ROAD TRIP

Howdy partners,


For today I'm not going to write about New York, although there is definitely more to be told about that city, watch this space! The second week of August I joined a fella I met this summer on part of his road trip, we drove through the South West, from Texas to Vegas watched countryside develop, met some crazy folk and got a feel for the real America.
Jack, the guy who drove, I met in my local in New York. He's a Country singer, bar man, real American guy, and he’s driven me a hell of a long way, tantrums and all. He's given me a new found love for hip hop and country music and also for America in general, this place is incredible. Starting in Austin we drove up through New Mexico, Arizona and finally reached our last stop Vegas.

Austin is possibly the coolest city I've ever been to. Think college town with amazing weather and gorgeous people, honestly everybody is stunning. Within an hour of getting off my plane I was chilling in Barton Springs, a river side heaven, we had a guy playing guitar to our right and up the hill a group of what can only be described as hippies owning a steel drum and dancing in barley anything. The water, people and weather were perfect, you ever get up to Austin check this place out. Also you gotta' get Texas BBQ, so I’m veggie but even I gave into chicken and mash, make sure you get pie as well, f*!k me, sweet potato pie is unreal! 
Once leaving Austin we headed to Roswell, where the aliens landed, oooooooooo. We arrived late evening after a 10 hour drive; it was so long I was allowed to drive the last couple of hours, automatics suck as does trying to turn right when you’re on the wrong side of the road! Roswell was a typical southern town, everyone knew everyone and I was a total novelty, only difference being there were aliens everywhere. I was told by one woman she didn’t think “people spoke like you miss, apart from on the television” she then preceded to ask if we had potatoes in England. My only other long lasting memory of Roswell will be looking like the Elephant man and then a beaten house wife. Nobody warns you if you sleep in a truck the midges will get you, and my gosh they did, three times on the eye lid, once above and once below, I looked a mess for a day to say the least.


From Roswell we took the scenic route to El Malpais, New Mexico, finally some mountains to look at. The park is stunning; the area was initially protected to conserve the significant geological, scientific, archaeological, and scenic resources surrounding the Grants lava flow (the vegetation literally grows through the cooled lava, its quite fascinating). However I personally preferred the massive sandstone’s and the free standing arc which has formed over thousands of years, rather impressive. That night we spent in a Walmart car park, I’m not 100% but I’m pretty sure we heard somebody get murdered, if not that then hospitalized. Also discovered we could feed ourselves for the next three days of about $10 including two bottles of wine, I heart Walmart!

The Grand Canyon deserves a post on its own, everything you’ve heard is true, and it’s ten times better! The vastness, the awesomeness, this place is like nothing you will ever experience and I definitely recommend if you get a chance you have to go. Be warned though, even the easiest of hiking routes are difficult, make sure you take enough water and as silly as this sounds the hardest part is coming back up so don’t go too far down. One of the best things, to me anyway, to see here were the starts at night, you can literally see the milky way, also if you believe in making a wish on a falling star you’ll see enough that at least one should come true. Make sure you get up to watch a sunrise and take the time in the evening to watch a sunset, they are both magnificent!
On route from Arizona we stopped at the Hoover Dam, bloody hell it was massive, it is also extremely picturesque, the way it was built was to encourage people to visit it. You only need a half hour or so to see it and don’t worry about paying to get in the museum they give you enough information as you walk around it.

Finally…..Vegas! Bright lights, constantly busy, grand buildings, fountains, overpriced drinks, prostitutes for your every need, pool side bars, slot machines everywhere, this place has it all, and what’s more impressive is it’s in the middle of a desert! We had a very short visit here but I will be back. See the Bellagio fountains, and walk through Paris; Caesars Palace, the Mirage and Bellagio are all next to each other and definitely worth a look. I drank stupid amounts of gin before doing this and now remember very little of what was in each resort but am sure it was all pretty impressive. Unless you’re going with tons of cash don’t eat out its ridiculous, there are some pretty cheap places you just have to do some research on where happy hours are. We went to an Italian just off the strip called “Hole in the wall” do not be put off by the name, it’s a ridiculous amount of food and unlimited wine throughout your meal, it was delicious. My only other piece of advice would be to not book an early flight out, to end this story I left the boy in the hotel room whilst I just made my flight (literally checked in at 6.25 and flight was at 7am), hair a mess, probably still drunk, not wanting to leave.


Go to America, do a road trip, be warned though they are quite charming despite their rep, you'll leave wishing you were still in that truck having the time of your life.

EDINBURGH FRINGE - POST 4

Eh up! Managed to get an interview with none other than comedy guru and Free Fringe founder Peter Buckley Hill. Fascinating man, with wonderful views on comedy, critics, and the commercialism of both. Some more shows to recommend also; mainly the hidden gem that is Barry Fox (Newsroom, 4pm, Free). Barry is an artist and poet from Newcastle, though his first Edinburgh show is a peculiar mix of powerpoint presentation, excrement, poems, tramps, cardboard, pornography, and letters to national Athletic authorities. Though the material twisted and explicit in places, Barry balances this with a likable, almost nervous delivery which coaxes the audience confused into his strange world. Most of the audience left muttering the words 'Fucked up' but this simmering insanity makes for unique and brilliant hour of artistic comedy. Five star stuff for me. Secondly I'd like to talk about Matthew Highton and his show 'Shadowed Vagery' (Just The Tonic @ The Caves, 10.15pm). The 20 year old instantly appears as an accomplished stand-up comic with a style not dissimilar to master surrealist Ross Noble. Although the night I saw him was slightly marred by Matthews mouth paying the price for the heavy night before, the hour saw him telling us a series of far-out (and eventually interlinking) anecdotes which the storyteller obviously could never have been a part of. Be it stealing a magic feather from the tail of Mickey Rouke's peacock, or losing his shadow whilst trying to jump a gate, Matthew's 'observational' delivery gains the audiences trust into almost believing these daft yarns. I predict this is just the beginning for a genuinely nice lad with a confidence which even stretches to letting the audience exorcise any negative heckles at the top of the show. Wonderfully imaginative. As for us, we ended our short run on a high with the last Animals of Butter Bridge show pulling in a record 70 people! Peaks. Troughs. x

EDINBURGH FRINGE 2011: Post 3

So over a week into the fringe and my insides have been burnt out with cheap vodka and my head caved in from over expectation and crushing disappointment. The group had to pull the show last night after only one audience member turned up. That one person was Stewart Lee though so we must be doing something right. Been seeing plenty of stuff some good: Our friend DR BROWN and his show BECAVES at the Underbelly, another sublime hour of deranged clowning and quiet absurdity. Expertly delivered with a dedication and attention to detail which keeps it's audience captivated from start to finish, if you haven't already you need to get yourself an appointment with the Doctor. 9.50pm, Underbelly.

And inevitably some bad: Sat through an awful one man show at the Bedlam on Thursday, so bad that I won't can't bring myself to name the show the. That's it about the Fringe, you really do take a chance one things, and if you're paying ten quid a ticket (luckily I get in for free) you run the risk of being pissed off. That's why I am spending most fo my time this year promoting PBH's Free Fringe, over 300 hundred free shows and some brilliant stuff on offer, even got to interview Peter Buckley Hill yesterday! A very passionate man. Anyway our last show tonight then fully on the watch. Peace.

EDINBURGH FRINGE TALES - Day 3

So Edinburgh Fringe 2011 is a few days old and things are warming up. Went to see Oyster Eyes last night at Just The Tonic @ The Caves. So proud to see our friends deliver such a brilliant hour of surrealism and absurdity. These boys and girls are 4 of the good guys, beautifully off kilter and nonsensical, can't recommend it enough! As for us Animals, we are two shows into our week long run, fighting with ourselves and each other (as you might expect), and already reduced to smuggling White Lightning into VIP venues. Hoping to get out to enjoy some more of the 320 FREE shows that PBH's Free Fringe movement has to offer tonight. Speak soon. Joe Levi x

BROOKLYNITE

 When you inform anybody you are going to spend a prolonged period of time in New York, if they know the city they will no doubt inform you to visit Brooklyn. It’s where the alternate scene is, the artists and musicians hang out there, it’s the Northern Quarter of Manchester, the Old Town of Edinburgh, the Camden of London. However, what they don’t warn you is Brooklyn itself is huge! If it were a City in itself it would be the 5^th largest of the USA, with a population of over 2 million people it is certainly one to get completely lost in, and believe me you don’t want to do that!

If you head over the water, the only advice I can give you is don’t stray too far inland, it’s not fun, it’s not pretty and it’s a bit smelly. They are trying really hard to change these areas, spending a lot of money on developing and bringing new businesses in, but, as of right now it’s not worth your time. Brooklyn does have some amazing places on offer and if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan it’s an hour subway maximum depending on where in the City you are staying.

Williamsburg is a must, it’s quirky, full of hipsters, some amazing restaurants and bars and generally walking around you will no doubt encounter some street music/art/performance. Its one stop over on the L train (go to the Bedford stop) and you can easily spend a day walking round the thrift stores, vintage clothing and experiencing some of the best coffee you will ever try. Check out the Surf Bar on North 7^th, great sea food and amazing cocktails, also Public Assembly on North 6^th holds great music events from live bands to electro DJ’s.

If you walk north of Williamsburg, up Bedford Avenue you get to Greenpoint, quiet neighbourhood full of awesome sandwich shops and small food venues, definitely get yourself mac and cheese from Brooklyn mac n cheese! McCarren park on your walk up is worth taking  break in, grab a smoothie from the restaurant over the road and chill in the sun before exploring the area some more. Hop on the G train to Long Island City, there holds the first neon Pepsi Cola sign, the one which inspired Times Square, and also the MoMA’s exhibition space, PS1, here you can also catch the PS1 Warm up Sessions which I will be explaining more about in my next blog (we were lucky enough to grab a chat with the organiser!!). If you can hire a bike, Brooklyn is a great place to cycle around, just remember it’s the right side of the road you want to be on and turning right is a mission!

The best way to explore this area, I have found anyway, is to get completely lost until you find cafe or restaurant screaming come on in at you, or you discover a gallery that none of the tour books recommend, or maybe you meet some random at a bodega (corner shop) who will invite you to their show. These have proved to be the best way to discover what there is to do in this city. Meeting folk has opened up doors I never would have imagined:  I went to a live recording of a soul album in a guys converted Loft (the singer had been a backing vocal for MJ), a free gig at Cameo on North 6^th which I later found out was supposed to be $15 (not much but at least that could go on drinks), driven a dudes Lexus out to Long Island! This place is magical and will open up so many doors, there is too much going on and you won’t want to leave until you have experienced it all!

4Q IS BACK!!!!!!!

HELL YEAH! WE'RE BACK!
AND THIS TIME WE'RE GOING NATIONAL!

Ladies and gentleman, if you haven't heard of us before let me introduce you to 4Q Magazine.
We've been publishing our magazine in the North West of England since 2008, but now after huge success and due to an overwhelming demand we're rolling it out to the entire country on the 11th of August (11-8-11).

In this months issue we have exclusive interviews with Ellie Goulding, Katy B, Blondie, Jon Fratelli, The Jim Jones Revue, Phill Jupitus, Stephen Lynch, and bucket loads of other stuff too!

Plus, for the first time ever in a UK publication we will also be incorporated Augmented Reality into 4Q magazine. You will now be able to view our exclusive video interviews with all the stars just by downloading the Junaio app from your iPhone or Android phone. Search for 4Q Magazine on the app and then just hover your phone over your copy of 4Q. Et voila! Magic videos! How cool is that?!!

So keep a look out for 4Q... this is gonna be big people!

Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Free Fringe 2011

Hello. My name is Joe Levi Hodkin off of surrealist comedy collective The Animals of Butter Bridge, we have just arrived in Edinburgh for this years Fringe and Free Fringe festivals and I have been asked by 4Q Magazine to take you with us on our journey. Over the next two weeks I will be reviewing what i've seen, telling you who I've met and giving you an insight into the trials and tribulations of being in the country's most anarchic comedy collective (we've already had a fight and its only day 1). Keep checking back for my tales.