Fucking hell!

Excuse my French. There are a number of reasons for it. For example, last week I turned 36. Fucking hell. When did that happen? After work, (on a sunday, on my birthday. Fucking hell.) I went to Dove Pro Wrestling. I've blogged before about Dove Pro, the only other time I have been, which I thoroughly enjoyed. This time up, it was held in a kind of events hall and I'd wondered if I would enjoy it. It all seemed a bit too 'official' and well, wrestling-like to me, and I have no interest in wrestling generally. I shouldn't have worried. We got there late, just before the final bout, and I was surprised to see how many people were there and what a mix. Once again the music was great, a lot of dub, reggae and ska, and when the two local lads came out, one to the Dead Kennedy's - Holiday in Cambodia, you realise this is no place for hairspray and cock rock.

Next came the visiting fighters from Tokyo and everyone gets introduced by the MC.Before he's done though the guys from Hiroshima throw a punch, the drum and bass kicks in and within seconds, all 4 fighters are outside of the ring wading through crowds and chairs, apparently, taking no precautions about either. Fucking hell! My heart rate went through the roof at that. For the next 40 minutes I could be heard repeating the same thing every couple of minutes at the sight of some back breaking dive or nose splitting head kick. Two moments stood out. First, one of the local boys being laid out on a table on the floor and the Tokyo fighter climbing to the top of the ropes and then back flipping onto the prone guy, snapping the table in half. FUCKING HELL! Secondly, and bizarrely, one of the guys from Tokyo bringing out a load of fluorescent lightbulbs that were taped together as some kind of weapon, only to be holding it to his chest when his opponent ran straight into him. Chest to chest. SMASH! FUUUUUUCKING HELL! Glass everywhere and then a series of throws to the ground. A lot of very bloodied (real) backs. You should see me if I get a splinter.

Since I last went they seem to have taken things to new and, well, mental heights. What a weird hobby? But, again, brilliant entertainment. Highly recommended, it's underground Hiroshima culture at it's best.

Oh, and what is it with the wrestling grannies? Actually, it would be a bit unfair to call them grannies, but almost as entertaining as the fighting was watching some of the audience (female, over 40s) getting so worked up by it. Fantastic.

Wrestling aside, I have recently discovered Sub Swara. You could lazily describe them as Dub Step, but there's a lot more to them than that. Brilliant bass led music with an amazing mix of live and electronic percussion and Ragga influenced vocals. The production on their new album Coup d'Yah is superb. First time I heard it....fucking hell. If you like a bit of a heavy bassline check it out.