nessymon.com

Blog

  • Baseball and Me: In Anticipation of #LondonSeries 2019

    Baseball and Me: In Anticipation of #LondonSeries 2019

    I’ve been watching baseball since 2004. An illness and horrible bouts of insomnia led me to look for something to keep me busy at night when the rest of my world was sleeping.

    The North American Sports Network had just launched in Ireland, showing baseball games, with lots of live games starting just after midnight. Perfect.

    It was relaxing, nothing too strenuous and something to keep me occupied. Little did I know that I would fall for the game.

    After a few weeks, I decided that if I was going to watch this, I should root for a team. Since I had been to San Francisco not too long before, and loved the place, the San Francisco Giants became an obvious choice.

    I was still learning the rules and history of the club. I hadn’t even known they had reached the World Series two years before. But by the end of the season, I was subscribed to MLB tv, trying to watch the Giants and the Dodgers, with my team losing the division by two games.

    Baseball became a companion to me. I worked from home and always had a game from the night before on as I did my work. Let’s face it for the next couple of years the Giants were, putting it nicely, shite.

    Tim Lincecum joined, Barry Bonds retired and then a fresh breed of Giants gave some hope. I will never forget 2010, I had returned to study and the post season was challenging to say the least. Going to bed early so I could get up and watch games and hopefully get some sleep before lectures. It was all worth it for the first of three World Series titles.

    Life changes, jobs mean baseball viewing habits change, I had a Madison Bumgarner Jersey shaped 40th birthday cake but I still had never been to an actual MLB game. I just couldn’t afford it.

    So when the news filtered that baseball was coming to London where I now live, I hadtwo emotions. Sheer delight and simultaneously, dread. What happens if I couldn’t get a ticket? You can read about that here.

    Now the #LondonSeries is this weekend. Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, obviously I wish it was the Giants but I guess the two East Coast teams are the flagship for the game.

    The information and teasers that the MLB people have put out through social media imply that no one in the UK has ever watched a game. I got an email during the week reminding me that a baseball game doesn’t have a set time as it goes by innings and outs etc. Pretty low brow stuff. A social media post with ‘Phrases you might hear at the ballpark’ didn’t really help very much.

    Now I’m wondering. This game that I’ve loved and watched for the past fifteen years, is it not going to be what I expected?

    Will I think it’s shite if I don’t have Kruk, Kuip, John and Dave chatting to me through the game? Have I built this all up so much that I will only be disappointed?

    I’m hoping for a few home runs, some proper battle it out stuff, an extra inning? Why not? And a good old Red Sox vs Yankees physical tussle where the umpire gets involved and has to eject a few? That would be awesome. And no, I’m not endorsing violence.

    When the Giants won the three World Series, I felt a passion for a sport like nothing else. (Maybe when Meath won the All Ireland). If America’s summer pastime is in the UK, I want the ripple of electricity to spread around the ballpark.

    I’m ready. Game on!

    Follow me on Instagram for updates from both June 29 and June 30th

    Baseball image by Lenora Cagle from Pixabay

    AT & T Image by David Mark from Pixabay

  • The London Ear // Show 249 with Shane Joyce

    The London Ear // Show 249 with Shane Joyce

    The London Ear // Show 249 with Shane Joyce

    It’s always great to artists as they are about to take the next great step in their career. Today was just that on The London Ear as I had the opportunity to speak to Shane Joyce just before he plays Glastonbury for the first time.

    Originally from Dublin, Shane now lives in Kilkenny. He released his debut album ‘The Sorrow of King Joyce’ last year and is already planning the follow up for release in 2020.

    You can catch Shane Joyce at the Mandala stage in Greenfields on Friday night at 8pm.

    Online, you can find out more about Shane on his website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

    London Irish LGBT Homophobia / Hate Crime information night with Galop

    During the programme, I mention an event that the London Irish LGBT Network are hosting along with Galop.

    From the LILGBT website:
    “Reports of hate crimes against the LGBTQ community are on the rise in the UK.

    So we’re teaming up with Galop for an evening of information about the services they offer to our community in combating crime, violence and domestic abuse.

    Galop are the LGBT+ anti violence charity.

    From their website:

    “If you’ve experienced hate crime, sexual violence or domestic abuse, we’re here for you. We also support lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people who have had problems with the police or have questions about the criminal justice system.”

    The event takes place Thursday 27th June at 7pm at 190 Iverson Road, London, NW6 2HL.

    All the details here on the LILGBT website.

    The London Ear // June 22 2019 // Playlist

    1. Girl Band: Shoulderblades
    2. Nnic: The Place
    3. Shura: religion (You can lay your hands on me)
    4. Future West: See What I see
    5. Chat with Shane Joyce
    6. Shane Joyce: The Spider
    7. Chat with Shane Joyce
    8. Shane Joyce: This Fire
    9. Sea Girls: Damage Done
    10. Sinead Harnett: LeoBear
    11. Department of Forever: Department of Forever
    12. Emberz and All Tvvins: Something Good

    Listen On Demand to The London Ear

    Thanks for listening, The London Ear broadcast on DAB radio, Saorview and outside Ireland you can listen online. You can listen to the show again on the RTE player including all previous episodes. The show is broadcast every Saturday at 1300. You can find us on the RTE 2XM website here.

  • Nessy Recommends // Shura: religion (u can lay your hands on me)

    Nessy Recommends // Shura: religion (u can lay your hands on me)

    It’s three months since Shura gave us BKLYNLDN and a glimpse into what direction her long awaited second album would take. The build up to the release of ‘Forevher’ has just take a major leap forward and has made Shura a queer queen for our times.

    I’ve loved Shura’s music since I first heard it. She beautifully mixes an eighties electronic vibe with today’s contemporary world for someone special. ‘religion’ though, this is something on a different level.

    Being the George Michael fan I am, the very first bars of ‘religion’ instantly reminded me of ‘I Want Your Sex’. That reaction was pretty spot on.

    ‘religion’ tells the story of a long distance relationship and to be totally honest, it’s so fcuking refreshing to a queer anthem about wanting to get it on with your new love. This new chapter of Shura’s music seems, so far, to show an extra freedom and a serious danceability. Catchy hooks, and a new lady love anthem. And that’s before we even get to the video.

    Once upon a time, Madonna was thee gay icon. Remember ‘Like a Prayer’? Burning crosses, sexy moving statues and Madonna flirting with possibly a black female God. Biggest shock of all, I kissed a boy at a school disco when this was on. ALL of that is well in the past.

    Step forward Shura, who on Facebook described herself as ‘your friendly neighbourhood vaping lesbian Pope’. Dancing nuns in empty swimming pools, kissing and smoking and Pope herself, Shura performing a nun wedding. Directed by Chloe Wall, this is pure brillance. Totally irreverent, I love it, your Grandmother will probably hate it, which obviously means Shura is doing something right.

    I have listened to this over and over and I’m disappointed every time the track ends. Stick it on your next Spotify playlist.

    Shura’s album ‘Forevher’ is released on August 20th on Secretly Canadian. You can preorder on her website.She’s also hitting the road, you can get full tour dates and tickets here.

    Now, put your headphones on and crank up the volume.

  • The London Ear Show 248

    The London Ear Show 248

    Hello! Another Saturday, another episode of The London Ear!

    I have an hour of great new music for you today alongside a couple of British acts, namely Kate Tempest, who is also a South East London resident, and The Ghosts. The Ghosts were formed by Alex Starling of ex Ou Est Le Swimming Pool. I absolutely adored that band and was delighted to be able to play their new single, ‘We Lie To Ourselves’.

    The London Ear // June 15 2019 // Playlist

    Here’s the line up for this week’s programme:
    1. Bantum X God Knows X Farah Elle X Ben Bix: Strongest Thing
    2. Sacred Animals: Maya Liminal
    3. The Ghosts: We Lie To Ourselves
    4. whenyoung: The Others
    5. EllyD: With The World
    6. Pursued by Dogs: Your Bones
    7. Future West: What I see
    8. Kate Tempest; Firesmoke
    9. Sister Ghost: Backwards
    10.Girl Band: Shoulderblades
    11. Mark Richards: The Pelican Brief
    12. Matt Taylor: Volatile
    13. Karms: Tell Me When This One Ends
    14. Deep Sky Objects: Nothing To Lose

    Listen On Demand to The London Ear

    Thanks for listening, The London Ear broadcast on DAB radio, Saorview and outside Ireland you can listen online. You can listen to the show again on the RTE player including all previous episodes. The show is broadcast every Saturday at 1300. You can find us on the RTE 2XM website here.