Empty Checking With Derek Brink

There WILL be a new episode this week...just not on Tuesday. Thanks for your understanding!

In this kinda grumpy episode, I share some personal stuff then talk about music from Michael Penn and the Decemberists, because their music helped me through a rough week. This one has a slightly different tone, but I think it still manages to be fun. Companion blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com e-mail: db@derekbrink.com Time Index: 0:00 - Intro, including me hating my new phone and ranting about how to podcast real good... 26:47 - Diner 27:17 - Music to have a bad week by... 28:04 - Michael Penn - Mr. Hollywood, Jr. 1947 37:25 - ...I get weirdly mad defending the Decemberists, who I only sort of like... 53:02 - Napalm 53:32 - Outro

In this episode I'm all over the place bidding farewell to Burt Bacharach, complaining about streaming services, praising Vox Machina, and talking about my new vests. It's fun! Give it a shot! Visit the Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com E-mail me: db@derekbrink.com Time Index: 0:00 - Intro, including talk of vests! 17:48 - Nobody Else 18:18 - RIP Burt Bacharach 29:25 - Who I Am 29:55 - TV stuff, including talk of Vox Machina and a weird rant about streaming media being terrible. 41:35 - Always 42:05 - Outro

In this episode I mostly talk about Gord Downie and The Tragically Hip, but there's also some mildly personal stuff at the start and some surprisingly deep personal stuff at the end. So it's got some layers. Make like an archaeologist and dig it! The companion blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com E-mail me: db@derekbrink.com Time index: 0:00 - Intro 18:51 - Coming Storm 19:21 - Gord Downie and The Tragically Hip 47:44 - Give It Up 48:14 - Outro and a personal story about the cats. Thanks, Checkmates!

In this slightly all over the place episode I talk about how much I hate the DMV, bid farewell to Sal Piro and David Crosby, consider wearing vests, and review new music from Iggy Pop and Guided By Voices. Check it out! Be there or don't! Companion blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com Email me: db@derekbrink.com Time Index: 0:00 - Intro, including me hating the DMV. 15:00 - Born in this Town 15:30 - RIP Sal Piro 26:11 - Absent Friends 26:41 - RIP David Crosby 38:22 - Falling 38:52 - Music Reviews - GBV and Iggy Pop 45:29 - Church Girls 46:00 - Outro

In this episode, we are once again joined by Dave and we count down our Fab 15 Cover Songs. Y'know...like in the episode title! It's a fun talk with some funny moments and some good talk. Check it out! Remember to check out the companion blog at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com and e-mail me at db@derekbrink.com with your thoughts (preferably about the show)! Time Index: 0:00 - Intro/Preface 14:09 - Starting the list 14:25 - #15 - We're both shocked Dave didn't think of this... 20:08 - #14 - I want to stop saying something is higher on my list. And a brief tribute to David Crosby. 26:49 - #13 - Stepping away from the Rock genre. 31:01 - #12 - I didn't know that was a cover! 37:51 - #11 - Derek yells the f-word. 45:25 - #10 - It's easier to sing. 48:53 - #9 - Yeah, but what if it rocked? 53:36 - #8 - You wanna hear something funny? (1/4) 1:00:30 - #7 - We find out Dave's wedding song, but that's not really part of the list. Shut up. 1:11:55 - #6 - IT'S A SONG?!?/You know how to spell it... 1:19:32 - #5 - You

In this episode I talk about the new album my Margo Price, the weirdest movie I've ever seen in my life (The American Astronaut), Wall-E, and the Kurt Vonnegut documentary, "Unstuck in Time." It hangs together a lot better than it sounds... Dig it! Remember to visit the companion blog at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com. You can e-mail me your thoughts, arguments, and so on at db@derekbrink.com. And so on. Time Index: 0:00 - Intro 9:57 - I Hope You're Happy Now 10:27 - Music Review - Margo Price - "Strays" 19:10 - Bullsh*t 19:40 - Movie Reviews 20:09 - The American Astronaut 31:45 - Wall-E 40:38 - Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time 49:32 - That Weekend (Blue Tattoo) 50:02 - Outro

In the first episode of the new year I review a bunch of stuff from last year, including music from Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, and The Smile, and the movies Glass Onion and Clerks III. It's a good one. I'm inexcusably drunk for about half of it, too. So. There's also that. (SPOILERS GALORE on the movies, btw!) Remember to check out the companion blog at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com and e-mail me at db@derekbrink.com. Time Index: 0:00 - Intro 12:21 - Deeper Than Oceans 12:51 - Music Reviews 14:06 - Bruce Springsteen - Only the Strong Survive 20:58 - The Smile - I don't remember the title and I bet I forget to find it... 27:18 - Neil Young - World Record 34:13 - Lectio Divina 34:43 - Movie Reviews 37:20 - Glass Onion 59:49 - Clerks III 1:13:03 - Absent Friends 1:13:33 - Outro, including me talking to the cats.

There's a typo in the file name and I can't fix it. Obviously it's 2023. You don't need to tell me that. This is an upload to tell you why there isn't an upload yet. It'll come soon. I promise. Thanks for your patience in the meantime. - Uncle Derek

In this episode I count down my top ten favorite albums of 2022, including a bunch of honorable mentions and some other stuff. (And no, #1 is NOT visible in the thumbnail!) It's always a good time, any time I get to make a list! :) Remember you can e-mail me at db@derekbrink.com--tell me your favorites from this year! And there is a companion blog at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com with photos and stuff. Time Index: 0:00 - Intro Stuff (Including my favorite music memories from this year.) 17:08 - Born in this Town 17:38 - Mostly Honorable Mentions 38:43 - Hindsight 39:13 - The Top Ten! 1:15:31 - Being There 1:16:01 - Outro (Including some other music that isn't new, but I learned of it this year, and a heartfelt THANK YOU to the Checkmates for 2022!)

A quick Merry Christmas from your Uncle Derek! Thanks for being part of the show this year! We'll have a new episode for you next week, but until then, that Who episode was pretty long and it's been busy, so you probably haven't finished that yet. :)

The FAB 15 returns! And this time we're tackling the inevitable. The Fab 15 WHO SONGS! We were always bound to do this. So we did it. Dave and I are absolute fanatics about The Who, and you get to hear us gush about them for a looooooong time this week! Sit back, relax, call your job to tell them you're going to be late tomorrow, because you had to stay up listening to the end. It's a good one! Remember you can visit the companion blog at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com and e-mail the show at db@derekbrink.com, if you wanna. Time Index: 0:00 - Intro 12:14 - #15 - AN EXACT MATCH! 17:29 - #14 - Oh, that's what that means... 22:07 - #13 - Recognizing John Entwistle 28:34 - #12 - I love the Englishness. 35:41 - #11 - That's alright. 40:16 - #10 - The screaming voice of Roger Daltrey. 48:59 - #9 - WHY ISN'T THE SEEKER ON OUR LISTS? 55:36 - #8 - Nobody does... 1:07:43 - #7 - Dave did NOT take my #1. 1:20:30 - #6 - Another number. 1:37:12 - #5 - Shenanigans! 1:55:35 - #4 - A song I was always supposed to love. 2:0

In this episode, I yell at you about JRR Tolkien and the Rings of Power for a long time, but also talk about music from Marc with a C and Neil Young, and share some "RIPs" to Bob McGrath, Christine McVie, and Kirstie Alley. The cover photo does not accurately represent the time spent on the topics represented, but whatever! It's a good one. Enjoy! Remember to check out the companion blogs at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com. You can e-mail me with your responses/questions at db@derekbrink.com. Time Index: 0:00 - Intro RIPs - 7:30 21:22 - Hindsight 21:52 - Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power (and everything else!) 1:04:31 - Battle Cry 1:05:01 - Music reviews: Marc With A C - Thanatphobia; Neil Young - Harvest 50th Anniversary 1:16:45 - Repass 1:17:15 - Outro

In this long-overdue episode I talk about Boy Meet World, the related podcast Pod Meets World, music from Lou Reed, Wesley Willis, and Off, and a bunch of other stuff including the cats (you can hear McGuire meow!) and my newfound love of making stuff on a loom. It's kind of all over the place. And shorter than usual. What's not to love? Remember to check out the companion blog at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com and e-mail me at db@derekbrink.com with your thoughts and questions and stuff. Time index: 0:00 - Intro 2:51 - A little bit of wrestling talk, upon request. 7:34 - I weave scarves now. 12:27 - Remember Me 12:57 - Additional talk about the cats... 14:40 - Boy Meets World/Pod Meets World 23:09 - Being There 23:39 - Music 23:46 - Wesley Willis 29:59 - Lou Reed - Words & Music 33:12 - Off - Free LSD 36:20 - You and Your Perfect Life 36:50 - Outro

In this "special episode," I talk about Kevin Conroy and share my grief at his passing. I'm 100% sure my thoughts are incomplete and imperfect. But I hope you hear my heart. Kevin Conroy was MY Batman. He WAS Batman. This goes some small way in expressing my admiration and mourning. Please check out http://emptychecking.blogspot.com for some relevant info/links. Or e-mail me at db@derekbrink.com to talk about your memories and feelings for Kevin Conroy. Otherwise...go out there and be Batman, folks.

I'm finally back doing my solo-act! And in this one I mostly tell some stories and catch up on some recent releases from Julian Lennon, Demi Lovato, Taylor Swift, The Pixies, Flogging Molly, and Dropkick Murphys. It's fun. Come have fun with me! :) And feel free to check out the companion blog at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com and e-mail me at db@derekbrink.com. Time Index: 0:00 - Intro 17:20 - Church Girls 17:50 - Music Reviews (Intro) 18:41 - Julian Lennon - Jude 21:38 - Flogging Molly - Anthem 24:02 - Dropkick Murphys - This Machine Still Kills Fascists 27:51 - Pixies - Doggerel 29:53 - Demi Lovato - Holy Fvck 37:47 - Taylor Swift - Midnights 47:01 - Being There 47:31 - Outro

I've been under the weather and recorded a quick update from my phone telling you...pretty much just that... New episode as soon as I'm able!

This was a really fun episode for me, in which I basically got to fan-boy all over one of my friends for a long time. Jim Ousley has been writing cool comics, music, haikus, and other stuff for years, and his newest project, The Atonement Bell (available everywhere 11/9) is some of his best work yet, in my opinion. I was excited to talk to him about the story, but also to talk about everything else under the sun. Check it out! Also check out the companion blog at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com for photos and more. And always feel free to e-mail me at db@derekbrink.com with your thoughts and questions. No time index this week, since it's an interview. Just sit back and enjoy it, knowing that the FULL version was 2.5 hours long, but I edited it down to and hour and 42 minutes, for your sake. :) 

In a few days, you'll be listening to me talk to my friend Jim Ousely about his upcoming comic, The Atonement Bell (out 11/9!) and a myriad of other things. Here's me telling you why you should...and why it's still a couple days away. :)

I'm back on my own this week and I kept it pretty simple. I give a life update, then talk about The Sandman, Glenn Tilbrook, and an awesome beer I had last week. Check it out! Remember to check out the companion blog at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com for photos and more. And you can e-mail me your thoughts at db@derekbrink.com. Time Index: 0:00 - Intro 6:07 - It's been a weird week... 7-ish Minutes (I didn't write it down) - I start talking about a home renovation project... 13:22 - The Thing in the Wall 18:43 - Born in this Town 19:13 - The Sandman 31:34 - Being There 32:04 - Glenn Tilbrook and Squeeze 36:31 - Heavy Riff Velvet Underbrown 38:29 - Back to talking about Glenn Tilbrook 48:14 - Diner 48:44 - Outro/Coming Attractions