Getting ready to go see Bob on Thursday

So, three things. 1) Big Brother is watching! 2) Switch to Qobuz! and 3) go read the excellent and exhaustive Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist by Liz Pelly!

Looking forward to adding some new lists to this name next week in Boston but will forever miss Donnie Herron and George Receli

Went long on the increasing and welcome rise of Yondr pouches at concerts, and some other shows that I recently wished had been phone-free

Fixing a rather glaring hole in my watchlist this morning

Been playing around with the concept art for my next book (pending permission from these artists or a commission of a new one!) and am down to tweaking the final details like font size, colour and placement. Any thoughts would be appreciated on these designs overall!

You heard it here first 😉

Had a big helping hand from these two excellent books when writing this article. If you you like Bob Dylan and don't already have them, then these two should definitely be on your shelves

World Cup Fever ❌ Messi-mania ✅

Got asked to pick the five best songs from The Summer of Love, which was of course absolutely overflowing with brilliant songs (although this article comes with the caveat that I do not like psychedelic rock) Link below

Been looking forward to this book for months and so excited it's finally here

Best kind of final here in that I'll be happy if either woman wins (but then again, equally, sad for either one when they lose)

Some early bits out of the garden this year. Didn't have much success growing things last year so already doing better in our new garden and has been so amazing to watch it all come through

Have been thoroughly surprised and delighted by just how wonderful this brilliant little book is. Sometimes I've let go of the thread of the story to just let Moore's florid writing wash over me, and sometimes I've been so dragged into the characters lives. Can't recommend it highly enough

I always appreciate the opportunity to get to go a bit longer and delve deeper into an important subject, and the ugly rise of misogynistic attitudes, language and behaviours in our culture is a topic as important as any faroutmagazine.co.uk/five-songs-t...

Excited to revisit this brilliant new book from @dylanrevisited.bsky.social, and just in time for Bob's birthday, no less. There's so much great stuff in here and you'll learn plenty no matter how you think you already know about the time period covered

On our third visit to Tokyo, we finally got around to visiting the Nippon Budokan. Have always loved the magical live album that Bob recorded here on his first tour of Japan in 1978.

Introduced Beatrice to one of the greatest movies of all time this morning

Hadn't seen this before today but will be my go-to drink from now on. Haven't had a cola since 2023 but saw this today which is 100% Palestinian owned, and with all profits going towards rebuilding hospitals in Gaza

Wrote about why you should read Peter Guralnick's Elvis books, each one beautifully reissued recently by @whiterabbitbks.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/94matthe...

I need to investigate! I think they'll hatch out next year but not sure. That's ok! Set it up in the garden so that it's got a bit of protection but will hopefully be able to fly off when it's ready to!

Was thinking that! Looks like another expensive hobby to get started with though haha We've already had some solitary bees lay their eggs in one of the bug hotels!

We're watching the first episode of The Secrets of the Bees this morning and I can't quite fathom how they've managed to capture such incredible footage of these brilliant insects. Such a fascinating watch

One of the best post days I've ever had. Review to come soon on Substack on two of the best books I've ever read (Last Train to Memphis and Careless Love), and I can't wait to get started on The Colonel and The King

I've only read two JFK books: Columbo: The Grassy Knoll and, now, The Umbrella Man and Other Stories: What We Talk About When We Talk About the JFK Assassination. Neither of them were really about JFK, I'd say, but I loved them both anyway. Great work, @4hundredblows.bsky.social

Our street had a visit from the Operation Raise the Flag crew this week so I thought I'd pop some more hopeful messaging in our window to balance it out

So sad to hear that my dear friend and early mentor Keith Hale has passed away. Keith had been in Hawkwind (with Ginger Baker) and wrote It's a Mystery, which Toyah Wilcox took to Number 4, but I'd bonded with him over a deeply shared love of Dylan. Just a wonderful man, who had the music in him.

Also lined up my next read, as well, this one from @peteralanross.bsky.social

Thought there was some sort of conspiracy going on yesterday when everybody was getting their copy of @4hundredblows.bsky.social's new book a day early but mine is now finally here, as well

Very excited to get started reading this one! Had it on my radar to get hold of when it came out this week anyway, but then on Wednesday afternoon I got an email from White Rabbit saying they'd like to send me one. Review to come soon at Far Out.