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NERVE
JANUARY14
WHO’S ON BOARD? Editor Joshua Iredale
editor@nervemedia.org.uk
Features Editor Wil Oxford Alys Penfold (sub) features@nervemedia.org.uk
Fashion Editor Shannon Hards Jade Jannotti (sub) Sarah Mckelvey (sub) fashion@nervemedia.org.uk
Sport Editor Craig Rodhouse Tom Bennett (sub) Ash Hover (sub) Andrea Avellano (sub) sport@nervemedia.org.uk
Entertainment Editor Abigail Payne-Humphries James Hibberd (sub) ents@nervemedia.org.uk
Comment Editor Natalie Taylor comment@nervemedia.org.uk
Got it COVERED P11
Check what we’ve got for you this month...
LISTEN TO 2014 We’re looking at the bands we think will be big this year. You may have heard of some of them years ago (as you’re such an indie kid), but we’ve got them all together in a massive 5-page special, just for you.
Online Editor Katie Roberts online@nervemedia.org.uk
Subbing Anushka Naidoo Abbi Hayden Advertising Andy Elsey susales@bournemouth.ac.uk 01202 961461
Media Coordinator Joe Tattersall sunerve@bournemouth.ac.uk 01202 961681
P19
DOUG ALLAN
The wildlife photographer, who has travelled the word with David Attenborough talks to Nerve about his incredible journey as he documents the natural world in pictures.
P26
THE TASTY TENNER
Looking to eat healthy this year? Look no further as we speak to Jonny Marsh, an internet chef, who has plenty of tips on healthy eating on a budget.
Wanna Join?
For opportunities to get involved, whether it be writing, design, illustration, photography or even a spot of photobombing, email editor@nervemedia.org.uk for details.
P29
FOTOUHI
We chat to designer and Bournemouth University student Anthony Fotouhi about his new clothing range, and why he decided to start up his own label.
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GORDON STRACHAN
Scotland Manager Gordon Strachan talks to us about his 40-year long career, with sucesses playing for both England and Scotland.
NERVE | 3
NERVE
JANUARY14
Contributors
Writers Jacob Newbury Nikhil Pillay Gemma Kingshott Henry Glennon Anna Pujol-Mazzini Andrea Babić Jenny Palmer Ben Fisher Natalie McKay Luke Stevenson Eva Maierhofer Beth Graham Hannah Jackson Laura Geall Adam Worsley Tom Beasley Sofie Boyland Scarlett Dixon Sophie Rogers Design Team Becca Whitmore Katherine Dove Steph Bradshaw Lucy Figiel Alice Tayler Rachel Burke Pamela Odumusi Gaby Rock Jack Mullen
Word From Your Editor
Welcome back, and Happy New Year to you all! I don’t know about you, but it feels too early to be going back to normal! Luckily, we’re back with a new issue of Nerve all about those New Year’s resolutions you’re currently putting off. We spoke to YouTube chef Jonny Marsh about how his love of food started, and he gives out some handy student tips in The Tasty Tenner. Do you always go to The Fire Station for club nights? How about making a resolution to check out a live act there? Have a look at our guide to What’s on at The Old Firestation and O2 Academy. We’ve also got a list of Alternative Resolutions, if you’re stuck on what you want to give a go this year. Maybe you’ve eaten too many
Illustrators Grant Corlett Laurence Thomas Charlotte Gay Nathan Hackett
Keep Up facebook.com/nervemagazine twitter.com/nervemagazine www.nervemedia.org.uk
Important Stuff
Here at SUBU, when we print Nerve Magazine, we print on 100% recycled paper using vegetable - based inks by Indigo Press Limited. You’ve got to start somewhere. Nerve Magazine is produced by SUBU (the Students Union @ Bournemouth University). Information correct at time of publication (January 2014). The views expressed are not necessarily those of Nerve Media, SUBU or the Editor. Nerve Magazine is printed on 200 gsm silk cover and 115gsm body provided by Indigo Printing Press.
mince pies? You need our guide to Getting Back on Track with your fitness. Don’t worry if you can’t stand all this Happy New Year crap, we have stuff for you too! We’ve had a chat with Mystery Jets’ frontman Blaine Harrison about his campaign to get more disabled people into gigs. We also have all the usual style spotting from Style on the Street, and an interview with the Bournemouth Student behind the Fotouhi clothing line. There you go, plenty to sink your teeth into this month. Best of luck with all your exams and assignments; January is a tough month, but it only gets better from here! Joshua Iredale
The Full Line Up
REGULARS 06 Mix Tape 08 Heads Up
09 Winners/Losers 34 Through the Lens 67 Top 5
FEATURES 19 Doug Allan 26 The Tasty Tenner 44 Alternative Resolutions 48 In the Spotlight 49 Tried and Tasted
ENTERTAINMENT 11 Listen to 2014 16 Film 2014 25 Mystery Jets 32 Lewis Watson 36 Public Service Broadcasting
38 What’s on at The Old Fire Station & O2 Academy 46 Reviewed
FASHION 22 Styled 2014 29 Fotouhi 50 Style Clash 52 Style on the Street 57 Style on Track
SPORT 54 Get Back on Track 58 AFCB: Mid-Season Review 61 Varsity 62 Gordon Strachan 64 Snooker: Master’s Candidates
COMMENT 41 The Final Countdown 51 Britain’s Next Big Model NERVE | 5
Essential TRACKS we’ve been listening to this MONTH
SAINT RAYMOND LETTING GO Current Indie metropolis Nottingham has produced yet another great band alongside London Grammar and Jake Bugg: Saint Raymond. Letting Go combines Bastille-esque vocals with empowering, guitar-dominated instrumentals. After recently touring with HAIM, Callum Burrows and band can embrace a bright future. For fans of The 1975 and Two Door Cinema Club.
TRAVIS BRETZER HURTS SO BAD
FUZZ LOOSE SUTURES Fuzz’s track Loose Sutures is a bluesy, heavy rock track, much like the name, with a fuzzy, heavy rock sound. Ty Segall is famous for his 70/80s rock reincarnations, and Fuzz is one of these. For lovers of all things heavy and rocky, listen to Fuzz.
Canadian born Travis Bretzer’s Hurts so Bad taken from his debut EP Making Love is a jangly, whimsical debut that slowly drifts through elements of dazed rock and lullaby vocals. An EP that hosts a number of utterly addictive tracks that leaves you begging for an album, Bretzer is one for certain to keep an eye on.
EAST INDIA YOUTH DRIPPING DOWN The first cut from single member William Doyle’s (aka Sound Gardener and Song Architect behind the electro-techno meanderings of East India Youth) ridiculously good debut album, Dripping Down is pretty perfect. Charmingly bleak vocals are swathed by celestial synths, tinny programmed drum beats and effervescent, dream-come- dance-pop ascents – this guy is going to be huge in 2014.
EXROYAL E GIVE IT UP All we know about E X R O Y A L E is that they’re a three-piece residing somewhere between Toronto and America’s new-music hotspot Portland, with a knack for creating R‘n’B infused electro hits. This debut effort is an insatiably catchy slice of soul-bathed synth-pop with its neat structure, poppy hooks and intriguing vocals.
ÁSGEIR TRAUSTI GOING HOME Following in the footsteps of Icelandic breakthrough band Of Monsters and Men, folk singer Asgeir offers up a tantalisingly warm guitar track which is both soothing and soulful for the ears. Going Home’s beautifully simplistic flair coupled with the songwriter’s Bon Iver style vocals, creates something that can only be defined as melodic excellence.
THE ORWELLS DIRTY SHEETS Fresh out of Chicago, The Orwells are a bunch of teenagers making incredibly raw rock’n’roll that sounds like it’s been locked in a time capsule since the 60s. Recently announced as the support for Arctic Monkeys’ US tour, their latest single, Dirty Sheets, boasts a shoutalong chorus, sizzling guitars and a slightly NSFW video.
Head straight to the playlist by scanning the QR code or visit www.nervemedia.org.uk NERVE | 6
MIKHAEL PASKALEV JIVE BABE This little nugget of Norwegian gold from Mikhael Paskalev is perfect for day dreaming of Summer memories, where our skin was golden and smiles were permanently fixed to our face (boo you Winter rain!). Glowing with 50’s vibe, it’s enough to keep you warm over the next few miserable months.
HEADS UP!
YOUR MONTH IN BOURNEMOUTH
CITY AND COLOUR @O2 Academy 3 February
CLUBBING
GIGS
Old Firestation 18 January
60 Million Postcards 15 January
We Are Your Friends Phace + Sigma (Enter) Old Firestation 25 January
This Sporting Life 60 Million Postcards 25 January
Heidi
O2 Academy 8 February
Jaguar Skills Halo 14 February
Julio Bashmore Halo 28 February
Cloud Control La Shark
60 Million Postcards 24 January
Max Raptor The Anvil 26 January
Mayday Parade Old Firestation 23 January
The Blackout Old Firestation 28 January
Del Amitri
O2 Academy 30 January
City and Colour O2 Academy 3 February
EVENTS
London After Midnight: Circus of Horrors Lighthouse 18 January
Punt & Dennis Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne 18th/21 January
UK Dance Superslam Wrestling
Bournemouth Pavilion 19 January
Championships BIC Windsor Hall 21st-23 January
Sarah Millican Bournemouth Pavilion 30 January
Miles Jupp
Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne 30 January NERVE | 8
Hopefully there will be no actual lighting issues. The Blackout @ TOFS, 28 January
You’re sure to have a bash at this one. Julio Bashmore @ Halo, 28 February
GYM OWNERS Prepare for your gym to become as crowded as the early morning January sales’ queues on Boxing Day, as a fresh wave of eager selfimprovement fanatics look to hit the treadmill and tone up for the new year, while gyms laugh all the way to the bank.
BEYONCé Pop goddess Beyoncé is a winner every month of the year, but this month was particularly wonderful for Queen B after she sold out her UK tour of 11 show dates in under 10 minutes. It was also a good month for the touts who managed to snatch BeyBey tickets and sell them for upwards of £500. Who run the world? Beyoncé.
SAM BAILEY One of the most popular X Factor winners of recent times, the former prison guard captured the hearts of the British public with her down to earth nature and incredible voice. Her cover of Demi Lovato’s Skyscraper went straight to No. 1, and for now at least, she can do no wrong.
WINNERS
LOSERS MONTH OF THIS
EASTENDERS Despite pulling out a massive storyline, and the introduction of diamond geezer, Danny Dyer, Eastenders was beaten to the mostwatched Christmas day show title for the first time in ages, losing to Coronation Street, Doctor Who, and perhaps most embarrassingly, Mrs Brown’s Boys.
NICK GRIFFIN It hasn’t been the best start to 2014 for Nick Griffin, after the leader of the far right British National Party was declared bankrupt. As expected, the great British public weren’t too sympathetic, with many taking to social networks to express their delight.
MANCHESTER UNITED All is not well at Old Trafford. Pressure is mounting on manager David Moyes, who has so far failed to live up to the admittedly extremely high standards of former United boss, Sir Alex Ferguson. Three losses in the first three games of 2014 is something that must change to impress the fans.
The Smyths March 21st
The Old Firestation
BOURNEMOUTH
Box Office 0844 477 2000 // www.ticketweb.co.uk ACADEMY EVENTS PRESENT
PLUS GUESTS
DECADE DIVIDED BY FRIDAY
FRIDAY 07 MARCH
THURSDAY 23rd JANUARY
BOURNEMOUTH THE OLD FIRE STATION 0844 477 2000 · www.ticketweb.co.uk
BOURNEMOUTH OLD FIRE STATION TICKETWEB.CO.UK G I G SA ND TOU R S .COM 0844 811 0051 DEBUT ALBUM ‘SUN STRUCTURES’ OUT 10 FEBRUARY TEMPLESTHEBAND.COM A METROPOLIS MUSIC PRESENTATION BY ARRANGEMENT WITH CODA
Listen to 2014 Nerve brings you the guide to the artists tipped for big things this year
Banks After moving from the sunny climate of LA to foggy London town, R&B Banks (nobody’s sure what her real name is) named her debut EP, released last year, after the UK capital. She may not be on Twitter or Instagram like seemingly everybody else in the world, but she has given out her personal phone number to fans who fancy a chat. Having been compared to the smooth sounds of Frank Ocean and Drake, Banks is poised for similar success with her take on the downbeat yet unashamedly catchy style.
MNEK
Ella Eyre The latest in a long line of BRIT School produced talent, 19-year-old Ella Eyre is probably best known for being the voice of Rudimental’s No.1 hit, Waiting All Night. She’s certainly got the connections to go far, having also worked with the likes of Tinie Tempah, Bastille and Naughty Boy. Vocally, she’s somewhere between Emeli Sandé and Adele, yet from the sound of her Deeper EP which dropped in December, she’s a touch more dancefloor friendly. Already boasting a highly-polished sound that’s guaranteed radio play, it’s hard to see how she can fail this year.
Foxes It feels slightly like cheating putting Foxes on this list, considering the year she’s just had. She’s collaborated with some of the biggest names in dance music including Rudimental, Zedd and erm... Fall Out Boy,as well as having her own excellent Top 20 single Youth used in an advert for a well-known department store. Yet 2014 could well be the year that 24-year-old Louisa Allen, originally from just down the road in Southampton, is launched head first into pop stardom, with her highly anticipated debut album, Glorious, out at the beginning of March.
This precocious youngster may have slipped into the mainstream through the backdoor, having worked with, produced for and remixed an exhaustive list of megastars including Little Mix, Whitney Houston and George Michael, at the tender age of 19. He’s even already had a No. 1 single, working with Duke Dumont and A*M*E* on the sensational Need U 100%. Despite not having released any singles under his own name yet, he’s expected to step out from the shadows and into a spotlight of his own this year.
Clean Bandit Clean Bandit have been performing together since 2009, but it was their incredible fusion of classical strings and modern deep house beats, also known as Mozart’s House which put them on the map last year. Formed of brothers Jack and Luke Patterson, Jack’s former girlfriend Grace Chatto, and friend Milan Neil Amin-Smith, their next single Rather Be looks like another potential winner, and they’ll be hoping to follow in the footsteps of Disclosure in becoming the big house/pop crossover name of the year.
HAERTS Last year, CHVRCHES proved that bands with names with all capital letters and conveniently placed spelling mistakes are cool as shit, and HAERTS are no exception to that rule. Similar in sound to the synth-pop of last year’s breakthrough artists, HAERTS hail from Germany, the UK and America, and their debut EP Hemiplegia has already shown us that they are more than just a little bit good at the whole massive, anthemic chorus thing. The band to tell your mates that you knew before they were big of 2014. NERVE | 11
ENTS Ellie and Joff were competing in the ice skating doubles championship at Alexandra Palace, where Theo’s mum was an instructor. When they came a shabby second they decided to change career paths and were introduced to Theo and Joel, whose badass rock ‘n’ roll attitude was a new and exciting point in the right direction. How pleased have you been with the reactions to your previous EP? We’ve only done one and we are very happy with the reception. We worked long and hard to get to that point, so for it to be well received with room for improvement was brilliant. When can we expect the first Wolf Alice album? Hopefully at some point next year if all goes to plan. If you had to be compared to another band, who would you most like it to be? Led Zeppelin meets Girls Aloud. Who has been the most fun to tour with in your career so far? We haven’t been on many tours with other bands, but we toured with Swim Deep which was super fun. They are a bunch of lovely lads with wonderful fans.
Wolf Alice
What’s been the highlight of your time as a band up until now? We really enjoyed the festival season, and recording our EP in Dean Street Studios was really fun too. We love being in the studio. What are your hopes for 2014? An album to be proud of, first and foremost. We would also love to explore the world as a band, namely America, Australia and Asia but everywhere really. Who do you think are ones to look out for next year?
‘‘
if you compared us to another band, it’d most likely be led zeppelin meets girls aloud
‘‘
What’s the story behind the band?
Parlour and Bloody Knees What is each band member’s favourite animal? Joel - Panda Ellie - Cat Joff - Cow Theo - Toucan
The Death of Pop The name comes from the amount of unwanted, unmemorable pop music found in charity shops and record shops. Something that was once popular but isn’t anymore. A few people seem to interpret it as a sort of death wish to pop music but you only have to listen to any of our songs to see how deeply we love it. Who are your favourite artists and influences? We often get compared to 90’s shoegazing bands like My Bloody Valentine, Ride, Lush etc. and it’s hard to deny their influence, but our record collections extend far beyond the Creation catalogue and we hope this shows in our sound. How is the Bournemouth music scene looking right now? Who else from the area should we be excited about? You probably already know YOOFS, but they are great, we’ve heard bits and pieces from their album and it sounds incredible. In terms of ones to look out for from around here, The Plastic Dots and Violetic are both really good fun. Where can people see you around the town? If you want to see us milling about, your best bet is probably in Boscombe. We’ve already played Sixty
Million Postcards three times this year so maybe we’ll give it a break for a while but that’s probably the place to go if you want to see us play music What are the plans for The Death of Pop in 2014? It should (fingers crossed) be quite a busy year, we have a physical EP coming out in the first few months which we can’t really talk about yet, but it’s sounding really nice. We will hopefully be giving our live visual show a UK debut at our show at the Camden Barfly on February 1st. After that we have been talking to a few people in Europe and around the UK, so we’ll hopefully be playing a bit more outside of London and Bournemouth.
‘‘
The name comes from the amount of unwanted, unmemorable pop music found in charity shops and record shops
‘‘
Where did the band name come from?
NERVE | 13
ENTS
Lonely the Brave 2014 is shaping up to be a busy year for us. We have our first U.K headline tour kicking off in January which we are really excited about, and we are also touring with Therapy later in the year. The festival season is shaping up to be pretty special too; we are heading back to Download again this year which we are really looking forward to. Apart from touring and playing as much as we can, we also plan to release our debut record. We can’t wait for people to hear it and see the reaction. We are really proud of it. How has the response been to Backroads after being championed by Zane Lowe? It’s been amazing. That song means a lot to us and to have the support of Zane has been incredible. Equally as special has been some of the fan reactions. We have received some great messages from people letting us know what the track means to them, which for me is one of the main reasons to play music in the first place.
‘‘
If you had to be compared to another band, who would you most like it to be?
Five guys who will give you everything they have. We don’t know how to do anything else
What has been the highlight of the band’s existence so far? There have been a few so far: our first Download show was an amazing experience, and opening up Hard Rock Calling for Springsteen has to be up there. The Maida Vale sessions for Zane Lowe and NERVE | 14
Dan P Carter were very special too, but the one that sticks out for me personally was supporting the Deftones in Paris earlier this year. We are all big fans and it was such a surreal experience to be able to share a stage with them. Even better than that, they are super nice guys too which makes meeting your heroes all that much better!
‘‘
What are the band’s plans for 2014?
Cor, that’s a difficult one! One of the few bands that we all love would be The National. We sound nothing like them but we love the fact that they don’t seem to compromise on their songs or try to sit in any particular genre. They are a very special, extremely hard working band so I think we’ll go with them. Who else should people be excited about for next year?
A good friend of mine who goes by the name of Sivu. His songs will haunt you, and he really is one of the good guys. What can people expect from your upcoming tour? Five guys who will give you everything they have. We don’t know how to do anything else.
How did the shows with Peace in December go for you? Yeah, they were both amazing. To see our mates doing something that big was very special. Birmingham was marginally a warmer welcome than London, but I’d do them both again today. As a band who broke through last year, have they given you any useful advice? Plenty, but the main thing we learned from doing shows with them is to just love your instruments and be the best live band you can be. It goes without saying, but a lot of bands do the bare minimum these days.
When can we expect an album from you? Hopefully, in the spring time. Are there more Birmingham bands that we should be excited about? Dumb, Wide Eyed, God Damn, Juice, Lime, Laced, Curb, Babypink, Swerve, Bad Moon, Victories At Sea. What are your favourite and least favourite foods? Favourite - Sweet Potato Least Favourite - Dirt
Superfood
‘‘
the main thing we learned is just love your instruments and be the best live band you can be
NERVE | 15
FILM 2014
JANUARY
That Awkward Moment The year opens up to a raunchy romantic comedy staring some of Hollywood’s favourite young up and comers. It tells the tale of three friends who actually want to commit to relationships rather then kick back and party. With actor Zac Efron taking the lead, we can hope this will pave the way for more respectable romantic comedies, which aren’t riddled with clichés.
FEBRUARY
The Lego Movie Yes, you read it correctly. Lego are now venturing into movies and what a way to kick it off. This animated adventure looks to have pulled out the stops in creating the film. Expect to hear the voices of Channing Tatum, Morgan Freeman and Will Ferrell when watching.
MAY
Two big movies this month, so a word on them both. Amazing Spiderman 2 and Godzilla are to be released. These both look impressive to say the least and once you watch the trailers to these blockbusters, you’ll instantly want to book your tickets at your nearest cinema.
JUNE
22 Jump Street Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are back with a sequel, and this time they have moved across the street. The first was hilarious, and with Jonah Hill truly exceeding in all that he is doing (he also writes the film), this can’t be a miss. Plus, who would not want to see Channing on the screen?
SEPTEMBER
The Boxtrolls Laika Studios return this year with yet another 3D Stop Motion animated film. With Coraline and Paranorman receiving a largely positive critical response for their beautiful set designs and a humor appreciated by all ages, the Boxtrolls looks to be no different. Ben Kingsley and Simon Pegg lend their voices for what we hope is to be a breath of fresh air in this CGI dominated animation market.
NERVE | 16
OCTOBER
Gone Girl Gone Girl tells the story of the mysterious disappearance of a lady on her wedding anniversary. Based on the book, which was New York Times’ bestseller for eight weeks in a row, it has a winding and twisting plot with no director better suited than David Fincher (Fight Club, The Social Network) to take the helm. It’s almost a match made in heaven.
So you’ve seen the hotly tipped music for this year, now we bring you a definitive cinema guide for the next 12 months!
APRIL Transcendence With Christopher Nolan’s old cinematographer taking over directing duties, Wally Pfister is making his directorial debut, so be intrigued. A fab cast including Johnny Depp and Morgan Freeman, this could be a film that may go under the radar but one not to miss.
MARCH
Noah This epic is one to look out for. With a gigantic budget, it looks truly brilliant. Based on the story of Noah’s Ark, Russell Crowe and co. take on the evil, as well as the world in order for it to be saved. With a great cast and Darren Aronofsky at the helm of directing, put this in your diary.
JULY
Hercules Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, who was the highest grossing star of 2013, is to star as the son of Zeus in theatres in July and it is set to be spectacular. The Rock got into the greatest shape of his life for this role and it’s going to be nothing short of amazing!
NOVEMBER Interstellar Christopher Nolan is Back. Making headlines with his Dark Knight Trilogy Nolan returns to the scene with a brand new original film, Interstellar. The plot is known to include time travel, alternate dimensions and wormholes, however Nolan’s famous secrecy keeps anyone from knowing more and keeping them on their toes. We’re sure to see yet another astounding film after the success of Nolan’s work with Inception.
AUGUST Guardians of The Galaxy As Marvel currently enjoy the success of their franchise’s popularity, Guardians of the Galaxy looks like it’s shaping to be another slam-dunk. Unlike its predecessors, GotG takes time away from the established heroes of The Avengers and instead brings us an absurd adventure of a group of alien outcasts defending the galaxy from strange cosmic beings. With Thor: The Dark World’s mid credits scene enticing us with what’s to come, we saw truly how different this film is going to be.
DECEMBER
The Hobbit: There and Back Again Peter Jackson concludes his second romp in Middle Earth with The Hobbit: There and Back Again. We last saw Bilbo and the Dwarves facing the dreaded dragon Smaug as Gandalf investigated rumors of a necromancer bringing darkness forces to Middle-Earth. This last film in the Hobbit trilogy promises to bring just as much magic and adventure, as we see our heroes finish their tale with ‘The Battle of the Five Armies’. It’s going to be a spectacle. NERVE | 17
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FEATURES
A SNAP of
BeaUty
Wildlife photographer Doug Allan spoke to Alys Penfold and Gemma Kingshott about working with animals, his experience of climate change in the Arctic and who he thinks could be the next big wildlife narrator NERVE | 19
FEATURES
Asian short clawed otter
Buddhist monks in Bhutan fascinated by the camera Doug used
Climbing the upper reaches of the Khumbu icefall on Everest Extinct volcanoes in Uganda
NERVE | 20
Did you find it intimidating using a movie camera for the first time? Movie cameras were much simpler in those days. When I did my first two proper films in the Antarctic, I went onto base in March and we didn’t see another ship until December, by which time we had finished the films without seeing a single frame. It was quite a strain not overshooting things especially in the Antarctic where you couldn’t get spare film sent in. I didn’t feel particularly intimidated with a camera but you only had a finite amount of film which you couldn’t reuse and because of that it was also expensive. You learnt to be frugal with it. What’s been your scariest encounter during filming? I was snorkelling off the ice edge at Baffin Island when suddenly this walrus grabbed me with its flippers, which was a pretty hairy experience. It’s exactly how they hunt seals; they either crush them, pull them between their tusks or put their lips against their heads and suck their brains out. The whole thing was probably over in about two seconds. I managed to bop him on the head and thankfully he let go, otherwise he would have dragged me down. Is there anything that’s particularly stood out in your career? I usually say that the highlight of my career is all the time I spent with polar bears but I think if I had to pick one thing, it’s time
in the water with whales. Polar bears you film from a distance through a long lens, but with whales you’ve got to get close - the closer the better so that you are able to get a relationship going with a whale so that it trusts you. Singing works particularly well; ‘Happy Birthday’ was their favourite. To get closest to the biggest animals on the planet is probably the biggest buzz. What is it like working with David Attenborough? He’s the voice of reason and integrity, that’s David’s biggest strength. People believe in him and he knows what he’s talking about. I don’t think there is anyone around to step into David’s shoes and that’s something that scares the BBC a lot. The only person I can see who is close to David is Chris Packham. He knows his stuff and is clearly passionate about it. In 2011 when Frozen Planet debuted, there were accusations that a polar bear’s birth had been filmed in a zoo. These later turned out to be true. What is your opinion on constructing scenes of animals for filming purposes? When you think about it, it’s the only way to shoot animals below a certain size. There is skill in building a set for animals that is realistic enough to film in, but also for the animal to feel comfortable. I think if the public are against such fakery, then they haven’t really thought about it to be honest. You’ve spoken about seeing the effects of climate change in the Arctic, what are they? When I first visited the Arctic in 1987/88, there was definitely a routine to the spring and the way that the ice broke down during the warmer weather. That has become a lot more variable and the big patterns have now broken out. If you talk to the Inuit, they would tell you stories about the ring seals not being in the same place they used to be which is unfortunate for the polar bears, as they are their staple diet. The Arctic is a big food web and ecosystem, and it is hard to say that you can take these models and go so far, but eventually you reach a tipping point in which things just escalate out of control. The scenarios become so dire that they are almost inconceivable. A scientist called Wally Broecker got it right a few years ago, he said, "The earth’s climate is like one big sleeping animal, and we are busy poking it with sharp sticks."
walrus grabbed “ this me with its flippers, which was a pretty hairy experience
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So Doug, why did you decide to become a cameraman? Well it was by chance really. It stemmed from snorkelling at the age of 10, to diving into a degree in Marine Biology. By the end of it I realised I didn’t really want to be a scientist but I enjoyed working for one so instead, I applied for a job with the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). After two and half years with them a chance visit from David Attenborough set things off. He was with a crew filming Living Planet at the time, and I gave them a hand for a couple of days before realising their cameraman had a job which suited me down to the ground. I hadn’t really touched a movie camera at that point, but I was very into photography and wanted to show a worldwide audience what it was like in the Antarctic on film. I then got the chance to capture emperor penguins in the wild while still working for the BAS. I sold some of the footage to the BBC and they sent me back to capture more, returning with two film ideas. It was then I started to get noticed and it’s been full time since then!
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styled 2014 Leaving 2013 behind, many will be tricked into adopting the mantra ‘new year, new you’, but surely the serious leg work put in throughout the year shouldn’t be forgotten as soon as the clock strikes twelve. In this guide Nerve’s Shannon Hards and Henry Glennon look at the trends which can carry you into the new year in style.
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elvet is the ultimate winter texture. Though don’t be too hasty packing away your velvet textures, instead let them see you through to spring 2014. Whether you’re working a velvet trouser and crop top for a night clubbing, or a deep purple dress and tights for a casual daytime look, you’re bound to be on trend beginning the new year. If you can’t handle a full velvet item, why not try an indie style headband or even attempt velvet nail art with Nails Inc. or Ciaté’s products which are on sale now. Also keep an eye out in the post Christmas sales to fill your wardrobe with bargain velour.
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ake like Cara and go tomboy. Why not reuse your winter comfies to look on trend this season? Sweatshirts and raglan style tees are going to be seen on women everywhere. For a flattering take on the tomboy style, pair loose fit tops with skinny jeans or skirts. Beanie hats and baseball caps are also key pieces for this trend, though, if you’re wary, stay inside your comfort zone by nodding to the tomboy trend with a trainer or high top paired with a more girlie outfit.
FASHION
BOYS T
he double breasted blazer is making a comeback this year. Root through your wardrobe to find last years on-trend jacket or hit up the high street, with some styles starting at a bargain £10 from Burton, you’re bound to find a wallet pleaser to suit. The best thing about this wardrobe staple is its versatility, going perfectly with coloured chinos or a formal trouser. Though you may be thinking that this won’t be keeping you warm in the early months of the year, have no fear, the key to looking good and staying warm is layering. Try a simple jumper over a shirt or the open casual shirt paired with a tee. Whatever the weather, wear this style with block colours or a simple denim jean. For footwear, pair with classic shoes like brogues or a dessert boot.
OS s AS
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artan has been bang on trend throughout the end of 2013 and will more than see you through till spring. It’s simple yet effective and although it can look a bit daunting, it can be worn with so many different accompaniments. The price of this trend is also a bonus, due to the number of high street styles. Pair with a simple chino, and avoid other pat-
terns as the Scottish shortbread look is not desirable. If you’re feeling braver, try the tonal look, by blending the colours from your tartan with tones which co-ordinate. Something to remember, the Chelsea boot is back so make sure you stock a pair in your wardrobe; a classic boot like this would go well with anything, so don’t just save it for your tartan. NERVE | 23
FASHION
New Year, New WardrobE
Every year, amongst all your wonderful resolutions, there is always a little part of you which longs for a clean start, because we all know that new year equals new everything! So why not start with your wardrobe? Sometimes, it just happens that you are looking for that specific garment that, somehow, you just cannot seem to find (but you were sure it was there until yesterday!). Well, the solution is re-organising your wardrobe once and for all. If you have changed or adopted a new fashion style, People came up with all sorts of methods to successfully done too much shopping, or are simply lacking closet sort out clothes and organise a wardrobe neatly, but space, here is a guide that will help you to finally sort out here is the one I find most successful. what you’ve been now postponing for years. Words Jade Jannotti
Step One: First things first: define your style. Before separating all of your clothes, it is important to determine your fashion style and stick to it. However if your style changes day to day, why not store away some pieces which are of a similar style, that way, when you’re looking for something different, your old clothes will be given a new lease of life and almost feel like brand new!
Step Two: Be objective and very critical. You might take out a piece of clothing and think, I might actually wear this when. No, you won’t. If you haven’t worn the item in the past couple of years, it is likely you will not be wearing it anytime soon. But remember to keep hold of your wardrobe staples, leather, good jeans and classic LBD’s never go out of style.
Since the most common problem is space, just remember:
Stop Postponing! Arrange Clutter Easily Get ready set SEPARATE!
Step Three: Make three separate piles of clothing Keepers Maybe’s Leavers
Step Four: When all your clothes have been successfully divided into the three categories, it is time to take the maybe pile and repeat step three. This has to be done until there are only ‘leavers’ and ‘keepers’. When you have decided which clothes to toss, remember that charity shops are always after your old outfits or you could swap with flat mates. Credit: Glen Scott
If you can’t follow these steps by being objective and critical - you might need a second opinion to help you out. Then you will soon be on your way to a fantastic new wardrobe for 2014. Good luck! NERVE | 24
THE MYSTERY JETS
Frontman Blaine Harrison talks to Ben Fisher about the band, and his own campaign to provide disabled people with easy access to gigs Mystery Jets frontman Blaine Harrison was born with spina bifida, a disability which affects his leg muscles. Harrison appears on stage with crutches before serenading the audience with his wonderful vocals. The Two Doors Down singer is so passionate about getting more disabled people to music and into gigs, he works with a charity to do just that – emphasising the importance of access whether it be the bar or the stage door. The charity, called ‘Attitude is Everything’ is concerned with making venues more accessible. The 02 venues are reputable for disabled access, with the majority of them holding a ‘Gold’ or ‘Silver’ status. "They have like mystery shoppers, basically like spies, which go in the venues and figure out if the bar and
toilets are accessible and stuff that you don’t even think about unless you have a disability," said Harrison. "And depending on how successful they are, they get a gold, silver or bronze star." "I met Suzanne, who runs the charity at a Radiohead gig when I was about 17. I’ve been an ambassador for the charity ever since." "In an ideal world, we would only play super-super accessible venues but I think in a way, turning up to venues where work is still to be done, it highlights the problem and it’s a good thing because that subsequently puts pressure on venues to address it." The Mystery Jets released their fourth album Radlands in 2012 following the exit of founding band member Kai Fish and Harrison says the experi-
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ence has possibly enhanced them. "I feel like it has been an interesting ride and the road has taken lots of twists and turns," he said. "I think in some ways it can be quite tough when a band member leaves, especially a founding member. It could have been hard to bounce back from but I think the
“ ” WE ARE NOT 21 ANYMORE
band then transformed into something different." "I am conscious that we do that in our music too, on every record. I never feel like we are repeating ourselves." "For a while I think making pop music was really exciting but I think we have got away from that now." "I think we are addressing more mature themes in our songs, we are not singing about Young Love anymore. We are not 21 anymore."
The Tasty
FEATURES
Tenner New YouTube channel The Tasty Tenner teaches you how to cook tasty and healthy meals for less than ten pounds. Anna Pujol-Mazzini caught up with one of its chefs, Jonny Marsh, about student cooking, as well as quick and easy tips to spice up your recipes. Words Anna Pujol-Mazzini Design Lucy Figiel
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S
tarting his cooking career aged just two years old, you could say Jonny Marsh is a dab hand in the kitchen. "My mum used to pin me in the corner of the kitchen with an apron wrapped round the chair to keep me still. She used to give me bowls to mix, too. So I guess that’s where it all started." He says. At the age of 14 Jonny also helped out in Raymond Blanc’s ‘little restaurant’ in Manchester every Saturday, so when it came to flying the nest he didn’t exactly struggle in the kitchen like most students. Years later and his latest project, The Tasty Tenner, has already reached more than a thousand subscribers on YouTube and is growing in popularity, with the quick and simple nature of the recipes proving popular amongst students. "The idea came from (how-to video website) Videojug" He explains "but it fits me perfectly as I like to create dishes out of simple ingredients, perfect for students some may say." His recipes are designed to teach you how to easily cook pasta carbonara, homemade burgers or even the ultimate sausage sandwich in short, five-minute tutorials. Many chefs are perceived as having a more refined palette, however Jonny is very down to earth when it comes to cooking, and highlights that chefs are not that different from everyone else when it comes to their preferred food of choice. "Whilst I’ve spent most of my professional life cooking very fancy and complex dishes which can take hours to make, for me you can’t beat a homemade cottage pie!" Similarly, nor do they eat healthy food - especially Jonny. He once worked in a very classic French restaurant that knew no limits on the amount of butter and sugar used, indicating Chefs aren’t exactly known for their healthy lifestyles.
However, with experience comes wisdom and a new culinary direction. Jonny now provides a salvation for students with advice to help them adjust to cooking for themselves. "Plan what you want for the week the day you do the shop and stick to it. Not only will you know exactly what’s in your meals but you can make them as healthy as you want." As well as pointing out the benefits of planning ahead Jonny warns not to jump ahead of yourself too quickly by trying to cook overcomplicated foods. "Don’t be afraid to keep it simple,
“My mum used
to pin me in the corner of the kitchen with an apron wrapped round the chair to keep me still”
follow recipes and be creative. Keep it interesting so it doesn’t get boring otherwise you’ll be tempted to go back to that unhealthy lifestyle. "I think students eat unhealthy because their lives are very social, they go out, wake up late and don’t have a lot of money to spend... No student wants to wake up and make an eggs Benedict, a hollandaise sauce, toast a muffin, poach an egg and cook spinach. Imagine just doing half of that on a hangover! It’s much easier to warm a pizza you picked up from the takeaway the night before." While students often opt for the
easier option, Jonny argues that this doesn’t necessarily equate to being the unhealthy option - even simple dishes can be made more interesting with a few tricks. "Seasoning!" He cries. "People’s lack of knowledge regarding salt and pepper is frightening. They think the smallest amount of salt or pepper will be enough to season a huge pan... I recommend seasoning in stages; when you create your base layers, when the main body of the dish is added to the pan and then at the end – that way you’re guaranteed flavour! You don’t want your food to taste like it’s been dipped in the sea, but you need enough to enhance the flavour. Also, freshness of ingredients is key." Go into any supermarket and you can guarantee there are piles of cheap, healthy ingredients to put together easy meals. However for students, the main issue is most of the time – because of culture variances or education – we do not even know they exist. Products such as kale for example can be bought for a pound in Tesco. It has a higher concentration of calcium than milk, helping maintain strong and healthy bones while also fighting against fatigue. It is also known as the vegetable that helped Jennifer Aniston get in shape to play a stripper in the recently released film ‘We’re the Millers’. "Kale is delicious and very healthy but it’s an ingredient a lot of people don’t know about!" Jonny points out. "I sometime use kale in my stir fry instead of noodles, it works just as well but with less starch!" Jonny is now looking to take the next big step in his career, and would love to make the leap to working on TV. "I’m gaining great experience with Videojug and love doing it. I’ve been put in front of the right people with screen tests etc, and hopefully next year is the year someone takes a chance on me!"
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Top 5 cooking tips For students
FEATURES
1
Meal planning. Plan what you want to eat for the week before you go shopping and stick to it. This way you can eat as healthy as you want and will avoid snacking. Try to stay creative though, as boredom will make you go back to an unhealthy diet.
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Buy fruits and vegetables from the market in bulk. If you buy a lot, you don’t want to waste it, so you’ll have to eat it.
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Buy fresh ingredients, that way you cannot leave the healthy meals in the freezer and go back to your usual frozen pizza. Bear in mind that a healthy lifestyle takes time and motivation.
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Seasoning. Learn how to use salt and pepper properly, season in stages and buy different spices as it can make simple dishes a lot more tasteful. It will also make you want to mix and create new flavours, therefore learning how to cook!
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Keep it simple. We know that as a student, you don’t exactly have time or energy to spend making fancy dishes, but there is a huge step between Asda Smartprice Instant Noodles and a Scallop Sashimi with Meyer Lemon Confit.
Jonny’s favourite healthy recipe Salad with a spicy kick
All you need is a bag of kale, garlic, chilli flakes (or normal chilli), onion, peppers, white wine vinegar, olive oil and five spice powder. Chop the onion, peppers and garlic small and add to a hot pan. Once frying, add the chilli flakes and one tsp of five spice powder (stand back or it will take your breath away). Fry for 30 seconds. Add your kale. Remove the leaves from the stalks. Fry in the incredibly hot pan and add a touch of salt and pepper. Within five minutes, you will have a very healthy meal for well under £5! NERVE | 28
FASHION
FOTOUHI
Nerve talks to founder of Fotouhi and Bournemouth University student Anthony Fotouhi about his up and coming t-shirt collection
FASHION
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fashion gives a good first impression
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girls like my pug printed tee when i go clubbing
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Photographer www.lucasottone.com Stylist Anthony Fotouhi Models Nicole Plaude Anthony Fotouhi Design Rachel Burke
www.fotouhi.co.uk Facebook: fotouhigarms Instagram: @fotouhigarms
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ndie fashion is a strong favourite amongst students in Bournemouth, making the most of this, is third year computer animation student, Anthony Fotouhi.
What does fashion mean to you? It’s a way to express myself, really, a way to give off a good first impression. What do you think of the fashion scene in Bournemouth? I like it; I don’t think there is enough variation though. I like some of the stuff at the arts university. I started this brand because I was bored of the fashion, seeing the same stuff all the time. What inspired you to start a clothing line? Basically I’m fed up with high street brands to be honest, I feel like every time I go into these shops there is nothing original and creative. So I thought to myself ‘I want to create a brand that’s new, and get away from emphasis of buying a logo’. Like,
Superdry tees, they are perfectly good but they charge crazy prizes because of a logo. So, I wanted to focus on good original design instead. What were some of the biggest challenges you have faced as a fashion designer? The hardest thing was finding a printer who could print on the entire tee; some brands are going cheap but not covering the sleeves or missing certain parts of the shirt. I wanted to get the design across the whole tee. What are some of your favourite clothing stores, brands or designers? At the moment Katie Eary – she is an amazing designer; she uses a lot of animals with her prints as well. She inspires me but I’m trying to make it affordable for teens and youths. Her tees go for 200 quid; mine are much more affordable. What are your plans for the future? I want to expand the brand and do more designs, go into other
things. One of the ideas I had was wine bottles, creating similar designs on wine bottles. Favourite fashion trend to date? I don’t think I really have one in particular, I pick and choose things that I like. I don’t have a specific trend that I follow religiously. I love bright, crazy designs. I tend to move away from boring, standard black tees. Describe your personal style? Quite loud and unusual. With this clothing I want to get a reaction out of people when they see it. When I’m out clubbing and I’ve worn my pug printed tee, I’ve had girls come up to me and say ‘I really like your tee’. And guys ask ‘why is there a fucking dog on your t-shirt?!’ I’d rather get a reaction from someone than nothing at all. The tees are obviously not for everyone. I’ve had some people on Instagram give me some crazy reactions, and there have been quite a few people who are really excited for the designs to come out in January. NERVE | 31
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Lewis Watson L
ewis Watson didn’t become a successful artist the conventional way. He confesses "I didn’t pick up a guitar until I was sixteen." Unusually, it was GCSE poetry that inspired him to start songwriting and he began by "writing poems to music." It’s refreshing to hear a musician speak so openly about difficult personal experiences of which are central to the meaning of their lyrics. In ‘What About Today’ Watson tells the story of an emotional breakup of a relationship in which he felt he was "being used." Of course, there are many artists who choose to NERVE | 32
avenge their exes by writing chart hits, take Taylor Swift and Adele for example. However, in the music video he is just a boy with a guitar sharing his story with an ever growing army of followers. By harnessing the power of YouTube, Watson began uploading covers of songs by famous artists such as Bombay Bicycle Club and Bon Iver. He explains how he saw performing these covers as a "double sided sword" - "it was really nice to take a song that I was a massive fan of and be able to make my own version of it but it was very scary because I didn’t
want fans to think ‘why is he covering this song?’" With four EP’s, nearly five million YouTube hits and a deal with music giants Warner Bros. Records under his belt, Watson is rapidly becoming the ‘one to watch’ amongst the new generation of self-promoted alternative musicians. This includes artists such as Gabrielle Aplin, who he has known for over two years and refers to as ‘Gabby’. "She was the reason why I started uploading covers on YouTube." Their first duet is a cover of the song ‘Droplets’, originally
cool and collected attitude for someone so young and new to the rollercoaster ride of the music industry, making it clear to see how he is able to perform at ease with such accomplished artists. Despite this he tells us, "I was always a nervous performer, at the start definitely." "I kept my eyes shut and I’m really kind of self-indulgent in it. I take myself back to where I wrote the songs and just perform them. I’ve learnt to thrive off my nerves... I think that nerves are
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She was the reason why I started uploading covers on YouTube
performed by Colbie Caillat and Jason Reeves and will feature on Watson’s new EP, out on November 25th. "It’s a real inspiration to see someone come from a similar place that I’ve come from and do very well at it." For someone who grew up in a parish of Oxford, what was it like to perform with Birdy in Australia? "Amazing. We played three nights at the Sydney Opera House. To be able to play... at one of the most prestigious venues in the world was just incredible." Watson speaks with such a
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a good thing and they show me that I want to be as good as I can be." Perhaps it is this sheer frank honesty that makes him so popular with fans across the globe. Watson’s ability to manage his nerves has enabled him to take his talent worldwide, resulting in gigs in America, Amsterdam and Hamburg as well Australia. Watson describes his Australian fans as being very ‘dedicated’- he says "they would meet me at the airport and come to where I was busking." Certainly this kind of mass attention would not be something he would be used to but his relaxed sense of humour must help.
"Us British, not that we don’t care, but we don’t get involved as much as the Australians." According to Watson, our reputation as a reserved nation has spread to the music world and influenced the British fans reaction to musicians. "We are one of a kind in the way that we don’t want to seem excited." By performing abroad he has been able to build a fanbase with a more varied age range. He says of performing in America: "the crowd have to be a lot older because the venues are 21 plus." "It’s like a completely different show but it’s still just as enjoyable." Lewis Watson’s first full length album will be released next year. It will be "made up of the lead tracks from the EPs", "new versions of older songs" as well as "some brand songs". Watson’s passion for music is clear in his voice when he explains how his sound on the album "hasn’t changed... hopefully people will see it as an evolution. It’s such a step up from these EP’s... I’m really excited to get it out." His advice to any aspiring singer/songwriters? "Just keep at it, definitely. You’ll find out if it’s for you soon enough and improve in the process." Well from GCSE poetry to performing at the Sydney Opera House... ‘keeping at it’ has clearly worked for Mr. Watson. Words Jenny Palmer & Namibia McLean Design Steph Bradshaw NERVE | 33
THROUGH THE LENS
SEND YOUR PHOTOS TO photo@nervemedia.org.uk
Winter Walks Laurie Gibbett 4th Year Business Studies "Do you have a New Year’s resolution to get fit, get out more, or see more of your area? Make the most of Winter Walks and take a camera, you never know what you’ll come across. It may be a struggle at first to brace the cold, but winter light can make stunning and mysterious images." http://lg-photographic.co.uk/
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Public Service Broadcasting
Credit: Sundance London
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sound is very much original. Such creativity has appealed to the public. Combined with vast radio play and a rapid spread of word of mouth, floods of crowds over the past months have invested time in PSB.
mistakes that come with such a refined live act. Opening their Exeter gig with the wrong pre-set hit Everest left a blaring 80’s sound as opposed to the solemn intro that fans were expecting. PSB played around 150 shows last year, including a wealth of festivals and venues. "All I ever wanted out of music was to release something and go on tour. "Proper bands play at The Forum and we kept expecting people to tell us we are not allowed. "Glastonbury was amazing. I thought it would be too big and I’d be a bit grumpy by the end but the reaction from the crowd was just ridiculous and the noise was like a slap to the face; it was bit emotional. It was nice." The Rolling Stones also came knocking at the duo’s door, when they asked PSB to star as a support act at their Hyde Park show. "It was mostly a little bit surreal," "We were not on the same stage says Willgoose. "We were on the road but we were on the same poster," says up in Scotland and I walked into a Willgoose. "It was one to keep and it shop and I bought the LP. I bought a was a nice call to get and of course it copy on iTunes too because I wanted to was a quick answer. check the pre-order was working. It did "None of that really appeals to me work so I ended up with two copies. though, what they had, a VIP area "It was far better than what we were where you swan around and live a expecting. Having released it on our glamorous lifestyle. We are not parown label, it wasn’t as if we had been ticularly glamorous. given a massive marketing push. "I do not think either of us wants to "It has been a while coming. Two be famous. I would never want our VIP years ago I knew it was good, it was area to be what I guessed theirs to be just a question of getting it played to like. Our own toilet seat would be nice enough people. I think the breaking though." point was Spitfire which was getting a lot of play on 6 Music." Words Ben Fisher Wrigglesworth jokes about the many
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All I ever wanted out of music was to release something and go on tour
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ublic Service Broadcasting are a down to earth corduroy double act who have taken music into their own hands. J. Willgoose, Esq and Wrigglesworth, better known by the abbreviation PSB, teach the lessons of the past with music for the future, including old propaganda and archived footage. "It is the same abbreviation as the Pet Shop Boys," says Willgoose. "I think it is quite a well known phrase though, but it is seven syllables which we know is quite an ask for the average music fan." Debut album Inform, Educate, Entertain landed at 21 in the UK chart in May last year and the title is an accurate description of their bizarre yet engaging live set. "I come up with lots of good facts – populations of the city we are in – Scunthorpe, for example is 72,000 I think. Do not ever go to Scunthorpe. "It all started out me with me doing something that was supposed to be fun, something that would be fun to come and watch, something a bit different I was capable of doing. "I did not need to rely on anybody singing and me singing is not a good idea. "I think our sound sets us apart from what everybody else is doing to be honest, as a lot of people are in jangly guitar bands but we have put a little thought into being different," adds Willgoose. The duo rank DJ Shadow, Avalanchers and Primal Scream’s Vanishing Point album as influences, but their
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Mayday Parade Thu 23rd Jan 2014
Whats On At The
@7:00pm The Old Firestation £14
the blackout 28th January 2014 @6.00pm The Old Firestation £14
Fancy a gig this new year? Here’s the lowdown of what’s on offer at two of Bournemouth’s major music venues
Though labelled as an average American rock band, this group breaks the mold with an open pop style which echoes the energy of the greats such as Sum 41 and Blink 182. Touring their new album Monsters in the Closet this Florida based fivesome hits up The Old Fire Station with some pretty cool looking support!
This post-hardcore band, from the less hardcore town of Merthyr Tydfil in Wales, boast four albums and a pile of awards including Kerrang’s Devotion award. The Blackout are known to dabble in a cover song, so if you’re into seeing a Kids in Glass Houses/Funeral for a Friend vibe covering Katy Perry’s I Kissed a Girl or N*E*R*D’s Lapdance then go check them out!
Del Amitri Thu 30th Jan 2014
city&colour 3rd February 2014
the 1975 Fri 14th Feb 2014
Don’t get put off by the ticket prices, this 80s indie rock band are worth the pennies – just live on soup for a week. Touring to bring audiences the best of their vast selection of singles; Del Amitri’s new tour is starting some hype on the music scene. Go take a listen and I am sure you’ll be booking tickets. Just don’t ask what the name means.
Here’s one for nostalgia! City and Colour, the alias for singer-songwriter Dallas Green who was also in Alexisonfire, provides the melodic folk and acoustic sound that soundtracked many a teen’s upbringing. Check out his latest album ‘The Hurry and the Harm’ to sample a taste.
Rising to fame in 2012, the guys already have a sold out debut tour! I’m sure you’ve heard this Manchester outfit before but if not it’s worth listening to their indie rock. Bournemouth O2 are hosting them alongside their support - The Neighbourhood. If anyone does manage to get hold of their tickets well done and enjoy!
@7:00pm O2 Academy Bournemouth £35
@7.00pm O2 Academy Bournemouth £28
@7:00pm O2 Academy Bournemouth Sold Out
london grammar rizzle kicks 15th February 2014 Mon 24th Feb 2014 @7.00pm O2 Academy Bournemouth Sold out
@7:00pm O2 Academy Bournemouth £17.50
Newton Faulkner 26th February 2014
You’re probably familiar with trip hop trio London Grammar’s ethereal sound; it’s one that’s been lingering like a beautiful ambient haze. Lead vocals from Hannah Reid promise to soar you to new heights of audible pleasure, whilst their lyrics drip with honest emotions. If you’re lucky enough to have nabbed a ticket before they all sold out, have an amazing time.
The boys are back, touring with their album Roaring 20s which came out in September. The energetic album made an impression in the charts and now the couple are performing live again. It’s pretty much a guarantee for a fun night- their alternative hip-hop will even get the introvert dancing!
Hooray, our favourite red haired artist is back! His latest album not only debuted at number 10 in the UK Album Charts, but it made musical history as every detail of its creation was streamed online by four cameras set up in Newton’s home studio 24/7 for 5 weeks. He’s pretty impressive so make sure you don’t miss your chance of seeing him in the flesh.
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@7.00pm O2 Academy Bournemouth £21.93
Old Fire StatioN & 02 ACADEMY bournemouth Temples 7th March
@6pm The Old Firestation£12.37
The Selecter Sun 16th March 2014 @7:00pm The Old Firestation£16.50
The Dualers 20th March 2014 @7.00pm The Old Firestation£11.25
English psychedelic rock band Temples have been cited as the best new band in Britain by Johnny Marr and Noel Gallagher, so that’s pretty exciting. Having toured with the likes of Kasabian, The Vaccines and Mystery Jets and topping the UK Indie Chart, they’ll probably be seen at some larger venues soon!
Firestation’s March line up is a corker! The revitalised late 70’s 2 tone Ska band The Selecter perform their album Too Much Pressure as well as their other classics. This is unquestionably going to be a night of good music. Known to be great live, they are certainly recommended.
Formed when many of us were playing with Tamigotchis and watching the Rugrats in 1999, The Dualers are the ska/reggae band best known for Truly Madly Deeply (featured in Matthew McConaughey film ‘Fools Gold’ and Eastenders!) and Kiss on the Lips. For fans of Madness, The Blockheads and Ziggy Marley.
The SmYths Fri 21st March 2014
Room 94 Sun 2nd March 2014
The DUb Pistols 26th February 2014
A popular tribute band to The Smiths who are no strangers to Bournemouth, touring to celebrate 30 years since The Smiths’ debut album. They have altered many previous conceptions on tribute bands and have been greatly received by fan and non-fans alike. Read the reviews and go and have a listen!
New on the scene pop/rock band Room 94 come to the Old Fire Station to debut their album ‘No Strings Attached’ (well there’s a promise for you). Previously supporting Union J, this band is gathering a lot of attention, so this may present as a great opportunity to see the boys affordably and in a relatively intimate setting with fellow fans from Bournemouth.
It’s a party, and you’re invited! London-based hip hop and big beat band The Dub Pistols are joining forces with the one and only Neville Staple of The Specials to create a dub/ska infused night that won’t be forgotten easily. Tickets are on sale now.
@6:00pm The Old Firestation £11
@7.00pm The Old Firestation £8
@7.00pm O2 Academy Bournemouth £21.93
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//HOUSE//ELECTRO// //DnB//INDIE// TICKETS
£3 £2.50 from reps at the door
FEBRUARY
9 -3 PM
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THE OLD FIRESTATION
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COMMENT
The Final Countdown New Year’s glow has now diminished; it’s clear January is the worst month to start the year
W
hen the clock ticks from the misery of the current year into the majesty of the next one, New Year’s revellers can be forgiven for feeling deflated. Not because they’ve just realised that a clock ticking past midnight doesn’t mean the world has suddenly turned in their favour, and not because they’ve just realised in the throws of the New Year spirit they’ve just tongued one of their friends dads who was out dropping off said pal’s iPhone for the magical ‘first selfie of the year.’ It’s because of all the months to start a new beginning with, January is by far the worst. It’s akin to deciding to wake up early to go for a run and accidentally setting your alarm for 4am in the middle of a hail storm. You had such big hopes for this venture, this is not the beginning it needs. There is very little to actually look forward to during this period of frost and the BBC relaunching poorly executed detective shows unless you enjoy reading Facebook statuses on New Year’s Day saying ‘The diet starts today!’ or ‘Last night was a mess, no drinking in 2014.’ Valentine’s Day appears to be the first notable date on the calendar that’s actually interesting. Yet this comes with the pitfalls of people in relationships sharing their most intimate Valentine’s Day details with single people who spend the day shouting to anyone who will listen how you regard this ‘Hallmark Holiday’ as just ‘another Friday’. This is of course unless your birthday
is in this month in which case, congratulations, your birthday is in the time of the year where everyone has no money to go out post-Christmas, exams to pretend to revise for and skin they wish to keep warm in the frigid night air as they try to hail a taxi after another miserable night in Cameo. One bright spark during this, the bleakest of months, is the fact that talentless whisperers butchering songs over a supposedly emotional Christmas advert has stopped. Unfortunately, this is replaced with adverts for exotic Holidays that you simply can’t afford to stare at for too long. The time of the year worth getting excited for doesn’t begin until around Easter time. This is when The Apprentice starts, eating copious amounts of chocolate is encouraged; you take the turn from learning things into handing things in and begin washing your hands of the educational year that just befallen you. Also, from here you’re not far from the summer blockbuster season, World Cup and a Summer spent in sun bathing gear enjoying the rays or, if you’re the person who managed to talk himself out of shooting himself on Valentine’s Day, a summer inside enjoying holiday photos. We don’t condone it, we just know it happens. Probably the best thing to take with you as you wander aimlessly into the New Year is, although it never starts in the way you like, there is a time on the horizon where it all gets better. The countdown to mid-March/April begins here. Have your party hats at the ready.
Words: Luke Stevenson Multi-Media Journalism @Luke18S Illustration: Nathan Hackett AUCB Illustration Graduate
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You had such big hopes for this venture, this is not the beginning it needs
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NERVE | 41
FEATURES Sick and tired of trying to keep to the same old resolutions? Us too so we’ve compiled some alternatives to the generic New Year’s resolutions for you to embrace in 2014 – because we really don’t want to give up the naughty things in life either!
k e e w h c a e d o o 1. Try a new f You love food, we love food – everyone loves food, this is what makes this resolution probably one of the easiest new year’s promises you can commit to. As students we can often get stuck in a food rut of limiting our diet to what fits within the parameters of cheap and tasty, but the New Year is a good a time as any to expand your dietary horizons. Instead of following the convention of cutting down on food in the new year, invest some left-over Christmas money in one of the many student cookbooks out there and don your chef whites to cook up a treat. Alternatively, check out local and student-friendly restaurant reviews coming up in this and forthcoming issues of Nerve to find out where to get the best grub without haemorrhaging your bank balance.
k ic r t l o o c y ll a e r 2. Learn a Most of us after a few drinks tend to overestimate our ability to do things that we think are really fucking amazing. However, tagged photos and videos on Facebook the next day can prove how hideously wrong we were. To counteract future instances reoccurring, it might be worthwhile channelling some time and energy into honing a spectacular party skill. Not your bog-standard ‘just look at how much tequila I can stomach before throwing up’ but something requiring a little more finesse. Get crafty with the cards, take advantage of weirdly flexible joints or learn a dance move that won’t spontaneously morph into dreaded ‘dad dancing’ after a Jäger Bomb or two. After all, do you still want to be remembered by your friends as the one who slept with/threw up on/grinded on that guy during freshers? We think not. NERVE | 44
y a d y r e v e w e n e n . Speak to someo
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University is probably the most culturally mixed situations you’ll ever find yourself in – so make the most of it! These years of your life are all about meeting people and making friends, but nevertheless a lot of the time we still find ourselves playing the social recluse, curled up in bed embarking on a Breaking Bad/Grey’s Anatomy/Made in Chelsea (insert TV show of your own choice) marathon. Ask the girl next to you in the queue for Costa how her day’s going, socialise with the people you don’t know at the next house party you go to or try to organise a course social with people outside of your typical everyday friends group. Funnily enough, before the wonderful world of social media this was how the majority of people met and made friends, and the appearance of being outwardly social and confident to complete strangers will do you the world of good in both your future personal and professional life – so what are you waiting for?
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Laurenc
4. Digital detox
As a generation we’re pretty much enslaved to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the like. We’re often so focussed on documenting our lives online that we forget to actually go out and live it in the real world. How many hours a day do you clock endlessly refreshing news feeds to see what your ex is doing? When was the last time you ate out and didn’t take an Insta snap of your meal? If the answer to both of the questions above isn’t something you’d like to openly admit, it might be worth digitally detoxing. Deactivate your Facebook account for a few weeks, stop endlessly sharing things on Pinterest or delete Twitter on your phone. You’ll probably experience some initial withdrawal symptoms but after a while you’ll realise just how much extra time going offline frees up. In fact, you might never look back.
5. Go green Becoming more environmentally friendly is great for both your wallet and mas ce Tho Lauren the earth, so why not boost your green points in the new year? Set up an efficient recycling system in your house, increase the amount of vegetables you eat or even head down to the office of BU’s green students society to see if there’s any way of getting stuck into some of the many ongoing projects they’re involved in. Being kind to the earth isn’t only guaranteed to make you feel good about yourself for serving the wider cause, but is also something incredibly pro-active to do with your time while you’re at university. If becoming a green ambassador isn’t a step you’re ready to take just yet, being kind to the environment can start with little steps such as walking to uni instead of taking the bus, or even something as simple as sharing loads of laundry with your housemates. y ion Charlotte Ga rke Title Illustrat Bu el ch Ra gn si De Words Wil Oxford NERVE | 45
R E V I E W E D Haim
The Forum, London 09/12/13, By Eva Maierhofer
Recently there has hardly been a band more visible to the public than HAIM: every website, magazine and spare bit of wall talks about them. Touring the stages worldwide, HAIM have honoured The Forum in London with a few gigs. Starting off their performance with Falling, the sisters know how to keep the crowd entertained. Este’s jokes fill the gaps between two songs, Alana and Danielle spur on the audience. HAIM make you forget any girl group illusion you’ve had and take the audience on a journey through time. Starting off in the 80s with the sounds of Don’t Save me and Forever, HAIM follow up with the present sounds of My Song 5 and bring the gig to a close with tribal drum rallies after Let Me Go. HAIM leave behind an audience wanting more, but bags of potential ensure that they will stick around for a while.
Boyzone
Credit: Phil Griffin
BIC 04/12/13, By Beth Graham It’s been 20 years since they first took to the stage but Boyzone have still got what it takes to make the girls (now women) scream. Ronan, Mikey, Shane and Keith belted out all the old classics mixed with hits from their new album BZ20. ‘It’s Only Words’, ‘Going Gets Tough’ and ‘Baby Can I Hold You’, were particular crowd pleasers, whilst the newer songs such as Love Will Save The Day and Who We Are, were still drenched in that Boyzone feel we’ve all grown to love. The oddest part of the show was the 6 female dancers that popped up every so often. They were dressed in outfits to rival Miley Cyrus and had obviously been taking dance lesson off her too... All in all the lads put on a cracking show full of dancing, singing and audience interaction – totally recommended even for the lesser die-hard fan. NERVE | 46
Annie Mac Presents O2 Academy Bournemouth 15/11/13, By Hannah Jackson
Following a legendary set at this year’s Bestival, Annie Mac, accompanied by some of the best electronic artists to date, brought Bournemouth’s o2 Academy to its knees with a night crammed full of drum and bass, house and dance music. Kicking off with powerhouse Lulu James, who proved her venue filling vocals were on fiery form, set the evening’s bar high with a soulful first hour. And to say she brought the big guns would be an understatement; both old school and modern house vibes tore the room apart. At 3:30am worries of the audience peaking were cast aside when Duke Dumont closed the party in style with an electric two hour set featuring no.1 single ‘Need U 100%’. Annie Mac Presents may have taken endurance but, ringing ears aside, it was definitely worth it.
ENTS
Black Star Riders
Dizraeli
The Irish rock band Thin Lizzy have been around since 1969, and despite a name change to Black Star Riders and a new album release, they still continue to tour with Thin Lizzy Material. Black Star Riders alternated between classic Thin Lizzy songs and tracks from their own albums. There is one particularly noticeable theme, which is the band’s link to Irish folksongs. ‘Whisky in the Jar’ is one of Thin Lizzy’s biggest hits and was so popular that even Phil Lynott, the original lead singer, got tired of it and refused to play it for a while. The band closed with one of Thin Lizzy’s biggest hits ‘Boys are back in Town’ and encored with ‘Whiskey in the Jar’ and ‘Rosalie’, so although they may have changed their name and written new songs, they recognise that the fans still appreciate Thin Lizzy’s awesome sound.
It’s half eight and there’s a low ambient chatter hugging the walls of the club. The small talk ceases. There’s movement on stage. People begin to gravitate towards the dance floor, causing the club to triple in size. Lights up. Dizraeli and the Small Gods start combine a mash-up of frantic arm movements and soulful singing that spans across genres, from emotionally hard hitting tracks to happy hip hop. Their hypnotic rhythms hit the crowd alongside folky riffs, forcing bodies to move to the music. Even the pints that have retreated to the shadows by the bar can’t help but bounce their heads. DJ DownLow is on the decks, scratching his heart out; Dizraeli is jumping around the stage mic in hand, and the band rock out, transforming the small crowd into the biggest party in Bournemouth.
O2 Academy Bournemouth 22/11/13, By Laura Geall
O2 Academy Bournemouth 20/11/13, By Adam Worsley
Credit: Paramount
Credit: Warner Bros.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
After last year’s dull opening entry in Peter Jackson’s return to Middle Earth, The Desolation of Smaug had an awful lot to do. It’s a definite improvement, but still falls short of its epic pretensions. Martin Freeman still shines as Bilbo Baggins in what might be the best casting decision in modern memory. The supporting cast get a bit more time to shine, although the subordinate dwarves still remain unmemorable and underwritten. New arrival Benedict Cumberbatch is fantastically sinister as the mo-cap dragon of the title – a true technical achievement. Unfortunately, despite focus on action, TDoS suffers from many of the same problems as its predecessor. The story feels ruthlessly elongated, particularly with an invented subplot involving Orlando Bloom’s Legolas and a perfunctory love triangle. Huge swathes of time pass by without incident and even action sequences are dragged out.
Making a sequel to a cult classic is generally a bad idea. In the case of Anchorman, Adam McKay and Will Ferrell’s follow-up to the 2004 hit had to recreate a happy accident. It’s little surprise that it fails, but thankfully it remains very funny and an awful lot of fun. The main gang are back and on top form, accompanied by a cast of cameos that are kind of a big deal. Some jokes fall flat, but others are every bit as pant-wettingly hilarious as the gags that cemented the original as a quality bit of broad comedy. It could’ve done with a stricter edit as there’s a noticeable middle act sag and entire subplots could comfortably have been removed. Anchorman 2 isn’t a success, but it’s not an unqualified failure either. I guess the best way to describe Anchorman 2 is that 60% of the time it works every time.
In Cinemas 13/12/13 14/10/13, By Tom Beasley
In Cinemas 18/12/13 By Tom Beasley
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FEATURES
In the spotlight Reality shows such as Britain’s Got Talent have launched breakdancing into the public eye and given rise to the growth in interest of this style of street dance. Alys Penfold spoke to members of Bournemouth University’s very own breakdancing society about competing abroad as well as their plans to expand
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reakdancing is an art that few possess the ability to perform, but is nevertheless an awe-inspiring talent to watch. It’s something usually seen on Britain’s Got Talent, or found on the streets of Covent Garden, however three years ago breakdancing was brought to Bournemouth University in the form of the BU and AUCB Breakdance Society. Now with around 10 members, the society is looking to expand. Gavin Lau, the chairman of the society who originally hails from Reading, started his breakdancing journey back home. "When I was in sixth form, my brother got me involved with the society at Reading University, who are one of the longest running breakdancing societies in the UK. After attending regular sessions, I started to understand the culture better and was taught by members of an international crew called the Soul Mavericks. After starting at Bournemouth University, a friend who ran the society told me to join, and I had the opportunity to take over as Chairman this year due to him being on placement." It’s obvious that the breakdancing society are pretty relaxed, laid back people. "There are no official teachers" Explains Yazan, who works on the committee of the
NERVE | 48
society. "We just prefer to jam and practice our own individual moves, although if someone new to breakdancing joins the society we show them the ropes until they are comfortable." He does however count the society very lucky to train with two time UK Breakdancing champions, ‘Second to None’. "They’re a legendary crew, they teach and inspire us a lot." Surprisingly, the society’s current members are mostly made up from people outside the university. "There are a lot of old school breakers in Bournemouth that want space to practice so we are happy for them to come and train with us. This year was the first time we participated in BU’s Freshers Fair though so we’ve managed to recruit a few more members from the university. We’re hoping to get more people involved from BU and AUCB throughout the year." The society trains on campus once a week and occasionally off-campus, however there are regular road trips for breakdancing battles across the country and even abroad. Yazan explains that they’ve been to Plymouth, Exeter, Reading, London and sometimes as far as Holland! "We’ll just bundle in someone’s car and head off if we get invited along, but on regular training days we just meet up in one of
the dance studios and jam to some funky beats for a couple of hours until we’re knackered!" Gavin says that it is great to battle with people in different cities. "The different styles make the dancing very dynamic. A few of us do battles around the South and occasionally we do pretty well! Bournemouth has some pretty good talent now." One major event that the society gets involved with every year is Vile Style, run by local hip-hop charity All Elements alongside Second to None. The society is always there to participate, or ‘battle’ and support the hip-hop community. There are pretty high stakes with £100 for a solo battle, or £350 prize for a crew battle! Gavin has hopes to encourage more members to join, mainly because the more the merrier, however it would also prove vital in expanding the society and promoting it within the local area. As well as encouraging more members he explains the society also has other aims for the future. "We’d love to find a better training space with smooth flooring as everyone would really benefit from it. Other than that, we’re doing well as we are and we will continue to grow!" Words Alys Penfold Design Alice Elizabeth Taylor
FEATURES
T R I E D & TA S T E D A regular for music gigs and quizzes, Sixty Million Postcards in the heart of Bournemouth town centre has proved popular amongst students. Nerve’s resident food critic went to check out the food on offer, and whether it hits the spot.
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’ve never really seen the purpose of postcards. You can write a nice thoughtful message on a postcard, but surely the same message can be written in a text with a cheeky selfie? Anyway, you’re probably wondering why I’m ranting on about postcards, right? One Tuesday a few weeks back I decided to embrace Sixty Million Postcards in the heart of Bournemouth, a place I’d heard was pretty popular with students. On Tuesday afternoon there’s a special two for one offer on burgers. I’m not quite at the stage where my meals are paid for so Michelin star restaurants are out of the question for now. When we arrived it was busy; tables piled high with burgers and people. It’s quite dark inside – kind of like Hollister - but has a really cool atmos-
phere. There isn’t really any service, just a massive free-for-all. The Chef’s table in front of the kitchen was available, so we decided to sit there and see a couple of chefs flip some burgers while waiting for our food, which was a nice touch. Everything is pretty basic, you have a menu on your table, you decide what you would like and order it at the bar. I had been before and wasn’t overjoyed, but decided you can’t always judge something based on first impressions. However, unfortunately the experience was the same. I ordered the smoked bacon and cheese burger, however what I got was a dry and tasteless patty, accompanied with what seemed like processed square slices of cheese and bacon that was bland. In my opinion, the chips were a moisture of grease in my mouth, yet
while I was unable to stomach them, my accomplice had no problem in wolfing them down! We decided to share burgers however his – the pulled pork and chilli jam burger – was also disappointing. Unfortunatly, it’s unlikely I’ll be gracing Sixth Million Postcards for a third visit – twice was definitely enough. The concept of two for one burgers is great, but the quality doesn’t deliver. The thing is this place has so much potential. I love the idea of an alternative choice of restaurant, but unfortunately, Sixty Million Postcards just doesn’t hit the spot. If you want to go somewhere with a great atmosphere and vibe then Sixty Million Postcards is the place for you, but for top quality nosh it’s probably best just to keep on looking.
Ratings
Words Andrea Avellano Design Rachel Burke
Atmosphere
Food
7/10
4/10
Service
Overall
5/10
6/10
FASHION
E
verybody lusts over a bit of leather. Though out with the old and in the new is not the case with this wardrobe staple; leather will always be a fashion thrill, keeping you looking cool yet classic. And celebrities sure love to showcase their ultimate leather pieces. The Saturday’s beauty Molly King graces the high street in her skin tight leather trousers looking utterly flawless, paired with a suede wedge and two tone jacket. This is the ultimate coffee date outfit; Molly’s style is one to follow! Chelsea’s own blogger Millie Mackintosh shows off her pins in a leather mini skirt from Zara – yes, affordable AND amazing. What more could you ask for? The leather skirt
can be played cool or jazzed up. Why not try it with a polo neck jumper to keep you warm this winter, or a long sleeve crop if you can brave the cold? The leather jacket has been around for years and always makes an appearance, so don’t be afraid to pay that little bit extra – you will be making a lifelong investment. This can also be said for your trusty leather boots too. They really do go with everything and anything; River Island and ASOS are showcasing some beautiful boots this season. It’s safe to say that leather is a staple item in anyone’s wardrobe. It gives off a sleek yet sultry look that the winter season craves!
Words Sofie Boyland Design Pamela Odumusi
STYLE CLASH
LEATHER V LACE P
refer to create an elegant sophisticated look? Then look no further. A popular piece is the lace dress. Northern beauty Cheryl Cole stunned crowds at the Cannes film festival this year with a low backed dark red lace number. The figure hugging dress looked pure perfection with a classy, vintage feel. However, you do need to be careful with lace; you don’t want to end up looking like a pair of curtains. To swerve a fashion fright, opt for bold colours, this will make the details become apparent and give you a touch of sass; give lace the attention that it deserves! New Look and Zara are ideal retail stores that can fulfil your love for lace at reasonable prices. It doesn’t even need to be boisterous;
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a lace trimmed top or dress can create enough femininity, without being too plain. A lace trimmed black dress was showcased on the New York runway by Just Cavalli – the LBD had been given a touch of detailing at the front which made it stand out from the rest. A big hit this year, without a doubt has been the laced frilled socks. Where would we be without them? And who knew feet could look so stylish! They may be the one sock that can be paired with any type of shoe. Converse, wedges, boots - You name it! Who wouldn’t want 20 pairs of these, in 8 different colours? They indeed are a trusty investment, although you can nab yourself a pair in your local Primark for a pound!
COMMENT
Britain’s Next Big Model Don’t put down that cream cake, overweight mannequins will be coming to a store near you!
O
ver the last decade, the average dress size for a woman in the UK has risen from a size 12 to a size 16. For the first time in history, scientists predict it is not long before more people are dying of over-eating related diseases, rather than starvation. The latest government statistics have revealed that only 34% of us are defined as having a healthy body mass index. However, despite these worrying facts, the rapid speed of our expanding waistlines shows no sign of stopping. Due to this trend, some of the biggest retailers have announced plans to use mannequins of size 16 and above in stores. High-street giant Debenhams was the first to jump on the big bandwagon, with 2013 seeing the introduction of these models into their Oxford Street flagship store. This year, they will be bringing the models into all of their 170 stores, with other retailers considering joining this movement too. The first objection I have to this new plan is that it’s a bizarre and disgusting platform for selling fashion. Prior to the size 16 models being used, mannequins of a size 10 were used on average by stores, or a size 8 alternative. Who wants to buy the over stretched dress on the size 16 mannequin, which makes the models backside look not dissimilar to that of a rhinos? I don’t know anyonw who would buy an item of clothing which makes the woman used to sell it likened to that of a large African mammal. The logistics of using a big mannequin to sell clothes can be disputed
by many, most prominently under the claim that it promotes self-acceptance of an individual’s body shape and appearance. Indeed, even the director of Debenhams, Ed Watson, stated that he hoped the new initiatives will help women feel more comfortable about their appearance and promote body confidence among women. If a woman wants to feel better about her body, I believe she should work for it. Dedicating time every day to exercise, along with an overhaul of nutritional behaviour, is what is needed if you feel uncomfortable with your body. I was fortunate enough to be brought up in a family where my weight was scrutinised, as a responsible parent should do if the child needs it, and my parents always made a huge effort to educate me about the importance of healthy eating and exercise as part of a balanced lifestyle. Personally, these mannequins disgust me. It is not ok for impressionable girls and women to think that being a size 16, or overweight as it is commonly known, is ok. Claims of promoting self-acceptance do not overhaul the fact that just by looking at these mannequins, you can see they are overweight. Laziness and gluttony, which all too often is the cause of being overweight, does not mean that we can tell society that you should feel proud of your body size, whatever that may be. Society needs to be re-educated, to tell the public that having a healthy lifestyle is what is needed, not that loving your fat is.
Words: Natalie Taylor Multi-Media Journalism @NatMariaTaylor Illustration: Nathan Hackett AUCB Illustration Graduate
“
If a woman wants to feel better about her body, I believe she should work for it
”
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NERVE | 51
FASHION
STREET STYLE This month Scarlett Dixon, editor of style blog ScarlettLondon.com, has been on the lookout for the best dressed of the new year. Here are a few of our top picks
This cool couple have taken matching to a new level. Black is a classic hit. With the addition of gold and faux fur, this look is timelessly chic.
Accessories are the key accompaniment for this sweatshirt, pair a black nail with rings galore. Keep it cool and warm to start the year with oversized jackets and scarves.
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Design Shannon Hards
Images Scarlett Dixon
Who said grey on grey doesn’t work?! These trend setters are working the ultimate multi-tonal look.
Canary yellow is clearly a big hit for the new year. Keep yours cool by teaming with neutral colours, or if you’re feeling brave, pair it with red and leopard print. NERVE | 53
GETTING BACK ON THE UNI WAY TRACK BOTTLES & CANS
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Although you may have come back to uni after Christmas promising yourself to get back into shape, the constant nights out and assignment deadlines may make your life tricky. However, the fitness freaks at Nerve have found the best of both worlds; a free and easy workout routine that uses everyday items you will find floating around your digs and won’t prevent you from fulfilling all your student needs and desires this term.
So, you’ve just got back from your daily trip to the Asda alcohol section and all that’s on your mind is getting ready for the night that lies ahead. Well hold fire for just a few minutes. The beer and wine you’ve just bought is actually the perfect replacement for a set of hand weights. Try a few of these exercises before you think about getting to work on that cheap vodka you’ve just purchased.
For resistance exercise, hold one bottle/can in each hand whilst doing normal lunges or squats. Depending on how you’re feeling you can start small with some Fosters cans, or if you fancy yourself as a bit of a Hulk Hogan then maybe some big Frosty Jacks bottles are more for you.
Those three litre cider bottles are also ideal for working on your triceps. Hold the bottle with both arms above your head and bend your elbows to smoothly lower your forearms until they are in line with the top of your head.
As the essays begin to pile up once again, your trips to the library could actually help you start to shed those post-Christmas pounds, as well as helping you finish that last-minute assignment. It may seem a clunky option and you will probably need a bigger backpack for your troubles, but your copy of ‘War and Peace’ is actually a great piece of resistance kit. Here are a few easy crunches that will help get your abs carved back into the shape that they were before the Christmas diet made its mark.
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Lie flat on your back with your arms fully extended above you holding the book. Use your stomach muscles to propel yourself forward, lifting your shoulders straight off the ground while keeping the rest of your body flat on the ground.
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TEXTBOOKS
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When doing normal situps, keep the book on your chest as you’re lifting your abs and middle up.
To exercise your lower abs, sit on a chair with your legs together and extended in front of you about eight inches above the ground. Balance the book on your shins and slowly lift your extended legs up in a smooth motion.
SPORT
LAUNDRY
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When deciding on what to wear for yet another night out on the town, do not disregard your trip to the washing machine as merely a waste of precious time that could be spent getting pre-drinks underway. Your jam-packed laundry bag can also be used for deadlift exercises to help make the excruciating wait for your wash to end a little more productive. Here’s how to do it:
The deadlift is done by pulling the laundry bag off the floor with both hands and then standing straight with your legs and shoulders back.
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With your feet shoulder width apart, squat downwards with your back straight and knees bent and grasp the bag with both hands. Lower your back so your thighs are parallel to the floor and look straight ahead.
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Finally, lower the bag to the floor pushing your butt out as if you’re about to sit down, keeping your head up and ensuring you don’t arch your back.
In order to take the pressure off your spine you want to imagine as if you’re sitting in a chair when doing the lift and also making sure you have a good grip on the bag. (Ones with handles are perfect).
When lifting the bag keep a straight back while raising your hips and shoulders at the same rate. Bring yourself to a standing position, holding the laundry bag no higher than the front of your hips.
Now I know that when you are in the middle of an all-nighter, just hours away from the assignment deadline that was set three months ago, the last thing on your mind is exercise. However, there’s actually no need to leave your desk with some workouts. In fact, it will probably help to break up the work and I’m sure the copious amount of Red Bull you’ve purchased will provide enough energy to do them properly.
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Sit sideways on your chair with the back of the chair on your right hand side and with your feet flat on the floor and your knees in line with your hips. Grab the sides of the chair – one at each end – and gently rotate your torso to the back of the chair, pushing your right hand away and pulling the left in towards you. Look over your shoulder and hold the position for 20 seconds, breathing normally. Then repeat the exercise with the back of the chair on your left side.
Words Craig Rodhouse Design Jack Mullen
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LAPTOPS
Sit upright in your desk chair and, without letting your back slump forwards, lift your right foot off the floor, bringing the thigh towards the torso and keeping your abs tight. Pause and then lower before repeating with the left leg.
Pilates may sound expensive and complex, but in fact it can be done easily at your desk and won’t even stop you from cracking on with your work. Get an inflatable ball (football, basketball etc.) and place it underneath your feet, trying to keep yourself steady and balanced without losing grip on the ball. It may sound simple, but it is actually harder than it looks and if done correctly will help work the muscles in your legs, thighs, butt, abs, back, shoulders and arms! NERVE | 55
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Your fabulous oufit may be covered up by a huge rain coat, but your shoes are always on show. Nerve’s Sarah Mckelvy reviews the shoes that you can wear all year round and keep your style status on and off the track.
How tO WEAR...
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hether you are chilling at home in leggings and an oversized hoody, or looking chic in high-waisted jeans and a blazer, the Converse All Star low canvas shoes are perfect for you. How about adding a flash of colour to your outfit with a bright red or blue? These would make an ideal statement piece when walking to and from uni.
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hy not try Converse Chuck Taylor High Tops – Danny Zuko style in black, navy, white or even a bright color or pattern for those of you who are a little more quirky.
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his season the love affair with retro runners and high performance trainers continues with a nostalgic collection of Nike hi-tops and Air Max 1’s on the streets. Or if you prefer a shoe with a stronger sports luxe influence why not slip your feet into a pair of ultra-cool New Balance? If they aren’t for you, Vans and of course Converse are two classic brands which will have you bang on trend for the latest street-wear styles. With nearly a century of authentic sports history and footwear innovation under its laces, Converse offers a huge variety of styles, colors and patterns for both men and women. Converse are super comfortable with the upper being made of long lasting canvas, sitting upon the traditional and durable Converse midsole. The small details, such as the All Star branding over the tongue and heel and the metallic eyelets, complete the stylish design. Available from Office and ASOS, these shoes don’t necessarily come cheap but promise to last a life-time. If your student budget doesn’t quite allow you to spend £35 on shoes, then H&M and Primark do great copies for a much more reasonable price – and if you can get a pair for £10 then you may as well get them in a variety of colors! Credit: Chicisimo.com NERVE | 57
As AFC Bournemouth’s return season in the Championship hits the halfway point, Nerve’s Tom Bennett reviews the Cherries season so far. August:
October:
Charlton Athletic (H) 2-0; Portsmouth (H - Capital One Cup R1) 1-0 Watford (A) 1-6; Wigan Athletic (H) 1-0; Huddersfield Town (A) 1-5 Watford (A – Capital One Cup R2) 0-2; Doncaster Rovers (A) 0-1
Leeds United (A) 1-2; Millwall (H) 5-2 Nottingham Forest (A) 1-1; Leicester City (A) 1-2.
A Lewis Grabban double gave AFC Bournemouth a dream start to their first game in the second tier of English football for 23 years. His brace blew away Charlton Athletic in front of over 10,000 fans at the Goldsands Stadium. However, they were swiftly brought down to earth against last season’s play-off finalists Watford as they were thrashed 6-1. Beating FA Cup holders Wigan Athletic on home soil brought some credibility back to Dean Court, but a second consecutive away thrashing at Huddersfield Town prompted cause for concern. Cherries manager Eddie Howe played down any fears though and said: "We showed last season we could get results and keep clean sheets away from home and that’s what we must do. We like to play good football and there will be no change whether we win, lose or draw." They then exited the Capital One Cup against Watford, but ended the month on a high after beating fellow Championship newcomers Doncaster Rovers away from home.
September: Blackpool (H) 1-2; Barnsley (H) 1-0; Middlesbrough (A) 3-3 Blackburn Rovers (H) 1-3
September saw the debut of record signing Tokelo Rantie. The 23-year-old South African failed to score on his first two appearances for the club, but won a penalty in the 4th minute of the 3-3 draw against Middlesbrough that led to Brett Pitman’s 4th minute opener. Despite not delivering the goals that had been promised, Rantie declared himself happy with his contribution. "It’s always a good thing that when a striker isn’t scoring he is creating, and it’s actually a good thing for me to start doing that for the team," he said. "The team is ambitious, I am ambitious, and everyone here has long-term ambitions for the club." Six points from four games throughout September saw Cherries in 10th position heading into October and rumours of an audacious play-off bid started to circulate. NERVE | 58
A stunning comeback against Millwall epitomized how confident Bournemouth were of surviving in the Championship this season. Five goals from five different scorers saw their established second-tier counterparts capitulate in spectacular fashion from being 2-0 ahead. The highlight of them all – Harry Arter’s rising 20-yard drive, as he marked his return from injury back to his pivotal role as Bournemouth’s tireless midfielder, pulling all the strings. The sour note – Steve Cook was struck by a coin during the ill-advised celebrations of Lewis Grabban in front of The Lions’ fans. This win was followed by a heroic performance away at Nottingham Forest. Marc Pugh scored a stoppage-time equaliser to snatch a point at the City Ground, to which Howe was full of praise: "We are a good side; we are adapting to this level. We can take huge confidence from this." A good side they were, adapting they had been and confidence they took, but despite a strong performance, they concluded October with a 2-1 defeat at promotion-chasing Leicester City.
November: Bolton Wanderers (H) 0-2; Burnley (A) 1-1 Derby County (H) 0-1; Brighton and Hove Albion (H) 1-1
A winless November wasn’t necessarily as miserable as the statistics suggest. Three confident, dominating home performances should have proved fruitful in points. Instead, just two points from their four fixtures left Howe’s side in 16th place by the end of the month, flirting with relegation for the first time this season. 67% possession against Bolton was telling of the south coast side’s supremacy, but Jermaine Beckford’s injury-time winner killed off any chance of a dream start to the month. On Saturday 9th, Howe and his right-hand man Jason Tindall returned to Burnley, the club they had left just over a year earlier to steer the Cherries up into the Championship. Bournemouth escaped with a point thanks to Rantie’s first goal for the club, as his 25-yard rocket cannoned in off the crossbar. However, returning home with just a point was gutting for the Cherries, who played victim to former-Bournemouth striker Danny Ings, who netted with just six minutes remaining at Turf Moor. Howe characteristically gave nothing away about his hopes for his return but did admit he was thwarted not to take home the win: "I think when you’re 1-0 like we were with the time left in the game, you’re disappointed not to win but I thought it was a really honest game between two really honest teams," he said. Towards the end of the month, the return of Matt Ritchie from injury was an immense boost for the Cherries, whose form almost grabbed a point against Derby and whose stunning goal should have secured three points against Brighton.
December: Queens Park Rangers (A) 3-0; Reading (A) 1-2 Birmingham City (H) 0-2; Sheffield Wednesday (A) 1-2 Yeovil Town (H) 3-0; Ipswich Town (H) 1-1
A jam-packed December put a halt to Bournemouth’s despondent home form as they thrashed Yeovil Town at the Goldsands Stadium on Boxing Day. Again though, that four-match winless run on home turf should have ended much earlier as they enjoyed 69% possession and 27 shots against Lee Clarke’s Birmingham City, but succumbed to goals from Andrew Shinnie and Nikola Zigic to lose 2-0. Their away form took a massive boost with wins against Reading and Sheffield Wednesday. Matt Ritchie and Lewis Grabban grabbed one goal each in both of those wins on the road to enhance their totals for the season. Ritchie had grabbed one goal every other game since his return from a thigh injury in November and Grabban netted his eighth and ninth of the season to put him among the division’s top marksmen. Another dominating performance against Ipswich in their final game of 2013 could only earn a point and Howe summed up the recurring theme that had hindered Bournemouth’s season to date. "Our performance was a really high level and I can’t fault the players in any way. They are in really good form but we had great chances, but didn’t take them and at this level you need to take your opportunities," he said.
January: Brighton and Hove Albion (A) 1-1.
2014 almost started with three points at Brighton, but a repeat of November’s result was all Cherries fans could travel home with on New Year’s Day – albeit earned through a controversial penalty decision by referee Simon Hooper. At the time of writing, Bournemouth embark on an FA Cup third round tie at home to Burton Albion, postponed earlier in the month thanks to a waterlogged pitch. Victory in that would set-up a home tie against Liverpool in the fourth round. That’s promotion, Real Madrid, Championship football and Liverpool at the Goldsands Stadium in the space of 12 months. Simply amazing.
Nerve’s Chief Sports Correspondent Tom Bennett: Bournemouth have more than enough to survive in the Championship. A cheeky attempt at reaching the playoffs? Perhaps, but a solid first season in a new division will more than satisfy the fans. Nerve’s Sports Editor Craig Rodhouse: It really has been a mixed-bag for the Cherries this season in terms of performances. They will definitely stay in the division and a top-half finish is well within their capabilities. The return of Matt Ritchie will be crucial to any potential success this year. NERVE | 59
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SPORT
‘ For the Bournemouth Varsity Golf Firsts, the year of 2014 will be focused solely on a return to the status quo. The side – who have been the dominant force in the Premier Division in recent years – uncharacteristically failed to win the title last season. However, currently sitting in second position, just two points behind the leaders, the team have positioned themselves well to gain some much-need silverware this year after a trophyless last campaign. The side face first placed Exeter in the New Year, knowing that victory in that game could see them overtake Exeter in the league table and move back into top spot. However, varsity success in golf for Bournemouth is unlikely to be limited purely to the first team. Steven Hubball plays for the thirds team and revealed that all of the University’s golf teams have placed themselves well for a successful second half of the season. "Last year was the first time that the first team didn’t win the Premier Division for five or six years and all four teams went out of the knockout cups within the first couple of rounds. So it wasn’t the best year unfortunately." said Hubball. "The firsts will obviously want to win the league again and they currently sit second, two points behind Exeter, which is going to be a pretty important game in the New Year. Both the second and third team are in the division below, with the thirds currently second and the seconds sitting in fifth. However, the second team do have a game in hand which would move them ahead of the thirds if they were to win. Even our fourth team are second in the division below that." And Hubball is going to find himself right in the centre
of the drama. The 22-year-old switches between playing for the third and fourth teams and so will prove to be a crucial component if both sides are to capitalise on their excellent starts in 2013. Hubball certainly holds the necessary experience having now picked up his first golf club 20 years ago. "I was introduced by my dad at two years old and I had a plastic set that I used to swing around the lounge. When I was four I had a few clubs cut down to size and I used to go out on to the course he was at and hit a few shots here and there and it progressed from there as I got older. "Whilst I feel like a better player now than I was two years ago, the statistics don’t back that up. The squad has two great coaches in Scott and Martin who offer free weekly sessions on Fridays. Unfortunately my inability to drive makes it difficult to practice whilst I’m at University, so I can’t put in the hours I need to improve." However, Hubball is remaining optimistic heading into the second half of the season as he sets his sights on personal improvements, as well as success at club level. "I would like to try and get my handicap down a couple of shots over the summer, and to try and win an event or two. As long as I can give my best for my home club and the University in the matches I play, it will hopefully bring in some points here and there. "Obviously the most important part of the squad is the success of the first team, so they would be the most important players. After that everyone has their part to play. If ever a number of players drop out, those who have sat out a few matches have to be ready to fill in. Even though eight players have to sit out every week, everyone has a role to play for the team."
NERVE | 61
SPORT
NERVE TALKS TO: SCOTLAND MANAGER
GORDON STRACHAN Words Ash Hover Design Jack Mullen
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ith a footballing career spanning over 40 years, few know more about the sport than Scotland manager Gordon Strachan – though Sir Alex Ferguson would probably argue against that. Having turned down the chance to sign for Manchester United at the age of 14, Strachan went on to enjoy a hugely successful playing career in both England and Scotland, scoring a total of 138 goals in 635 league games with the likes of Leeds, Coventry and eventually, the Red Devils. Strachan began his career with Dundee after opting against a move to Manchester United, reasoning that he would get a better chance in the first team with Dundee rather than at Old Trafford. And he believes that academy football isn’t necessarily the way to go for young aspiring footballers in the UK. "You have to question the role of academies. For England to go to the Under-21 Championships in the summer and not win a single game is just not good enough." he said. "At eight years old, kids get lured in to join the likes of Chelsea, and realistically, 98% of them won’t make it as a footballer. At eight years old these people think they’ve got a chance of playing for Chelsea’s first team and all the gold
that comes with it." "Then when they get to around 12 years old and they’re told that they’re not good enough to move up to the next level the problem gets worse. You have kids of 12 and 13 falling out of love with football." Strachan recalled telling his two sons, Craig and Gavin, both former professional footballers, about how different it was for himself trying to make it as a pro in the early 1970s. "People were mentally stronger 30-40 years ago because of their upbringing. I did a milk round from five in the morning ‘til half eight before I went to school every day for three years. It was freezing and I only got a pound a week. I had to work for everything I wanted. " "I played reserve football against grown men at 15, and I had to look after myself. Football is too sanitized these days. Kids have to play in their own age groups all the way up. If you look at the likes of Bryan Robson, they played three years above their level and that made them toughen up as a person. Youngsters are far too nurtured these days and it’s a real problem in Britain." "Youngsters in Britain need to toughen up as a whole. Compare them to the likes of (Luis) Suarez and (Sergio) Aguero; they’re street fighters, no one is going to mess
them around." Having turned his hand to management before even hanging up his boots, the 56 year-old took on the role of player-manager at Coventry City in 1996 before going on to take the reins at Southampton, Celtic, Middlesborough and finally, Scotland. And in his time, Strachan has seen it all. "I watched a nine year old kid get kicked in an academy game the other day and two people ran on to see if he was ok. If you did that when I was at school you just had to pick yourself up and get on with it." "I remember at Middlesborough there was a little kid hobbling down the corridor, so I asked him if he was ok. He said no and that he had pulled his hamstring. I said to him ‘you’re ten years old, you haven’t got a bloody hamstring!’" "Alex Ferguson used to take a ruler and whack his players if they did something wrong. Players used to have to clean cars and boots but now everything is done for them. And no one can say that Sir Alex did it wrong when you look at the amount of players he’s brought through. Some of them are mentally broken now, but you’ve got to find that out."
SPORT
SNOOKER THE END OR THE BEGINNING OF THE GOLDEN FOUR? Words Andrea Avellano
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he era of greatness is coming to an end in snooker. Stephen Hendry has already packed up his cue and the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins and Mark Williams aren’t far away from doing the same. Between them they share 18 World Championships and If you were to pit those four names up against the
current top four players, it would be a dead certain white wash. Will there ever be a breed of players to match the immense ability and dedication of the Golden Four? Nerve’s Andrea Avellano picks out four upcoming stars in the game who he thinks might just do so.
Jack Lisowski is harbouring praise from all quarters at the moment. Not only for his flare and ability on a snooker table, but for what he has come through to get where he is today. Having been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at the age of 16, it has been no easy journey for the Cheltenham -born lad. He recently completed his five years of treatment and in doing so was given the mighty all-clear at the end of 2013. Nicknamed the ‘Jackpot’ and only 22 years of age, Lisowski’s breakthrough season came in 2012/2013 where he qualified for five ranking tournaments, including the World Championship. He secured NERVE | 64
Design Jack Mullen
his best ranking event finish by reaching the quarter finals of the 2013 China Open, losing narrowly 5-4 to former world champion, Shaun Murphy. The 12/13 season also saw him reach the final of a Players Tour Championship, a minor ranking event, where he lost to Stephen Maguire. On his journey to the final, Lisowski defeated Judd Trump in the quarters and Mark Williams in the semis. It is widely regarded that he will become a multiple World Champion for reasons that he has a similar style to Ronnie O’Sullivan, both aggressive and entertaining. Lisowski’s temperament and attitude is exceptional for a player so young. Having been through the dark days earlier in his career, Jack Lisowski will only get stronger and stronger and has an incredibly bright future ahead of him.
Known as the ‘Belgian Bullet’, Luca Brecel is the youngest of the four players at 18 years of age. However, Brecel doesn’t let his age get in the way of his snooker. Winner of the European under 19 Championship at the age of 14, Brecel is considered one of the most promising upcoming snooker talents. He became the youngest ever player to compete in the World Championship in 2012 at the age of 17, breaking the record set by Stephen Hendry in 1986. His best ranking event finish was the quarter final of the UK Championship in 2012 and what was significantly impressive about this performance was the endurance of Brecel at such a young age. Brecel had to come through four rounds of qualifying
just to make it to the UK and he carried on the momentum from qualifying, defeating Ricky Walden in the first round and then Mark King. He was stopped however by Shaun Murphy in the quarter finals. John Higgins labelled Brecel as a future world champion and who would question his judgement? Brecel defeated seven-time champion of the world, and arguably the greatest snooker player ever, Stephen Hendry in an exhibition match in 2010. He may have defeated Hendry but can he go on to defeat Hendry’s record of seven world titles? It’s a long shot but is definitely within his capabilities.
The boom of snooker in the Far East has led to an influx of Chinese players competing to make their way on the professional tour. Xiao Guodong is one of snooker’s rising stars, albeit at the age of 24, and the eldest in the golden four. He is the only player to break into the world’s top 32 out of the four. His highlight came in 2013 where he reached the final of the Shanghai Masters in a first all-Chinese ranking final against Ding Junhui, who eventually secured the title. Michael ‘Lightning’ White has struck the snooker world by storm in recent years, having reached the quarter finals of the 2013 World Championships; a highly impressive achievement for a qualifier. He defeated fellow countryman and two time world champion, Mark Williams 10-6 in the first round and Williams later stated that he had been outplayed in every department. And It didn’t stop there as he thrashed fellow qualifier Dechawat Poomjaeng 13-3 in the last 16 playing superb snooker. However, he eventually ran out of steam in his maiden ranking event quarter final when Ricky Walden comfortably beat him
However, Guodong still received the biggest cheque of his career in the tournament and reaching the final, losing only to one of the world’s best players, will be good for his temperament. In 2009, Guodong was voted in the top five players to watch out for in the 2009/2010 season on the World Snooker website. He has also been coached by former world champion Terry Griffiths, whose experience and advice will only enhance Guodong’s chances of being champion of the world in the near future.
13-6. The run at the crucible led to a huge rise of 20 places in the world rankings to 34, the most places jumped by any player on the tour at the time. What took everyone by surprise was his fearless approach to the game, something he has always possessed. White holds the record of the youngest ever player to compile a century break as he made a 105 break at the age of nine in 2001; an incredible achievement and demonstration of natural talent. The same age as Lisowski, it seems this rivalry could replace the O’Sullivan-Williams rivalry of the early 2000’s, so we’re in for a treat. A certain world champion, get down the bookies. NERVE | 65
January is well known as being one of the most depressing months of the year, but there’s no need to lose Christmas just yet. Here’s a list of traditions we would love to do all year.
CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS WE WILL MISS
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Hearing A LOT of Michael Bublé Whether you’re male or female, 19 or 90, like house music or pop, it is a fact that everyone loves Michael Bublé (ok, so probably not a fact). Around Christmas time, his festive songs are everywhere; TV, Radio, supermarkets, restaurants. There is just no escaping him, and why would we want to? A beautiful man, effortless singer and a bit of a ‘lad’, we wish we could hear and see more of him throughout the whole year. Oh, and his Christmas songs too.
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Wearing awful jumpers 2013 was definitely the year of the Christmas jumper and with snowmen’s 3D noses and reindeer with googly eyes, they definitely hit a new high last year. Anyone and everyone had one from Holly Willoughby and Keith Lemon, to Bob from your local pub. Whether it was subtle or extravagant, everybody was feeling the festive vibe and they were pretty darn comfy too. We love looking ridiculous and having no one laugh at you, that is the reason why we want this Christmas tradition to last all year long.
FEATURES
Words: Sophie Rogers Illustrations: Laurence Thomas
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Eating chocolate morning, day and night In months January to November we all get dirty looks if we so much look at a chocolate bar before 11am but in December advent calendars allow us to have a (small) bit of chocolate when we wake up in the morning – a small bit is better than none! The amount of chocolate we eat around the festive period will be completely unacceptable at any other time of the year, but in December, it’s encouraged. Putting on that weight is completely worth it.
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And of course, the presents No matter how old you are and whether you know what you are getting or not, there is still always that excitement of finally opening those presents. Money, clothes, games, whatever it is, it’s sure to make us all a lot merrier. Getting presents more often (once a week will do) will probably make Mondays so much more bearable and we should definitely pitch this idea to our parents – after all, they should want what’s best for us, right?
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Watching cheesy films night after night Elf, Santa Claus, Love Actually... they are films that we love to watch at Christmas time. Sitting down with the family and watching cheesy, yet funny films is one of everyone’s most favourite Christmas traditions, whether they admit it or not. The childish characters, soppy storylines, snow ball fights and the ‘happily-ever-after’ endings make us feel like we are kids again – no matter what anyone says, Santa DOES exist!
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