500 songs, 500 stories
Stereo Stories published its 500th story this morning.
NOTHING REALLY MATTERS by THE PIGRAM BROTHERS Story by Stephen Andrew
This is big sky music, languid yet powerful, like a wedge tail cruising on an updraft. The spirit of the sound echoes the spirit of the land.
WALKING ABOUT by VENOM P. STINGER. Story by Jane Leonard
Mid bite, it happens. There on my TV screen, just for a few seconds, doing an intense wiggily kind of jogging on the spot, is a girl with cropped spiky, reddy-bleached hair wearing an oversized suit jacket. I just about choke on my crumpet.
WELL I WONDER by THE SMITHS. Photo essay by Maria Majsa
I don’t feel the need to bump a Smiths track when it comes up on shuffle, for no-one can tear asunder what Morrissey and Marr put together all those years ago.
CENTRE STAGE Nils Cusack
You can blame it all on Nils Cusack, if you wish. The first Stereo Story. 2013. The first gig. 2014. And then another 20 shows. Yep, it’s all Nils’ fault.
SOUVENIRS by JOHN PRINE. Story by Stephen Andrew
While his voice is shot through with the after effects of treatment for neck and lung cancer, his vocals lend a rich, warm, knockabout tone to his new songs.
I LOVED BEING MY MOTHER’S SON by PURPLE MOUNTAINS. Story by Vin M
One song title stands out. One title has me impatient for the CD to get to Track 7.
Stereo Stories’ theme tune
Melbourne musician Dan Oke (who performs under the name of Jarrow) is currently offering to write 30-second jingles/tunes for the princely sum of $5. He figured he can't play any gigs for a while, but could still maintain his creativity. Ever-versatile and open to a challenge, Dan has written, performed and recorded over 20 tunes [...]
KIDS by MGMT. Story by Stephen Andrew
I know I’m uncomfortable but can’t feel it. Jokes. Laughter. Blood pressure tests.
Towards 500 stories
As we close in on 500 stories, the time is ripe (indeed over-ripe) to re-visit our writers’ guidelines, to think about story length and themes and subjects.