Musings on the byways of popular culture
by 9 Comments
I’m loving it, natch. A few flibbity-jibbities from the England lads in the field, (Ian Bell I’m looking at you) and I feel sorry for the young bowler who put his foot over the line a couple of times. And the Kiwis made the most of their luck which is what good players do. It’s shaping up to be a great Test I reckon.
by 7 Comments
This is just fabulous. For a start it’s really well recorded, but the vocals and the harmonies and the band are excellent. I loved this when it came out in 1967, one of those one-off hits that seemed to come along all the time in those days (think “Macarthur Park”, “Ode To Billy Joe”).
Anyway I can’t think of another band that has actually improved over nearly 50 years, and if asked I would never have imagined it would be The Cowsills
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foepOwQlXpI
by 56 Comments
I don’t know if this is news in the UK or outside Australasia, it’s obviously headline news here in Australia and has been for some months. Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were the ringleaders of the so-called “Bali Nine”, nine misguided kids who got caught smuggling heroin in Bali 10 years ago, and were sentenced to death. After umpteen legal processes and pleas from the Australian government it looks like tonight they will be lined up and shot by a firing squad.
There are so many issues surrounding this case – the death penalty itself, the weakness of the newly elected Indonesian prime minister etc etc. What is often overlooked is that the Australian Federal Police knew about these people and let them be arrested in Bali, for whatever reason.
Another issue is that if ever there was a case for commuting the death sentence it’s this – the two men seem to have remarkably got their act together and are willing to remain in an Indonesian jail for the rest of lives helping other prisoners. One of them is an accomplished painter.
There’s a lot of killing and disasters in the world at the moment but this case makes » Continue Reading.
by 72 Comments
I’m currently preparing an episode of my radio show “One Size Fits All” (it’s a Frank Zappa based 2 hour show named after the FZ album of the same name) –
http://eastsidefm.org/onesizefitsall/
– which will be an overview of the year 1975 (when FZ released OSFA).
What are your memories of music in 1975? In between psychedelia and prog and punk?
Supposedly a crap year but there are gems – like this –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDD5BQlv8iw
(George McRae – “Rock Your Baby”)
And I’m NOT going to play anything from Rumours or Physical Graffiti. And I WILL play a couple of tracks from The Last Record Album.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUxJQlOKj38
by 4 Comments
This guy is very funny, as are the replies from, in this one Rick Wakeman. There’s also letters to other AW faves such as Andy P and The Duckworth Lewis folks.
by 12 Comments
So Andy Partridge agrees with a study that has found that people from Swindon are not very “open” and in general the friendlier folk in the UK are in the north.
Is this rubbish?
http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/11879263.Don_t_bank_on__open__reaction_from_Swindonians__says_XTC_frontman/
by 17 Comments
He’s more of a Rocket Man
OK, you can do better than that…
by 17 Comments
For example The Unthanks new “product” – how do you refer to it when you are talking about it?
I tend to use the word “album”, cos I’m such a 1971 kind of guy, although in reality usually I’ve bought a CD. If I’ve downloaded the – er, product (in which case it’s not a CD) then “album” seems to also cover the digital experience.
I have a friend in NZ who is a music journalist (of my vintage although a bit younger) who ALWAYS uses the word “record”, which I love.
What’s your preferred nomenclature, and why?
by 35 Comments
I ask out of ignorance and for information.
1. What are the great, classic, songs for children from England? I mean I know there are nursery rhymes and so on, but is there an English equivalent of say, Pete Seeger, or Burl Ives, who sang traditional and contemporary (at the time) songs just for kids?
2. Are there current writers/performers of children’s songs in the UK? Who are the best ones? For example in the US They Might Be Giants are hugely (and deservedly) popular for their kids’ stuff.
This question actually comes from Mrs M, who is constantly looking for content for her podcast for kids that is not American. You can listen to her podcast here –
http://eastsidefm.org/blogs/catch-it-by-the-tail/
by 9 Comments
Venue:
Adelaide Town Hall, South Australia
Date: 10/03/2015
This was just sublime. The first hour was a continuous succession of improvisations, he’d play a melody or a theme and then rather than take off an extended virtuosic solo he gently explored the ideas in the piece, sometimes setting up a rhythmic groove, sometimes exploring the chord progression. It was all very gentle, meditative but never dull or boring, indeed it was the opposite – endlessly interesting, the sound of a master musician who knows exactly what he’s doing and how to do it. After that first hour there was another twenty minute piece, not quite so inventive, and that was it.
He didn’t speak a word to the audience, and had a folio of music on the piano which I suppose was a reminder of the pieces he wanted to play.
As a footnote, I’d organised to go this gig several months ago – had to leave a rehearsal half an hour early to get to the airport, fortunately the plane was on time but I was 3 minutes late and had to sit in the dress circle, which was OK. I fell over running across the road rushing » Continue Reading.
by 21 Comments
The phrase “better half” tends to be used by men referring to women (I look forward to being corrected on this), and is usually a kind of self-deprecating acknowledgement of women’s wisdom.
I’m the first to note Mrs M’s ability to organise social occasions, advise on any social interaction and – well, let’s just say she’s the boss.
However, there are certain things that I am better at doing. The main one is working out exactly how much time it will take to get from one place to another (and another, and another, on the same day) and against my Better Half’s optimism, suggesting an alternative. For example, just visiting/going to ONE event. Because every occasion/event involves chat/discussion/talk/gossip. Which means that we will be late for the NEXT thing.
What’s your experience?
by 12 Comments
Venue:
City Recital Hall, Sydney
Date: 03/03/2015
An amazing performance, and for me (as a total ignoramus about African music), a complete eye-opener. Father and son duo both playing the kora (Google it), an African stringed instrument. Both total virtuosi. The music was remarkably “Western” sounding to my ears – diatonic major or Lydian scales, straight 8 grooves, but totally engaging, wonderful rhythmic playfulness, and a beautiful sound. My son (aged 22) suggested we go to this, otherwise I would not have even known it was on.
In an odd footnote, they brought on a couple of guests, including an Australian woman who has been studying African music – turned out she was the daughter of our family GP from a decade ago.
The audience:
Hated them. Clapped every time the performers said anything. Obviously there were folks from Mali in the audience, and great that they yelled out etc. Mali has been overrun by Muslim extremists in recent years, and the performers mentioned tis, not in so many words. I’m trying not to be cynical here but I can’t help suspecting the mainly white audience had their moment of pleasure. OK, I am being cynical. But really, just » Continue Reading.
by 4 Comments
This is a great interview, love the idea of Debbie Harry inviting her “punk ladies” for tea. Except Chrissie Hynde looks like she’s about to swig from a bottle of champers. She also looks, in this photo, disturbing like Freddie Mercury.
Blondie wrote some great pop songs. Time for a reassessment?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures/11432214/Debbie-Harry-on-punk-refusing-to-retire-and-sex-at-69.html
by 6 Comments
So where and when do you suppose this could have been taken? Maybe Lulu was in America when FZ was in The Monkees’ “Head”. Or were Lulu and Davy an item at one stage?
http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y448/MrMunkie/FZ%20DavyJ%20Lulu_zpsdowoyrya.jpg
by 7 Comments
1. If I reply to a comment, it appears as a reply to the OP rather than the comment I was replying to (eg see my comment on DFB’s comment about the Bonzo’s/Rutles in IanP’s “Who you going to see” post. Can we fix this? Otherwise my comment doesn’t necessarily make sense.
2. I saved a New Blog Post as a draft, because I couldn’t work out how to post a photo. (Still can’t). But then when I went to “Post a Blog”, I kept getting my previous, saved one. Can this be sorted? Does this make sense?
BTW I of course appreciate the great work all the admin folks are doing. PLEASE can we donate something?
