Concert: Symphonic Rock

These next two days, I was thinking of film - and what was coming up for today was Quo Vadis, Aida?, the Bosnia & Herzegovina entry for Best International Feature at the 2021 Oscars. It's the true story of a UN translator trying to save herself, her husband, and their son during the Bosnian genocide. Showing in the Lexi, Kensal Rise only.

But you know, it's a nightmare to get there - so when CT popped up with an ad for Symphonic Rock tonight in the Albert Hall, I was interested.. slightly quicker, and a lot easier, to get to, and with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra playing rock classics, it sounded more fun. I hadn't anything booked - so I booked that! I wasn't in time to make a food reservation there, so booked Stein's Berlin, down the road, for beforehand. My actual concert ticket, which was a lucky dip, was sent to me later in the afternoon - and hey, for £10, I got a seat worth over £40, in the Choir.. not so bad..

Arrived at the restaurant slightly early, and was squeezed into one of three small tables at the side - really, they should have removed the spare seat at mine to make more room! As it was, with the table on one side of me occupied, they had to move my table to allow me to squeeze into my seat - just.

I didn't fancy any of the starters, just ordered a chicken schnitzel - unfortunately, they all come with potato salad, which I don't like. Ordering wine was confusing - they point out that all glasses are medium size, but it took me a minute to see that some wines had two prices - one for the glass, obviously, and one for the bottle. Which was just as well, or that'd be an expensive glass.. Anyway, they don't have a Sauvignon Blanc by the glass, but their Pinot Grigio is lovely.

And I spent a full 40 minutes staring at it, before my schnitzel arrived. It was also very nice, I have to say - and a good deal less salty than they are at Schnitzel Heaven. It wasn't until I'd finished it that the waiter asked whether I'd like another glass of wine, having finished mine - I just about had time, so I agreed, then scuttled up the road.

Handily, you can take drinks in - in plastic - so I got another wine - the Porch Bar only had Chenin Blanc, so I had that. And was delighted to find that the Choir entrance was just up from Ground Level! I did have a few steps to climb inside, though:

As someone near me remarked, it's a great view of the orchestra.. and I have to say, on the whole, they played a blinder. They brought in a couple of electric guitars, of course - and a line of backing singers: and that's where I felt let down: because the singers only did choruses, by and large.. we had to imagine the verses, and while that didn't always make a difference, especially if the melody was good (and certainly, we sang along to fill in the gaps), sometimes it really did. Most especially for Thunderstruck, which had a fantastic intro.. then nothing but music, just as you might have been expecting to hear the voice chime in. Yes, they did the backing - but you really missed the lead singer.

Anyway, they had a great repertoire - at least they did sing all the words to Born to Run. There was Pour Some Sugar on Me, We Will Rock You, Life on Mars (again, no words, I just sang along), Sweet Child of Mine (ditto), Simply the Best (no words), Bohemian Rhapsody to take us to the interval - this, they sang most of. After the interval, we had Jump, Satisfaction, Another Brick in the Wall, Total Eclipse of the Heart.. all without words. Stairway to Heaven didn't need them. Living on a Prayer, we supplied the words to. For I Don't Want to Miss a Thing, the audience brought out their phone lights:

No denying they were good - but these are iconic songs, and given that there were singers, I think it was a shame they weren't used more - they didn't have to sound perfect. Anyway, it was a good night - and with lighter traffic at that hour, I got buses home.

Tomorrow, the best film looks like Tuner, about a piano tuner turned safe cracker. Closest evening showing to me is in the Everyman Broadgate.

On Thursday, back with CT for Magic Showcase, a magic variety show at The Magic Circle! Ooh, first time there..

Again, three days of Meetup follow - on Friday, I was supposed to be back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for A Fine Idea at the Arcola. A play that looks into the motivation behind the global causes that inspire us. Which does sound interesting - but today, The Hideout scheduled a horror chat and social for the same day, in The Three Johns. I missed the last one of these, don't want to do that again - as I said to them, any chance they could organise these things earlier?! So I'm now going to that instead. The pub does serve pizza, but that doesn't agree with me, so I'm eating beforehand in The Peacock.

On Saturday, back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpies - very glad to see that the issue with Meetup that required payment on signing up to an event has been fixed.. The tour is Wonders of the National Gallery.

And on Sunday, back with London Museums from A-Z (LoMAZ) for the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration, due to open on Friday! Optional trip to the George and Monkey afterwards.

On Monday, off with CT again to a play called Before I'm Dead at The Glitch. The story of a teenager with a terminal brain tumour, determined to record a eulogy while she has the chance.

Next Tuesday, back with UITCS for a flamenco show called UnYdos at Sadler's Wells. Eating at The Wilmington beforehand.

Next, two cheap ticket days. On the 17th, back with CT - which is playing a blinder - for Amores Pasados, a medieval concert with a modern twist, at St. Clement Danes. Performed by the Alternative History Quartet, regular-priced tickets from Ticket Tailor. I'm eating beforehand in Cote Covent Garden.

And on the 18th, back - at last - with TAC for more magic! This one is James Phelan: Showman, playing at Underbelly Boulevard.

Finally, three more days of Meetup - on the 19th, I'm with The Hideout for Disclosure Day, in which Emily Blunt plays a TV weather forecaster who suddenly finds herself communicating in a strange, clicking language, which only Josh O' Connor finds he can understand. Colin Firth seems to play a bad guy, as per the trailer. Directed by Spielberg again.. Details TBA, but it'll be in Leicester Square, phew!

And the weekend is LoMAZ again - the 20th, we have a day in Hever Castle! We're to arrive at St. Peter's Church in time for a guided tour thereof by our accomplished organiser, then spend the afternoon exploring the castle, and its Capturing a Queen exhibition, focusing on what Anne Boleyn, whose childhood home this was, actually looked like. The castle is also hosting a Home Front 1940s exhibition - no thanks, don't think I'll take their invitation to dress up accordingly. Optional drinks afterwards, of course - and travel is convenient for me, with direct trains from London Bridge taking under an hour. Already booked my ticket with Uber, with which I had so much credit, it was nearly free..

And on the 21st - I was thinking of heading to see West End Live, the free performance snippets of West End shows, performed in Trafalgar Square.. always a good one! But, on what was a very busy day for Meetup organisers, LoMAZ organised a guided walk! And as it's around my area, I could hardly resist - we're meeting in Starbucks before heading off on a Southwark Hysteries Solstice Special walk, as presented by Herstorical Tours, in the person of someone who glories in the name of Lydia Chlamydia, and is a whore of Ancient Rome.. apparently includes the option of a post-walk drink in a historic pub.