Move to Wordpress

After realising that having two blogs, one for reviews, another for writing, for many years, I came to realise that it would be better to have just one on which I could post both reviews and articles/writing and so I've moved over to Wordpress.

I'm going to keep everything on here that I've done in the past, but as it's much less professional-looking than my recent work it's better, in my opinion to start things fresh again. Plus, WP is much more organised.

From now on, to view my updates please go to http://petekentofficial.wordpress.com

Thanks, y'all.

London Walks: The City

As I exit Cable Street and start walking along the Highway, I decide it’s time to grab a quick bite to eat and some hayfever tablets – my nose has been running viciously in the 23 degree sun since I stepped out of my front door two hours ago and I need something to stop it. The first person I approach is a well-suited office worker stood smoking outside one of the City’s square buildings along East Smithfield who informs me there is a Tesco round the corner and at that I thank him, replace my headphones and set on my way. 

Walking slowly through the Minories and into Fenchurch Street I find myself surrounded by a flood of suits; pinstripes, silk ties and leather shoes make me feel like the odd one out wearing a black Satyricon t-shirt, cargo shorts and plimsolls with my hair tied back into a ponytail halfway down my back. That isn’t to say I’m complaining. I like being the odd one out and here was the perfect place for someone like me to be such a person. The amount of middleclass-ness, however, is still somewhat overwhelming. 

I finally come across a small Sainsbury’s and grab a Mars bar (not the best of food, but it has sugar) and a box of antihistamines to sort out my hayfever. Around me I can see a small amount of yet more office workers looking to buy a quick after work snack before beginning their commutes on the stuffy underground.

Continuing through Fenchurch Street the pub fronts are filled with office workers holding an after-work pint and cigarette or cigar whilst many an expensive shop is pulling in similarly dressed customers looking to buy three silk ties for £20 or a light pink shirt for £35. Though I’m not too interested in such pricey clothing there’s something interesting about seeing a large sheet of grey and black crossing the road each time it becomes clear or the man turns green. 

It may be a hot day, but being surrounded by London’s skyscrapers only helps due to the cooling shade they provide as opposed to the lack of found in the parks and riverside walks. As much as I like a slow walk beside the river, the sun right now is just too warm for it to be enjoyable and “chilled” (please excuse the bad pun) so I feel thankful for the first time that these huge John Lewis, Next and M&S buildings exist.

Fleet Street and Strand provide me with yet more expensive shops and hotels and I suddenly begin to notice how many people are riding through London on bikes; some wearing face masks and helmets as protection against CO2 emissions and accidents, others not. I begin to feel a slight hint of jealousy as they still own a bike whereas mine was stolen a year ago. It soon blows over, though, and I then notice how the tourists have now replaced office workers. People with maps, guide books and cameras flood Strand and the surrounding streets like ducks around stale bread. Some look confused or lost, others are smiling and talking amongst themselves and yet more are relaxing in the sun's rays on the patches of grass which have now turned a bright shade of green with the recent holiday weather we've been having. 

After a quick break to blow my nose and take some observation notes I'm back on my feet and walking towards Covent Garden's Maiden Lane in order to meet some friends in the recently-opened Porterhouse pub.

July Updates

It's been a month since I last updated readers on how everything's going which means it's probably now time for me to write another update. So, what's been happening this past month? Well, not loads, but not too little either.

As I said I'd been planning to do in my previous post, I've been frequently posting and replying to Gumtree ads looking for writers. I thought I'd been having some luck, but it appears I haven't. The first email was from someone who ran/runs a RoyalDocks website and wanted me to write a piece of UEL, London City Airport and the ExCel Centre. The first 2 I did, but having received no reply nor payment for either, I haven't done the ExCel piece (yet - maybe I'll get a very late reply) so that's been given up on and put down as yet another mess-arounder. I think I'll keep these pieces as part of my portfolio now. I might even upload them here for those who are interested.

Similarly, I received a phone call around a week and a half ago from someone claiming to be a celebrity (but not giving any hints AT ALL) who had a new music project running which would apparently cause genuine hypnosis. Being the music fan I am, I accepted the job as well as giving him Lauren's details as a graphic designer. We both though we had it in "the bag" after he said he could tell we were interested. Over I sent a few pieces of work. That, however, was now over a week ago and the best either of us have heard from Mr. Celebrity is 2 rings on Lauren's phone using his withheld number. So much for professionalism, huh?

Next up is the email I received today from a London Escorts company looking for a blog writer who can do around 3 pieces weekly. I've sent them my rates and can now only hope I get the job. It'll be something new and hopefully interesting. Who knows, I might even get some free nights out and trips around London. Which brings me onto my new writing project: London Walks.

Having now lived in London for 3 years and a lot of it being with just enough money to buy food and drink, I've done a lot of walking. I was taking a walk through the city on Wednesday and casually studying the buildings and people around me when I began to think about how everyone uses the (cheapish) public transport of buses and trains so much that they miss out on being able to take just stand back and look at everything around them; buildings, rivers, people and the overabundance of push bikes. This gave me a new idea in which each week, day or night, I'll be taking a walk through London, both well and less well-known areas, and documenting my walks.

Sure, it's not to everyone's tastes, and some people even prefer to have their head jammed into a sweaty armpit during rush hours, but Michael Hodges (timeout.com/hodges) put it best in this week's '1001 things not to do in London' (No. 422) by saying "I was ambling along, considering just how exotic London is if you look above street level to the upper floors of the buildings we don't usually consider" which is exactly what I'd been doing. I wouldn't want to spend my days sat in one of the offices in these buildings, but there is still something fascinating about the architecture within London, whether it's the Victorian redbricks or the shiny skyscrapers such as the Gherkin or the Walkie Talkie.

I've pitched this idea to Time Out and visitlondon.com and can only hope for the best, but if both of these pitches fail, I'll still be going for walks which means a weekly piece. I can definitely safe that it's something I'm looking forward to doing. Sure, London isn't 100% paradise, but there are some great places to walk with my favourite being along Victoria Embankment and the connected riverside walk which ends at Tower Hill.

Next up, I've just received a phone call in reply to my Gumtree ad from a charity organisation based in Edgware Road who are going to send me some details (i.e. website links) for me to look at. They then want to meet me in their office and take it from there.

Eroticus is coming along slowly as I'm starting to run out of juice for it. Saying that, I'm still going to push on with it and hope for the best.

That's all for now, updates next month.

Whitesnake, Journey and Thunder, Wembley Arena review

When I discovered that Whitesnake were hitting London this year I knew it was inevitable that I’d be going as they are a band I’ve been a big fan of since the age of 15. With Journey and Thunder on the list as well I was expecting an excellent night, and an excellent night I had.

After the compulsory buying of a t-shirt and toilet visit I managed to find my seat and get comfortable as I waited for Thunder to hit the stage. After some fiddling with my phone and text exchanges, the lights dimmed, the stage lit up and spotlights began flashing to the repeated chant of “THUNDER!”

Very soon, the flashing stopped and Thunder ran onto the stage to their positions. At this my insides began rolling and I felt myself almost crying with excitement. The night had begun.

I’ve only really heard a small number of Thunder’s tunes with the only one I really know well being ‘Love Walked In’, but their set was excellent and very memorable with Danny Bowes’ bad dancing and conversing with the audience. However, I was slightly disappointed at the shortness of their set which lasted only 45 minutes to an hour meaning no more than 7 or 8 songs could be fitted in.

Thunder’s performance was top notch and for a bunch of aging rockers, they still have it. A band I would happily pay to see again. Overall rating: 8/10

Next up were, surprisingly, Whitesnake (I expected Journey to be second), a band I’ve enjoyed listening to for a number of years with both their new and old stuff being some of my favourite music/songs which I’ve never gotten bored of.

In recent months I’ve commented on David Coverdale’s face melting, yet his showmanship, in my opinion, is still there. A little croaky at times, but still able to hit the high notes, I hope he doesn’t give up his day (and night) job any time soon.

The band were also great with sound levels being just right and each musician having the chance to play a solo, minus the bassist. Reb Beach and Doug Aldrich happily battled it out on guitars before Tommy Aldridge gave us his infamous hand-drum solo which I couldn’t help but continuously think must’ve hurt as it was being performed.

Playing all the hits including ‘Is this Love,’ ‘Good to be Bad’ and what I now believe is their staple finisher ‘In the Still of the Night’ Whitesnake were one band not to be missed, and at 35 years old, still able to put on a fantastic show. Getting to see the Snake play live marked the seeing of almost every band I’ve wanted to and despite being on the other side of London, the trip was fully worth it. Overall rating: 9/10

Third up were, of course, Journey, the band I expected to see on stage second rather than headlining. Journey is a band I’ve listened to very little with most of it being heard on Planet Rock radio or similar and not fully by choice. I’d enjoyed what I heard, but doubt that I would’ve paid just to see them. And tonight’s experience helped to confirm that.

They were good, but could’ve been much better. In agreement with the commentary over Facebook I’ll say their instruments were a little too loud resulting in too much distortion and all blending into one. However, the singer, despite lacking volume, was entertaining and lively. Saying that, I did take a toilet break near the end of their set (something I’ve not done before) and noticed a large number of other attendees stood waiting for their partners and friends and at that I found myself joining them and leaving a little early in order to avoid the crowds and full trains.

Journey are a band definitely worth listening to studio-wise, but tonight’s performance has put me off of seeing them live again. Overall rating: 5/10