As the time of year for Poland’s finest music festivals is upon us, it’s as good a time as any to reflect on what a miserable experience an outdoor festival can be. Knee deep in a violent blend of mud,… Read More »Middle-aged Memories of Music Festivals
My first experience of Spiderland was in late winter, early in 1998; a natural consequence of my blooming love for Glasgow’s Mogwai and Falkirk’s Arab Strap. I found the music to be astonishing and this seminal album by Louisville band… Read More »To be retained #2 – Slint, All Tomorrow’s Parties. 2005.
It starts early, at school. Back in the dark days of the mid-eighties, when teachers were less – let’s say – enlightened as they may be today. Those were the days of jumpers for goalposts, chalk on blackboards, and ‘right… Read More »To Be a Southpaw
I was fascinated by silence as a child. That is not to say the times in which I was quiet were plentiful; even when I was wee it was difficult to shut me up, much to the eternal frustration of… Read More »The Sound of Silence
Names. To a band so titled, or indeed to their audience, a name can mean everything or it can mean nothing. Names can be serious, political, witty, pithy, nonsensical, knowing, ironic, or just ever so simple. After the first few… Read More »What’s In a Name?
Here we further the ill-fated and resurrected journey of watching each of the British Film Institute’s 100 best films of the 20th Century. Starting at 100 and working my way to Orson Welles’ The Third Man at number 1. This… Read More »BFI 100: 95 – Life Is Sweet (1990)
I have many lovely memories of R.E.M. Not least, of course, my 2012 visit to Athens, Georgia and the self-led R.E.M. walking tour of the band’s home town, to such places as the 40 Watt Club, Weaver D’s and Wuxtry Records.… Read More »To Be Retained #1 R.E.M – Road Movie
Here we continue the ill-fated and resurrected journey of watching each of the British Film Institute’s 100 best films of the 20th Century. Starting at 100 and working my way to Orson Welles’ The Third Man at number 1, we… Read More »BFI 100: 96 – The Wicker Man (1973)
Living abroad, there is much I miss about Glasgow. Kelvingrove park, Offshore, Nice N Sleazy, Monorail, and – of course – the inimitable scene that spawned so much great music. Equally, there are things that I gladly left behind. The… Read More »90 Minute Bigot – The Old Firm
Here we continue the ill-fated and resurrected journey of watching each of the British Film Institute’s 100 best films of the 20th Century. Starting at 100 and working my way to Orson Welles’ The Third Man at number 1, we… Read More »BFI 100: 97 – Nil By Mouth (1997)