Author Archives: John S

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About John S

I'm blogging about the things I love: music, sport, culture, London, with some photos to illustrate aspects of our wonderful city. I’ve written a novel called “The Decision”, a futuristic political thriller, and first of a trilogy. I’m also the author of a book on music since the 1970s called “ I Was There - A Musical Journey” and a volume of poetry about youth, “Growin’ Up - Snapshots/ Fragments”. All available on Amazon and Kindle.

Sportsthoughts (146) – Two great days of sport: Cheltenham, Chelsea v West Ham and England’s Grand Slam

Posted on March 22, 2016 by John S

Yes, two great days of sports viewing, with a decent amount of beer and wine drinking thrown in! Sometimes it just has to be done… On Friday, just gone, I took the day off work, with a few friends, to … Continue reading →

Posted in London, Sportsthoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

My Top Twenty – Scottish pop tunes!

Posted on March 16, 2016 by John S

This one got sparked off by a recent discussion at work about SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon’s choices on Desert Island Discs. Mostly Scottish, but that turned out to be quite wide-ranging, many not exactly Scottish. It got me thinking about … Continue reading →

Posted in Music - concerts, lists, reflections, Music - Top Tens | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

From Bethnal Green to Elephant and Castle: the language of place, the roots of English music and its twisted offspring

Posted on March 10, 2016 by John S

Two rather different evenings yesterday and today. Last night I was at St John’s Church in Bethnal Green to hear three talks on the Language of Place and some folk music from the Memory Band; tonight it was the irrepressible … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, books, theatre, cinema, Music - concerts, lists, reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Have You Heard? – (72) Erohs Shore

Posted on March 7, 2016 by John S

So, just to to say that one of my blog followers, Resa, put me on to this band, and her partner is involved. But as you’ll know, if you follow this blog, I only write about music I like, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Music - Have You Heard? | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Sportsthoughts (145) – Can England win the Grand Slam?

Posted on February 28, 2016 by John S

Three games into the Six Nations. England the only team with a 100% record. So can they do it, can they win the Grand Slam? The Welsh and French will say no, with games to come. The Scots and Irish … Continue reading →

Posted in Sportsthoughts | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

I Was There is here!

Posted on February 27, 2016 by John S

Eight years in the making, my music book, “I Was There – A Musical Journey”, finally emerges from the printers! This edition isn’t for sale, but I’m working on a version that will be ready for selling soon. So watch … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, books, theatre, cinema, Music - concerts, lists, reflections | Tagged , , | 20 Comments

Sportsthoughts (144) – The genius of Dimitri Payet

Posted on February 24, 2016 by John S

West Ham have a new hero. A midfielder with such skill – and passion – that he ranks with the greats of our club. I’m talking midfield creatives here, so the World Cup 66 trio aren’t involved. We are talking … Continue reading →

Posted in Sportsthoughts | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

Influences and passions : Chvrches, The Staves, Genghar… and Elton John

Posted on February 21, 2016 by John S

In London yesterday it rained, then rained, then rained some more. I used it as a reason to start editing the quotes out of my book, so it’s easier to publish commercially, and just to veg out a bit, watching … Continue reading →

Posted in Music - concerts, lists, reflections | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Unfaithful Music and Disappearing Ink, by Elvis Costello

Posted on February 14, 2016 by John S

I’ve just finished reading Elvis Costello’s autobiography, “Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink”. The book got mixed reviews when it came out. Good in parts, seemed to be a theme. Some critics objected to the length, the detail, the supposed name-dropping. … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, books, theatre, cinema | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Applewood Road at the Exmouth Market Centre, Clerkenwell, 11 February 2016

Posted on February 12, 2016 by John S

I went to a concert on Thursday night just gone in Exmouth Market Centre. I guess you’d call it Clerkenwell. Not an area I know particularly well, but Exmouth Market looked cool – loads of restaurants, cafés and bars. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Music - concerts, lists, reflections | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments