I would have done more. I would have seen more if I had the time.
I could stand on either side of Waterloo Bridge taking images of a mist drenched London Skyline....
But first things first I had to get my ticket changed @ the BFI due to having the first row removed for staging.
This was not a disadvantage as I was now in the middle of row D.
A much better seat.
I bumped into Rob Harris (and his friend Rob) who I almost always bump into at every Foxx venue before the show.
Rob informed me that taking pictures during the show was not going to be allowed so they were off to photograph & video the rehearsals.
Fair enough. It means Evidence of Time Travel will get my full attention as it should be.
Next on my agenda was the Chris Stein Blondie photographic exhibition at Somerset House.
I really enjoyed this.
I studied every picture and read every note.
I travelled back in time to the mid 1970s & early 80s.
This was Chris Steins's Evidence of Time Travel.
Images of Harry,Bowie,Warhol,Giger & the Ramones amongst many others of that time.
Sadly so many of them no longer with us.
I grabbed a copy of exhibition notes.
Next was the Foxxgate @ The White Hart in Cornwall Street.
When I arrived every table had a reserved notice on it.
I picked one at the rear which was available until 5.30.
Eventually Mark (Church Puddle),Peter(Metalbeat) & Martin (Birdsong) & his other half turned up and also a complete surprise was Chris (Solenoid) from Japan.
Garry (Radiobeach) & Tapio (Mr Normall) were unable to make it to the pub so we would see them at the venue.
It was nice to catch up and chat for a couple of hours.
Also luckily the people who had pre-booked the table never turned up so we got to keep our seats.
With hindsight with it being a Friday evening in middle of London we should have booked a table.
The beer was cracking. Thanks for finding it Garry.
It was then time to move onto the venue.
The BFI itself was quite interesting venue. I could have spent a lot more time there.
All of the BFI toilet doors had all been changed to Star Wars & Star Trek type iconography.
The opening film and music was Paul Prudence Cyclotone II.
The whole film was computer generated.
It was OK but I thought it went on a bit.
No music as such more sound effects than anything.
Then it was time for Kaborn, John Foxx & Steve D'Agostino in front of banks of synths,drum machines & laptops.
The familiar Evidence of Time travel album was augmented with audio samples of Ballard & others with extra segway links added between the tracks.
I think this lifted the whole thing.
Then the immense projected images .Some familiar from the graphic novel some not.
The other worldly images look like pictures of people stuck in a cathode ray tube from another universe.
The whole experience was fully immersive & I got lost inside it.
I really enjoyed it.
I took only one picture during the film & few when it had finished but quite a few had ignored the warning notice on the way in and the glow of phone cameras was apparent.
Afterwards we hung around outside the room that was hosting the after show party which I initially didn’t try to enter ( a few with me tried but were ejected).
I said hello to Karborn who I’d not met since the DNA exhibition at The Horse Hospital in 2009.He was unable to stay due to dismantling & removing kit for the gig.
A few of us then went up to the top bar for a drink.
Whilst there we saw John Foxx leave so we went back to the after show party.
I knew Tapio was in there & I had some Guinness & Stuff for him which he can’t get in Finland so I had to see him before I left.
This time a few of us got in.
I finally got to meet Jonathan Barnbrook & also Steve D’Agostino.
I also had a good chat with Tapio & Garry over a quick drink.
Sadly I had to leave at 10.30 to get my train but the party was already winding down.
Overall a great afternoon & evening.
It was great to catch up with Mark,Peter,Martin,Chris,Tapio,Rob & Garry
Until the next time.
Brian