Ned Raggett
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nedraggett.bsky.social
Ned Raggett
@nedraggett.bsky.social
9.3K followers 1.7K following 17K posts
Hi! I write about music at various spots (@thequietus.com, @thewiremagazine.bsky.social, Shfl and my Patreon, also in the past @allmusic.com, @pitchfork.com, @bandcamp.com etc. etc.). Plus podcasting about #Tolkien with friends at @bythebywater.bsky.social
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nedraggett.bsky.social
And so #RoddyBottum speaks at @citylightsbooks.bsky.social with #BrontezPurnell — a fine night out! And also an early evening night out, which frankly I very much appreciate.
In City Lights. seated with shelves of books behind them, Roddy Bottum, in pink knit cap and blue and white buttoned shirt, speaks into a microphone while Brontez Purnell. in black Wire T-shirt, sits and looks at him on the left.
November 21, 2025 at 4:13 AM
nedraggett.bsky.social
I gotta say, this part from York was especially bracing.
Legal, frictionless app-based gambling is the most dangerous consumer product rollout of my lifetime, and is causing a growing public health crisis that should be treated with the same urgency as though half of men aged 21–45 suddenly became addicted to heroin. At least the upside with heroin is that we’d quickly run into a supply problem, and these men would experience the added barrier of interacting with a human to get it. Setting aside the ominous future ahead of all of us when an entire generation of men are entering their post-college lives with a hopeless addiction to the endorphin rush of losing all of their money, it’s just so boring to hear about gambling on television and podcasts. There are precious few shows left on TV that don’t have a gambling odds ticker scrolling across the screen while some sweaty millennial degenerate nerd yells about the spread. I find myself gravitating towards the grizzled boomers who still want to talk X’s and O’s. Give me Rex Ryan screaming about Dan Campbell’s playcalling any day. I genuinely find that more entertaining than some podcast dweeb earnestly telling me what’s on “his card” for the weekend’s games, or some guy on Twitter freaking out about how the games are rigged because he lost the mortgage on a parlay. You’re all such fucking dorks!
November 20, 2025 at 9:58 PM
nedraggett.bsky.social
Well, gotta say I hadn't realized there was a forthcoming film out there that makes _Rebel Moon_ look like, I dunno, _2001_ or whatever, but by gum I think it exists. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holigua...
From Wikipedia: Holiguards Saga — The Portal of Force is an upcoming supernatural action thriller film directed by Kevin Spacey and written by Sergey Torchilin and Lado Okhotnikov. It stars Spacey, Dolph Lundgren, Tyrese Gibson, Brianna Hildebrand, Disha Patani, and Eric Roberts. It is the first installment of the Statiguards vs. Holiguards franchise. Premise In a divided future, ancient Holiguards and Statiguards fight secretly for humanity. A woman discovers she's born to rival leaders as a Statiguard plans to attack Paris and unleash the Prime.
November 20, 2025 at 9:53 PM
nedraggett.bsky.social
So here's my Mani live-in-concert story, one of the two times I saw him. Too long for just one post and to make it easier, just c/ping my FB post instead. A true dude, and the posts from people I know who met or interviewed him saying he was a prince of a guy make it clear we lost a good one.
So, never saw the Stone Roses, but was following Primal Scream for a stretch, Gillespie's general wannabeness aside, and of the four times, saw them twice with Mani. The second time, and the final time overall, was an early 2000s gig for _Evil Heat_ over here in California with Chris Barrus and, I want to say, Eve McGivern. As the band members come on stage one by one, they get various cheers, including Gillespie, but Mani comes on stage and the place almost erupts in cheers and general love. He had a big ol' smile on his face -- and I also remember Gillespie looking clearly narced off. To which I say, "Yeah, that figures." I'll add that Mani almost launched himself into those performances, the dude was on in the best way. He made what I generally thought were the pretty weak/rote 'rock' songs the band released around then sound like absolute crushers, and when it came to the more dance-specific tracks like "Shoot Speed Kill Light" or the like, goddamn. I can easily recall almost a wild look in his eyes when he started up that bass on "Kowalski." Damn, folks, that's how to leave a mark.
November 20, 2025 at 5:15 PM
nedraggett.bsky.social
I cannot begin to describe how amazing it was last night to see a screening of the new @turasatanaofficial.bsky.social documentary with Peaches Christ, in the company of Tura's daughter Jade, manager Siouxzan Perry and the director Cody Jarrett. See this movie as soon as you can, it's on streaming.
At the SF Alamo Drafthouse screening of _Tura!_, a new documentary about the life of actress/dancer/cult figure Tura Satana, a post-film chat features moderator Peaches Christ in full drag on the left; on the right are Satana's daughter Jade, Satana's manager Siouxzan Perry and doc writer/director Cody Jarrett, the latter of whom is speaking to the audience.
November 20, 2025 at 3:19 PM
nedraggett.bsky.social
It was an absolute treat to be asked by Michael Horton to contribute the essay to the first time ever vinyl issue of the debut album by his still remarkable early 1990s duo with Philip Haut, Supercollider. Art by Rudy Vanderlans, who originally released this on Emigre back then. More info in thread.
The cover of the vinyl issue of the debut album by the duo Supercollider, featuring the band's name in staggered groups in black letters on a day-glo yellow/green rectangle set against a bar-code like series of black bars and a white semicircle against a black background. My essay for the reissue of Supercollider's debut album -- admittedly somewhat small print and the entirety would not fit in the alt text here, I'm sorry to say. It appears in black letters on a day-glo yellow/green box on the right, while on the left is a black and white photo of the duo performing live from the early 1990s, Michael Horton on guitar up front at the mike while Philip Haut is on drums and other instruments seated behind him.
November 17, 2025 at 12:26 AM
nedraggett.bsky.social
Meantime on #DragRaceEspaña
On the Drag Race España main stage, Laca Udilla, at a podium dressed up in a blonde wig for the roast competition, looks out at both the studio audience and her fellow queens and says "Is this the Spanish Parliament?"
November 17, 2025 at 12:08 AM
nedraggett.bsky.social
Meanwhile on #DragRaceUK
In the Drag Race UK werk room, Caitrin Feelings in boy mode on the right, with overalls and a darker top, says to Diane Parish on the left, in a (fake?) fur coat and a white top, "So I know you're a very talented actor. Have you ever acted as a sheep before?"
November 15, 2025 at 3:00 AM
nedraggett.bsky.social
I mean I always choose to assume people are talking about this instead.
The cover of Peter Ackroyd's 1987 novel _Chatterton_, featuring a reproduction of Henry Wallis's oil painting _The Death of Chatterton_ from the mid-1850s, featuring the self-poisoned 18th century poet sprawled out dead on a sofa in a garrett with an open window looking out onto a London skyline in the background.
November 13, 2025 at 10:35 PM
nedraggett.bsky.social
There is something beautiful about this opening.
Kevin D. Roberts is the president of the Heritage Foundation, a powerful think tank at the center of conservative politics. He makes more than $800,000 a year. He manages a budget of $100 million. He has a doctorate in history. Now, he is trying to escape a gaffe that could derail his career. So he is asking allies to believe something at odds with his sophisticated credentials: He erred out of ignorance, because he does not follow current events. “I actually don’t have time to consume a lot of news,” Mr. Roberts told staff members at the Heritage Foundation last week. “I consume a lot of sports.”
November 13, 2025 at 4:00 PM
nedraggett.bsky.social
I find this photo John provided for the article of particular interest. Attending UC Irvine as I did in the early 1990s for grad school, various Inland Empire folks played shows/appeared on KUCI during that time, but I honestly think I missed John's own appearances then. So near yet so far.
A photo of a batch of cassette tapes provided by John Darnielle for the GQ feature on him by Grayson Haver Currin in late 2025. In the center of the box, upside down, is a tape partially reading 'Irvine 1993.'
November 12, 2025 at 10:27 PM
nedraggett.bsky.social
Meanwhile at #DragRaceVegas
On the RuPaul's Drag Race Live stage at the Flamingo in Las Vegas, Jimbo appears as Joan Rivers to the left holding up a huge mock-up remote while Kahanna Montrese, Derrick Barry, Asia O'Hara and a facing-away Morphine Love Dion do various poses, smiles and looks.
November 12, 2025 at 8:12 PM
nedraggett.bsky.social
Meantime on #DragRaceEspaña
In a Drag Race España main challenge skit based in improv, Nyx, second from left in pink leading a team trying to convince someone to rent a very 80s Pee Wee coded pink apartment, reacts to the client on the left saying "If the marijuana plant's included..."
November 12, 2025 at 4:29 AM
nedraggett.bsky.social
Meanwhile on #DragRaceUK
On the set of Snatch Me Out, Bonnie Ann Clyde, appearing as Chair (long story) in full curly black hair and dress say “Sit on someone else’s face, I’m busy.”
November 8, 2025 at 2:11 AM
nedraggett.bsky.social
I try not to think about the actual wart at the heart of it all too much but this bit from earlier today is pretty telling on several levels. Open "I wanna be the scary strongman" talk, JD Vance is apparently is an interrupter, and he has no problem shit-talking said veep in public.
A screencap of Trump speaking today about things and apparently saying per the post from the Bulwark: "I want my cabinet to behave like [Xi Jinping's staff]. I'm demanding that...I've never seen men so scared in their lives...JD doesn't behave like that. JD butts into conversations."
November 5, 2025 at 10:17 PM
nedraggett.bsky.social
Oh and as a final final coda for the day, this just arrived in the mail, aw yeah. As Roddy will have a book event in a couple of weeks at City Lights being interviewed by Brontez Purnell, I really should see if I can make that...
A copy of Roddy Bottum's newly published memoir _The Royal We_, featuring a black and white photo of a young Roddy (no beard, long hair, a black top) on the cover.
November 5, 2025 at 6:19 AM
nedraggett.bsky.social
And adding that #clairerousay was indeed all that and a bag of chips just now at the Chapel. Man that felt good to see on top of everything else today.
claire rousay at the Chapel in San Francisco, Nov. 4, 2025. claire is seated at a table onstage with her gear, looking intently at her laptop, while backlit by green stage lights.
November 5, 2025 at 6:12 AM
nedraggett.bsky.social
Enjoying what is clearly a delightful evening in general first by seeing a one-off screening of 1984’s _Return of Godzilla_ and now at a show by claire rousay — she’ll be on soon, as Gretchen Korsmo has just finished her ser.
Gretchen Korsma on stage at the Chapel, San Francisco, Nov. 4 2025. She is seated at a table with her gear and a mike in smoky green light.
November 5, 2025 at 4:31 AM
nedraggett.bsky.social
Okay, California, don’t let NYC and elsewhere have all the fun. (Turned in my ballot some weeks back but of course today is when to bust this out.)
An “I Voted” sticker on a blue sweatshirt.
November 4, 2025 at 7:14 PM
nedraggett.bsky.social
On a random note, an exchange elsewhere with @wordgarbler.bsky.social reminded me of this 1982 entry of _Wormy_, the at once funny and often very artistically striking comic created by legendary TSR/early D&D artist Dave Trampier. Had the issue around and scanned this bit of fun RPG meta.
The first of two pages of the June 1982 entry of David Trampier's _Wormy_, as published in Dragon magazine. The first pages shows three characters, a one-eyed cyclops type in overalls, a one-eyed hound dog and a small orange dragon, Fred, playing a suspiciously D&D like game while sitting at a picnic bench outside of a 'normal' house on a nice blue-sky day. Among other things, Fred attempts to break down a door in the game, but the combination of a seventeen strength but a dexterity of four means he misses the door but now there's a hole in the wall. In the second page of the _Wormy_ entry from the June 1982 issue of Dragon magazine, as drawn by David Trampier, the title character, a human-sized green dragon on two legs with a blue cap pulled over his eyes and a small red demon perched on his cap, startles the trio playing the in-universe RPG _Expanded Grottos and Goblins_. Both Wormy and the demon express interest in the game but due to them not knowing the rules, Wormy eventually says "Nevermind, Ace...just put us down as a party of yawning spectators."
November 4, 2025 at 1:48 AM
nedraggett.bsky.social
Mind you I ended up thinking he seemed a pretty good sort in the end because 1) he loved the Python sketch and 2) he did this in WWII, which, you know, props. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Wh...
From Alan Whicker's Wikipedia page: Military service During the Second World War he served in the British Army.[5] He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Devonshire Regiment on 8 August 1942.[6] He then joined the British Army's Army Film and Photographic Unit in Italy in 1943,[4] filming at Anzio and meeting such influential figures as Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery.[7] In March 1944, he was mentioned in despatches "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Sicily".[8] He transferred to the Royal Army Ordnance Corps on 1 April 1945 with the war substantive rank of lieutenant.[9] In the documentary Whicker's War he revealed that he was one of the first in the Allied forces to enter Milan and that he took into custody an SS general and staff who were guarding the SS's paymaster's payroll money used to pay the SS troops, along with large amounts of cash in various foreign currencies, all contained within a large trunk. Whicker later handed over the SS men and the trunk of cash to the commander of an advancing US armoured column.[10] While in Milan Whicker shot footage of the body of Benito Mussolini[4] and was also responsible for taking into custody British traitor John Amery.[7]
November 3, 2025 at 4:26 PM
nedraggett.bsky.social
Time for another holiday classic.
Trixie Mattel and Katya in the first season UNHhhh Halloween episode, all gothed out against a red background.
November 1, 2025 at 3:53 AM
nedraggett.bsky.social
You know it’s time.
The title card for It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.
November 1, 2025 at 2:17 AM
nedraggett.bsky.social
Somehow I forgot to follow @deafcrocodile.bsky.social on here until now, so I'm correcting that. Truly an amazing boutique film imprint with a deep catalogue and brilliant art choices. Here's their latest, two 1920s silent films by Henrik Galeen -- and bespoke edition cover art by Dave McKean.
The Deaf Crocodile limited edition cover of Henrik Galeen's 1928 expressionist sf film _Alraune_, featuring a depiction of Paul Wegener's scientist in profile in black and white cradling a vision of Brigitte Helm's Alraune as a green rooted plant with a face, also in profile, all against a black and gold background with the title and director credit at the bottom. The Deaf Crocodile limited edition cover of Henrik Galeen's 1926 gothic horror film _The Student of Prague_, featuring a depiction of Conrad Veidt's titular character in black, white, greys and a tinted blue emerging with a drawn sword from a building onto an empty cobblestone street, but with his ghostly shadow self projected onto the building's wall. A black and gold background with the title and director credit is at the bottom.
October 31, 2025 at 11:00 PM
nedraggett.bsky.social
So there’s this Variety story about the MTV show _Ridiculousness_ being cancelled, which, whatever. But this detail at the end, surely not an editing mistake, is more interesting. So I can buy the whole network for just that? variety.com/2025/tv/news...
Killing “Ridiculousness” marks a big cutback for the network as Paramount restructures its brands after its $8 merger with David Ellison’s Skydance.
October 31, 2025 at 5:15 PM