Spanish fans didn't deserve a victory

So now it comes out, the news some of us feared we'd see at some point during the World Cup: Spanish football fans taunted the French football team with monkey chants as they arrived at Hanover's stadium. As has been mentioned before in these pages, racism in Spanish football is a major problem. This new disgrace is simply evidence that Spanish football supporters haven't done enough to root out the thugs in their midst.

After the monkey chants, as fans and teams prepared for the kick-off, Spanish fans jeered and whistled la Marseillaise (undoubtedly the best national anthem), in another display of thuggish stupidity and machismo. The time to start dealing with this problem is long past. I'm not sure it's constructive to say that it'll sort itself out, or that it's a minority of supporters. If the Spanish league can't start to act against these people, the problem will only get worse.

June 29, 2006 | Filed Under Politics, Spain | 2 Comments 

Review: Silver Jews live in Barcelona

Silver Jews live in BarcelonaLast night, despite being desperately tired from an early (and very hot) summer night, Gemma and I went to see the magnificent Silver Jews play at Apolo.

On arrival at the club, there were about three other non-staff members present. Soon a group of six or or so walked in and sat by our table. Oh, it was David Berman, Cassie Berman and the rest of the Silver Jews. I wanted to go up to them and say something but I felt the blush/sad fan reflex coming on strong, so I stayed seated.

Support band, Extraperlo, named the Joos as one of their major influences. I didn't feel that this was much in evidence through their set. I liked a couple of their songs but really they lacked any charisma or energy. In a year or two they could be great but they weren't that night.

After an interminable wait for the main event to come on (it's a small stage), the band shambled into view. A couple had been onstage for the vague soundcheck they went through but the cheers were reserved for when David stepped up to the mike.

From here, we enter the "oh shit, what was the setlist" stage. I'll probably be able to piece it together later. I can say that they definitely played 'Random Rules', 'Smith And Jones Forever', 'Time Will Break The World', 'Pet Politics', 'Black And Brown Blues', 'Sometimes A Pony Gets Depressed', 'Punks In The Beerlight', 'Animal Shapes' and a personal favourite, 'Wild Kindness'. There were other songs, all of them good… I just can't be sure about which ones they were.
As opposed to reviews I'd read of the American shows in this, their first tour in 15 years, Silver Jews presented an extremely tight set. That is to say, there was no sign of the nerves, shyness or forgetfulness reported of their frontman. David Berman seemed confident and cheerful, joking with the crowd and dedicating a song to one of Gemma's old uni pals, Marta (who, it turns out, is some kind of super-fan!). The crowd wasn't huge, so he promised to shake hands with each of us after the show.

And he did! After an encore call which was louder than I've seen at concerts with 10 times the audience, Silver Jews played only one final number (will they ever play 'Tennessee'??) and then David stepped down off the stage and came to speak to his fans. This act, as much as an amazing show, made sure that everyone present left with a Cheshire Cat grin on their face. I told David that after waiting 15 years for the first tour, they had to do another very soon. He promised that they'd be back, so those of you too fatigued by Football abuse (as to today, I've never seen a team foul so much and get away with it) – make sure that you keep a minimum of 4o€ in your account at all times. 20 for the ticket, and 20 for the obscenely priced beer.

Silver Jews live at Pocketclub (Sala Apolo, Barcelona):

1 out of 1

June 27, 2006 | Filed Under Catalonia, Music | 3 Comments 

Feliç Sant Joan a tothom!

I've been clearing the terrace for our semi-traditional mid-summer's dinner tonight. It's really baking hot. Summer is here. Let's make fun while the sun shines.

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June 23, 2006 | Filed Under Home | Leave a Comment 

Howay the Socceroos!

Australia is through to the knockout stage of the World Cup! Awesome.Based on Englands gradually diminishing performance, looks like I'll be supporting the Aussie thugs before long!

June 23, 2006 | Filed Under General | Leave a Comment 

Exclusive – moonlight robbery

Wow… it's 2 o'clock and I've just witnessed a burglary. About 10 or 20 minutes ago, there was a loud banging noise outside. I should note that I'm awake because I've got a holiday tomorrow. Anyway, this loud noise drew me out to my terrace, where I saw other neighbours emerging and shutters being opened due to the noise. Then we heard the noise of glass smashing. At around this time, some people in the flats across the street started whistling and shouting things along the lines of Gillipolas! and Por la calle!.

Immediately after the shouts, a youth rushed out from under my apartment block and into a white car that had been waiting there. The car sped off, and it was then that I realised that the bar downstairs had been robbed.

After a couple of minutes pottering about, my curiosty got the better of me and I donned jeans and hoodie to go downstairs and have a look. The police were already there (both Guardia Urbana and Policia Nacional, no Mossos to be seen). One of the bar's metal shutters seemed to have been cut or sheared off and the window behind it was smashed. The bar's owners (who live in the building, I believe) were already in the small local, with some police officers.

I got talking with Fernando, a Mexican chap who had also come down to see the result of a robbery that woke dozens of people. While he interrogated me about where I lived (I made sure not to give too much away… maybe he was in league with the robbers… you can't trust anyone), we discussed what we'd seen and he told me that he liked the fact that girls go topless on Catalan beaches. He then told me that he was from Chiapas. He recommended that I visit some of Mexico's cheesier resort towns, and when I suggested that he liked them for the topless sunbathers, he pretended not to understand.

We parted on good terms though, him moving on to debate the crime with other vecinos and me to the apartment building, checking the door was securely shut behind me.

June 23, 2006 | Filed Under Catalonia, Home | Leave a Comment 

Aznar given job at News Corp.

Aznar (in the background)Former Spanish PM, Jose Maria Aznar, has been appointed to the board of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. His apparently advisory role comes after he impressed fellow right-winger, Murdoch, whose News Corp owns the famously reactionary Fox News Channel.

Aznar is recognised globally for his unflinching support for the invasion of Iraq and the development of Spain's economy. By many here, he's remembered for introducing pro-business, anti-worker legislation; fomenting division and radicalism in Spanish society, constant press conferences and using state funds to pay for his daughter's wedding (at which Tony Blair was a witness). He's also remembered as a prissy, short-arsed, mostachioed little señorito.
None of the news reports about Aznar have chosen to mention his youthful enthusiasm (AKA brown-nosing) for fascist dictator, Francisco Franco, or his subsequent refusal to condemn Franco's multitude of crimes against the people of Spain.

Those on the left here will be saddened and disappointed that a man who – at the very least held the fascist dictator in great esteem – has been appointed to such a powerful role in the world's largest news and media organisation. It shouldn't affect many of us too much (though I am a subscriber to Sky television, another News Corp holding), but it's further recognition for a man that many of us had hoped would stew in his right-wing think tank for the rest of his days. I can only guess that Aznar's rhetoric gave Murdoch what would equate to a hard-on, though this is tough, and repulsive, to imagine.

(picture stolen from Guirilandia's blog – with thanks)

June 22, 2006 | Filed Under Politics, Spain | 7 Comments 

Silver Jews play Barcelona 26 June

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All-round brilliant band, the Silver Jews roll into Barcelona next Monday as part of their very first tour. Their appearance will mark the completion of a twelve-month Drag City trilogy for me, having also seen Jennifer Herrema and Will Oldham (Bonnie 'Prince' Billy) over the past year. Only Neil Hagerty and Smog could make the lineup totally complete.

I'm not expecting the concert to be breathtaking in its musicality: David Berman is famously uncomfortable on stage. But it will be wonderful to see a band we've been listening to lots recently.

I'm not sure about whether Stephen Malkmus is involved in the tour, but that would be a huge added bonus. As will laying eyes on the sweet and delectable Cassie (Berman's wife).

The concert takes place at about 9 in the Sala Apolo, off Paral·lel (probably Barcelona's best live music venue, along with La Paloma). Tickets are handled by Telentrada (but you can't get tickets online: we've been told to buy from a Caixa Catalunya ATM).

Click here to read my 'review' of the show!

June 21, 2006 | Filed Under Catalonia, Music, Spain | Leave a Comment 

New iPod

I got my sexy new black 30GB iPod yesterday, and felt I had to share the good news. It's amazing.

June 20, 2006 | Filed Under Home | 4 Comments 

Catalan Estatut Referendum

The 'yes' vote will certainly win in today's referendum. In many ways, the new Estatut will be good for Catalonia and for those of us lucky enough to live here. There are many reasons to vote 'yes' to this Estatut… but hatred for the PP is not one of them. I hope that those of you who could vote, did. Dissatisfaction with politics can only be fixed by going out there and standing up for what we believe in… the democratic process must surely be the bedrock of our society.

For much more about l'Estatut, click here to read my Estatut archive.
My first post on the topic can be found here.

June 18, 2006 | Filed Under Catalonia, Politics, Spain | 1 Comment 

Watch the World Cup online for free (TVU)

For those of you who, unlike me, aren't able to watch World Cup games live and for free, why not consider watching them online. I'm pretty sure that this (TVU Player) is in… a grey legal area (as Fletch says when asked 'How grey?', 'Charcoal')… but at least I'm not telling people how to pull sickies.

The program works sort of like a file sharing (P2P) program, and allows multiple people to connect to – and share – nearly-live streaming TV. There's a delay of about 3 minutes on it but I'm watching Argentina vs Serbia and Montenegro on ESPN2 with a surprisingly good picture. The American commentary isn't top-notch, but then neither were ITV's mistake-ridden efforts last night.

June 16, 2006 | Filed Under General | 8 Comments 

Jesus says No! to crack

Legendary moon-faced junkie, Pete Doherty (pictured below), has a new-found determination to kick his multiple drug addictions. According to 'sources' (read: grubby-handed drug-heads desperate for cash so they can get their pipes filled with magic rock crystals), Doherty has been visited by Jesus in a dream.

The son of God (Jesus, not Doherty) commanded the rockstar (Doherty, not Jesus) to kick his heroin and crack-cocaine habits. Apparently, Pete is now determined to get clean, give his money away and get baptised as soon as possible.

Portugal may not be exactly the best place to do it though. While God is definitely there, so are crack and heroin. It's one of the few places worldwide where all drugs are decriminalised.

June 15, 2006 | Filed Under Music | Leave a Comment 

Some pics from this spring

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Pete Doherty and Babyshambles at Primavera Sound
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The Forum complex in Barcelona

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An 'okupat' house in Cerdanyola was buned to the ground.
It's not known who started the fire, but reports say that the Mossos are investigating a far-right wing connection
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Andrea wore this classic t-shirt when we went to watch England's first World Cup game. The robotic monster girl at the counter didn't even register the hilarious comedy happening in front of her very nose.
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We saw this car by the Apolo club/theatre just off Paral·lel. It's had a hard time.
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Took this picture to mock my brother back in bristol when it was cold and miserable there.

Here comes the summer!

June 14, 2006 | Filed Under Catalonia, Home, Music, Photo posts, Spain | 1 Comment 

Cerdanyola may not vote 'yes' to l'Estatut

A quick note on this: we read over the weekend that a more than half of those intending to vote in Sunday's referendum will vote yes (53%), while only 16% will vote No.

A poll on cerdanyola's municipal website offers a slightly different view of things. Cerdanyola.info has the result at 47% yes, 43% no, and the rest divided among spoilt ballots and abstensons.

Being a local survey, this doesn't necessarily mean anything for Catalonia as a whole but it's interesting to see how much higher the no vote's support seems to be here in the Vallès Occidental.

June 12, 2006 | Filed Under Catalonia, Politics | 2 Comments 

The PP loves victims of terrorism

During their time in power as well as during their disgraceful period in opposition, the PP have put nearly all of their energy into dividing Spain. Their constant jibes and threats – targeted against not only the left-wing but against distinct national groups within Spain – have changed this country and have increased tensions between Catalans, Basques, Spaniards, immigrants, conservatives, liberals and socialists.

This is a typical modus operandi for a one-policy party. Political entities of this type have no real philosophy or plan behind them other than the manufacture of fear among the populus. And they're very successful at it. Intelligent, reserved Spaniards and Catalans whom I know are hesitant to pursue their own political goals because of a perceived threat that if modernisation of this country 'goes too far', the right wing will ruin things again.

The PP use this fear to divide the people of Spain. They use it to radicalise Spanish politics. These methods only ever benefit the PP and are all the more disgraceful because they are merely a means to attempt to regain power: as we have made very clear before, the PP does not believe in anything except its own right to control Spain.

To try and derail peace talks between the government and ETA, peace talks which the PP have already agreed to, purely in order to win political points, is the most abhorrent and repulsive act so far committed by this party. Their aim is clearly to gain power at all costs: even if it means that the streets of Spain run with the blood of more victims of terrorism. To call the PP simply power-hungry and divisive is to miss the point. The PP care so little for the people of Spain that they would rather see them dead than alive; if it meant that they controlled la Moncloa. So the question now is whether you'd like to see more victims of terrorism or fewer. The PP know which they'd prefer, and that's why they're trying to provoke more violence.

June 11, 2006 | Filed Under 'Terror', Catalonia, Politics, Rants, Spain | 17 Comments 

Best search query ever

dog-clothes1.jpgI just checked my (pathetic) stats for the week, and found that among the usual people looking for stuff about 'bad rash on neck' (rank #2) or 'max carlish' (rank #10), one user based in Georgia (the American state, not the former Soviet state) accessed thebadrash.com by searching Ask.com for 'are clothes on dogs cruel'?

Incredibly, my site (well, a page about banning foxhunting) comes up as the top result for this topic, eclipsing a plethora of dog clothes shops which clearly don't make any effort to answer this serious moral question. What's more, it's a question I'd never thought to ask before. Are clothes on dogs cruel?

My kneejerk reaction would have to be 'no'. I'd say that unless you're behaving like Brian from Spaced, who dressed his pet dog in the garb of an Elizabethan merchant and commanded the poor creature to "Dance for me!"; unless you're doing that sort of thing then I can't see how putting a little raincoat – or even a suspender belt – on your dog would be cruel.

The crueller thing to do, by far, would be to have a large dog who has to spend 23 hours of his day cooped up inside a flat. Personally, I'm amazed by people who claim to love animals but treat them in this way. The guy who cuts my hair (he works at Man Style, but isn't called Javi, and has been cutting my hair for nearly four years, so I can't exactly ask him for his name again) – he has two massive dobermans (or dobermen?) who spend all their time in his flat. They get less than an hour's walk a day. They could easily cover 50km a day.

If you have a strong opinion about this, or any other issue raised by today's post, please don't hesitate to leave that comment.

June 10, 2006 | Filed Under General | 2 Comments 

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