I’m always a bit dubious when paying over 20 quid to see a band like the Black Keys which should be cheaper looking at their new material, which is a far cry from “The Big Come Up” their first album (2001) and “Rubber Factory” (2004-05) – the best one in my opinion.

Up to the point of their latest album “El Camino” produced by Danger Mouse, you are faced with an amazing loud blues garage rock sound and outfit played out by just the two of them, with drummer Patrick Carney and guitar and vocals by Dan Auerbach. Hailed and bummed in the last 6 months as an amazing 2 piece band, a must see. However they are no longer a 2 piece band all new material is now performed by 4 of them and when playing their older music by the 2 of them. I found the whole thing quite confusing, its a bit like seeing 2 bands and seeing the evil commercial change taking place from a band being about the music to “all about the money”.

Its a great shame to see this happen to a band who are as talented as the Black Keys when its just the 2 of them. They don’t need this new commercial sound, which is basically a Danger Mouse album performed by them, lets not kid ourselves. Go back to your old ways where the music is new, raw, innovative, individual and overall a hundreds times better.

Another band destroyed, what will the next album bring maybe Pink will produce it or Jay Z?

Overall 1 star out of a possible 5 BOOOOOOOO “The Wack Keys”

Bespoke Backgammon set. Created from an antique cutlery box, hand cut and inlaid purple suede, blue and white leather.

Refurbished working lock. Handmade acrylic laser cut and logo etched counters. Matching purple and blue dice.

Handmade by Edward de Lacy of delacyonline.com

Not for sale.

]]> http://delacyblog.com/2012/02/19/project-backgammon/feed/ 0 delacybag back 1 back 2 back 3 http://delacyblog.com/2012/02/12/liverpool-doorways-road-trip/ http://delacyblog.com/2012/02/12/liverpool-doorways-road-trip/#comments Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:44:25 +0000 delacybag http://delacyblog.com/?p=668 ]]>

Bricked up doorway St James street Liverpool 11/2/2012.

Number 50 Parr street Liverpool 11/2/2012.

99 Bold street Liverpool 11/2/2012.

Factory doors Duncan street Liverpool 11/2/2012.

Amazing vintage sewing nick knacks. Clockwise from top left.

1/ Beautiful steel tin of dress making pins by D.F. Taylor and Co Ltd with floral print around the top and edges of the tin.

2/ This is my fav me thinks. “Quies” Paris ear plug plastic box, now used as a pin box, with Egyptian hieroglyphics design.

3/ “The new Surmanco hot forged shear, made from Sheffield steel”, Pinking shears – original shears still in box!

4/ Amazing sewing users guide, “Prevent. Frustration. Save. Temper. Trouble. Money.” This came with a “New Home” sewing machine I have been passed down to which is also in immaculate condition and was made close by in Stockport.

These original cast metal domestic machines tend to be the best really as they will last forever as they were all built before plastic was invented so the built quality is second to none.

Anyway that’s your lot for know….

Here are a few photos of underground canal and chambers under the Great Northern Goods Warehouse, situated off Deansgate in Manchester city centre.

The Warehouse was completed in August 1899 but operations started in July 1898 when only the ground and first floors were complete such was the demand for the goods station. Inside was a spaghetti junction of rail lines with five platforms and twenty five cranes. To facilitate the movement of goods, wagon turntables were incorporated at the end of the lines to allow wagons to be turned round. The Manchester and Salford Junction canal, constructed in 1939, ran under the Warehouse, passing through a specially-built dock.

Two 40-cwt lifts shafts were used to transport goods to each of the building’s six levels, ready for dispatch to their next destination whether by canal or horse and cart.

During the Second World War, the canal, which had been operational until 1922, served a very different purpose. The canal was drained in order to provide an air raid shelter for the public. The walls built across the canals to stop any blast going right through the tunnels are still there.

The canal was less than a mile long, with 4 locks and a tunnel below the Deansgate area. It was built to let boats get between the Irwell and the Rochdale Canal without having to pass through the Bridgewater Canal’s Hulme link, the tolls for which were high.

here is where you can book online…

www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk

This is fit. My first cheesecake, baked and based on this recipe here. I used blackcurrant and honey instead of the Vanilla and Raspberries, and I also doubled the base, its good to have a thick biscuit base because its tastes better that way.

Went for a 26cm pop tin too.

Pretty easy really… boooom.

I personally would mark this place 1/10 , 1 for not falling down

I tried to use a voucher which was valid, it clearly said valid until 31-12-2011 but they would not accept for 50% off food, apparently they don’t do it in December, when its valid for.

So since we had made the effort we chose to take on their starter and main offer for £18, however this is not really much of an offer at all as there are only 5 mains of which two, probably the best and most popular 2 both have extra charges on them of £3 and £5, with any offer so if you want these you save about £2 all in all you get robbed, fleeced, jacked whatever you want to call it.

As for the £16 bottle of house red , well if you like your wine to have a sharp vinegar like taste then your fine.

I had pan-fried scallops for starter, only a mire £8 ? Fine that’s ok but when it arrives it’s not really , they are white! They look like baked scallops and as for the presentation, poo really put it this way you wouldn’t get through first round master chef with the food on offer here.

If you want a poo steak for 24 .

You don’t have to leave a tip , they add it on the bill for you, charming for an independent restaurant.

There was a lil fight today between the Green Finches and the Coal Tits, the Finches won as they are about twice the size. There were five of them at one point but I was too far away to get the photo, grrrrrrrr. These are the best shots I’ve had so far I think the Green Finches are quite rare as I have never seen one, especially 50cm away.

The bird feeder is now celebrating its 1st year birthday and so far I have Blue Tits, Coal Tits and now a family of Green Finches,,, Whoop , not bad for a 6th floor city dwelling.

One other thing there is now 15% off at delacyonline with promo code >delon15< for a limited time only ….

Fruit Sticker Collection.

This is the one I’m most proud of. It lives in a cupboard and has come along way in a 18 months. There are mainly pink lady apples, they are not my favourite but pretty much the only apple Aldi sell, but on the occasion you may find 2 stickers on 1 apple – a collectors dream. Bananas are a bit of a s*** coz you only get 1 sticker on each bunch .

Thread Spool Collection.

I think I have just collected these due to the fact the thread costs about £4.00 for 100 Metres so it would seem a shame to throw them out, not sure where this is going really but its 37 strong now and that would actually cost alot, its probably my most expensive collection.

Jam Jar Collection.

Not sure how this has happened, but I now have a collection of 4 posh jam jars. Having just added the 3rd blackcurrant to it, I realized that some of them are actually turning into mold farms. This jam is pretty fit though, it turns toast into cake.

The Wooden Spoon Collection.

This is my most serious collection and my least favorite. The collection is not even kept together anymore just floating all over. The spoons have been collected in around 7 years from different countries, I can only remember Japan, Latvia and maybe France.  A friend gave me the one with the animal on it, from Kenya so I don’t have to go there which is great. Wooden spoon collection FAIL.

This year I have produced so far four or five up-cycled leather bag’s, thats one a month- fast work, mainly hobo bag’s from vintage leather jackets.

The results are Amazing like being stuck in a maze when you see them. I have seen other examples from other designers, who seem to use major parts of the jacket’s as parts of the bag. I approach it a little differently and completely deconstruct the jacket I have chosen aaarrrhahaha – this is probably one of the best bits, then start to build the bag pattern from that.

By doing this I can then lend more detail to the character of the jacket / bag,  adding straps, zip pockets, plap, plaf,… the only real bits I have used are popper’s, pocket opening’s and maybe the odd interesting seem in the designing’s

Then throw it all together with a bit o Liberty lining and Bob’s your antique tea cup….. a wonderous bagging’s

These bags are turning out to be stunning one of a kind pieces, and there will more to come no doubt …

They are here for sale In my webboid boutique… delacyonline.com

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