while stationary in traffic on the way to work on Tuesday, and is currently in Mini hospital undergoing rather thorough repairs.

Beyond that I'd rather not, and probably shouldn't, go into any specifics.

*sigh*

And highs? Well, my subsequent utterly foul mood was lifted for a couple of hours the day after the accident by a wonderful performance from Priscilla Ahn. I got tickets to go see her headlining gig at Bush Hall after seeing her support Jason Mraz at the beginning of the month (where I was won over by her boob song) - and I was not disappointed by her full-length show. First of all, not only were the tickets an absolute steal for 12 of your English squids, but she is a supremely talented singer - a beautiful voice, wonderful songs, some lush acoustic guitar goodness, and a brilliant thing where she records her voice on stage and loops it back to make it sound like she's got a whole bunch of backing singers on stage with her. She had to cut her first song short a few seconds in after breathing in some dust, and swiftly apologised for being "unprofessional"; unprofessional? Far from it - it was actually a rather endearing moment from a performer who engaged wonderfully with the tiny audience (around a 100, I'd guess), and appeared somewhat humbled by the fact that we'd actually bothered to go see her.

I didn't get too many photos, but here's a couple.

Here's Priscilla with her guitar…

…And here she is with her ukulele.

I really recommend you go check out her Myspace page, and may I be so bold as to suggest you get her album in your life? I bought it off iTunes at the weekend and it's fantastic - perfect for sunny, chilled-out summer days. And just to encourage you, here's The Boob Song (which sadly isn't on the album).

Secondly, Bush Hall - awesome venue! I'd never been before, and was stunned to find that it is located in startingly close proximity to the Nandos I've frequented rather too much over the last six years or so. It's an old Edwardian dance hall (a phrase which makes me imagine a crowd of people in their Sunday finest rather sedately doing the ol' 'big fish, little fish, cardboard box' dance routine) hidden behind a rather innocuous-looking shopfront, and there are proper tables and chairs for you to sit at while you watch the performance. It was well sophisticated.

Check out the chandeliers. There are even cherubs above the stage if you look closely!

If you're interested, you can check out some more information about the venue and its history, and see some better photos, HERE. I definitely want to go see some more gigs there - and next time I'd be tempted to wear a jaunty hat, a cravat, and a monocle so I appear as sophisticated and upper-class as the venue itself.