The Afterword Podcast

Tiggerlion joins Twang in the pod, seizes the microphone and subjects the podmaster to a barrage of questions. Much laughter ensues and Tig denies we all have a little emo in us.

Steve T joins Twang in the pod to discuss which of his favourite tracks, book and luxury he would take to a desert island should fate place him there.

Twang, Tiggerlion, FentonSteve and Dai blow the cobwebs out of the pod and convene to discuss remixes and remasters. Fenton talks for approximately 3 hours about Sadie and dynamic range compression. Inevitably the Fabs sets come up, and Twang crowbars in the Tull series of reissues. We consider the frilly bits put around old and beloved albums to get us to rebuy things we already have multiple tim...

Twang joins Tiggerlion, MosleyMoles, Leeds Boy and SteveT in the pod to discuss the lockdown. The team consider what cultural gems kept them sane in this difficult period, gratuitous spending, what they have planned for an unlocked summer as we stumble, blinking, into the light and pause for a moment to consider whether we might actually miss a time of low pollution, no traffic and working on the...

Twang finally finds the key to the pod and virtually gathers with Tiggerlion, Dave Amitri and special guest Hilary to discuss the 80s, a decade beloved and reviled by equal numbers of people. Perhaps, the team muse, a decade with plenty to feel down about in the world needed frothy, fun, happy and irreverent music to provide some respite.  Unless, Twang sighs, you were a miserable git anyway.

Twang welcomes Leedsboy, MilkeyBarnet, and FeedbackFile to the pod for an involuted podcast about podcasts. For anyone who hasn't got into the wild west that is podcasts all is here for a successful pod life. For regular listeners, many recommendations are within from minor league football, politics, music, true crime and even podcasts for pets. Please add further recommendations in the comments!

Twang welcomes Tiggerlion, Milkybarnet and Moseley Moles to the pod to discuss the enduring phenomenon that is disco.   From its fully formed arrival in the mid 70 it quickly overwhelmed all competition through mutations into pop, rock and even jazz and all fell to the irresistible argument that it's fun and everyone can dance to it.   Even mass burning of Bee Gees albums couldn't kill it, and and...

Twang welcomes (The Mighty) Tull supremo IanAnderson to the pod, who popped in to talk about the not one but two tours he's running in parallel this year.  We also cover the greasy spoon days of touring, guitarists past and present, choice of supermarket and the ultimate definition of prog from an anointed Prog God.

Twang welcomes Mousey to the pod for a 121 natter.   We discover growing up in New Zealand, being a nerdy piano kid, seeing ELP at Wembley and writing songs for Play School.   In a long career as a successful musician our guest is remains refreshingly keen and still got a kick out of walking across the Abbey Road crossing even whilst recording there.

In our 100th episode Twang welcomes Skirky, FentonSteve and Mr. Pee to the pod to discuss how music is recorded.  Partly a history lesson, partly a set of opinions strongly held and fiercely defended, the team can agree (more or less) that it's never been easier to make and consume music and that this must be a good thing.

After one abortive attempt and significant re-education in modern technology Twang welcomes ColinH to the pod.  We discover Colin's story covering his favourites, writing, making music, Van Morrison and, shock spoiler, he likes the Mahavishnu Orchestra.

Twang welcomes FeedbackFile, Tiggerlion and Steve T to the pod for a review of the cultural year, taking in music, TV, film, Twang's ennui, old Hawkwind albums and Jenny Lewis's strangely symmetrical mole.  There is genuinely something for everyone in this bumper cast.  Have great Christmas pod listeners.

Twang welcomes Blue Boy, Chiz and Eddie G to the pod for a ramble around the world of criticism, taking in masters of the genre such as CSM, Nick Kent and Ian McDonald through  Word mag, Q, Amazon reviews, Afterword reviews and where the team have been on the receiving end (or otherwise) of the attentions of Grub Street.

Twang welcomes Eddie G, Neela, and Chris F to the pod to discuss James Bond.   Martinis in hand (shaken not stirred), clad in immaculate white tux, they cover the films, the books, the actors, the baddies, music….many opinions are aired and we agree Connery was best.

Twang gathers Tiggerlion, Nigel T, Dai and occasional guest Simon for a discussion on the Beatles' "Abbey Road" and its recent remix/rerelease.   A stimulating discussion ensues which has to be brutally cut short at 1hr 30m, lovingly represented here in stereo (the mono remix will be available shortly from specialist web shops).   We cover the history of the album, where it fits in the Beatles uni...

Ahead of a gig in Thornton Hough with family in attendance singer songwriter Kathryn Williams sits down to talk box sets - her 20 year spanning Anthology flying off the merch table like so many hot Kiplings. The excited hubbub is audible as we discuss covers, working with Neill MacColl (who makes an extended cameo appearance), outtakes and demos plus her tour and future projects https://kathrynwil...

Twang welcomes Tiggerlion to the pod for a one to one taking in his lifelong love of music in almost all its forms (though our guest admits he hasn't found the metal album he likes….yet).   In a discussion ranging from The Beatles to Eminem via Miles, Coltrane and Lana Del Rey, Twang leaves with a list of actions of stuff he should have heard of.   A playlist of the vast span of music Tig recommen...

This episode, germ-free adolescents Dr Volume, FentonSteve and Rigid Digit kick around in a post-industrial wasteland and talk all things Post-Punk with Twang, a man who chose not to attend *that* infamous Sex Pistols gig at Manchester Lesser Free Trade hall, nor pop round for tea with Ian Curtis. Is Post-Punk just Punk with keyboards and less spitting? What happens when Punks refuse to go 'Post'?...

Twang is joined in a pod basking in summer heat and thick with the sweet smell of sinsemilla to discuss reggae from its ska roots, a groove mutated by Caribbean musicians playing covers of American R&B, through the rock steady hits of the 60s which ran for over 20 years into the 70s global stardom of Bob Marley, The team consider the important acts of the time, consider British reggae, the rise an...

Twang welcomes Feedback File to the pod for a ramble through his musical past and other life stories.   Unusually the boys are together in person, so Skype has no opportunity to introduce technical excitement this time.   We cover teenage boy prog appeal, yuppies, classic pop, 80s work culture, writing music, books, podcasts….   To book a moment in the podcast sun PM @Twang and schedule a 121!

Twang is joined by Dai, Blue Boy and newbie Bogart to discuss Bruce Springsteen, AKA The Boss.   From his earliest beginnings they consider the three phases of Bruce (an absurdly reductive concept inflicted on the team by ringmaster Twang), the monumental live performances and what they want him to do next. Much fun is had and the result is a stadium sized pod as befits its subject.

At the suggestion of Paws For Thought, Twang welcomes Malc, Dr Volume, Fenton Steve and Paws to the pod to discuss the band and their brilliant strain of indy punk folk and the superb hilarious and often deep and affecting lyrics.  Much laughter transpires and HMHB newbie Twang becomes a fan for life.

Twang welcomes Steve T to the pod for a natter taking in his journey through music and life via the Everglades and Midlands metal to the Word and the comforts of a folkier vibe.   To accept the comfy chair and a grilling from Twang don't be coy and fire off a PM forthwith!

Twang welcomes legendary record producer Mike Vernon to the pod to discuss his career spanning numerous classic albums but especially Afterword favourite John Mayall's Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton" (AKA "The Beano" album) and the first generation Fleetwood Mac plus a catch up on Mike's more recent activities.   Mike is happy to go deep on the nerdy stuff and Twang periodically proves unable to...

Twang welcomes Skirky, Carl and Feedback File to the pod for a general natter taking in Danny Baker, shameful admissions, definitive masterpieces, what we've learned, recommendations of the week, music, books telly, pleasures and pain of owning a dog and heron control.