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Day: 23 February 2018

Review: Beirut

Any self-respecting student knows that Curry Mile is awash not only with a huge collection of restaurants, but also a wide range of cuisines. There are, of course, Indian restaurants, but there are also Afghani, Persian, Lebanese, and many more available — should one wish to be a touch more adventurous.

Most will have spotted Beirut (the restaurant, not the city) whilst trudging up and down Curry Mile on a 142. Yet, I would hazard a guess that few have entered. Jutting out towards the road, this Lebanese restaurant offers the standard Lebanese affair, charcoal-grilled meats, flatbreads, and hummus. It also offers more exotic options such as Molokeyah, a traditional Egyptian dish, or Mansaf, a traditional Jordanian dish.

Despite having very little idea what I was getting, I ordered one dish from the charcoal grill so as to compare the slightly more standard fare, and one speciality dish, Makloubah, a Palestinian rice dish with lamb. The shish tawook, marinated and then grilled chicken cubes, was fine. Only fine. The chicken was fairly tender and tasted okay, but almost entirely lacked any flavour imparted by the grill. The onions and peppers grilled alongside it had been cut up so small they virtually disintegrated, adding nothing to the dish. Add to this the fact that the dish, costing £10, came without any sort of side. You’re looking at a fairly expensive, yet fairly bland, main course in an area where, within a stones throw you could get the same plus a side and keep a few quick in pocket.

The speciality dish was somewhat more exciting, and would therefore be the section of the menu I would recommend ordering from if you do visit. The rice was soft and fluffy, and also excellently flavoured with spices and garlic. Mixed in to the rice where chunks of onion, aubergine and potato, which also added to the flavour having been grilled prior to their addition. The lamb served with the main was well cooked, still slightly pink in the middle, but once again seemed to be lacking a touch on the flavour side. The hummus served alongside the two mains followed along on a similar path, lacking flavour, somewhat under-seasoned and generally bland. The breads were served cold, although they were soft and fluffy and would have been excellent had they been warm.

All in all, I must say I was slightly disappointed by Beirut. Lebanese food is a favourite of mine, however this was not an amazing offering, and not helped at all by the proximity of many restaurants offering food which is perhaps not only better, but also significantly cheaper. Therefore, on the whole, I shall probably be frequenting one of Curry Mile’s cheaper establishments instead.

Review: The Newspaper Boy

I never would have thought that someone saying, “I wank about you” would be so endearing but, in the context of this play, it was. The Newspaper Boy is a coming-of-age story set in 1992, written by Chris Hoyle.

The play focusses on Christian, a 15-year-old from Moston in Manchester, who is cast into a popular soap opera. We see Christian fall in love with Max, a 21-year-old who is his best friend’s step-brother, and the story falling into the tabloid press and the problems this brings.

The story is full of first times: clubbing, drinking, and of course sexual relationships. These scenes were uncomfortably realistic, making me cringe as I’m reminded of my own experiences.

When Christian, played by Daniel Maley, comes out as gay — albeit in a less-than-ideal way via the tabloid press — the focus is the reaction of the other characters. His best friend Mandy quickly becomes practical, suggesting she knows where to get gay porn from, if he would like it. Although his family eventually accept that he is gay, we see the fear of telling others, especially in the moment when a neighbour throw bricks through their window.

This play makes you realise that a lot has changed in recent years. Only in 2001 did the age of consent for gay men get lowered to 16, the same as a heterosexual couple. In 1992, when the play is set, the age of consent for two males was 21. There is a wonderful speech  in which Christian argues that, despite being only 15, he still has feelings and can be in love.

There is a tendency for us to be dismissive of relationships involving those younger then us, but this play draws attention to the importance of these relationships and the fact that they should be respected, something I think it important to remember when discussing relationships with teenagers.

The second act dragged slightly, focussing on the newspaper scandal revealing that Christian was in a sexual relationship with a man while being underage. It lost its way somewhat with scenes that were too long, but they were redeemed by Chris Hoyle’s use of humour to cut through. Of particular note was the Aunt who we never see but is always calling over the telephone. It felt as if there was an inside joke amongst the audience about this very present, but non-existent, character – a wonderful addition to the play.  This act was more serious, moving away from the romance that had been built up to the reality of what it meant to be gay in the 90s  and the impact of tabloids on families.

The set was cleverly designed, utilising the small stage for different spaces: moving between a family home, to a club created before us by a raving set team who felt just as much part of the show. To move between these, 90s television adverts were projected, which added a sense of nostalgia. I’m still humming the Milkyway jingle.

The play was a lovely balance between humour and tension, and concern for Christian and the impact the scandal. This is certainly a play to watch.

Student campaigners demand divestment

On Wednesday the 21st of February, students from three campaigning groups: People and Planet; Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS); and Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) rallied together to demand that the University of Manchester divest from fossil fuels companies, and companies allegedly complicit in Israeli war crimes.

The demonstrators stood under the Whitworth Arch, University of Manchester, with drums, flags, and banners. They held a large orange banner that read “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. DIVEST NOW!” Students chanted “Hey! Ho! Nancy Rothwell’s got to go!”

Numerous security guards were seen policing the Whitworth building, where a board of governors meeting was taking place, and monitoring the protesting students.

The protest attracted the attention of bypassers, including prospective students taking tours of the University. One protester remarked that she was glad that tours were ongoing during this time, as the protest reflected, “that students are politically aware, and holding the University to account”. She added that this made the protest more public, and “embarrasses the University”, who she claimed were trying to quieten student protestors.

This is not the first protest of its kind. Over the last few years, all three campaigning groups have made Freedom of Information requests, and, following unsatisfactory University responses, staged numerous divestment protests.

Molly Stedman, a campaigner and third-year drama student, told The Mancunion that she thought that the University claiming they would “review” policies and look into investments was an evasive tactic. Stedman added that she thought management claiming they could not divest or needed the investments was an “excuse”, citing the fact that other universities, such as Sussex, have recently divested from fossil fuels.

Stedman also supports the BDS Campaign, which demands divestment from companies like Caterpillar, who they allege supply the armoured bulldozers Israeli military forces use to bulldoze Palestinian homes. “I know University is becoming more and more marketised, but can it have investments that don’t facilitate the killing of children, and weapons of mass destruction?” Stedman remarked.

In relation to the protest, the University stated: “The University announced significant changes to its Socially Responsible Investment Policy in May last year.

“This will see the University change its relationship with its Investment Managers allowing it to pursue an ethical investment approach, whilst also minimising any potential negative impact on investment returns. This includes a commitment to identifying and promoting low or zero-carbon investments.”

“In relation to the protests, as usual, the University recognises all students’ right to protest peacefully, providing that this does not unduly disrupt the conduct of the University’s normal business.”

Take away review: Pearl City Cantonese

Picture it: you stumble out of Soup Kitchen at 3am. You amble over to Piccadilly Gardens, knowing you have to get a bus back, but your stomach is crying out to be fed. That cheesy pasta you had seven hours ago is now a long, distant memory.

But when you see the golden arches of McDonalds, you realise you just aren’t feeling it. You want something a bit different, something salty but actually good quality.

Enter Pearl City Cantonese. This gem (get it) sits in the heart of Chinatown and is open until 3:30am every…single…morning. Not only that, but you don’t need to take it away. You can feel fancy AF and have a sit down meal in the wee hours — although the food is actually cheaper if you take it home, so it depends how you’re feeling and how much you’ve just spent on your night out.

I live in the city centre though, and it’s on my walk home from Piccadilly, so I will unashamedly admit I have spent many a hazy early morning in the fine establishment.

I decided to take away this time, though, as the BRITs were on and I wanted the comfort of my own home.

To start with, I had char sui baus (pork buns), siu mai (prawn and pork dumplings), spare ribs in peking sauce and vegetarian deep fried won tons.

The baus were incredible. The bun itself was soft and fluffy and a little bit salty. It was perfectly cooked. The filling inside was a little bit sweet, providing a good balance. It also wasn’t just tiny bits of meat either, you actually got whole chunks of tender pork inside.

Siu mai is my favourite type of dim sim. It’s a combination of pork and prawn filling in rice pastry, which is then steamed. They’re tasty wherever you go, or at leas they are to me, as the flavours are hard to get wrong. However, the siu mai at Pearl City are a cut above the rest, as instead of just minced prawn and minced pork smushed together, you get an entire prawn and proper pork meat, which gave it a great texture. It was divine.

The ribs and the wontons let the starters down though. The peking sauce on the ribs was far too vinegary and the meat was tough. They also cost £7.10 for the portion which, whilst large, just wasn’t worth the money. The filo pastry that made up the wontons was really crunchy and the vegetables were flavoursome, however it was literally dripping with oil, which when drunk you might be able to see past, but when only one can in in the comfort of your own home, it’s a bit off putting.

For mains, we tried the beef with green pepper and black bean sauce, fried king prawns with satay sauce, and fried king prawns again with ginger and spring onion. The meat and prawns were all amazing quality, the beef being incredibly tender and the prawns were absolutely huge. The sauces though were quite weak in comparison to other Chinese restaurants. It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing though, as quite often when sauces are too thick and gelatinous it actually detracts from the meal.

Overall, the food is a 6.5/10 when sober, but a solid 10/10 when drunk (a fact to which I can testify). It’s the perfect end to any night on the town, and definitely worth a visit.

Live Review: Alestorm

Sunday 18th February, The Ritz

Manchestarrr hosted pirate metal band Alestorm at the Ritz on their Piratefest tour, following the release of their latest album No Grave But The Sea. Alestorm are a drunken band of mutinous seadogs who incorporate a mix of rock and folk-metal styles with seafaring shanties and tales of wenches, mead, and marooning on desert islands (and, occasionally, going back through time to fight Vikings and steal their gold).

Lovers of pirates, metal, and pirate metal came aboard to The Dead Crew of Oddwood and Rumahoy battening down the hatches, before Alestorm opened with their most widely-known track ‘Keelhauled’ (a song about throwing filthy landlubbers overboard pirate ships and dragging them underneath the water by a rope).

As soon as lead singer Christopher Bowes snarled down the microphone, keytar fiddle in hand, it was destined to be a night that would send shivers down various timbers. Quite impressive too, to find the only ever respectable use of a keytar.

Alestorm may be more than a little tongue in cheek but at times the sheer musicality of their performance shines through. They clearly put a great deal of effort into the songs, and as a result the subject matter never grows tiresome. Lead guitarist (First) Mate Bodor is a particular highlight, with genuinely impressive guitar solos. If Clapton is “Slowhand”, Bodor is the opposite, and a great deal more swashbuckling. Bowes sings emphatically too, without ever breaking from seafaring drawl.

Perhaps it works so well because pirates and rock music are a perfect fusion. Think about it: everyone already knows what pirate shanties sound like, and there’s a treasure chest of clichés to play on. The fact that it took four albums for them to make a song called ‘Walk the Plank’ shows there’s no shortage in material. Long scraggly hair fits too, as does, of course, the alcohol. Rrrum all round the Ritz.

Alestorm are never going to be the greatest gig you’ve ever been to, but they might be the most fun. Or boozy. During a rendition of ‘Drunken Sailor’, Rumahoy frontman Captain Yarrface, three sheets to the wind, came back onstage to drain a litre of beer.

Unbelievably, Bodor then performed an entire guitar solo with one hand, chugging a can with the other. Even mead aside, the show was a riot. Entirely unprompted, the whole crowd port to starboard were all hands on deck, rowing in time with the closest thing Alestorm have to a ballad, ‘Nancy the Tavern Wench’.

They could have perhaps upped the pirate attire onstage a little: their clothes were, at best, nautically themed. As a fan myself I can forgive drummer Peter Alcom for wearing a United shirt, but at least throw in a captain’s hat or a parrot on the shoulder whilst you’re at it! In particular, keyboards and unclean vocalist Elliot Vernon looked out of fit with the rest of the band, even if his performance wasn’t. Bowes was barefoot at least.

Their stage presence more than makes up for it though. Bowes is hilarious and foul-mouthed on-mic between songs (“cheer is you stole our latest album”), never letting up the act. Again, though, there is plenty of thought put into it too. The set was well-balanced, at no point the more poppy songs like ‘Mexico’ and ‘Hangover’ feeling out of place with the more rocky ‘The Sunk’n Norwegian’ and ‘Magnetic North’. The crowd seemed to love it from start to finish.

Alestorm left more than a few Rogers jolly: well worth some pieces of eight for a ticket.

Feature: NME celebrates diversity at 2018 awards show

Modern award shows are regularly criticised for their mundane, run-of-the-mill series of events, culminating in American performances at a British event, and the rehearsed shell-shock of bookies’ favourites as they stride up to claim their third prize of the night.

Alongside the recent abuse hurled at UK festivals for their lack of female representation, the music industry is facing hard times for its apparent disregard for divergence from the mainstream.

NME Editor-in-Chief Mike Williams opened the NME Awards on Valentine’s Day with a speech that highlighted such issues. He recognised that NME had previously been a cultural institution guilty of these discriminations, but was proud of the fact that in the last year the magazine had made wider representation their focus. And what a night of celebration it turned out to be.

Steflon Don set the bar with a fierce performance alongside grime colleague Skepta, tearing up the O2 Academy Brixton with an attitude which actively saluted her race, gender, and cultural background. This seemed to be the running theme of the evening; perhaps the way to tackle underrepresentation is to build your own path to success.

HAIM, Lorde and Charlie XCX also held the torch for female empowerment, whilst Icon Award winner Shirley Manson put the industry to shame with her speech demanding change for women.

Addressing what she described as a “phenomenal imbalance” of gender in the cultural industry, the Garbage legend highlighted that in the music business where individuals are judged on performance independent of gender, the lack of equal representation seems ludicrous. Alluding to the recent allegations across media platforms in the cultural sector, Manson used her acceptance speech to challenge women to stand up and “really call out” discrimination in the industry.

Her message was perhaps so poignant because it spotlighted equal representation not as a kind of idealistic, horizon-bound end-point, but rather common sense lacking from the patriarchal exclusivity of cultural decision-making.

It was not only women celebrated for their femininity at this year’s awards, however. Grime was honoured with some of the most prestigious prizes: Boy Better Know were the recipients of the Innovation Award, whilst Steflon Don won Best New Artist and J Hus took home Best Album for 2017’s Common Sense.

Ironically, it seemed exactly like common sense for such artists to be celebrated. Grime’s impact on the music scene from an underground street genre to global phenomenon has, for many, put Britain’s political music efforts back on top.

It was certainly a proud night to be British, and a proud night to celebrate disabilities, so Best Male Solo Artist Loyle Carner put it, as “superpowers”. Having struggled with ADHD himself, recently opening up about his hardship to the NME Lifehacks event back in November, Carner has since set up a cooking school for children with similar struggles, emphasising with his speech that music was something which helped him channel that energy.

It was apparent that each artist in that room, winners or otherwise, had diversity and equality on their mind, and who could blame them? Not only was it refreshing to see cultural issues be presented on a national stage rather than brushed under the carpet, it was inspiring to realise that each advocate of equal representation who stood on that stage was unafraid to voice their opinion.

Music may have been criticised for losing its political bite in the last decade, but now more than ever we need those with a platform to use it effectively for the cause. The 2018 NME Awards show was exemplar in its organic showcase of diverse talent, and long may it live on.

It may not have had a Jarvis Cocker moment, or even an Adele cock-up, but at least it had some bad-ass females.

Five tips to help you get reading again

For many of us, starting university signalled the end of our ‘reading for pleasure’ lives. We might offer excuses of being tired, lazy, or bored of staring at words on a white page.

Granted, in most cases being at university requires a hell of a lot of reading. But reading for pleasure is an entirely different activity, it induces emotion (not that your thesis on quantum physics doesn’t make you cry), it inspires creativity, it allows us to explore the impossible and relish in the everyday.

Recently I have started reading again every evening, and not only do I enjoy what I read, but I feel much better for reading it. Reading is a skill, and one you get better at with time. But reading for fun can be so important to your state of mind and can have massive influences on the development of your personality. We all know that starting and getting into a book can be the hardest thing, so I’ve compiled a top five tips list to help you get back into reading.

1.  Audiobooks

It may seem like cheating, but that’s okay, it’s still a book! If you can’t bring yourself to start reading a book after a long day at the library, audiobooks can provide relaxing downtime and a well-earned rest from looking at words all day. Audiobooks are also incredibly handy; many sites allow you to download versions of the book so that you can take them anywhere, the gym, on the bus, the library…

They’re also increasingly available and cheap in price. But if you really don’t want to fork out, audible offers a 30-day free trial in which you have one credit for any book. There are also shed-loads of sites that offer free (legal) downloads of published and unpublished books covering all topics and genres, start off by having a browse in the Manchester libraries website.

2.  Reread your favourite book

Honestly, there’s nothing better than revisiting one of your much-loved books. Whether it’s a psychological thriller you adored in your late teens or the first Harry Potter book that you read with your mum, rereading a personal classic can set you on the road to rekindling your love for literature.

3.   Branch out

Perhaps you tried reading a book from what used to be your favourite author but you didn’t enjoy it. That’s fine. It’s totally natural that our literary taste buds should change over time. So grab something different, move out of your comfort zone. Chat with a friend or a stranger about what excites them. Head to the English literature section of the library and pick out a romantic poet, grab a copy of Das Kapital or be enveloped by a graphic novel. The beauty of the written word is that it takes such infinite forms!

4.   Hit up the YA section!

Okay, maybe Marx was a bit much for ‘light reading’. Change of plan. Young adult fiction has given us some of the greatest writers of all time. From fantastical stories, like those from Tolkien and Philip Pullman, to classic ‘coming of age’ tales like The Catcher in the Rye or To Kill a Mockingbird, the YA genre has it all.

Often YA novels require significantly less active reading from the reader. Not that YA books can’t be challenging and reflect important strains in our society, but that they are often written in such an engrossing way that allows the reader to leap into new worlds and (for the most part) forget about the problems in ours. A useful tool if you find university pressures muddling your mind.

5.   Go to your local Library

Your local library is there for a reason…to be used! Government funding for libraries has seen a dramatic decline, with many councils off laying libraries to be run by local communities. Take advantage of them while they are still around and still free! There’s no rush to finish books as you can often renew outstanding items.

Manchester City Council offers an online service so if there’s a particular book you’re after, you can search and reserve it without stepping out the door. If you just fancy a browse the central library in town has a massive collection of all genres, you’d be surprised what you can find.

So there you have it, your top tips guide to rekindling that lost love of books.