"Music, makes the people, come together"

I went to a ska gig for the first time in ages the other day and it was brilliant!  I went to see Reel Big Fish who have been playing together for 21 years and are just as awesome as the first time I saw them.

The thing I like about a good gig (especially your indie/rock/metal/ska and alternative) is the way the audience come together, the rapport between the audience and the musicians and the natural energy you gain from a fun, relaxed environment.

I have been going to gigs since I was about 16 and there is nothing like a good gig to make your day.  Although in recent years I have been to a lot of dance gigs, I tended to go to a lot more rock and alternative ones in the past (I definitely prefer the audiences at these and there are less dickheads).

One of the first gigs I remember going to was ska band OPM at the joyous Mean Fiddler (still one of the saddest venues to close down in London).  As well as feeling rather grown up that I was going to a gig on my own, it was also the fact I was going to a gig for an album I really loved : )  I also remember people smoking a lot of weird and although I have never taken drugs, I may have been getting high on second hand puff whilst jumping around, lol.  But aside from the haziness, it was a great night and will forever be in my memory.

Since that night, I started going to gigs on a regular basis, as well as Street Teaming, which allowed me to work on and see lots of cool bands : ) I was at the final gig for McClusky (check them out if you like dark metal music) and it was incredible.  There is just something great about tons of people who love the same songs, coming together and singing their hearts out to a live track - you can't beat it!

The best thing about a good gig is it is great escapism for your real life and nothing matters when you jump around like a lunatic : ) I have a list of the top 5 bands I have ever seen live and it is difficult to keep a list when I have been to so many great ones, but at the moment the list stand at this:

1. System of a Down
2. Weird Al Yankovich
3. David Guetta
4. Franz Ferdinand
5. Reel Big Fish (both times)

When I went to System of a Down, it was so packed and hot, I came out soaked, completely covered from other peoples sweat.  I also lost the two people I was with within about 20 mins but still had a great time - it was pure madness!

Other gigs that have been great have included:  Scissor Sisters, Electric 6, Maroon 5, Above and Beyond, Tiesto, Hot Hot Heat, Alien Ant Farm.

If you haven't been out for awhile and need something to perk you up, go to a gig.  Reel Big Fish was exactly what I needed after a few tough months of work and now I'm desperate for my next one : )

Blog title comes from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sdz2oW0NMFk

Reel Big Fish at o2 Oxford

"The wonder of you"

I don't know about you, but when I was younger, it was all about the brands you wore for PE.  More at secondary than primary, but it still existed.

For a girl, I had quite big feet. By the time I went to secondary, I was a size 5 or 6, which in all honesty matched my height, which was then about 5ft 6-7.  All kinds of footwear were difficult (mainly because I needed shoes suitable for school, not an office or a rave, lol) and trainers weren't too bad, but only certain makes supported wide feet as well (which is what mine were).

I remember once being bought Hi-Tec trainers, which now, would probably be a lot cooler than they were then.  But at the time, totally uncool and wouldn't people rub it in your faces.

As I got a bit older, I started getting running trainers from a local training show.  They were reasonable in price, were great for going on track runs with my dad and were suitable for what I did at school.  Unfortunately, they weren't known by other kids, so this also redeemed them as uncool, lol.  This brand was New Balance, who are now pretty big and getting more respect in this country.  Now I can't really remember that much about them apart from they fit, looked alright and were comfy.

After school, I started trialing different brands including Donnay (Cheap and Cheerful), Adidas (Funky Designs and reasonably hard wearing), Nike (Sporty, but slim fitting) Reebok (Wide Fittings, but more boyish styles), but I never enjoyed wearing them, I just wore them.

And then a great website called Javari came to my attention (one of the best kept secrets I have found in the last year or so).  Javari is a sister site to amazon.co.uk, so when you buy something through them, you sign in via your amazon account - perfect!  But this isn't the best part, they are kind of like an outlet store, so they do ridiculously amazing offers on here at certain times of the year.  And this, is how I was re-introduced to New Balance.  I needed new trainers, they came in lots of different colours and styles (including a fitness style one that helps you pump your leg muscles whilst you walk) and they were about 1/4 of the normal price because they were an old style.

Anyway, I kid you not, these trainers are the best buy I have done in ages (and that's coming from a bargain buyer).  They are comfy, supportive, wide fitting, look good and go unto really big sizes - what more could someone like me want!  They were so good, I not only bought a 2nd pair in a different colour straight away, I have convinced friends of mine to buy them, who are also now enjoying the comfort.  I don't secretly work with New Balance, they are just amazing trainers!

So if your strapped for cash and need a new pair of funky fitness wear for your feet, check out Javari, you never know what you will find : )

Blog title from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyrQqmc5UT8http://www.newbalance.co.uk/