Concerts and movies and sushi - oh my!

My weekend of culture began on Friday night with a visit to the National Concert Hall (avec Sib 2) to see the RTE Concert Orchestra perform ‘Music to be Murdered By’, an evening of Bernard Hermann (and other) scores. It was… perfect. It started off with the overture from North by Northwest, which always makes me smile (and want to run around!), there was also music from Laura, Anna Karenina, Marnie, Taxi Driver (Patch was delighted) and the Suite from Vertigo…my favourite…

Just after the interval, they played the Psycho Suite for Strings Prelude, and when it came to the ‘stabbing violins’ bit (you know, the shower scene!) all the lights went out! There were a few laughs, but then I think everyone felt a bit unnerved! The lights slowly came back on, in red, on the stage… very cool…



Must remember to wear less black in the NCH though…when I went to the loo, an old lady asked me if I was in the orchestra…

The rest of the weekend was spent in the IFI, keeping out of the rain thanks to the GAZE film festival. Saw, I dunno, loads of movies, but I think the highlight was one called Follow My Voice: With the Music of Hedwig. It's a documentary about a tribute album made in aid of the Harvey Milk School, and featured...everyone I love! Rufus Wainwright, Sleater-Kinney, The Breeders, Yo La Tengo, Frank Black, The Polyphonic Spree... And Yoko Ono. Well, I don't love her, but she was pretty funny.

And I got another chance to check oooot the fabulous Iseult and the Goods in Bleu Note on Sunday night (clickit!) Another great gig, some new tunes, and a packed house! Not too shabby!

Between all that and enough food to feed an army (sushi in the Hop House - nyom!), it wasn't a bad weekend at all really...