James Morris
@jamesdmorris.bsky.social
Simply noting when the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better, particularly if they in polling, politics or music.
Two nights, two sold out gigs in the round. The O2 slightly bigger than the Cockpit, but still each five brilliant musicians playing together, collaborating, creating sounds you haven’t heard before and ones that sound deeply familiar, to tell stories and inspire feeling. Both, unabashed art rock
November 25, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Two nights, two sold out gigs in the round. The O2 slightly bigger than the Cockpit, but still each five brilliant musicians playing together, collaborating, creating sounds you haven’t heard before and ones that sound deeply familiar, to tell stories and inspire feeling. Both, unabashed art rock
Last night. Tonight. Tomorrow night. Saturday night. London is an amazing place to live.
November 24, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Last night. Tonight. Tomorrow night. Saturday night. London is an amazing place to live.
Fair play to the picture editor for finding an image to summarise their reaction after mentally reconciling the second part of this sentence with the opening.
October 13, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Fair play to the picture editor for finding an image to summarise their reaction after mentally reconciling the second part of this sentence with the opening.
John Zorn at the Vanguard. He’s an absolute genius. Klezmer, Blues, Eric Dolphy whoknowswhatness. Incredible band. And a tight, hugely enjoyable 60min set. Nothing better.
September 24, 2025 at 1:33 AM
John Zorn at the Vanguard. He’s an absolute genius. Klezmer, Blues, Eric Dolphy whoknowswhatness. Incredible band. And a tight, hugely enjoyable 60min set. Nothing better.
Andrea Berta bringing a new approach to making Arsenal players available
July 28, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Andrea Berta bringing a new approach to making Arsenal players available
Had tickets to see Beth Gibbons last night at the Roundhouse but gave them up to take my youngest to her first gig*; so watching her Glasto set now on TV. Sad to miss this tour - looks brilliant.
*Olivia Rodrigo, Hyde Park, genuinely good, great band and top tunes. Will go down a storm tomorrow.
*Olivia Rodrigo, Hyde Park, genuinely good, great band and top tunes. Will go down a storm tomorrow.
June 28, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Had tickets to see Beth Gibbons last night at the Roundhouse but gave them up to take my youngest to her first gig*; so watching her Glasto set now on TV. Sad to miss this tour - looks brilliant.
*Olivia Rodrigo, Hyde Park, genuinely good, great band and top tunes. Will go down a storm tomorrow.
*Olivia Rodrigo, Hyde Park, genuinely good, great band and top tunes. Will go down a storm tomorrow.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs at the spectacular Royal Albert Hall - even made use of the organ. Totally different to their full on 2022 gig in Brixton - pared back, intimate, less synth, more acoustic guitar. But still 100% them, continuing to try different things and push themselves even in their 25th year.
June 20, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Yeah Yeah Yeahs at the spectacular Royal Albert Hall - even made use of the organ. Totally different to their full on 2022 gig in Brixton - pared back, intimate, less synth, more acoustic guitar. But still 100% them, continuing to try different things and push themselves even in their 25th year.
Leaving the gig during their last Brixton residency, I wished I could go back. Three years later @lcdsoundsystem.bsky.social booked another stand & I got my chance. Exhilarating enveloping live sound - the drop in Tribulations, the sonic variation in Losing my Edge, the euphoria of All My Friends
June 15, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Leaving the gig during their last Brixton residency, I wished I could go back. Three years later @lcdsoundsystem.bsky.social booked another stand & I got my chance. Exhilarating enveloping live sound - the drop in Tribulations, the sonic variation in Losing my Edge, the euphoria of All My Friends
Iggy at Ally Pally last night. He’s got great songs, including on the new album, and the only hint at his age came in the box he left the stage in. The Stooges tracks sound huge now, must have been extraordinary back then.
May 29, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Iggy at Ally Pally last night. He’s got great songs, including on the new album, and the only hint at his age came in the box he left the stage in. The Stooges tracks sound huge now, must have been extraordinary back then.
Very 90s night out at the Donmar Warehouse, watching Patrick Marber’s debut play be treated like a period drama. Somewhat amusing, highly engaging, ensemble piece where everyone is flawed in totally expected but nevertheless meaningful ways. Brilliantly staged in such a tiny theatre.
May 4, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Very 90s night out at the Donmar Warehouse, watching Patrick Marber’s debut play be treated like a period drama. Somewhat amusing, highly engaging, ensemble piece where everyone is flawed in totally expected but nevertheless meaningful ways. Brilliantly staged in such a tiny theatre.
What a treat the Bertha Dochouse is. A screen devoted to docs at the beautiful Brunswick centre cinema. Saw Dig! for the first time there on Tues. Great film about art, friendship, delusion and economics. Seeing the struggle, jealousy & conflict made Feb’s Brixton gig even more joyful in retrospect.
March 27, 2025 at 9:39 PM
What a treat the Bertha Dochouse is. A screen devoted to docs at the beautiful Brunswick centre cinema. Saw Dig! for the first time there on Tues. Great film about art, friendship, delusion and economics. Seeing the struggle, jealousy & conflict made Feb’s Brixton gig even more joyful in retrospect.
Max Cooper at the Roundhouse was all about huge visuals and huge sound but for most of it I felt like Id wandered into a screensaver convention where the conference manager had figured out how to train an LLM on Insides by Orbital. I liked the Squarepushery and Swervey bits but all too retro for me
March 15, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Max Cooper at the Roundhouse was all about huge visuals and huge sound but for most of it I felt like Id wandered into a screensaver convention where the conference manager had figured out how to train an LLM on Insides by Orbital. I liked the Squarepushery and Swervey bits but all too retro for me
Tbh I didn’t know there was a big need for workwear for children any more
March 3, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Tbh I didn’t know there was a big need for workwear for children any more
Jack White at the Troxy. A rolling sprint, rooted in blues and bringing the peak of Jonny Guitar rock; stitched together as perfectly as an uber produced stadium boring mega tour, but played with no set list. Firecracking energy without a pause.
March 2, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Jack White at the Troxy. A rolling sprint, rooted in blues and bringing the peak of Jonny Guitar rock; stitched together as perfectly as an uber produced stadium boring mega tour, but played with no set list. Firecracking energy without a pause.
Uplifting view from the office earlier
February 24, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Uplifting view from the office earlier
The greatest Swedish language indie song was, perhaps inevitably, written by Berlin-based Californian shoegaze psychfolk Brixton-Academy-filling seven-piece, the Brian Jonestown Massacre. A highlight from a wall of noise and lots of smiling faces. #Vad Hände Med Dem
February 17, 2025 at 12:18 PM
The greatest Swedish language indie song was, perhaps inevitably, written by Berlin-based Californian shoegaze psychfolk Brixton-Academy-filling seven-piece, the Brian Jonestown Massacre. A highlight from a wall of noise and lots of smiling faces. #Vad Hände Med Dem
The BBC can today exclusively reveal the faith of the pontiff
January 31, 2025 at 9:54 PM
The BBC can today exclusively reveal the faith of the pontiff
In London yesterday the anger was aimed at Bibi. And he deserves it. But the war wouldn’t have happened without 10/7 - described by Hamas this week as ‘a source of pride’. @markurban.bsky.social interesting on views in Gaza, a world away from Corbynite zeitgeist.
www.thetimes.com/article/de40...
www.thetimes.com/article/de40...
![An excerpt from the article linked to: In November Professor Salman al-Dayah, former dean of sharia school at Islamic University in Gaza, issued a fatwa, or religious opinion, condemning the group for the October 7 attack, arguing it should not have gone ahead because of its likely consequences for Palestinians. He added that Hamas had failed in its obligations "of) keeping fighters away from the homes of defenceless [Palestinian] civilians and their shelters and providing security and safety as much as possible in the various aspects of life".
In the first weeks of the war Moussa Abu Marzouk, a Hamas politburo member, noted that the group's tunnels were built to ensure the survival of its own fighters whereas the protection of civilians was not their responsibility. Months later in communications over a possible hostage deal, Yahya Sinwar, architect of the October 7 attacks went further, describing the loss of Palestinian civilians as a "necessary sacrifice”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ofo6je67rqgwzkzapbhcgy2c/bafkreibvcfuh2uy3zxzddjn6q7hnka2vlddqipauk7gygqbbmd54zglx5i@jpeg)
January 19, 2025 at 11:50 AM
In London yesterday the anger was aimed at Bibi. And he deserves it. But the war wouldn’t have happened without 10/7 - described by Hamas this week as ‘a source of pride’. @markurban.bsky.social interesting on views in Gaza, a world away from Corbynite zeitgeist.
www.thetimes.com/article/de40...
www.thetimes.com/article/de40...
A twelfth night celebration outside The Globe
January 5, 2025 at 3:18 PM
A twelfth night celebration outside The Globe
Playing material from throughout his career, it was a blues night with singers covering their favourite Lanegan songs. I’d never paid attention to Dave Gahan before but he was brilliant. So many great performances. A vivid band, up to 7 guitars plus drums, keys, strings and occasional solo slots too
December 6, 2024 at 10:02 AM
Playing material from throughout his career, it was a blues night with singers covering their favourite Lanegan songs. I’d never paid attention to Dave Gahan before but he was brilliant. So many great performances. A vivid band, up to 7 guitars plus drums, keys, strings and occasional solo slots too
Mark Lanegan celebration at the Roundhouse. No one knew when it would start or the format so by 7pm there was a queue round the block and under the bridge in the pouring rain. It was worth it.
December 6, 2024 at 9:52 AM
Mark Lanegan celebration at the Roundhouse. No one knew when it would start or the format so by 7pm there was a queue round the block and under the bridge in the pouring rain. It was worth it.
@jonnelledge.bsky.social thought you’d appreciate the design of the seats on the Lisbon metro
November 24, 2024 at 7:54 PM
@jonnelledge.bsky.social thought you’d appreciate the design of the seats on the Lisbon metro
Went to the recording of last night’s Later with Jools Holland: St Vincent, Yannis and the Yaw, Arooj Aftab and a little backstage tour, where the director told us a bit about how she helped create the show. Archetypal episode you can watch here: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
November 24, 2024 at 9:31 AM
Went to the recording of last night’s Later with Jools Holland: St Vincent, Yannis and the Yaw, Arooj Aftab and a little backstage tour, where the director told us a bit about how she helped create the show. Archetypal episode you can watch here: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Any band that can create a 30 square meter mosh pit for a song with lyrics about a James Joyce novel is special.
November 23, 2024 at 1:01 PM
Any band that can create a 30 square meter mosh pit for a song with lyrics about a James Joyce novel is special.
All standout players, but Anthony Coleman on keys was the standoutiest. Looked like my bored uncle waiting for a bus but hit the keys like Bernie Worrell. Part of that downtown Radical Jewish Culture scene and keeping the flame alive (looked him up and his latest album is with the YYYs drummer).
November 19, 2024 at 11:26 AM
All standout players, but Anthony Coleman on keys was the standoutiest. Looked like my bored uncle waiting for a bus but hit the keys like Bernie Worrell. Part of that downtown Radical Jewish Culture scene and keeping the flame alive (looked him up and his latest album is with the YYYs drummer).