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Day: 18 May 2018

Review: The Pen and Pencil – vegetarian special

The Pen and Pencil looks, on the face of it, like your typical hipster-ish Northern Quarter bar. The aesthetic is comprised of lots of natural wood and open metal structuring, there are magazine pullouts plastered all over the toilets, and your cutlery is served in Brooklyn Summer Ale cardboard six packs. So far, nothing we’ve not seen before, if I’m being brutally honest.

But don’t underestimate this little diamond in the rough — its food menu will absolutely blow you away. Since its inception in 2015, it seems to have evolved from a comfort food emporium, to somewhere that also offers classics with a quality twist. Its growth has been exemplary; I have no qualms in saying that the meal I had there was one of the best I’ve ever had in Manchester (and I consider myself to be well versed in food joints in our beloved city).

To celebrate National Vegetarian Week, I tried a selection of their new vegan and veggie options. One worry when you start opting for meat-free options when dining out, is that everything is going to be same-old same-old, and you’ll perpetually be lumped with a classic mushroom burger or daal. Either that or halloumi EVERYTHING.

And you’d be forgiven for having the same trepidations here — the new vegan mains include lentil stew, chickpea curry and beetroot falafel. At first, you’ll think “if I’ve had one falafel, I’ve had them all”.

A plethora of veggie and vegan food to choose from - Photo: Kirstie O'Mahony @The Mancunion
A plethora of veggie and vegan food to choose from – Photo: Kirstie O’Mahony @The Mancunion

You couldn’t be more wrong. You receive three huge, deep purple falafels in the portion, all drizzled with tahini and served with charred lettuce and a sprinkling of pomegranate seeds. When you bite into it, you immediately can taste garlic, which pairs beautifully with the earthy flavours of the chunky beetroot. This is then balanced by a kick of sweetness from the pomegranate, making it an absolute joy to eat.

I then moved on to the chickpea curry. This is a staple midweek meal that I lived on during my first and second years of university (incidentally when I was also trying out being a vegetarian). Made with coconut milk, it’s one of the easiest, cheapest and most filling meals you can make as a student. However, it can get quite repetitive and boring, so again, I was worried.

And again, I ate my words. The Pen and Pencil’s twist on a classic had an intense citrusy kick — it was like a Thai green curry with lemon instead of lime. The flavours were so incredibly unexpected, and the chickpeas were cooked to perfection. I would go back there for this dish alone, even though it’s something that dupes of can be easily made at home.

Their cocktails are perfect for summer - Photo: Kirstie O'Mahony @The Mancunion
Their cocktails are perfect for summer – Photo: Kirstie O’Mahony @The Mancunion

It also paired very well with my cocktail, ‘Mexican Queens’. The menu describes it as “a fragrant experience of Mexico with Ocho Blanco Tequila, thyme liqueur, green chartreuse, sugar and lemon”. The sweetness of it ensured the thyme wasn’t overpowering, and, to me, tasted like a botanist’s favourite margarita. Definitely one for the summer months to come!

Moreish lotus crisps - Photo: Kirstie O'Mahony @The Mancunion
Moreish lotus crisps – Photo: Kirstie O’Mahony @The Mancunion

I also tried one of their new veggie sides. I desperately wanted to try their Cajun baked okra, but unfortunately they had run out (a popular choice it seems), so opted for the deep fried lotus root instead. They were essentially like flower-crisps, served with an extremely moreish vegetable dip. They were crunchy and delicious, but at £4.50, I think I would’ve wanted a bigger portion of them.

This was actually a running theme throughout the menu — if you’re on a student budget, you may not find it easy to become a regular (although their burgers and brunch looked fairly reasonable). However, I would highly recommend it for celebrating special occasions in a more relaxed setting than your classic Australisia et al.

In the space of an hour, my perception of this place changed entirely. From a bar I occasionally haunted with friends before a gig, it became a hidden gem of exquisite food, one that I won’t easily forget. I will be back again VERY soon.

Review: Kindertransport

The Second World War narrative is one we are all familiar with, and yet we can still learn about the life-changing and enduring impacts of it from a myriad of perspectives. Sometimes this is done through theatre, and Kindertransport by Diane Samuels, recently performed at the Opera House, is no exception. It tells a story of war and its power to both make and break families, a sentiment that spans generations. For me, the play explores the impact of war on the meaning of family, specifically on the bonds between daughters and mothers, or mother-like figures.

A wooden structure that dominates the stage doubles as an attic room in 1980, and a symbol of a Germany overwhelmed by the fear and oppression brought on by Hitler’s dictatorship — it is a cold and empty space. It is in this setting that we are introduced to 9 year old Eva who is sent via ‘Kindertransport’ from Germany to England in 1939 to flee Hitler’s regime. She shares the space with Faith who, in 1980, is packing her things in the attic as she discusses with her Mum her fears for moving out. As their stories in the shared space are intermittently told we discover, alongside Faith, that Faith’s mother Evelyn is actually Eva.

Personally I perceived the relationships between mothers and daughters as the main theme in the play. We see Eva’s birth Mother keeping a brave face as she sends her daughter to a strange country, unsure of whether they’ll ever be re-united. We see Eva taken in and treated as a real daughter by Lil (Faith’s Grandma). We see Faith struggle with the idea that her Mum has lied to her for so many years, and her anguish at the idea that she know nothing about her Mother or her own heritage. I loved this about the play, despite this theme being sometimes hindered by a lack of pace and emotion in the dialogue. The performers did an amazing job to portray the pain of love between a mother and daughter being lost, the joy of that love being created and the strength of that love to endure when it is tested.

Strong performances and a clever, thoughtful set make up for a dialogue that is slow in places. The attic is framed by complete darkness in which a children’s story book monster, ‘the rat catcher’, often appears, symbolising the persistent fears that carried through from Eva’s childhood as a refugee to her adult life as a mother trying, and failing, to let go of her past. Movable floor boards enable actors to easily create train tracks, also creating visual signifiers of the literal and metaphorical distances created between loved ones because of war. Overall a moving and believable production, Kindertransport serves as a reminder to consider family as a unit that can be created and grow stronger through hard times, but one that is still delicate, especially in the face of war.

Festival Review: Liverpool Sound City 2018

Celebrating everyone from unsigned local bands to indie rock heroes, Liverpool Sound City was again this year a huge success. The sun shone upon the Baltic Triangle as band after band graced each of the 14 venues, alongside the many bars, food pop-ups and artistic performances. Here are some of the best performances from across the weekend…

Airways

This young Peterborough band drew in a sizeable crowd on Saturday evening, smashing their set with classic rock and exciting riffs. They resembled an early Arctic Monkeys with their cheeky lyrics coupled with heavy bass. Airways could definitely become a chart-indie success, and if this performance was anything to go by, they are headed in the right direction.

Airwaves
Photo: Yasmin Duggal @ The Mancunion

Marsicans

Have you ever seen a happier band than Marsicans? Grinning ear to ear they explored folksy rhythms and fast beats as they skipped their way through a shortened set — they explained: ‘There was traffic!’

A kind of mix between pop-indie 2010s bands and Mumford and Sons, the Marsicans are ones to watch for their infectious enthusiasm.

marsicans
Photo: Jessica Talbot @ The Mancunion

Neon Waltz 

Proud Scots Neon Waltz pumped the crowd with feel-good indie anthems and uplifting tunes set to make anyone smile. With a great festival reaction to their debut album from August of last year, Neon Waltz are ready to make waves in the genre, holding the torch for cheery indie-pop.

neon waltz
Photo: Yasmin Duggal @ The Mancunion

Black Honey

This female-led punky four-piece stormed the Camp and Furnace stage, warming the crowd up for fellow rockers DMA’S. Singer Izzy Phillips seduced the crowd with her fearless, Blondie aesthetic and snarling lyrics which fired up the edgy venue.

black honey
Photo: Yasmin Duggal @ The Mancunion

DMA’S 

Certainly the kings of the weekend, the Sydney three-piece emotionally and graciously brit-popped the hell out of the headline spot. Tommy O’Dell’s voice was staggering as new material made its festival debut. Their honest, raw, cathartic rock from heavy tracks ‘Timeless’ and ‘Lay Down’ to softer heartbreakers ‘In The Air’ and ‘Delete’ was received with mad enthusiasm as they brought something original and fresh to the festival.

DMA'S
Photo: Yasmin Duggal @ The Mancunion

Jaws 

There was something captivating about lead singer Connor Schofield’s cool nonchalance as he strutted the stage and graced Sound City with that smooth alternative goodness. Seeming pensive he indulged us with cool, oozy guitar pop, that distinctive tone was one to remember from the weekend as Jaws held their niche crowd in the palm of their hands.

Jaws
Photo: Yasmin Duggal @ The Mancunion

Night Café

This local band have come on in leaps and bounds in just a few months, finding their own sound for the festival stage as they bopped around to 1975 meets Catfish melodies. ‘Addicted To You’ was a particular highlight, as the catchy lyrics captivated a new crowd and planted the band as another Liverpool success story.

Night Cafe
Photo: Yasmin Duggal @ The Mancunion

Peace

Harry Koisser proved himself to be one of the best British frontman of recent years, as he majestically face-melted his way through sparkling anthem after sparkling anthem. ‘Power’ was a fierce opener, as Koisser, clad in shades and silken shirt, ignited a fire in Camp and Furnace set to burn for the next hour. Peace debuted new tracks ‘Angel’ and ‘Magnificent’, capturing the sentiment of their soul-stirring third album, Kindness Is The New Rock’n’Roll.

Peace
Photo: Yasmin Duggal @ The Mancunion

Obituary: Scott Hutchinson

Most notable for being the frontman of the Scottish Indie Folk band, Frightened Rabbit, Scott Hutchinson was a highly respected musician. Touted as influences from artists such as Biffy Clyro, Frank Turner and Death Cab for Cutie, Scott was well loved not only as a musician but also as a person.

Originally a nickname was given to Scott by his mum due to his shyness as a child. He then adopted Frightened Rabbit as a stage moniker in 2003. It only grew and evolved from there; his brother, Grant Hutchinson, joined as the drummer in 2004 and was followed soon by guitarist Billy Kennedy in 2006.

Their debut album, Sing the Greys, was released in 2006 with a limited run of just 1000. While it saw moderate success it wasn’t until they released their sophomore album, The Midnight Organ Fight, which they started to reach acclaim in 2008.

Releasing three more albums since then, including another one that was in the works, their distinctive blend of Indie, Folk and Rock with slight brushings of Pop and Post Punk was a delight. Mixed with some potent lyrics it gave Frightened Rabbit both an intimate but broad sound.

Scott’s ability to strip himself down as a person to expose himself to his art was remarkable. It gave his work a very human touch to it and made it extremely relatable. Never holding back from his experiences in life it gave his work an emotional sting. It resonated well with people and touched so many as they managed to find solace in his words.

In the early hours of Wednesday morning, Scott went missing. There had been serious concerns about his mental wellbeing at the time. Until wasn’t until late Friday afternoon that peoples worst fears had been realised after a body had been found and identified as his.

His battle with mental health was a reoccurring theme in his work. It makes his death even more tragic. Always being very forward and open about it gave a layer of depth to his work. Songs about loneliness, his own flaws and thoughts about suicide cut very deep. This deconstruction of himself made him human. He wasn’t perfect. He never claimed to be. Scott was just another person trying to carve his place in the world like the rest of us.

On ‘Head Rolls Off’, Scott sang, “While I’m alive, I’ll make tiny changes to Earth,” and he certainly did that. You only need to look on social media to see condolences from not only other artists but also fans. It’s kind of funny how someone can have such an impact a person life despite never meeting. It’s just a testament to how powerful his art is.

On a personal note, I can’t remember any time that the death of a celebrity touched such a nerve with me. A friend of mine introduced me to The Midnight Organ Fight while I was in my first year at University. It instantly struck a chord with me. It was an album I’d put on repeat again and again.

I was lucky enough to see the band perform it live in full back in March. It’s hard to believe that was around 2 months ago. Scott seemed so full of life. He was confident and joked on stage about some of the songs. It’s difficult to imagine that in such a short space of time that he’s taken his own life.

Songs off that album, like ‘Floating in the Forth’, now have a bigger emotional impact to them than they ever previously. This loss in his battle puts the album, and the rest of their material, in a whole new light.

But Scott’s original message with Frightened Rabbit should not be forgotten. No matter have dark things may seem, there is always a glimmer of light. This message of hope and overcoming the darkness is what we should remember from Scott. Not the ugliness of his untimely death. I know it’s a message I’ll carry with me for a long time. Farwell Scott. You are already missed.

 

 

If you’re struggling depression, suicidal thoughts or any other mental health issue you can seek help here

Samaritans: 116 123 (24/7 all year)

Papyrus (for under 35s): 0800 068 41 41 (Monday to Friday 10am to 10pm, weekends 2pm to 10pm, bank holidays 2pm to 5pm) or text at 07786 209697

Campaign Against Living Miserably (for men): 0800 58 58 58 (5 pm to midnight every day)

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If you’re a University of Manchester Student you can also contact counselling services for support

Website: here

Phone: +44 (0)161 275 2864 (9am-4pm)

Email: [email protected]

Nightline phone number: (0)161 275 3983 (8pm-8am)

Walmart leaks E3

As if we weren’t already chomping at the bit given that E3 is less than a month away: ever heard of Walmart? Yeah, that huge multinational corporation who own Asda and about a thousand other companies. Well, you’d think a global powerhouse might know a thing or two about keeping things secret before a big release. Apparently not…

Last week, the internet went into meltdown as Walmart Canada accidentally leaked what looks to be the line-up for this year’s E3 on their pre-order page — and I don’t mean the stuff we already know of, or have had hints about with no official announcement: we’re talking about series you might have forgotten existed altogether. Brace yourselves, guys.

Anyone remember Bethesda’s RAGE? Course you do: not just another post-apocalyptic romp, but a concept that was in fashion and really got people’s attention, even if the final product didn’t quite receive the rave reviews it was touted to. You would’ve been forgiven if you had forgotten about it until now— I know I had —but according to Walmart, the series is finally getting its sequel.

And it doesn’t stop there: Splinter Cell, Borderlands 3, Just Cause 4, Gears of War 5—there is even the possibility of a new Assassin’s Creed, though the title revealed little else and, despite years of employing an annual release policy, Ubisoft has stated that they are looking to take more time between installments.

Screenshot: RAMMYwastaken @Reddit
Screenshot: RAMMYwastaken @Reddit

There were other smaller titles listed such as Lego DC Villains, Destiny Comet (looking like Bungie’s DLC rumoured nearly three years ago) and Dragon Quest 2, which is most likely to be DG Builders 2, given that the Dragon Quest sequel was released in 1987. Little peculiarities like this and the fact that they also listed Forza Horizons 5 before the 4th has even come out yet, are the main reason that the authenticity is being called into question.

Having said that, it’s not like they would have just listed games for fun and to torture us—we’ve had enough fake Half-Life 3 teases to know when we’re being messed with — after all, if they can make the mistake of revealing a whole list of games, they’re certainly capable of getting a title wrong.

Since then, Bethesda has decided to get ahead of the curve, not only teasing some interesting stills but officially confirming the game, courtesy of a trailer that features both outrageous punk-rock cinematics and a taste of the over-the-top gameplay. This came after an initial response to the leak in which they essentially parodied a Reddit sceptic, comically picking holes in the blank cover art and claiming fake news on account of the wrong font. Well played God — I mean, Todd Howard.

Screenshot: Official @RAGEgame Twitter account
Screenshot: Official @RAGEgame Twitter account

I’m not telling you to not get your hopes up for all of these — I’m sure everyone’s are already through the ceilings regardless — but clearly, a lot of this needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. At the end of the day, we’ve already seen plenty of genuine trailers and announcements alongside lots of leaked retail rumours that haven’t come to pass.

Okay, I’ve given you my official disclaimer; now feel free to lose your mind and enjoy the build-up for E3 in all its delusional glory like we do every year!

Live Review: Peace

Wednesday 9th May, The Leadmill, Sheffield

‘Someday I will be magnificent’ rings out Peace’s newest record, and that someday is here. They’ve got the power, alright. Their wonderfully frenzied and pumping rock’n’roll had The Leadmill in their own ‘Bloodshake’ on Wednesday night; shirts as glossy as ever, mops of hair flying, Peace were bloody well BACK.

In his signature flamboyantly fabulous manner, Harry Koisser launched The Leadmill into a crazed mosh of uncontrolled admiration, as that unmistakable tone dulcetly droned the first ‘Close your eyes’ of fan favourite ‘Wraith’.

‘Money’ and new track ‘Power’ were equally as exhilarating, whilst ‘I’m A Girl’ was an unexpected diamond in a sea of bejewelled tracks. “We’re gonna play an old song now”, crooned Koisser, as he played those all too familiar first notes of In Love tune ‘Toxic’. It ripped through the crowd as Koisser was down on all knees slaying that guitar the best he knows how.

‘Silverlined’ proved a hidden gem amongst the newer tracks, which each effortlessly introduced a softer side to Peace’s fruity discography, Koisser oozing emotion as he majestically strutted the stage. The track touched a nerve, as the frontman seemed to inject every last inch of being into those gorgeous lyrics.

No song does it better than ‘1998 (Delicious)’, and none was more satisfying than Koisser’s sweet-natured, “Oh Sheffield, you fall for it every time!”

The track weaved from murmured words to psychedelic Floyd extended instrumental, characteristically fooling the crowd into an early head-banging. That song soaks you up and spits you out in the finest form.

Peace seem to be the angels they so often sing about, floating dangerously closer to the sun, for no-one can touch them. Peace and love.

10/10