"All the world's a stage"

Shakespeare wrote it by the end of the 16th century.. and guerrilla gigging is there to make it a reality on the 21st!
Who hasn't seen a busker here and there, from undergrounds to sidewalks attempting some kind of entertainment, at a given time in their life? However, that will likely hit onlookers in a mere passive 5-second span.. awesome!! *sarcastic*

I work in one of the busiest areas in London and as I'm packing my bag to leave after a long day in the office, a surreal beat invades the room. The last time i heard something also seemingly inside the office walls, were some indians outside cheering during a cricket world cup final match..

Not exactly the same this time, I mean music playing at a whole new level.. For moments, i felt a dancing move trying to come out alla Barry White's toilet dollops by John Cage *in 'Ally Mcbeal'*. I'm finally out and come across what it seems to be a live performance surrounded by a circling crowd in the middle of the pavement!! I didn't see how this guys set stage, but firstly i was surprised with all that ska ska ska sound quality and, secondly, with the fact that there's no police to be seen to kick everyone out... They played half a dozen songs, promoted their CD material and gave away some typical pin-ups / fliers. Amazingly, in no more then 10 minutes everything was on a van and they were packed to go... *puff gone*. At that moment, no one would believe me if i said that there was a gig going on just minutes before. (1)

Music was not exactly what Shakespeare had in mind when writing that in "As You Like It" as it all comes down to human emotions and evolution. On the other hand, music is nothing but a human emotion response *attempting to make an analogy here ;)* Emotions are to Humans as Styles are to Music. As an individual, one can enjoy different types of music depending on the current 'mood', some types can be tolerated or just make one feel simply nauseous... Thus, emotions come playing in the topic once more.. "Music is a shorthand of emotion" says Tolstoi and i rest my case :)

Part Of The Weekend Never Dies
Music styles are like "neighbored Kingdoms": it's not about frontiers, but the reigning power making the distinction among them.
When it comes to playing, or even mixing some notes, two distinctive contributors *& 'Friends' Ltd* come to mind.. There's no such thing as too much music.. JUST 2 MANY DJ's!!! One can't go any more unorthodox, not even with guerrilla gigs. I had the chance to see them live @Lux-Lisbon in May as "Part of the weekend Never dies" tour, combining Soulwax concert with 2ManyDJ's mixing. What i can say is that these guys really know their stuff.. My emotions might not allow me to hear them all the time, but it was the most engaging live performance i've witnessed: 8 sequential hours of daa stuff :D *no.. i wasn't high.. and yes, i did pay to go to this one*.


(1) 'Imperial Leisure' - guerrilla rockers performing across London -
"All you can do is pity the fools who come in late" http://www.myspace.com/imperialleisure
(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerrilla_gig

Tell it to the Skies...

It took a while to write back... Why "This" stopped at all in the first place? I guess life happened and i got hindered on some repressed feelling of massive time 'mis'management...

Just now i'm on a flight back from sunny Tallinn (Estonia) to London and the nicest, TV commercial like event happened: after i come from the toilet, sit down back on my upgraded yuuu uuuu business class window seat and look at that little chocolate bonbon that is just waiting to be eaten. The second i throw it inside my mouth, this complete stranger with hypnotic green eyes comes to my seat and offers me a flower! What are the odds of such self esteem booster in such a confined place !? Ok it was just napkin made, nevertheless if i was happy before, such a small thing just made me feel even better and smile or something that resembles one, just picture a full mouth trying to express appreciation by the act and at the same time mumbling an inarticulate thank you I can't stop saying that little things make the difference on one's life.

Going back a little in time... I was able to quit my workaholic, but social, active and somewhat happy little life in the convenient proximity of my friends and family. Change is good, but it can be daunting: moving away from Cascais, an agreeable beach village, to London, the busiest city ever, generates mixed feelings. The first thing a friend told me was that "London is the most lively and loneliest city in the world"... I couldn't put it better now as all i see most of the time is people passing through in a rush everywhere completely blinded by some errand to run.. However i made my peace with it and try to refuge myself from this "induced" stress. My job is challenging enough, my social skills aren't that bad either so i go out and about .. and sometimes i just want to be alone with my thoughts. Also, knowing there's something to look forward to going back for, just because you miss it so much and therefore appreciate it more, gets rewarded by regular quick-trips back home. Considering i've been traveling a lot for work, the time spent in London is just right to enjoy it :p

Back to now... Why has "This" started all over again? My first hint was yesterday when i experienced the coolest beach swing face fall as a partying night out was just beginning... The second hint was a self-induced rotating stool butt fall, while competing with a pal for the best 'swirl', as the night was coming to an end at a disco. As usual, my self-teasing laughing mood surpasses any possible pain. "Luckily :?" I'm glad my bones still handle it, but this extra-sensitivity to grativity doesn't seem to go away. As soon as i think "Ahhh I'm cured", a mouthful of sand comes to state otherwise... I really wished that 'Drop Dead Rita' move was recorded for prosperity as it's hard to describe a perfect fly up in the air with my legs going upward my head, my hands slowly slidding away from the swing and my whole body standing board-flat parallel to the ground for a millisecond... then *spat* gravity happened! Needless to say, sand went all the way up to my nose and made it's way down to my undies *blush*

This whole week has been filled up with new emotional bursts, as being in a eastern foreign country, you can go from feelling totally left out to totally fitting in. It's not just the fact that I look different from all these people around with their bright eyes and light hair.. and skinny little tushies *jealous*, but once they "run out" of english it's pretty much hopeless!

I should probably feel that i'm awfully unlucky with all the falling misfortunes.. But, after a workful week, the compensation came on a beach weekend where everything is allowed. From bathing in the sea with clothes on i haven't converted into the whole skinny dipping concept yet, dancing like there's no tomorrow, meeting the friendly girl behind the 'back' portrait, kissing and hugging some cartoon character outdoor maybe here the alcohol helped a bit ;), being innocently hugged and kissed on the cheek by someone i just met but talked like i've known him forever.. To more zen emotions like feelling the sun in my face as i feel the grass under my feet, shedding loose tears just because... and most of all listening to those special yet simple words that make your day just a little bit more "perfect" :)


Side note: title acknowledgement to current book i'm reading by Erica James as it was remarkably suitable being up in the air and all :)