I went to see Lady Gaga and the Beths, though not sharing a bill. www.spectator.co.uk/article/like...

This is the most transparent administration ever! The people demanded the files, and the White House is opening them up!

I wrote about the late Danny Thompson, who invented a new vocabulary for British music. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/s...

You’d think the MOTD producers might have looked at Rooney’s management career and pondered whether he had difficulty articulating his undoubted genius for football. But no. He’s famous, so put him on telly.

I went to last night’s Together for Palestine concert. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/s...

I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Literally

Ferdinandesque from Koné. What a joy to look so much better than FC Hollywood. #WREQPR

I wrote about Viv Prince of the Pretty Things. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/s...

Incredible

I wrote about Viv Prince of the Pretty Things. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/s...

I reviewed the best festival, @endoftheroadfestival.com www.spectator.co.uk/article/brit...

Happy 40th birthday to the glorious Primitive Painters by Felt featuring Elizabeth Fraser, which was released on this day in 1985. Here's the original video from back then (THREAD) youtu.be/Rp8AvC_ESdM

The most fun I’ve had all year was playing Merry Xmas Everybody at the @endoftheroadfestival.com silent disco on Saturday night. Love those two hours

Wayne Rooney is every bit as good a pundit as he was a manager

Have there been any big pop chart hits in the last 20 years that use 1950s rock'n'roll as their chassis, in the way Faith did, or Love Machine did? Not rock'n'roll revival ones, but ones where you can hear a clear debt, even in something as basic as using the Bo Diddley rhythm.

I wrote about Baby, Please Don’t Go www.ft.com/content/7d8d...

I wrote about The Seeds, The Sting-Rays and MJ Lenderman www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-...

I enjoyed speaking to John Fogerty about Creedence. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/a...

I reviewed Oasis. www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-...

I reviewed Stevie Wonder and Heavenly. www.spectator.co.uk/article/magn...

Yet more of me on Ozzy. www.spectator.co.uk/article/what...

More of me on Ozzy. inews.co.uk/culture/ozzy...

I picked 10 great Ozzy recordings for the Guardian. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/j...

RIP Ozzy youtu.be/uIXRfQvCqAU?...

The Coldplay thing … I found it distressing that none of the chortling articles or posts thought of the humiliation they were heaping on the families. I presume no kids went to school yesterday, and that the partners can’t face leaving the house. But that’s a fair price to pay for some quick lolz.

Reviewed the fantastic Sabrina Carpenter show and pondered a) the vfm or otherwise of outdoor shows and b) pop shows’ relationship to musical theatre. www.spectator.co.uk/article/a-de...

Sad to hear that another of the wonderful people I spoke to for Denim and Leather has passed away. RIP Kevin Riddles, bassist of Angel Witch and Tytan. youtu.be/bR4gK6tmIvQ?...

I reviewed Iron Maiden. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/j...

Can’t believe Ya Kid K never won a Best International Female Brit.

Reviewed Robbie and Cat Power. One put on more of a show. www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-...

Going to set up a hipster Nepalese restaurant. The Justified Ancients of MoMo.

I reviewed Eric Church at the RAH, Springsteen in Lille and Tyler Ballgame at the Social. www.spectator.co.uk/article/anyo...

Spoke to Francis Rossi, John Coghlan and Bob Young about the glory years of Quo, with an unexpected diversion at the end … www.theguardian.com/music/2025/m...

I reviewed amazing shows by Self Esteem and Father John Misty. www.spectator.co.uk/article/a-tr...

Reviewed Divorce and Usher www.spectator.co.uk/article/divo...

I wrote about Slade in Flame at 50. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/a...

Wrote about everyday people in famous songs. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/a...

Someone, please, put Lee Dixon out of our misery.

Not sure Justin Hawkins calling Mumford and Sons neo-Nazis from the stage, then imploring the crowd to “march like Mumford and Sons at a Nuremberg rally” is all that great. Hate Winston Marshall’s politics but he’s not been in the band for some years.

And then I wondered … had Pete Hegseth really meant to text me the state secrets?

I wrote about Bob Mould and Eddie Chacon. www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-...

This stuff is just insane. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Gaping hole in the new Old Trafford plan is the lack of any cheese storage. Spurs showed new builds need that.

I reviewed Finneas and Mdou Moctar playing live in America. www.spectator.co.uk/article/finn...

Just found the wildest pizza menu of all time, from Francine's Pizza Jungle in Portland, 1957

I spoke to music supervisors, writers and directors about the thrilling use of music in TV. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/m...

Headline makes it sound like I am urging middle-aged men to stay away from Lauren Mayberry, but I really am not. I reviewed her and Thou. And Lauren was louder. www.spectator.co.uk/article/laur...

I reviewed Brothers Osborne and Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats. www.spectator.co.uk/article/a-ch...

I bet doom scroll meant something way cooler in the middle ages.

The gist of this appears to be: We don’t need more actual subs, but we big clubs stockpile so many players we need bigger matchday squads to stop fringe players moaning. Oh, get lost. www.theguardian.com/football/202...