The Afterword

Musings on the byways of popular culture

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What’s for tea?

by 52 Comments

We struggle endlessly with the eternal question “what shall we eat this week”. What are your favourites? Moving out of default salad is stressing me out.

Zzzzzzzzzzzz

by 11 Comments

No! Wait! Not another thread about Steven Wilson Tull remixes…..

Somehow I have damaged my shoulder – not doing anything specific that I can remember, but the tendon is tight as flip and two physios and a lot of stretching and yoga stuff aren’t touching it. They are currently unable to decide if it is actually a neck problem cause by my shoulder or a shoulder problem cause by my neck. One by product of this is I have realised I am both exacerbating the problem and at the same time opening up a new vista of discomfort from it due to the way I sleep. A bit of investigation has taught me that there are back sleepers and side sleepers – something pretty obvious but I didn’t know it was a thing. I’m a side guy, which is the problem. A little more research suggests the pillow you use us critical to pain free sleeping, especially with shoulder problems.

I was just looking at a pillow which costs £90 FFS. Current favourite is one of these wave shaped ones which is apparently just the kiddy.

Like everything, there is a lot of opinion out there – what think the » Continue Reading.

The Afterword #68: The Navelgazecast

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Twang, Chiz, Carl and Retropath 2 gather in the pod to discuss, in a shameless bit of navel gazing, the Afterword. Topic originator Attack Dog was busy on guard duty at the time so had to sit this one out but his growl was there in spirit. The team discuss their entry to the blog, favourite threads, how to achieve an effective flounce, hate threads and much more. About half way through, reggae fans will appreciate the contribution of guest producer Lee “Scratch” Perry as participants randomly disappear into a Skype provided echo chamber, but the team are not phased by this first known venture into podcast dub, and get to the end in a positive, if cautious, mood about the future of our little corner of the internet.

http://traffic.libsyn.com/theafterwordpodcast/Self_Referentialcast.mp3

Richard Thompson – “13 Rivers”

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What does it sound like?:

Well it sounds massive. Produced by RT (no Americana muso involvement as for the recent Jeff Tweedy and Buddy Miller collaborations), the sound is big beefy and rocky. Opening track “The storm won’t come” has piledriving power chords and a stonking guitar solo while Richard sings of his wish for an Amageddon like cleansing of the world – “Blow these sad buildings down, fire burn what fire may, rain to wash it all away”. So far, so Old Testament. The album is very much a band effort and track 2 starts with a syncopated drum heavy blast of riffing before “The Rattle Within” despairs at man’s inability to deal with his inner demons. More religious imagery here… Track 4 also mentions Armageddon, but this time with reference to the narrator’s all consuming possessiveness and defensiveness of his beloved – you can infer this is not the healthiest of relationships. He’s a fallen soul – early on we learn “as a kid I saw rainbows, but life turns you upside down, shakes the money out of your Wranglers, leaves you heaving on the ground”. In between wracked verses RT’s Stratocaster spits out a series of » Continue Reading.

Holiday consumption recommendations?

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I’m off to rural France for 2 weeks of chilling (me and the vino) and a bit of catching up on the reading and listening. So what are your recommendations, along with a bit of a description of the flavour, for:

1. A “must listen” album 2. A good (auto) biography 3. Page turner fiction 4. Non-fiction

Bring it on.

The Afterword #67: The Daretodreamcast Pt.2

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Twang, Leedsboy and Tiggerlion reconvene with the midfield strengthened by Askwith called from the bench as Feedback File is on a free transfer to more useful activities and maintaining the tradition of every podcast being bedeviled by Skype problems, Fortune 8 was obliged to sit this one out. The team celebrate the quarter final win over Sweden, trash talk the competition and unashamedly dare to dream. It’s coming home, they don’t sing (you will be relieved to learn).

http://traffic.libsyn.com/theafterwordpodcast/Footycast_part_2_master.mp3

Podcast participants needed!

by 70 Comments

We are about to relaunch the podcasts, and a few are already on the plan. To keep things moving, two things are required …..subjects to discuss, and people to discuss them.

So please use this thread to (a) express interest in taking part, and I’ll be back to you by a PM, and (b) subjects of particular interest to explore (accepting that general talking bollockscasts are always on the schedule).

if you want host one, interview someone specific or generally boss a ‘cast that is also great, just get in touch.

They can’t happen without you!

Heart warming stories

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Let’s have some nice stuff. Whilst on holiday in May I read the story of a woman in Essex with terminal cancer who put her bucket list of things she really wanted to do in her remaining time on Facebook, and one of the items was to ride on the back of a Harley Davidson. Two complete strangers got onto their Harley owners club, the result being 500 bikers turned up to take her for a run one Sunday morning which included closing the M25 so they could ride in convoy. The bikers also had a whip around and raised the money for two of her other wishes. How completely and utterly brilliant.

Heard any heart warming stories recently?

https://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/news/hertfordshire-news/harley-davidson-ride-waltham-abbey-1565887

ATM – printers

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I’m not sure there actually is a printer not designed to drive you insane, but any advice welcome. The little HP I had a few years ago went the way of all flesh when I had printer rage and repeatedly bashed it with my fist…the Epson I have now cannot be resurrected and smudges and smears everything whilst seemingly needing new ink cartridges every other day ( whilst telling me to ONLY use Epson in when I do…I do..). So, breath….anyone have a printer they care to recommend?

Vote Lowell George into the Rock n Roll Hall of fame!

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At least a few of us here admire the man who fused country with a boogie beat – there’s a petition to get him elected to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame led by his son Forrest on Facebook who does an admirable job posting rare pics and trivia about his Dad. Here’s the link to the petition…

Ignore the nag screen asking for donations – your vote has been recorded by then.

Let’s enjoy this stripped down version of “Heartache” with pal Linda Ronstadt sitting on on a radio session.

https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/induct-lowell-george-in-the-rock-roll-hall-of

Miles – best era?

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Like Mick Jagger, there are many Miles Davises, and I wouldn’t profess to know all of them that well. I really like the Coltrane era, and this album, not often mentioned as it’s overshadowed by its kind of blue brother (but a real gem nonetheless), is one of my favourites.

So what’s your favourite Miles? Chasing Bird, with cool elan? Rewriting the rules of jazz with Trane? Getting free with the second quartet? Going all weird with rock dudes? Put on your shades and be cool.

And breath…

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I’ve had rather a job lot of stress lately and one thing I need to do is calm the flip down a bit, and someone suggested meditation to me. Any exponents here?

Hard boiled movies

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I’ve developed a bit of a thing for alternative / hard boiled movies from the 60s and 70s – I’m talking “Bullet”, “Point Blank”, “Dirty Dozen”, Dirty Harry of course, early De Niro, “Two Lane Blacktop”…can’t wait for my fresh print of “Bonnie and Clyde” and a twofer of the French Connections to arrive tomorrow. Your faves in this genre? What should I seek out? And why (avoiding list thread complaints…)?

Fun

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It’s been a grim morning for various reasons so Twang Jr cheered me up with a video of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers played with red hot chilli peppers. And why not!

Enjoy.

PS This bloke has lots of fun bass related clips…

Spot of blues, anyone?

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I’ve been a bit quiet here for a while for a number of reasons, though I have been lurking! One reason was due to my annual “album in a month” RPM challenge, and due to pressures of work (another reason for absence, plus attendant stress levels) I decided to go back to basics and make a blues album, the great love of my teenage years which were spent poring over the works of Peter Green, Howlin’ Wolf, BB King, Ry Cooder etc al. So here it is, in all its Spotify glory (or there’s a free down load on Bandcamp). It spans all the stuff I like, and like playing, from acoustic through the early and later years and a spot of blues rock too for good measure. This one takes a wry look at how R&B used to have a quite different meaning to its modern definition!

Steve Wilson ticket for Tuesday

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Hi all

I have a ticket for the Steven Wilson gig at the Albert Hall next Tuesday but can’t go. Apart from the talented Mr. Wilson you also get to sit next to the convivial JohnA_Online of this parish. If anyone wants it at face value, let me know here or PM me. While you are enjoying “To the bone” I will be hundreds of miles away in a Travel Lodge on business. Living the dream, obvs.

The Afterword #60: The Beckercast

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Marking the passing of Steely Dan’s Walter Becker, Twang, Tiggerlion, Nick Duvet and Feedback File convene in the pod to reflect on topics such as what did Walter bring to the Dan, was he his own man or simply one half of a greater whole, how did the boys work together and a quick skim over Walter’s many finest moments (a grammatical absurdity our hero would have appreciated).

http://traffic.libsyn.com/theafterwordpodcast/Beckercast_final.mp3

Bert Jansch

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Just came across this clip of Bert I’ve never seen before. Fab stuff and reminds you how magical and unique his playing was. Serious moustache action at the beginning too. @colin-h – doubtless you’ve seen this?

https://tv.nrk.no/serie/blanda-drops/FBUA07002773/07-05-1973

Super 8, VHS etc to DVD conversion, anyone?

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I’ve converted a few VHS tapes to MP4/DVD with reasonable success but I fancy getting my Dad’s old Super 8 stuff of family holidays on the beach in Skegness in 1968 (and similar) done. Anyone been down this road? I know you can add menus, music etc – I’m imagining the chart hits of the time might be fun, maybe some newsreel from YouTube etc – presumably you just get the raw data files and create yourself, though there are people who will do it for you. Any tips?

Couch to 5k

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Anyone done it, or similar? I’m not exactly couch as I like mountain biking and go regularly, but I have to work away quite a bit and going for a run seems a good way of keeping the stress down and burning a few calories, not least avoiding slumping in the hotel bar at least for a while.

Any tips?