Guitar Emporium

The 1986 Peter Gabriel album "So" was the starting point for this tune - the tune Sledgehammer is the model ( although this song bears no resemblance to Sledgehammer) . I was just trying to think of the most scaled down version of a Sledgehammer - a pincushion and a hypochondriac. Support the show

An old school friend made contact ( I'm very bad at this stuff) it 'll be nice to meet up and share his world and mine. Its been way too long. Support the show

An instrumental tune - slow and steady. I was reading about the " old" custom that a  gentleman would take his hat  off - when entering a room, meeting a lady, going to church as  a matter of courtesy.  Support the show

Sometimes there comes an opportunity to do something half decent - and the choice is solely in your hands. Do it. Support the show

The baby boomers were that generation which were born immediately after World War II . They are now senior citizens in the UK - and a powerful economic group - the pensioners !. The conservative party are desperate for the baby boomers votes - hence promising locking pensions to inflation and just about anything else they can which would persuade them to give the Tories their vote. Support the sho...

For those pupils not taking exams at this time of the academic year this end of term time is a real chance to do other things - drama, music, art, sport and just hanging out enjoying a glimpse of the sun. Support the show

On 25th June 2023 I put up a tune that was influenced by the opening "Theme" from Bob Dylans soundtrack album to the film Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid . This is in a different key - but I realised I was using the same melody as I did before - so its become a tale of how Pat Garrett found and killed the outlaw Billy the Kid. Support the show

We've had a few good days in the UK - and I start to feel as though I'm going to try and write Latin American rhythms. Getting a bit carried away. Support the show

Saturday is DIY day. I have limited DIY ability but enthusiasm - until it starts to go wrong . My latest project is getting the stuff out from store when we came back from Spain 3 years ago ! -Repair or throw away in most instances ... Support the show

You may notice my typically English obsession with the weather. Well we had two sunny days in a row this last weekend ( the weekend of the 1st and 2nd June ) . Suddenly the whole  world seems a better place.  Support the show

Like Mr Trump's Truth social media platform we in the UK are doing our bit and Truth Festivals are springing up all over the place. Where like minded people can share their view of their world. Oh my ... Support the show

I 'm not a huge boxing fan - the blows to the head just seem almost too brutal. The recent Tyson Fury fight was interesting - paricularly because he looks like he doesn't get himself in real top shape and relies on his extraordinary strength and resilience. Anyway this is not really about him but uses the boxing analogy to look at how we deal with the punches and blows we take. Support t...

Built off three phrases which all refer to the delights of employment: This is me talking to myself ( again- oh dear) Walking through treacle with lead weights around your neck: Trying to wake up when you're in the middle of a nightmare; Climbing up a ladder with a pack on your back; That just about sums it up ( the teaching I love but the stuff I have to do to make the money - not so good ) ...

I had a really inspiring pupil a few years ago - he used to bring me music to listen to that I wouldn't normally have got to. Martin Simpson was one particularly great find. He gives real space to sections of music - so you can hear them distinctly. This is just recalling the music and the pupil. The pupil was also an amazing History of Art teacher, who was dealing with fairly severe cancer a...

The title comes from Amen Corners 1968 !! - song Bend me Shape me - ( I thought it was shake me ) . Other than that I can't see where this song came from ....you'll see why. Yup - weird  Support the show

Three " English Folk" sayings are the starting point for this song: "Theres one born every minute" - a reference to being gullible - open to very easy persuasion "Theres nowt so strange as folk" - people can be weird - unpredictable - strange "Theres none so deaf as those who don't want to hear" - sometimes people just don't want to hear what you&a...

For years ( 20 I think) I used to play fairly regularly in a restaurant which cooked all this stuff. I played over 3 hours per evening- 45 minute sets with a 15 minute break . I used it to use it to try out new pieces and re-work old tunes. There was one regular who always complained I didn't play enough fast tunes . This is for her. Support the show

Not a new expression - but what's the point ? It makes everything so uninteresting if you're looking to do certain things - go with the flow . Support the show

Last year I put up a tune " Shorter Days Longer Nights " - this is the song to go with the tune. The extra light at the beginning and end of the day is wonderful at this time of year in the UK Support the show

Todays piece changed direction at the last minute - hence the title Support the show

( Theres a delay in the episodes of about 10 days or so - so the following refers to the Spring Bank Holiday of 25th -27th May) .... This weekend is a Bank Holiday - short week next week - Time for a bit of R & R. Take the foot off the gas for a day or two. Support the show

A day late - summer officially started on 1st June in the UK - and the sun is shining ! Taken from the website sing solfa - there's a lovely informal recording of the tune available. The oldest manuscript is a transcription from John of Fornsete a monk in the monastery of Reading in 1226. ( in the British Museum if it hasn't been nicked and sold on eBay) Believed to be the oldest example...

The AI thing bothers me- I don't really understand it properly and like all luddites I think its going to do away with me - and I thought I was indispensable. I'm imagining the machine is talking to me telling me how poorly I treat him( but it could equally well be a her or an it on a they or a...... whatever it wants to be ..I don't want to gender pigeonhole the poor thing....etc.....

The UK has a General Election on 4th July - America's Independence Day. My main association with Independence Day is the film - Its a real disaster movie ( I love 'em ) Volcanoes, Storms, Meteorites, Alien invasions can't get enough. I do, however, hope July 4th is not a disaster for the UK - god - I hope none of these loony Reform Party characters get elected.... Support the show

The UK is having a General Election in early July. The Labour Party slogan is one word - Change. We're seeing radical populist politics all over the world and its terrifying - we had our own crazy Prime Minister or two not so long ago .. The great thing about the choices this time is they're both pretty uninspiring and that just means we muddle on much as always ...whoever gets elected....