C86 Show - Indie Pop

Alfie Agnew in conversation with David Eastaugh 

https://professorandthemadman.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/professorandthemadman

 

Sean Elliott and Alfie Agnew are the songwriters and co-frontmen of Professor and the Madman. Elliott sees Dreamworld as a continuation of themes discussed on the group’s previous album, the critically acclaimed Séance, released in 2020. 
 
“Séance was about re-establishing contact with an era, a way of life, that seems to be making a comeback,” he said. “Like many people, the ritual of bringing home a vinyl record and immersing yourself in its journey was crucial to Alfie and me. With Dreamworld, we’ve expanded that concept to include the idea that a song cycle can still provide escape—even if briefly—from the daily chaos. Modern life is fueled by anxiety, and most of these new songs express that.”  
 
Dreamworld’s musical foundation is inspired by ‘60s baroque pop, but cocktail jazz interludes, classical flourishes, backwards guitar, and playful psychedelia sit comfortably alongside the tempest of punk-pop and alternative rock. “12 Strings and Tambourines” and “Temple of Madness” feature virtuoso performances from The Damned’s rhythm section of Rat Scabies and Paul Gray. Elliott and Agnew trade off lead vocals on all the selections (except for a rare duet on “Songs in My Head,” to which Agnew also contributes trumpet) while also handling the lead and rhythm guitar parts, and keyboards. 
 
To create music this ambitious, it’s appropriate that the pair ventured outside of their Hollydale home studio in Fullerton, California, for the first time.

Robert Wringham in conversation with David Eastaugh 

https://wringham.co.uk/film/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54J_1Be63q4

In the 1980s and 1990s, Anthony Irvine was a comedian and cabaret performer. His act was a little unusual. As the Iceman, he went on stage… to melt ice.

Literally. He’d bring a large block of ice onto the stage then proceed to melt it (or fail to melt it) in a variety of creative ways. Among his fans were Mike Myers, Jo Brand, and Bill Bailey.

In 2010, when Robert Wringham wrote his book about this era of comedy, the Iceman could not be found.

But a couple of years later, Anthony Irvine popped up again. This time as a visual artist called aim. What was going on?

How much permanence and success can we assure for this man whose entire act was about impermanence and failure?

The blocks live on!

Starring ANTHONY IRVINE and ROBERT WRINGHAM with RONNI ANCONA, ROBIN INCE, STEWART LEE, NEIL MULLARKEY, SIMON MUNNERY, MARK THOMAS, and JO BRAND.

Stephen Lawrie in conversation with David Eastaugh 

https://thetelescopes.bandcamp.com/

The Telescopes are an English noise, space rock, dream pop and psychedelic band formed in 1987 by artist, composer, and musician Stephen Lawrie, with band members David Fitzgerald and Joanna Doran joining later. The band's line-up is in constant flux; there can be anywhere between 1 and 20 members on a recording.

Paul Leary in conversation with David Eastaugh

https://buttholesurfersmovie.com/

THE BUTTHOLE SURFERS ARE LEGENDS. NO ONE FLEW THEIR FREAK FLAG HIGHER. 

 

The band exploded onto the underground music scene in the 1980s, amazing a growing audience as they built one of the most mind-boggling surrealist rock and roll spectacles ever devised. Their very name was a fuck you to the straight, conformist, homophobic Reagan ethos of the time. They were radically inclusive and pushed the limits of artistic expression and lifestyle.

 

They lived on the edge – nomadic art-punk pioneers on an endless tour, blowing minds and spreading their art to a cult following. When they started, their name was so shocking newspapers wouldn’t print it. Ten years later, Beavis and Butthead and Letterman were saying it on prime-time national TV.

 

Insiders always knew how important they were: one of Kurt Cobain's favorite bands, Perry Farrell asked them to perform at the first Lollapalooza, Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones produced their first major label record, and their fans are a who’s who of some of the world’s most influential artists.

Kim J Simpson in conversation with David Eastaugh 

https://www.kimsimpson.us/

https://kimsimpson.bandcamp.com/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Early-70s-Radio-Kim-Simpson

Kim Simpson is an Austin-based singer-songwriter, fingerstyle guitarist, and radio host whose musical journey defies genre boundaries. A native of Salt Lake City, Utah, Kim grew up surrounded by a rich blend of jazz, rock, and Scandinavian folk music, all of which shaped his eclectic sound. He’s known for his soulful acoustic performances, weaving together original songs, virtuoso guitar work, and a multilingual repertoire.

As the host of The International Folk Bazaar on Austin’s KOOP Radio, Kim shares his deep passion for global roots music with listeners while also diving into his own musical explorations. His most recent releases include Tex Mex Guitar, an EP showcasing his fingerstyle interpretations of conjunto accordion songs, and The Comets Swish Their Tails, a collection of 15 new originals. Kim’s dedication to his craft has earned him accolades such as “poetry and power” from Dirty Linen and “infectiously melodic” from NPR.