Empty Checking with Derek Brink

In this episode, I called an audible and decided to pay tribute to the man I believe was the George Martin of indie rock, Steve Albini. I end up talking about 12 releases by such acts as Big Black, Nirvana, Cheap Trick, Pixies, Plush, Godspeed You Black Emperor, and more...and I don't even touch on 1% of the 2000+ albums on which he worked. Join me for this special episode, as I try to give just a...

This is a slightly p-popping episode, and I apologize for that...but it's a fun one, if you can get over that! I talk about Only Murders in the Building, The Three Amigos, and The Great Race, then music from Taylor Swift, Joni Mitchell, Khruangbin, and Pearl Jam. Plus some personal stuff, of course. This episode also contains a few samples of songs from my upcoming record "Boop," which comes out o...

In this "FAST CASH" episode of Empty Checking, we only talk about one topic, and don't do it for as long. And the topic at hand is bidding farewell to comic legend Joe Flaherty. (I also talk about my recent dental problems, but it's mostly about Joe.) Enjoy! Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com email: db@derekbrink.com This one's a little different, so here are the song links, but I'm not break...

Believe me. I wish this were a full episode even more than you do.

I'm...just so tired. The show WILL be back. But here's why it isn't yet. Thanks for your patience.

It's been a rough couple of weeks. I need a minute. Here's me babbling about that. Should be a new episode over the weekend. Etc. Sorry for the delay. And apparently, I love you...

In this episode, your Uncle Derek and your Papa Dave are celebrating an American treasure by counting down (or up?) our Fab 15 Weird Al songs! It's a fun and oddly spirited debate! Be part of giving us the Weird Al Bump and check it out! Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com email: db@derekbrink.com Spotify Playlists: https://open.spotify.com/user/317eypfciiajkyay2kxloz3kreoa?si=f046115ad0514079...

You know what these uploads mean...no new episode in the immediate... But I do PROMISE one for Saturday, pending anything terrible happening to me! So listen to me explain... And until Saturday? Courage.

Sorry it took a while to get this week's episode uploaded. It's been weird. But whatever! We've got a good episode ready to go in which I pay tribute to Melinda Ledbetter and Wayne Kramer, then talk about my feelings on the final season of Star Trek: Picard and the Extreme/Living Colour show I saw a week ago! Dig it! Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com email: db@derekbrink.com Time Index: I sa...

So here's why you're still waiting on an episode... Sorry... SOON though!

In this episode, I talk about Picard Season 2 and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. I also touch on the recent happenings in WWE...maybe a slight trigger warning, there. (I do NOT go into detail, but I do address the allegations against Vince McMahon.) I know that part makes it sound like it might not be a super fun episode...but it mostly is! Dig it! blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com email: db@...

TL;DR - The new episode is late because of Vince McMahon. It'll be up soon. Here's a bit of an explanation. Etc. Thanks!

In this episode, I play a little catch-up by talking about the Barbie movie, and recent music from Tears for Fears, Devin Townsend, Ed Sheeran, and Peter Gabriel (at length). I had fun making this one. Maybe you'll have fun hearing it!  Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com   email: db@derekbrink.com   Time Index: 0:00 - Intro 11:10 - Lectio Divina 11:40 - Barbie: The Movie 27:59 - Intervention...

In this episode I talk about Doctor Who, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Madison Greene, and some other stuff. It's a shorter episode, but I crammed in a lot of fun. Enjoy! Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com email: db@derekbrink.com New Bandcamp talked about in the show: http://fromthebrink.bandcamp.com (All of the songs in this episode are from this page!) Time Index: 0:00 - Intro 10:55 - Fightin'...

Something dumb happened with my software and it's going to be quicker to re-record the episode than to fix it. So... Sorry. I'll get a new, full episode up later this week (probably). Thanks for your patience!

Hi Checkmates! No new episode this week, but you do get about an 8-minute promo for a new ABSOLUTELY FREE Bandcamp page of my musical pre-history! All my bands from 1990 to now have recordings available for FREE (or pay what you want) at http://fromthebrink.bandcamp.com! Check it out! (My solo albums at derekbrink.bandcamp.com will still remain active there, btw. This is different.)

In this episode of the Fab 15, your Uncle Derek and Papa Dave are counting down our Fab 15 albums of 2023! This one was a FAST turnaround, so it's a little longer than usual, but with the holidays this week and next week, maybe some of you need that. It was a really fun talk, and we hope you'll enjoy it, and maybe walk away with a few ideas of how to spend your Christmas money! Enjoy! Blog:  http:...

In this episode I talk about Doctor Who, Friends, Glen Hansard, Lisa O'Neill, and Neil Young, amidst other things, including a desperately meowing McGuire... It's a fun one! Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com email: db@derekbrink.com Time Index: 0:00 - Intro (Including tying up some loose ends on Shane MacGowan.) 16:22 - Born in this Town 16:52 - Recent watching 17:25 - Friends 24:52 - Doctor...

In this episode, I talk about Norman Lear, Shane MacGowan, Dolly Parton, The Struts, The National, Guided By Voices, Tenacious D, KISS, and a whole bunch of stuff! Thanks for waiting on it! Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com email: db@derekbrink.com Time Index: 0:00 - Intro 14:59 - Eliot's Benediction 15:30 - RIP Norman Lear 22:33 - RIP Shane MacGowan 40:35 - Absent Friends 41:05 - Music Rele...

Short version: You'll get a new episode on Saturday. Long version: Listen to the thing... Thanks!

Just in time for the holiday, there's a new Empty Checking episode--and it's a FAB FIFTEEN! Some of you might not be able to be with family. Some of you might be with family that makes you want to put in ear buds. And some of you might get around to it sometime this weekend or like Tuesday or whatever... Whatever the case, your Uncle Derek and Papa Dave have you covered with the Fab Fifteen Bass P...

In this episode I mostly catch up on a bunch of music, including Taylor Swift, Pharoah Sanders, The Mountain Goats, and The Rolling Stones. I also talk about making a Doctor Who scarf, trying to buy a laptop, and accidentally piercing my own nipple. So. There's a lot. Enjoy! Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com email: db@derekbrink.com   Time Index: 0:00 - Intro 10:36 - My slightly grumpy thoug...

A quick update and a review of the newest Beatles release! talk to you again soon!

I've decided this isn't an official "episode" in the chronology...but I needed to say some stuff, and I had a platform, so here we are. This one's very different. I talk a lot about an old college friend who passed away this week and also about why a celebrity death can hit us hard, why art matters, and so on. (And yes, I briefly pay tribute to Matthew Perry, Richard Moll, and Suzanne Somers, too....

Okay, FYI, there's a strangely high amount of incidental contact with the microphone/stand in this one that even I find distracting, so sorry about that...but otherwise, this is a fun episode! I talk about music from Metric, Wilco, and Boygenius, and also about Paul Auster's new novel "Baumgartner." I had fun. I bet you will too, if you like things! Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com   email:...