Michael Rother being excellent on Saturday #michaelrother

Robert Forster eulogises Robert Redford’s hair. “He has access to clear, clean mountain water. This helps hair.” #robertredford #robertforster

Music fans: settle a pub argument that’s been going too long today. Best 3 bands beginning with ‘S’. No singer songwriters. Bands only. Thanks!

It's bandcamp Friday so I've dusted down the blog for some 5 minute reviews. First up, Sharp Pins with Radio DDR (album of the year maybe) didnotchart.blogspot.com/2025/08/shar...

Some highlights of @glasgoespop.bsky.social so far: 1. V-Twin 2. Stuart Murdoch’s violin compilation tape 3. The Cords filming TikTok dances to @thepastels.bsky.social 4. @thebrogues.bsky.social bringing his milkshake to the yard (don’t ask, you had to be there) 5. A new James Kirk single.

Waiting for the @allodarlin.bsky.social listening party? Label boss @fikarecordings.com is in the pub so may be an unreliable commentator. Trust in Mike @slumberlandrecords.com for words of wisdom tonight

Subway Sect promo poster for Nobody’s Scared from the John Peel collection now at auction tinyurl.com/5bjnuz87

New Jonathan Richman album. jonathanrichman.bandcamp.com/album/only-f...

New playlist feature on bandcamp (at last). So I’ve started with Fog Pop, the sound of young San Francisco. Kicks off with scene anthem Slow Torture of an Hourly Wage by @glenndonaldson.bsky.social bandcamp.com/didnotchart/...

@carsmilesteve.bsky.social Relevant to your interests petition.parliament.uk/petitions/71...

It’s only the greatest fucking rock’n’roll band in the world (or one of them). Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band. New album coming on @toughloverecords.bsky.social

Grant McLennan, who died 19 years ago today. youtu.be/DrTpu4sn784?...

Shack at London’s cathedral of sound, the Union Chapel. #michaelhead #shackband

Hannah Botting (Common or Garden) is joined by Bill Botting (bassmaster general of @allodarlin.bsky.social) to play The Go-Betweens’ Apology Accepted @fikarecordings.com youtu.be/SKYNH4zmP80?...

Route one jangle punk played fast and to the point. They may only know the Shop Assistants and Talulah Gosh but that’s enough. Magnificent. @madridpopfest.bsky.social @slumberlandrecords.bsky.social

@fikarecordings.com I hope you have your copyright lawyer on speed dial

Bob Mould on fire last night launching excellent new album Here We Go Crazy. I accidentally pressed the ‘heavy metal rock star’ filter. @bobmouldmusic.bsky.social

Birdie, who do a lot of good work for charity, @betseytrotwood.bsky.social raising money for LA fire support

Rob Sevier of @numerogroup.bsky.social is DJing in this Hackney bar. The sounds are as sweet and spot on as you’d want on a Friday night. Maybe this beaut next youtu.be/s1RlR5bJLns?...

No months are ever dry when you have an @edwyncollins.bsky.social beer mat.

Hive mind: pub debate of what the H in Jesus H Christ stands for is inconclusive. It’s not “halibut” or “henry” because god invented the hoover. You tell us.

Merry Christmas ya filthy animals youtu.be/gaalbpNEQPM?...

It's the 21st of December, which is Australian Christmas Anthem Day youtu.be/iYqIF2XkqKU?...

2024 in 20 songs by 20 new acts. An amazing year, naturally. didnotchart.blogspot.com/2024/12/2024...

Royel Otis: Wet Leg crossed with early 00s Kylie. Global stardom is coming #IndieAdvent24 youtu.be/-RmH9trNgUA?...

Superb retro futuristic pop. Somehow, Stereolab had forgotten to write this song so Susan James did it. #IndieAdvent24 youtu.be/5_J-e2i7ZV4?...

Whitelands fulfilled their promise this year with a cracking debut album. #IndieAdvent24 whitelands.bandcamp.com/track/how-it...

Torrey: remember when you could buy records by genre in shops? Not entirely sure what this falls under (shoegaze? indiepop?). File under classic torreymusic.bandcamp.com/track/bounce #IndieAdvent24 @slumberlandrecords.bsky.social

Radhika: vocal purity and an easy melodic gift. Mark my words, she’ll be playing stadiums in 5 years’ time. #IndieAdvent24 radhika.bandcamp.com/track/future...

The French folk underground. First ep by Augusta is pretty special, not least lead track The Beetles and the Bugs. #IndieAdvent24 youtu.be/Ek91lN1jC-8?...

Flashback to 1992 when @theclientele.bsky.social were 18yo, had Maurice Deebank emblazoned on their exercise books and had just got into the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band. Time cannot wither them or their songs obvs.

Adventure Team: their influences may be limited to Pavement, Husker Du, Dinosaur Jr AND J Mascis solo, but they get away with it because of high quality songs. I’ve played In Giraffe more than most albums this year. #IndieAdvent24 adventureteam.bandcamp.com/track/bummed...

Open Bar: Japanese shoegaze, clipped beats, delirious melodic propulsion. #IndieAdvent24 eneiongaku.bandcamp.com/track/--44

Two sets. 33 songs. The hardest working band in show business. @theclientele.bsky.social

Sad to hear of Andy Paley's passing. Enjoy him playing with Jonathan Richman in 1986. He was certainly enjoying himself. How could he not be? There are fewer finer more fun things in music than JoJo then. youtu.be/txRyqz6mPXY?...

Myriam Gendron, the world’s greatest musical artiste (I counted the votes), bringing it to the adoring masses.

Fog Pop superstars Cindy killing it softly in Paris. I’ve seen them in the UK, the USA and France. Can any readers beat that?

Eric B and Rakim - Paid In Full The Chi-Lites - Have You Seen Her All Saints - Never Ever Isaac Hayes - By The Time I Get To Phoenix Otis Redding and Carla Thomas - Tramp I’ve been in the pub since *checks watch* yesterday. Catch me tomorrow with a sober list.

The benefits didn’t last that long. Concerned fellow musicians launched Farm Aid to make sure Peter Hooton and pals could negotiate the complexities of post-stardom life like buying drugs and sports casual clothing.

Bobby Gillespie walking his dog passed me in the park the other week. Mangy, rat faced, scrawny thing. I didn’t see what the dog looked like.