Ross

Pirate Metal

Tue, 05 May 2009 20:34:01 GMT

Been a long time since I've been around.

I had a pretty busy weekend went to a couple of gigs. On the Sunday I wen with Chris to see Alestorm a pirate metal band from Scotland who were amazingly good fun. Tyr (Viking Metal) were support and they had a nice line in Dubliners covers and were much better than I remembered.

Saturday I saw Classics of Love (The EX Operation Ivy singer's new band) and sonic Boom Six who I have seen many times before and were supurb again although I would have prefered it if they had played some more of there older songs.

In work I've been doing some game design on a proposal I made which has made it to the last 4. Its been really interesting but I'm begining to think mine won't be the one that is eventuall made.

On a less positive side I've also found I'm going to be working late the next few days.

I've also got my Japanese exams coming up which is scary.

I think my next trip is the London Expo.

Korpiklaani Gig

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 13:43:27 GMT

Its been ages since I posted.

Its weird there weren't any gigs for ages and now there are so many I can't go to them all. One I did go to was Korpiklaani on Thursday which was really good fun. Most the support was pretty good. I was particularly impressed with how much Battlelore had improved since I saw them a couple of years back. I quite enjoyed them then but they were really good this time. I suspect how much like them depends on your ability to get pat the daftnes of a band who do songs about the Lord of the Rings while one there singers waves a sword about. They also came across as quite nice guys and hung out by the merch stand with lots of fans.

Korpiklaani were really good fun as always there aren't too many metal bands who I'll watch with such a massive grin but there music is just plain fun. Its certainly unusally happy sounding for metal. As an aside I am utterly convinced there singer is the happiest man in metal. He certainly appears so on stage anyway.

I also picked up a couple of shamen (the lad singer o korpilaani's old band) cd's and a rather nice happy little boozer T-shirt.

Got a few mor good gigs coming up highlights inclu Voodoo Glow skulls, Neck andf the Peacocks tomorrow and Streetlight Manifeto on the 13th. I'm also meeting Chris (Ex- Drunken Master) before Streetlight Manifeto.

General update

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:13:05 GMT

Well its been fairly busy lately work looks like it might be getting a really awesome Japanese game in which I have no idea if I am allowed to say more about so I won't.

I've also finally got off my arse and booked flights, holiday and bought a tent for Wacken. I can't wait.

Been to a few gigs Sonic Boom Six + Streetlight Manifetso

Paganfest in London which had a truely awesome line up. I even enjoyed Tyr who the one band I didn't know that well before.

Against Me! was also awesome but would have been more so id#f the trains weren't fucked.

Other things I've been doing you may or may not be interested in

Reading: I've currently been reading some Iain M Banks which I'm relly enjoying and got the last few Elfquest trades I've been missing. I've been reading Elfquest since before I new I was into comics. I would have been about 16 when I found one of the books in The Works for 99p. Finally I've been reading Rurouni Kenshin volume 7 which is very cool.

DVD's etc.

Been watching alot of anime recently mainly Naruto which was recomended to me ages ago by just_misguided but I didn't watch at the time because there were too many episodes. Now that there are more and I have to pay for them I have started watching it.

I've also finished off Gundam Seed / Destiny and been watching Gundam 00.

Wolf and Spice and Heroic Age also seem to be pretty cool.

Finally I've recently bough Startdust but I'm waiting for my mum to have time because she fancies seeing that as well.

That was annoying

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 07:02:01 GMT

I just lost my save on Persona 3. I was 65 hours into the game.

I'm a Vip

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 10:49:06 GMT

I've got a VIP ticket to this www.play.com/live.

I think its fair to say anything I get a VIP ticket for isn't too exclusive.

Random Stuff

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:45:24 GMT

Works been going ok of late not much happening there well apart from me finding out I have one more days holiday then I thought.

I went to see Sonic Boom Six play on Sunday. They were excellent as always. I'm really enjoying their new album its a bit more accessible then their older stuff I think the catchiness suits them.

It really has been an excellent year for albums I thought I'd mention a few of my favorites

Turisas - The Varangian Way

Its a concept album about the vikings journey to Constantinople. Soundwise its metal mixed with scandinavian folk music. It also happens to be the most epic thing I have ever heard. The first track "To Holmgard and Beyond" makes me wish I had a drinking horn it just makes you want to stand up and sing/shout along.

Finntroll - Ur Jordens Djup

It credits someone for "additional drunken trollish shouting" what more needs to be said.

Sonic Boom Six - Arcade Perfect

The album they have been threatening to make for ages now. The best British punk release since Capdowns debut.

Streelight Manifesto - Somewhere in the Between

Awesome release from the best Ska Punk band in ages.

Random Hand - Change of Plan

Agressive Ska punk/Metal

JB Conspiracy - This Machine

Slightly manic skacore.

And thats just off the top of my head.

I saw the last episode of evangellion. Must say I didn't really enjoy the last two episodes. I've heard they were suffering from budgetry constraints but did it have to disapear so far up its own arse. I mean I recognise that it always threatened to but still. Anyway is the movie any better?

I've jsut been catching up with Nothing Nice Too Say. Its one of my favorite comedy webcomics
at the moment. Is it wrong that http://www.mitchclem.com/nothingnice/399/ I find this one endlessly amusing.

In other news I just read the first vokume of Transmetropolitan. Its just a bit awesome.

Random thoughts on gaming

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 21:26:57 GMT

Not tabletop I haven't done that in far too long.

Its weird since I've started my new job I've actually got much more into gaming then I have for ages. Maybe its getting more knowledge of different games but I've played far more then I have in years lately.

I got Okami for my birthday and I'm just going to take it into work with me to play during lunch. I've waited far too long to play this one I've heard so much good things about it.

My brother got a PS3 recently. Lately I've been playing too much pro evo on it but my first ps3 game that I will own and not him Dynasty warriors : Gundam is coming soon. I really enjoyed the demo evan if it is a little hack and slashy.

Finally Dragon Heir 6 is a pretty good read.

.edited for spelling

Been a long time

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 06:46:03 GMT

My tickets to the Wacken Festival next year have just arrived. I've finally got organised enough to go to one.

Works been a bit dull lately. For the last few months I've been overwhelmed with kids educational games but that seems to be over for the moment. I hope so anyway.

In other news its always quite weird seeing people you know talk about games you worked on.

At last

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 20:42:36 GMT

Had an amazing time in the States. One of the busiest holidays I've been on in ages but also one of the best.

First week was in La. We went to see Venice Beach which was pretty cool. Reminded me slightly of Camdenif Camden was a) on a beech. 2) warmer. Also Hollywood which was fun. Oddly enogh I was able to get cd from a band based in London on a Londom based record label much cheaper at the virgin in Hollywood then I am able to get it other here but then almost everything in the states is cheaper. Other things I visited were Universal Studios and San Diego Zoo which was easily the best zoo I've seen. Actuall from the little I saw of San Diego the city looked lovely. I'd love to go back there some day.

The secong week was spent in Las Vegas where we stayed on the strip at Circus Circus which despite being one of the more amazing hotels I've stayed at was one of my least favorite on the strip. My little brother loved it though. We spent a lot of time seeing the hotels on the strip. For me Mandaly Bay, Treasure Island, Mirage and Ceasers plalace particularly stood out. New York New York was pretty good for nightlife but I'm not sure I would want to stay there.

Apart from the hotels we also had a helicopter flight into the Grand Canyon which was amazing and went to the Freemont Street Experience which while it was interesting to see downtown Vegas was shit. We also got to watch some shows Ka by Cuirque Du Soliel and Penn & Teller both of which were really good.

Vegas itsellf is a weird place you get very classy looking hotels sitting next to ones whose main attraction is female mud wrestling. Alsothere are slot machines everywhere even in the airport.

Finally Downtown Vegas also seems to be the best example I've seen of what happens when all the money and investment moves elsewhere in a city. Some of the buildings seem pretty nive and certainly the area would be a major attraction in some british resorts such as Vegas but lost of things seemed fairly run down with the quality not being that high. There has fairly recently been alot of money put into the area to attaract the tourists back but if the Freemont Street experience is any example its fairly poorly thought out. It looks hideously expensive but despite the sheer number of lights used looks like they are just playing ads up on the top (for all I know they may be).

I actually got back over a week ago but we've had problems with the internet at home since then.

Got back

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 15:23:20 GMT

I got back from holiday around a week ago. I had a great time.

There will be a longer post coming soon. This was written about a week back but was not posted due to internet troubles at home.

Holiday

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 17:22:50 GMT

I'm off to the states for 13 nights tomorrow. La and Vegas. I've never been to the west Coast before.

Mafia

Fri, 25 May 2007 20:47:04 GMT

In addition I've played in lunariia and Yartek's mafia games. Its great fun maybe I'll run one some point.

More things that are rubbish

Sun, 04 Feb 2007 22:06:00 GMT

Going to London for a gig to find out on the door that its been cancelled.

General update

Sun, 04 Feb 2007 00:12:01 GMT

Well I've been at my new job for around a month now and it seems to have started fairly. The people I'm working with seem really nice and the work itself is pretty good. I'd probably have been dispointed if it had been my first job but starting out I was aware it wasn't going to be as fun as it sounds. Still it seems a good place to work.

In other news I'm going to see Streams of Passion in London tommorrow. Which should be fun. I'll probably go in a bit early and have a wander round London since I always enjoy visiting it.

Now some random other stuff

Things that I like

the Guns n' Wankers cd arriving.
New Job
Gig tommorow

Things that are annoying me
Its fucking dull online this evening.
Play sending volumes 3,4 & 5 of a series but not volume two.
Getting stuffed by my brother Pro-Evo (I get paid to play games you'd think I might actually be able to win on something. Just once.)

First day of work

Tue, 02 Jan 2007 18:33:57 GMT

Went quite wll. Didn't really get much done today although we did move some desks around. I also got to play a pretty fun samurai game from Japan which hasn't been translaed yet.

New job

Wed, 06 Dec 2006 11:12:06 GMT

I have a new job. I am from January onwards a computer game tester.

Meaning to post for ages

Wed, 16 Aug 2006 21:05:57 GMT

My sister has recently got a new puppy. Its a border terrier name Pheobe and is the cutest thing I've ever seen. Trouble on legs but sweet.

In other news I went to see the Lightyear reunion at the Mean Fiddler. They were the best band I've ever seen. Withe loads of people singing along the atmosphere was pretty incredible and the support was fucking amazing.

In other news work continues to be shit and I may be going to tenerife soon

buy my stuff

Mon, 22 May 2006 17:48:21 GMT

I've just listed some stuff on ebay if anyones interested. It includes comics/graphic novels/manga, books and an anime dvd.

http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQsassZrossbrierley

Wooo!

Sat, 13 May 2006 10:54:52 GMT

Long time no update. Anyway I've been ill for the last week apart from that not alot is happening. Although I will be in Brum in July if anyone is going to be around (more details below).

However I've just seen this http://www.seetickets.com/see/event.asp?e%7Cartist=LIGHTYEAR&resultsperpage=20&filler1=see

Lightyear are playing a reunion tour! I never thought I'd get to see them live. I've loved their albums and all anyone ever says when they here this is how much better they were live.

Anyway I'm going to go to the London and Birmingham shows. So if anyone is in brum on the weekend of 22nd July and wants to meet up for a drink or something or doesn't mind me crashing over that would be good.

Exam done

Thu, 16 Mar 2006 15:02:12 GMT

Just finished my exam. I think it went well. Hope so anyway.

Exam tommorrow

Wed, 15 Mar 2006 13:47:51 GMT

I have the exam for my course tommorrow. I should really be working on it.

Assuming it all goes well i shall go for the more advanced course.

First Day in College

Wed, 08 Mar 2006 21:50:06 GMT

I've just started a basic web design course at Harlow College. Its going really well so far worryingly so in fact. I keep feeling that I'm taking some short cut that I shouldn't and its going to come back to haunt me but apparently I'm not. In other news I've just found out Wolf's Rain is on tv and even better its currently just at the episode after the last one I have on dvd. Unfortunately thats right smack bang in the midlle of the annoying recap episodes but still it is very good.

I'm shit

Sat, 11 Feb 2006 00:37:41 GMT

I've realised again how utterly terrible I am at keeping in touch with people I no longer see on a regular basis. Since I moved away from Birmingham I promised myself I'd do better. My computer being fucked at the moment isn't helping but when it gets back I'm going to try and keep in touch with people better. So if I haven't spoken to you in a while its nothing personal I'm just crap.

I haven't been doing much different from usual going to gigs, working and not much else. At least I've got a few friends down here now. And I'm going to Plymouth soon which should be a nice change of pace. Still I've been fairly down lately I'm fed up of being single and I want some idea of what I want to do next although some progress seems to be made on that score however I've been saying that for ages.

In other news I've finally changed my location from Brum to Harlow its only taken me a year and a half.

Ouch part 2

Wed, 08 Feb 2006 14:21:10 GMT

I've just had my other upper wisdom tooth out. It hurts lots. The injections especialiy the one in the roof of the mouth are the worst bit though.

Fuck

Mon, 23 Jan 2006 20:08:27 GMT

My favorite band NoComply have just split up.