The Crash

 I've mentioned before how emotionally invested I get myself into books and television programmes. I've found myself getting attached to characters I've created myself in the past too. It's normal, right? Maybe. But when it's a story of this emotional intensity, I think it's a natural reaction to be crying by the end credits.

'The Crash' shouldn't have appealed to me. I shy away from things I know will upset me at certain times. But, something made me want to watch this two part drama.

The story revolves around a group of friends, their ages aren't ever specified but at a guess I'd say they're all around the eighteen-nineteen mark. Main character, Kate (Sacha Parkinson) has returned home from university for Christmas. Instead of a romantic reunion with boyfriend, Tom (Lewis Rainer) the couple are dragged out to the pub by their friends. The scenes flip between two cars. The first driven by Tom, the second driven by Ethan (James Burrows). This is the most intense section of the whole programme. As a viewer, we know what's coming, but it's waiting for that one tiny misjudgement that causes it. Immediately after the crash, we're shot six months into the past.

The flashback scenes are told before, during and after the school prom. You see how the group interact with each other, how their friendships and relationships develop and decisions about the future are formed. They talk about how they wouldn't want to be without one another (Kate's move to university sparks this off) and it's upsetting because you've already seen what happens in the future, but so many things are still uncertain. 

In that first episode, the bit that really got to me was seeing how the teens parents reacted. Rachel's (Georgia Henshaw) parents run across a field towards the crash site. And Kate's parents drive over in their car. There's arguments with police and paramedics and it's so desperate and agonised. Of course by the end of the first episode, viewers will have learned of two fatalities, one is very obvious, the other is a huge surprise at the end. And we are left wondering who will survive the second episode.

The second episode is immediately after the crash, keeping up the intensity. It's quite fast paced at first. Parents are making their way to the hospitals their children have been sent to. The first ten minutes are heartbreaking. I don't want to give absolutely everything away, but it made me cry. We learn of everyone else's fate, death or survival and how the parents react to the outcome. In particular I found Tom's section of the episode extremely upsetting. Again, without giving too much away, there's a lot of tension between him and his mother towards the end. It's interesting to see how family life plays out after such a horrific accident, even more so when Ethan and Tom face trial to see if the crash was an accident or if they'll go to prison for causing death by dangerous driving. The group's dynamics change dramatically throughout the episode, and Rachel in particular goes through such a transformation. 

The ending is very poignant. The survivors head to the crash site for the first time in months. A few choice words are had, but things are resolved as a group of school friends turn up brandishing red balloons to let off into the sky. Now, I was crying at this point! The end scenes don't include much dialogue, if any at all, but it's so emotionally charged, it can still move even the stoniest of hearts. 

'The Crash' really does make you think twice. The story is a true one. Car crashes do kill a lot of young people every year, but the point of this two part drama wasn't to highlight boy racers or young people being reckless. Tom's character makes one misjudgement and it costs lives. The other characters aren't distracting the drivers, no one is drinking or doing drugs. It is simply a mistake, one accident that changes everyone's lives forever. And I think that's the biggest impact. Accidents can happen by being reckless, of course they can, but the point of this wasn't to bathe young drivers in a bad light, it was to simply highlight the risks and cause awareness. 

If you haven't watched The Crash, but want to (have tissues at the ready) you can on the BBC3 website.

Bullet For My Valentine: Temper Temper tour, 15/03/13, Manchester Apollo

Some would say Bullet For My Valentine have taken a step back. 2010 saw them release third album 'Fever' and subsequently embark upon the arena tour that followed. Fast forward three turbulent years and they're back at the Apollo in support of 'Temper Temper'. A smaller venue than the MEN Arena maybe, but the show feels even bigger.

Support tonight comes in the form of special guests Halestorm. Given a very tight half an hour slot, Lzzy and co. rush through a six song set. It's undeniable that Lzzy Hale is a phenomenal front woman. She has the crowd eating from the palm of her hand the moment she strides onto the stage for opener 'Love Bites (So Do I)'. Halestorm's mix of bitterness and anger is a nice taster of what's coming tonight. It's album track 'Rock Show' that gets some of the loudest screams and has the entire room clapping along. The set feels somewhat rushed, to see Halestorm in all their glory it's probably best you go to a headline gig, but nevertheless, they get everyone warmed up nicely.

Half an hour is all it takes for the Bullet For My Valentine guys to grace the Apollo with their presence. A dramatic opening to Queen's 'We Will Rock You' and 'O Fortuna' in the dark, before the band are lit up in green for 'Breaking Point'. Fourth album 'Temper Temper' has had mixed reviews. Die hard fans love it, fair weather fans are on the fence. It's raw and angry, Matt Tuck changed the writing process of this album to suit the bands rocky circumstances. Despite the anger in the lyrics, the band are clearly a united front tonight.

The set list is a showcase of Bullet's greatest hits. Power ballads from past albums are left by the wayside in favour of the angry, hate fueled screams of relationship breakdowns. It's when the band disappear and the crowd are left in the dark to listen to the haunting sounds of the Apocolyptica intro from 'The Poison'. A strange choice to put such a build up halfway through, but it feels appropriate. They gently touch upon the debut and follow up 'Scream Aim Fire' opting to slot in newer album tracks. 'The Last Fight' see's Matt Tuck stand alone, stripped back for the first half. And new song 'Dirty Little Secret' entices Lzzy Hale out for a duet.

Bullet For My Valentine are the heavy weights in British rock music. 'Temper Temper' is cleverly written, changing the sound of Bullet forever. The choice to write autobiographically came from the internal problems the band were having. It should be awkward for the four of them to perform them on stage, but it isn't. Matt Tuck is cocky in a likeable way, a decent front man, engaging with the crowd. Years of practice for him have definitely paid off.

There's no encore tonight. It's song after song with shots of banter in between. They say they're ending with 'Tears Don't Fall' - the original, not the part two version that was a surprise track title on 'Temper Temper'. Chants of 'bullet, bullet' and 'we want more' before the grand finale, 'Begging For Mercy'. A fitting end to what has been a very angry set list. The band disappear and come back to throw guitar picks and drum sticks into the crowd. It's like they never wanted to leave, and truth be told, neither did we.

The Following

 2013 is the year when I try some new things. Due to my scare easy nature, I tend to shy away from horror and thriller books, films, television programmes. Since I read 'Siege' (review below) I've gotten an insight into that thriller genre, and have decided that I want to dip into it a bit more. So, what better way to do it than with America's latest series?

'The Following' is the story of serial killer slash literature lecturer, Joe Carroll (an extremely creepy James Purefoy) and his legion of 'followers'. Carroll was imprisoned in 2003 by FBI agent Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon) after murdering fourteen young women. He is obsessed with Edgar Allen Poe and his writing is often used as a theme throughout each episode, quotes appearing on walls in blood etc. In the first episode, we see Carroll make his great escape from prison, and find out who his first few followers are as the FBI put him back behind bars once more.

Each episode is told through present day events and past ones. The relationship between Joe Carroll and Ryan Hardy (they were once friends, funnily enough), and between Hardy and Carroll's ex wife, Claire Matthews. Flashbacks show how each follower came to meet Joe, why they were so keen to join his cult of oddballs and what they were willing to do to show their loyalty. The struggle of the FBI becomes more prominent as each episode progresses. There's plenty of twists and turns to keep viewers clinging on until the end.

That's been the beauty of this series so far. Not one point is boring. The intensity is wound up to fever pitch, silences build up suspense and sometimes it's unbearable to watch. There are some twists that are very unexpected, followers creep up on the public and the FBI from absolutely everywhere, and I mean, everywhere. Despite the often gory violence (eye gauging, finger breaking, grisly suicides to name a few) it is an enjoyable watch. With most television programmes there is that element of ridiculousness. Joe Carroll killed fourteen women, yet he was allowed internet access in prison? Hmm doubt that would happen in reality. If we ignore the loopholes, the writing is incredible. Each character is flawed in some way, no one is clean cut and perfect, and the flashbacks really show the history of the characters and how they came to be who they are in the present. The story itself is intriguing and original, which is something that is becoming difficult to come by these days. 

I think the UK are on around episode seven now, but with last week's absolute bombshell of an episode, there's no clue as to what's coming next. The series ends at episode fifteen, but has been commissioned for another series. So, who knows if Joe Carroll's followers will ever be stopped and brought to justice? I guess, we'll have to watch to find out.

The Following is on Sky Atlantic on Tuesday's at 10pm, but if you're super behind, you could probably catch up on Sky or alternatively use one of those virus riddled websites.

Mini Shopaholic

I'm never one to be guilty about things I read/listen/watch. I've always been quite open to trying different genres of things, but the fact I read a lot of 'chick lit' books isn't something I spread around. Not through shame, but through the fact that during my time at university, these weren't on reading lists and I don't think my lecturers considered them worth reading.

However, after 'The Hunger Games' ruined reading for me, I had to find something else to read that would be satisfying, fun and a bit lighter. I've always liked Sophie Kinsella's novels, the main characters aren't flimsy and have a bit more to them, more independent with high flying jobs. I started reading the Shopaholic series last summer, and I instantly enjoyed it. Of course, with every series, there are weak links, some of the books I found to be dull and others were more exciting, but I was determined to see it through to the end.

'Mini Shopaholic' is set two years after the previous book, 'Shopaholic and Baby'. Becky and Luke are having to live with Becky's parents in Oxshott, rather than their dream family home in Maida Vale. Their daughter, Minnie, is a two year old terror and as a financial crisis takes hold of the country, the family are forced to face a few truths.

At the start, I quite liked this book. I've always liked Becky's character throughout the series. Her justification for making extravagant purchases is often really funny, and the way she acts very over dramatic is entertaining to read. What I did like about her character is that she wasn't a damsel in distress, she's always had a decent job and never needed any form of 'saving'. In this book, I think she loses some of that. Kinsella writes her as being very dependent on Luke (who, isn't a likeable character at all). There's a lot of pining after him in this novel, and it's off putting and boring to read.

I ploughed on through, and despite a massive dip in the middle of the story, things are picked up towards the end. Becky decides to plan a surprise party for Luke's birthday and attempts to make it thrifty and not spend any money at all. An impossible task, yes, but it's not so impossible when an old character walks back into the story to shake things up a little. There's a slight twist, it's not jaw droppingly shocking, but it is quite a nice one that'll have long time fans going 'aww'. The ending was open ended, although I hope Kinsella will leave it at that. I do believe this series has come to a natural end and anymore would just be pushing it.

Overall, a decent read. Probably better if you read the previous books in the series first. It's definitely not the best in the series. With a lull that carries on for several chapters, I found it difficult to get through sometimes and it wasn't as engaging as other books. Highlights include Nanny Sue and her input into Becky's family life, and old characters Danny, Suze and Tarkie having their own little parts. A decent read, but not one I'd recommend to all.

Don Broco, 27/02/2013, Sheffield Corporation

Tonight's show is a sell out. The main room at the Corporation is packed out, fans push and shove their way to the front, to be involved in the centre of it all. It's just another night of the tour for Don Broco, another sold out gig, another night to showcase their incredible talent, and another reason why they've shot into the stratosphere.

Support tonight comes in the form of up and coming band, Mallory Knox. They manage to get the crowd warmed up nicely, although with their album only been out for a few weeks, sing a longs are in short supply until closer (and debut single) 'Lighthouse' is given an airing. Even those at the back are on their feet, singing the lyrics back with gusto.

Twenty minutes and a scream a long to You Me At Six's 'Underdog' later, Don Broco bounce onto the stage. It's clear within the first ten seconds that tonight is going to be an energetic one. Opener 'Priorities' sets the tone nicely, front man, Rob Damiani struts around the stage, commanding the crowd into circle pits and walls of death throughout.

There's a lull halfway through when old songs from EP's of long ago are dragged out, and only the die hard fans really care. It's during one of these songs that Damiani asks the 'proper boys of Sheffield' to get down on the dirty floor and do as many press ups as they can. Those at the front are only happy to oblige. There's circle pits galore to 'Actors' and 'Whole Truth', songs from debut album 'Priorities' go down a storm.

This is the thing about Don Broco, they've been around for years, but it wasn't until they started to get more radio play, press coverage and slots at festivals such as Reading and Leeds, Hit The Deck and Download that they started rising in popularity. This whole tour has been a sell out, albeit, not in mere minutes or seconds, but it's been a gradual process. You can see tonight why it's a sell out. Every song is flawless, Damiani's voice is just as good live and the band seem to genuinely have fun, doing small dance routines and never staying still for a second.

Drenched in sweat, Damiani leads a boys vs girls sing a long through slower song, 'Yeah Man', in which everyone gets involved, before announcing the next song would be their last. The fans boo, starting a 'we want more' chant. The band look bowled over, before Damiani grins 'we can't finish yet anyway, we've not done 'Hold On', and proceeds to launch into their biggest single, the one that has had plays on Kerrang! radio and TV. Closing song 'Fancy Dress' creates a frenzy, with the finale a huge wall of death.

It's clear tonight that Don Broco are definitely one of the best up and coming bands in the UK. Their live show is simple, four guys doing what they love. They've got the energy and the charisma to make the fans want to join in and be a part of the show. Rob Damiani is a very good front man, confident enough to tell stories and have fun with everyone on and off stage. They're a breath of fresh air, and I have a feeling good things are on the horizon for Don Broco.