So the Sealyman Maestro dropped by and mentioned he was awaiting a CD (ask your father!) by Penny Arcade so I had to check them out. There is a fair bit on YouTube which I REALLY LIKED some from 2024 and more recently so this recent effort is for The Sealyman!
PENNY ARCADE - Everything’s Easy
Mar 2026
"Everything's Easy" is the second single from the upcoming Penny Arcade album "Double Exposure". Album preorder available via https://orcd.co/pennyarcade
We mentioned Andy Fairweather-Low the other day with his Amen Corner big hit ‘ If Paradise (Was Half As Nice) and I said he had gone on to be a jobbing journeyman guitarist and back up singer for a huge range of folk and especially showing up in live tributes and fund raisers as in hear
"Take Me To The River" - featuring Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Charlie Watts, Andy Fairweather Low and Ray Cooper - live at the ARMS Concert (1983)
Experience the haunting, atmospheric power of R.E.M. as they perform their classic hit "Drive" in a rare and intimate television appearance.
This performance was recorded on March 13, 2008, at the KLRU-TV studios in Austin, Texas, for the legendary PBS series Austin City Limits. Taped during the week of the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival, the concert served as a high-energy preview of their fourteenth studio album, Accelerate. While the set was packed with new, fast-paced rockers, this rendition of "Drive" provided a somber, mid-tempo highlight that showcased the band’s legendary dynamic range.
🎸 The Story Behind the Song"Drive" was the lead single from R.E.M.’s landmark 1992 album, Automatic for the People, an record that defined the somber, acoustic-driven sound of the early 90s.
The "Rock On" Homage: The song’s famous refrain, "Hey kids, rock and roll," was a direct tribute to David Essex's 1973 hit "Rock On.” (sic?) However, Michael Stipe transformed the phrase into something far more cynical and political, reflecting the "Bush-whacked" era of the early 1990s.
A Song Without a Chorus: Musically, "Drive" is a rarity in pop history—a Top 40 hit that lacks a traditional chorus. It relies instead on a relentless, building tension and a stark, folk-inspired arrangement.
The Transition: While the studio version is famous for its swelling John Paul Jones string arrangement, the live 2008 version emphasizes the interplay between Peter Buck’s electric guitar and the steady, driving rhythm that gives the song its title.
✨ Musical Highlights
Vocal Mastery: In this 2008 taping, Michael Stipe delivers a powerhouse vocal performance. By this stage of the band's career, Stipe had mastered the art of live improvisation, adding a seasoned grit to the lyrics while maintaining the song's eerie, hypnotic allure.
Peter Buck’s Guitar Work: Watch for the mid-song solo where Peter Buck’s signature Rickenbacker jangle takes a backseat to a heavier, more distorted tone. This specific tour was characterized by a "return to rock," and even the band's older hits were infused with a new, aggressive energy.
The Tightest Lineup: Along with core members Stipe, Buck, and Mike Mills, this performance features the exceptional backing of longtime auxiliary members Scott McCaughey and drummer Bill Rieflin, creating a wall of sound that perfectly fills the historic ACL stage.
🏛️ About Austin City Limits 2008
R.E.M.’s appearance on Austin City Limits was a major event, marking the first time the band had ever performed on the longest-running music program in television history. The episode originally aired in May 2008 (Season 34, Episode 4) and was later released in its entirety as the live DVD Live from Austin, TX. This performance is widely regarded by fans as one of the band's best filmed sets from their final years, capturing them in a city that had championed their music since their early days on the college rock circuit.
Subscribe for more legendary live performances and deep dives into the history of R.E.M. and the icons of alternative rock!
Ever one for pushing the boundaries of what was acceptable in terms of the portrayal of women in pop (popular music) Cosey was ever the radical and yet central to the band’s image
Classic garage rock (sic?) from Greenwood, Miss. I thought I’d posted this but it turns out I’d posted the Outrageous Cherry’s fantastic cover.
well let’s see shall we?
The Outrageous Cherry’s - I Wonder
[Outrageous Cherry was an American psychedelic pop / power pop and punk band from Detroit, Michigan, United States.
Outrageous Cherry formed in 1991, and soon expanded to a four-piece after performing live in 1993. The group has released 13 albums, including 2014's The Digital Age.
Larry Ray, the band's guitarist, died at the age of 63 from lung cancer on October 24, 2017.]
