David Bryant
@23daves.bsky.social
"I don't mean half the things I say/ So just ignore the half that you don't like"
All views expressed are personal, not those of my employer.
Writer of "Everybody's Number 1 to Someone", about NME Indie Chart toppers: https://indienumber1s.blogspot.com
All views expressed are personal, not those of my employer.
Writer of "Everybody's Number 1 to Someone", about NME Indie Chart toppers: https://indienumber1s.blogspot.com
Pinned
76. Half Man Half Biscuit - The Trumpton Riots (Probe Plus)
All the singles to top the NME Indie Charts since its launch in 1981, complete with an overview of the other music in the charts each week.
indienumber1s.blogspot.com
Blog update: Did Half Man Half Biscuit - indie chart toppers in March 1986 - have anything to do with the Oi subgenre Punk Pathetique? Did it matter? And how did the "Caretaker's Band" at a Liverpool recording studio become cult sensations with a jokey tape anyway?
In London for the day yesterday. When people slag the city off, it's always interesting that their minuses are usually my pluses. I grew up with that diversity, not just of culture and religion, but creativity, ambition and ideas. The two go hand in hand - tolerance allows innovation.
November 27, 2025 at 1:13 PM
In London for the day yesterday. When people slag the city off, it's always interesting that their minuses are usually my pluses. I grew up with that diversity, not just of culture and religion, but creativity, ambition and ideas. The two go hand in hand - tolerance allows innovation.
NO WAY NO WAY!
Today is the 56th anniversary of the first performance of Mahna Mahna on Sesame Street. You’re familiar with it by now, of course, but... well, it never hurts to be reminded, does it?
Sesame Street - Mahna Mahna (1969)
YouTube video by Tiny Dancer
youtu.be
November 27, 2025 at 12:37 PM
NO WAY NO WAY!
The hoarder is apparently back amidst the renovations. I know this, because he placed a mannequin with a cloak and top hat on by the central upper front window, so I thought a Victorian era ghost was staring out at me on my way to work at 6:45am. I don't need this, I really don't.
Spoke to a neighbour about the burnt out old 12 bedroom Victorian House at the top of my road.
"Yes, a hoarder lived there. You couldn't see past the piled up newspapers and magazines when he opened the door. And he kept a sheep in the garden. Thought I was going MAD when I first saw it..."
"Yes, a hoarder lived there. You couldn't see past the piled up newspapers and magazines when he opened the door. And he kept a sheep in the garden. Thought I was going MAD when I first saw it..."
November 26, 2025 at 10:04 PM
The hoarder is apparently back amidst the renovations. I know this, because he placed a mannequin with a cloak and top hat on by the central upper front window, so I thought a Victorian era ghost was staring out at me on my way to work at 6:45am. I don't need this, I really don't.
Reposted by David Bryant
Yeah, one of the real flaws with Bluesky is that if you make a post whose message is basically "hey, do the losers at this place still have a stick up their ass about my machine that steals their writing?" it attracts negative responses.
It's a weird glitch, and it's certainly not *your* fault.
It's a weird glitch, and it's certainly not *your* fault.
November 26, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Yeah, one of the real flaws with Bluesky is that if you make a post whose message is basically "hey, do the losers at this place still have a stick up their ass about my machine that steals their writing?" it attracts negative responses.
It's a weird glitch, and it's certainly not *your* fault.
It's a weird glitch, and it's certainly not *your* fault.
Have Burger King stopped doing their veggie whopper? Wasn’t available at Marylebone today, and it’s a tragedy if so - it genuinely was one of the best vegetarian burgers you could get anywhere (as perverse as that may sound).
November 26, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Have Burger King stopped doing their veggie whopper? Wasn’t available at Marylebone today, and it’s a tragedy if so - it genuinely was one of the best vegetarian burgers you could get anywhere (as perverse as that may sound).
At a conference. A few people in the networking area have stopped, clocked the organisation on my name badge, then walked off again. Saves me having my ear bent by someone trying to flog me rubbish, I suppose.
November 26, 2025 at 9:32 AM
At a conference. A few people in the networking area have stopped, clocked the organisation on my name badge, then walked off again. Saves me having my ear bent by someone trying to flog me rubbish, I suppose.
Reposted by David Bryant
I'm mildly obsessed with Venus Observed by Christopher Fry. Fry was the biggest name in British drama just after WWII, until John Osborne & the Royal Court tore theatre a new arsehole. So this is the Tales from Topographic Oceans to Osborne's Anarchy in the UK, to make a totally spurious comparison.
November 23, 2025 at 10:52 AM
I'm mildly obsessed with Venus Observed by Christopher Fry. Fry was the biggest name in British drama just after WWII, until John Osborne & the Royal Court tore theatre a new arsehole. So this is the Tales from Topographic Oceans to Osborne's Anarchy in the UK, to make a totally spurious comparison.
Reposted by David Bryant
This parliamentary petition for an inquiry into Russian interference in the UK has just passed 50,000 signatures. Help it get to 100,000, to trigger a parliamentary debate! petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Petition: Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy
We are concerned about reported efforts from Russia to influence democracy in the US, UK, Europe and elsewhere. We believe we must establish the depth and breadth of possible Russian influence campaig...
petition.parliament.uk
November 25, 2025 at 9:37 PM
This parliamentary petition for an inquiry into Russian interference in the UK has just passed 50,000 signatures. Help it get to 100,000, to trigger a parliamentary debate! petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Rewatching "The Birthday Party" recently and being struck by a lot more parallels with adult life than I remember from the last view (probably 20 years ago). The "sit down" argument with Stanley is like every human "negotiation" you can think of.
youtu.be/H4K__NRJSDg?...
youtu.be/H4K__NRJSDg?...
PINTER'S THE BIRTHDAY PARTY Part 2 of 4
YouTube video by britteach
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Rewatching "The Birthday Party" recently and being struck by a lot more parallels with adult life than I remember from the last view (probably 20 years ago). The "sit down" argument with Stanley is like every human "negotiation" you can think of.
youtu.be/H4K__NRJSDg?...
youtu.be/H4K__NRJSDg?...
Reposted by David Bryant
Sometimes wonder if what the UK needs is a thinktank that doesn't do any new research, it just repeats obviously true statements that people try to ignore because they're inconvenient.
International students cross-subsidise home students. Your pension is paid for out of general taxation.
International students cross-subsidise home students. Your pension is paid for out of general taxation.
November 25, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Sometimes wonder if what the UK needs is a thinktank that doesn't do any new research, it just repeats obviously true statements that people try to ignore because they're inconvenient.
International students cross-subsidise home students. Your pension is paid for out of general taxation.
International students cross-subsidise home students. Your pension is paid for out of general taxation.
Good God. Maybe this year I need to buy one of those £20 tickets to get access to my local pub and stay there for the evening.
Ronan Keating to host BBC One's #NewYearsEve celebrations. More details:
www.tvzoneuk.com/post/newyear...
www.tvzoneuk.com/post/newyear...
RONAN KEATING TO HOST BBC ONE'S NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATIONS
Get ready for the ultimate New Year’s Eve party as global music legend Ronan Keating takes centre stage to lead the celebrations into 2026. Ronan Keating & Friends: A New Year’s Eve Party promises a n...
www.tvzoneuk.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Good God. Maybe this year I need to buy one of those £20 tickets to get access to my local pub and stay there for the evening.
I know everyone's started to get excited about Joshua Idehan's stuff because "Mum Does The Washing" went viral, but I do sometimes want to scream "He's been involved in tons of amazing things for years, you know!"
youtu.be/hzTc9no4V_w?...
youtu.be/hzTc9no4V_w?...
Benin City - Baby (Official Video)
YouTube video by Audio Doughnuts
youtu.be
November 23, 2025 at 10:15 PM
I know everyone's started to get excited about Joshua Idehan's stuff because "Mum Does The Washing" went viral, but I do sometimes want to scream "He's been involved in tons of amazing things for years, you know!"
youtu.be/hzTc9no4V_w?...
youtu.be/hzTc9no4V_w?...
Honestly, I thought that Half Man Half Biscuit blog entry would struggle, but it's now had the all-time second highest number of unique hits within a 24 hour period (The Cocteau Twins are still way out in front with Pearly Dewdrops back in May). There are more HMHB fans than I realised.
November 23, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Honestly, I thought that Half Man Half Biscuit blog entry would struggle, but it's now had the all-time second highest number of unique hits within a 24 hour period (The Cocteau Twins are still way out in front with Pearly Dewdrops back in May). There are more HMHB fans than I realised.
Reposted by David Bryant
If you’re a journalist who’s still on Twitter, from now on in your writing you have to replace “the American people want” with “troll bots in Eastern Europe demand”
Being there makes your judgment suspect. I don’t care how savvy you think you are, you’re marinating in a disinformation campaign.
Being there makes your judgment suspect. I don’t care how savvy you think you are, you’re marinating in a disinformation campaign.
November 23, 2025 at 4:27 PM
If you’re a journalist who’s still on Twitter, from now on in your writing you have to replace “the American people want” with “troll bots in Eastern Europe demand”
Being there makes your judgment suspect. I don’t care how savvy you think you are, you’re marinating in a disinformation campaign.
Being there makes your judgment suspect. I don’t care how savvy you think you are, you’re marinating in a disinformation campaign.
Reposted by David Bryant
New entries also covered lower down the charts:
- Stump "Mud On A Colon"
- The Wolfhounds - "Cut The Cake"
- The Gents - "Give It To Me"
- Leather Nun - "Desolation Avenue"
- Psychic TV - "Godstar"
- Jake Burns - "She Grew Up"
- Stump "Mud On A Colon"
- The Wolfhounds - "Cut The Cake"
- The Gents - "Give It To Me"
- Leather Nun - "Desolation Avenue"
- Psychic TV - "Godstar"
- Jake Burns - "She Grew Up"
Blog update: Did Half Man Half Biscuit - indie chart toppers in March 1986 - have anything to do with the Oi subgenre Punk Pathetique? Did it matter? And how did the "Caretaker's Band" at a Liverpool recording studio become cult sensations with a jokey tape anyway?
76. Half Man Half Biscuit - The Trumpton Riots (Probe Plus)
All the singles to top the NME Indie Charts since its launch in 1981, complete with an overview of the other music in the charts each week.
indienumber1s.blogspot.com
November 23, 2025 at 12:27 PM
New entries also covered lower down the charts:
- Stump "Mud On A Colon"
- The Wolfhounds - "Cut The Cake"
- The Gents - "Give It To Me"
- Leather Nun - "Desolation Avenue"
- Psychic TV - "Godstar"
- Jake Burns - "She Grew Up"
- Stump "Mud On A Colon"
- The Wolfhounds - "Cut The Cake"
- The Gents - "Give It To Me"
- Leather Nun - "Desolation Avenue"
- Psychic TV - "Godstar"
- Jake Burns - "She Grew Up"
Reposted by David Bryant
Said the phrase 'I'm over the moon!' to a Polish man and he was a little confused and asked what I meant so I explained and when I finished he just shook his head and said 'You're happy but you have no business in space.'
November 22, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Said the phrase 'I'm over the moon!' to a Polish man and he was a little confused and asked what I meant so I explained and when I finished he just shook his head and said 'You're happy but you have no business in space.'
It says a lot about me that when I hear the chime of a city clock at 12, I don't hear the Nick Drake song - despite living in Warwickshire these days - but the announcer at the end of the KLF's "Burn The Bastards" saying "And a very Happy New Year from BBC1".
youtu.be/GiP1gLk6FOM?...
youtu.be/GiP1gLk6FOM?...
The Jams (The KLF) - Burn the B*$tards - Who Killed The Jams? - 1988
YouTube video by Rex Reynolds
youtu.be
November 23, 2025 at 3:30 PM
It says a lot about me that when I hear the chime of a city clock at 12, I don't hear the Nick Drake song - despite living in Warwickshire these days - but the announcer at the end of the KLF's "Burn The Bastards" saying "And a very Happy New Year from BBC1".
youtu.be/GiP1gLk6FOM?...
youtu.be/GiP1gLk6FOM?...
Reposted by David Bryant
NEW! #FirstLastAnything Episode 34: As a big fan of the album Pearlies by Emma Anderson (@emmaandersonmusic.bsky.social), I was delighted that Emma joined me on my music textcast to discuss it, her career in Lush and Sing-Sing, and some favourite recordings. firstlastanything.co.uk/2025/11/23/f...
FLA 34: Emma Anderson (23/11/2025)
As a first-year university student, one of the first songs of the 1990s I cherished was ‘De-Luxe’ by the London-based quartet Lush, who were signed to the independent record label 4AD. I was in the…
firstlastanything.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 11:48 AM
NEW! #FirstLastAnything Episode 34: As a big fan of the album Pearlies by Emma Anderson (@emmaandersonmusic.bsky.social), I was delighted that Emma joined me on my music textcast to discuss it, her career in Lush and Sing-Sing, and some favourite recordings. firstlastanything.co.uk/2025/11/23/f...
Reposted by David Bryant
It's time we faced up to the inconvenient truth that Paul McCartney murdered Rupert Bear.
November 23, 2025 at 10:05 AM
It's time we faced up to the inconvenient truth that Paul McCartney murdered Rupert Bear.
New entries also covered lower down the charts:
- Stump "Mud On A Colon"
- The Wolfhounds - "Cut The Cake"
- The Gents - "Give It To Me"
- Leather Nun - "Desolation Avenue"
- Psychic TV - "Godstar"
- Jake Burns - "She Grew Up"
- Stump "Mud On A Colon"
- The Wolfhounds - "Cut The Cake"
- The Gents - "Give It To Me"
- Leather Nun - "Desolation Avenue"
- Psychic TV - "Godstar"
- Jake Burns - "She Grew Up"
Blog update: Did Half Man Half Biscuit - indie chart toppers in March 1986 - have anything to do with the Oi subgenre Punk Pathetique? Did it matter? And how did the "Caretaker's Band" at a Liverpool recording studio become cult sensations with a jokey tape anyway?
76. Half Man Half Biscuit - The Trumpton Riots (Probe Plus)
All the singles to top the NME Indie Charts since its launch in 1981, complete with an overview of the other music in the charts each week.
indienumber1s.blogspot.com
November 23, 2025 at 12:27 PM
New entries also covered lower down the charts:
- Stump "Mud On A Colon"
- The Wolfhounds - "Cut The Cake"
- The Gents - "Give It To Me"
- Leather Nun - "Desolation Avenue"
- Psychic TV - "Godstar"
- Jake Burns - "She Grew Up"
- Stump "Mud On A Colon"
- The Wolfhounds - "Cut The Cake"
- The Gents - "Give It To Me"
- Leather Nun - "Desolation Avenue"
- Psychic TV - "Godstar"
- Jake Burns - "She Grew Up"
Blog update: Did Half Man Half Biscuit - indie chart toppers in March 1986 - have anything to do with the Oi subgenre Punk Pathetique? Did it matter? And how did the "Caretaker's Band" at a Liverpool recording studio become cult sensations with a jokey tape anyway?
76. Half Man Half Biscuit - The Trumpton Riots (Probe Plus)
All the singles to top the NME Indie Charts since its launch in 1981, complete with an overview of the other music in the charts each week.
indienumber1s.blogspot.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Blog update: Did Half Man Half Biscuit - indie chart toppers in March 1986 - have anything to do with the Oi subgenre Punk Pathetique? Did it matter? And how did the "Caretaker's Band" at a Liverpool recording studio become cult sensations with a jokey tape anyway?
I see people are talking about career paths.
I wanted to either be a performer or a writer or both, but got a backroom job in the arts, surrounded by other colleagues who wanted to be DJs, actors, members of successful bands, writers or performers. It's not what I wanted but it could be worse.
I wanted to either be a performer or a writer or both, but got a backroom job in the arts, surrounded by other colleagues who wanted to be DJs, actors, members of successful bands, writers or performers. It's not what I wanted but it could be worse.
November 22, 2025 at 11:01 PM
I see people are talking about career paths.
I wanted to either be a performer or a writer or both, but got a backroom job in the arts, surrounded by other colleagues who wanted to be DJs, actors, members of successful bands, writers or performers. It's not what I wanted but it could be worse.
I wanted to either be a performer or a writer or both, but got a backroom job in the arts, surrounded by other colleagues who wanted to be DJs, actors, members of successful bands, writers or performers. It's not what I wanted but it could be worse.
Reposted by David Bryant
"Thirty-eight years ago today a Chicago television signal was hijacked and the airing program was replaced by a stranger in a Max Headroom mask. The perpetrator has never been identified."
November 22, 2025 at 7:39 PM
"Thirty-eight years ago today a Chicago television signal was hijacked and the airing program was replaced by a stranger in a Max Headroom mask. The perpetrator has never been identified."
Reddit users continuing to ask the questions the mainstream media just won't touch.
November 22, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Reddit users continuing to ask the questions the mainstream media just won't touch.
It's "London Is Sinking" by Chris T-T. Despite hearing take after take of it through the floor, I still think this is an incredibly powerful album which dodges the hectoring of so much political work, and digs deep into the humanity. And its still relevant, sadly.
youtu.be/AZ5X6y9vzZs?...
youtu.be/AZ5X6y9vzZs?...
November 22, 2025 at 2:52 PM
It's "London Is Sinking" by Chris T-T. Despite hearing take after take of it through the floor, I still think this is an incredibly powerful album which dodges the hectoring of so much political work, and digs deep into the humanity. And its still relevant, sadly.
youtu.be/AZ5X6y9vzZs?...
youtu.be/AZ5X6y9vzZs?...