What I'm listening to/Watching at the moment

MediumRoastSteam I’m much the same. I’ve reached a point on guitar where anything more “impressive” is just too much work. I play for enjoyment and have learned the little I’ve learned through playing for that enjoyment rather than practicing to get better - that’s my excuse for my sloppy technique anyway. All that 5 notes a second stuff does nothing for me anyway. If I want to hear someone rocking out I prefer the lazier approach, like Neil Young with Crazy Horse stuff. Mick Ronson played some amazing stuff with Bowie too - an amazingly understated and elegant player. Even in gold lame and platform boots. :-)

I stumbled across a guy doing covers of various songs on a resonator. Just an ordinary guy bored during lockdown but this Velvet Underground cover is a brilliant interpretation.

There are so many amazing guitarist out there and many like Roy Buchanan, Rory Gallagher, Gary Moore who I was fortunate enough to see live, who have now sadly gone. At the moment I am listening to Walter Trout, Larry McCray, Eric Gales, Philip Sayce. In fact, the list of great guitarists many of whom never reach the notoriety that the likes of Clapton has but are just as good, is almost endless.

For me though, as much as I like a great riff and guitar break, it has to be within or part of a tune….I cannot stand what I call over improvised noise, the likes of which are found in some Jazz. Now I know that will urke some, but to my ears it’s as bad as thrash metal and rap. I once went to see a jazz trio that had three very well respected and well known artist from the world of Jazz. To my ears it was all just a jumble of notes. I couldn’t distinguish a single recognisable tune.

That is not to say there is not some great Jazz music or Jazz musicians or great Jazz tunes out there…it’s just the improvised stuff.

As they say…horses for courses

I agree. Whilst I love the energy and impressive skill of fast electric blues, and have plenty of time for what could be called “Mod jazz” of the 60s, all that avant-garde freeform jazz is just a cacophony of people showing off to me as a non muso. I am aware that some people refer to insane hi speed guitar as “left hand winking” (change a vowel early on if you will) but I do actually quite like that stuff within an electric blues context. Also love a bit of Gary Moore, Walter Trout etc. And on the opposite end of the spectrum, the mellow vibes of Eric Bibb, who strikes me as a thoroughly nice chap too.

Listening to (imo) one of the greatest psychedelic, prog-rock albums from the 2000’s. Still sounds as good and fresh as when it was first released. A shame the band split up…

Just finished watching Stay Close on Netflix. Binge watched the whole lot in 2 sittings, we couldn’t bring ourselves to turn it off unless it was ridiculous o’clock. Really gripping Brit grit.

Added to my list too. This week’s Dexter tonight and maybe another episode of Witcher.

Sounds like we should watch the Witcher next then?

We’re getting into the Witcher. Now on S1 episode 5 and it just keeps getting better. Need to keep your wits about you to cope with the time shifts though.

I just finished watching Succession. Had read reviews of it over the last couple of years and didn’t think it would be my bag. But it is brilliant.

Just watching the second episode of The Book Of Boba Fett. Enjoyable so far - not quite holding my attention like The Mandalorian did, however a solid start so far.

DavecUK It’s on Disney+.

2022 has certainly started with a bang here so not really much time to watch anything and certainly nothing that requires attention to follow.

I’ve been listening to a lot of Snarky Puppy and Esbjorn Svensson Trio when working.