Mr Hudson
22.10.09
Straight no chaser is Mr Hudson's second album and was released on the 5 October. He is signed to music producer Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music label and Mercury Records. He is a songwriter and record producer who has worked with acts such as Kanye West, Dizzee Rascal and Jay-Z. This month he will be supporting Calvin Harris on his extensive UK tour. LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN:
http://www.myspace.com/mrhudson
He Said
A free bar is a free bar and like my Uncle George used to say 'Fill your boots lad, There be drink to be drunk'. Sound advice, however unfortunately Uncle George followed his advice a little too closely, he died of liver failure at a young age leaving behind two young children that that would never grow up to know they father... Anyway let's not worry about George now, let me tell you about the Mr.Hudson album launch that I went to last night.
Being a local lad it was good to see him with without any of the Hip Hop Hurray Henry's, whose patronage all be it important, is slightly distracting. We made base at the bar and drank and made idle chit chat to strangers in-between huge gulps of anything cold. Then walked in our arch nemesis's, two writers who seem to stalk our every move. I will not put their names here because I don't want to give them any publicity but put it this way (mom if you reading this look away now - in fact if you are call me I haven't spoke to you in ten years) they are simply a pair of cunts. The male of the duo, let's call him captain dickhead, he drops names like the army drops bombs and I fight the desire to smash his head off the bar stool until his blue blood seeps into the beer stained carpet. We make the secret signal to each other and disappear to the other end of the bar.
I was trying to pay attention to her but my thoughts were wondering south, I was getting second glances from a girl at the bar. I decided to make my move, but first a call of nature is needed, the next few minutes are a blur but from what I can remember the door slammed behind me and I instantly thought that this could go either one of two ways:
A) Beaten up.
B) Offered drugs.
Luckily for me it was neither of these options and it was in fact what amounted to rough, quick, hard sex with the girl that had been looking at me only 10 minutes before. I'm not proud of what happened in those (and let's be honest here) two and a half minutes, but I was certainly grateful.
And with that she was gone, I compose myself and head out to the bar, realising I haven't seen my erstwhile companion for some time. I search the bar, I go outside and find her speaking to no other than the man of the moment, Mr Hudson.
'Come on, we are leaving' She says as she grabs my arm.
At this point in the story it would be great to say I went home pleased with my lot but unfortunately I didn't. I went back to bar and found my cubicle comrade at the bar. It's odd when you have had sex with someone before little formalities such as names have been established so I decided to offer my name by way of introduction but before I had the chance to speak she said.
'Look i'm sure you're lovely and everything but I got what I wanted in the toilet'
And with that she turned her back on me and carried on into her night, charming I bet my mom can't wait to meet her.
She Said
I love a good party and the home coming of a Kentish Town boy (originally from Birmingham) is something to celebrate. Ben (Mr.Hudson) wrote his new album whilst living above this Camden establishment so there really wasn't anywhere else to celebrate its launch. When I told Chris there was a free bar he agreed we should probably go. It was packed - it was obvious this was a proper celebration not your normal launch consisting just of industry types, there was a good vibe. After a good couple of hours rummaging round the complimentary bar we all went upstairs for his performance.
I was pretty drunk and someone handed me a spliff (I didn't inhale) so when he got on stage I was excited. Jumping around does not describe my moves. In my head they were amazing. He was amazing, at one point he grabbed the speaker and shook it at the sound guy "Can't these fucking things go any louder? I want the council to come round." Last song the stage got invaded (you have to get involved in situations like that). I actually think he took Chris's hand and helped him onto the stage. The look of glee on Chris's face will be a memory I cherish. It was so fun jumping round on the stage. As I got off I had a text from a friend in the audience: "Calm down! You're not in a music video you know!" So that kind of shattered my illusion.
I felt like Taylor Swift - a perfect moment removed from my grasp. There was definitely no need for Kanye at this gig.
Later on at the party I was outside having a cigarette and a certain Mr.Hudson was standing there, white-blonde hair a bright light in this den of iniquity that is NW3.
Me: "So what's it like being back here?"
Mr Hudson: "It's really weird." (he looked above him at an upstairs window distantly) "I can't believe last Christmas I was living in that room."
Me: "What?! Was it only last Christmas you where living above a pub?!"
Mr Hudson: "Yeah - crazy isn't it."
Me: "A little. I'm sure that will give a lot of musicians hope..."
Mr Hudson: "I guess you just never know where you'll be in six months."
Me: "In six months I just hope I'm in LA sitting on Kanye West's Yacht."
Mr Hudson: "Well anything could happen."
At this point Chris comes out.
Me: "Right, well nice to meet you. We've got to go."
Mr Hudson: "Really? That's a shame. You should stay."
Me: "Sorry I'm already late for this thing I have to go to. Nice to meet you.
I grabbed Chris's arm and marched him away.
Chris: "Why are we leaving?! I think he was into you."
Me: (Still walking very quickly) "Great so what would happen? Maybe I'd kiss him or something then he'd say he'll call me but won't but if he did we'd go out for dinner, have fun, he'd laugh at all my jokes and I'd cave in and sleep with him and then he'd never call me again and if he did we might go out a few more times, have a picnic, get drunk in a beer garden and try and throw peanuts in each others mouths and look in each others eyes when we kissed and then he'd go on tour and we'd email each other witty banter and maybe he'd call me occasionally and maybe I'd miss him and look forward to him coming back. And then one day I'd open Heat magazine and I'd find out he's going out with Lindsay Lohan. I can deal without all that trauma thank you very much.
Chris: "Er... Ooo... Kay... Want to go somewhere else?"
Me: "No, I'm going home. I sky plused EastEnders."
