25/06/2026
Hi all!
I was moaning to one of my neighbours the other night about how I hadn’t been listening to any new music. Like a couple of old codgers, we were. Then I went indoors and turned on Jools Holland. How much do I love that guy!
Angine de Poitrine featured, as did Newcastle’s jazz quintet, Knats. Restored my faith in current music.
I admit, after record stores started closing down back in 1910 with the advent of streaming, I kind of lost the plot. Out of touch.
Of course, there’s great music out there and tons of new bands. It’s not all computer-made. It’s not all choreographed spectacles that can easily be mistaken for West End musicals .
Bands have gone back underground through no choice of their own. I guess as long as the robotic hoards make pilgrimages to stadiums like millions of ants carrying phones aloft, bands and small venues will go back to being for the few of us who still long for ‘COOL’. Guitar hero Johnny Marr and I have had long discussions trying to figure out whatever happened to ‘COOL’.
Bring it back, say I!
Sadly, I haven’t been able to make it to any of the Garbage / Skunk Anansie shows. What a great Bill that is! Proper bands with great lead vocalists…. (I hesitate to say ‘frontmen’ because I would have to say ‘frontwomen’…. And that’s kind of a crap term, isn’t it?
But you know what I mean. Or do you? Apparently, the term ‘mankind’ has had to be changed to ‘humankind’ so that people understand it is inclusive of all humans. I think that’s called the dumming down of the culture. DUH)
Anyway, I feel for my beloved Shirley, and the awesome Skin doing shows in this heat. When Pretenders supported Guns N’ Roses a couple of years ago (to pay for the clubs which I insisted on doing…..massive money losers but fun), we went on in the afternoon sun and I had to wear ice packs strapped around my torso to keep me from passing out in the 90°+ heat. The only good thing about staring into the sun and being blinded is that you can’t see all the phones.
Well, I always try to find the good in any situation.
XCH
