First Impressions: Recent Episodes
Peter Humphreys
First Impressions blends storytelling, humour, interviews, music and more. It's a bit all over the place, but then so is its creator, award-winning writer and editor Peter Humphreys. He claims the aim of the podcast is ‘to spread a little mirth during these difficult times, with an emphasis on the arts and all things literary’, but it could just as easily be a case of bandwagon jumping in the name of shameless self-promotion. It wouldn’t be the first time…
The first First Impressions of 2024 features reflections on catching (and keeping) Spanish Covid (02:00), a duo of daft poems – Anti-Algorithm Technique (11:15) and Running Backwards (16:50) recently performed at Spoken Word (Manchester) and Wordarium (Lancaster); extracts from Andy N’s debut novel Birth (07:35 and 19:20), plus some Conversations with my Unicorn (13:57) courtesy of Amanda Nicholson.
As usual there are also musical meanderings to complement the readings – inc. Content Creator (00:00) and Algorhythmz (13:26) – and the podcast is best listened to through headphones. News of a new podcast soon. In the meantime, enjoy!
Here’s a bit of a belated birthday banquet (with an emphasis on veggie burgers) for those who missed the buffet in the Borough – and those who didn’t. A few bits and bobs that I hope will be of interest to your ears including (surprise surprise) readings, music, chat and impressions. The undoubted highlight is a conversation with my brother, Guy, about his life as a teacher and dad in Canada, and how he’s managed to record and arrange songs for our long-running (est. 1989) family band. Decaying Leather’s latest album, ‘The Workmanship Demonstration Pavilion’, will be released later this year and will be followed by a LIVE date in Edmonton in 2024 (you heard it here first…)
We discuss the whys and wherefores of the covers we’ve attempted this time round (which include our dad’s wonderful rendering of McCartney’s ‘Blackbird’, plus tunes from Joan As Policewoman and Tom and Jude Edwin-Scott). Also how we manage to create new music under pressure as a way of diarising our lives and brotherhood; how Guy has introduced music to the classroom; his love of drumming, and how his songwriting now compares to that in his 20s. There are also reflections on our affinity with the north of England, and their most famous sons (those being the Beatles and – okay, we’re biased – OMD). In addition, this special birthday edition includes a scattering of poems and extracts from my new, Santa Fe-set short story, ‘280 Cactus Flower Ridge’. As ever, best listened to through headphones!
Timings of spoken word stuff: ’280 Cactus Flower Ridge’ (extract) (1/2) (00:19) ‘Talking in code on the train’ (direct from my notebook) (03:47); ‘The Unexpected City’ (out-of-tune guitar/Maria Martinez film intro/found sounds at US airport) (05:50), ‘Lucy on an autumn morning’ (poem) (51:44), ‘And With It’ (poem) (56:34), ‘280 Cactus Flower Ridge’ (extract) (2/2) (57:45).
Timings of Decaying Leather song snippets: ‘Tattoos’ (20:10), ‘One of those Days’ (22:29), ‘The Workmanship Demonstration Pavilion’ (15:23 & 25:22), ‘Warning Bell’ (27:42), ‘Fill Your Soul’ (30:43), ‘Darker Tomato’ (34:14), ‘Blackbird’ (41:11), ‘People of the World’ (Guy solo) (43:45). ‘ID Ideology’ (46:03), ‘Digging Holes’ (50:00).
If you’d like to get in touch about the pod or my writing work, drop me a DM or email me via pjhwritingservices@gmail.com
‘Warning Bell’ by Joan As Policewoman
The Jude and Tom Edwin-Scott Band on Spotify
Jude Edwin-Scott website & tour dates
‘Blackbird’ by The Beatles
OMD’s website & tour dates
OMD on Jules Holland
‘Shine on you Crazy Diamond’, cover version in Jerusalem mentioned by Guy
In Episode 25 of First Impressions, I welcome back novelist, poet, essayist and singer-storyteller Lancelot Schaubert for the second part of our chat. Now living in Brooklyn but hailing from Southern Illinois, where his excellent debut novel ‘Bell Hammers: The True Folk Tale of Little Egypt’ is set, Lance has kindly shared some more extracts from the freshly minted audiobook to punctuate our conversation (find them at 00:00, 13:48, 39:34 and 48:15). Along with the novel, we discuss his influences both literary (inc. Flannery O’Connor, GK Chesterton, Tolkien, CS Lewis, Dorothy L. Sayers) and philosophical (inc. David Bentley Hart), and his thoughts on subjects ranging from Artificial Intelligence to learning Latin; civil discourse to snipe hunting, the latter topic inspiring me to provide a wee musical ditty at 23:39. We also talk about the follow-up to ‘Bell Hammers’, which began as a collaboration with Lance’s late father, whose untimely death was partly caused by the dangerous and insufficiently regulated work described in his fiction. Finally, we talk about a hairy situation Lance and his wife faced on their last visit to the UK. As ever, listen through headphones if you have them and please spread the word if you enjoy the pod. Thanks!
A few links to content connected to our conversation:
Lance’s website: https://lanceschaubert.org/about-lancelot/
Lance’s book ‘Bell Hammers: The True Folk Tale of Little Egypt’ on Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Bell-Hammers-Audiobook/B0BXVS1WKQ
‘Bell Hammers…’ on goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/48731251
Douglas Berman’s short story ‘Ibex Brief’ on Lance’s website: https://lanceschaubert.org/2023/05/03/ibex-brief/
David Bentley Hart’s Substack: https://davidbentleyhart.substack.com
Lance’s ‘All Who Wander’ album on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/1QOE2t9zAKJjz8VySZJvRq?si=jMJNFiwDRAa2QvWmbdjwiA
Jude Edwin-Scott’s new album, ‘Rambling Rose’, available as CD/digital download on Bandcamp: https://judeedwinscott.bandcamp.com/album/rambling-rose?pk=595&action=buy
Novelist, poet, essayist, singer-storyteller and host of 12-hour marathon Brooklyn brunches Lancelot Schaubert joined me from New York for this episode of First Impressions. Lance also kindly shared some extracts from his widely praised, picaresque debut novel ‘Bell Hammers: The True Folk Tale of Little Egypt’, which while bitingly contemporary in a number of its themes has already been compared to the classic works of fellow southern US authors William Faulkner and Flannery O’Connor.
His literary endeavours having appeared in Tor, The New Haven Review, McSweeney’s and elsewhere, Lance is in a great position to offer advice to other scribes. As well as digging into his novel, we discuss how he has maintained creative control of his projects; his influences and – off the back of the captivatingly performed audiobook of ‘Bell Hammers’ – how writers can best use their skill sets to publicise their output. Audio extracts from the novel, in which we follow the unusual courtship of protagonist Remmy and his beloved Beth, can be found at 00:00, 09:23, 18:14, 37:36 and 47:19 mins.
We also discuss – in no particular order – the correct way to pronounce ‘Illinois’; the environmental exploitation of small communities; Lance’s recent release of a Leonard Cohen cover; how Neil Gaiman got the Little Egypt mythology wrong in ‘American Gods’; some essential reading when it comes to non-violent resistance through the ages; the surprises Lance uncovered while interviewing his grandfathers for ‘Bell Hammers’; sci-fi, myth and modernism and how we should avoid restricting ourselves when it comes to telling stories, and the narrative thread that runs throughout my guest’s fiction and songwriting. If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to like/subscribe/review. Cheers!
A few links to content connected to our conversation:
Lance’s website
Lance’s book ‘Bell Hammers’ on Audible
Lance covers Leonard Cohen’s ‘Democracy’
Lance’s ‘All Who Wander’ album
Your Audio Story, run by Jeremiah Jones, Lance’s podcast producer
More about Southern Illinois
More about the origins of the Little Egypt name
Antal Szerb’s ‘Journey by Moonlight’ (trans. Peter V. Czipott)
Jim Dale on narrating the Harry Potter audiobooks
Sufjan Stevens, ‘Come on Feel the Illinoise’
‘Bloody Williamson: A Chapter in American Lawlessness’ by Paul M. Angle
‘The Hero with a Thousand Faces’ by Joseph Campbell
Dr Martin Luther King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail
‘Letters to a Birmingham Jail: A Response to the Words and Dreams of Dr Martin Luther King Jr.’ by Bryan Loritts, John Perkins, Crawford W. Loritts Jr. and Soong-Chan Rah:
‘Beautiful Trouble – A Toolbox for Revolution’, assembled by Andrew Boyd
The Non-violence and Satyagraha of Mahatma Gandhi
‘The Power of Nonviolence’, introduced by Howard Zinn
‘Why Civil Resistance Works’ by Erica Chenoweth and Maria J. Stephan
‘When War is Unjust: Being Honest in Just-War Thinking’ by John Howard Yoder
‘The Dark Tower’ (book series) by Stephen King
‘American Gods’ by Neil Gaiman
Cōnfingō Publishing – an evening of spoken word in Chorlton, Manchester on 20th May 2023.
In Episode 23 of First Impressions I resume my conversation with musician/songwriter, adventurer, woodworker, sustainable architect and organic farmer Mike Teague. In this, the second of two episodes to feature him, Mike reflects on being part of the Liverpool music scene in the early 2000s where he played with Guy and Karim as Pig’s Breakfast (rehearsing below a chippy), lent his guitar to The Coral when they set off on tour and played 5-a-side with The Zutons before wanderlust came calling again and he moved first to the ‘Dickensian’ Isle of Sark (being welcomed into the fold by folk band Big Sheep), then later New Zealand (twice) and London (first squatting near Canary Wharf, later living in digs beside Brixton prison) before applying the brakes on the Hungarian riviera where he and Aniko began the Acorn Village Project a few years ago.
As the 2000s sped by, Mike also found time for a road trip through Southern Africa, recording sessions in Ireland with great friends Ro Tierney and Robbie Mulvany, and an epic journey to Guy’s wedding in Alberta, Canada, with James, where high jinks awaited us before the happy day. Wherever he’s gone, Mike has made enduring friendships through music and this episode is jam-packed with excellent tunes (listed below). While discussing life’s twists and turns, we talk about the bonds that form through jamming, writing and performing with others before signing off with a Decaying Leather update and (possibly) the origins of the Humph family band’s name. A quick reminder to listen to First Impressions through headphones to fully enjoy the mix of music and chat guaranteed in every episode.
Track listing:
(00:00) ‘Paradise Shiddy: Live at Brixton Prison’ by the Maybenots
(06:21) ‘Got me Soldiers’ by Pig’s Breakfast*
(10:15) ‘Oyez Piglets!’ by Pig’s Breakfast
(19:28) ‘The Boatman’ performed by Big Sheep
(23:13) ‘Nelson Flipflop’ performed by Tinkletrio
(29:02) ‘A Case of You’ performed by Big Sheep
(32:48) ‘The Voice’ performed by Ro Tierney (with Robbie, Mike & band)
(39:01) ‘I’ve Just Seen a Face’ performed by the Carrick Trio
(40:41) ‘Improv 1 (While it’s Over)’ performed by the Maybenots
(44:04) ‘Surf Rock’ performed by Mike’s Supergroup in Hungary
(45:00) ‘Raglin Demo’ performed by the Pilis Projekt
(46:08) ‘Ukrainian Waltz’ performed by the Strathcarnage Folk Trio**
(50:18) ‘Darker Tomato’ performed by Decaying Leather
(56:35) ‘You are my Sunshine’ performed by the Carrick Trio
(*source of band name linked to Viz’s lampooning of Victoria Beckham
**source of band name linked to The Day Today football results)
A few links to content connected to our conversation:
Mike on SoundCloud = https://soundcloud.com/mikeymandolin
Guy on SoundCloud = https://soundcloud.com/guyzeek
Ro Tierney and Robbie Mulvany perform ‘The Voice’ = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25fnNP-nIbU
Jude Edwin-Scott = https://judeedwinscott.com
The Coral = https://thecoral.co.uk
The Zutons = https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Zutons
Episode 22 of First Impressions features musician, adventurer, woodworker, long-distance cyclist and organic farmer Mike Teague. Growing up on the Wirral with classical musician parents, it wasn’t until he met a Slash lookalike at school and started listening to Guns n’ Roses and Nirvana that Mike discovered his love of guitar music and began performing in a succession of bands – entering the Liverpool music scene alongside The Coral and The Zutons. By resolutely refusing to plan his next move, a life of travel and adventure has followed. In this episode Mike, now qualified in environmental architecture, explains how he and his partner Aniko wound up building their own home on the Hungarian riviera before we travel back to his formative years and then on to Preston via a stint in a dysfunctional Commitments cover band and later Melbourne, where the mandolin became Mike’s instrument of choice. Next time, we talk about Mike, Guy and Karim’s musical hurrah in Liverpool, his time on the royal fiefdom of Sark, travels in Australasia and Africa, squatting in London, and going into the studio in Ireland. Special thanks to Jim/James Pollard, Mike’s unofficial music archivist (and an excellent musician in his own right) for helping source some of the tunes used in this episode. Here they are:
(00:00) ‘Petofi Pompe’ performed by Mike Teague
(32:35) ‘You really got me’ performed by the Cave Junkeez
(35:30) ‘Reggae Youth Club Anthem’ performed by Funky Didgerama
(36:45) ‘Afrobeatz’ performed by Funky Didgerama
(39:12) ‘Barryfish’ performed by The Weaverfish
(45:00) ‘Holdsworth Road Theme’ performed by Pool of Thought
(51:34) ‘Greek Song’ performed by the Maybenots
A few links connected to our conversation:
Mike on SoundCloud = @mikeymandolin
Guy on SoundCloud = @guyzeek
Steve Hall on SoundCloud = @steve-hall
The Coral = thecoral.co.uk
The Zutons = en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Zutons
Patrick Fermor (travel writer) = en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Leigh_Fermor
Bruce Chatwin (travel writer) = en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Chatwin
Rowland Keeble (on building with rammed earth) = www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcI1OiW4nDQ
The History of Rock Music in 500 songs = 500songs.com
Mary F*cking Poppins is a poet, performer, zine creator/publisher and musician based in Liverpool. In Episode 21 of First Impressions we talk about how she switched from writing lyrics as a member of fast hardcore/anarcho punk band Falaun to creating poetry during lockdown and the journey that followed, which now sees her producing the seminal Word Vomit zine – a regular collection of themed ‘therapeutic writing’ from local, national and international contributors that pushes back against societal norms and injustices, managing to be both personal and political.
Mary and I also discuss the Word Vomit open mic nights at Liverpool venue Round the Corner (Floor 1, 51 Kempton Street, Liverpool L3 8ET); her upcoming workshop at the Liverpool Anarchist Bookfair on Saturday 18th March (at The Black – E, 1 Great George Street, Liverpool L1 5EW) and a Word Vomit split album to be released on Bandcamp later this year. Inspirations cited include experimental novelist Kathy Acker and we also discuss Wirralian performance poet Jegsy Dodd, among other artists.
An unapologetically dyslexic writer, Mary explains how her writing journey began with Lumpen (‘a journal for poor and working class writers’) and Girrrl Guide (a zine she created in support of young girls going through their teenage years) before bringing us up to date with her plans for future collaborations. You can hear my guest read her poem ‘Cleaner’s Guilt’ at 00:00 and perform ‘Night Witches’ with Falaun at 34:39 in this episode. Cover art credits for Word Vomit: Rory da Silva and John Graham. Links to more of Mary’s work/recommended destinations below. Back with more podchat soon!
Word Vomit zine on Instagram = https://www.instagram.com/word.vomitzine/
Strictly Unprofessional Press = https://strictlyunprofessional.bigcartel.com
Word Vomit zine on Bandcamp = https://wordvomitzine.bandcamp.com
Falaun (band) on Bandcamp = https://falaun.bandcamp.com
Girrrl Guide zine = https://archive.org/details/GirrrlGuideZine./mode/1up
Girrl Guide podcast = https://www.spreaker.com/show/girrrl-guide-podcasts-show
Lumpen journal = https://www.theclassworkproject.com/product-page/issue-3-lumpen-in-the-time-of-corona
Round the Corner (Liverpool) = https://roundthecornerliverpool.co.uk
Anarchist Book Fair (Liverpool, 18th March) = https://www.liverpoolanarchistbookfair.org.uk
Kathy Acker = https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathy_Acker
Jegsy Dodd = https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jegsy_Dodd
D. Hunter’s ‘Tracksuits, Traumas and Class Traitors’ = https://www.theclassworkproject.com/product-page/tracksuits-traumas-and-class-traitors-by-d-hunter Martin Appleby = http://www.athinsliceofanxiety.com/2022/03/poetry-selections-from-martin-appleby.html
Scumbag Press = https://www.scumbagpress.co.uk
Daniel Schulz = https://thewildword.com/poetry-spirit-daniel-schulz/
Paper and Ink zine on Instagram = https://www.instagram.com/paperandinkzine/
Original Punkster on Instagram = https://www.instagram.com/originalpunkster11/
Here’s a 20-minute mini-pod to celebrate the launch of the audiobook of Hong Kong Rocks (Proverse, 2023). Google Play seems to be the best place to buy all 9hrs 48 mins of it (currently at a bargain £7.99) In Episode 20 of First Impressions you’ll find a few choice extracts from the audiobook plus an extended, remixed version of my intro/outro music for the book (‘Nick’s Theme’) that I put together from my usual toyshop of beats, samples and FX. Ears itching for more? You can get your mitts on the full audiobook via these outlets:
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Peter_Humphreys_Hong_Kong_Rocks?id=AQAAAEDCw1-DjMAudiobooks.com: https://www.audiobooks.com/audiobook/hong-kong-rocks/659700Barnes & Noble Audiobooks (NOOK): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hong-kong-rocks-peter-humphreys/1133992074Libro.FM: https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9789888833320BingeBooks: https://bingebooks.com/book/hong-kong-rocksStorytel: https://www.storytel.com/se/sv/books/3766852Chirp: https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobooks/hong-kong-rocks-by-peter-humphreys
Tell most people that devoted ‘zaddy’ and football fan Graham Howe is also renowned wit and retired raver Chin Howe, and they will probably say ‘Oh yeah? Jimmy Hill’ or ‘Chinny reck-on’, which (coincidentally or not) are both possible sources of my guest’s infamous nickname. In this Christmas-ish episode of First Impressions (shout out to Adam & Joe, Paul & Bob, and our other imitators) Chin/Graham and I also discuss meeting for the first time (possibly while each still in the womb), being the shyest n’ er do wells at school, growing up by the sea, our love of ‘90s comedy and clubbing and much else beside.
With a nod and a wink to the Monkey Scribbling podcast, we also examine two letters Chin sent to me from Manchester – one in 1996 (complete with Euro 96 clippings) when I was in Liverpool, and the other in 1997, posted to Milan, which features some racy cartoons and news of Chin’s almost-career as an airport baggage handler.
Best enjoyed through headphones, Episode 19 of First Impressions also includes a proper ravey mash-up at its midpoint (32:22), a rough cut of a brand new Decaying Leather tune (00:01) and an extract from my novel-in-progress Adrift (1:03:51). Also contains swearing, adult content and occasional impressions.
Episode 18 of First Impressions mixes the usual beats and tunes with some reflections on the passing of the years and outtakes from my previous podcast conversation with the much-missed Richard Pye, in which we discuss our school days and transition from the Wirral peninsula to the big city. My oldest friend, Graham (aka Chin) Howe, joins me in the summerhouse for the latter part of the episode where we read and reflect on a letter we received from Rich in Weißwasser, Germany, way back in 1996, when Rich was teaching over there and we were living in Salford, England. If you haven’t yet listened to The Monkey Scribbling podcast featuring Rich and me reading letters from our student days in the ‘90s why not give that a whirl? As ever, First Impressions is best enjoyed through headphones with your drink of choice. The photo chosen to publicise this episode shows Karl, Rich and Chin on a trip we took to Berlin in 2004. The intro to the pod features a singalong during an OMD concert in Manchester in 2019 (with my uncle on lead vocals).
See me reading ‘The Legend of Scrimshand’ at Speak Easy open mic night in Chortlon on 6/10/22 here.
Being interviewed and on Andy N’s Spoken Label podcast here.
Reading on Andy N’s Spoken Label podcast here.
Sharing work on Andy & Amanda’s Storytime podcast here.
For Episode 17 of First Impressions we go off-script as the usual Q&A format is replaced by experimental tunes, found sounds, field recordings, and an introduction to the music of Disco Tree from band members Jude Edwin-Scott and George Beasley (who’ve kindly allowed me to include their wonderfully uplifting folk/triphop track ‘Waves’ in this episode).
You’ll recognise a few familiar voices from previous episodes in the mix (not all of them human) while cameos come from members of the Peaky Blinders cast who – despite their fearsome reputation – have agreed to advertise my upcoming appearance at Speak Easy in Chorlton, Manchester this Thursday, 7 July.
Among the new musical arrangements I’ve put together for this episode are sentimental tributes to Casio’s calculator watch and Word’s ‘read aloud’ feature. Who says romance is dead in 2022? As ever, and especially for this summery sonic spectacular, First Impressions is best enjoyed through headphones. The featured artwork is from Mauro Koliva, photographed at MOMA in Buenos Aires. Find more Disco Tree tunes on SoundCloud here.
How can a few words on a page or read aloud affect us so profoundly? What compels poets to share their inner worlds? Time to renew your poetic license ready to enjoy the second of two special poetry-themed episodes of the First Impressions podcast, available on Spotify, SoundCloud, iTunes et al.
For Episode 16, I’m joined by poets Adrian Slatcher (from 04:37), Mike Humphreys (41:41) and Eoghan Walls (01:03:28) who share their work and talk about the craft of poetry, their numerous and diverse influences, ethical dilemmas, nature vs. ‘pylon’ poets, the merits of zines, mags and pamphlets, publishing trends, and what makes poetry such an enduring form of expression despite (or because of) its lack of commercial clout.
There is also music from Bonbon Experiment and Decaying Leather, plus news of Nb. – an exciting new zine based on Wyndham Lewis’ BLAST – and of an upcoming novel from Eoghan that bloomed from poetic roots.
Poems featured in this episode:
A bridge used to be there, someone recalled by Serhiy Zhadan (00:00:01)
Role Models in Middle Age by Adrian Slatcher (00:05:16)
Chrysanthemums by Adrian Slatcher (00:21:03)
The Catastrophe by Adrian Slatcher (00:25:51)
Toy Soldiers by Peter Humphreys (00:40:58)
Digging Holes by Mike Humphreys (00:48:34)
It’ll Never Go Dark Tonight by Mike Humphreys (00:51:15)
Little Robert by Mike Humphreys (00:53:48)
Snow by Mike Humphreys (00:56:15)
Bird on the Shore, Culzean by Mike Humphreys (00:58:15)
What are you going to do? by Peter Humphreys (01:02:30)
Insomnia and the Wolfman by Eoghan Walls (01:13:02)
Elsa Says No by Eoghan Walls (01:16:42)
Elsa on the Cough by Eoghan Walls (01:20:57)
Links to some of my guests’ publications & projects (& other sites of interest):
Adrian Slatcher
Eoghan Walls
Eoghan on Twitter
Nb. zine on Twitter
Bonbon Experiment
Some Roast Poet
More on Serhiy Zhadan
Poets for Ukraine readings, 27 March 2022
Creative Writing at Lancaster University
Manchester Poetry Library
Carcanet Press:
More on Blast! and the Vorticist Movement
Put away your preconceptions, open your ears, plug in your headphones, and get ready for the first of two poetry-themed episode of the podcast. To established poet Jacqueline Saphra, a driving force behind the fundraising project Poets for Ukraine, poetry is a form of prayer; moreover ‘poems can’t lie’. Jacqueline recalls Russian poet Anna Akhmatova (18:15) and reads Sonnet 56 from her ‘One Hundred Lockdown Sonnets’ (21:18).
My second guest, the Manchester-based poet Lisa O’Hare, took a chance on poetry after leaving the workplace and her enthusiasm and talent took her to unexpected heights during lockdown where the irreverent and insightful poems she shared on Instagram connected with followers far and wide. Lisa reads ‘When I met Poetry’ (32:23), ‘Identity’ (39:07) and ‘A Positive Poem’ (45:50); the latter two having also been broadcast on BBC Manchester. Lisa and I also discuss the poetry workshops she is running and the influence of Kae Tempest and others.
My third guest, Andy N, is a prolific poet and musician whose poems feature in the anthologies ‘Rainbows in a Jar’ and ‘neurodiVERSE’. We discuss the Speak Easy spoken word event he helps organise, writing about dyslexia and dyspraxia, and his experiences in Brazil as a young man. Andy reads ‘Between then and now: A life before and after the discovery of dyspraxia ‘ (58:37), ‘Ghosts into Negatives: Dreams of Brazil, 1995’ (1:02:37) and the flash fiction piece ‘Mannequin and Chips’ (1:07:30). Music from Andy’s ambient music project Ocean in a Bottle is also featured. He hosts the Spoken Label podcast.
My final guest this time round is poet and flash fiction specialist Amanda Nicholson who hosts the long-running podcast Reading in Bed, and regularly broadcasts and runs writing workshops with husband, Andy N. Amanda reads her flash fiction piece ‘Revenge of the Mannequin’ (1:20:29) and the poems ‘Seagulls of the Gym’ (1:25:48) and ‘Vultures of the Gym’ (1:28:26). Amanda’s darkly humorous work has also appeared on BBC Manchester and her poetry collections ‘Pieces of Me’ and ‘Love, Dates and Other Nightmares’ and novel ‘Ghost of Me’ are available to buy.
A huge thanks to my guests for taking part, and to you for listening. Do give the podcast a rating/some stars/a nice review if you’re enjoying it, it really helps spread the word.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EPISODE BEGINS WITH A SPOOKY SKETCH THAT CONTAINS A SINGLE SWEAR. AFTER THAT, THE LANGUAGE IS PURE POETRY – HONEST
Poets for Ukraine https://www.facebook.com/PoetsForUkraine
JW3 (venue for Sunday’s Poets for Ukraine event) https://www.jw3.org.uk/whats-on/poets-ukraine-gala#
Hope and Aid (for Ukraine) https://www.gofundme.com/f/poets-hope-and-aid
Goods for Good (for Ukraine) https://www.gofundme.com/f/poets-goods-for-good
Jacqueline Saphra’s website https://jacquelinesaphra.wordpress.com
Lockdown Life: A Rollercoaster of Emotions by Lisa O’Hare https://masterhousepublishing.com/shop/ols/products/lockdown-life-a-rollercoaster-of-emotions-paperback-lisa-ohare
Lisa O’Hare’s website https://lisaoharewriter.com
Verbose at the King’s Arm in Salford https://www.facebook.com/VerboseMcr/
Speak Easy at Dulcimer in Chorlton https://www.facebook.com/groups/31201313119/
NeurodiVERSE anthology (featuring Andy N) https://flapjackpress.co.uk/shop/neurodiverse
BBC Upload opportunity https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3MPFWlx0dyTF9ZqQ6ljycgD/about
Andy N’s readings on Bandcamp https://andyn.bandcamp.com
Spoken Label podcast https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/spoken-label-andy-n-Qw1i5NKg6_Z/
Reading in Bed podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/reading-in-bed/id1501554795
Amanda’s website (as Amanda Steel) https://amandasteelwriter.wordpress.com/amanda-steel-copywriting-ghostwriting-blurbs-proofreading-editing/
In this one-off preview episode of First Impressions – ahead of two poetry-themed episodes of the podcast – I speak to London-based poet Jacqueline Saphra about Poets for Ukraine, a fundraising/awareness-raising/spirit-raising project for which she is a driving force. This Sunday (27th March 2022), Poets for Ukraine will be running ‘a hybrid gala event’ at London’s JW3 featuring an international array of poets, which will also be available to view online. As well as discussing how Poets for Ukraine came about, and its aims, Jacqueline talks about the role poetry can play in a fractured world, recalls the powerful words of Russian poet Anna Akhmatova, and shares a sonnet from her acclaimed collection ‘One Hundred Lockdown Sonnets’ (Nine Arches Press, 2021).
Jacqueline is a long-established poet and campaigner whose 2017 collection, ‘All My Mad Mothers’, was shortlisted for the TS Eliot prize. Along with their Facebook page, you can find links to the organisations Poets for Ukraine are supporting below (Goods for Good & Hope and Aid Direct); to JW3 in London who are hosting the night (where you can pledge and get tickets or a link); to the projects partners that are giving their backing to it, and to Jacqueline’s own website. Please take a look and support this great cause if you can.
https://www.facebook.com/PoetsForUkraine
https://www.jw3.org.uk/whats-on/poets-ukraine-gala#
https://www.gofundme.com/f/poets-hope-and-aid
https://www.gofundme.com/f/poets-goods-for-good
https://poetryschool.com
https://poetrysociety.org.uk
https://www2.societyofauthors.org
https://jacquelinesaphra.wordpress.com
Literature helped the New York-based writer and academic Douglas Berman escape from his troubled early years but he struggled to find the confidence to write. Success as a teacher and lawyer waylaid him further but now – helped by his extensive reading and dazzling wordsmithery – he is fully focused on poetry and prose, and the pandemic diary that has helped him stay on track over the last couple of years. In Episode 14 of First Impressions, which kicks off Season 2, we learn about Doug's writing life; some inspiring authors who ducked the limelight; the home invasion that led to him writing a short story now being translated into Japanese; how writing workshops and a book group formed in Hong Kong renewed his vigour; the advantages of taking the New York subway, and much else besides. Doug shares his writing advice and reads extracts from his diary throughout the show, seasoning his insights and meditations with poetry from Allen Ginsberg and Frank O’Hara. There is also jazz from Miles Davis and Django Reinhardt to heighten your listening pleasure still further. Rarely short of wit and wisdom, Doug concludes our chat by improvising a Christmas message for Boris Johnson and sharing his new year's resolution for 2022.
Well, I couldn’t stay away from podcasting until 2022 after all – the temptation to share a live recording of our literary event Mancaster Rocks was just too great. Why? Because this was the first opportunity in a couple of years to read on stage with my writing allies and for a supportive audience to mainline some offline literary performances supplemented with audio-visual invention.
The readers you will hear in Episode 13 of First Impressions are Penguin-published writer Maria Roberts, short story specialist and creative writing teacher Zoe Lambert, prize-winning poet Eoghan Walls, who teaches with Zoe, and me; the artists who shared their visions on the night are Garth Simmons and Ana Rebolledo. Mancaster Rocks took place at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation on the 20th October 2021.
My thanks to the organisers there and to the exceptional writers and artists you are about to join for making it happen. It was so great to share our better-known work alongside more recent output, in my case an extract from the BBC National Short Story Award-longlisted tale ‘Justice’.
Go on, have a nibble on Episode 12 of First Impressions, boldly entitled Humour Burger. It’s your last serving for a while and features an array of experimental dishes to suit all tastes, particularly if you like your comedy medium rare (i.e. weird and wonderful). Most sketches are 2-3 minutes long so you can either listen in bite-sized chunks or dive straight into the tangy homemade relish and see what happens.
Best listened to through headphones, you’ll hear some familiar voices from previous episodes throughout the pod among tall tales involving indie pop reunions, murderous soft toys, and psychogeography, plus candid confessions that incorporate online dating, hoarding, and Will Self. There’s also a Pete n’ Dud reunion, an exclusive Batson Bargreaves interview, and much more. Consult the contents list below if you wish to avoid (or listen exclusively to) the more explicit fare [E]. As you’d expect, this episode is also full-to-bursting of original and classic comedy-appropriate music. Stay subscribed ready for Season 2 of First Impressions due in early 2022. If you’d like to be a guest on the new series, let me know. Thanks for listening!
Chez Longue (0:00) / Cutesy Bear (4:00) [E] / Memes (7:08) [E] / Psychogeography, 1/2 (08:43) / Bunged up (15:27) [E] / Gold (17:20) / Pete and Dud (18:02) / Walter and Estelle 1/3 (22:20) / Monkey Scribbling advert (22:43) / Dicks by Eoghan Walls (25:49) [E] / How to make a Million, 1/2 (26:50) / Oriental Rug Cleaning (28:42) / Action Man Doll (29:18) [E] / Walter and Estelle 2/3 (31:37) / Batson Bargreaves interview (32:15) [E] / Sponsorship (35:55) [E] / How to make a Million, 2/2 (38:30) [E] / Same-namers, 1/2 (41:27) [E] / Walter and Estelle, 3/3 (46:53) / The Hoarder (47:34) / Psychogeography, 2/2 (50:42) [E] / Same-namers, 2/2 (56:53).
Episode 12 writers/performers: Peter Humphreys, Garth Simmons, Mike Humphreys, Eoghan Walls, Maria Roberts, Richard Pye
Garth appears in the seminal podcast Semi, brought to you by Slanderhour.
Garth’s collection of stories, Hole Punch, is out soon in paperback.
Find out more about Eoghan’s poetry collection, Pigeon Songs, here.
Maria’s Penguin-published paperback Single Mother on the Verge continues to win new fans. Read about it here.
Richard appears on the humorous ‘90s letter-reading podcast, Monkey Scribbling.
My novel Hong Kong Rocks is available in the usual places.
Check social media (@theworddiver on Instagram) for news of the Mancaster Rocks reading event on Weds 20 October at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation in Manchester.
王和平 PEACE WONG describes her music as dreamy, intimate, and atmospheric but like her influences Patti Smith and Leonard Cohen, Peace’s journey incorporates both music and writing; she also expresses her inner thoughts and feelings through spontaneous doodles – all merge into a unique artistic vision. Peace has moved from Hong Kong to Hualien, Taiwan, to study Creative Writing but this has not stopped her collaborating with video artists and hip-hop musicians near and far throughout the pandemic, as you will discover. We discuss the artistic process; linear vs. non-linear writing styles; dealing with the guilt of not producing/absorbing as prodigiously as planned; learning about life from older creatives, her book recommendations and much else besides. Peace’s debut album, About a Stalker, is available for your enjoyment on YouTube. More links to Peace’s highly original musical and literary endeavours are included below, along with the diverse range of artists who have inspired her.
Songs from Peace in this episode: 畏首畏尾 (fearful) (0:00), the core; the cure (10:23), 羊皮筏子 (15:03), disposable lover (16:00), Phantom Muyu Pt. 1 (18:15), 離開你以後我指甲都不用剪_leaving you i no need cut my nails (22:26), about a stalker (34:36), Step by step (38:40), 虎頭蛇尾 (39:53) // Song from Little Albert: Lazy Bao (27:47) // Song from Mitski: I Bet on Losing Dogs (42:17).
PEACE’s music on SoundCloud
PEACE’s music on bandcamp
PEACE’s poems
PEACE’s website
PEACE - About a Stalker (full album) 王和平 - 路人崇拜 (全專輯）
王和平 / 離開你以後我指甲都不用剪leaving you i no need cut my nails
Disposable Lover 暖完即棄 / 王和平 PEACE
PEACE on Spotify
Phantom Muyu Pt. 1 (audio-visual jam from Peace Wong, Wong Chun-hoi, Yung Tsz-hong)
Little Albert (Hong Kong hip-hop artist)
Logo (Hong Kong band)
Mitski (Japanese-North American singer-songwriter) NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
The Human Voice (trailer) - Pedro Almodóvar short film
'Beginners' by Raymond Carver
'Year of the Monkey' by Patti Smith
'Flights' by Olga Tokarczuk
'Beautiful Losers' by Leonard Cohen
This midsummer, what better company for Episode 10 of First Impressions than singer-songwriter and visual artist Jude Edwin-Scott? Jude’s work encompasses being at one with nature while never shying from the social issues at play in a world sharing the same heartbeat yet torn apart by social injustice. His highly original songbook is punctuated by traditional folk songs which he reinterprets with careful consideration of the original lyricists as they speak of worker repression and mining disasters, just as Jude documents in compelling words and melodies the fate of those subject to township living in South Africa, thrown to the wind as refugees or forced to relocate after being failed by the UK government in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire.
We also cover growing up in a musical family in rural Cheshire where Jude’s dad Geoff wrote thought-provoking plays and music, and he played and collaborated with brother Tom, mum Juliet and sister Tess as well. Tom’s former band Fish Pie share an appropriately funky song here. There is also a heavy metal sojourn courtesy of Jude’s revived band Hidden by Trees, a paean to The Raven Folk Club in Chester (now online and offering lockdown solace), and generous excerpts from Jude’s forthcoming EP Inequality Blues, which is available to pre-order on Bandcamp now and released across platforms on Friday 25th June.
The songs - Jude Edwin-Scott: Inequality Blues (1:24 and 34:34), Tell My Heart (6:51), Love Your Neighbour (8:28), Seagulls and Crows (14:28), Charlie’s Blues (19:37), Rambling Rose (29:20), Over the Banks (32:20), Little Princes (36:40), William Brown (41:20), The Gresford Mining Disaster (43:16) and Spinning Gold (52:45) // Tom Edwin-Scott/Jude Edwin-Scott: Crazy Days (10:50) and Shackleton’s Chair (45:46) // Fish Pie: Bad Karma (12:15) // Hidden by Trees: Good Mountain (26:55).
The links -
Jude Edwin-Scott – Inequality Blues EP (pre-order on Bandcamp)
Jude’s YouTube channel
Tom and Jude performing on stage together (London, 2016)
Hidden by Trees – Good Mountain (video with lyrics)
The Big Rock Room (heavy metal covers)
The Raven Folk Club
Moon Guitars
Underland by Robert Macfarlane (a ‘long-term exploration of landscape and the human heart’)
Mixtape: a word that's music to the ears of anyone of a certain vintage and only a TDK90 in a cushioned envelope away from impressing those of all ages. Episode 9 of the First Impressions podcast pays tribute to audio old and new by ramming fresh tunage, brain-teasing readings and giddy comedy into your lugholes in a way that will leave you feeling like Russell Crowe after his bar brawl experience with an angular koala (see the same-namers sketch midway through).
Far from a solo project, music this time comes from Venom Debonair and Decaying Leather (listen out for the alarming Joan as Policewoman cover) and spoken word from the pens of Bob Dylan, Frank O'Hara and Flannery O'Connor. Impressions animate Bennett, Bowie, Bragg, Caine, Danny the dealer, Lennon and others this time round, even as they recoil from my affectionate embrace. Enjoy!
Venom Debonair tunes: The Best Years (05:22), Until (14:48) and Harm (29:16).
Decaying Leather tunes: Rainfall (12:50), Darker Tomato (18:07). Warning Bell (28:14) and A Slice of Frozen Pineapple (36:44), plus synth accompaniment to Pale Rage.
Comedy: Report on same-namer community with Melvyn Bragg NotThatOne (22:55) and bass tuition with Danny the dealer (31:50).
Readings: A True Account of Talking to the Sun at Fire Island by Frank O’Hara (09:00); extract from Tarantula by Bob Dylan (21:05) and from Wise Blood by Flannery O’Connor (33:45); Word Diver poems: Pink Fish (13:58) and Pale Rage (30:16).
Venom Debonair on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/venomdebonair/
Decaying Leather on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/decaying-leather
Hole Punch by Garth Simmons (Kindle edition): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hole-Punch-Garth-Simmons-ebook/dp/B08JLYC65H
slanderhour and Semi (with Garth, Mark Simpson, and Jim-John Harkness) on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7rePqYwiNCdTbayxJAiwwq
Strap yourselves in for a rollicking ride through the imagination of Manchester-based writer and artist Garth Simmons in Episode 8 of First Impressions as he introduces us to his highly original short story collection, Hole Punch.
As well as being a master of the dark arts when it comes to fiction – his tales first began to hypnotise readers as social media posts dreamt up while he was temping – Garth is also a prolific podcaster. Like his genre-corrupting writing, his collaborative podcasts slanderhour and Semi (find them on Spotify, iTunes and elsewhere) do their best to defy description. What’s clear is that they share the same humorous elements and risk-taking mindset that illuminate Garth’s literary output and recall Chris Morris’ Blue Jam, which we discuss during our conversation. Links below to other subjects we take a pop at. The stories you will hear from Garth during our conversation are Wheelchair (0:00), The Man About Town (13:33), Drowned Oil Sick (20:44), Food (30:28), Atheism (35:03), Smear (37:07), Retirement (40:07) and The Man They All Respected (51:08).
As ever, Episode 8 is best listened to through decent headphones so you don’t miss a word/beat. Accompanying images are by Garth.
Hole Punch (Kindle edition) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hole-Punch-Garth-Simmons-ebook/dp/B08JLYC65H
Hole Punch on Good Reads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55442661-hole-punch
Hole Punch review in dytopic.co.uk https://www.dystopic.co.uk/hole-punch-by-garth-simmons-novel-review/
Garth reading ‘Pigs’ for Reform Radio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlGYMsMdfCw
slanderhour and Semi (with Garth, Mark Simpson, and Jim-John Harkness) on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7rePqYwiNCdTbayxJAiwwq
True Blood by Flannery O’Connor https://uk.bookshop.org/books/wise-blood/9780571241309
Chris Morris’ Blue Jam https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUePblNU860&list=PLF9818396FA36E90E
Episode 7 of First Impressions features the writer and musical maven Gareth Stevens. Based in Saint Leonards on the sunny south coast of the UK, Gareth writes for Hastings Independent Press and in 2019 covered both the increasingly violent protests in Hong Kong (8:36) and climate justice in Mozambique (17:00) for Perfect Bound magazine. He is also a skilled conga player and drummer who has played with some of the best in the business, here and in Hong Kong (where he was part of Banda Orbita). Gareth’s son is the drum and bass maestro Workforce, half of duo SpectraSoul, and host of the Must Make podcast. In the rich musical accompaniment to the pod, you will hear Workforce (37:45), the Mozambiquan hip-hop artist Azagaia (24:00), some delectable Kora music from Ali Farka Touré and Toumani Diabaté (39:18), and Latin jazz from Gareth’s former bandmate Alonso Gonzalez (33:57). All this and we haven’t even mentioned the ‘Frank Off’ that forms the middle section of the show between myself and another Frank Spencer impersonator (25:55), nor the extract from Look Twice Down Ladder Street (15:52), my crime yarn set in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, which was published as part of the Hong Kong Gothic anthology in 2014. Gareth also provides his book recommendations (43:00), an introduction to transcendental meditation (40:30) and relays encounters with the great and good ranging from Motorhead to Tony Adams. Pour yourself a glass of something nice, and enjoy!
Gareth’s writing in the Hastings Independent Press:
https://www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/?s=Gareth+stevens
Gareth performing with Banda Orbita in Hong Kong
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyTU3AoouEw&t=34s
Richard Avedon (photographer)
https://www.avedonfoundation.org/the-work
Nicola Longobardi (photographer)
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Nicola-Longobardi-Photography-472784846432249/posts/
Hong Kong Gothic (fiction anthology)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hong-Kong-Gothic-Edmund-Price-ebook/dp/B00Q9F6U8G
Justicia Ambiental (organisation campaigning for climate justice)
https://www.foei.org/member-groups/africa-2/mozambique
Mauro Pinto (photographer)
https://www.afronova.com/artists/mauro-pinto-2/
Gonçalo Mabunda (sculptor)
https://www.artsy.net/artist/goncalo-mabunda
Azagaia (hip-hop artist)
https://www.dw.com/en/azagaia-the-undisputed-hero-of-mozambican-hip-hop/av-52016880
Alonso Gonzalez (Latin jazz)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE4OyMkGqMo
Workforce (drum and bass artist)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2PnBnx6BVQ
Must Make (podcast)
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkGGLJixmLLnUKzxqcN8tDQ
Maya Angelou (poet)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqOqo50LSZ0
Frank Spencer (comedic creation)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFLpwRMS00g
Happy New Year!! From Frankfurt Airport to Frank Spencer via Argentine author Mariana Enriquez, Emily Dickinson and The Dead Letters, Episode 6 of the pod was recorded in Buenos Aires and Cipolletti, Patagonia, in December 2020 and January 2021, and features further chats with my wife Ana Rebodello (see Episode 3) and brother Guy Humphreys (see Episode 2). There are also special guest appearances from mother and daughter schnauzers Luna and Karula and quieter inputs from executive producer Lucy Lu the cat. First off, artist, animator, editor and teacher Ana introduces the fantastical world of Mariana Enriquez. Later, multi-instrumentalist Guy covers his days with Cumbrian band The Dead Letters (Kendal Calling, Dry Bar), production/tuition tips and why it’s never a good idea to take your guitar to a party. Music this time round comes from The Dead Letters (line-up: Trevor Shepherd, Richard Wilson, Guy Humphreys), Guy himself, and our family band Decaying Leather. Please listen through headphones for the best possible audio experience.
Here’s the link to the conversation between Mariana Enriquez and M John Harrison mentioned in my conversation with Ana:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svTwEkpWf5U
More music from Dead Letters frontman Trevor Shepherd is available on deezer and Spotify via these links:
https://www.deezer.com/en/album/88021622?utm_campaign=messenger-message&utm_source=user_sharing&utm_medium=mobile&utm_content=album-88021622
https://open.spotify.com/album/6PKC5HhtYTzspv0lM1aQjU?fbclid=IwAR1vMcPrOUfErqjiAXwn_5AsEmhYFirTTIxlEjo7HHLANi4pkg1C3LLb_v0
This bumper episode of the pod is dedicated to friendship and features a chat with Peter’s lifelong pal Richard Pye. They talk about meeting at an all-boys school in the late ‘80s (2:00); helping organise the Wirral’s answer to Woodstock, ‘The Rut’ (8:30); Manchester before the skyscrapers (16:20), and Rich’s time as a getaway driver for the German FA during Euro ’96 (27:14). Poems this week are ‘Massacre at the Chorlton Poetry Festival, 2008’ (20:28) and ‘Quick, Save’ (26:05), based on a fleeting observation made at the now-defunct supermarket. There’s also a short story, ‘The Chatterbox’ (56:13), near the end of the show, along with Rich’s book recommendations for lockdown reading (52:14). Special thanks to estranged bandmates Matt O’K (keys/writing credit) and Pat R (guitar) who appear on the teenage dance anthem you’ll hear around seven minutes in. We've all had to be a bit reclusive this year - hopefully this conversation will remind you of meandering chats with your own mates. It's good to talk!
Curious about what it takes to be a writer? Manchester author Maria Roberts has come a long way since having her mouth sellotaped shut at school. Specialising in creative non-fiction she’s never waited for permission to express herself, and after writing a successful column for Manchester’s seminal City Life magazine, then setting up an equally frank and funny blog, was rewarded by a deal with Penguin for her first book, Single Mother on the Verge. Proud mum to Patrick, Maria has been censored and censured along the way, but as you’ll hear from this interview she hasn’t lost her infectious humour or willingness to spin a yarn. This episode ends with a poetic gripe about the writing biz on which we rely, and which relies on us – well, especially on kick-ass authors like Maria who connect with their readers on multiple levels. More from her soon!
Disclaimer: this explosive episode of the pod was recorded on bonfire night – perhaps the most stupid idea in the history of podcasting – so do warn any pets that might be listening.
First Impressions blends storytelling, humour, interviews, music and more. It's a bit all over the place, but then so is its creator, award-winning writer and editor Peter Humphreys. He claims the aim of the podcast is ‘to accentuate the positive and spread a little mirth during these difficult times, with an emphasis on the arts and all things literary’, but it could just as easily be a case of bandwagon jumping in the name of shameless self-promotion. It wouldn’t be the first time…
First impressions count – third time lucky? Join professional writer/editor and amateur impressionist Peter Humphreys for another surreal slice of literary cheesecake. Episode Three is all about time (about time!) and contains an appearance from ‘Big Al’ (AKA playwright Alan Bennett) who has been roped into promoting Lancaster’s premier supplier of digital watches. There are also snippets of conversation with Peter’s wife Anita, during which the couple discuss their lengthy separation due to Covid/visa issues. Readings include Julio Cortazar’s ‘Instructions on How to Wind a Watch’; Peter’s poems ‘The Time is Gone’ and ‘Civil Obedience’, and an extract from his third novel, ‘Oblivious’.
First impressions count – how about second? Join professional writer/editor and amateur impressionist Peter Humphreys for another surreal slice of literary cheesecake. Episode two contains The Legend of Scrimshand, a short story about a prolific (and deeply unpopular) writer & part one of a conversation with guitar teacher and multi-instrumentalist Guy Humphreys, backed by music from the Humphreys' family band Decaying Leather and Wirral-rooted supergroup Cool Cheese. The brothers' uncle's band, OMD, is cited as both a source of inspiration, and of some of the borrowed equipment on which they learnt to get funky.
Join professional writer/editor and amateur impressionist Peter Humphreys for a surreal slice of literary cheesecake. Peter reads from the start of his novel Hong Kong Rocks and shares a series of Covid lockdown-inspired poems/stories backed by beats and FX. Humour meets bathos, pathos, Aramis and Lynx for men (and women). Guests are promised for future episodes, but will they tear up their contracts after hearing Peter's Frank Spencer impression?