Empty Checking With Derek Brink

In this episode, I talk about Norman Lear, Shane MacGowan, Dolly Parton, The Struts, The National, Guided By Voices, Tenacious D, KISS, and a whole bunch of stuff! Thanks for waiting on it! Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com email: db@derekbrink.com Time Index: 0:00 - Intro 14:59 - Eliot's Benediction 15:30 - RIP Norman Lear 22:33 - RIP Shane MacGowan 40:35 - Absent Friends 41:05 - Music Releases 56:34 - Afraid 57:04 - Outro

Short version: You'll get a new episode on Saturday. Long version: Listen to the thing... Thanks!

Just in time for the holiday, there's a new Empty Checking episode--and it's a FAB FIFTEEN! Some of you might not be able to be with family. Some of you might be with family that makes you want to put in ear buds. And some of you might get around to it sometime this weekend or like Tuesday or whatever... Whatever the case, your Uncle Derek and Papa Dave have you covered with the Fab Fifteen Bass Players! Whether you've already got a love for the low end, or you're looking to learn more, we've built a fun and bananas list that's sure to keep your toe tapping! (Be sure to check out the Spotify playlist while you're at it!) Enjoy! And happy Thanksgiving from all (both) of us at Empty Checking! Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com  email: db@derekbrink.com  Spotify Playlists: https://open.spotify.com/user/317eypfciiajkyay2kxloz3kreoa?si=f046115ad0514079  Time Index: 0:00 - Intro 5:51 - The Rules of the Fab 15 8:14 - What are you thankful for? 10:52 - #15 - We're going to use the word "solid" a lot in this epis

In this episode I mostly catch up on a bunch of music, including Taylor Swift, Pharoah Sanders, The Mountain Goats, and The Rolling Stones. I also talk about making a Doctor Who scarf, trying to buy a laptop, and accidentally piercing my own nipple. So. There's a lot. Enjoy! Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com email: db@derekbrink.com  Time Index: 0:00 - Intro 10:36 - My slightly grumpy thoughts on Mike Portnoy returning to Dream Theater 13:48 - Music Break - Remember Me 14:18 - New(ish) Release Reviews 14:31 - Taylor Swift - 1989 (Taylor's Version) 19:37 - Pharoah Sanders - Pharoah 23:15 - The Mountain Goats - Jenny from Thebes 26:18 - Rolling Stones - Hackney Diamonds 29:05 - Music Break - Beautiful Disaster 29:35 - Outro (Including talk of scarves and laptops.)

A quick update and a review of the newest Beatles release! talk to you again soon!

I've decided this isn't an official "episode" in the chronology...but I needed to say some stuff, and I had a platform, so here we are. This one's very different. I talk a lot about an old college friend who passed away this week and also about why a celebrity death can hit us hard, why art matters, and so on. (And yes, I briefly pay tribute to Matthew Perry, Richard Moll, and Suzanne Somers, too.) It gets a little raw in places. But I listened back to it and thought maybe it'd be worth hearing for some people. If you skip this one, I get it. But it might help somebody to at least know we're all asking the same questions. There's not going to be much there this week, but you can check out the blog at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com or email me at db@derekbrink.com. I promise that the next one will (probably) be more fun. Thanks for letting me get serious sometimes. -Uncle Derek

Okay, FYI, there's a strangely high amount of incidental contact with the microphone/stand in this one that even I find distracting, so sorry about that...but otherwise, this is a fun episode! I talk about music from Metric, Wilco, and Boygenius, and also about Paul Auster's new novel "Baumgartner." I had fun. I bet you will too, if you like things! Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com  email: db@derekbrink.com  Time Index: 0:00 - Intro (Including talk of soup, shirts, dining alone, and so on.) 12:30 - Music Break - You and You Alone 13:00 - New Music Releases 14:49 - Metric - Formentera II 22:37 - Wilco - Cousin 27:15 - Boygenius (in general) 40:28 - Music Break - The High Road 40:58 - Paul Auster - Baumgartner 54:36 - Music Break - Chekhov's Rights 55:06 - Outro

In this rollicking good time of an episode I talk about the new series of Frasier and play guitar a little bit as I review the Strymon Cloudbirst pedal that I got quite some time ago but just never talked about. It's a fun hour of me geeking out about stuff I like and also complaining about an ear infection at the end of it. (Spoiler, I guess?) Check it out! Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com email: db@derekbrink.com Time Index: 0:00 - Intro/Guinness Zero review 16:08 - Music Break - Remember Me 16:38 - Frasier New and Old 38:10 - Music Break - Please 38:40 - The Strymon Cloudburst 55:56 - Noodling around mostly playing "Stranger" 56:24 - Outro/Ear Infection/Moving to Thursdays

In this episode (which is a couple days late--super-sorry!) I talk about music from Slowdive, Baroness, Jason Isbell, and The Who. I also touch on books by Jeff Smith. Neil Gaiman, and Joe Hill...but let's be honest, this episode was mostly an excuse to talk about The Who. Enjoy! blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com email: db@derekbrink.com Time Index: 0:00 - Intro 8:40 - An update on what I'm reading. (Including Neil Gaiman, William Goldman, Joe Hill, Jeff Smith...and a weird rant about Halloween...) 23:42 - Music Break - Tralfamadoverture 24:12 - Recent Music Purchases 25:29 - Slowdive - Everything is Alive 29:21 - Baroness - Stone 32:40 - Jason Isbell - Southeastern 10th Anniversary 38:16 - THE WHO - Who's Next | Lifehouse Super Deluxe Edition Box Set 54:38 - Music Break - If It's Raining 55:08 - Outro (Including a brief rant about digital media)

In this episode, I talk about seeing Ringo Starr, Squeeze, and the Psychedelic Furs, alongside some other stuff. Sorry I was away so long! But I'm back! No time index because it's basically one topic... But check out the blog at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com and/or email me at db@derekbrink.com.  Thanks for your support!

In an update that should probably surprise no one, I'm still having software issues. Hoping to have it fixed shortly. Just wanted to keep you up to date.

A software snafu means I'm doing a quick upload from my phone, again! Sorry! But I decided to do another book review, while you're waiting! In this one, I talk about the book and movie The Princess Bride. The book is 50 years old this year! Check it out, and I promise, we'll have a real episode again soon!

A quick update about why there wasn't a full episode this week. And as a placeholder, I also give a quick review of Raymond Chandler's "The Big Sleep." So. Enjoy! New episode soon!

In this episode, your Uncle Derek is joined by your Papa Dave for a FAB 15 episode! This time we're counting down our FAB 15 Most Overplayed Songs! If you're wondering what's so fab about an overplayed song, just listen to the show! We'll tell you! Companion Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com  Email: db@derekbrink.com Mondaves: http://davidbrink.home.blog Papa Dave's Fab 15 Spotify Playlists: https://open.spotify.com/user/317eypfciiajkyay2kxloz3kreoa?si=f046115ad0514079 This episode has a cloud over it. We recorded it on 8/31/23. Two days later, it was announced that Jimmy Buffett had passed away. Two days after that, Smash Mouth's Steve Harwell passed away as well. Both men are referenced in this episode, to different degrees. We didn't say anything that was overly disrespectful, but obviously if we had known what was coming, our tone on both would've been very different. We send our best wishes and deepest sympathies to the families, friends, and fans of both Mr. Buffett and Mr. Harwell. Time Index: 0:

In advance, a computer issue led to me not having a time-index for this episode. Sorry... But I talk about a lot of stuff! I bid farewell to Terry Funk, Bray Wyatt, Bob Barker, and Arleen Sorkin. Then I talk about music from Old 97s, Beth Bombara, Mammoth WVH, Extreme, and Gord Downie/Bob Rock. And I close out talking about the Venture Bros, Asteroid City, and by giving my two-cents on the unfortunate comments made by Alice Cooper. There's a lot going on in this one, and it's MOSTLY fun! Check it out! Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com email: db@derekbrink.com

Rest in peace, Windham "Bray Wyatt" Rotunda.

This episode was recorded the week of 8/14 and delayed out of respect to a friend. Please excuse anything that seems slightly off-time for whatever week it actually is now. In this episode, I talk about one of my basses that I've had for 30 years, then about music stuff related to Neil Young, The Band, and Bob Dylan, then about I Love Lucy. Super current subjects in this episode! :) But it's fun. I liked listening to it during editing, and I don't like the sound of my own voice. So that tells you something. Enjoy! Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com email: db@derekbrink.com 0:00 - Intro 9:19 - One Man (from Grounds) 9:49 - 1993ish Ibanez EX Series Bass (Laverne) 29:11 - Leave It (by union jack) 29:48 - Music Stuff 30:11 - Neil Young - Chrome Dreams 40:31 - The Last Waltz (For some reason I say "MORTON Scorsese" at one point. Let it go. 46:55 - The Rolling Thunder Review: A Bob Dylan Story 52:36 - Pneuma (from Departure) 53:06 - I Love Lucy 1:01:38 - Lectio Divina (from Departure) 1:02:08 - Outro

A quick update. I won't be uploading an episode today out of respect for a friend. Back next week. Thanks for your patience.

In this episode I sell my soul to Liquid Death without them asking me to, and also talk about music by Anohni and the Johnsons, Guided by Voices, Taylor Swift, and Neil Young, and the book Hyperbole and a Half. I had a lot of fun with this one. Maybe also you can do that? Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com Email: db@derekbrink.com Time Index: 0:00 - Introduction/Derek talks about water for a long time. 9:25 - You and You Alone 9:55 - Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh 17:41 - Forever Home 18:11 - Music Reviews 18:48 - Anohni and the Johnsons - My Back was a Bridge for You to Cross 23:05 - Guided by Voices - Welshpool Frillies 26:09 - Taylor Swift - Speak Now (Taylor's Version) 33:04 - Neil Young - Freedom, Ragged Glory, Weld, and Arc 42:35 - Indelible 43:05 - Outro

In this episode I pay tribute to Tony Bennett, Sinead O'Connor, and Paul Reubens. Then I talk about the new seasons of Futurama and Good Omens. And we close out with a review of the Paramore show (with Foals and The Linda Lindas) that I saw this past weekend. That and other stuff. It's a fun episode that covers a lot of ground. Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com email: db@derekbrink.com Time Index: 0:00 - Intro 13:43 - Coming Storm 14:13 - RIP to Tony Bennett, Sinead O'Connor, and Paul Reubens 32:48 - Absent Friends 33:18 - TV! 33:53 - Futurama Season 11 36:27 - Good Omens 2 42:53 - Intervention 43:23 - Paramore/The Linda Lindas 56:05 - You Only Hurt the Ones You Love 56:35 - Outro