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DO YOU WANT TO SEE YOUR NAME
ON THIS PAGE? DO YOU THINK THE
EVENT, DESPITE ITS PERFECTION, STILL HAS JUST ONE LITTLE THING MISSING? DO YOU HAVE CREATIVE URGES
THE ONE WITH...
UNFULFILLED BY THE REST OF THE PAPER?
IF ANY OF THESE STATEMENTS APPLY TO YOU, I WANT TO HERE FROM YOU!
...THE SCARY STUFF
CANVAS IS A FABULOUS 3rdnovember2009issue233
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE YOUR MARK
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF>HANNAH LIVINGSTON| concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk THE EVENT EDITOR>GRACE SIMPSON| concrete.event@uea.ac.uk
ON THE EVENT AND INTRODUCE YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS TO A PARTICULAR INTEREST OF YOURS, AS WELL AS LEARNING VALUABLE EDITING SKILLS.
ASSISTANT EDITOR>DUNCAN VICAT-BROWN
WHETHER YOU HAVE AN IDEA FOR AN ARTICLE THAT DOESN’T QUITE FIT
concrete.fashion@uea.ac.uk|FASHION EDITOR>KAT JONES
INTO ANY OF OUR SECTIONS OR YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LOT MORE OF
FASHION WRITERS>DANIEL BANKS, HANNAH BRITT, RHYS CALDER, JAMES MACKENZIE, BOBBY ORR
SOMETHING WE ALREADY COVER,
CANVAS IS YOUR OUTLET.
concrete.arts@uea.ac.uk|ARTS EDITORS>FIONA HOWARD & KIRSTEN PETER ARTS WRITERS>ALICE BRUNT, RACHEL HANDFORTH, SHAUN KITCHENER, BRIGID MARRIOTT, CARMINA MASOLIVER-MARLOW, HANNAH SPEED, SUSANNA WOOD
IN WHAT EVER WAY YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED, BE IT AS A WRITER, EDITOR OR ILLUSTRATOR, PLEASE GET
concrete.creativewriting@uea.ac.uk|CREATIVE WRITING EDITOR>STEPHANIE CROSS
YOUR THINKING CAPS ON AND EMAIL
CREATIVE WRITERS>ROBERT VAN EGGHEN, TOM GOLDSMITH, HANNAH GRIFFIN, CARMINA MASOLIVER-MARLOW, YEE TAN
concrete.event@uea.ac.uk|CANVAS EDITOR>WILL DONOVAN concrete.tvdigital@uea.ac.uk|TELEVISION EDITOR>JOSH BUTLER TELEVISION WRITERS>JOSH BUTLER, MICHA BUTLER, SOPHIE MORGAN, LAUREN O’NEILL, NICOLA PEARSON, CAROLINE PREECE, JACK SWAIN
concrete.wired@uea.ac.uk|WIRED EDITOR>WILLIAM MORAN WIRED WRITERS>GRACE SIMPSON, RICHARD JOSLIN, WILLIAM MORAN, VAUGHN HIGHFIELD
concrete.music@uea.ac.uk|MUSIC EDITORS>PAUL COOK & STEPH MCKENNA MUSIC WRITERS>MICHAEL BLUNT, CAROLINA BODMER, OLIVER BROOKS, ALEX DALLIGAN, PERDITA FEARON, JAMES GORMAN, ROSS GRANT, HAZY HALE, JAMES HALLING, JACK LOUGHRAN, TOM MCINNES, ALEC PLOWMAN, ALEX THROSSELL, DUNCAN VICAT-BROWN, CAROLINE WALKER
concrete.film@uea.ac.uk|FILM EDITORS>ELIZABETH POOLE & ADAM SCALES FILM WRITERS>MERCEDES BROWN, MICHAEL BLUNT, MICHA BUTLER, WILL CROSS, PAUL MARTIN, LUKE NASH, LORNA PONTEFRACT, ELIZABETH POOLE, ADAM SCALES, BERT WARLOW
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ME AT CONCRETE.EDITOR@UEA.AC.UK
CIAO FOR NOW, GRACE X X X
FASHION>........................ the man edition...>5 ARTS>.............................. great British art...>7 CREATIVE WRITING>...... beauty...>8 CANVAS>......................... Rich Fulcher...>9 TELEVISION>.................... dark television...>10 WIRED>........................... virtual insanity...>13 MUSIC>........................... eight live reviews...>14 FILM>............................... spooky special...>21 VENUE>............................ sparkly events...>22 COMPETITIONS>............... win a fun book...>24
4
fashion
03nov09 issue234
concrete.fashion@uea.ac.uk
The Man Edition
This issue focuses on fashion for men. We look inside the wardrobe of UEA student Bobby, Hannah Britt discusses celebrity style and Kat Jones searches the campus for everyday student style.
INSIDE MY WARDROBE
Name: Bobby Orr Course: World Art Studies Age: 21 To cover my naked body.
Get Bobby’s look £30.00, ASOS
£60.00, Topman
fashion
03nov09 issue234
concrete.fashion@uea.ac.uk
Battle of the bands The Electro Singer
The venue of this gig was outside the gents in the ARTS building entrance on a Monday afternoon. I stood poised, hoping to catch sight of stylish young men passing by, and I was not disappointed. These three lads were all very obliging when I leapt at them with my camera, and here we can see the real diversity of style present at UEA.
The Guitar Rocker
Name: Age: 19 Course:
Name: Daniel Banks Age: 19 Course:
Three Words to Sum Up my Style:
Three Words to Sum Up my Style: Dark
THE BECKS FACTOR
5
The Retro Frontman
Name Age: 18 Course: Three Words to Sum Up my Style:
6
arts
03nov09 issue234
concrete.arts@uea.ac.uk
ART>REVIEW>GREAT BRITISH ART?
ART>REVIEW>BEATLES TO BOWIE
ART>REVIEW>ONE AND OTHER Hannah Speed
Angel of the North
Beatles to Bowie; The 60s Exposed
Beatles to Bowie
One and Other
Charing Cross
THEATRE>PREVIEW>LEE HALL AND THE PITMEN PAINTERS Lee Hall, the man behind Billy Elliot what Calendar Girls
The Pitmen Painters has all
The Pitmen Painters Pirates of the Caribbean
Alice Brunt *Tuesday 10th November – Saturday 14th November at 7.30pm
The Pitmen Painters November
arts
03nov09 issue234
concrete.arts@uea.ac.uk
LITERATURE>REVIEW>UEA CREATIVE WRITING ANTHOLOGY
Carmina Masoliver-Marlow
COMEDY>NAME TO DROP>SIMON AMSTELL
Susanna Wood
7
THEATRE>PREVIEW >MINOTAUR SHORTS
Shaun Kitchener Shorts runs from the 4th-6th November at 7.30 at the UEA Drama Studio. Tickets are £5 and £3.50.
8
creative writing
03nov09 issue234
concrete.creativewriting@uea.ac.uk
BEAUTY Katie’s poem
Natural Woman
Her skin is purely white
Making her unique to the rest of the world. Her hair is shimmering red Catching the sunlight as it swings around her neck. This is beauty,
The Dancer and the Cripple
There is no such thing as natural beauty, But looking good is just a woman’s duty, So pile high the powder and plaster on a smile, ‘Cause honey, looking ugly is never gonna be in style. With body hair you look a state, So pluck, shave, wax and epilate! To hear him say your place or mine? You’ll need to get that salon perfect shine, So shampoo, blow dry and straighten everyday
She put on those white shoes and was condemned forever to dance. For they belonged to a cripple but she had lusted for them, those delicate snowy ballerina pumps. Eventually he found her and together, the pair made their way around the world, in a world of their own.
On the droplets that dangled perilously on jungle leaves.
Sit-ups, and daily trips to the gym Are good to help you keep so slim. Count calories in salads and other fun food
sky. On the wings of ravens in northern skies. In the arms of the desert wind in the Sahara.
nude.
This is beauty.
compliments
A woman now, 18 Ready to move out into the world Ready to be touched And turned into gold.
cloak and stained hat form such a contrast to her fragile With an implant here and a nip-tuck there, You’ll be happy to prance around in just your underwear!
grand leaps into the air, the quaint pair wander through the dreams of dancers, ever ready to inspire but also to warn.
Carmina Masoliver
This is beauty. She is beauty.
Blue as the Sky So here I am sat watching children run along golden sand chasing dogs trailing kites throwing balls up diving to catch them before they drop
melodic blue of the sky and sea that seems to shimmer from here
Strangers? They say he was a shoemaker but then who
The Last Leaf a rustling a need to escape tugging against its bonds as autumn fades hopeful yet sad the heights of summer glory the compost of next years crops a new return
ache so? In a jerky clockwork fashion he stumbles but elegantly while she caresses his movements without ever quite touching him.
And so some people say that she stole his shoes, whether sister or customer or lover she once was. Others say he loved her and enchanted the shoes to trap her. But I think the story is simpler than that really. Yee Tan
I hear footsteps and turn to see you walking with your shoulders slumped and
Tom Goldsmith
suddenly this just disappears Robert Van Egghen
Next issue’s theme:
ANIMALS
Email your submissions to: concrete.creativewriting@uea.ac.uk by the 11th November
canvas concrete.event@uea.ac.uk
03nov09 issue234
RICH REBELS
9
This week, Will Donovan interviews Rich Fulcher about his new book, swearing at mustard and what’s next for the Mighty Boosh. Rich Fulcher does not disappoint. The anarchic comedian who created much loved Mighty Boosh characters Bob Fossil and The Ape of Death is just as hilarious in real life as on screen or stage. During our interview, in a quiet but occupied coffee shop, he nonchalantly swears at inanimate objects, sings the queen’s disappearance theme tune and sexually assaults his own book, Tiny Acts of Rebellion, while remaining one of the nicest stars you could hope to meet. Before his first ever book signing at Borders in Norwich, Rich spoke to The Event about rebelling against your friends, The Mighty Boosh and how to topple the monarchy. You’re known on your TV work for doing a lot of shouting and bizarre characters. Is it weird to go from that style to sitting down and writing? Well, on Snuff Box I don’t shout that much, I’m almost the opposite. But I shout when I’m writing, “I am writing!” It is kind of strange to write and not perform but because you can actually do these Tiny Acts, I like to go out into the street and do them and then write about them. So you have actually done most of these? Except for maybe one or two. It’s about my life! It’s hard to write them in a room, it’s better to go out and do them, say I’m in a coffee shop and I think “I could spit in the syrup!” No, wait, that’s not a good Tiny Act. These aren’t criminal activities; these are subtle, creative ways to rebel against society, your friends and things like that. So it’s a bit like the voice in the back of your head telling you exactly what you can’t do? The thing that I find from talking to people is that everybody has that voice. My book is trying to make that voice louder. Cos some people have lost that voice. …Can I say that? Edgar Allen Poe
said there’s an imp in all of us, and I think that’s true; it depends on what imp you’ve got. What imp do you have? That’s a t-shirt right there. This week you flipped off Big Ben as a Tiny Act The one day that it rained, that was when we did it. Liberal estimates are we had 100, but if it had been just a little bit nicer we could’ve had 3-500. We were rebelling against the weather as well. But the video footage looks good, it’ll be good to compare to the LA footage. What did you flip off in LA? A blade of grass, a baby, the Hollywood sign, erm, did I say a baby? I was in an astronaut hat. A lot of people think I’m angry with LA, but I’m not, I’m just flipping off a lot of stuff. I could be flipping you off under the table right now. [to our photographer] What a dick! Is there anything in Norwich you’ve flipped off? The mustard shop. Is this the mustard capital of the world? This is what poppies are to Afghanistan. Why is it yellow anyway? Doesn’t it come from green leaves? Actually, I bought some mustard, I figured I had to. To swear at in your own time? Yeah [laughs]. See, I do things which aren’t good for me, that’s the problem. So have any of these Acts landed you in trouble? There’s one where you get a universal remote, you use it when there’s a game on and switch the channel. Depending on the crowd, you could get in a little bit of trouble if you’re caught. Were you caught? I ran away. But people found out later, so you don’t just want to waltz in there like “hey guys! No hard feelings?” That’s why I have ratings in
the book one to four, four being most difficult. What new projects for TV are you working on? I did some interviews as Eleanor, where the whole point is to disturb the members of the group, so that they’re sexually confused, a few of them really go with it. I’m hoping to do some more stuff with that, maybe more for MTV2 or live stuff. Right now there’s all this potential stuff for the Boosh, but I’ve learnt that the best thing for us is to go off and do our own stuff then when we come back together we’re all fresh and dainty. Are there any plans for the Boosh? The answer to that is none of your business. No, there are all these things potentially but I don’t really know what order, there could be a movie or a tour or a fourth series. So it’s all going to happen, it’s just a matter of the right times. I know there’s been some talk that people are very hard to get hold of, is it hard to get everyone back together to work on stuff? It is, but we need some sort of signal, like the Bat symbol to get us all back together. I think that’s the next big project, forget the movie, it’s the signal to get together. Do you have a man-crush on Noel Fielding? Who doesn’t? I have a man crush on everybody on the show. I have a man crush on this table. I have a man crush on my nasal hairs. No, of course you get really close, you do a scene, you just want to.. No. [to our photographer] Do you have a man-crush? She’s a girl. Oh right, a girl-man-crush? You’re going to lead the story with “Rich has man crush on Noel!”
The Acts all seem to be little annoyances about everyday things, which could be seen as a British trait. As an American who’s lived here a long time have you thought this? I think it’s universal, but I think it plays really well here as there’s so much throughout a day which you want to rebel against because there’s a lot of stuff you can’t do anything about. Like being on the tube, being crushed. So why not, when the tube’s empty, sit right next to somebody and go “Hi! How’re you? Do you like daisies?” and get a reaction from that. I think it is very British. Do you think people here are more scared of social acts of rebellion? I think so; rebellion’s more rife here in terms of little things like that. I can’t explain it, maybe because of the monarchy. So if we do enough of these, the Queen will just have to leave? Yeah, the Queen will just evaporate if we do enough of them. I think we have to do 73 a day for 10 years then she just [starts singing aaah]. Do you have a personal favourite Act of Rebellion? We filmed some of them, they’re up on the website at www.tinyactsofrebellion.com which I really like. I like this one, you’re at Boots or something and you’ll buy a toothbrush and she says that’ll be £3, she gives you the change, you say thanks and walk away. Then you come back and say “oh excuse me, I just farted”. It’s a great reaction to get because you volunteer that you farted, but also delayed after you got away with it. And by the way I did just fart. Rich Fulcher’s debut book Tiny Acts of Rebellion is out now. Series 1-2 of Snuff Box and 1-3 of The Mighty Boosh are available on DVD.
10
television
03nov09 issue234
concrete.tvdigital@uea.ac.uk
GOING OUT AFTER DARK
The Event
DEXTER Dexter
Micha Butler
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
Nicola Pearson and Josh Weatherill Hush
CHARMED Caroline Preece
SUPERNATURAL
Sophie Morgan
television
03nov09 issue234
concrete.tvdigital@uea.ac.uk
11
PRIMETIME - THE THICK OF IT
DOWNLOAD - DEFYING GRAVITY
Last week sadly saw the last episode in the excellent sixth series of Peep Show. But whilst you mourn the loss of Jeremy and Mark for
With so many formulaic American TV shows washing up on our shores, is both refreshing and peculiar. It nestles
While it’s certainly entertaining to see characters being drilled by hard-as-nails
undeniably an original premise for a show, but one that also happens to be its downfall. Set in the year 2052, follows eight astronauts on a six year mission through
dimensional characters engaging in clichéd
the incredible whirlwind of profanity that is The Thick of It. With with Peep Show co-creator Jesse and whose idea of a response to a knock on
The Thick Of It the fact that a lot of it is improvised, is that
it’s hard to see what there is here for fans of presented to us. Well, just in case you were
Anatomy will most likely balk at the
or corporate pillaging of the galaxy’s natural resources, our hero and narrator Donner tells us in a cringeworthy voiceover that man decent chap, and if you don’t believe him he The second series of eight episodes started X-Factor - don’t worry, The exact purpose of the crew’s mission is who is played by cult comedy veteran Rebecca The Thick Of It is the brainchild of writer and Alan Partridge genius Armando Iannucci
press conference, controversy over a lumbar support chair and a Kate Thornton namecheck, it cannot be recommended enough.
the reason we’re watching. The main focus of the show is the loves, lives and passions of the crew and their nearest and dearest. The claustrophobic elevate the already ramped up sexual tensions. by Ron Livingston, an actor who has tried his hand
bye.” desperately to head the department with the Tucker et al. spin their way onto screens Saturdays at 10:10pm. Lauren O’Neill
and Jack Berger in Sex and the City. He is perfectly cast as the no-nonsense astronaut who plays by nobody’s rules but his own, while
depth or originality is probably a mistake. Catch Defying Gravity Thursdays at 9pm. Jack Swain
DVD BOX-SETS: THE NATURAL ENEMY OF THE COMMON DEGREE So everybody has had one, that day where you
of things you’re willing to consider. So what do you do? Put the newest box set on the TV, and you entertained for hours. Now all you need to
exists that if the characters have accomplished something, you feel as though you have too and it becomes okay to leave that essay for tomorrow. So why do DVDs and degrees mix as badly as lager, cider and blackcurrant? It’s the nature of the box set. A good analogy would be to give a child a months supply of sweets, and expect it not to eat the lot in one day. Nobody likes to
day clothes. doesn’t make you feel as though you’ve done absolutely nothing all day. A weird phenomenon
GRAPEVINE Nobody wanted to write about School of Comedy this issue. Then again, nobody wanted to write about it last issue, so I should really take that as a hint to give in. Instead, I’m going to take it as a sign that the world needs convincing that School of Comedy
favourite series - although useful to alleviate the tedium of the evening in - is really a bit too
bit racist, sexist, xenophobic, homophobic or just plain dumb, but then it’s also performed by kids, which is cute. Starring the brilliant Will Poulter of Son of Rambow, as well as various other pretalent, School of Comedy is like coming home to discover your child has shaved a word he doesn’t understand into the dog - if you don’t laugh, it’s Speaking of enjoyment through ignorance of inherent faults, Doctor Who returns Sunday 15th
importantly, it’s all of these things and yet not soul-crushingly dull.
you missed, and that can’t possibly be watched into the mix and you’ve got real problems. It’s all too easy to forget that, while some
unless you come away with a decent degree, you may not be given the choice as to how to spend the day. So put down that box-set or face a future shelving them at HMV. Caroline Walker
their televisions and their telescopes.
simply “the best” while Tennant has said tearful goodbyes as he departs for the neighbouring set of the The Sarah Jane Adventures. Smith
hearted iPod jokes, Andrew Lloyd Webber has how you feel about reality TV and the funnyfaced one jokes about it, it would be callous and Although there’s no guarantee there won’t be a musical number about it on School of Comedy’s last episode. Yeah, it does musical numbers too. Next issue, to mark Remembrance Day we’ll
will make it smooth and white with a lower-case drama that is almost as old as war itself. Because, while that’s not even remotely possible, it sounds good. Josh Butler
12
wired
03nov09 issue234
concrete.wired@uea.ac.uk
<G AMING><REVIEWS> L 4D 2> T T I A G S EFT
EAD
HIS IME T
The Event was present at the London MCM Expo
gamers at the
For those unfamiliar with the original, and are both FPS (First Person
follows four survivors in their struggle to reach a rescue vehicle that will take them to safety at the climax of the campaign. The game has
play through due to the AI engine that has been dubbed the “Director” that monitors the players’ performance and changes things to provide a challenge. For example, a new feature in is that in the Hard Rain campaign, the
was an increase of 39% in Online game (or MMO for short)
was “well done”. The steam group has now been shut down by its leaders.
the USA. Almost all large game publishers are
user interface updates, graphical updates, new common grunt enemies and textures,
others. The Charger is the most mundane of the new
everywhere has been increased so much from
brings to the table a whole host of new things; items, gameplay modes, weapons, and uncommon infected that wear riot armour
you down. There are also a variety of new weapons and
“scavenge mode challenges players to compete in which can be used to pick up team mates if they die. This item is crucial for the new realism mode, which places a special focus on teamwork
game and builds upon it, giving the franchise a much needed update and breath of fresh air. This
that wander around and will instantly kill anyone.
you unable to do anything except run where
blown away once one plays the game and is totally absorbed by the atmosphere, music,
longer glow from a distance, and melee weapons you can pick up melee weapons separately from
someone yelling “TANK!”
or katana. There’s also incendiary and explosive ammo, an item that sprays boomer bile over
Available on: PC, Xbox 360 (Review based on PC version) Price: £30 PC | £50
Richard Joslin
Australia have taken it upon themselves to ban
GAMING ON THE CHEAP
8.5/10
MMOs the levelling system varies from game to game, for example in EVE Online (a space
games physics engine means each shot should
bridge building and using a variety of goo types that peform a plethora of tasks. The game has been noted for its impressive soundtrack and
and intensity of the song being played.
Audiosurf: £5.99 Peggle: £9.99 World Of Goo: £16.99/Free Demo
In the last issue, you may have read about
reduced price for students, and they have now
of MMO creators, and has prompted them to
up by grinding, but with the sheer amount of as Second Life, it’s free to download and play; however if you wish to improve your experience you have to pay. With these games it’s not so much paying to ‘level up’ but instead to enrich your experience within the game. Further to this, many MMOs work by paying for a copy of the game, and then paying a monthly fee to keep playing; this cost varies from game to game (and is usually no more than £10). In the case of many MMOs you then also pay for any expansion packs released. This proves very expensive for many gamers; although as the numbers show, the cost isn’t enough to lure them away from
who enjoy them, though in a minority of cases they have drained bank accounts, ruined social the truth. As long as a valid ac.uk university important in EVE, a game which is more about the management of resources and trade, than in other MMOs such as WoW where levelling up is
friends in game rather than those they know outside the game world, and in extreme and rare cases MMOs end with the death of loved ones. There is a healthy community spirit within these
are massive savings for very useful pieces of
This is not to stereotype the typical MMO interest in an ethical sales policy, it is also a clear
life and a sustained presence within the virtual themselves unable to juggle both a real world life and a virtual one. These make up the minority of gamers.
MY FACEBOOK FAVOURITE
the hangovers of Wednesday and Sunday mornings, they will also fear
speed of the vehicle and the shape of the road
SOFTWARE FOR STUDENTS
gamers become part of a community. Overall, like any other game out there MMOs
Audiosurf, Peggle and World Of Goo game is similar to Guitar Hero atmosphere. All these games are available on PC. Richard Joslin & William Moran
13
brings up the issue that as paying players, they will be losing their right to play and use a service they have paid for. ‘Dungeon crawling’ does however create a social network in the game; by teaming up with fellow players and raiding
invested back into the game, or used on other projects. However the cost on gamers is shocking.
games available that will run on almost any computer, be it desktop or laptop.Here are a few
World Of Goo where the player must direct the goo from the
There have been instances of serious injury occurring from prolonged play. In one of most serious cases a Beijing gamer, known as ‘Snowly’ in the online community, actually
and become totally immersed in the game. As any player of Role Playing Games (RPGs) knows levelling up can become something of a slog to get through and, in turn, become something
last year, Get A Room Or This Happens UEA Anyone making drunken LCR
In Peggle, players must clear as many balls from the screen as possible with a limited number of shots. Once all the orange balls are hit, the level is over. There is gravity, and your
EAL IFE
virtual world. The problem lies with this lure of MMOs levelling mechanics; cases have been reported of many gamers becoming so enthralled in their environment that they neglect real life, playing the game excessively to the detriment of their social lives. There is a minority of gamers who are addicted to levelling up, or ‘grinding’ as it is called
If you’re like most students, you won’t have a £900 gaming computer, and can’t run the latest, most graphically demanding games. However,
In Audiosurf players can convert any of the songs on their computer into a road which the player must drive along in a variety of vehicles
N
more money to buy expansions to further extend
The game has special types of non regular
featured things such as “Boomers”, “Smokers”, and the infamous “Witches” and “Tanks” which are extremely deadly if not approached with brings these all back and
(WoW), Sony has Everquest are working on a Fallout MMO. Their appeal to developers resides in their ability to generate
team play. Despite the nagging voice in the back of one’s mind complaining about how it should
its charm and team gameplay due to the fact that how well the players are doing, making visibility more of an issue and making it harder to do what and brains everywhere. On the topic of gore,
ORLDS MPACT
User Dungeons (MUDs) like Utopia in the early 90s, to the society of Second Life in 2003 and the massively successful released
in two of the groups leaders and having them personally play test the game. They responded
Infected and the clock as they collect gas cans to refuel a generator located in each map. Every can the Survivors pour into the generator scores
<T ECHNOLOGY> V W I O R L dreams of the future; however they have existed
fan base reaching nearly
playable in campaign, versus, survival and the
concrete.wired@uea.ac.uk
IRTUAL
’ movement was formed,
to our great excitement.
to buy the new version, provided you enjoyed the previous game. Not that this is a bad thing, far from it, is an immensely enjoyable game and one cannot begrudge it simply for being a
OES OUTH
The game is no stranger to debate despite the fact it that has not even yet been released.
booth and we had a
come to expect from every other game with a
LL
wired
03nov09 issue234
appearance in this now legendary group’s photo album. Never has anything so accurately documented the hilarious nature of the LCR and its sordid goings on, providing photographic evidence of
would much rather forget. Though is it amusing to trawl through the photos tagging, and clearly got on the wrong side of a few snakebites, the real novelty is
oblivious to their capture. If you’ve never looked at this group before it is certainly advisable, not just for your entertainment but also to
Grace Simpson
gamers can become so absorbed by these games and the impact they can have on this minority William Moran
14
music
03nov09 issue234
concrete.music@uea.ac.uk
INTERVIEWS MR HUDSON
Perdita Fearon. to have a look around. Hopefully this album is going to take me on that trip.
I suppose a lot of people, on hearing the two new singles, would there, it’s just evolving.
How would you describe its sound?
Straight No Chaser sounds. I wanted the best of both worlds; take the best of American
and staying in America, working over there, listening to music in taxis and going to the club was all going to have osmosis across said: “I want you to make a pop album, let’s do this”.
picking just one?
How did Kanye get involved? , and said: “Look, let me give you a hand on the next one”. It was really, really simple. Straight No Chaser America- are you always inspired by where you travel to? What’ve you been up to lately? I’m always in the studio; the days have just been packed with interviews, photo shoots, gigs, DJ sets and the studio.
Then in the evening you have a few beers and want to get on the stage and sing. Who inspires you most? were brilliant. He’s a consummate star in several areas; fashion
Your album, Straight No Chaser, was out on October 19th. Are and limo in Hawaii.
is the sound of someone in the back of a
been to Australia, never been to South America and I really want
and working with others.
FLAMBOYENT BELLA What does the name mean – Flamboyant Bella?
ended up looking at this book full of newspaper headlines of the that and “Flamboyant Bella” was one of the headlines and that’s basically where they stole it from. I think she was something
I watched an interview with her once and she was wearing the
mad, they’re such party animals. This tour has been a bit more relaxed. It’s nice to not have the stress of headlining to an extent, because if you don’t get loads of people turning up to the gigs then it doesn’t feel so much like it’s on you’re shoulders.
really comes from life experience. James writes all the songs from everything from ABBA up to Blondie, and then really
How would you describe your music?
because it’s not just someone singing with a backing track. It’s
released a single…
shows.
great tool to get your music out there, especially when you’re a band with hardly any funding behind you. It’s really simple to
like touring? I don’t think people really understand how big it is when we go out on tour. It is weird going to towns you’ve never been to before and people knowing your music and coming up to you
and it’s really done well for us. Have you got a single out now? Yeah, we’ve got a single called September and it’s on iTunes now.
music LIVE MUSIC
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EDITORS > UEA LCR > SUNDAY 18TH OCTOBER Early into Editors’ sell-out hour and a half set,
and You Don’t Know Love, as guitars and synth like Eat Raw Meat=Blood Drool may not be as accessible as some of their previous output and
third synth-heavy ‘Terminator inspired’ album
their other notable hit singles Smokers Outside, The Hospital Doors and All Sparks, it is the sound of fresh vitality, more akin to Bladerunner than In This Light is a
In This Light and On This Evening; the electronic heart beat of the track punctuated by a mass of electronic
and on the right evening something you have
crowd favourites, from the band’s two previous Munich and Blood are given more emphasis Bricks and Mortar
SONIC BOOM SIX>WATERFRONT>WEDNESDAY 14TH OCT For those not familiar with the Boom, they are a punk band from Manchester who blend elements of reggae, hip hop and punk grit
is alive in Norwich, with brightly coloured mohawks a plenty and a lively mosh pit going
While the older tracks are performed with driving intent (The Racing Rats notably causing a mass sing-along) they are the output of a welloiled machine; it is the new tracks that allow
Oliver Brooks
REVEREND & THE MAKERS >WATERFRONT > THURS 22ND OCT most of the country seem to be stuck to their
both danced and rocked out to a good dose of punk reggae and hip hop, the crowd was wholly punk and ska-punk and a few punky-reggae covers, which are always good to get people in
Sam Carney new album is more of the same rather than previous album, such as The State of Things and the top ten hit Heavyweight Champion of the World Mermaids of Long Long Time audience for two and a half minutes before
just over an hour, the set consisted of mainly songs from their new album City of Thieves and the previous album Arcade Perfect, as well as a
do manage to communicate their energy and
Ross Grant
BLACK STONE CHERRY> UEA LCR> FRIDAY 23RD OCT back the pace with ballad Please Come In and Soul Creek out on a lengthy drum solo, which he concludes
A great opening act, Parlour Mob drew in the audience and showcased their talent well,
of Peace Is Free, then throwing doughnuts to the Sweet Home Alabama with tracks Maybe Someday and Lonely Train, before concluding with the moving Things My Father Said, and what could be We Are The Kings
It’s So Easy Rain Wizard, Backwards Gold and Star
however the only slight glitch in an otherwise Lesser known Cowboy try something new; for a song they rarely ever
with a run of solid favourites, including Blind Man and Hell and High Water, before bringing
Caroline Walker
16
music
03nov09 issue234
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LIVE MUSIC
TORD GUSTAVSEN ENSEMBLE>THE FORUM> SUNDAY 18TH OCTOBER The concept of holding a contemporary jazz night at The Forum may seem, for some, to be a challenging prospect. In fact, the large space within The Forum lends itself to music both intellectual clout. the peripheral noise from surrounding businesses. Lead by a stunning local pianist, the Kit Downes Trio (with Calum Gourlay on double bass and James Maddren on drums) forthcoming album, Golden, the trio play with comfortable,
or breathy organic soundscape from a saxophone reed, not once does the ensemble go wrong, nor do they stray into the grounds of pretension. Their intelligence demands respect, their dynamic control and
bass and Tore Brunborg on saxophones) headline. Their music
James Gorman
OXJAM >ARTS CENTRE >SUNDAY 25TH OCTOBER Maybe itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s because the Arts Centre is a bit out of the way, or
a good band hidden in there somewhere.
BRING ME THE HORIZON
> UEA LCR > MONDAY 26TH OCTOBER
some strange reason, the former church turned usually buzzing
proud.
the frontmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s jeans are, one may worry that bands might get a
reminiscent of Los Campesinos without the lyrical content,
Michael Blunt What immediately impresses about BMTH is the stage design.
OXJAM >MUSTARD LOUNGE gained a larger crowd than the 11 people The Delaney played
to the 60s styling with Disappear, but someone needs to remind
people, which is really rude. Tom McInnes
Knebworth.
harmonious chorus in they do, as their sound and image is such a clash of cultures. The their performance. The Vegas Fame Index also comment on the poor turnout
the rhythm. With Any Luck Alex Throssell
music NEW RELEASES>ALBUMS
03nov09 issue234
concrete.music@uea.ac.uk
GIRLS ALBUM
17
WOLFMOTHER 9/10 COSMIC EGG
8/10
Laura
debut. In the Morning, for example, begins Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,
Morning Light Big Bad Mean Mother F*cker Trigger Happy.
The Ocean. This may seem unoriginal, yet
Album
these fundamentally disparate songs so well Eyes Open shows them at their heaviest yet with a
Lust for Life, a Hellhole Retrace, a seven minute, downbeat ballad awash
only one of the original three band members
Black album. Cosmic Egg
Cosmic Egg remains similar to their debut, with some serious alarm bells. But fear not, gentle
Album
lived on the streets. Anyone with a story that
Duncan Vicat-Brown
ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN THE FOUNTAIN
favourite bands. Cosmic Eggâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
Jack Loughran
BOB DYLAN 3/10 CHRISTMAS IS THE HEART
6/10 line of Here Comes Santa Claus even words. Must Be Santa is another gem; the speed
disappeared, instead The Fountain displays
is almost Pogues, and Dylan is now old enough of nothingness, not even lead single I Think I Need It Too? has any redeeming features Life of a 1,000 Crimes
The First Noel
absurdity. The Fountain is far too polished, far too
The Fountain
Top Gear Ocean Rain is one men. They will no doubt buy the album, put it in
gap between The Cure and Joy Division. The Fountain
Bob Dylan is one of those people you always assume to be dead. Then he appears in a Cadillac ad and you remember, oh no, he just sold out. A Christmas album was just another way, it seemed, for The Man to show
Adeste Fideles, however, is a lowlight and by Hark many. But then, he does have more tar than lung these days, and it is not the easiest song to sing.
unoriginal. The Fountain unfortunately belongs.
Christmas is the Heart James Halling
Hazy Hale
18
music
03nov09 issue234
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NEW RELEASES>SINGLES
PEARL JAM GOT SOME/JUST BREATHE
RISE AGAINST 8/10 SAVIOR
ROYKSOPP 5/10 THIS MUST BE IT
8/10
Siren Song of the Counter Culture Got Some
Just Breathe Junior.
rearviewmirror
Jeremy
Savior, To Reason
Appeal
Got Some’s
Just Breathe’s
What Else is There Savior Give It All. Junior Senior Eple
Alec Plowman
APPLE ON CAMPUS Meet your new Apple Campus Rep, Max.
To get in touch with Max, email AOC.UEA@ME.com and to start saving, visit www.apple.com/uk/go/save.
AND THE WINNER IS... Stephanie Mann (NBS),
Michael Blunt
Alex Dalligan
film
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concrete.film@uea.ac.uk
MAIN FEATURE
CIRQUE DU FREAK: THE VAMPIRE’S ASSISTANT say their lines well enough and
has
dominated
our
small
Twilight that anything with fangs will Cirque it is refreshing to see him in a
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s
du Freak
The
Assistant
Vampire’s Assistant
The
now and then in mildly weird
Saga of Darren Shan
hard to take seriously in the
Will Cross
5/10
has no idea of how to form a
OTHER SCREENS
murderous funhouse Saw VI
yet
somehow
refreshingly
9 to his and his fellow ragdolls’ Saw yet again 9
is a lot of
The Matrix Toy Story and a dash of Lord of the Rings 9
is Saw’s
9
unanswered as the writers
4/10
Bert Wardlow
7/10
Michael Blunt
7/10
20
This
Is
film
03nov09 issue234
concrete.film@uea.ac.uk
It
Halloween 2 Halloween Dead Man Running
Thriller Criminal
and
Thriller
Smooth
Human Nature Lorna Pontefract Adam Scales
Mercedes Brown
7/10
7/10
4/10
DVD RELEASES
Drag Me to Hell
The Omen The Orphan
The Unborn
Adam Scales Drag Me to Hell
8/10
Labyrinth and Backbone
The
Pan’s Devil’s
Micha Butler
4/10
film
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JENNIFER’S BODY: FOX BY NAME, FOX BY NATURE?
RATED OR SLATED?
Juno,
Jennifer’s Body
Jennifer’s Body Elizabeth Poole Transformers Transformers
CINEMATIC CLASSICS> JOHN CARPENTER’S HALLOWEEN, 1978 John Carpenter’s Halloween Halloween Halloween
Halloween
Halloween Adam Scales
SCARY SECRETS *
* The
Suspiria Blood Meridian
Saw
Land Saw II–IV Survival of
Scanners
Luke Nash
venue 22 VENUE>THE SIGHTS & SOUNDS OF THE CITY 03nov09 issue234
concrete.listings@uea.ac.uk
TUESDAY 3RD
THURSDAY 12TH
*Salsa Lesson>
*Mabon>
FRIDAY 13TH
WEDNESDAY 4TH THURSDAY 5TH
>
MONDAY 9TH
SATURDAY 14ST
TUESDAY 10TH
FRIDAY 6TH
>
*Salsa Lesson>
WEDNESDAY 11TH
SUNDAY 15TH
SUNDAY 8TH SATURDAY 7TH >
*The Quiz> *Outpost>
EVENT SPOTLIGHT>SPARKS IN THE PARK
MONDAY 16TH
FREE TICKETS FOR HUNDRED REASONS
If I Could and Falter
To be in with
Reasons album?
24
competitions
03nov09 issue234
concrete.competitions@uea.ac.uk
CROSSWORD
ACROSS
DOWN
BADLY DRAWN PLANET
SUDOKU
with
EASY
5 7 1 6 2 3 5 1 7 9 7 7 1 6 5 8 6 5 2 1 3 5 7 4 6 5 1 3 8 2 3 6 1 8 4 2
4 5 1
2
2 6
1 9
2 7
6
3 1
5 8 6
MEDIUM
9 6
7
1
5
3 2
9
2 3 5
1
6
6
9
HARD
4
4
2
5 3 7 4 8 9 6 1 3 7 6 2 8 6 2 4 9 2 5 1 Did you know…?