Pimm's 'n' Maria

Maria Sharapova - In No Way Touched By The Ugly Stick

One year ago, The Soberius Tavern was launched. In my first blog entries, I talked of Henman bravely going out of Wimbledon, and Maria Sharapova brightening up a miserable summer. There seemed little point in discussing the men's competition, when Roger Federer is the draw. The only person who could beat him was the terminally angry looking Nadal, and grass is not his surface.

Not a lot has changed has it? Deja-vu or what. Henman did do much better than last year, beating Moya in a five set classic, but then succumbing to Lopez in another five set thriller. Which leaves my interest, once more at the door of the stunning Russian.

Before the rains came down again today, The current US Open champion Sharapova sent the talented Japanese player Ayi Sugiyami out in two sets, and seventy minutes. Bizarrely, they nearly went off for rain at matchpoint. Sharapova was also inspired against Bremond earlier in the week.

I just love watching her play, the clenched fist, the shout of "come on" when she is doing well, the body, the grunt, the dress, the face. Awesome.

In interviews, she always comes across as being an intelligent and decent human being. She has it all. No wonder she is the world's highest paid sportswoman.

Despite the ongoing monsoon, the thought of watching Maria all week, between deluges should help the Pimms go down well at the very least. Keep those decibels high Maria, and get that second Wimbledon title. It's the only thing that's keeping me remotely sane in this rain. Happy Birthday blog.

Heroes!

Tim

Tony

As one great British hero, The Prime Minister Tony Blair, prepares to leave the stage this week. It is great to see another British hero of the same era, Tim Henman performing magnificently at Wimbledon 2007 (hopefully not his final swansong though).

Despite being 32, considered old in tennis circles and in patchy form, Henman lifted the monsoon gloom last night by giving the nation one more thriller. The kind of match that has made us breathless for more than ten years.

Playing the former World Number 1, Carlos Moya in the temporarily exposed Centre Court, Henman won the first set after a rain delay. Much to the horror of those gathered on his hill, Henman then lost the next two sets. The roller coaster had begun again in SW19. Henman then won the fourth set. Only Ashes cricket compares for sheer drama. In an incredible fifth set, Henman came back from certain defeat at 4-2 to go ahead 5-4. I was jumping around, and shouting like I had done, ever since Henman beat Kafelnikov in 1996. Henman then had four, yes four, match points before the talented Moya levelled at 5-5.

Due to it being 21.18 and dark, both players then chose to go off. Henmania continues into a second day. Can the heart take it? It was superlative stuff and shows why Wimbledon is still the UK's finest sporting event.

Whatever the result of the match tomorrow, Henman has done his country proud over the years just like The PM.

C'mon Tim tomorrow. And how about Sir Tim Henman in the not too distant future?

The Joys Of Stadium Rawk

New Wembley Stadium - Saturday 16th June

Guitar Maestro Matt Bellamy in action at the above

I first saw the rock band Muse play in 2000 at the tiny Astoria venue in London, with a then unknown support act Coldplay who were woeful. I knew that Muse were something special instantly. Their debut album 'Showbiz' was awesome, full of killer guitar riffs on tracks such as Cave and Uno. Plus, their ballads were equally powerful. It annoyed me that when Muse first become famous, some idiots in the music press labelled them a Radiohead tribute act.

B*llocks to that, I have always referred to Radiohead as a poor man's Muse. Name one Radiohead song as good as Sunburn, or The Knights Of Cydonia and I'll eat my musical hat. And isn't Thom Yorke, a pretentious git as well.

Since the Astoria gig, Muse now have five albums to their name, and have a massive following. I have seen them live several times. On Saturday night, they blew me away again, but in spectacular style. Headlining their own festival at the spectacular new Wembley Stadium (the first of two consecutive sellout dates). Wembley Stadium from the outside looks so impressive, it gives you goosebumps as you approach it. Muse were supposed to be the inaugural band to play the stadium, but the odious and frankly rubbish, George Michael sneaked in the week before. He did not even have the courtesy to bring along Andrew Ridgeley.

Being a keen muso, I have seen several big gigs over the years at venues such as Earl's Court and Wembley Arena. I have also attended plenty of festivals, but I had not done the stadium-rawk thing before. For example, buying twenty quid T shirts, six quid Burgers and watching a band from outer space. Sadly there was some truth to this, instead of being down with the "kids" on the pitch, we had been secretly sold seated tickets up in the gods, miles from the action. It is a good job, I don't suffer with vertigo. Muse, despite giant TV screens looked like subeteo figures. Which made me wonder, why would football fans buy tickets for a venue like this, how the hell would you see the ball?

Despite this disappointment, and being a little too inebriated before the gig (7 hours solid drinking infact.) I thought Muse were exceptional. I would go as far to say that this was one of the greatest rock concerts ever staged in the United Kingdom. The pyrotechnics and light show outdid U2 as their most grandiose and the sound of the band was thunderous. Dominic Howard's drumming being particularly dramatic.

Matt Bellamy is probably the greatest rock guitarist in the world at the moment, and it showed as he played brilliant live versions of New-Born, Plug In Baby, and Supermassive Blackhole. He even chucked in a great fun cover of The Shadows' (yes, Cliff Richard's backing band!) Man of Mystery. It was all pompous, intense and special. Who could forget the wonderful version of piano classic Unintended which spellbound the whole audience, with mobile phones replacing lighters in these non smoking times. Matt's falsetto voice is startling and wondrous when combined with Chris Wolstenholme's storming basslines. What is it about three piece bands, why are they always better than bigger outfits?

Due to the distance away from the stage, I missed out on a lot of the theatrics and special effects, which the press have acclaimed this week. I could just make out the bizarre set of satellites, huge balloons 'ala rover from the prisoner' and huge platforms all over the place. The sheer class of the music wowed me, despite the detachment factor. The encore of Micro Cuts (my favourite Muse track) and Stockholm Syndrome, got my 2 mad drinking buddies and me moshing around like lunatics which was quite a feat considering how high up were were.

The west country band are at the top of their game, and I cannot wait to see them live again. But how do Muse top Wembley? I somehow doubt it will be a return to the Astoria. Stadium rawk will be the only way of seeing them now, which although great for them, is quite sad for fans who have followed them from the beginning.

More live music for me tomorrow, another three piece, The Fratellis, at Swindon Oasis.

Swindon Oasis? don't laugh.