Would love to see Olivia.  Never heard of the Kimberley's so checked that video out.  It's amazing, and beautifully played but (I thought) really strangely sung/paced.

Off for a week in Cornwall with the sisters-in-law, which will include Julian Clary, Richard Trethewey (local musician) and the mighty Ian Prowse.

Yes, I actually like the cover. It is, and is surely intended to be, funny.

Two gigs this week. On Wednesday, the Sound of Springsteen at the Grand in Blackpool. Very enjoyable tribute band who caught the spirit of the Boss very well.

And then last night RT at Aviva International in Manchester. As all the reviews have said, he and the band are on great form. Very good mix of classics, rare old stuff, new material and a few surprises. Oh and no VBL but we did get Dimming of the Day in its place.

I haven't seen RT live since the 90s,  but  '1952 Vincent...' got far too many radio plays for my liking. I don't care if I never hear it again. 'Beeswing' is another matter.  I bought Mirror Blue blue vinyl reissue  and that track is a highlight for me.

A busy few days of gigs coming up.  Richard Thompson in Portsmouth, then Olivia Chaney and the Kimberleys in London.  If the latter are unfamiliar, then have a look at their amazingly inventive video of ‘Tam Lin'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h-NHeWHr6c

First spin via download on my commute home. Physical copy coming tomorrow. Musically it grabbed me more so than most of his recent efforts (with exceptions of course). Need to come to grips with it but I’d say 7.5 out of 10. I think the last true 10 was Mock Tudor, with Dream Attic just behind.

PS-I don’t utterly hate the cover. Deliberately cheesy I’d say!

Just giving it a first spin and I sort of agree with you. It will of course need several plays to really settle in and there are obviously some good songs here but it does feel as though RT's 21st century output has become a bit generic. The last albums I really connected with were Mock Tudor and The Old Kit Bag, though Dream Attic was conceptually interesting and Sweet Warrior & Still had moments.

It is at least less disappointing than the new Crowded House album wherein Neil Finn continues the struggle to write a memorable melody which has been ongoing since his third solo album (after writing dozens of them in the preceding 20 years).

Artimus Pyle Band - July 9, The Haute (pronounced "Hot") Spot, Cedar Park.

He was Lynyrd Skynyrd's third drummer, after Rickey Medlocke (early 1970s) and Bob Burns (drummer on "Pronounced" and "Second Helping"). Artimus played on "Nuthin' Fancy," "Gimme Back My Bullets," "One More From the Road" and "Street Survivors." He survived the plane crash in 1977, and joined the band for the Tribute Tour, which I saw at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado, August 1988. By his account, he was *drummed* out of the band by Ronnie Van Zant's widow, reuniting only for the Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame induction. In a recent interview, he complained that the succession of LS replacement drummers don't play his parts properly. He's not shy.

He expresses pride in the quality of his current band, which plays mostly Skynyrd and some originals. I might check this out, especially because prices are very reasonable.

Just announced - Ray LaMontagne at ACL Live September 19! Must buy tickets next week.

Squeeze/Boy George at the Moody Amphitheater, August 27. Must buy tickets soon.