The Afterword

Musings on the byways of popular culture

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Fish

by 24 Comments

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 William Dick the artist soon to be formerly known as Fish.

It’s been over 40 years since I first saw Fish with Marillion on the Real to Reel tour. That was a moment for the teenage me, only my second ever concert and if you’d asked me who my favorite band was for most of the ’80’s I’d have probably answered Marillion. I wore my grey origami jester tour t- shirt under my school uniform the next day and gushed to anyone who’d listen about what I’d seen. I seem to remember that some of Misplaced Childhood was road tested on that tour, a brave move to ask an audience to sit through an unreleased prog suite but it worked and I got to see their star rise as ‘hits’ followed. Whilst seemingly never fashionable with the critics they were on an upwards career trajectory until personal differences brought it to an end in the late ’80’s. Custody of lyrics and music were split and both parties went » Continue Reading.

Brian Trueman 92

by 4 Comments

Obituary

I am just the right age for his work at Cosgrove Hall to be a fundamental part of my lunchtime and after school TV diet whilst growing up. Chorlton and The Wheelies and Danger Mouse were essential viewing.

Somewhere You Feel Free

by 12 Comments

This documentary covering the making of the Wildflowers album has been released to youtube after it had a limited cinema release for a day recently. Not sure that there’s anything radically new here but it’s Tom Petty and it’s Wildflowers so that’s a good thing right. Anyway if you like TP and who doesn’t then this is a pleasant way to spend 90 minutes.

Hard to Handle the life and death of The Black Crowes: A memoir

by 14 Comments

Author:Steve Gorman +Stephen Hyden

I stopped reading rock star memoirs a few years ago, having taken a view of what more could they offer. This probably arose when I read Motley Crue’s The Dirt and the Warren Zevon biography in quick succession; no one’s walking away from those two clean. Those books show envelopes being well and truly pushed no matter what one may think of the music and as years pass what may in teenage years have seemed like high spirits seems through a middle aged rearview mirror as arrested development and started to detract from the music.

However If any band were to draw me back in for the ride then its The Black Crowes and I’ve been looking forward to this book by their ex drummer since hearing that it was being written last year.

Initially derided by some as Stones / Faces copyists The Crowes have been for the best part of 30 years one of ‘my touchstone bands’ and IMHO their mid 90’s output ( Sothern Harmony, Amorica, 3 Snakes) stands comparison against anyones. Which probably just means that I was the right age for them when they came along. In many ways they seemed » Continue Reading.

Marillion and Friends from the Orchestra

by 2 Comments

Venue:

Manchester Bridgewater Hall

Date: 04/11/2019

Taking to the stage the band are joined by a six piece ensemble for what is to be a Marillion and Friends from the Orchestra evening. If anyone thought that this would see things taking a sedate turn then those ideas were soon put aside as the band launch into a full on version of Gaza from Sounds That Can’t Be Made. This is followed by Afraid of Sunlight (one of my favorites)  and Seasons End which was introduced as a song written 30 years ago about a subject that only now seems to be making the news. Estonia with an introduction telling the story of how it came to be written after a chance meeting with the sole UK survivor is as beautifully haunting as always and makes way for Hollow Man  along with background projections of certain politicians – Hello Mr Gove – before the centerpiece of the main set The New Kings from last Studio album F.E.A.R. I can’t claim to have listened to FEAR more than a handful of times but on the evidence of tonight I’m inclined to go back and give it another chance. Then its The Sky above the » Continue Reading.

Ask the Massive – South Western USA Roadtrip

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There comes a time when taken at the flood means that you spend your bonus on 4 very cheap plane tickets to Las Vegas and then embark on a road trip with your wife and 2 kids 16 and 12.

We hold no candle for Vegas but the flights were very cheap there and back. Open to all suggestions for a 2 1/2 week roadtrip. Thinking Grand Canyon, Monument Valley etc. Can we make it to the coast and back on a circular roadtrip?

Thoughts and suggestions, welcome.

Blinded By The Light -film

by 15 Comments

Venue:

Aylesbury Odeon

Date: 10/08/2019

A coming of age drama set in the 1980’s featuring a Springsteen obsessive. Hmmm I’m naturally inclined to like this and having seen the trailers online the rest of the family were thankfully up for it as well; the only question then was when to go. So in the midst of a family road trip and having had an early evening meal we were pleased to find that Blinded By The Light was showing at the cinema opposite our Travellodge.

Javed is the put upon teen weighed down with family commitments, the expectations of his traditional father and about to start 6th form college. Whilst he’s fulfilling the role of the dutiful son he’s also going through the growing pains of trying to maintain a friendship with his more popular childhood friend and neighbor Scott and avoid the increasing number of skinheads and racists that seem to be frequenting Lutons streets.

Though his Dad is concerned with academic success as a route to a good job ( He’s allowed to choose Doctor or Lawyer) Javed is already secretly drawn to writing and once introduced to Springsteen through some loaned cassettes it’s Bruce’s music that serves » Continue Reading.

Songs about Films

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I’ve just seen that Whistle Down the Wjnd is being shown on Talking Pictures tonight. I haven’t seen it in years so have no idea how its aged but it always reminds me of this Toto song which took it as lyrical and Video inspiration.

Do any other examples of songs or videos inspired by the movies spring to mind?

Midnight Oil

by 6 Comments

Venue:

O2 Apollo Manchester

Date: 09/06/2019

“We had to play Too Much Sunshine because it’s the opposite of what you’ve got here and because we waited such a long time to come back and play to you”. So spoke Peter Garrett the imposing 6ft 4inch lead singer of Midnight Oil two songs into their set. He wasn’t wrong either, and on a grey Sunday evening the “Oils” were making their first visit to Manchester since ’93. Even allowing for the band being put on a lengthy hiatus whilst he pursued a career in politics it has been a long, long  time. However, buoyed by the reaction to 2017’s The Great Circle tour they’re back  for a rare visit with three shows in Manchester, Dublin and London before spending the next month playing festivals across Europe. So the faithful duly gathered, family’s with under 10’s sporting serious (and sensible) ear defenders rubbed shoulders with aging rockers wearing 80’s denim waistcoats adorned with Rose Tattoo patches. As the lights went down for the start of the show twenty-something’s rushed down the aisle  to get as close to the front as they could whilst us slightly older ones stood our ground in » Continue Reading.

David Bowie as League 1 football clubs

by 19 Comments

My son tells me that this was mentioned on Absolute radio today but I hadn’t seen it. Sad to say that the contribution from the mighty Bantams is like our league position the poorest but some of the other matches are genius.

Link in the next post.

I’m an Afterworder, get me out of here….

by 18 Comments

I see that Danny Baker is set to appear on IACGMOOH! alongside dancer Ola Jordan and former Countdown number cruncher Carole Vorderman.

Apologies for the link to the Daily Fail but they seem quite hot on this type of show biz news. Well actually they’re quoting The Sun (As if that was any better)!

No agenda, just suspected that it may be of passing interest to the massive. For myself I’d quite fancy a trip to Oz around this time of year if I could wrangle one so good luck to him. I’m not sure that anyone can win in the popularity stakes without the aid of a favourable editing team though. Will there be lingering shots of DB taking a shower? Tune in to find out.

Wonder if they’ll be any AW friendly lyrics our band references dropped in?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3910924/Ola-Jordan-Carol-Vorderman-Danny-Baker-confirmed-m-Celeb.html

I think that the passing of The Hip merits a mention

by 7 Comments

Forgive me if this has been mentioned elsewhere but tonight sees the end of the road for one of Canada’s favorite bands The Tragically Hip. Earlier this year lead singer Gord Downie was diagnosed with incurable brain cancer, a tour was booked and tonight they’ll be playing what looks like their last show in their hometown of Kingston Ontario.

Putting the personal tragedy to one side (if that’s ever possible) I’m not a Canadian but this seems to have struck a chord over there and at a time when music seems to be more disposable this looks to be something that has touched people. i always knew that The Hip were big in Canada but didn’t realise that CBC would be screening the show live both in the country and worldwide on Youtube, Facebook etc and that people would be gathering for viewing parties. This seems to have become an ‘event’.

Whilst they never achieved a major breakthrough away from Canada, I was lucky enough too see them live in a small room in a UK university some years ago and they were the business with Gord being a highly watchable front-man. Sorry to see them go but it looks » Continue Reading.

Fantasy Football Shoutout

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If the terms “double gameweek” “differential” and “Rate My Team” mean little to you then please leave now. However Paul the psychic Octopus, Howson is now, Clinical diabetes and AC/FC this thread is for you.

I’m not sure who created the Afterword fantasy premier league but I’d like to thank you now. It has given me hours of pleasure over the last couple of seasons and I have spent far more time than can be considered healthy contemplating which overpaid Prima Donna will accrue more points during the next game week. In fact writing this post sees me taking a break from doing just that.

There’s no real point to this thread other than to wish all my fellow managers well during the remainder of the season. I’m currently in the process of a wildcard which had the team set-up on Sunday evening. Unfortunately I’ve changed it three times since then and can’t go back….buyers remorse is setting in.

FWIW “Howson is now” wins my vote for best teamname and my “Lovren Happiness” was a nod to Al Green rather than Liverpool. Now how about “Me and Couhtinio down by the schoolyard” for next season?

The Afghan Whigs

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I have just discovered the Afghan Whigs via the wonderful Radio Paradise and the track Algiers from Do The Beast.I know, I read about them in the monthlies many years ago but I never actually listened to them until now. I’m downloading ‘Do The Beast’ from emusic as we speak.

Emusic also has Congregation Black Love and Gentlemen

Where should I go next…… any thoughts.

Thanks in advance.

The Afghan Whigs

by 1 Comment

I have just discovered the Afghan Whigs via the wonderful Radio Paradise and the track Algiers from Do The Beast.I know, I read about them in the monthlies many years ago but I never actually listened to them until now. I’m downloading ‘Do The Beast’ from emusic as we speak.

Emusic also has Congregation Black Love and Gentlemen

Where should I go next…… any thoughts.

Thanks in advance.