What does it sound like?: Oh, bloody joy! What a glorious noise. This is a live album from 2023’s American tour with The Band Geeks, recorded in St. Charles Illinois in the … [Read More...] about Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks – Live Perpetual Change
The Afterword
Musings on the byways of popular culture
Nights In
Rick Wakeman. Yessonata
What does it sound like?: This limited edition vinyl release is a follow up to Wakeman’s Final One Man Solo Tour of North and South America from earlier this year. It is a piece … [Read More...] about Rick Wakeman. Yessonata
Yes – Close To The Edge SDE
What does it sound like?: It’s hard to believe it’s over 50 years since this album was originally released - how the years hurry past, and how these box sets have a way of making … [Read More...] about Yes – Close To The Edge SDE
Chris Eckman – The Land We Knew the Best
What does it sound like?: It’s 10 years since Chris Eckman called time on The Walkabouts’ 30-year career. During those years the band delivered a dozen albums that morphed from … [Read More...] about Chris Eckman – The Land We Knew the Best
Nights Out
Sigur Ros with The Resound Collective
Venue: Esplanade Theatre, Singapore Date: 26/02/2025 Always a favourite artist, the Asia leg of the Sigur Ros orchestral tour rolled into town at the end of February for two … [Read More...] about Sigur Ros with The Resound Collective
Fish
Venue: Newcastle City Hall Date: 06/03/2025 So here I am once more in the playground of the broken hearts to listen one last time to the musical diary entries penned by Derek … [Read More...] about Fish
Inside No. 9 Stage/Fright
Venue: Wyndham’s Theatre, Charing Cross Road, London Date: 22/02/2025 Inside No. 9 was known for its last minute twists, so maybe it’s not really a surprise that after reaching … [Read More...] about Inside No. 9 Stage/Fright
Bongo lights up a sleepy Wiltshire venue
Venue: Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford Upon Avon Date: 22/02/2025 The weather Gods have blessed us in this last week with a temperature rise from brass monkey zeros to a balmy … [Read More...] about Bongo lights up a sleepy Wiltshire venue
Films
Wallace & Gromit – Vengeance Most Fowl
Year: 2024 Director: Nick Park We watched this on yer ‘flix a couple of nights ago. It was a shared family experience of the kind that happens very rarely these days. The … [Read More...] about Wallace & Gromit – Vengeance Most Fowl
Daisies
Year: 1966 Director: Vera Chytilova There are good films that are good, good films that are hard work, and a very small subset of good films that are profoundly irritating. While … [Read More...] about Daisies
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
Year: 1927 Director: FW Murnau This is the 11th best film ever made, according to the 2022 Sight and Sound poll, and the latest in my sporadic walk through the lesser known … [Read More...] about Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
Blitz
Year: 2024 Director: Steve McQueen Oh dear. “A masterpiece” gushed, apparently, The Independent, leaving me to wonder within what context. Possibly of hype? It is possible it … [Read More...] about Blitz
Reads
On Track – Deep Purple (from 1984) / The Beatles 1962-1966 / Porcupine Tree (revised edition)
Author:Phil Kafcaloudes, Alberto Bravin & Andrew Wild, Nick Holmes 2024 not only saw the release of Deep Purple’s 23rd studio album, it also marked the 40th anniversary of the … [Read More...] about On Track – Deep Purple (from 1984) / The Beatles 1962-1966 / Porcupine Tree (revised edition)
Hoggin’ The Page – Groundhogs: The Classic Years / On Track – David Bowie 1983-2016 / Talking Heads / Gerry Rafferty
Author:Martyn Hanson, Don Klees, David Starkey, John Van der Kiste When I think of the Groundhogs, it takes make right back to the days of Split and Thank Christ For The Bomb. … [Read More...] about Hoggin’ The Page – Groundhogs: The Classic Years / On Track – David Bowie 1983-2016 / Talking Heads / Gerry Rafferty
Rock Classics – Californication / Thank You For The Days
Author:Matt Karpe, Chris Kocher I wouldn’t personally describe Californication as a rock classic, although it is perhaps the album that revitalised the flagging career of the Red … [Read More...] about Rock Classics – Californication / Thank You For The Days
Rock Classics – The Dreaming / Philip Lynott – Renegade / Ghosts – Journeys to Post Pop
Author:Peter Kearns / Alan Byrne / Matthew Restall Perhaps not the most obvious choice from Kate’s back catalogue for this series, The Dreaming is one of her more difficult … [Read More...] about Rock Classics – The Dreaming / Philip Lynott – Renegade / Ghosts – Journeys to Post Pop
Noticeboard
200 Shows!
06/03/2025 Who'd have thunk it, eh?!? This evening, live at five UK time, will see the 200th show of Songs From Under The Floorboards. "I have to confess, I'm proud as hell of … [Read More...] about 200 Shows!
Dick Gaughan 1969-83 box set via crowdfunder two weeks away
19/03/2025 Dick Gaughan – R/evolution: 1969–83 Advance notice of Kickstarter campaign (due in mid-March) Music biographer Colin Harper is launching a Kickstarter campaign in … [Read More...] about Dick Gaughan 1969-83 box set via crowdfunder two weeks away
‘The calm beyond the storm’ by The Eisenhowers
21/02/2025 Available from an internet near you from Friday 21st February, ‘The calm beyond the storm’ is a single lifted from the recent ‘Infodemic’ album. A spokesperson for … [Read More...] about ‘The calm beyond the storm’ by The Eisenhowers
Dick Gaughan – sleeping giant of the British folk revival: activity coming…
24/03/2025 Friends, I’m going to need your help in a few weeks – especially friends in the music world, for whom some of this might resonate. That help will be sharing links on … [Read More...] about Dick Gaughan – sleeping giant of the British folk revival: activity coming…
Simon Spillett Quartet – new album and live in London 23 February
23/02/2025 Sensational jazz writer and classy old-school Modern jazz quartet leader Simon Spillett has a new album out - 'Up In Town'. It's a big deal, because he has a long … [Read More...] about Simon Spillett Quartet – new album and live in London 23 February
SOUNDING THE CENTURY: THE EXHIBITION (MANCHESTER CENTRAL LIBRARY)
28/01/2025 Sounding the Century: The Exhibition gathers paper ephemera, record sleeves, photographs and original artwork to highlight the life and achievements of Bill Leader, … [Read More...] about SOUNDING THE CENTURY: THE EXHIBITION (MANCHESTER CENTRAL LIBRARY)
