Some pertinent reflections on culture from an ever-reliable (and relatable) pen

My latest ‘Hanging Out a Window’ column is out and it has some cultural reflections and thoughts on the year passed and the year coming. Read and subscribe (free) here: johnearls.substack.com/p/the-rear-v...

‘Marty Supreme’ is very good indeed. The determination of the lead character is as relentless as the pace of the film. I was exhausted. Timothée Chalamet is terrific, but so too are Gwyneth Paltrow and Odessa A'zion. Nice use of a 1980s soundtrack to the 1950s setting.

Really enjoyed ‘Pillion’, a feature film debut from director Harry Lighton. Not your traditional Christmas film, it features a graphic BDSM biker subculture. Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård excellent leads. Douglas Hodge and Lesley Sharp as Colin’s parents will melt you.

No excitement in second half compared to first 45 mins. It finishes 4-1 to Aldershot Town due to penalty on 70 mins. This has been a miserable Christmas for Wealdstone and we are in a seriously bad run of form. Away to 4th place Carlisle on Saturday. Not optimistic, but UTS!

Is it still OK to have a mince pie lads?

This is a crazy Christmas game. Wealdstone 2-0 down after just 10 mins but pull one back on 20 mins and dominate afterwards only for the Shots to bag a 3rd on 45 mins. It’s 3-1 at half-time but anything could happen if first half is any measure. UTS!

Left-Handed Girl’, Shih-Ching Tsou’s solo directorial debut and shot entirely on i-Phones is a wonderful film. Responsibility, secrets and shame through the relationships of a Taiwanese family focusing on a mum and two daughters (all terrifically acted). Available on Netflix.

‘Blue Chiffon’ by The George Shearing Quintet and Orchestra (Capitol, 1959).

“Listen to the girl As she takes on half the world Moving up and so alive In her honey dripping beehive…” @punkandnewwave.bsky.social

Marvelling at the eclectic brilliance and grooves of Geese’s latest release ‘Getting Killed’. A compelling cauldron of an album with flashes of Neil Young, Nick Cave, Rolling Stones, Marvin Gaye, The Band and much more. Magnificent.

3 exhibitions, 2 films and a punk podcast. ICYMI my latest ‘Hanging Out a Window’ column has some cultural highlights and recommendations from the month of December. Read and subscribe (free) here: johnearls.substack.com/p/recent-cul...

“…Now everyday I start by saying to you ‘Good morning, heartache, what's new?’..”

Christmas dinner leftovers pie. Goose, turkey, ham, vegetables. Gorgeous.

How I’m walking out of 2025.

Môr #TomTomos #LlunYDydd

My latest ‘Hanging Out a Window’ column is just out and it has some cultural highlights and recommendations from the month of December. Read and subscribe (free) here: johnearls.substack.com/p/recent-cul...

Happy Christmas to all the lovely people on this platform. You know who you are. ‘5th December 2020’. iPad ‘painting’ by David Hockney.

How I’m showing up to the Bluesky Xmas party.

When a colleague leaves a 2026 @tufac.bsky.social calendar on your desk. 🙏

Tirlun #TomTomos #LlunYDydd

“He's the little boy that Santa Claus forgot And goodness knows, he didn't want a lot…”

“This is a public service announcement... with guitar!..” @punkandnewwave.bsky.social

High Society (1956). Bing, Grace, Frank and Louis. Music and lyrics by Cole Porter. “I don’t dig that kinda crooning, chum.” “You must be one of the new fellas.” Sinatra and Crosby just swell on ‘Well Did You Evah?’ Available on @bbciplayer.bsky.social for 29 days.

ICYMI my latest ‘Hanging Out a Window’ column is a review of Ute Lemper’s performance of her remarkable ‘Rendezvous with Marlene’ at the Barbican. Read and subscribe (free) here: johnearls.substack.com/p/live-revie...

Castell (manylyn) #TomTomos #LlunYDydd

Up for a Bit with the Pastels’ from NME 14 February 1987. @thepastels.bsky.social @punkandnewwave.bsky.social

Really enjoyed ‘Blue Moon’, Richard Linklater (director) & Robert Kaplow’s (screenwriter) film about Lorenz Hart. Ethan Hawke is fabulous as Hart in this piece set in a bar on opening night of ‘Oklahoma!’ by his former songwriting partner Richard Rodgers (Andrew Scott excellent).

Latest edition of Unite Research’s monthly Bargaining Brief is now available (for members only) on the @unitetheunion.bsky.social website here: resources.unitetheunion.org/unite-at-wor...

My latest ‘Hanging Out a Window’ column is just out and it’s a review of Ute Lemper’s performance of her remarkable ‘Rendezvous with Marlene’ at the Barbican. Read and subscribe (free) here: johnearls.substack.com/p/live-revie...

Jafar Panahi’s ‘It Was Just an Accident’ is a gripping and at times comic tale of corruption and torture in Iran. All the more remarkable when considering the circumstances in which it was made. Recommend.

Postie’s been. Thank you @weare1of100.bsky.social.

We're currently just 25 subscribers off the magical 2000 that ensures the long-term viability and stability of The Quietus. Join the Subscriber tier today & get instant access to hours of music in playlists covering our three main end of year charts: thequietus.com/subscribers/

After yesterday’s two exhibition visit to Tate Britain yesterday I made sure I checked in with this before I left. The Only Blonde in the World (1963) by Pauline Boty.

The Lee Miller exhibition at Tate Britain is a must see. Incredible work by an incredible woman. Runs until 15 February 2026.

“The sky…governs everything”. Blown away by the wonderful and spectacular Turner & Constable exhibition at Tate Britain. Runs until 12 April 2026.

Curzon Mayfair, Curzon Street, London W1. 📸 John Earls

“Punks were more fucked up than loved up. And perversely proud of it too”. @collettwriter.bsky.social excellent on this Punk Scholars podcast. Includes her reading an extract from her pending book. A fine account and description of experiencing the baptism of punk. open.spotify.com/episode/3LpY...

ICYMI my latest ‘Hanging Out a Window’ column is a review of Arthur Jafa’s new exhibition which features two spellbinding videos of iconic rock musicians. Read and subscribe (free) here: johnearls.substack.com/p/art-review...

“Either you know the job of elder care or you cannot imagine it.” As ever, Anne Enright finds the words. www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...

“…London calling, yes, I was there, too And you know what they said? Well, some of it was true…” @punkandnewwave.bsky.social

Terrific @bbcradio3bot.bsky.social Composer of the Week on drummer, composer and activist Max Roach. Thoughtfully presented by Kate Molleson with excellent insight and analysis from Kevin Le Gendre: “One of those pivotal figures that everyone needs to know about”. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Terrific performance from an under the weather Ute Lemper of her ‘Rendezvous with Marlene’ at @barbicancentre.bsky.social. It tells the story of Marlene Dietrich through a remarkable 3 hour phone call they had in 1988 with many of her songs along the way. A powerful, funny and moving piece.

Curzon Bloomsbury, The Brunswick Centre, London WC1.

Breakfast with Ella this morning.

Loving ‘Dionne Warwick at the BBC’ at the moment on her 85th birthday.

Had a quiet one in Barrett’s, Wealdstone lads.

Sound Waves for Greenpeace concert. From listings pages of NME, 26 March 1986. The Cure, Echo and The Bunnymen, The Waterboys, Lloyd Cole and The Commotions, Big Country, Spear of Destiny, Joolz. @punkandnewwave.bsky.social

My latest ‘Hanging Out a Window’ column is just out and it’s a review of Arthur Jafa’s new exhibition which features two spellbinding videos of iconic rock musicians. Read and subscribe (free) here: johnearls.substack.com/p/art-review...

Lamorna #TomTomos #LlunYDydd