☆Birthday☆

I shall update with catch up posts very soon, as I've been absent for some time now, but today was the glorious day of my birth! I had a rather sedate, but fun day, filled with music and dorkery with friends. I was given some presents, which I will keep to myself (they aren't things), though I'm very grateful for them ^.^ My friend Nasu also made me a giant birthday cake, as he's a wonderful person:

And then, there was this gorgeous creation, from the darling Rina (who blogs at Kreativ):

Thank you for your dandy donkey! Haha :D

sukekiyo at O2 Academy

Yesterday afternoon, I got the train to London in order to meet up with my friend Kei (Doing a Thing & Unfortunately Oh!), so that we could then go to see a rather excellent band, sukekiyo, live at O2 Academy Islington (I just wanted to go and enjoy the show, rather than to take photos, so the above picture of my ticket will have to do, sorry!). Whilst waiting in the line outside, Kei ran into a friend of hers & we also got talking to a German girl who had won tickets to the concert and was extremely excited about it. Her enthusiasm was great and I'm so glad that someone like her won those tickets, as opposed to someone totally indifferent to the whole thing! Anyway, we entered the venue after a short while and waited whilst various unrelated songs played, before the show began at around 8pm. 

Unfortunately, I don't remember the set list in order. I do, however, know that they played the whole of their first album, plus a new song too, which made for a decent length of set. Kyo, sukekiyo's singer, had impressive vocals live, with a great range, even staying (mostly) in tune when screaming/grunting. That may not seem impressive, but it is, believe me! The rest of the band also gave solid performances, with Takumi, Yuchi, and Uta switching between different instruments - Takumi from guitar to keyboard, as well as doing the programming via laptops,  Yuchi from bass to upright bass, and Uta from guitar to taishougoto to Japanese zither - and drummer Mika not missing a beat. The result of such diverse talent on one stage was unusual and interesting music executed incredibly well.

Although music rather than theatrics is very much the focus of sukekiyo's performances, there's still something strangely captivating about the atmosphere they create and the stage presence that they have as a collective whole. I would highly recommend going to see them live should you ever have the chance to do so!

EDIT: If you want to listen to some of their music / watch some of their videos, sukekiyo now have a YouTube channel: sukekiyo on YouTube

100 Happy Days: Day 59 - Immortal Chi

This evening we went to watch a "martial arts spectacular" from China, Immortal Chi, at the Princess Theatre, after making a spur of the moment decision to go, and buying tickets yesterday. I wasn't sure what to expect from the show, going by the description on the website: 

"A Kung Fusion - Shaolin Warriors + Cirque Du Ciel = Immortal Chi"

However, I'd never been to a martial arts based show before, so I thought it would be fun and interesting to watch something new. I wasn't disappointed, as the music, multimedia images, acrobatics and lighting were all wonderful. (Well, there were some slapstick comedy bits - I really do not enjoy that form of comedy - but  it was fairly brief and the rest of the show made up for it, so I'm willing to overlook it, haha). 

It was a fun evening!

100 Happy Days: Day 58 - A Walk Along the Front

A walk along the seafront at sunset, with the silhouettes of palm trees making this town look tropical.

100 Happy Days: Day 57 - Hollyhock Frocks

A delicate hollyhock flower, swaying in the breeze, like a 1950's petticoat.

100 Happy Days: Day 56 - Silliness with Friends

Of course there was a hand with an eye on it and then of course the hypno-eye was involved!

100 Happy Days: Day 55 - Tutankhamun

Today's photo is an Ancient Egypt-themed BEAR card that I found randomly.

100 Happy Days: Day 54 - Plums, Cherries & Apples

Plums

Seeing trees fruiting is always a happy moment, especially when they're in your own garden!

Cherries

Apples

100 Happy Days: Day 53 - Bones and Skulls and Dots and Black and Pink and Crossing Stars

Some of my favourite tights and shoes.

Giraffe legs

100 Happy Days: Day 52 - Dolly's Drum Devil

This is a challenge within a challenge, and one that has brought me several Happy Days! Complete 100 art themes in 100 days; this was number 12 (part 1). I titled this little lot of lovelies: "Dolly's Drum Devil" & will share the whole challenge with you when I'm finished.