The Afterword

Musings on the byways of popular culture

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Joe Ely RIP

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Very sad to hear of the passing of Joe Ely today. He was aged 78.

Joe played a huge part in introducing a new generation to Country Music in the late 70s, helped by his friendship with The Clash (including backing vocals on Should I Stay Or Should I Go). Many U.K. musicians were inspired by him after watching him support The Clash on one of their UK tours.

He was originally from Lubbock, Texas where he became one of The Flatlanders band with Butch Hancock and Jimmie Dale Gilmore. After their early efforts proved fruitless Joe went solo and released 4 classic Country Rock albums for MCA. He relied a lot on the songs of his Flatlanders alumni and put together a sensational backing band. Always dynamic live, Ely also acted as an opening act for The Rolling Stones and Tom Petty.

The initial attention faded after a diversion into electronic sounds but he went back to his roots and produced more great albums for independent labels right up until the present day. (One track Odds Of The Blues featured his longtime supporter, Bruce Springsteen)

In later years he enjoyed some success with a reunion of the original » Continue Reading.

Colin Meloy Solo

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Venue:

Union Chapel, London

Date: 01/04/2025

I was looking forward to this one. Sightings of The Decemberists have been rare in these parts for many years (bar a one off glorious 60 mins at last year’s All Points East) This was Colin solo though, a first in Europe? Maybe a chance for older songs, deep cuts etc.

Well he certainly displayed his Anglophile roots right from the start, a cover of the LAs’ Timeless Melody. (“ one of those legendary bands who only released one record…..but at least they released it many times”) At another point in the gig he referenced his obsession with The Waterboys at an earlier age. After the opening cover, the gig emerged into a mix of his own songs; Tristram and Iseult (from his first band Tarkio), Eli The Barrow Boy, Lesley Anne Levine and We Both Go Down Together from his main act. Things were building nicely, helped by a mid set singalong to Burial Ground….but then the impetus slipped. I’m as much a fan of a mid tempo murder ballad as anyone, but I couldn’t help feel like we were getting too much of the same thing. There were certainly jauntier Decemberists » Continue Reading.

Springsteen takes a fall

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I hadn’t realised that The Boss took a tumble onstage in Amsterdam this week. Images available on the net. Fortunately he and his guitar were unhurt and he laughed it off.

Of more amusement to me was the Mail’s description of the event, referring to “the I’m On Fire hitmaker”. Surely somebody there reads this blog and is on the joke?

S.G. Goodman – Teeth Marks

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I think a number of you on here may enjoy S.G. Goodman. She channels both Patti Smith and Lucinda Williams in her mix of fiery rockers and reflective ballads. I only recently discovered her from a recent SXSW stream. Her second album, Teeth Marks, came out last Friday.

Attached is an example of her rockier side

Cassandra Jenkins tourdates

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There was some love shown for Cassandra Jenkins on these pages earlier in the year, particularly the track Hard Drive. A mix of poetry, jazz and god knows what else.

I see she is now playing some dates in November across the U.K. and selected parts of Europe. Will be interesting to see how her sound transfers to the live setting

https://cassandrajenkins.com/

The Most Afterword Round of Pointless

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Yesterday BBC’s Pointless offered this question (for its 4K jackpot no less) – Name anyone who has been a member of Fairport Convention!

For those who don’t know Pointless, the aim is to identify an answer that escaped a Group of 100 “normal” members of the Public.

My initial thought was that every member of the Group might have escaped the Public’s attention. However there were Public points for Swarbrick, Mattacks and Thompson (him again!). I was left smiling with my nap hand of Trevor Lucas, Jerry Donahue and Dan Ar Bras.

I think we may have touched on this before, but anybody seen any surprising quiz questions out in the real world?

Guided By Voices return to UK

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There might be some fans on here of GBV (Guided By Voices). Never really broken out of cult status with their lo-fi take on art rock. For the cognoscenti, they are playing their first U.K. show for 15 years in the Village Underground, London on Wednesday 5th June. Tickets on sale this Friday

https://www.seetickets.com/event/guided-by-voices/village-underground/1302490?awc=7816_1546946156_9fb377276f7ebe77e5aa74bcd9de4364&AFF=aw