Thomas Messenger
@thomasmessenger.bsky.social
Work in Westminster. I used to tweet about politics, I now mostly post about music. Otherwise most likely found up a mountain or listening to Bruce Springsteen. (S)W1A.
…this was by and large wonderful. A perfect set focused heavily on the hits (did anyone in the room want to hear anything different?) and when things came together, they really did and the old magic shone through. Daltrey’s voice remains phenomenal which, at 81, is no mean feat. A bucket list show.
March 31, 2025 at 6:57 AM
…this was by and large wonderful. A perfect set focused heavily on the hits (did anyone in the room want to hear anything different?) and when things came together, they really did and the old magic shone through. Daltrey’s voice remains phenomenal which, at 81, is no mean feat. A bucket list show.
To the Royal Albert Hall last night for one of The Who’s annual Teenage Cancer Trust gigs (an excellent charity and it is a credit to Daltrey that he backs them so vociferously). Despite the number of tech issues, dodgy mixes, and references to knee replacements and being in their “geriatric” age…
March 31, 2025 at 6:57 AM
To the Royal Albert Hall last night for one of The Who’s annual Teenage Cancer Trust gigs (an excellent charity and it is a credit to Daltrey that he backs them so vociferously). Despite the number of tech issues, dodgy mixes, and references to knee replacements and being in their “geriatric” age…
Punch really was phenomenal at the Young Vic last night. I can’t remember where I read it, but this is a play the Govt really should throw money at so it can reach as many young men as possible.
March 15, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Punch really was phenomenal at the Young Vic last night. I can’t remember where I read it, but this is a play the Govt really should throw money at so it can reach as many young men as possible.
There’s a new Paul McCartney album coming in 2025. I’m a big fan of Egypt Station and McCartney III so good news!
December 22, 2024 at 1:52 PM
There’s a new Paul McCartney album coming in 2025. I’m a big fan of Egypt Station and McCartney III so good news!
Blown away by Paul McCartney last night. Without a doubt one of the greatest shows I've ever seen. 3hrs of unbridled joy with some of the greatest music ever written performed by one of the most influential icons in cultural history. It is genuinely astounding he still performs at this level at 82!
December 20, 2024 at 12:08 PM
Blown away by Paul McCartney last night. Without a doubt one of the greatest shows I've ever seen. 3hrs of unbridled joy with some of the greatest music ever written performed by one of the most influential icons in cultural history. It is genuinely astounding he still performs at this level at 82!
Sam Fender at the O2 tonight. A brilliant warm-up for stadiums next year and a Christmas treat to see him in a venue of this size for one last time. His new material is more understated but excellent, and is there a more cathartic triple-punch of Dying Light, 17 Going Under and Hypersonic Missiles?
December 12, 2024 at 11:24 PM
Sam Fender at the O2 tonight. A brilliant warm-up for stadiums next year and a Christmas treat to see him in a venue of this size for one last time. His new material is more understated but excellent, and is there a more cathartic triple-punch of Dying Light, 17 Going Under and Hypersonic Missiles?
Proper treat last night seeing the return of Feathers McGraw (one of the *great* cinematic villains) at the BBC preview screening of the new Wallace and Gromit. Cracking Christmas Day fare.
December 12, 2024 at 10:28 AM
Proper treat last night seeing the return of Feathers McGraw (one of the *great* cinematic villains) at the BBC preview screening of the new Wallace and Gromit. Cracking Christmas Day fare.
Absolutely loved the Dr. Strangelove play with Steve Coogan tonight. Sometimes stage adaptations of films are hit and miss but this is anything but - absurdist, surreal and genuinely hilarious, while also adding something to the original rather than just being a carbon copy. So good.
November 29, 2024 at 10:10 PM
Absolutely loved the Dr. Strangelove play with Steve Coogan tonight. Sometimes stage adaptations of films are hit and miss but this is anything but - absurdist, surreal and genuinely hilarious, while also adding something to the original rather than just being a carbon copy. So good.
Powerhouse of a show from Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit at the Apollo tonight. Does anybody else deliver gut-punch lyrics with quite the same ferocity as him and his band? Great set with a heavy focus on Weathervanes (one of their very best) and Southeastern.
November 25, 2024 at 11:47 PM
Powerhouse of a show from Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit at the Apollo tonight. Does anybody else deliver gut-punch lyrics with quite the same ferocity as him and his band? Great set with a heavy focus on Weathervanes (one of their very best) and Southeastern.
Genuinely amazed that the Times has the 'petition for another election' story on the front of their web edition and have gone so far as to provide 'data analysis'. So many red flags with this...
November 25, 2024 at 1:59 PM
Genuinely amazed that the Times has the 'petition for another election' story on the front of their web edition and have gone so far as to provide 'data analysis'. So many red flags with this...
Also, it is filmed beautifully!
November 24, 2024 at 10:52 PM
Also, it is filmed beautifully!
“Tom, did you pick the restaurant because of the Bruce Springsteen poster in the window?”
“…no…”
“…no…”
November 21, 2024 at 11:06 PM
“Tom, did you pick the restaurant because of the Bruce Springsteen poster in the window?”
“…no…”
“…no…”
Staggeringly good show from Bonny Light Horseman at the Roundhouse last night. This is a band who just go from strength to strength and one which is mercifully now so much more than a side project for all the main players.
November 21, 2024 at 8:13 AM
Staggeringly good show from Bonny Light Horseman at the Roundhouse last night. This is a band who just go from strength to strength and one which is mercifully now so much more than a side project for all the main players.
Twenty Opposition Commons Whips is a bit much, no? That's, *counts*, 1 in 6 MPs in the Whips Office?
November 20, 2024 at 3:53 PM
Twenty Opposition Commons Whips is a bit much, no? That's, *counts*, 1 in 6 MPs in the Whips Office?
Tour de force from @martinlewismse.bsky.social at #NSLive - undoubtedly one of the best communicators in the business. “We’re at the point where things have likely stopped getting worse, but we’re a few years away from people feeling better.” The raison d'être for the government.
November 20, 2024 at 12:00 PM
Tour de force from @martinlewismse.bsky.social at #NSLive - undoubtedly one of the best communicators in the business. “We’re at the point where things have likely stopped getting worse, but we’re a few years away from people feeling better.” The raison d'être for the government.
Fascinating interview with Bill Browder on how the West can support Ukraine in the next seven weeks, the future of Putin, and the alarming parallels between the US election of 2024 and Russia of 1996. #NSLive
November 20, 2024 at 9:45 AM
Fascinating interview with Bill Browder on how the West can support Ukraine in the next seven weeks, the future of Putin, and the alarming parallels between the US election of 2024 and Russia of 1996. #NSLive
Interesting look at the potential impact of Trump's Tariffs from BBC Verify. This chart from the non-partisan Peterson Institute is particularly stark. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
November 19, 2024 at 2:13 PM
Interesting look at the potential impact of Trump's Tariffs from BBC Verify. This chart from the non-partisan Peterson Institute is particularly stark. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I’m currently reading, for the first time, Bill Bryson’s The Lost Continent - an acerbic, dated but still genuinely highly enjoyable portrait of America in the late ‘80s. Parts of it remain more relevant than others…
November 18, 2024 at 8:12 PM
I’m currently reading, for the first time, Bill Bryson’s The Lost Continent - an acerbic, dated but still genuinely highly enjoyable portrait of America in the late ‘80s. Parts of it remain more relevant than others…
News polarisation stat of the day h/t @politico.com
November 14, 2024 at 2:08 PM
News polarisation stat of the day h/t @politico.com
It’s objectively amazing that in 2024 you can still see Bob Dylan playing live. While for me tonight’s performance wasn’t as strong as 2022’s exquisite Palladium concerts there were still plenty of ‘pinch me’ moments from Dylan which make these concerts so addictive. We’ll miss him when he’s gone.
November 13, 2024 at 11:40 PM
It’s objectively amazing that in 2024 you can still see Bob Dylan playing live. While for me tonight’s performance wasn’t as strong as 2022’s exquisite Palladium concerts there were still plenty of ‘pinch me’ moments from Dylan which make these concerts so addictive. We’ll miss him when he’s gone.
This is genuinely like one of those joke meme lists that went around ahead of the election.
November 13, 2024 at 11:34 PM
This is genuinely like one of those joke meme lists that went around ahead of the election.
A couple from Loughrigg Fell from yesterday.
November 12, 2024 at 10:48 PM
A couple from Loughrigg Fell from yesterday.
Positively Autumnal in Cumbria.
November 10, 2024 at 11:01 AM
Positively Autumnal in Cumbria.
I’ve landed on here from the other place because of… *gesticulates widely*… everything. Today feels like as good of a moment as any to start with something overwhelmingly positive - and that is Tromso, Norway is incredible and should be on all bucket lists. What a few days.
November 6, 2024 at 7:47 PM
I’ve landed on here from the other place because of… *gesticulates widely*… everything. Today feels like as good of a moment as any to start with something overwhelmingly positive - and that is Tromso, Norway is incredible and should be on all bucket lists. What a few days.