New Experience #1 & #2
As 2012 arrived upon us, I took to dancing around a friend’s drive shouting “Merry New Year!” and looked for all the world as confused and manic a soul as any and at the very least, unprepared for the new year. I even took to waltzing with a duck. However, even in this somewhat intoxicated state, a thought popped into my mind which stuck with me until the morning and has remained with me ever since.
Before that evening I’d made a hasty list of resolutions, which included the usual of focussing more on school work and trying to read more, which sound lovely but rarely come to fruition as I’m a get up and go guy and these things mean I have to sit down. How vile. Anyway, when I woke up on January 1st my mind said two clear things. First off, “ouch” but that’s irrelevant here because then I heard a voice whisper, deep and wise, “embrace your freedom, try a new thing.” I took this advice and formed my most challenging, yet because of this, probably most realistic resolution I’ve ever set; try at least one new experience every week. Here I will give a brief(ish) account of my first two.
W/C 2nd Jan: New Experience #1: 3D TV
Although I’ve never been the biggest fan of 3D films at the cinema, I was intrigued to find out that my mate Gareth had a 3D telly for Christmas and fancied a watch. Having watched the marvellous Senna in usual 2D, we stuck on Troy (less marvellous), donned the glasses and pressed play on the machine because the remote had stopped working; and so began my first experience of 3D in a living room. And I can’t say I was all that impressed.
For a start I felt a fool sitting there in dark, green rimmed glasses, but I could have dealt with that if the 3D had been exciting; like at the cinema when your only focus is the screen in front of you and the 3D bits literally jump out at you. However in a living room of a friend, the addition of family photographs, prized china etc. all too easily distracts from the on-screen action (perhaps this says more about the quality of chosen film) and the smaller screen made for a tiring watch at times.
Rating: In terms of new experience, it was a good first of 2012 as this is the future for TV and gaming etc. and I feel now that I can say I have seen an early model. However I’d give it a 2/5 as I didn’t come away wanting to invest in a 3D TV.
W/C 9th Jan: New Experience #2: MC Gig
I’m a big fan of rap and have seen some Cardiff MCs at youth showcase events but I had never gone to a night dedicated to rap or indeed, gone to the newly opened Full Moon on Womanby Street. Headliners Afro Cluster are a musical collective with trumpets, bongos, guitars, drums and a DJ. MC Skunkadelic fronts the band who raps and sings over soulful, jazz infused hip hop beats and they gave one of the most energetic live performances I’ve ever seen. Support came from MC Louis Vines, who freestyled before heading into a varied set, MoonDog who played some funked up covers and Skunkadelic himself whose solo set included some insightful lyrics and sweet sampling. The night reinforced my love of the genre and was a great way to spend a Saturday evening, especially when it was free entry.
Rating: I’d give it full marks, i.e. 5/5.
Well that’s your lot for now but this will be a regular, weekly account of my new experiences which you can follow so keep your eyes on theSprout. If you have any suggestions for what I should try next, please add a comment below.
Organisations Community Music Wales
Events The Full Moon: January Listings
Info Sport & Leisure Performing Arts Music
IMAGE: New by chrisinplymouth
2 Comments – Postiwch sylw
CeefaxOfLife
Rhoddwyd sylw 52 mis yn ôl - 17th January 2012 - 13:17pm
Dance the fandango.
Tyezer
Rhoddwyd sylw 52 mis yn ôl - 17th January 2012 - 13:40pm
Such a good idea! I'm going to watch Cardiff's Philharmonic Orchestra in Feb... I've never been to a classical gig before: http://bit.ly/yedNWO