London: Beauty and Destruction / Light of Eternity

We were recently back at the superb Imperial War Museum in London to see the exhibition Beauty and Destruction: Wartime London in Art - the Blitz painted by war artists. 
I have been fascinated by the story of the Blitz since studying it at University as part of my British and American studies degree. I had fallen in love with London aged 10 on my first visit to the UK and the idea of this incredible city full of history and life being bombed touched a nerve... 
This is a small but beautifully put together exhibition. Every single image is significant and carries some kind of poignant beauty, but here are my two favourites:

I now belong to a family whose members have lived through the Blitz and it has become part of my story, in a way (if you had told 10 or 20 year-old me that it would one day be the case, I wouldn't have believed you!) and even though I have moved away from the capital, it still feels like my real home each time I go back.  

Olga Lehmann painting a mural at the Wardens’ Club, St Pancras ARP headquarters in London, 21st August 1940

Abram Games at work on his famous "Join the ATS" poster (1941)

Walking back to Central London from Lambeth via Lambeth Bridge, we spotted one of the iconic Thames tugboats... Everyone was on Westminster Bridge and therefore, we had this one to ourselves! 

Then it was to the Water Rats in Gray's Inn Road to see the fantastic Light of Eternity live again. We saw the band for the first time last year in Bristol, then in London as support for one of our favourite bands, Ministry! 
I just adore Light of Eternity's sound (post-punk, metal, industrial... it's all there, led by Pauly Williams's guitar and Paul Ferguson's drumming) - there is basically not a weak song on any of their releases.
One of the many strengths of LOE is Fred Shreck's voice - I like his precise, clear yet devastating delivery. The fact that the band now have a new member on bass (James Oz Bowery) has freed Fred from bass duties.
​On Wednesday at the Water Rats, he was genuinely compelling!

Pauly Williams

Paul Ferguson / Fred Shreck / James Oz Bowery

I am no longer a music journalist and therefore will not write full-blown reviews of gigs on here, but after having neglected my blog for several years, I am back posting about writing, reading, art and music, and as we now have tickets for some super exciting gigs over the next few months (and already two in 2027!), expect gig photos to appear on here regularly! 
I've come to the conclusion that social media is the most useless piece of overrated rubbish ever created, and I don't want to waste my time on it.  

Social media is dead, long live my (old) website!