How to get the good stuff this Xmas (and less socks)

Sick of getting the usual socks or deoderant at xmas? Want something worth waking up for and ripping decorative paper to shreds? Hand this top 10 list to your girl, mum, or even your granny and make 2009 a damn hot xmas to remember:


10.) Smitten - suck.uk.com
Ever found it difficult to hold that cancer stick when you're out in the cold? Get your hands on a pair of smittens and your troubles will be no more, thanks to their warmth and designed cigarette grip, you can puff away with comfort when the addiction kicks in.


09.) Shots Gun - www.gadgetshop.com
What better way to give your mates shots of alcohol in style than with the shots gun. Feel like John Wayne and deliver your chums shots of whisky, rum, vodka, sambuca, or go the extra mile of dangerous and do all of the above.


08.) Marshmallow Shooter - www.thinkgeek.com
Throwing marshmallows across the room with your hands is just plain boring, so add a bit of action and skill in your approach with the Marshmallow Shooter. Bringing hours of fun... until you run of ammunition/marshmallows obviously.


07.) Sodastream Jet Drinks Maker - www.drinkstuff.com
Dissappointment undoubtedly smacks you square in the face when you go to take a sip from your fizzy drink to find that its gone flat. Whack it in this bad boy and be happy once more! You can fizz up any liquid; orange juice, cider, cat spit... yeah, don't do that.


06.) Beer Belt - www.drinkstuff.com
The disadvantage with having only two hands means your maximum potential of the amount of cans you can carry at a social gathering or even about in your home is very limited. The beer belt laughs in the face of such weaknesses, and will undoubtedly improve any drinking event - perfect in time for xmas.


05.) Guitar Hero 5 - gh5.guitarhero.com
Why go through the trouble of forming a band and actually learning how to play your favourite songs when you can just get a hold of one of these and do it the easy way? Rock out in your front room like you're the bees knees, and watch the groupies reel into your living room in no time. Just make sure the girlfriend isn't about.


04.) Bubba Keg - www.firebox.com
Nine times out of ten when you double something its better. Perfect examples are burgers and buses, and this one is just as good. Holding a total of two whole pints of any alcoholic beverage you desire, the Bubba Keg is perfect for those of you who just love to get tanked-up with the boys.


03.) Sega Megadrive Handheld Console - www.play.com
As great as the new gaming consoles are, you can't beat revisiting the classics from the days of yore. Nowadays you can even play them on handheld sized devices, and who wouldn't enjoy cracking out gaming wonders like Sonic The Hedghog whislt on a boring train journey?


02.) Bean 2 Bed - www.bean2bed.com
Just like Transformers but not at all ficitional or dangerous, Bean 2 Bed are the great compact way to sit or sleep whenever you want in the space of a few minutes. Having some friends over to sleep? Get the bed out! Running out of chairs? Get the bean out! Simplez.


01.) Xbox 360 - www.xbox.com
Ever since its release a few years ago, Xbox 360 has been a staple in home entertainment. With an ever-increasing and ever-impressing catalogue of games to choose from, this bad boy is an absolute essential and must have this xmas if you haven't already got your dirty paws on one. If no-one is willing to buy this for you, then either ask for money to buy it yourself, or cross your fingers and hope that fat geezer Santa actually exists and you're on his good list.

LIVE: Yashin @ The Underground, Stoke (30/10/2009)

LINE-UP:
Yashin
Your Chariot Awaits
Beyond A Traitor's Reason

LINKS:
Official Website
Official MySpace

RATING: 7/10


A very underground band in their circuit, it seems more than fitting that Yashin are playing at a club called The Underground in Stoke. The Scottish boys may only have two EPs worth of material to work with and a new album on the horizon, but they've brought onto the show's bill two local acts who are even deeper underground than the headliners themselves, as expected.

Beyond A Traitor's Reason (***) are a much heavier band than the band they're here to support, and judging from the erratic reaction from the audience are definitely a local favourite. Due to the Halloween holiday being so close by, various people are dressed up in a horror-style (aside from one guy dressed as a penis) much like the boys onstage, sporting white shirts drenched with crimson red blood. Their style is heavy yet approachable, and pulls it off better than most small bands at a similar level of experience.

Second local band Your Chariot Awaits (***) are just as heavy as their predecessors with a little added 'bree', who again are equipped with bloody rags. Though their set is as intense and as slick as the night's openers, they don't seem quite as energetic. The crowd feed off them regardless, with many moments of people running up to the crowd and screaming the lyrics down the vocalist's mic. With a circle pit taking up more than half the dancefloor too, the band don't do too badly at all.

The main act bring a much more melodic approach to things, even with their dual vocal attack, Yashin (****) are a long way from home and make sure it's far from a wasted journey. Wasted it is not with songs like 'So We're Named After Saints' and 'The First Rule Of Fight Club' executed with such energy that makes you wonder why they've not gotten any bigger yet. Still, this is an advantage with the fans being able to see them in such a small and intimate venue, and they don't take it for granted. If the news of being recorded for the music video of new song 'Hope' didn't get everyone pumped their cover of the Britney Spears single 'Everytime' most certainely gets the job done. There's no arrogance on the band's side either, who at times are seen looking down in awe, giving their statements like "Stoke, you're one of the best cities we've ever played and we always love coming back here" from vocalists Harry and Kevin a brand of sincerity.

It may be a tad cliche and predictable to say, but some of the smaller gigs seemingly turn out to be the better ones.


Written by Zach Redrup