I have mentioned the podcast Reply All on here before, and I’ve bored many a friend about its brilliance. In short, its my favourite podcast, and the latest episode might just be their best ever. It has all the hallmarks of their great storytelling, with a unique perspective on the oddities of life in the age of the internet, and, best of all, it has a proper little mystery at its core. Rarely have I been so swept along in a story, and I wont spoil it for you, but like all good tales, the ending is terrific. Anyway, have a listen, it will bring you joy. And don’t just take it from me, The Guardian reckons it might be the best podcast episode ever. Like, ever, of all podcasts.
International Women’s Day is always such an important day in our household. My mother worked tirelessly for equality and social justice throughout her short life. She was a product of the Swedish socialist system and believed deeply in fairness and human rights for all, something she imbued everything she did with. I remember her vividly in those formative years living in Waterford being at the heart of campaigning for women’s rights in Ireland, being part of the International Women’s Day celebrations, later joining and being a driving voice on the Council for Status of Women (CSW) and a devoted member of the epic campaign that ultimately saw Mary Robinson elected as Ireland’s first female President. She showed me and my sister that empathy, integrity and equality are fundamental to an inclusive society. In this photo she was merely at the start of her journey, and she burned bright, hard and true in a just a few decades. She was a hero and friend to so many. And to me too. I was lucky to have her as a mother and a role model. Remembering her today and knowing the work she did must continue for a better, fairer society
Love this. Hitrecord.org is such a cool example of creative communities coming together and collaborating in the internet age, simply because everyone on there believes that making beautiful new art together is awesome. So much respect for Joseph Gordon-Levitt for building this online sandbox for artists of every discipline to share and create
The HITRECORD community turned a sweet little guitar riff from Joseph Gordon-Levitt into a full-fledged song (and that song is, dare I say it, a bop). Creative collaboration can turn the smallest wisps of ideas into something much bigger. That's what it's all about 🙌
Pop by U2 just turned 23 years old. I remember the day the record came out and how the eclectic set of tracks were equal parts surprising, arresting and inspiring. Achtung Baby and The Joshua Tree were always firm favourites, and still are, but this was such an eye opening, ambitious record that transported me to somewhere utterly magical and new. The band themselves later said it felt unfinished to them, as they were up against a time crunch with their touring deadline, but to me it has everything and has possibly become my favourite of them all (even if many other fans I know don’t hold it in high regard) It took weird turns, wasn’t afraid to fail, had vibrant arresting playful artwork, took lyrical and sonic leaps, and most of all had an authentic musical heart at it’s core that they always have had. Spinning the record tonight and I’m reminded of the magical possibility in all creativity and art. Take big chances. Try new things. Go to new places. And an audience will find you. Sometimes it takes 23 minutes, sometimes 23 years. And even if they don’t, that creative leap can lead to new ideas and avenues that continue to pop (pun intended) and echo long afterwards in ways you can’t imagine.
Many moons ago, when I was gigging more frequently and reciting poems and performing sketches, I was lucky enough to be part of a regular night called the Monthly General Meeting, which was a showcase for the most inventive and willdy wonderful creative minds in Ireland. On one of the particular shows, I was on the bill with soon-to-be global musical phenomenon Hozier, as well as Arthur Mathews, the co-writer of Father Ted (possibly the greatest sitcom ever). I recall the gig itself was in the unusual and interesting surroundings of a newly refurbished Georgian building in Merrion Square (it has since become an office building of some sort) For a while Shane (Diet of Worms) and Nial (delorentos) who ran the night, produced a terrific series of podcasts entitled The Weekly General Meeting focused on creativity, and I featured on the debut episode. Take a listen to the episode and I urge you to listen to the entire back catalogue, every one of them a snapshot of a golden age in Irish creativity, amiably hosted and curated by two great artists.
There’s a little walkway along the canal that I pass every morning and it always has some amazing street art. Wanted to share a slice of that daily walk.
Imagine if you were able to exercise your creative mind in a different era with different creative minds. Would you have done things differently? would you have been a different voice?
In December I was the host/MC for a 3000 person event in Dublin that required me to draw on all my skills as an entertainer, writer and performer. I am in my element in these types of settings, but with a good shot of nerves to keep me on my toes.
It was a truly all-encompassing creative endeavour. To keep everyone in that room connected and engaged, was a huge lesson in tearing down the invisible walls between performer and audience, and building a sense of occasion and community that would stay with everyone long after. A coupe of costume changes helped too.
Many moons ago, my dad and I watched a beautiful film called Big Night, which has this remarkable food dish called Timpano as it’s centrepiece. Essentially a massive multi-layered baked pasta drum. We were so taken with it, we tried to make it together one night back then with my friend Jakob, and it was moderately successful. But the experience of making it has stuck with me ever since.
So I had wanted to make it again for decades and this birthday felt like the perfect moment to bring beloved family and friends together to make it , and share in this experience. Myself, Jim, Doug and David spent hours laughing and cooking, as we created exquisite bubbling sauces and ragus, boiled eggs, grilled meats, rolled “polpette” meatballs, sliced salami, made and rolled out huge sheets of pasta dough. We made several feasts that would have fed a large percentage of Ireland. And then we layered all those myriad of feasts into not one, but three Timpanos — one veggie and two meaty.
Into the oven they went, and once baked, there was still an element of doubt that they would come out of the dish in one piece, and when slicing into it, if it retains it’s structural integrity, and comes out in a solid perfect layered slice. As you can see from the photos and videos below, they came out absolutely perfect – a moment of true joy.
Then it was time to taste. I can tell you, they were absolutely delicious. All of them. And on top of that the joy of sharing them with friends old and new over a glass of wine was the real treat.
We then chatted and sang songs till deep in the night. All seated around the gorgeous tables so artfully decorated with care by my brilliant wife, Jessica. She brings people together and draws the best out of them, and today was no different
Inevitably my mind drifted to those who could not be with us and the fire they carried into my life. I thought of my mother who was the same age as I am today when she passed away. She would have loved this , especially the meatball Timpano. I thought of my father who would have been in his element in the kitchen and spinning jazz records on the turntable. He would have loved this, especially the veggie Timpano.
It was a great day. A perfect day. Fun, family, friends. And fabulous food. Most of all, it was an experience I will treasure forever.
Today, I will definitely be eating lots of leftovers and as evening falls, we are going to stick on Big Night and watch it with the kids. They have to carry the fire now and I’m counting on them to make Timpano with me in a couple of years too.
