Housing data for Brighton & Hove

You may, or indeed may not, find the following interesting:

- The average house price in Brighton & Hove in 2004 was £205,674
- The average income was £22,718
- The ratio between these is 9.1
- 314 affordable homes were built
- 206 were sold through the right to buy
- 926 households were accepted as homeless and in priority need of housing
- 762 homeless households were housed in temporary accommodation

5x2 - Duke of Yorks

One word - boring. The film 5x2 has had some glowing reviews, but is basically a fairly dull look at a couple breaking up. The fact that the story unfolds backwards - from their divorce back to when they first met - helps very little. Can someone please recommend a good film to go and see, as the last two I've seen have been real stinkers! Luckily my evening was lifted by good company - thanks S, B and W.

Easter

Me at Easter05
Originally uploaded by powerfulpierre.

Yum

9 Songs - Duke of Yorks cinema

One word - rubbish. How Michael Winterbottom got given money to make 9 Songs I just don't understand. I could just see no point in this film existing - it is completely boring. The male character being an arctic scientist is laughable. The music bits are okay, but seeing Franz Ferdinand etc playing the Brixton Academy is hardly that interesting. As for the explicit scenes - this seems to be the only reason this film was made, to generate press cuttings. And on that basis I suppose it's been a success, but when Film Review magazine says it is "the first film of 2005 not to be missed", er, no. Please miss it.

Baltic art gallery, Gateshead

Me at Baltic
Originally uploaded by powerfulpierre.

Another example of an old industrial building being turned into an art gallery, the Baltic in Gateshead is a great building. Rather like the Guggenheim in Bilbao though, the exterior is more interesting than the actual art inside...

Esbjorn Svensson Trio - The Sage, Gateshead

I have only recently started listening to Esbjorn Svensson Trio (thanks S!) and this was the first time I've seen them live. For a start, The Sage is a fantastic venue, and we were in the first few rows so had a great view of the band. They really were fantastic, Esbjorn of course, but also drummer Magnus (who did the oddest drum solo I've ever heard, through effects.) Esbjorn himself clearly has a huge ego, but the music is so great I can forgive him that. They are playing Brighton Dome on 18 May - catch them.

Hem - Komedia - 10 March

Now, Hem were a real surprise. Never heard of them, didn't know what to expect, and they were amazing. Beautiful songs and harmonies, great musicians - a fantastic gig. Immediately bought their two CDs after the gig, which are great, and have booked to go and see them again in June in London. Check them out.

Doves - Brighton Dome - 8 March

Doves are a good band, they have top tunes, the Dome sound was great, but this gig was strangely unengaging. Refreshing to see a guitarist use the same guitar for the whole gig though, instead of changing with each song!

Rufus Wainwright - Islington Academy

Saw Rufus Wainwright last night at Islington Academy (strange venue, in a shopping centre, but nice and small). He was really good, a very engaging performer, and his band are excellent. Even the seen-it-all-before London audience were relatively quiet while he did his solo piano thing. His 'new' album Want Two is out on Monday - will be interesting to see if all the critical attention he is getting turns into commercial success.