Monthly Archives: April 2012

Worldwide Easter traditions

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Worldwide Easter traditions

Brought to you by Frost Magazine and Vyke

Users of Vyke – the UK-based provider of low-cost international calls over the internet (VoIP) – have shared their Easter traditions on its blog and Frost magazine. From food to religion, bells to bunnies, paragliding to water fighting, each country’s custom shows why this holiday is truly an international one:

· Ukraine – a traditional dish of egg and yam is served each year

· UK – hot cross buns, filled with dried fruits and spices with a cross on top (symbolizing the crucifixion) have come to mean as much as the traditional chocolate Easter egg

· France – tradition states the ringing of the Easter Bells on Sunday morning is what makes chocolate eggs magically appear in children’s baskets

· Nigeria – it’s a traditional family pursuit to decorate the simple every day breakfast egg between parents and their children

· Poland – ‘lany poniedziałek’ or ‘śmigus-dyngus’ – Poland has the Easter Monday custom of water fights! This began innocently by sprinkling young ladies with a bit of perfumed water, and developed into regular water fights in the streets

· Ghana – Every family gathers for a feast known as ‘the picnic’. The holiday is also quickly becoming renowned for the Annual Ghana Paragliding Festival, the sixth of which is this year

· Ireland – all of the public houses shut (!) and the country observes a no meat eating policy on Holy Friday, enjoying fish in its place

· Austria – between Holy Thursday and Easter Sunday morning mass, there are no church bells ringing. According to religious lore, they all fly to Rome so altar boys use ‘Ratschen’ (wooden rattles)

· Philippines – Easter involves little girls dressed as angels and a procession that usually starts very early in the morning, before dawn

· Romania – Children take part in Government organised contests such as ‘The Easter bunny gives you a gift’

· Brazil – Locals construct straw renditions of Jesus’s betrayer – Judas, beat them up, and then set each ablaze

· Australia – No Easter bunny for our antipodean friends. In pest conscious Australia it’s the Easter bilby instead. The bilby is an endangered Australian animal with long soft ears

· Sweden – it’s the Easter hare and not the bunny that delivers Swiss chocolate delight

· U.S – although now widespread, its believed the egg-hunt originated in the US

Commenting on the response: Vyke Chief Executive, Tore Hellebo said:

“Our user base is right across the world, so we thought a nice way to bring everyone together, whilst celebrating differences, was through a universal holiday like Easter.

“We were right, as everyone celebrates it, but in much localised ways.”

Another day, Another new podcast by Richard Wright

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Podcasts. You either love them or you’ve never listened to them. They are the democratisation of radio on the internet where anyone can create and distribute an audio show of their own all over the world via the internet. That was a mouthful. This is clearly why I’m not a professional writer. But if you could stick with this then I promise to try harder. Ok. Much like podcasting let’s just plug it n and begin. It’s not the future of media anymore it’s the absolute present. With shows like AMC’s Comic Book men becoming a TV show based on the antics of a podcast it’s no longer just a bit of something extra. People like Kevin Smith & Joe Rogan have turned podcasting into an art form and a business. There are a lot of podcasts out there and if you want proof of that just check the itunes store when you have a spare minute. The competition for listeners is fierce and now the landscape of podcasting has another voice. Yes another deluded, well intentioned person giving their opinions like people should care what they think. And the person behind that podcast is…me.

I realise you don’t know who I am and that is perfectly understandable. I am an “emerging” Stand Up comedian and part-time writer and director of films. What films have I made? That is none of your business. What films have you made? See. You can’t answer it either. Unless you did in which cause I haven’t seen it. Unless I have in which case I didn’t enjoy it. Unless I did in which case well done. You see the rambling? That’s my podcast. I co-host with another brand spanking new comedian called Richard Casey and our podcast is called The Comedy Autopsy. I do tend to murder quite a lot of jokes, I’m just starting leave me alone, and so hence the name. We talk about comedy, film, stand up, occasional pro wrestling references no one will get and, if this first episode is anything to go by, pigeons. We are planning live podcasts with a bunch of audience interaction for the live crowd where the shows will include stand up for a very reasonable fee. We are going to have guests to talk comedy and film and maybe even pigeons. The podcast will be out every Thursday and will be roughly speaking an hour long. And you know what the really cool part is? It’s free. That’s right free I tells ya. We know we aren’t the funniest podcast in the world but we are funny enough.

I feel at this point I should introduce you to our technician. His name is Steve and not only is he terrible at his job he is also not real. That’s right. We made up a technician. Why? A number of reasons. Firstly it’s funny. It is. No it is. And secondly so that we can take all the negative things people will say about the podcast and blame Steve. It’s not our fault it’s Steve. On our podcast we will be getting to know the speechless one known as Steve through our section called “Apparently Steve” where we will share facts we know about Steve. If you know Steve then you can hashtag on twitter #ApparentlySteve and we will see those and use them in the podcast. Maybe you drink with Steve, share a hobby, once dated Steve or you know his mum. If you do let us know with the hashtag.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Frost Magazine for this chance to, basically, pimp our podcast in this fine publication. You didn’t have to do and we are happy that you did. Maybe we can work out some kind of sponsorship deal – we’d be very cheap *wink wink*.

(PS: if you have complaints regarding spelling in this article, if you can call it that, then remember it’s all Steve’s fault!)

Glasvegas + Es Muss Sein – Relentless Garage, London | Music Review

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Es Muss Sein

Tonight’s show was opened by Es Muss Sein, a 16 year old singer-songwriter from Kent. EMS was personally invited to open the show by Rab from Glasvegas who found her via her facebook page. Her debut EP has been earning her rave reviews, including here at Frost, and so we took the opportunity to catch her at her biggest live performance to date.

At four songs short it was a quick set. “Wave Goodbye”, “Sail”, “Seeping” and “Those Eyes” give off little more than the EP did. Hauntingly soulful, achingly beautiful. Nerves showed at the start but she grew in confidence with every  strum of her guitar. She told me afterwards that she”doubted she was good enough” and that she was “very scared”. On this performance the only thing you doubt is that she’ll be bottom of the bill for much longer.

Glasvegas

It’s been a few years since I last saw Glasvegas, atop a mountain near Bern, and it’s fair to say a lot’s happened. In those two years the band have released a new album, Europric Heartbreak, lost their original drummer, Caroline McKay, gained a new drummer, Jonna Löfgren (more on her later), but the most striking change in them is they’re no longer fresh faced new kids on the block. They’ve less teeth and more tattoos yet still, after battling the drugs, perils and heartbreak of fame appear to wear the “happy to be here” look.

Frontman James Allen, as usual dressed all in black, looks exactly like Joe Strummer but despite his attire and the fact that he has the look of a man who may bite your neck at any moment, his autobiographical lyrics about his absent father, his social worker and the struggles of growing up in working class Britain gave him an air of vulnerability that had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand.

They began with songs from Mercury Award nominated debut album Glasvegas. Opening song “Flowers & Football Tops”, or in Scottish “Flowers & Fitba Tops”, was written about the reaction to the racially motivated murder in Glasgow of Kriss Donald, a Celtic fan – the same team the band support. It works equally as well as a eulogy for their arch rivals Rangers Football Club, a club staring into the abyss. “Geraldine” comes next, followed by “It’s my own cheating heart . . . ” and the band are on a roll. Hit after hit with the audience. Anthem after working class anthem. It’s a brilliant talent of Allen’s, much like that of Alex Turner and Jarvis Cocker, to turn the mundane aspects of life into anthemic greatness.

Sounds from “Euphoric Heartbreak” didn’t quite stir the same excitement as songs from their previous record but it was an interesting sound and certainly a bit of a departure. Less straightforward rock n roll and a bit more experimental.

It must be said though that new drummer, Jonna Löfgren, is the star of the show. She’s taken over from James Allen as the band’s sunglasses-wearer and oozes rock ‘n’ roll swagger. No sitting down for her though. She stands. All the way through. What you get is pure energy. Imagine Rage Against the Machine’s Brad Wilk dosed to the max on cocaine and pro plus and you’re only halfway there.

Glasvegas tonight in London felt like they were beginning something again. The audience saw a band testing themselves and their boundaries but also a band looking at the mountain off success that they scaled with their first album and thinking “I’ll climb that”. And so they just might!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In that two years the band have recorded a new album, lost their original drummer – Caroline McKay, gained a new one – Jonna Löfgren, bassistPaul Donoghue has lost some teeth, guitarist Rab Allen got some tattoos and singer James Allen nearly lost his mind.

Gwyneth Paltrow chooses crack over canned food

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Gwyneth Paltrow chooses crack over canned food

Gwyneth Paltrow would rather “smoke crack” than eat unhealthy food.

The 38-year-old actress is well known for her unusual dietary habits, previously being on the extremely strict macrobiotic eating plans, she revealed she was not a fan of tinned snacks.

She said: “I’d rather smoke crack than eat cheese from a can.”

The ‘Iron Man’ star – who has her own cook book ‘My Father’s Daughter…’ – also revealed she wouldn’t take her kids to fast food restaurant McDonalds, but may find it difficult if they knew about the toys that come with some meals.

Gwyneth – who has two children, daughter Apple, seven, and son Moses, five, with her husband, Coldplay singer Chris Martin – added: “I take them to Pizza Express because I think that’s much healthier. Don’t tell them there are toys!”

However, not all of her habits are so positive, and she admits drinking wine is a favourite past time of hers.

She added: “I drink wine constantly while I’m cooking. Wine, either colour.”

Despite not being a fan of calorific treats from a can, Gwyneth has previously revealed she loves “well-made” cheese, and prefers it to chocolate.

She said: “OK, it may not be the healthiest of indulgences, but cheese, really beautiful, well-made cheese, has to be one of the best things on the planet. Give me a slice of Camembert over chocolate cake any day.”

Spotted! | Professor Green and Millie Mackintosh at Dorsia London

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Professor Green and Millie Mackintosh at Dorsia London

Professor Green and Millie Mackintosh at Dorsia London last night. Prof spent the entire night teaching Millie his snogging skills, while singing to hits along side the cast of Made in Chelsea. Could he be auditioning to appear in the show…

Who: Prof Green, Millie Mackintosh, Spencer, Jamie Laing (who was Djing), Oliver Proudlock, Hugo Taylor and his new gf Natalie Joel.

What: Launch of Motown Mondays at Dorsia in association with Serge DeNimes (Proudlocks t shirt company)

Where: Dorsia London, 3 Cromwell Road, London, SW3 2HR

Photo credit: James Fox, ShowbizLondon.com

X Factor’s Louis Walsh Joins Humane Society International Campaign To End Animal Testing

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X Factor’s Louis Walsh Joins Humane Society International Campaign To End Animal Testing for Cosmetics

Star adds name to charity’s 142,000-strong petition

X Factor judge and music manager Louis Walsh is the latest celebrity to speak out against testing cosmetics on animals as part of Humane Society International’s star-studded CrueltyFree2013 campaign.

Louis joins stars such as Leona Lewis, Sir Roger Moore, Ke$ha, Ricky Gervais, Melanie C, Dame Judi Dench and Mary McCartney in signing HSI’s petition to ban the sale of animal-tested cosmetics in Europe. More than 142,000 consumers have also signed the petition. With a ban in place, any cosmetics tested on animals after 2013 would be banned from EU shop shelves.

Louis Walsh said:

“Animal testing is the ugly face of the beauty industry and I want it to stop, now! Animals deserve our respect and compassion, and as they can’t speak up for themselves I’m speaking up for them by signing Humane Society International’s CrueltyFree2013 petition for an end to animal-tested cosmetics. Let’s take the cruelty out of beauty.”

Animal testing for cosmetics is banned across the UK and European Union, but ingredients can still be tested on animals in other countries such as Brazil, China, Canada and the United States and then sold in EU shops. Animals can have chemicals forced down their throat, dripped in their eyes and applied to their skin. Sometimes pregnant females and their unborn babies are exposed to cosmetic chemicals.

A ban on selling these animal-tested cosmetics is due to come into force in March 2013 and would act as a major financial incentive for companies to kick their animal testing habit. However, the European Commission is now considering a proposal that would give cosmetic companies a loophole to continue profiting from animal suffering.

Troy Seidle, director of research & toxicology for HSI/Europe, said:

“It is shameful that in laboratories around the world animals are still suffering to produce new lipsticks and face creams sold in Europe’s shops. So we’re delighted that Louis Walsh has joined Humane Society International in calling for an end to the cruelty. Caring consumers have waited long enough, they want shop shelves to be cruelty-free by 2013 so it’s time for EU policy-makers to honour their pledge.”

HSI supports the international Leaping Bunny cruelty-free standard. Companies that carry the Leaping Bunny logo are subject to independent audits to guarantee no animal testing, and include Urban Decay, Montagne Jeunesse, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s and the Co-operative. To shop cruelty-free, download our Leaping Bunny Compassionate Shopping Guide<http://www.leapingbunny.org/images/globalguide.pdf>.

To join Louis and sign the CrueltyFree2013 petition, go to Posted in Life & Style | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Maps & Atlases – Beware and Be Grateful | Music Review

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I must confess that before being given this to review, I didn’t know of Maps & Atlases. Having listened to their new album “Beware and Be Grateful” I’m still not sure I know them. Getting to grips with them is a tough grind but wonderful, nonetheless.

The band formed in 2004 at art school in Chicago and in that time they’ve grooved their way from being a pure math rock/post rock band to making beautiful pop music but based on the old math-rock principles of signature time changes. We’ll call it Math-pop.

The record begins with “Old And Gray”, a six minute affair that doesn’t exactly blow the doors off of the house that is “Beware and Be Grateful”, but tiptoes gently in and makes a nice cup of tea. It’s clever. It knows it doesn’t need to be route one. It will sit waiting for you in the living room, until you come to and will assassinate you there and then. It’s pop Jim, but not as we know it!

“Fever” moves towards more straightforward pop music and “Winter” is very much in the same vein. Both songs have a million things going on behind the music in the way of vocals and music. It’s all incredibly well arranged – a beautiful layering of the music and backed up by soft electronic beats. On “Remote and Dark Years” Dave Davison’s lush baritone vocal has more than a tilt towards Paul Simon and the song has a lot in common with his African moments.

Throughout the record you can hear morsels of the influences behind the record – all sorts. From Vampire Weekend to Paul Simon to Secret Machines to Joeyfat but built around those math-rock principles. It’s a stunning mix but it’s a mix that needs to be played in the order it was made – no skipping, no shuffle etc. I don’t they Maps & Atlases have quite realised that the internet has rendered the album superfluous but their ignorance is our gain – a finer collection of songs you’ll struggle to find all year.

 

“Beware and Be Grateful” is released 17th April 2012. They tour the UK from 16th – 20th April.