My Favourite Albums Of 2021

16. Marina Allen - Candlepower 

15. Margo Cilker - Pohorylle

14. Ashley Monroe - Rosegold

13. Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails Over The Country Club

12. Pearl Charles - Magic Mirror

11. Kacey Musgraves - Star-Crossed

10. Dinosaur Jr. - Sweep It Into Space

9. St. Vincent - Daddy's Home

8. Brandi Carlile - In These Silent Days

7. Juliana Hatfield - Blood 

6. Sierra Ferrell - Long Time Coming

5. Sturgill Simpson - The Ballad Of Dood & Juanita

4. Lana Del Rey - Blue Banisters

3. Snail Mail - Valentine 

2. Lindsey Buckingham - Lindsey Buckingham 

1. Marina - Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land

My Favourite Movies Of 2021

1. The French Dispatch

2. Nomadland

3. Moxie

4. The Power Of The Dog

5. Mare Of Easttown 

6. Pig

7. Dune

Merry Christmas!

Best Gigs Of 2021

Ha! By Virtue of being my only gig of 2021, Courtney Marie Andrews at Union Chapel is my gig of the year! Yay, Courtney! That said I'm pretty sure it would have been near the top, if not the very top, of my list regardless. Hopefully better times are ahead for us all.

Goodbye Dear Nez

Always my favourite Monkee, I also adored Michael Nesmith's solo career and felt privileged to see him live, on a rare trip to the UK, back in 2012. Rest in peace, dear Nez.

The French Dispatch Exhibition

Back in 2018, I went to the excellent exhibition for the Wes Anderson movie Isle Of Dogs, featuring sets and models from the stop-motion. Three years on Anderson has a new movie, The French Dispatch (which I saw earlier this week and naturally loved) and once again the same venue has put together a dazzling exhibition featuring costumes, props, sets from the movie, and even detailed models of the buildings and rooms from the movie (I was surprised how many of the places in the film were just beautifully constructed models rather than real places, they were awesome to see up close). There was also a re-creation of the Le Sans Bangue Cafe frequented by Timothée Chalamet and the other students in the film, where you could have something to eat and drink after the exhibition. Rather nicely they also gave everyone their own copy of The French Dispatch with photos and articles inside featured in the movie. Here's a few photos I took from the exhibit, the amount of detail used from handwritten notes and drawings barely seen in the actual film, is awe-inspiring.

Courtney Marie Andrews at the Union Chapel

 

Courtney Marie Andrews   

Memorial
Union Chapel, 2 November 2021 

Hard to believe but it's been over a year and a half since I've been to a gig. Of course these have been unusual, unprecedented times due to the pandemic and I remember at the beginning of 2020 feeling quite nervous about my upcoming concerts and grateful when they ended up being postponed (or in the case of Greg Dulli, cancelled altogether). 

Lindsey Buckingham "On The Wrong Side"

Can't wait for the new Lindsey Buckingham album!

Farewell, Tom T. Hall

Very sad to hear that the great country singer/songwriter Tom T. Hall has died. I once wrote a piece in his defense for Rebeat Magazine. I hope it conveys, just a little, at what a giant he really was. Rest in peace, Mr Hall.

Happy New Year!

 

Not sure how active I'll be on this blog in the upcoming year as it looks like there are no gigs on the horizon due to the pandemic. But I will be posting pics of my dog, Jake, and any new records I'm lucky enough to come across on my Instagram. Find me there and you never know I may get to a gig again sometime in the future although who knows when!