I was bad, broke the Afterword code. I bought the Bono book, Surrender. I read it – and – well – I enjoyed it. Sorry. Dude can write. Hes trying to be a good man while being a rock star. His stories of the band and his political meddlings are interesting and to my surprise he came over as funny and modest. Hell – it even made me go back and check our some of the back catalogue I had missed the fist time round.

Again – sorry. I’ll get my coat.

Are we going to discuss Hey Clockface. It’s – “interesting”. I am only a couple of listens in but is it a groundbreaking master piece or total bollocks. It’s hard work trying to work out the answer!

One of the “pleasures” of the lock-down has been musical discovery – and in particular playing albums in full. My CD collection is in my home office and I am trying to push myself away from the shuffle and just pick an album at random and play it front to back. The wonderful thing is finding albums that did not click when you bought them – but now I “get ” them. Two albums worked this way for me today. Christine Collister – Blue Aconite (what a voice) and Badly Drawn Boy – Bewilderbeast (I now realize the meandering “slacker” thing would be the point).

Any albums that have come back to bite you years later?

A package from the UK arrived yesterday – my “Pencilsqueezer”. Its a thing of beauty – even more impressive in flesh. I would encourage anyone to commission one – not sure Peter gets on here any longer – but he can be found on Twitter @pencilsqueezer

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Not intended as a review but I am at 30,000 feet between Detroit and Denver and found The Cure at Hyde Park video on the in flight entertainment. I have never been a huge fan over the years – a “just the hits” kind of knowledge of them but DAMN THEY ARE GOOD. 40 years in – still looking ludicrously rock and roll – 60 odd years old and THAT hair. In great voice and the vibe is still there and they seem to be loVing every minute. How our rock stars should get old. I believe there is a new album coming in 2020?

Some old vinyl listening this afternoon and pulled out Peace and Love from The Pogues. Had not heard it in years. It’s their best album. Great writing and great musicians at the top of their game.

I am in dive bar – the other side of the tracks – literally – in Jacksonville FL. Living in the Past – Jethro Tull on the jukebox. Has any music been MORE out of place. Over to you ……

By the wonders of a new turntable and a Sonos system – i have just showered with Deacon Blue. if there is anyone else in then world who would care – apart from me – its you folks. When I bought the record – Raintown – since you did not ask – for $6.49 at the HMV shop in Darlington 32 years ago – did I ever imagine it would follow me through half a dozen homes – being played in 2019 in a Michigan college town. I did not – but I am kinda happy it did. Just got the vinyl pulled out of a the basement and back on the turntable where it should be. I am a man of the past. I am old

Saw Richard Thompson in Detroit on Friday night. Standing only venue – with about 200 men of a certain age watching. He was of course marvelous. A great new album, extraordinary playing and his voice is still great at 69. Playing tunes from Fairport days – 50 damn years.

Question was asked by my friend – why is RT NOT Eric Clapton – ie – stadium gigs, widespread recognition etc. RT plays better, sings better and has written better songs.

We had a one word answer – “Cream” – but surely there is more to it.

In London on vacation for a few days. Sitting outside at the Founders Arms on the South Bank by the Tate Modern. Sat next to a table of two “elderly” men and a bored looking woman discussing all sorts of musical bollocks – Beatles vs Stones, “mid period” Bowie, and the performance of Mr Clapton in the park. Ms DrewToo commented that they “must” be part of the Afterword madness? Was she right?

It might as well be me.

Let’s hope this IS the result. I shall be in Edinburgh tomorrow evening on vacation – I am sure the lovely Scots will be happy tune the pub tv to the football…..

So i came through Nashville airport today. I was in the airline lounge – a very small affair at Nashville for Delta. The scruffy crazy bearded man 5 seats away – travelling with his kid – Steve Earle. What do you do? Whats the protocol? This man has made some my favorite music. He is about to leave. Eyes meet. A star struck 56 year old grown – assed man says – “Sorry (I am English after all) – but are you Steve Earle? – (affirmative). I just want to thank you for your art – I have seen you many times in concert – thank you”. Hands were shaken – smiles given – talk of too much travelling.

After he left – the lady across the aisle said ‘who was that’ – “never heard of him”…………..the importance of the moment in the big world is explained!

My day is made – I am home in Michigan playing Transcendental Blues way too loud.

So Mrs DT and I have a few days in Northern Italy coming up at the end of the month. We have 5 days to get from Como to Venice. We have a car. We like exploring town, cities, history and trying to slip in a little (well – a lot) of eating and drinking along the way. We could read guide books or scour the internet – or I could just the ask smart folks. What do you recommend………

Another marvelous song fro Jason Isbell from his album arriving in June.

Quite possibly the most simplest direct song he has ever written – and appropriately sang with his wife Amanda Shires

From the Jason Isbell album due in couple of months. A song of protest – a song of hope – “last year was a son of a bitch for nearly everyone we know”. Ms. Drewtoo cried when she heard it. L

This is the best thing I have heard all year – the detail, the mood.

So I am going to be in London on 25th March – a single night before returning to my Michigan home. Just wondering if anyone would like to meet for a pint or two and musings on the byways of popular culture.

At the Trump inauguration concert he has just walked on to the Rolling Stones – Heart of Stone

There’s been so many girls that I’ve known I’ve made so many cry, and still I wonder why Here comes a little girl, I see her walking down the street She’s all by herself, I try to knock her off her feet ‘Cause you’ll never break, never break, never break, never break This heart of stone, oh no, no, this heart of stone What’s different about her I don’t really know No matter how I try, I just can’t make her cry ‘Cause you’ll never break, never break, never break, never break This heart of stone, oh no, no, this heart of stone Don’t keep on looking that same old way If you try acting sad, you’ll only make me glad Better listen little girl, if you going walking down the street I ain’t got no love, I ain’t the kind to meet ‘Cause you’ll never break, never break, never break, never break This heart of stone, oh no, no, you’ll never break this heart of stone darling No no this heart of stone You’ll never break it darling You won’t break » Continue Reading.

Does anyone else still do this? Harking back to the old days of the 5 CD auto changer – despite streaming everything from iTunes I still find myself assembling 5 albums shuffling the mix. Random but not “too” random. A little old, a little new, some rock, some mellow – oh you get the idea. As I type I am listening to a shuffle of – Go Go Penguin – Man Made Object Applewood Road – Applewood Road Hawkwind – Warrior on the Edge of Time Ryan Adams – 1989 Mavis Staples – Living on a High Note

I found out earlier this week that Curtis (from Ohio) died suddenly and unexpectedly from a heart attack back in September. He was 56. My family and I were lucky enough to meet Curtis and some of his family on half a dozen occasions when passing through Cincinnati. I only knew him briefly but he was a fine man, full of passion for life and in particular music.

I debated long and hard about posting. Whats the protocol for this sort of thing ? I know he connected with many on this site so I thought it best to pass the news on.

Back in September, Curtis had posted his “Top 100” – this week I have found myself going back to that list. No 1 – was “Do You Realize?” from The Flaming Lips. The lyrics seem wonderfully appropriate. Play it LOUD.

Do you realize?, that you have the most beautiful face Do you realize?, we’re floating in space, Do you realize?, that happiness makes you cry Do you realize?, that everyone you know someday will die And instead of saying all of your goodbyes, let them know You realize that life goes fast It’s hard to make the » Continue Reading.