2018 year in review

So I set myself some goals for 2018. Let's see how I did and how what I've got planned for '19.

Rollercoasters: Ride 100 new ones and reach 2000

I rode 102 and reached 1999, which is a real stinker of a number to finish the year on because now it looks like I will choose the landmark one when I didn't really care which ride it ended up being. I'm taking a break in 2019 from coastering, having removed myself from most of the groups I was in. For 2019 I'm setting myself the goal of only riding 1.

Gigs: See 100 live acts.

I saw 102, following a hasty bit of emergency scheduling in December. My favourite acts were Red Snapper, Anna Meredith, Despacio (does that count?), They Might be Giants & The Chemical Brothers. I'm quite chuffed with this one and will aim to do the same in 2019.

Films: See 100 new ones.

I saw 125, although some I had seen before but not on the big screen. Within these I did a few back-to-backs including the Qaatsi trilogy, John Wick double-bill, a mystery all-nighter, a modern horror all-nighter and a John Carpenter all-nighter. My favourites were Fatal Deviation (yep), The Villainess, Don't Breathe & A Quiet Place  I'm quite happy repeating this one in 2019.

Countries: Visit 5 new ones.

I managed 4: Bosnia & Herzegovina, Morocco, Andorra and Montenegro. I did Bosnia twice though. It was a good year for holidays as I also went to Croatia, France, and the US twice. For 2019 I'm looking at keeping things closer to home for the most part with trips to some of the principalities and small islands I've yet to visit.

US States: Visit 2 new ones.

 I got 3 new states (West Virginia, Michigan & Rhode Island). This leaves me with 5 to get.  I am toying with the US for a themed-trip in the Summer though it'll be to cities I've been to before. The new states will need to wait until another year.

Cirque du Soleil. See 1 new show.

I saw Luzia in Boston and very good it was too. I'd like to do another for next year but think I may be able to do a trip with more than that.

Travel 1000 miles on a treadmill.

This is a new one, and I won't be running from the start but I need to get a gym routine in place and figure this will be a nice goal to aim for. 

Gig #102: Joe Goddard @ Phonox

My final "gig" of the year ended up being a Joe Goddard DJ set at the Phonox nightclub in Brixton, which I knew as Plan B many years ago. I thought I'd get there late but the venue was still dead when I entered. I hung around for an hour or so and as I gave up and left there was a big queue gathered outside.

The music was good and the club sounded and looked great. The crowd however were a clubbing crowd and not a Hot Chip crowd so I didn't really feel the right vibe, hence the early departure. 

Gigs #100-101 Blackbyrds & Digitalism @ The Jazz Cafe

A plan to attend a Digitalism DJ set became a chance to see 70s Jazz/Soul combo The Blackbyrds as I got into the venue early and this band were on first. They sounded really good with lots of Motown sounding stuff coming from an excellent live band.

After they finished a big chunk of the crowd cleared out to allow Digitalism to take to the stage. At least I think it was them. There were 2 guys playing and I don't know what they looked like. I left after an hour and once on the train had a horrible thought I'd left during the house DJs set.

I'll never know.

Film #125: Free Solo

Nothing to do with Star Wars but a documentary about a man who climbed El Capitan in Yosemite without a rope.

Gripping stuff!

Gigs #97-99: Brutallixmas @ The Monarch

Having missed some acts on Saturday I needed to play catch up so saw this free event at The Monarch pub in Camden Town. 3 rock/punk acts, so not my usual thing but it was a night out.

Lakes were up first and my favourite of the three. They did a nice cover of E17's "Stay Another Day".

Adults were up second and weren't that great. The lead singer wasn't sure what was going on and kept introducing each song with "which one are we doing now".

Up last were Brutalligators who I didn't like only because their guitarist chose to stand and block my view for the other two acts; some people have no awareness.

Film #124: Aquaman

Roman Reigns calls his brother a dick who in turn calls him a bastard. Another baddie got his costume from Power Rangers. Someone covers Toto's "Africa" terribly and Amber Heard discovers grapes whilst looking hot. Halfway through it turns into Indiana Jones.

I liked it.

Gigs #95 & #96: Thundercat & Flying Lotus @ Brixton Academy

A chance to see a bunch of acts in one venue was quickly thrown out when our group chose to remain in the bar drinking and when we went to the venue 2 hours after opening, the queue was going around the block so we went back to the bar.

When it was time to try again at 11pm it was just me left, the others had given up. So of all the acts on the card I only got to see 2.

Thundercat was too bass driven for my liking.

Flying Lotus had no progression, and his 3D show wasn't as impressive as a remember it being when we saw it in the Summer. Although I did like he played some Twin Peaks.

Coupled with my first attempt at getting glasses resulting in a broken pair and a free for all to get another pair and a venue so packed I barely made it past the bars at the rear of the venue I'm surprised I stuck around for as long as I did. 

Gig #94: DJ Yoda @ Winterville

An impromptu gig on the way home as I found out DJ Yoda would be playing a Cut n Paste 80s mix for free at Winterville in Clapham. Considering how much I've seen him over the last couple of years it was a little weird that I hadn't seen him at all in 2018. So it was good be reacquainted.

The set opened with 99 Red Balloons and finished with Sweet Dreams, and throughout we had some of the cheesiest, 80s classics including J. Geils Band, Kraftwerk, Foreigner & Toto.

and for someone who usually plays an hour set, it was great to see him going nearly 2 hours tonight.

Fun!

Film #123: Spiderman into the Multiverse

Oh, this is really really really good.

A different take on the Spiderman story, beautifully animated, a well written story and some bizarre twists. I liked it much better than any of the other Spiderman films...well, except the classic 70s one that is.

Film #122: Bad Times at the El Royale

An ensemble film that features a group of characters meeting at a run down motel. Why are they are there, who's going to die and who's going to survive? I like these sort of collection films, Smoking Aces being another, and I did enjoy this. There are a couple of OMG moments and all of our showing jumped at one particular bit, which doens't happen that often.

Strong acting from the cast, and a nice contained story made this enjoyable. 

Film #121: Assassination Nation

A rather odd film that takes social media data leaking to its extreme as a group of four friends are terrorised by their fellow townsfolk. The film has an energy and vibe that wouldn't be amiss if Charli XCX had been asked to create a film. Strong female roles with an FU attitude.

But what starts off as a modern take on Heathers, becomes a mess in the final third.

It's worth seeing but it lacks the legs to make it a classic.