Highlights 2009

In which I attempt to summarize 2009 in a few pop nuggets and in doing so worry that I should be doing more with my so called life.

1. Llama Festival.

Kills it every time and every year for the past three years. Sun, booze, a beautiful bunting filled seaside village surrounded by stunning English countryside with a heavy B Music presence. Throw in a triumphant set by the Cock Munchers (aka Samandtheplants) backed with full band and rolling scenic views, some 'Jig-a-jig' monkey arms nonsense and a sneaky post pub booze up with Andy Votel and Badly Drawn Boy discussing the relative merits of Pavement's early output and you're on to a winner. Even the hellish hangover of a drive home seems nothing more than a tiny bit of bother now.



2. Weddings.

Two of 'em no less. Both amazing. More monkey arms nonsense. Scotland having it's one hospitable sunny day of the year on the right day. Dancing like a massive spaz to Animal Collective's 'Brother Sport' as everyone else looks on feeling embarrassed for me and tumble-weed blows across the dance floor.



3. 'My Home is the Sea' and the OMG Posters! endorsement.

Early on in the year I went all nautical and produced four paintings which subsequently became two colour screen-prints. Mitch from OMG Posters! picked up on them and the run of 30 proceeded to sell-out in about 24 hours. Who needs overly cliquey poster shows huh?



4. San Francisco.

Twice. Cowafuckingbunga snow-boarding in Lake Tahoe. Riding cruisers round Santa Cruz in flip flops. Meeting Mike Giant and Alex Pardee at art shows. Record hunting all over. Falling off bar stalls, inappropriately stalking tattooed girls into the ladies and generally being silly drunk. Werd.



Other highlights included moving to North London, being No Face at the most disturbing Halloween party I've ever been to, lots of cycling round the city, record hunting but perhaps more significantly getting rid of 500 or so records and refining my collection to a point where I actually love it again rather than see it as unwanted ballast, growing a moustache, screen-printing and illustrating record sleeves for 2nd Drop Records, Budapest, featuring in the Beautiful Losers related DIY London Seen exhibition and lots of pub fun.

The end. See now I feel rubbish 'cos I haven't done nearly as much as I would've liked. Plus all this no booze January is getting tiresome. Stupid vacuous void left by no alcohol.