I just stubbed my toe on a fire engine.

I suppose one could use this as a euphemism of something ghastly but it’s simply a sentence that came out as I was clutching my toe just the other day. We are presently living with in excess of three fire engines and they lurk around corners waiting to trap the unsuspecting person walking by without steel toe capped boots. The subsequent pain seems to amuse my two grandchildren who have yet to master the art of parking such a weighty vehicle in the right place. At least no one has bought them a set of drums yet. Continue reading I just stubbed my toe on a fire engine.

The signs of summer, perhaps.

  At last, a little bit of sunshine, and inevitably the supermarkets and hardware shops are eyeing their shelves to see how many barbeque products they can put on there. It’s that time of year when ‘men must cook’ as if burning a second-rate sausage on an open fire is the very definition of maleness. It’s not.   You can buy this and other prints in the “The British Character” series right here. Continue reading The signs of summer, perhaps.

Far too cartooney.

Is that a criticism? Yes, it is usually. It assumes that it’s not worth its place on the wall if it seems a “bit cartooney”. I’m not sure where one draws the line, ‘scuse the pun, but being cartooney was a criticism all those years ago when I was in art school. It’s a favourite of up-themsleves-art -tutors. I found it also prevalent amongst some art directors and designers, and I naturally avoided them as much as possible. Fortunately, they were in the minority. Is there a retort to it. Perhaps: ” That’s a bit fine arty” might be one, … Continue reading Far too cartooney.

I should n’t like it but I do!

One is not supposed to like one’s own work and, in general, I don’t like my own drawings. This may be because I know I can do better. It’s a phrase that teachers always used to use on me all those years ago at school. ” Davies, you know you can do better”. There was a nub of truth and there still is. Or perhaps I’m suffering from “post school traumatic teacher disorder”. Whatever it is, it’s stayed with me. Now here’s a drawing that I should n’t like. Looks like a splodge to some. But I like it a lot. … Continue reading I should n’t like it but I do!

Doug Sahm, Garland Jeffreys, ? and the Mysterians : 96 Tears

Originally posted on The Immortal Jukebox:
‘One day Frank started playing a little organ riff and we all really liked it a lot. I kinda came up with the chord riff … then Question Mark said he had words for it … I thought he was just singing off the top of his head.’ (Bobby Balderrama) The 1960s, as any Baby Boomer will tell you, was the decade when Rock and Pop music peaked. A tidal wave of creative energy was unleashed which is never likely to be matched. Pick any week from the Billboard Hot 100 chart from the… Continue reading Doug Sahm, Garland Jeffreys, ? and the Mysterians : 96 Tears