Musings on the byways of popular culture
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For those of you in the UK they are playing the Albert Hall on June 22nd next year.
Presale starts 2 October @10am local time Presale code: HOTSUN General on sale starts 4 October @ 10am local
Also coming out in November is the Hot Sun/Cool shroud EP on physical formats.
I got a limited version on vinyl at Solid Sound festival in June, there was a competition to design the cover for the main physical release, it was won by a 3 yr old 🙂
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Venue:
Toronto/Ottawa
Date: 13/09/2024
* 5 real gigs actually
1. Squeeze/The (English) Beat – Massey Hall, Toronto
The Beat or “The English Beat starring Dave Wakeling” were on first. An extremely short set punctuated by a near strike half way through Save It for Later as Dave was unhappy about a bright light shining in his eyes (“turn the f*ckin light off”). Not sure why nobody could have helped him with this, but it remained on throughout. A guy in front of me was ejected for boorish behaviour and there were too many covers played in a 7 song 35 minute set. A disappointment overall
In contrast, Squeeze were superb, playing everything you might want to hear (except Labelled with Love) brilliantly. I see them regular as clockwork every 15 years and this was easily the best show of the 3 I have seen.
2. Road Diary – Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto
Not a gig, but the world premiere of “Road Diary” at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival). I secured a reasonably priced seat on the 4th row just hours before. A documentary about Bruce Springsteen and the E St Band mainly about the current tour but also containing » Continue Reading.
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I find a lot of things involving her conviction to be quite troubling. If you take away her alleged “confession”, then there’s not much to go on it seems. It also appears that some of the logs showing who was on duty when babies died were incorrect which was another key thing in her conviction.
Obviously if she is guilty of these crimes then she is a complete monster, but a potential miscarriage of justice in such a high profile case is incomprehensible
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Their 2nd of the year, these guys are so prolific, especially compared to the other band that 2/3 of them are (were) in.
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Hopefully he can still have a reasonable quality of life.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/oYzarA1MFghnKVqi/?mibextid=oFDknk
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In wonderful news another “new” album and he is beautifully described as the “Brown Eyed Girl Hitmaker” in the accompany piece
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Venue:
Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Date: 15/06/2024
Hello Cleveland! Mick said he had always wanted to say that. He would have had other opportunities, however this was their first show in the city since 2002 and 60 years(!) since their first one which he informed us was apparently very poorly attended.
I had 3 realistic options for a tour stop within fairly reasonable driving distances,the others being East Rutherford near New York and Philadelphia. Cleveland won, with the show being on a Saturday and the added bonus of taking place on Father’s Day weekend. So my 17 yr old daughter joined me for her first and very probably last Stones show. It was no. 29 for me. She loved it btw
I have travelled a lot for Stones shows and when it takes place in a relatively smaller city, it is like they take over the place. Fans everywhere wearing a multitude of T shirts from past and present tours and Stones tracks blaring from speakers downtown where the stadium is conveniently placed. A black middle aged lady of ample proportions had even set up a drum kit to join in the fun.
I had bought “Lucky Dip” tickets, » Continue Reading.
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Born in the USA was released.
Not my favourite album, but one I have probably played more than any other.
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Paste magazines top 300 albums. Some interesting choices.
Please refrain from clicking if you are not interested.
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Another one.
Live at Orangefield (2014)
Perhaps past his vintage era but a decent selection of songs (see comments)
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The very prolific band will release it next month. I will be picking up a vinyl copy at Solid Sound 🙂 Excellent news
“A new EP just in time for summer (and Solid Sound)!
Hot Sun Cool Shroud features six new tracks from Wilco that have a summertime-after-dark kind of feeling.
“It starts off pretty hot, like heat during the day, has some instrumentals on it that are a little agitated and uncomfortable and ends with a cooling breeze. There are tracks on Hot Sun Cool Shroud that are more aggressive and angular than anything we’ve put out in a while, and a song about love melting you like ice cream into a puddle of sugary soup. All the pieces of summer, including the broody cicadas.” – Jeff Tweedy
The EP will be available digitally on June 28 (presave here), and Solid Sound goers will have the first crack at vinyl. “
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With a nod to @fitterstoke, what is the song being discussed here by a certain rock writer?
“If there weren’t such massive prejudice against *****…, “*******” would be ranked among the greatest pop songs written in the past decade, a penetrating psychological portrait of what psychoanalyst Alice Miller calls The Drama of the Gifted Child, and a great reworking of one of the major undiscussed themes in contemporary pop music: spiritual abandonment, lack of nurture, and their consequences.”
“*******” penetrates to the very heart of a basic human mystery: How parents can so readily brutalize their own…”
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Venue:
Budweiser Stage, Toronto
Date: 20/05/2024
Holy f***ing sh*t!
78 yr old Neil Young returns to the city of his birth, with him 80 yr old Ralph Molina and Billy Talbot who is the same age. They have been playing with him off and on since 1968. Micah Nelson (son of Willy), brings the average down, him being the current incumbent on rhythm guitar which has been the only rotating element in the last 56 years.
The show was at a large semi open amphitheatre right on Lake Ontario. Fortunately we had secured pit tickets and was pretty amazing to witness what unfolded from a distance of about 10 feet.
After a stifling hot day at the end of the Victoria Day long weekend, the show was delayed as an unexpected severe thunderstorm passed by. Fortunately just missing us in the end. Theme of the “Love Earth” tour is climate change and the weather served as an appropriate metaphor for the show.
After a quite bizarre preacher and choir ensemble opened the show, Neil and the Horse shambled on and settled gently into their rhythm with Cortez the Killer. I won’t go through the setlist track » Continue Reading.
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Just the $1350 !
It contains alternate versions of the Nutopian International Anthem.
(there will also be a version for about 100-150 quid with 6 CDs and 2 Blu-rays)
https://store.johnlennon.com/products/mind-games-the-ultimate-mixes-super-deluxe-box-set
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As am sure most are aware this has been going on for a while. Saying pretty horrible things about each other and rush releasing tracks to emphasise their views.
All good fun, but it potentially took a dark and sinister turn when a security guard was shot outside Drake’s home a few days ago. Shootings in Toronto are not completely uncommon and this may be unrelated however
So what do we think about this, is it an essential part of hip hop culture or should they grow the f*** up and get on with their lives without allowing this to escalate into something that is extremely dangerous?
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1 week (US):
Vinyl LPs – 859,000 CDs – 759,500 Cassettes – 21,500 Digital Downloads – 274,000
That would appear to suggest there is still a place for physical media.
However: Spotify streams > 1 billion (presumably worldwide)
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He is sick, physically and mentally. Taking some “time out” to address it. Check the link. Hopefully he will make a full recovery and be back in business soon
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For those who are interested. Went to 2 local stores out of about 10 I could choose in the city. Got what I wanted Wilco – The Whole Love box set. Threw back Lennon Mind Game EP $45 (about 30 quid after tax) for 4 songs! Also saw Talking Heads live album I was interested in, but decided against it (was about 40 quid for a double)
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30LPs is generous, not sure how that thing will fit on my shelf though!
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“Jeff Lynne’s” ELO are to make a final tour, whether this will last about a decade like Elton’s is as yet unknown. I checked the on sale yesterday for Toronto, all the best seats are either designated as “Platinum” which is complete nonsense, just legalised scalping or you can buy one of 3 packages like the aforementioned one.
Here’s what the Mr Blue Sky package gives you:
One reserved ticket in rows 6-15 on the floor Access to the Jeff Lynne’s ELO lounge including: – Green screen photo booth experience – Light appetizers and dessert bar – (2) drink tickets per person for beer, wine, and soft drinks – Photo opportunity in front of the VIP backdrop to commemorate you evening * Specially designed merchandise – exclusive to VIP packages Commemorative laminate and branded lanyard Priority entry for crowd free merchandise shopping
*No artist interaction with this package
So a decent seat but not the best, 2 drinks(!), and the catering doesn’t even include a main meal. The cost $993!! The “Over and Out” package (first 5 rows) is $1400
I can kind of understand people buying VIP packages to meet the artist, but who on earth would pay » Continue Reading.
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2 absolutely astonishing games. Incredible entertainment for the neutral. But I admit I supported England today (!). The media coverage Ireland have been getting has been a bit much, especially for a team that routinely fails every 4 years when the World Cup comes around. And it should always be tough to win Grand Slams.
Unfortunately Wales are currently pretty hopeless, but a win tomorrow against a French side in apparent post World Cup disarray would make it a pleasing weekend sportswise.
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… is To Pimp A Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar
Based on votes from 75,000 people so I guess it must be true
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Only 20 years since the magnificent Out of Season (with Rustin’ Man)
https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/beth-gibbons-lives-outgrown/
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Obituary
Sad news for any Welshman or rugby supporter of a certain age. Welsh and British Lions legend Barry John has died at the age of 79. Bit of a blow coming so soon after the death of JPR Williams.
Arguably the most famous player in the world at the time he retired at the age of 27 in 1972. Only saw him play for 2 or 3 seasons but what memorable ones they were.
