It’s a common phenomenon – people are almost never as clever as they think they are, and often don’t realise that being able to adopt some well-known ideal or opinion is not the same as being as intelligent or thoughtful as the person who came up with it in the first place.

In fact, people like that are what ruined vegetarianism and atheism for me. Now I’m almost “ism” free.

(Though in the interests of full disclosure, I have to say that I’m often guilty of the same sort of second and third-hand opinion-forming, though to be fair I’m normally happy to be corrected!)

The chatters are appalling though. I do wonder why these people bother turning up sometimes, if all they’re going to do is talk during the quiet bits. Elbow at De Montfort Hall were an exception though, as tickets had sold out long before they won the Mercury, and the set was very, very respectfully (and joyously) received. Their audience is very much about to change though, and I’m not sure everyone will be as hushed and attentive during “Scattered Black and Whites”.

Billy Bragg is a hero though, he really is.

Also, you know, Otis Gibbs was ace, but Jill Sobule was a better act to be sat up close to.