A night out with the locals

On June 20, 2014December 4, 2014 By Conversations with StrangersIn Entertainment, Ibiza, Life, Parties, People you may have heard of, Travel/vacationsLeave a comment

Things happen in Ibiza. Nice people pick you up from the side of the road at Es Caliu restaurant and take you to VIP at the hottest gig in town.

“Who is this guy?” I asked my hostess once in the car. “You know” she replied, “He sings that song: “I need to know now, need to know now, can you love me again?” “Oh, yes, I do know it!” “He’s phenomenal” she said.

We drove through the wilds of the Ibizan countryside towards the setting sun and the even wilder environs of San Antonio.

On arrival at Ibiza Rocks Hotel we were yellow wristbanded and ascended to the VIP area. Upstairs from the balcony, we took a view – literally. From our premium vantage point we could see the by now infamous swimming pool and a young buoyant crowd, eager to see their peer perform.

It was so happening, with the buzz of a singer about to appear on stage who I feel we’ll be hearing about for years to come, that I struggled to keep up.

The charisma of John Newman’s performance was something to behold. A strong voice, a unique look and a way with words: “I know you’re all here for the week you’ve saved up all year for – so let’s ‘ave it tonight!”

Hands were in the air and R – the hostess with the mostest turned to me excitedly: “This is it! This is the song!” Everyone sang along to an anthem less intangible than those of the 90’s – closer to the heart, and transmitted from a man who wears his on his sleeve – enhanced by a voice that’s still in my head today.

The after party took place at a small rustic hotel, deserving of a guided tour such is its history on this island. I stood in reception and took in the illustrious photographs adorning the walls.

Suddenly there was a commotion at the entrance. I heard the the Northern tones of a dominant force and immediately made my way through the fray to introduce myself.

“For goodness sake, how old are you with a voice like that?” “I’m 24” he replied. He smelled lovely, hair slicked back with a blonde streak, a gold necklace around his neck ..and I spotted some white socks. “Are they a tribute to Michael?” I asked. “No! Don’t look at the feet!” “But I love your look! It’s different. Where did you get that interesting pendant though?”

“Thank you” he said. “I try, I try. Oh…I designed the necklace myself.”

Of course he did. It goes without saying.

New kid in town

On June 13, 2014July 26, 2015 By Conversations with StrangersIn Entertainment, People you may have heard of, The Cuban BrothersLeave a comment

T and I approached the venue. The music was thumping and I wondered if we were in the wrong place. The pictures of this beach club looked so nice – so sexy; lots of people lounging casually by the pool drinking buckets of champagne with the sun shining down upon them.

If Pinky was there he would have said ‘What fresh hell is this?’ as we walked in and tried to make our way through a seething mass of semi naked bodies. Never mind, we’re adventurous types and with one Caipiroska down we started to move to the music.

Kengo ‘the bastard’ as he’s fondly known, hopped on the decks and suddenly everyone woke up.

I looked at a tall sultry looking figure standing beside him. He seemed like the new boy, suited and booted, a little shy and slightly ill at ease – Domenico’s been around for a few months now, but I’d yet to witness him in the flesh as it were.

Miguel arrived. “Ocean Beach, Ibiza, it’s great to be here, the feeling is nice, the feeling is nice.” He walked up to a man tattooed from head to toe with a large beer in one hand, and pulled the free hand over to his crotch: “Hey! Security! Security!” he shouted in protest.

He turned to another group: “You from Birmingham? Lovely place. Before my porn career, I used to run a brothel there, I think maybe your mother worked for me. No, sorry, sorry, it was your grandmother!”

The dancing started. Archerio, a Dad for just 11 days now took to the floor with Kengo San as the new boy looked on. “There’s just something about him..” I said to T.

Miguel officially introduced Domenico. He somersaulted out to join them and then breakdanced in the most graceful manner I’d ever seen. Tall and lean with an incongruous sort of Made in Chelsea look, his body seemed to be made of rubber.

After the performance I asked Archerio where they’d met him. “At a dance off” he replied. “We were so impressed we asked him to join us. He’s only 19! He does this amazing thing with his legs where he makes them a dead weight and then just spins around.”

I turned to Domenico. “So, is this your day job now?” “Well, I’m in a band as well; we don’t have a name yet, but we will – look out for me.”

We will Domenico, we will – and we like how you fit.

Getting my shorts on

On May 25, 2014March 30, 2015 By Conversations with StrangersIn Entertainment, Music, Travel/vacationsLeave a comment

‘Home’ again for the fifth time to Club Med in Portugal (www.clubmed.co.uk).

I woke early – 8am – for holiday time. But, that’s what happens here. The energy surges when you realise there’s much to be accomplished from pilates and golf to the spa and the Crazy Signs.

Ah yes, the Crazy Signs. It’s been a year and a half since I last partook. I wondered how I’d feel about them now. Would the sound of the theme tune ‘Madison’ get me going again, even though I consider myself somewhat more sedate these days? I’d have to wait and see. For now though, aqua gym provided a spectacle in the sunshine with the music steadily getting louder.

It could only be a matter of moments before the Chef de Village appeared.

I wandered into lunch. There he was, resplendent in vibrant green Bermuda shorts with a brilliant white shirt and an equally sharp looking team of G.O.s around him. I recognised him from a holiday at Club Med, Beldi in 2006. Greying hair now with an even deeper tan, he looked reassuringly in control of the situation.

A snooze and beach session later, I showered and got ready for the evening.

It was hard not to be gripped by the post-dinner show – Indiana Jones – especially since I knew the Crazy Signs followed and I was curious to know how I’d react.

Post Indiana finding the Ark of the Convenant, the nightclub beckoned. “Have you got the ‘new’ Michael Jackson?” I asked the DJ. “Sorry, non, but I’ll get it for you – come on Monday evening and I’ll have it” he replied.

I held tight and waited for the familiar music to start. The Responsable Animation took the stage as a different tune came on. I lined up anyway – but hey, I was out of the loop! I went with my instincts and followed the lead. It was all new! Things had changed since I last crazy signed.

The third song came on – another one I thought I didn’t know – but wait a second maybe I did… “Avancez! Avancez!” David commanded from the stage. “It’s easy, it’s easy!” or did he say, “It’s cheesy, it’s cheesy?” Either way we went for it. “Step to the right, step to the left, take it back one time. Right leg! Left leg! Jump!”

Turned out, it was just as much fun as it has always been.

Archerio’s moment

On July 15, 2013July 26, 2015 By Conversations with StrangersIn Entertainment, The Cuban BrothersLeave a comment

What a day, what a line up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl3hPGl7Yz8

Poor Nile. Quarter of the way into the Chic set the sound went. Completely. The band played on as the audience started to holler: ‘We can’t hear you!’ How it took almost half an hour for the technical wizards to click something wasn’t working is a mystery. This was after all Hyde Park, central London with some of the biggest stars around strutting their stuff on the hottest day of the year so far.

‘I’ve been doin’ this for 30 years now’ said Nile, ‘and this has never happened before; the amps have blown because of the heat! We’ve wished for this day forever… but bring back the rain!’

Only in England: The summer equivalent of leaves on the line or the wrong kind of snow. ‘And, at the most important part of the show when we play you all the hits’ he continued. Finally, the crowd roared as Chic took off again, with sound, and let rip into ‘Thinking of you’ the unforgettable guitar riffs and melody of one of Niles’ biggest hits for Sister Sledge, and yours truly’s personal favourite. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imDRuohXdRE

‘Oh wow! We love playin’ for you guys so much – it’s killin’ us!’ Nile exclaimed before breaking into ‘Let’s Dance’. Who even remembered that he wrote that for Bowie? He finished off with Good Times (his favourite) with a bit of Rapper’s Delight mixed into the middle and encored with Le Freak.

We went for some refreshment in this sunhat wearing scorcher of a day. ‘I’ll be over by the Cubans’ I said to my cuz.

I got chatting to a couple of girls from Romford next to the Float stage, and asked for a cigarette. ‘What are these? I never saw them before.’ I said, looking at the silver packet. ‘Oh, they’re cheap – we’re from Essex you know. Where you from?’ ‘Maida Vale’ I said. ‘Mayfair?!!!! That’s posh innit!’ ‘No! Not, Mayfair – Maida Vale!’ I repeated. ‘Where’s that then?’ ‘Well, it’s sort of near Kilburn’. ‘Oh yeah, I know. My Dad used to live in Kilburn – then he got a job’. I cracked up laughing as they headed off with handbags and lashes to search for more amusement elsewhere.

I looked up to see Miguel introduce the new ‘suits’. Archerio catwalked out, sporting a bright turquoise number with yellow tassles down the side. What a dazzler it was. Kengo San joined him in an equally vibrant bright red ensemble with white tassles, but Archerio stole the spotlight: Was he strutting, was he pouting? Was that a Zoolander pose? It was his moment and he knew it.

J Lo followed on the Great Oak stage but it was a hard act to follow. All tight bodysuits, hair, tanned and surrounded by buff dancers with the wind machine turned up to 11, she did little to hide her most famous asset and gave the guy standing next to me plenty of opportunity for some close up shots of her derriere.

Two haloumi sandwiches later, the main act appeared: Lionel. What a pro. Sweating profusely due to what looked like a complete outfit made of leather and python, he wiped his face with a towel after singing each one, then slammed it down on top of the grand piano before he cruised through the next. From ‘Still’ to ‘All Night Long’ he had everyone singing.

‘Good day’ my cuz said, as we turned to leave. Yep. A walk in the park.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqAvFx3NxUM

Legacy

On July 7, 2013December 4, 2014 By Conversations with StrangersIn Entertainment, London, Music, People you may have heard ofLeave a comment

I walked home. I like doing that sometimes in London after a night out. Tonight was special: Balmy and still in my shorts, I marvelled that summer really was here.

‘There’s no place quite like this country at this time of the year’ Mick said to the Hyde Park crowd half way into the Stones’ gig. And he should know, he’s 70 this week and he’s been around. ‘Was anyone else here in 1969 for the last one?’ he shouted. A gentle roar went up from the crush that was front of the park stage for the first time in 44 years to see them in their altogether. ‘Well, welcome back, nice to see you again!’ A delicate touch Mick – but then this was full of delicate touches and so subtle that you didn’t even realise you were there, witnessing what you were witnessing. ‘I’m loving this set they’ve given us’ he continued. ‘It’s like a cross between Wimbledon and a pantomime.

Last night at leaving drinks, I checked the Juanometer. ‘Do you think we should get there for 12pm when the gates open, or leave it until a bit later – like 5pm? I know you’re going to have the right solution – you always do’ I said to my soon to be ex-colleague just departing to explore other territories and work opportunities. ‘Well, how much do you like them? If you really love them, then yes, you need to be there at 12. For me personally if Coldplay were performing I’d be there before the gates opened’. I thought about that. ‘You’re right as usual. I do like the Stones, but you’ve given me the answer’.

I texted Foxy. ‘It’s going to be scorchio tomorrow, let’s meet at 4?’ She agreed and it was settled.

As usual on an outing of this nature and significance, Foxy and I try to get a decent view. ‘Just keep walking.’ I said as we immersed ourselves in a crowd where the average age was 50 and remants of the 60’s were all around us in one form or another. ‘Where are people getting all this beer? I think I’d better go and look for food and drink before things start getting serious’.

Heading backwards into the fray again I found myself perusing the food stalls. Queues were aplenty and the beer tents were at least 20 people deep in front. I headed back to the main gate and fought my way to the bar to get a couple of drinks. Armed with those I queued for food – and half an hour later found myself with two haloumi foccacias in hand ready to find my friend again.

Back at the main stage, the crowd had shifted forward. The sun was beginning to set and the familiar chords of ‘Start me up’ blasted out.

There are no words really. Well, maybe a few: Brilliant, professional, slick. But the main one is ‘innate’. Seeing The Stones is not like seeing any other band. Viewing them like another would be to deny what really is pure DNA – for both them and us. The songs and this band are in your blood, an intrinsic feature of the landscape that is your life. Seeing them made flesh as it were, in front of your very eyes, is believing but unbelievable at the same time.

When the unmistakeable first few notes of ‘Satisfaction’ rang out in the encore, Keith smiled his white rakish grin, Mick continued to prance around in his gold lame shirt singing without a note out of place, Ronnie showed us what muscles were made of, and Charlie – steadfast Charlie – delivered the drums. Just as it should be, just as we know it is.