In 1970, the year I was born, Rolling Stone magazine published a review by learned rock journalist Greil Marcus of what was then Bob Dylan's latest album, Self-Portrait. The review's high impact opening sentence has since earned itself a place in the annals of popular culture for its succinct precision and evocative use of language. It simply asked the question: 'What is this shit?' It's 2010 and Bob Dylan and Greil Marcus are both nearly 40 years older and I'm nearly 40 years-old. Dylan has just performed a storming set on a sizzling Saturday night in front of Clare, the [...]
The mounting speculation over Fabio Capello's future as England coach reminds me of a character that legendary satirist Peter Cook created shortly before his death. Football manager Alan Latchley was one of three Cook creations that Clive Anderson 'interviewed' in a special edition of his early-90s Channel 4 chat show, each a perfectly-formed slice of improvisational brilliance. When Anderson grilled Latchley over rumours that he was being lined up to replace that era's disgraced England manager, Graham Taylor, Latchley's response was a priceless and strangely prescient given this week's events: "He did a cracking job. When you look at the [...]
My stand-up comedy compadre Lee O'Connell will be performing a set at the Alternative World Cup Final Comedy Night at the Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath on Sunday, 11th July. Lee's a very funny anecdote fiend from North Birmingham who delivers his material with dry wit, easy charm, clinical precision and - when the situation calls for it - the vocal mannerisms of Dustin Hoffman. I recommend him highly. Lee is also a filmmaker. Here's a rather charming short film he made for this year's Film Dash competition (the one where Brum-based filmmakers have to make a flick in [...]
