The Chorus

Someone sent us a bottle of whisky, so we tasted that. We discovered new signature guitar models, so we were excited. There was almost too much theatre to watch, but we persevered. A beautiful book offers a mental and emotional escape from a fatigued body. The umpteenth movie in an alien franchise is actually, you know, good. And Brad Pitt attempts to not get shot in public transport. Reviewed thi...

Stefan is in recovery after a rock star weekend gracing festival stages. On those stages, and between the pages of a collection of short stories, we discover the presence of the level of emerging talent that makes us fall in love with music and writing all over again. There are also welcome returns from shared favourites, this time in books and on the small screen, and an album title almost as sat...

We almost wander into talking about Actual Issues but then remember that we prefer to retreat to books and music and the arts in general than pretend we know how to sort out the world's ills. That said, we look fondly at an age of great music journalism; sadly at how fraught with uncertainty travel in much of the Middle East is; and affectionately at an unknown blues singer who recently won a Gram...

It was a fecund couple of weeks for live music, both in music venues and on theatre stages, and the readiness of the performers involved to put their hearts and souls on display is as memorable as whatever they where playing. Elsewhere, we chat about bonkers journeys and a huge load of Cunk. Reviewed this week: MUSIC: An Intimate Evening with Jeremy Porter, Sting - My Songs, Jeremy Messersmith bac...

The Oscar nominations are out and we're not sure if we're happy that Top Gun might get Best Picture because, like, you know, it's not art . Elsewhere, we appreciate good writing, kitchen politics, optimistic ukuleles and how Charles Dickens was essentially the biggest streaming service of his day. Reviewed this week: MUSIC: Radiohead back catalogue, Sigourney Fever - Trampled By Turtles, 11 Obscen...

It's the end of the year (and Spotify tells us we're 87% up in streams, so thank you so much for your support). We welcome back our very first guest, trends analyst and rabid reader Bronwyn Williams, and some of what she says is sad, but she brought whiskey to share, so that's ok. Truth is scarier than fiction on the page and screen, but it's ok because great live music brings joy and maybe we're...

A little birdy told us to delve into whether Twitter is quiet as much of a cesspool as we're led to believe. Elsewhere on social media, a man from The Darkness proves to be sweet, sensitive and wise. Plus, some of music's Biggest Names released new (and old) projects, and we finally brought back our First Take feature and played a tune live in studio again - Dreamed You Different. Frankly, it's lo...

Our guest is CrashCarBurn frontman Garth Barnes, chatting about the band's new album, Back From The Dead. In almost related news, we also talk about old men, including Mick Jagger and Jeff Bridges. Plus, Stefan's dogs fight a lot in the background. Reviewed this week: BOOKS: The Rolling Stones - 1972, Dickens by Peter Ackroyd TV: The Old Man, Cabinet Of Curiosities Stay in touch at https://www.fac...

Our guest is comedian Mark Banks, whose show Alive! runs at the Studio at Pieter Toerien's Montecasino Theatre until 20 November. Book at Computicket. Reviewed this week: BOOKS: The End Of The End Of The World by Jonathan Franzen TV: Derry Girls Season 3, Better Call Saul Season 1 Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast . And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito...

Our guest is Ben Voss, who plays Abominable Uncle Abanazar in Janice Honeyman's Adventures In Pantoland at the Joburg Theatre from November 6 to December 24. Reviewed this week: BOOKS: Book Ends by Michael Chabon; Unmasked by Andrew Lloyd Webber TV: Yellowstone; Trigger Point MUSIC: American Heartbreak by Zach Bryan; Memory by Nicole Scherzinger Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusP...

Our guest is Dan Chiorboli, festival director for WOMAD South Africa (running from 30 September to 8 October; tickets at Quicket), who unpacks the festival's itinerant delights and name-drops Peter Gabriel just because he can. We also go behind The Godfather - this is the reason movie tickets cost so much - and explore a book which lyrically and beautifully confirms that racism in the Deep South (...

There's a tweaked format in this post-sojourn return, as we take a stab at edification alongside entertainment. We dip into the effects of career pressure on musicians, as well as revisiting the magic of Terry Pratchett, unpacking why expensive streaming series don't last the distance, geeking out over a limited edition Beach Boys guitar strap, watching commerce take on concern in a book about a p...

Discussed this week (in which Bruce celebrated a birthday): The giant Cake Brothers tiramisu birthday that appeared alongside our microphone, and the aroma of the contents of several vials of white powder (ooh) our guest had brought with him. Between mouthfuls of cake, ice cream, delicious coffee and a smidge of whiskey, we chatted about the foolishness of taking on Carrie Mulligan, and let our ea...

Discussed this week: The seven deadly sins, possibly in conjunction with the experiences of Elton John, Frank Sinatra, Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee (that should cover most of them). Plus cycling, cruising and choreography. THEATRE: La Traviata, Elton: The Experience TV: Pam & Tommy, Hustle, Jungle Cruise BOOKS: Around The World In 80 Days by Mark Beaumont MUSIC:  Chagall Guevera - Halcyo...

Discussed this week: the return of full-capacity theatre, guilty pleasures. lovely hungry people and a sublime songwriter who needs to be Heard. THEATRE: If A Tree Falls, Locked Upside Down...And Inside Out!, Kunene And The King   TV: SAS - Rise Of The Black Swan, Fast And Furious 9 - The Fast Saga, Somebody Feed Phil, Stranger Things 4, The Morning Show MUSIC:  Mark Heard Please give us...

Discussed this week: FIRST TAKE: Spiral Staircase - Bruce Dennill THEATRE: The Abba Show: A Cinderella Story, Borderline BOOKS: Carnet de Voyage by Craig Thompson, Fools And Mortals by Bernard Cornwell TV: Raised By Wolves S2, Why Didn't They Ask Evans?, Death On The Nile MUSIC:  A Light For Attracting Attention - The Smile, Altar - Kehlani, Spinnekop - Posduif, Joyful Noise - Matt Maher Plea...

Is Ricky Gervais a bully? Does the music industry give a toss about artists? Is whistleblowing worth it? Why don't more people know how good a guitarist Jack Pearson is? Asked and (possibly) answered... BOOKS: The Secret History Of Twin Peaks by Mark Frost, Murder On The Orient Express by Agatha Christie, Hit Men by Fredric Dannen TV: SuperNature - Ricky Gervais, Clarkson's Farm MUSIC: Jack P...

Discussed this week: BOOKS: Reuben by Bryan Andrews, The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain TV: Mark Twain - Ken Burns, Peaky Blinders, Ozark, The Undoing, Murderville MUSIC:  Live At Leeds - The Who,  PODCAST: A History Of Rock Music In 500 Songs, Renegades - Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen Please give us your comments, suggestions, reviews of our song and constructive inpu...

In which we reveal a shared fetish for 500-year-old, long-haired gentlemen, indulge an affection for Andy Samberg, wonder at fine musicians, appreciate others who appreciate what we appreciate and welcome back the First Take feature - this time a reflection on shared brokenness. FIRST TAKE: In Repair - John Mayer BOOKS: Leonard Da Vinci - The Biography by Walter Isaacson, Shakespeare - The Bi...

We try out a new mic (CAN YOU HEAR US AT THE BACK?) and include our new release as The Van Dyke Parks Board. It's called "Song For Doubt" and is available everywhere you stream or download. Stefan, unable to help himself, returns to Brian Wilson - three times - and then goes skateboarding. Bruce laughs at fellow pasty white man Jim Gaffigan, and then goes briefly to Tangier and Paris before enjoyi...

Our guest is actor, playwright, broadcaster and sarky Facebook presence Peter Terry, who discusses his new one-man play At All Costs, which deals (brilliantly) with the horrors of the Battle of Delville Wood in World War One. We savour a fine brew from our new sponsor, Cito 1974 Coffee , which makes the day seem brighter. We also question whether comedies actually need to make you laugh to be cons...

Producer, engineer, multi-instrumentalist and Very Nice Man Michael Wright joins us to talk a little bit about his Gloryvale Studio in Edenvale (he's all humble like that) and the new Van Dyke Parks Board single "Song For Doubt", for which he's just finished the final mix. We rediscover how completely thrilling well-crafted live theatre is. And well-crafted books. And well-crafted music. And anyth...

In which we welcome comedian Nik Rabinowitz, consider the power of storytelling and the value of joy over cynicism; investigate magic mushrooms; visit a dark forest in Latvia and suggest not naming your band after a plague. COMEDY: Nik Rabinowitz Is Over It! BOOKS: Fresh Complaint by Jeffrey Eugenides MUSIC: All At Once - The Airborne Toxic Event TV: Fantastic Fungi Please give us your comments, s...

In which we confront our naivety through the medium of television, well-known for its truth-telling; have some very big questions almost answered; suggest that music is more important than talking and note that Ewan McGregor never goes out of fashion. THEATRE: Rocco De Villiers & Lizelle Le Roux - Music From The Movies BOOKS: The Origin Of Almost Everything - New Scientist, Lord Of The Rings M...

In which Stefan survives several old-man ailments, we perv over a Gibson Les Paul (respectfully), acknowledge how "Beautiful" Carole King is, do the backstroke in psychedelia and realise that it doesn't take a genius to spot a fraudster. COMEDY: Mark Banks - Mask About Face BOOKS: The Genius Test by Giles Sparrow MUSIC: Black Pumas - Black Pumas, Daniel Lanois - Heavy Sun, Madison Cunningham - Wed...