Visa Dramas

photo by simply steve

With the expiry of my own UK working-holiday visa forcing me back 'down under' in July i've developed a new found sympathy for others facing a similar fate. I'm sparing thoughts today for M.I.A. who could soon be forced to return to London, or decamp to Montreal when her US visa runs out in June. Jam Showbiz and Daily Swarm report that the 29 year old singer is fast running out of time and exploring other options besides a return to the UK:

“I’m thinking of moving to Montreal in June when I leave my apartment. Basically at the moment I can choose between Montreal and London. My mum’s like, ‘I want you here!’ I haven’t seen her in, like, forever, so I have to choose between my mum and Montreal.”

Although she says Kanye might make a good woman of her so she can stay:

"I think he'll marry me to keep me in the country. He was really dead serious about it."

Hey Maya, why not move to Melbourne with us! We can drown our sorrows over a big chicken parmigiana and a jug of Coopers at The Standard in Fitzroy. Mmm. Parma... Better than Kanye.

Big Apples

The Brunettes photo by sidmuchrock

Won't be blogging much for a couple of weeks, I'm heading to New York for a holiday! Hopefully we can catch Sons and Daughters playing with the Brunettes (pictured) and Bodies of Water on Saturday night at The Bowery. Fingers crossed it doesn't sell out on us...

And then we have Blitzen Trapper and Fleet Foxes to look forward to in Washington on the 25th at Black Cat. Wizard!

If you're in New York or Washington over the next two weeks and can recommend something to see, or a good gig guide then please leave a comment. Orevwah!

I Can Only Blame Paris

I've been out of the loop this weekend, my eyes were off the ball, my ears are now hungry! I'll be putting together a new podcast this week (i promise!) but would welcome some suggestions for where i should aim my antenna... heard anything amazing this week, anything essential? Drop me a comment below.

I spent the weekend in Paris with the squeeze, staying in an apartment on Il Saint-Louis and adventuring to Sacre Couer, Chateau Versailles (part of which is pictured above) and a few newly discovered museums and galleries. The Musee de la Chasse et de la Nature was a particular highlight with its amazing collection of taxidermified animals and hunting regalia (see picture below). We also loved the Art Deco furniture on display at the Musee d'Orsay but were a little disappointed with the collection (and overwhelming crowds) at Chateau Versailles. I'd recommend going there midweek or early in the day to avoid the hour-long lines and I'm also sure the gardens are better in summer or spring.

Food highlights were the delicious crepes at Breizh Cafe in the Marais, and a great vegetarian dinner on our last night at La Victoire Suprême du Coeur... plus the somewhat extravagent "first class" Eurostar journey back to London with free champagne, wine, cheeses, leek tarts, chocolates and succulent beef (me) and poached fish (her). We didn't venture out to any live venues - to be honest it was hard finding a decent Paris gig guide (please suggest one if you know one) and we satisfied our booze-cravings in a few small but unremarkable bars around the Latin Quarter, Marais, the Oberkamf and St Germain.

The soundtrack to our weekend? Was there ever any other choice!!!


"Paris" - Friendly Fires