The Chorus
By Stefan Vos & Bruce Dennill
The Chorus is a weekly collection of fascinating stories and interesting inanities drawn from their broad range of interests, including music, literature and the arts.
Interviews with guests involved in the above fields add perspectives, humour and possibly reasons to get lightly sued.
Don't bore us... get to The Chorus!
The ChorusSep 27, 2020
The Chorus #98: The Lost And Found Episode, Or Darkness, Death And Damnation
We endure a visit to the darkness, see Elvis there and enjoy the profundity of small tragedies. Slash, Conan and Agatha Christie are also around. And the coffee is great.
Reviewed this week:
THEATRE: The Return Of Elvis Du Pisanie, Deathly Murder - Killed By A Killer
MUSIC: Slash - Orgy Of The Damned
PODCAST: A History Of Rock Music In 500 Songs
BOOKS: Heart Of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, Lost Property by Megan Choritz
TV: Conan O'Brien Must Go
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus #97: The Past Is Here Episode, Or Leaving A Hole Where You Were
We confirm that revisiting the past can be both exciting and depressing, but at least you can flip forward in a book. Neil Young enjoys a welcome return to our consciousness, and we delve into the darkness of infant ungulates.
Reviewed this week:
THEATRE: The Brothers, Number One And A Weekend Special
MUSIC: The Lemon Twigs - A Dream Is All We Know, Charley Crockett - $10 Cowboy, Neil Young - Fu##in' Up
BOOKS: Letters That Changed The World by Simon Sebag Montefiore, Imagine Me Gone by Adam Haslett, The Old Man And The Sea by Ernest Hemingway, The Illustrated Etymologicon by Mark Forsyth
TV: Baby Reindeer
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus #96: The Amazon Episode, Or Manchester United Musically
On stage, in song, in print and sort-of on screen, it's pointed out that women and what they go through requires constant consideration - which is hopefully not a revelation. Elsewhere, Manchester is united in music. And yes, that was phrased like that to hack off Liam Gallagher if he ever reads this.
Reviewed this week:
THEATRE: Ile, Your Perfect Life
MUSIC: Liam Gallagher and John Squire, St Lucia, Marcus King, Sincerely Anne
BOOKS: Love And Fury by Margie Orford, Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
TV: Poor Things, Stillwater, All Creatures Great And Small Season 4
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus #95: The Beyond Bryson Episode, Or Washington Is Capital
After extensive intranational travel, two theatre productions have inspired discussion. Stefan also says guitar things about a borrowed instrument and Bill Bryson does the first disappointing thing of his brilliant life while Denzel Washington keeps a clean record.
Reviewed this week:
THEATRE: Expelled, Amadeus
GEAR: Gibson SG
MUSIC: Slash - Orgy Of The Damned, Sheryl Crow - Digging In The Dirt
BOOKS: Seeing Further, edited by Bill Bryson
TV: The Equalizer 3, Spaceman, Damsel
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus #94: The Later Than You Thought Episode, Or The Little Whale That Cooder
Thanks to a touch of colic in the space-time continuum (or an uploading glitch - your choice), Episode 94 now appears after Episode 95 in the list. Meh. Blame Terry Pratchett. Meanwhile, we look at Los Angeles through Ry Cooder's eyes, Nazis through the filter of the Booker Prize and why it's not a good idea to hitchhike in the Australian Outback.
Reviewed this week:
MUSIC: Hermanos Gutierrez - Sonido Cosmico, Dermot Kennedy - Lucky
BOOKS: Los Angeles Stories by Ry Cooder, 55 by James Delargy
TV: The Whale
PODCAST: The Booker Prize Podcast - Schindler's List vs Schindler's Ark
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus #93: The Band(s) Width Episode - Citing Cito, Or Serially Staged
We welcome rock star, actor, dog/cat/bird owner and, most importantly, coffee sponsor Cito into the studio/cramped dining room to chat about his bewildering array of musical projects, including Wonderboom, Blvd Hvnny, El Cantante, Absinthe Led Zeppelin tribute shows and more. Classical literature and other, less busy rock stars are thrown in for good measure.
Reviewed this week:
MUSIC: Pearl Jam - Dark Matter
BOOKS: The Porpoise by Mark Haddon, Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
TV: The Greatest Night In Pop
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus #92: The Hamming It Up Episode - Taking Favourites For Granted, Or Of Gabriels And Goals
In which Stefan reads his favourite book again, John Hamm is funny more than once, modern football is fascinatingly unpacked and Carey Grant scores (he was good at that).
Reviewed this week:
MUSIC: Christa Wells - Velveteen, John Leventhal - Rumble Strip
BOOKS: Zonal Marking by Michael Cox, Love In The Time Of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
TV: Archie, Maggie Moore(s), Fargo Season Five
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus #91 - The History Episode: Presently Looking Forwards, Or Return Of The Mcs
It's a new year, so we focused on all that supports that theme most strongly: 81-year-old Harrison kicking Nazi ass, Ryan Adams making an album called 1985 and Timothy Leary taking drugs in the Sixties. For the sake of science. Get an early start in 2024, people. There is much to read, listen to and watch. IT MUST GET DONE.
Reviewed this week:
MUSIC: Ryan Adams - Sword & Stone/Star Sign/Prisoners (Live)/Heat Wave/1985, Twin Atlantic - Asleep, The Heavy Hours - Don't Walk Away
BOOKS: Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy, The Road by Cormac McCarthy, Lessons by Ian McEwan, Outside Looking In by TC Boyle
TV: Jon Batiste - American Symphony, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus #90: The Foundational Episode, Or Avoiding Being Left Behind
Last episode for the year, a return visit for our first three-time guest, Bronwyn Williams, who has a new book out: Rescuing Our Republic, co-written with Ludwig Raal, in which she asks the heavy, world-shifting questions so we can keep talking about the equally important stuff, like books, music, film and theatre.
Thank you for all your support this year. Keep suggestions for topics and chats coming, along with offers of sponsorship, payable in cash, coffee, whiskey or guitars. You're all lovely. Happy Christmas and a merry New Year.
Reviewed this week:
MUSIC: No Chocolate Cake - Gin Blossoms, Little Bit Of Sun - Semisonic, Before And After - Neil Young
BOOKS: Rescuing Or Republic by Bronwyn Williams and Ludwig Raal
TV: Avoidance, 2023 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony, Licorice Pizza, Leave The World Behind, The American Buffalo, Foundational
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus #89: The Ego Episode, Or Does Big Blunt Better?
Recorded on the day Shane MacGowan died, while we happened to be drinking and chatting about whiskey named after his band, there is talk of the horrors of hubris and the war it often results in, as well as the effectiveness of ego when it comes to getting something done. Also, we speculate on what can we do about casualties of creativity, the injuries caused by innovation, and other alliterative AI themes.
Reviewed this week:
FILM: Napoleon
MUSIC: Drakensberg Boys' Choir - Noel Tour, The Chicago Sessions - Rodney Crowell, Spotify Wrapped
BOOKS: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono
TV: The Creator, Band Of Brothers
WHISKEY: The Pogues Irish Whiskey
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus #88: The Long Life Episode - Same Auld Story, Or Every Now And Then
While sipping more excellent whiskey and coffee, we muse on unintended themes like living forever (Peter Pan; The Beatles) and how to best make use of those years (be enduringly brilliant; spend Rupert Murdoch's money in a healthier way; get a robot to do the hard work), before sipping more whiskey and coffee.
Reviewed this week:
THEATRE: Janice Honeyman's Peter Pan
MUSIC: Now & Then - The Beatles, Robin Auld, For All These Years - Billy Raffoul
BOOKS: I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett, Machines Like Me by Ian McEwan
TV: Justified: City Primeval, The Murdochs: Empire Of Influence (Showmax)
WHISKEY: Peaky Blinder Irish Whiskey
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus #87: The Thankful Episode - Involved In Art, Or Beyond The Dark Side
After a break due to being involved in arts projects beginning with "A" - Actress (theatre show for which Bruce was writer and composer) and Aardklop (large arts festival at which Stefan was managing events), we reflect on the joy and value in such work. While drinking whiskey and coffee, because those are a few of our favourite things. We also remember that Roger Waters is an old man and that Peter Grant was a scary man. And we visit New York (via music) and, er, Wrexham (via television).
Reviewed this week:
MUSIC: Modern Girl - Bleachers, Columbus & 89th - Sarah Jarosz, The Lord's Prayer - Matt Maher, The Dark Side Of The Moon Redux - Roger Waters
BOOKS: The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett, Bring It On Home by Mark Blake
TV: Welcome To Wrexham (Disney+), Good Omens (Prime Video)
WHISKEY: Samuel Gelston's Irish Whiskey
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus #86 - The Angle Grinder Episode: Human Interest, Or Known Beyond The Noise
We chat about the approach of dystopia, and then it begins to sound like it's arrived. But we press on unto Gilead and beyond, where a Stoner makes Stefan emotional, and Bruce is almost certainly not being unreasonable.
Reviewed this week:
MUSIC: Jonathan Wilson - Eat The Worm, Brothers Osborne - Brothers Osborne, Andrew Synowiec - Fun, The National - Laugh Track, BoB Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2zs0ejcsqzupl9TKnNGGts
BOOKS: Klara And The Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro, Stoner by John Williams, The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
TV: Ed Sheeran - The Sum Of It All (Disney+), Am I Being Unreasonable (Britbox), Spencer (Showmax), One Piece (Netflix), What We Do In The Shadows (Apple TV)
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus #85 - The Intellectual Episode: Minds Always Matter, Or Thoughts And Wares
This week's discussion includes artists of all stripes who don't mind using a bit of brain power and thoughtfulness in the execution of their craft and the underpinnings of their concepts. Which is a pleasing thing a world where The Bachelor and Jersey Shore exist...
Reviewed this week:
MUSIC: The Lighthouse - Caroline Spence ft Sarah Jarosz, More Than A Country Mile - Robin Auld, Femme Sole by Tess Wiley
THEATRE: Saturday Night At The Palace
BOOKS: Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi, The Disordered Mind by Eric R Kandel, Brief Interviews With Hideous Men by David Foster Wallace
TV: John Mulaney - Baby J (Netflix), FUBAR (Netflix)
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus #84 - The Relatable Episode: Tough Times Staged, Or Wondering At Whimsy
There are a number of ways to reflect life in art. We see theatre doing it in ways that hurt and opera doing it in ways that excite. We see chefs doing it under a load of stress. And we see Wes Anderson doing it wonderfully. Plus, we sip whisky that tastes of thorn trees - and it's good!
Reviewed this week:
MUSIC: The National - First Two Pages Of Frankenstein, Matt Nathanson - Boston Accent
THEATRE: Isidlamlilo, Tosca
BOOKS: Submission by Michel Houellebecq, The South African Musical by Norman Smuts
TV: The Bear (Showmax), The French Dispatch (Disney+)
WHISKY: Toor Whisky Aperitif
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus #83 - The Kultuur Episode: Saturday Night's Alright For Theatre, Or Putting On The Maritz
Our guest is Albert Maritz, director of a new production of Paul Slabolepszy's Saturday Night At The Palace at the Joburg Theatre (28 July to 20 August, Webtickets). There is talk of racism, masculinity and insecurity, and some of that even has to do with the play. Albert also reveals a portion of the richness of Afrikaans theatre and literary culture, largely because rooinekke Stefan and Bruce are woefully underexposed to its delights and need to get off their boude and make a plan...
Reviewed this week:
BOOKS: The Echo Of A Noise by Pieter-Dirk Uys, What Does This Button Do by Bruce Dickinson
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus #82 - The Like, IRL Episode: Vocals And Violence, Or More Floe Than Ebb
Theatre highlights issues we all face and how we feel about them. Books take on more esoteric issues in poetic ways. Musicians create audible emotion. And directors make actors hit other actors really hard. A lot. We consider these things. And drink coffee.
Reviewed this week:
MUSIC: Grant Lee Buffalo - Mighty Joe Moon, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - Weathervanes, Sigur Ros - ATTA
THEATRE: The Undone, The Mzansi Tenors, Exit/Exist
BOOKS: The Library Of Ice by Nancy Campbell, The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
TV: Extraction 2 (Netflix), Ray Donovan - The Movie (Showmax), The Outlaws (Britbox), Luther - The Fallen Sun
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus #81 - The Living Episode: You Get What Yu Gives, Or Charisma In Conflict
Stefan has read a book that he immediately regards as a classic, which happens once a decade or less. A big band grieves through loud music, a bald man goes native and there is beauty in war - if only in screen craftsmanship terms. We feel affirmed, and celebrate with a lovely bourbon. You should too.
Reviewed this week:
MUSIC: Extreme - Six, John Ellis - Native, Foo Fighters - But Here We Are
BOOKS: To Live by Yu Hua, What Does This Button Do by Bruce Dickinson
TV: War Sailor (Netflix), All Quiet On The Western Front, Bored To Death (Netflix)
WHISKEY: Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus #80 - The Oblivion Episode: Come What May, Or Revealing Feelings
Realising that we both have gigs coming up (Bruce on 3 June at Spilt Milk Social Cafe in Melville; Stefan on 10 June at The Radium Beer Hall in Orange Grove), we don't at all in any way then unconsciously compare ourselves to the immense intellect of David Foster Wallace, the astonishing talent of Madison Cunningham or the curious weirdness of Agent Elvis. We also remember Tina Turner with fondness and awe and return to our First Take feature - playing a song we've never played together before and hoping it turns out well. Spoiler: it does.
Reviewed this week:
FIRST TAKE: Come What May - Bruce Dennill
MUSIC: Revealer - Madison Cunningham, The Way I Feel - Gordon Lightfoot
BOOKS: The Pigeon Tunnel by John le Carre, Oblivion by David Foster Wallace
TV: Marianne (Netflix), Sweet Tooth (Netflix), Agent Elvis (Netflix), Billions (Showmax), The Cleaner (Britbox)
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus #79 - The Sort Of Sports Episode: Interrupted Flow, Or Echoes Of The Galaxy
There's another Hollywood writer's strike. Last time, that made for some terrible shows. This time, it may burst the streaming bubble, which both makes us nervous and suggests a quality-over quantity future. For now, shows going behind the scenes in the worlds of elite sports are still changing the audience profiles in those arenas. Intelligent lives lived well still leave meaningful residues, classic harmonies retain their sweetness and intergalactic silliness is worth paying ticket money for.
Reviewed this week:
MUSIC: Album 1700 - Peter, Paul & Mary, Achtung Baby - U2 (in Vegas)
BOOKS: The Forbidden Door by Dean Koontz, Terry Pratchett - A Life With Footnotes by Rob Wilkins
TV: Full Swing (Netflix), F1 - Drive To Survive Season 5
THEATRE: The Echo Of A Noise, Cat & Monkey
FILM: Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus #78 - The Crepuscular Episode: Of Night Sweats, White Hate And Not Yet Being A Murderer
Powerful stories examine depression; a useful guitar pedal ensures compression; a black man prepares to be a white racist and that nice Stanley Tucci is removed from the babysitting list. We did add milk to our coffee, so at least that wasn't too dark...
Reviewed this week:
GEAR: MXR Custom Comp Compressor pedal
MUSIC: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Wilder Woods, Birds Say by Darlingside
BOOKS: BlacK K Klansman by Ron Stallworth
TV: Inside Man (Netflix), The Banshees Of Inisherin (Disney+)
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus #77 - The Gruntled Episode: A Focus On Favourites, Or Just Enough Of A Good Thing
Someone sent us a bottle of whisky, so we tasted that. We discovered new signature guitar models, so we were excited. There was almost too much theatre to watch, but we persevered. A beautiful book offers a mental and emotional escape from a fatigued body. The umpteenth movie in an alien franchise is actually, you know, good. And Brad Pitt attempts to not get shot in public transport.
Reviewed this week:
GUITARS: Billy Joe Armstrong Les Paul Jr, Chris Stapleton Epiphone Frontier
WHISKY: Firstwatch Imported Extra Fine
THEATRE: Suenos, We Will Rock You, A Musical, Master Class, Madagascar Jr
BOOKS: Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, Heavy Duty by KK Downing
TV: Prey (Apple TV), Bullet Train (Netflix)
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus #76 - The (Re)Discovery Episode: In With The New, Or 99 Problems But Bad Art Ain't One
Stefan is in recovery after a rock star weekend gracing festival stages. On those stages, and between the pages of a collection of short stories, we discover the presence of the level of emerging talent that makes us fall in love with music and writing all over again. There are also welcome returns from shared favourites, this time in books and on the small screen, and an album title almost as satisfying as the music in the collection. All of which makes us feel that embracing the good may be better for us than drowning in the bad. Who knew?
Reviewed this week:
MUSIC: The Phantasm At Lake Wallenpaupack - Fever Dolls, Mieliepop Festival - Crystal Park, John Barnard, Shameless
BOOKS: Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, The Passenger & Stella Mari by Cormac McCarthy
TV: Brooklyn 99 (Netflix), The Chelsea Detective (Britbox), Elvis (Apple TV)
FIRST TAKE: Come Out And Play by Bruce Dennill
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus #75 - The Authentic Episode: Is It Who You Know Or Where You Go?
We almost wander into talking about Actual Issues but then remember that we prefer to retreat to books and music and the arts in general than pretend we know how to sort out the world's ills. That said, we look fondly at an age of great music journalism; sadly at how fraught with uncertainty travel in much of the Middle East is; and affectionately at an unknown blues singer who recently won a Grammy.
Reviewed this week:
MUSIC: Bonnie Raitt - Just Like That..., Tyler Ramsey - For The Morning, Bob Dylan - Fragments, Eric Claption - Rarities
THEATRE: Home Affairs
BOOKS: Sticky Fingers by Joe Hagan, Arabia by Levison Wood
TV: It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (Disney+), Great Art Explained (YouTube, Derry Girls (Neflix), Wednesday (Netflix)
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus #74 - The Vulnerability Episode: The Keys To Storytelling, Or Songs Of Sincerity
It was a fecund couple of weeks for live music, both in music venues and on theatre stages, and the readiness of the performers involved to put their hearts and souls on display is as memorable as whatever they where playing. Elsewhere, we chat about bonkers journeys and a huge load of Cunk.
Reviewed this week:
MUSIC: An Intimate Evening with Jeremy Porter, Sting - My Songs, Jeremy Messersmith back catalogue, First Aid Kit - America, Rodney Crowell - Close Ties
THEATRE: Jonathan Roxmouth - Key Change, DuPreez Strauss - Dreamland
BOOKS: The Odysseum by David Bramwell & Joe Tinsley
TV: Cunk On Earth (Netflix), Stonehouse (Britbox), Kleo (Netflix)
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus #73 - The Snob Episode: Cruise Control, Or What The Dickens?
The Oscar nominations are out and we're not sure if we're happy that Top Gun might get Best Picture because, like, you know, it's not art. Elsewhere, we appreciate good writing, kitchen politics, optimistic ukuleles and how Charles Dickens was essentially the biggest streaming service of his day.
Reviewed this week:
MUSIC: Radiohead back catalogue, Sigourney Fever - Trampled By Turtles, 11 Obscenely Optimistic Songs For Ukulele: A Micro Folk Record For The 21st Century - Jeremy Messersmith
BOOKS: Dickens by Peter Ackroyd, Bridge Of Clay by Markus Zusak
TV: The White Lotus S2 (Netflix), Tali's Joburg Diary (Showmax), The Bear (Disney+)
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus - Episode 72: Bronwyn Williams Is Trendy, Or Nope To A Rainbow Nation
It's the end of the year (and Spotify tells us we're 87% up in streams, so thank you so much for your support). We welcome back our very first guest, trends analyst and rabid reader Bronwyn Williams, and some of what she says is sad, but she brought whiskey to share, so that's ok. Truth is scarier than fiction on the page and screen, but it's ok because great live music brings joy and maybe we're in a German wormhole so none of it matters. This and other important insights this week. We'll be back in the new year, still drinking Cito 1974 coffee because it's (genuinely) amazing and also our supply for the podcast is sponsored and we will punt your brand here if you jump in with your lovely products or actual cash to pay for our glamorous, kids' school fee-paying lifestyles. Read a book, listen to music, go to the theatre, watch the whole of every streaming service - have a great holiday!
Reviewed this week:
MUSIC: Starting Over - Chris Stapleton, The Waterboys Live
BOOKS: Present Tense - A Radiohead Compendium, edited by Barney Hoskyns, Rainbow Nation My Zulu Arse by Sihle Khumalo, Property by Lionel Shriver
TV: Nope, 1899, Dahmer, Black Panther
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus - Episode 71: Deluxe Discussions, Plus How To Not Be A Twit
A little birdy told us to delve into whether Twitter is quiet as much of a cesspool as we're led to believe. Elsewhere on social media, a man from The Darkness proves to be sweet, sensitive and wise. Plus, some of music's Biggest Names released new (and old) projects, and we finally brought back our First Take feature and played a tune live in studio again - Dreamed You Different. Frankly, it's lovely, and you should listen.
Reviewed this week:
MUSIC: Only The Strong Survive - Bruce Springsteen, Use Your Illusion Deluxe - Guns 'N Roses, Revolver Deluxe - The Beatles
BOOKS: The Survivors by Kate Furnivall, The Woman In The Blue Cloak by Deon Mayer
TV: The Midnight Club, The Dry
YOUTUBE: Justin Hawkins Rides Again
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus - Episode 70: Garth Barnes Is Not Dead, Plus Old Men And The Very Dickens
Our guest is CrashCarBurn frontman Garth Barnes, chatting about the band's new album, Back From The Dead. In almost related news, we also talk about old men, including Mick Jagger and Jeff Bridges. Plus, Stefan's dogs fight a lot in the background.
Reviewed this week:
BOOKS: The Rolling Stones - 1972, Dickens by Peter Ackroyd
TV: The Old Man, Cabinet Of Curiosities
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus - Episode 69: Mark Banks Is Alive!, Plus Irish Girls And The End Of The World
Our guest is comedian Mark Banks, whose show Alive! runs at the Studio at Pieter Toerien's Montecasino Theatre until 20 November. Book at Computicket.
Reviewed this week:
BOOKS: The End Of The End Of The World by Jonathan Franzen
TV: Derry Girls Season 3, Better Call Saul Season 1
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus - Episode 68: Ben Voss, Plus Why Andrew Lloyd Webber Likes Pussycats, Doll
Our guest is Ben Voss, who plays Abominable Uncle Abanazar in Janice Honeyman's Adventures In Pantoland at the Joburg Theatre from November 6 to December 24.
Reviewed this week:
BOOKS: Book Ends by Michael Chabon; Unmasked by Andrew Lloyd Webber
TV: Yellowstone; Trigger Point
MUSIC: American Heartbreak by Zach Bryan; Memory by Nicole Scherzinger
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus - Episode 67: The Wonders Of WOMAD, Plus The Mob And A Murder
Our guest is Dan Chiorboli, festival director for WOMAD South Africa (running from 30 September to 8 October; tickets at Quicket), who unpacks the festival's itinerant delights and name-drops Peter Gabriel just because he can. We also go behind The Godfather - this is the reason movie tickets cost so much - and explore a book which lyrically and beautifully confirms that racism in the Deep South (or anywhere else for that matter) is frightening, inhuman force.
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus - Episode 66: Musicians And Mental Health, Plus Pratchett And Pink Elephants
There's a tweaked format in this post-sojourn return, as we take a stab at edification alongside entertainment. We dip into the effects of career pressure on musicians, as well as revisiting the magic of Terry Pratchett, unpacking why expensive streaming series don't last the distance, geeking out over a limited edition Beach Boys guitar strap, watching commerce take on concern in a book about a pink elephant, being concerned about Billy Crystal and comparing an American Idol winner to Burt Bacharach.
Stay in touch at https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus - Episode 65: Cakes, Brothers And Imagination Made To Taste
Discussed this week (in which Bruce celebrated a birthday): The giant Cake Brothers tiramisu birthday that appeared alongside our microphone, and the aroma of the contents of several vials of white powder (ooh) our guest had brought with him. Between mouthfuls of cake, ice cream, delicious coffee and a smidge of whiskey, we chatted about the foolishness of taking on Carrie Mulligan, and let our ears go country because Spotify told us to.
GUEST: Malcolm Burroughs - more at https://www.facebook.com/CakeBrothersSouthAfrica/ and https://www.facebook.com/fabflava/
TV: Promising Young Woman
MUSIC: Richie Furey - In The Country
Please give us your comments, suggestions, reviews of our song and constructive input via our Facebook page, please: https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus - Episode 64: Sins, Sinners And Singers
Discussed this week: The seven deadly sins, possibly in conjunction with the experiences of Elton John, Frank Sinatra, Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee (that should cover most of them). Plus cycling, cruising and choreography.
THEATRE: La Traviata, Elton: The Experience
TV: Pam & Tommy, Hustle, Jungle Cruise
BOOKS: Around The World In 80 Days by Mark Beaumont
MUSIC: Chagall Guevera - Halcyon Days, Frank Sinatra - Watertown 2022
PODCAST: Stephen Fry - Seven Deadly Sins
Please give us your comments, suggestions, reviews of our song and constructive input via our Facebook page, please: https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus - Episode 63: Falling Furiously (Is What We Heard)
Discussed this week: the return of full-capacity theatre, guilty pleasures. lovely hungry people and a sublime songwriter who needs to be Heard.
THEATRE: If A Tree Falls, Locked Upside Down...And Inside Out!, Kunene And The King
TV: SAS - Rise Of The Black Swan, Fast And Furious 9 - The Fast Saga, Somebody Feed Phil, Stranger Things 4, The Morning Show
MUSIC: Mark Heard
Please give us your comments, suggestions, reviews of our song and constructive input via our Facebook page, please: https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus - Episode 62: Spiralling Into Shakespeare, Or In Fear Of A Father
Discussed this week:
FIRST TAKE: Spiral Staircase - Bruce Dennill
THEATRE: The Abba Show: A Cinderella Story, Borderline
BOOKS: Carnet de Voyage by Craig Thompson, Fools And Mortals by Bernard Cornwell
TV: Raised By Wolves S2, Why Didn't They Ask Evans?, Death On The Nile
MUSIC: A Light For Attracting Attention - The Smile, Altar - Kehlani, Spinnekop - Posduif, Joyful Noise - Matt Maher
Please give us your comments, suggestions, reviews of our song and constructive input via our Facebook page, please: https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus - Episode 61: The SuperNature Of Covetable Commentary
Is Ricky Gervais a bully? Does the music industry give a toss about artists? Is whistleblowing worth it? Why don't more people know how good a guitarist Jack Pearson is? Asked and (possibly) answered...
BOOKS: The Secret History Of Twin Peaks by Mark Frost, Murder On The Orient Express by Agatha Christie, Hit Men by Fredric Dannen
TV: SuperNature - Ricky Gervais, Clarkson's Farm
MUSIC: Jack Pearson
THEATRE: The New Abnormal, Country Duty
Please give us your comments, suggestions, reviews of our song and constructive input via our Facebook page, please: https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus - Episode 60: Occasionally The Twain Have Met
Discussed this week:
BOOKS: Reuben by Bryan Andrews, The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
TV: Mark Twain - Ken Burns, Peaky Blinders, Ozark, The Undoing, Murderville
MUSIC: Live At Leeds - The Who,
PODCAST: A History Of Rock Music In 500 Songs, Renegades - Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen
Please give us your comments, suggestions, reviews of our song and constructive input via our Facebook page, please: https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus - Episode 59: Old-Fashioned Genius And Reflections On Ruefulness
In which we reveal a shared fetish for 500-year-old, long-haired gentlemen, indulge an affection for Andy Samberg, wonder at fine musicians, appreciate others who appreciate what we appreciate and welcome back the First Take feature - this time a reflection on shared brokenness.
FIRST TAKE: In Repair - John Mayer
BOOKS: Leonard Da Vinci - The Biography by Walter Isaacson, Shakespeare - The Biography by Peter Ackroyd
TV: Popstar - Never Stop Never Stopping, Palm Springs, A Bit Of Fry And Laurie, The Bubble
MUSIC: Notes With Attachments by Pino Palladino and Blake Mills, Get On Board by Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder
PODCAST: A History Of Rock Music In 500 Songs - God Only Knows by The Beach Boys
Please give us your comments, suggestions, reviews of our song and constructive input via our Facebook page, please: https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast. And try out the superb coffee we drink on the show: Cito 1974 (www.cito1974.com).
The Chorus - Episode 58: Wouldn't It Be Nice If There Was More Brian Wilson?
We try out a new mic (CAN YOU HEAR US AT THE BACK?) and include our new release as The Van Dyke Parks Board. It's called "Song For Doubt" and is available everywhere you stream or download. Stefan, unable to help himself, returns to Brian Wilson - three times - and then goes skateboarding. Bruce laughs at fellow pasty white man Jim Gaffigan, and then goes briefly to Tangier and Paris before enjoying the larger Great Big World. And we enjoy Cito 1974 coffee (again).
BOOKS: Paris Echo by Sebastian Faulks, I Am Brian Wilson by Ben Greenman
TV: Jim Gaffigan - Comedy Monster, Little Birds, Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road, Tony Hawk: Until The Wheels Fall Off
MUSIC: Is There Anybody Out There - A Great Big World, Song For Doubt - The Van Dyke Parks Board, The Pet Sounds Sessions - The Beach Boys
Please give us your comments, suggestions, reviews of our song and constructive input via our Facebook page, please: https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast
The Chorus - Episode 57: Into The Wood, With Coffee
Our guest is actor, playwright, broadcaster and sarky Facebook presence Peter Terry, who discusses his new one-man play At All Costs, which deals (brilliantly) with the horrors of the Battle of Delville Wood in World War One. We savour a fine brew from our new sponsor, Cito 1974 Coffee, which makes the day seem brighter. We also question whether comedies actually need to make you laugh to be considered successful, and wonder at Karl Lagerfeld's ability to get concepts from idea to Grand Palais-filling spectacle.
THEATRE: At All Costs
BOOKS: Chanel Catwalk: The Complete Karl Lagerfeld Collections (1983-2019)
TV: Archive 81, Mythic Quest, Our Flag Means Death
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The Chorus - Episode 56: Enjoying Craft, Dear
Producer, engineer, multi-instrumentalist and Very Nice Man Michael Wright joins us to talk a little bit about his Gloryvale Studio in Edenvale (he's all humble like that) and the new Van Dyke Parks Board single "Song For Doubt", for which he's just finished the final mix. We rediscover how completely thrilling well-crafted live theatre is. And well-crafted books. And well-crafted music. And anything where craft trumps just getting it made.
THEATRE: Firefly, The Last Five Years
DANCE: Maina Gielgud's Giselle
BOOKS: Remembering African Wild Dogs, Lord Of The Rings (yes, again - for crying out loud, Stefan)
MUSIC: Native - John Ellis, Blue Lights On The Runway - Bell X1
TV: Guardians Of Justice
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The Chorus - Episode 55: Mushrooms In The Nik Of Time
In which we welcome comedian Nik Rabinowitz, consider the power of storytelling and the value of joy over cynicism; investigate magic mushrooms; visit a dark forest in Latvia and suggest not naming your band after a plague.
COMEDY: Nik Rabinowitz Is Over It!
BOOKS: Fresh Complaint by Jeffrey Eugenides
MUSIC: All At Once - The Airborne Toxic Event
TV: Fantastic Fungi
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The Chorus - Episode 54: Enlightened About Everything, Almost
In which we confront our naivety through the medium of television, well-known for its truth-telling; have some very big questions almost answered; suggest that music is more important than talking and note that Ewan McGregor never goes out of fashion.
THEATRE: Rocco De Villiers & Lizelle Le Roux - Music From The Movies
BOOKS: The Origin Of Almost Everything - New Scientist, Lord Of The Rings
MUSIC: Marcel Dalmayda, Louise Carver, Ryan Ellis
TV: Norm Macdonald - Hitler's Dog, Gossip & Trickery, Halston, Enlightened, Archive81, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, F1 Drive To Survive
Please give us your comments, suggestions and constructive input via our Facebook page, please: https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast
The Chorus - Episode 53: The Psychedelics Say We Are Beautiful Geniuses
In which Stefan survives several old-man ailments, we perv over a Gibson Les Paul (respectfully), acknowledge how "Beautiful" Carole King is, do the backstroke in psychedelia and realise that it doesn't take a genius to spot a fraudster.
COMEDY: Mark Banks - Mask About Face
BOOKS: The Genius Test by Giles Sparrow
MUSIC: Black Pumas - Black Pumas, Daniel Lanois - Heavy Sun, Madison Cunningham - Wednesday
TV: Space Force S2, Inventing Anna, The Witcher S2, Echo In The Canyon, The Tinder Swindler, Wild Bill S1
PODCAST: A History Of Rock Music In 500 Songs - Andrew Hickey
Please give us your comments, suggestions and constructive input via our Facebook page, please: https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast
The Chorus - Episode 52: Banking On Your Mother's Future
In which we are joined by Mark Banks and several of his personalities as he talks about his new show, Mask About Face; discuss the appeal of getting motherless in the future and do a half-decent job of otherwise keeping it together.
COMEDY: Mark Banks - Mask About Face
BOOKS: Motherland by Paul Theroux, The Future Starts Now edited by Bronwyn Williams & Theo Priestley
MUSIC: Guster - Keep It Together
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The Chorus - Episode 51: Of Beasts, Blood, Stories And Lego
In which we veer from rose-coloured perspectives on arms up cows' bums to blood-coloured perspectives on rather less bucolic scenarios, and from diving into the Greatest Story Ever Told into Dave Grohl's stories, which are also pretty great. Also, Stefan plays with Lego and Bruce wishes Michael Moore was president of everything.
BOOKS: What Is The Bible? by Rob Bell, Storyteller by Dave Grohl
TV & FILM: Happy!, The Harder They Fall, Succession, All Creatures Great And Small, Dexter: New Blood, Ozark
GEAR: Lego Fender Stratocaster
PODCASTS: Smartless: Michael Moore
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The Chorus - Episode 50: Blanket Statements Made Manifest
In which we - on our 50th episode! - welcome Malcolm Burroughs, 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day (go to www.67blankets.co.za for details of the upcoming Rainbow Nation Blanket Of Hope event) ambassador, cake boss and erstwhile guy-in-bandages in Ultravox videos. We chat about the importance of people who combine giving a toss with good systems, as well as Eddie Vedder (who is in no way a tosser).
GUEST: Malcolm Burroughs, 67 Blankets or Nelson Mandela Day ambassador
BOOKS: Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, Day Of The Caesars by Simon Scarrow
TV & FILM: Manifest, Army Of Thieves
MUSIC: Earthling by Eddie Vedder, Matter Of Time by Eddie Vedder
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The Chorus - Episode 49: Drawing Conclusions With Rico
In which we welcome cartoonist, satirist and artist Rico to talk about his work and the sordid state of society. We also return to a giant space tortoise and head both west and backwards in time while considering which bad people are less bad than others.
GUEST: Rico - Madam & Eve: Family Meeting
BOOKS: The First Discworld Novels by Terry Pratchett, Istanbul by Bettany Hughes, Dragon Teeth by Michael Crichton
TV & FILM: Suicide Squad, Money Heist Season 5, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Please give us your comments, suggestions, constructive input and reviews of the latest song from our band, The Van Dyke Parks Board, via our Facebook page, please: https://www.facebook.com/TheChorusPodcast