A stellar cast of Afterword regulars meet over two sessions to discuss their picks of 2014, their hopes, plans and fears for 2015, and a bit of a grumble.  In podcast tradition, Fairport are mentioned.  Twang is in the chair trying to control Ger the Boptist, DogFacedBoy, Pencilsqueezer, Beany, The Cheshire Cat, Retropath 2, Hannah, Drakeygirl, Phil Pelling and Steerpike. 

In a podcast scoop Hannah gives the latest news on the recovery of our home at www.theafterword.co.uk/blog!

 

 

 

Source: The Afterword Podcast

There was a request that we have a WORD magazine podcast type that is ‘subjectless’. Well be careful what you wish for as they made this look easy

DFB, Springer Ball, Ganglesprocket, Leedsboy & Dr Volume taped on the the night that they drove old Afterword Blog down.

The Bingo Little Wall Of Death gives us

Tales of Disc Spinning Terror

That best Single of 1987

NICE pop stars?

The worst song in the world

Ganglesprocket finally gets to talk about U2 on an Afterword podcast

Dirty Fan males first crushes

and the very moment that a Mod learnt the Afterword was in trouble

Let us never speak of this again

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APOLOGIES UP FRONT FOR THE VARIABLE SOUND QUALITY – IT IS WHAT IT IS. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED SO NO PICKING OVER THE CARCAST

So after a hearty breakfast in Belfast and bidding a sad farewell to Casa Steven C, the fab foursome of Dr J , Springer Bell, John Connolly & Dog Faced Boy are in conversation en route to Dublin airport at the end of their Elvis Costello Irish Show 2014 adventure.

– Sketch reviews of Elvis Costello shows In Dublin & Belfast (painted from memory)– Authenticity in on stage storytelling– Springer, Elvis & The Miracle Of The Fly– The new Sky 1 show with the catchphrase “Hasn’t he Failed?”– The Ringo song that stunk out the place– Harry Nillson’s wife

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Realising that not enough had been said about country, country rock and Americana in the Country Rock Podcast, the quartet of Pencilsqueezer, Retropath2, SteveT with Carl Parker in the facilitator’s chair (with Twang toiling in the basement, turning a dynamo to keep the electricity flowing) reconvened to enlighten you, the Afterword blogger, about what’s hot and what’s not from Music Row in Nashville.

Paths are trodden, tangents taken, Taylor Swift gets a nod of approval from one of the Fantastic Four, JJ Cale and interpretations of his music argued over and an affable hour passed faster than a Nashville session player can knock out the rhythm line for the latest Garth Brooks recording.

The Afterword presents Country Rock Podcast Part 2 – saddle up the old Palomino!

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Welcome to Zoo Station

Let the Bono bitching commence! Representatives of the 7 families in Ireland – Pat Carty, Springer Bell & the mighty Vorgongod plus (trying to get a word in edgeways) Leedsboy and your moderator referee DFB who attempts to take a contrary stance due to the last minute exit of the anti-Bono, Ganglesprocket. This includes throwing in a few opinions that are meant to rile so don’t get fished in.

Among the high points were

– U2 as a socio-political cyclone during the 1980’s– The new album: any good and is it marketing success story?– Is the reaction to U2 for ver haterz akin to racism?– Ganglesprocket’s fence sitting email in full– Rattle & Hum: Is taht when the cool kids checked out and does it fucking matter?

He may have a Messiah complex but he’s not a naughty boy

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Twang, rec-room, Beany and Steerpike get back to the family and discuss the mighty Jethro Tull. From their origins to the extraordinary “Homo Erraticus” from main man Ian Anderson released earlier this year, the team marvel at the band’s evolution, their ever changing line up and ability to pick up influences from the mainstream whilst remaining resolutely apart from it.

From 60s blues act to 70s “biggest band in the world” (Time Magazine) and into the 80s with a synth based album (whilst popping in to beat Metallica for “Best Heavy Metal Album Grammy), shark like, they never stop moving and if they do they tend to start eating themselves.

Was Ian Anderson a “people person”? Why is Jeffrey Hammond Hammond called Jeffrey Hammond Hammond, and the link between the Tull and Benny Hill are all covered. When National Treasure badges are handed out one should certainly be coming the Tull’s way, though, as the panel would happily agree, it won’t be.

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The Afterword Podcast returns after a much needed post summer break to entertain you through the cold, dark evenings to come…

Twang, JohnA, Asquith and Raymond discuss the art and craft of songwriting, both from the perspective of their favourite artists and also from their own experiences struggling with the muse (and the frequent indifference of the rest of the world).

Where do songs come from? How do the greats and not so greats “do it”? What is the difference between a singer/songwriter and a singer who writes songs? Lyrics – ambiguous stream of consciousness or carefully reworded to perfection? And where does Bob Dylan fit in all of this? All this and more is explored by the team.

Features bonus tracks from our boys.

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Dogfacedboy sits down with film and TV director / producer Rachel Talalay about working with John Waters, Vic & Bob, Tom Baker, Freddy Krueger, Bob Hoskins, Courtney Love, the actor who cannot be named AKA Mr Bleep and Peter Capaldi.

– how she got her break in film by having a car & coffee making abilities – How Tank Girl was twerking the world while Miley Cyrus was still in Pampers– Her latest adventure directing Doctor Who Series 8 & what it’s like to have your birthday party in the TARDIS – Dealing with the Twittersphere, the lovers and haters & why YOU should avoid rumours and leaks.   

You’re not going to get any spoilers on Nu Who & hopefully it isn’t just the sound of two friends gabbing away but shows an enthusiasm, honesty and passion that is rare in the corporate world.

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A truly continent spanning ‘cast this time, with Twang (Herts), Nick Duvet (Hong Kong, Junior Wells (Australia) and Asquith (Hampshire) looking at cult 70s band Little Feat.

Pondering the magic of the early albums, they dig into the frustrating loss of momentum when main man Lowell George rendered himself increasingly (and terminally) unfit for duty and the remaining Feats scattered, only to regroup decades later with an opinion dividing renaissance.

Finally the team consider the band’s legacy. Does anyone still play country with a boogie beat? Listen and find out. The boys get misty eyed about vinyl and the prehistoric days when bands actually played together in a room with soul, a groove and a dash of funk.

“The last of the analogue bands”, one of our panel wistfully remarks….

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Spoken, mumbled and conceived by DrJ, Steven C, Ganglesprocket , DogFacedBoy and Ola from <strike>Norway</strike> Sweden.

Loathe em or love em, the team took their final bow on stage in London last month and so we gather together to salute them in our own irreverent way. We review the O2 shows, exaamine why and where and who plus descend inevitably into blokes sitting around quoting bits for their own amusement.

– The Beach Boys Of Comedy – discuss?– isn’t there enough proper Python around these days without parading this distorted garbage at The O2? *– Why are London audiences so crap?– Who has a theory? *coughs*– How one of the Python team had a momentous effect on the life of one of our contributors

* a reference to another comedy team’s Python sketch for the nerds there

MONTY PYTHON 1969-2014

Now PISS OFF!

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Twang, SteveT, Pencilsqueezer and Carl Parker explore the dusty back trails of country rock. Rapidly realising that their destination is but a dream and that the path is too long with too many byways, the pardners eventually accept that they explore in vain.

 

From the mid 60s to the present day, more and more acts pile into the discussion whilst Gram Parsons gazes down upon their efforts to find a unifying thread beyond his influence.

 

Finally Carl, whilst reaching back to Patsy Cline, is unsaddled at full gallop by a burr under the saddle slipped in by a fiendishly cackling artist somewhere in North Wales. The boys light a camp fire, eat beans, brew up a cup o’mud and agree that part two is inevitable.

 

A Spotify playlist of songs mentioned may be found here for your further listening…

 

http://open.spotify.com/user/twangothan/playlist/24fVnChQTEb7wYxWUzA54g

Source: The Afterword Podcast

Major Dudes Twang, Attackdog, Tiggerlion and JohnA explore the seedy world of Steely Dan and have great fun with mondegrines, cover versions and torture by recording studio.

From the comfort of their technicolor motor homes the third world men ponder the Dan’s lasting impression on the world of rock ‘n’ pop and identify their spiritual successors (or lack of them), though a certain debonair Englishman looks like the best candidate.

This is not just a love in though. Oh no, the serious matter of the odd track being below par is also considered…but only a fool would say that.

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We turn our attention to the vast and constantly evolving world of folk/rock.  Exploring its  origins, the key players, festivals, dancing and the overbearing presence of Fairport amongst many other themes,

Twang, Pencilsqueezer, Retropath2 and The Cheshire Cat explore the music which can be accurately traced to a specific day in May 1967 when skinny Londoners and slumming jazzers played John Barleycorn with a drummer and started a musical genre which thrives to this day. 

Regional accents abound. Rounds of real ale are digitally supped.  Warm bonhomie is exuded. 

We may mention Fairport. 

Slip on your cheesecloth shirt and sandals – join the Afterword ceilidh. 

Did someone mention Fairport?

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Due to overwhelming public demand our crack team of XTC experts (DFB, Skylarkingmatt, Dr Volume & Softdog) explain all about the band’s newly buffed up masterpiece ‘Skylarking’ and lots more besides

– What ‘reversed polarity’ actually means outside the head of Terrance Dicks (we still don’t get it)– Andy Partridge’s gold standard pop ambitions– Two Fuhrers, one bunker– and of course EXPLAINING WHY THEY WEREN’T MASSIVE WITHOUT BEMOANING THE FACT AND ASSUMING THAT QUIRKY ENGLISHNESS + JANGLY GUITARS = THE BEATLES)

Plus continuing our attempt to bring you at least one John Peel impression a week.

Source: The Afterword Podcast

And on we go

– Hannah’s aunt has a message for Mark – a marriage proposal – a date with Lucinda Williams – do you suffer from groovy forehead? – WORD memories – going on a book tour – what happens next?

There are there strange people in there, they keep asking Mark all these questions.

Again we thank Mr Ellen for being most generous with his time, buy his book

And of course thanks to Jo, Hannah n Michael for taking part, The Massive for all the questions and to Electric Word for the superb venue

Source: The Afterword Podcast