What does it sound like?: From their first single (on their own label) in 1979 to their (slightly messy, but politically infused) break-up of the original line-up, The Specials … [Read More...]
Musings on the byways of popular culture
Nights In
Jay Glass Dubs – Epitaph
What does it sound like?: The last time that Jay Glass Dubs drifted through my transom was his collaboration with Leslie Winer on a mini album called YMFEES in 2018. Leslie … [Read More...]
Counting Crows August And Everything After
What does it sound like?: It sounds amazing! The Crows got hold of the London Symphony Orchestra for some sweeping strings and Duritz is on top form vocally and lyrically - … [Read More...]
Linda Ronstadt – “Live in Hollywood”
What does it sound like?: It is self evident that Linda Ronstadt can sing anything, from the folk country of her early career through big band jazz, Mexican folk songs (in … [Read More...]
Nights Out
A Night Out with the Lemonheads
Venue: O2 Academy 2, B'ham. Date: 16/02/2019 I suppose my expectations were never set too high, given Evan Dando's reputation, and, on that basis, I got my moneys worth. Overall … [Read More...]
Damian Wilson & Adam Wakeman
Venue: Colchester Arts Centre Date: 24/01/2019 The term “Nice blokes” doesn’t do this duo justice at all. Pre show, Damian walked around the hall personally shaking hands and … [Read More...]
Bennett Wilson Poole
Venue: The Hawth, Crawley Date: 16/01/2019 Bennett,Wilson Poole brought a touch of sunshine to a damp and chilly Crawley last night. I, and I'm sure many others (from the remarks … [Read More...]
A Night Out (and subsequent Night In) with Moore, Moss, Rutter
Venue: Kitchen Garden Cafe, Kings Heath, Birmingham Date: 10/01/2019 Well I wasn't originally going to review this show, feeling it might prove even a bit too niche for the AW … [Read More...]
Films
A Private War
Year: 2019 Director: Matthew Heineman I can’t imagine this film will be seen by many people unaware of Marie Colvin’s story – (spoiler alert) sometimes described as a “rock star” … [Read More...]
Roma
Year: 1900 Director: Alfonso Cuaron It’s weird how films can happen now. Time was when your local cinema got Star Wars six months after you read the reviews, and three months … [Read More...]
The Favourite
Year: 2018 Director: Yorgos Lanthimos Despite having a pretty similar relationship with historical fact as some of the recent Dr Who episodes, this is a great piece of cinema - … [Read More...]
Bros: When the Screaming Stops
Year: 2018 Director: David Soutar I don’t suppose that many of the Massive were Brosettes in their youth, which is a shame. Not because of the music, mercifully little of which … [Read More...]
Reads
On Track……Queen, Deep Purple & Rainbow, ELP, Yes
Author:Stephen Lambe & others The concept behind this newly published series of paperback books is to take the works of the chosen artist, and go through each album, song by … [Read More...]
Dr Strangely Strange ‘Fitting Pieces to the Jigsaw’
Author:Adrian Whittaker Fitting pieces to the jigsaw’ Why did I want to review this book? Let me explain. 72/73 being a late-flowering trainee hippy in a Northern mill town, I was … [Read More...]
Best Seat in the House: My Life in the Jeff Healey Band
Author:Tom Stephen A familiar story, a tragic end. Boy meets blind virtuoso guitarist, they form a band and make platinum little ones and even a movie. Virtuoso has a roving ear … [Read More...]
February’s Son
Author:Alan Parks It’s not that unusual to see a novel start with a song lyric, but until now I don't think I've ever come across one that uses a line from an Alvin Stardust song! … [Read More...]
Games
Destiny 2
Platform:Playstation Age Rating:16+ Year of Release:2017 Review:In 22 Jump Street - possibly apart from Aliens and T2 the best ever sequel - Ice Cube greets the returning cops … [Read More...]
Frankie Goes To Hollywood: The Game
Platform:C64 Age Rating:3+ Year of Release:1985 Review:It's hard to explain how flipping massive FGTH were in 1983-5 and how much they milked that cash cow. I still recall that … [Read More...]
Noticeboard
Jarrod Dickenson e-tickets
09/02/2019 https://youtu.be/_uCqWky8DgM The wonderful Jarrod Dickenson is playing Oslo in London this Saturday night (9th Feb) and, due to illness, I have 2 tickets (on e-mail) … [Read More...]
Ryan Adams RAH ticket spare
02/04/2019 I have a spare for Ryan Adams at the Royal Albert Hall. Good seat, just behind the mixing desk. Face value + fees is £63.96 but I'll take £50. … [Read More...]
Re-Play Papworth
27/01/2019 Two hours of classic Aretha Franklin on vinyl with Otis and Dusty providing support. Played on a top-flight hi-fi in the Courtyard Café, Papworth … [Read More...]
The Fat John Sextet… releases its debut album after 56 years
22/02/2019 Sometimes these days I write long essays in reissue/archive CD booklets, but more often (not least because it’s easier) I get involved in the background of such … [Read More...]
Re-Play Papworth: Sunday afternoon vinyl playbacks
30/12/2018 By popular request, a double headliner this month of Michael Jackson's Off The Wall and Thriller, all played off vinyl on a £12,000 hifi. And a bit of scene-setting … [Read More...]
My new single is now live on iTunes / Apple Music (any soon many others)
24/11/2018 I've been quietly recording songs in my home studio for a number of years now. It's about time there was an end product so I am in the process of investigating … [Read More...]
