Thanks for the review. I saw a friend of a friend play old-timey jazz on a similar arch top and I immediately thought ‘David Rawlings’. Said friend kindly gave me a go on it during his break – the ‘fl […]

On a slight tangent, I ordered an expensive guitar part yesterday and paid an extra tenner for ‘next working day’ delivery. It was only after I hit ‘pay’ that I noticed the small print ‘When ordered before 2pm’. […]

Not 25p, but I remember WH Smith selling certain new albums on cassette for 99p in the mid 90s – I was a very late adopter of CDs because I was too skint for both CDs and something to play them on. Two 99p gems […]

Apparently Paul Merton’s appearances on I’m Sorry… were swiftly curtailed when they did a “Film Club” round and he did a “Bring Me The Head Of…” gag, which he hadn’t realised was Graeme Garden’s standby line […]

For some reason I thought Pretenders’ 1st came out in 1979 – it would have been on my list for sure.

REM – Murmur Paul Simon – Graceland Cowboy Junkies – The Trinity Session XTC – Skylarking Elvis Costello – Blood and Chocolate Beastie Boys – Paul’s Boutique Pretenders – Learning to Crawl Tom Petty – F […]

‘A small hole in your front window will allow your canary to come and go as it pleases”.

That was my first thought too.

I’d forgotten this crap. Armed with a giant splurge gun of bullshit, Trump will threaten, ‘muse’ and wilfully misinform for the next four years and the world will have to investigate whether his ramblings are f […]

I appreciate this doesn’t help much, but we were planning on going to Lisbon last year and were advised to try Porto instead. Glad we did, it was ace. Also, Portuguese is a devil of a language, but we got by.

One of Noel Gallagher’s bon mots* was about Florence Welch: “She always sings like someone’s just trodden on her foot”. * That’s another thread in waiting – musicians whose interviews are far better than their music.

Confected outrage for clicks, IMHO. I love a bit of yacht, me. And so do these guys.

XTC (we can only hope) Peter Pumpkinhead No Thugs in Our House Stupidly Happy Grass Season Cycle Scarecrow People Senses Working Overtime This Is Pop

Christmas hasn’t begun round mine til this gets an airing.

I envy your new discovery of ‘Cosmos’. It’s quite wonderful, isn’t it? My new discoveries: I joined a band where the singer recommended Peter Bruntnell, especially his album ‘Normal for Bridgwater’. Recorded so […]

It’s always a good time for this:

Good shout. I discovered this on live album Fragments of a Rainy Season and it stopped me in my tracks.

“I never thought I’d say it, but I’m closing the Bureau. For an hour.”

Big Star Radio City Tribute – Hackney Church Pretenders – London Palladium Novelty Island – Slaughtered Lamb, Clerkenwell Molly Tuttle – supporting Tommy Emmanuel, Cadogan Hall Sheryl Crow – Hampton […]

Of course! That’s inspired JJ. If anyone has ever found Si King less than delightful and considerate to work with, the ravens really will have left the Tower of London.