after all the hype on here i got a free apple tv pass from a purchase at Curry's and have now watched up to the latest episode (new one out Friday I believe). The concept is fantastic with some great characters and acting. Just feels to me like its got a bit slow this series so hoping it picks up the pace soon. p.s why did nobody warn me I would develop an infatuation for the much older Ms Cobel?!
RIP Brian James, guitarist and founder of The Damned. Writer of the first British Punk single, New Rose, and of nearly all the tracks on their first album, the first British Punk album and like nothing we had heard before. Just stunning, it changed my life. A true pioneer.
Did anyone here go and see Public Service Broadcasting at Oxford New Theatre last night? Pretty sure the blokes behind us were talking about Wycombe before the show.
If you've never seen PSB live I'd recommend it - spectacular stuff. Seen them 5 times now and they never fail to blow me away.
In other music news - Prolapse have a new single out. Their first new music in over 25 years. Possibly the greatest live band I've ever seen.
I mentioned this a while ago when I first came across it but if anyone has an interest in music in the second half of the last century I can highly recommend A History of Rock in 500 Songs podcast.
I am over the 100 mark now but it is so much more informative, educational and interesting than the narrowness of the title suggests.
Each episode is extremely well researched and presented and covers so, so much more than a single song or artist.
The presenter (Andrew Hickey) does have a bit of an acquired voice but is well worth persevering with.
I’d like to recommend ‘Jet Lag the Game’ on YouTube. It might be a hard one to sell as these are videos made by young Americans who look like they should be annoying.
But… it’s a really very entertaining show made on a low budget by genuinely funny people who like public transport. It’s a bit like a travel show crossed with Taskmaster. There’s twelve series available to watch for free on YouTube but I think the best ones to start if you want to give it a try are the first EU series (linked below) and the New Zealand series.
Marginally more tolerable! But please….. Sometimes wish my mind wasn’t still so enquiring!!
There’s so much that is beautiful in the world of music but a substantial proportion of (mainly) the male of our species seems hellbent on a race towards death and destruction. Or that’s what it feels like.
I saw them in Aylesbury late last year and they were excellent. First time I’d seen them since seeing them in a smallish tent at Glastonbury many years ago.
I'd actually start to worry if you and I agreed on music, sir. My idea of music hell is being trapped in a jazz bar.
But, to say PSB are in any way hellbent on destruction is to completely misunderstand them. All their music is optimistic and positive as they celebrate innovation, endeavour, invention, heroism and endurance. Their new album, for example, is all about Amelia Earhart, the aviation pioneer.
Brilliant last episode wasn’t it? I’m glad they didn’t make the MCU mistake of making everything too big, they stayed with the main plot, didn’t try and solve all the mysteries in an hour.
And Mr Milchick might be the one of the best tv characters ever.
I’ve no idea what a jazz bar is. Our experience of jazz has been at weekend festivals up and down the country, encompassing the wide diversity of jazz genres but never (or very rarely) making the cacophonous sound that my random first choice earlier (and therefore not necessarily typical) generated.
I’m not at all into lyrics - genuinely find it impossible to discern them - so my comment related exclusively to the instrumental aspect.
I saw PSB at the Waterside the first time they played there and also thought they were excellent. It's such a great thing when what is a brilliant larger venue puts on some music worth watching, and not the usual array of people-pretending-to-be-people-you-never-wanted-to-see-anyway. Flaming Lips were great there last year.
I stand by my comment re Prolapse @MindlessDrugHoover but a more extended listen this morning to the other random choice (by YouTube Music’) of the PSB track shows that the two bands are poles apart. Mrs micra and I agreed that the PSB track is perfectly easy on the ear.
I would be interested to know what you think of my choice of listening earlier this morning. I have the complete CD set of Beethoven string quartets played by the Quartetto Italiano and decided to play Opus 74 in E flat, The Harp. The second movement in particular (the adagio) is so beautiful.
Grew up with Bob Dylan. First encounter in 1963 - the year of unbroken frost from Boxing Day 1962 until early March. Biggest disappointment to us relative youngsters in our mid twenties was that the heavy snow (10 inches level plus deep drifts in Mill Hill) which arrived between Christmas and the New Year was never repeated. Just bits and bobs. Daytime temperatures around freezing point without a break until the first thaw in early March. Continuous feed of freezing air from the east.
I was born in 1963 @micra and though through constant exposure on the airwaves and the radiogramme meant the Beatles and most of the British bands became part of my DNA, I never really 'got' Dylan.
Years later someone explained to me that for teenagers in the 1960s, the lines 'Come mothers and fathers, Throughout the land, And don't criticize, What you can't understand, Your sons and your daughters, Are beyond your command...' was a thrilling statement for the times which were I suppose 'A-changing...'
I was introduced to the classic Bob Dylan era circa 1978 by a mad, aging British motorcyclist nut who I don’t think I ever saw sober in the 3 or 4 years I knew him before he blew himself and his motorbikes up in his garage one afternoon.
He was an absolute disciple and spent many a drunken afternoon after the pubs shut preaching the Dylan gospel to me.
He succeeded. To this day* I can multitask drinking a bottle of Black Bush whilst singing word for word all of the Highway 61 Revisited album (very badly).
*Not that I ever get the chance to just sit, drink and sing these days, but if I did…
I liked the Moondance Lp but never got the Van Morrison being a genius either. I remember someone telling me him storming off after twenty underwhelming minutes at a concert was the sign of a genius...whereas I thought it was the sign of a twat.
(Years later, the Covid period seemed to confirm it.)
Comments
after all the hype on here i got a free apple tv pass from a purchase at Curry's and have now watched up to the latest episode (new one out Friday I believe). The concept is fantastic with some great characters and acting. Just feels to me like its got a bit slow this series so hoping it picks up the pace soon. p.s why did nobody warn me I would develop an infatuation for the much older Ms Cobel?!
Five football clubs to get a poem:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/feb/26/poets-team-up-with-football-clubs-to-boost-young-fans-literacy-national-literacy-trust-a-poem-for-your-club
Can anyone write one for the Chairboys?
Suggested themes
Furniture
Bodgers
Trading Estate..
RIP David Johansen, the last of the original members of New York Dolls. A pioneering rock'n'roll frontman.
RIP Brian James, guitarist and founder of The Damned. Writer of the first British Punk single, New Rose, and of nearly all the tracks on their first album, the first British Punk album and like nothing we had heard before. Just stunning, it changed my life. A true pioneer.
Back to Severance, if the name of that town isn’t Cold Harbor I’m a ColU fan.
Looking forward to the series finale on Friday. No spoilers from me but my suspicion is that the goats will be sacrificed. We shall see!
I'm getting ready to spring for a month of Apple + and a binge watch so definitely no spoilers please!
just dropping a plug for Adolescence on Netflix. Brilliantly filmed; acting is second to none (especially episode 3). Utterly searing.
Did anyone here go and see Public Service Broadcasting at Oxford New Theatre last night? Pretty sure the blokes behind us were talking about Wycombe before the show.
If you've never seen PSB live I'd recommend it - spectacular stuff. Seen them 5 times now and they never fail to blow me away.
In other music news - Prolapse have a new single out. Their first new music in over 25 years. Possibly the greatest live band I've ever seen.
Season finale, wow just wow!
I mentioned this a while ago when I first came across it but if anyone has an interest in music in the second half of the last century I can highly recommend A History of Rock in 500 Songs podcast.
I am over the 100 mark now but it is so much more informative, educational and interesting than the narrowness of the title suggests.
Each episode is extremely well researched and presented and covers so, so much more than a single song or artist.
The presenter (Andrew Hickey) does have a bit of an acquired voice but is well worth persevering with.
I’d like to recommend ‘Jet Lag the Game’ on YouTube. It might be a hard one to sell as these are videos made by young Americans who look like they should be annoying.
But… it’s a really very entertaining show made on a low budget by genuinely funny people who like public transport. It’s a bit like a travel show crossed with Taskmaster. There’s twelve series available to watch for free on YouTube but I think the best ones to start if you want to give it a try are the first EU series (linked below) and the New Zealand series.
https://youtu.be/q2tJqO6nCSc?si=jCcF18kMbafWi7uE
Holy cow that was good. Didn’t think it was possible to reach the levels of the season 1 finale, but I think they managed it.
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=HBbK4rTioPE&si=YEc5ffK37Lp5z6tn
My idea of hell on earth. Certainly not music.
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=XQmVRHiGoxE&si=TAgQcHhhesc8gPNN
Marginally more tolerable! But please….. Sometimes wish my mind wasn’t still so enquiring!!
There’s so much that is beautiful in the world of music but a substantial proportion of (mainly) the male of our species seems hellbent on a race towards death and destruction. Or that’s what it feels like.
I saw them in Aylesbury late last year and they were excellent. First time I’d seen them since seeing them in a smallish tent at Glastonbury many years ago.
I'd actually start to worry if you and I agreed on music, sir. My idea of music hell is being trapped in a jazz bar.
But, to say PSB are in any way hellbent on destruction is to completely misunderstand them. All their music is optimistic and positive as they celebrate innovation, endeavour, invention, heroism and endurance. Their new album, for example, is all about Amelia Earhart, the aviation pioneer.
So intense wasn't it. Made up for any earlier slower bits. Wonder how long they will take to make season 3 as it has been announced.
Brilliant last episode wasn’t it? I’m glad they didn’t make the MCU mistake of making everything too big, they stayed with the main plot, didn’t try and solve all the mysteries in an hour.
And Mr Milchick might be the one of the best tv characters ever.
I’ve no idea what a jazz bar is. Our experience of jazz has been at weekend festivals up and down the country, encompassing the wide diversity of jazz genres but never (or very rarely) making the cacophonous sound that my random first choice earlier (and therefore not necessarily typical) generated.
I’m not at all into lyrics - genuinely find it impossible to discern them - so my comment related exclusively to the instrumental aspect.
I saw PSB at the Waterside the first time they played there and also thought they were excellent. It's such a great thing when what is a brilliant larger venue puts on some music worth watching, and not the usual array of people-pretending-to-be-people-you-never-wanted-to-see-anyway. Flaming Lips were great there last year.
I stand by my comment re Prolapse @MindlessDrugHoover but a more extended listen this morning to the other random choice (by YouTube Music’) of the PSB track shows that the two bands are poles apart. Mrs micra and I agreed that the PSB track is perfectly easy on the ear.
I would be interested to know what you think of my choice of listening earlier this morning. I have the complete CD set of Beethoven string quartets played by the Quartetto Italiano and decided to play Opus 74 in E flat, The Harp. The second movement in particular (the adagio) is so beautiful.
I’ll try to post a link.
Hope this works.
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=PhiR1Vpxr34&si=FZvl7CjrvWC4HYMZ
That gig at Aylesbury Waterside was great. I had never seen or heard PSB before that (a mate invited me) and it was brilliant.
Who wins the title 'Weedy little guys whose faces were made for slapping but make pretty decent music?
It's either PSB or Hot Chip.
PSB are one of my favourite bands followed them since inform-educate-entertain.
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=CERo3DpxCrA&si=4PPdiDP0AjEjRIbe
Grew up with Bob Dylan. First encounter in 1963 - the year of unbroken frost from Boxing Day 1962 until early March. Biggest disappointment to us relative youngsters in our mid twenties was that the heavy snow (10 inches level plus deep drifts in Mill Hill) which arrived between Christmas and the New Year was never repeated. Just bits and bobs. Daytime temperatures around freezing point without a break until the first thaw in early March. Continuous feed of freezing air from the east.
Never to be repeated.
I was born in 1963 @micra and though through constant exposure on the airwaves and the radiogramme meant the Beatles and most of the British bands became part of my DNA, I never really 'got' Dylan.
Years later someone explained to me that for teenagers in the 1960s, the lines 'Come mothers and fathers, Throughout the land, And don't criticize, What you can't understand, Your sons and your daughters, Are beyond your command...' was a thrilling statement for the times which were I suppose 'A-changing...'
I was introduced to the classic Bob Dylan era circa 1978 by a mad, aging British motorcyclist nut who I don’t think I ever saw sober in the 3 or 4 years I knew him before he blew himself and his motorbikes up in his garage one afternoon.
He was an absolute disciple and spent many a drunken afternoon after the pubs shut preaching the Dylan gospel to me.
He succeeded. To this day* I can multitask drinking a bottle of Black Bush whilst singing word for word all of the Highway 61 Revisited album (very badly).
*Not that I ever get the chance to just sit, drink and sing these days, but if I did…
I liked the Moondance Lp but never got the Van Morrison being a genius either. I remember someone telling me him storming off after twenty underwhelming minutes at a concert was the sign of a genius...whereas I thought it was the sign of a twat.
(Years later, the Covid period seemed to confirm it.)