New podcast
Just wanted to do a quick mail out to say that I am launching a new podcast today! It’s called The Allender Calendar and it’s a monthly show where I chat to writers and musicians about their work. Here is a Podfollow link, which should take you to your podcast platform of choice. First episode is with the fantastic folk musician Olivia Chaney. Thanks to Jack Pelling (m’colleague from Your Own Personal Beatles) for designing the 1960s Faber-esque cover image:
Had to edit a fair amount out of the episode with Olivia because we spoke for around 90 mins, so sadly had to lose a bit of chat about Nick Drake’s ‘River Man’. Olivia recently performed at the Proms for an orchestral celebration of Nick Drake’s music; no footage of that online as yet, but here’s a brilliant version of her doing ‘River Man’ from 2018:
A busy old time in Allender land
In other news, it’s a busy old time in Allender land (I blame the sertraline).
First off, I helped edit the audio of Howl, John Robins’s tour show from last year, recorded at the Hammersmith Apollo. John’s releasing it this (Bandcamp) Friday (6 September), and I’m really proud to be involved with it. It was pretty difficult for John to listen back to the show (for obvious reasons, if you saw it). For me, it sort of made me realise just how masterful the show was. I loved seeing it live, but something about living with the audio and listening to it repeatedly made me really respect just how good the writing is. Well done John, you bugger!
And, as it’s Bandcamp Friday, I’m also going to be releasing something. It’s an album called Yesterday’s Yet to Come and it’s a collection of demos, early versions of songs and previously unreleased things. It’s basically everything I would have uploaded to MySpace c. 2006. Some of the songs are fairly ancient; I think the oldest thing is something I recorded with my brother back in 2002. It was nice to revisit this stuff, and I haven’t edited the songs too much, as I wanted to retain some of the blithe spirit in which they were recorded (on GarageBand). Here’s my Bandcamp page, and here’s the cover (it’s a photo I took of moonlight shining through the curtains onto the ceiling):
And! I’m doing a couple of gigs this week. On Thursday 5 September I’m doing ten mins of stand-up at the excellent Live Love Laugh night at the Grove House Tavern in Camberwell, which, fun fact, is my favourite pub in South London; specifically, it’s my favourite pub in South London in which to read Beatles books. Haven’t done stand-up for a year and I have no new material, so it’s bound to be a fun night. More info here!
Then on Friday 6 September I’m going to be playing a solo (music) gig, supporting Fabricators and Staycations at the Sebright Arms (East London), more info here. Fabricators are ace, I particularly like this song.
Absolutely bloody sick of it all
I was at Bedford train station the other day and saw some parents picking up their kids on their way home from Reading Festival. Felt a real nostalgic pull of the heartstrings. (Some choice dialogue I overheard: Parent: ‘Oh, we missed you!’ Child: ‘Don’t hug me, I stink.’) I have very fond memories of going to Reading in 1998 and 1999, and it’s good to see that it’s still a rite of passage for a post-A-Level (or GCSE) knees-up. I remember Beastie Boys, Deftones, Jurassic 5, Sleater-Kinney and Flaming Lips blowing my tiny mind (but I still can’t believe I missed Elliott Smith).
One band who particularly struck me in 1999 was the New York hardcore band Sick of it All. The music was brutal and headspinningly fast, but the lyrics were really heartfelt and sweet. I can still remember the singer Lou Keller dedicating the song ‘Sanctuary’ to his wife. The chorus goes: ‘When I'm safely in your arms there I find my sanctuary / Help me weather every storm, you're my sanctuary, my true love’. How nice is that? When I got home I bought their latest album, Call to Arms, and I remember absolutely loving the song ‘Falling Apart’:
The way the riff locks into the drum pattern in the ‘drop’ is so cool. I love it! Also, check out the lyrics to ‘Hindsight’. Pretty good advice I’d say!
They say life is what you make it
Can't go back and try to change it
Choices that were made
Opportunities
Push away the pain and move on
With no delay
Move on accept the shame
Learn to live with your regrets
Move on with no delay
Move on accept the shame
It's all behind you anyway
Anyway, reading up on the band online again, I was really saddened to see that Lou Keller has been diagnosed with cancer. You can donate to his fundraiser here. Wishing him all the best. I’ll always remember that show in 1999 as a total inspiration.
The Sabrina Carpenter album is really good, isn’t it?
Chord change in the bridge at 3:30 (in the video) is simply gorgeous. Great video by David Bennett here about the return (or not) of key changes in pop:
And that’s about it
And that’s about it. See you next time. Be well.