Lichtenstein A Retrospective, Tate Modern Museum, London

For as long as I can remember I have loved Roy Lichtenstein. I wasn't always sure of the name but always loved the comic book style of paintings. I am huge fan of pop art in general along with Andy Warhol.

When I saw on the Culture Show that the Tate Modern was holding a Lichtenstein - A Retrospective exhibition I got online and bought some tickets.

The exhibition had a lot of paintings and sculptures including some of the more well known ones including Whaam! Drowning Girl and  Masterpiece. Looking up close at the comic style paintings - benday dot style - they are just fascinating. The amount of detail and meticulous repetition is just mind boggling.  I really don't think that pictures of the paintings do them justice, they look like screen prints or reproductions and not a piece of art.

I was really surprised to see the art I never knew Lictenstein did, I will admit I was a little naive and just thought he did the comic prints. Some of the most beautiful in the collection were the Chinese landscape portraits such as Landscape with Philosopher -  which was breath-taking and kind of poetic.

Some have said that he merely copied pictures but the skill he displays in those paintings is excellent. He also ventured into sculpture with art deco pieces and his two sided bust which has a blonde on one side a a blue haired girl on the other which looks a little bit like a Katy Perry cover and again I never knew existed.



The exhibition had 12 rooms dedicated to different phases and themes of his work with 125 paintings and sculptures in total.

The Tate's website said: "The artist’s rich and expansive practice is represented by a wide range of materials, including paintings on Rowlux and steel, as well sculptures in ceramic and brass and a selection of previously unseen drawings, collages and works on paper. Room after room pays tribute to his extraordinary oeuvre, celebrating the visual power and intellectual rigour of Roy Lichtenstein’s work."

The exhibition ended on Monday but if you ever get a chance to see it again do so and the Tate already has a couple of Lichtenstein paintings which you can see for free. 

I really enjoyed it and was fascinated by it all.

For more on the Tate visit - http://www.tate.org.uk/

Running challenge - Marwell 10k

My running crazy-ness still continues. 

The weekend just gone I took part in the Marwell 10k, which is 6.2 miles. The weekend before I had run 8 miles so I knew I could do it and I think I was taken by idea of running around the zoo.

The reality of the run isn't quite the same. You probably run about 1.5k around the zoo and then leave to run around the village of Owslebury a really pretty little village.

However, it is really, really hilly. I have trained on hills, around where my boyfriend lives but between 4 and 5k was killer, really steep and just goes on forever. 

You then may relax into thinking that hill is it, but at 6k you have to climb another one.

It is a little confusing though as you feel as if you are running away from the zoo and then you are running back into it.

That bit is good though as you come back in the zoo and then you are near the finish line.

I did it in one hour 15 minutes, which I was pretty happy with as it was really hard and I 
thought that time before I knew how bad the hill was.

I would say if you want a challenge do it, but if you just want to tick off another 10k don't as 
it is hard. I'm glad I did it but I won't be doing it again any time soon.

My only run now is the Great South Run again, but I am already eyeing up some 10ks for next year.

What can I say I have the running bug.

And forgot to mention you get to have a look round the zoo after which was good fun, it has 
been years since I visited the zoo and it is great way to cool down.

McFly, Portsmouth Guildhall, Memory Lane tour - 14 May 2013

Fifth time is a charm for McFly, although every time I have seen them they have been amazing.

The band is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, scary when you think about it as even though they have been doing other things the band has been touring pretty  much every year since they started.

The chemistry of the guys on stage is electric, you can almost imagine them playing in a spare room somewhere and having as much fun as they are performing in front of their fans. I also love with McFly that they haven't really, over the past few years, played big arenas but preferred to stay with the smaller venues which is great for fans.

I think this is probably the second greatest hits/memory lane tour I have been to but then you know the songs and you know what you are getting and can dance your heart out.

They are still my guilty pleasure and I do love them. I hope these boys are still going in another 10 years.

I was near the front for the first time which was great, and Harry threw his drumstick into the crowd which landed very close to me.

Great songs, great atmosphere and a fantastic band.

Set list: 
- Memory Lane
- That Girl
- Star Girl
- Transylvania
- 5 Colours in her hair
- Falling in Love
- Room on the Third Floor
- Obviously
- Corrupted
- Nowhere Left to Run
- Lies
- I'll be Ok
- Bubblewrap
- Smile
- It's Alright/ YMCA/ Don't Worry, Be Happy
- Shine a Light
- One for the Radio
- Memory Lane

Encore
- Love is Easy
- It's All About You
- The Heart Never Lies

The stage with Tom in the corner - 

Baking bonanza day!

This week is a week of big occasions. On Wednesday it is my sister's birthday and Friday is my last day at the newspaper.

I am finally moving over to the world of magazines! Same company but after two years at newspapers I am moving to their magazine and I cannot wait. I am sorry to leave the team at the paper but really looking forward to the new challenge and the next step of my career.

Today I was home alone with not much on so I decided to bake! 

I wanted to make cupcakes for the people at work so did it today. I made chocolate cupcakes from the Hummingbird Bakery book and then made a simple vanilla icing. I just hope the guys at work like them.

As I was baking my sister asked if I would make her a banana loaf. I didn't have any chocolate chips so decided to risk it and make the loaf without the chocolate. I was a bit worried as the mixture didn't look like a lot but in the oven it expanded quite a bit.

My sister tried it and loved it! So all good.

Below are the cakes and then in a bit I am making chilli from scratch! Get me....turning into a domestic goddess....slowly.

9 to 5 the musical, The Mayflower, Southampton, 04/05/2013

I do love a good musical and I also love a very catchy pop song, so a musical based on a very catchy song is my kind of thing.

Music and lyrics were written by the legend that is Dolly Parton who also acts as narrator at the beginning and end of the musical which is a great touch.

Set in 1979 it follows the story of three disgruntled women who decide to take action against their sexist, misogynist boss. The musical like the film shows you that over 3o years ago the working place for women was a completely different place, with unfortunately some familiar sights.

The performance I saw starred Mark Moraghan, who used to be in Brookside and  Holby City as boss Franklynn J Hart, Natalie Casey from Hollyoaks and Two Pints of a Larger and a Packet of Crisps as Judy Bernley, Amy Lennox who was Legally Blonde the musical as Dolly's character Doralee Rhodes, on this occasion the understudy Lori Haley Fox played Violet  Newstead and was phenomenal. Roz was also played by Bonnie Langford and it seemed that her fan club were in when we saw it but she was brilliant with great comic timing.

The whole musical is full of comic gold, a lot of laughs and all the people's singing voices were exceptional.

I didn't realise just how talented Natalie Casey was and Amy Lennox was the spiting image of Dolly Parton not necessarily in looks but in voice and mannerisms. All the performances were first class and made you laugh until your sides hurt.

It was a really brilliant feel-good musical as all musicals should be. I didn't know what to expect I have seen the film but in some ways couldn't understand how it would work as a musical but it was great and if it comes to your town make sure you see it. Me and my mum loved it.

Here is the website: http://www.9to5themusical.co.uk/

Pink, The Truth About Love Tour; The O2, London; 25/04/2013

If this were a one word review of Pink's performance at the O2 it would simply be - Wow!

I went into the concert liking some of her songs but came out absolutely in love with the singer and performer.

When a singer launches onto stage with the aid of a bungee rope and is caught by three topless men you know you are on to winner.

From start to finish it was just a very energetic concert. Pink was more acrobatic than pop star puppet.

The moves she performed during the song Sober, were just phenomenal. She was suspended in a egg shaped cage which at one point saw the male dances holding on to it as it spun with Pink holding so gracefully on to their arms on the outside.

I read some reviews that during the more energetic moments she was miming, but even so when she sung during the acoustic part her voice was melodic and breathtaking even though she had to cancel the first night of the tour in Birmingham due to a respiratory infection, her voice was pitch perfect.

During Try she not only recreated the dance from the video but performed mid-air in a tangle of rope like something from Cirque du Soleil, with the most impressive abs. Yet she is one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen.

It is quite amazing to think that Pink has been going for 13 years most of my teenage years and yet I never really came under the spell of the rebel, feminist singer.

She is a little bit of a dork doing the worst dance moves she could think of and encouraging the audience to do the same. 

Pink seems like a genuinely nice person who bent down and signed autographs for the crowd at the front and interacted with people shouting and throwing presents.

The crowd seemed to be mainly old fan going crazy for You Make Me Sick and Just Like a Pill and less so for the newer songs on the album.

It is also the only gig I have ever been to that had end credits, with a behind the scenes video of Pink preparing for the tour as well as her beautiful daughter Willow.

I am just so glad that I saw Pink live in concert it was unlike anything I had ever seen before and I have been to quite a few concerts. I enjoyed every minute of it and think even if you aren't the biggest Pink fan you will be after seeing her I certainly did.

A Telegraph review said: "That these were performed with the same genuine enthusiasm as the hits from her last album (her seventh but first to make number one in America), is a testament to Pink’s talent, and explains why she continues to sell records. Ten-year-old songs don’t sound dated because she has maintained the same energy and sass that she created them with." and I couldn't agree more.



Set List

* Raise your glass
* Walk of Shame
* Just Like a Pill
* U and Ur Hand
* Leave Me Alon (I'm Lonely)
* Try
* Wicked Game (Chris Isaak cover)
* Just Give Me a Reason 
* Trouble 
* Are We All We Are
* How Come You're Not Here 
* Sober 
* Chaos & Piss (Guitar instrumental)
* The Great Escape (Acoustic)
* Who Knew (Acoustic)
* Fire and Rain  (James Taylor cover)
* F**kin' Perfect 
* Most Girls / There You Go / You Make Me Sick 
* Slut Like You
* Blow Me (One Last Kiss) 

Encore - So What

The Big Reunion when all is said and done

Last week was the last of the current series of The Big Reunion and it ended with the concert I went to at the end of February.

It didn't show the whole concert but it was still good to relive it all, so much so that I have now pre-ordered the concert DVD and will be going to the Christmas party gig at the O2 in December.  

Watching the concert I was a little relieved (and disappointed) that I didn't make the cut. My friend's friends were in one shot though. Well I knew I was there.

I thought I would use a post to talk about the Big Reunion. I have seen many of these shows - Take That and Spice Girls, where they re-interview old bands who reflect on the good ol' days. Only to reveal that they were not that great and they were plagued by self-doubt, drugs and lots of sex with older fans. The Take That one broke my six-year-old fan heart that the guys were less than perfect. 

I was relieved that watching the Spice Girls one that they were friends with each other, well we all knew Mel B and Geri were at each others throats, but I suppose the most telling thing is that Victoria is never really with other girls anymore. I suppose if I had a multi-million pound global fashion house I wouldn't want to be associated with the 'Posh' Spice label still.

Also the Steps one which was upsetting as they really didn't like each other, so when I saw them on tour all I kept thinking was 'they hate each other really'.

So I was little apprehensive when I saw this show was going to be on. It featured all the bands that I loved when I was a child in the nineties, I saw some as well at radio roadshows. For a re-cap the show featured Honeyz, B*Witched, 5ive, 911, Liberty X, Atomic Kitten and later one Blue, who didn't really split up recently but ah well.

It was a really interesting show revealing what it was like to be in a band during those years. Record labels pushing them to the edge of their sanity if they knew they were on to a good thing. All the bands left on quite good terms, Atomic Kitten always seemed to be fighting, very fiery. 5ive as well were quite interesting proper bad boys.

I loved 5ive and fell more in love with them after the show. They are and were fantastic.

But at the end of the day it was interesting and good to see the bands gelling quite well after all these years.

It does make you wonder after the success of this show who will be in the next series - Cleopatra? Busted? Hear'say? S Club 7? Who knows?