Fritz

I listened to Stage fairly much non-stop when I was in year 8 & 9 in high school. I still have a soft spot for it.

Not mentioned so far: John Fante Raymond Carver Thomas Hardy James Ellroy Already mentioned: John Irving Jack Kerouac Kurt Vonnegut Ernest Hemingway Flannery O'Connor Charles Bukowski

Agreed. The sound is remarkable. TRI Studios must be a phenomenal place to make music.

I missed all of the discussion which was a pity. But the Playin' In The Band I saw was nice and stripped back. So glad Bob and Phil are still making music together.

Neil Young and Crazy Horse - Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia

One of my favourite Bill Murrary scenes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22UGtZr2lec

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds + Sydney Symphony Orchestra @ the Opera House

I'm really digging the new album. Jubilee Street is wonderful.

Really digging this.

Standing in a bookstore the other day I picked up a copy of Henry Miller's Sexus which I have not read. I could've stayed there all afternoon. The first paragraph sunk its claws in and I was floored. I then thought it might be interesting to hear of anyone who has been drawn to a book by what they've read immediately upon opening it. What are the great first paragraphs of literature? Here's the opening from Sexus: "It must have been a Thursday night when I met her for the first time—at the dance hall. I reported to work in the morning, after an hour or two's sleep, looking like a s

Dick's Picks #5 touched down in Australia this afternoon. Woo! Here Comes Sunshine!

Funnily enough I've been listening to The Band all day today. Levon, Rick, Richard...three of the most stunning voices in modern music.

This was screened before the showing of Wreck-It Ralph we saw. Very cute.

Indeed it is. The letter to Levon is heartfelt.

http://omnivorerecordings.com/artists/townes-van-zandt/ Says here 5 February. That's next week!

What a record this is.

Blixa Bargeld cooking risotto

PJ Harvey - State Theatre, Sydney, 2012. Pro shot. Whole concert Wonderful http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=WEyrT_N7718

"Why is Jim treating the magician poorly?"

No, Sydney last night. The show went for just short of 3 hours. Fantastic versions of songs from all throughout his catalogue - Saints, Laughing Clowns, solo stuff. Still buzzing from it this morning.

Ed Kuepper & Mark Dawson. Brilliant show.

This is pretty nice. Love the steel: