I've photographed a few "Howard" tags around Manchester and always wondered who he was. The Mill recently ran a piece about the fascinating history behind this simple graffiti. "Howard’s name is plastered all over Manchester. But no one knows who he is" Thanks for reading this post via RSS! Let me know your thoughts...

"Merry Xmas Everybody" by Slade There's a line in this song that says “Does Granny always tell you the old songs are the best?” which is funny because now this is the "old song" my kids' Granny thinks is best. Anyway, is it really Christmas if you haven't heard Noddy Holder screaming "It's Christmas!" like a...

I can be a bit of a curmudgeon and focus on the negatives when I feel the pressure. I know it's not good for me to get into that negativity spiral so reflecting like this is important. So, without further ado, here are some things I have been enjoying lately. Peppermint hot chocolate after a walk in the cold Hosting...

"Stop the Cavalry" by Jona Lewie For the longest time I thought Jona Lewie was the singer from Dexy's Midnight Runners but he isn't. This is a perennial anti war song that mentions Christmas once and, so, has been co-opted by the Chrimbo Tunes Brigade. I listen to this all year round cause it's a bop. Thanks for...

I caught an advert for Google AI × Netflix × Stranger Things or something that said (paraphrasing) "3000 minutes of Stranger Things between you and the finale? You can summarise each episode in a sentence with Google AI! 🎉" And, like, what is the fucking point in that? Either watch the show or don't! I presume it's...

"A Spaceman Came Travelling" by Chris de Burgh This is my dad's favourite Christmas song. A gentle exploration of "God as Alien" that seems a strange choice of topic for a Christmas hit! Thanks for reading this post via RSS! Let me know your thoughts by sending me an email: rss@thomasrigby.com.

"Stay Another Day" by East 17 You might think I shared East 17 on the 17th on purpose but you would be wrong, sadly. This is also not a Christmas song but about Tony Mortimer's brother death by suicide. Festive. Thanks for reading this post via RSS! Let me know your thoughts by sending me an email: rss@thomasrigby.com.

"Step into Christmas" by Elton John That iconic piano refrain that screams "Christmas" with Elton John's trademark camp swagger. An enduring classic for a reason. Thanks for reading this post via RSS! Let me know your thoughts by sending me an email: rss@thomasrigby.com.

"Last Christmas" by Jimmy Eat World The official rules of Whamageddon state that cover versions don't cause you to lose so fill your boots! Thanks for reading this post via RSS! Let me know your thoughts by sending me an email: rss@thomasrigby.com.

8th December - 14th December Startled awake at 4am by who knows what. I hate 4am because it's too early for an early start but too late to go back to sleep. As I mentioned last week, the work bedlam continues. I have three full-time projects that I have to get to a certain level of "done" before the Christmas break....

"Yule Shoot Your Eye Out" by Fall Out Boy Opening with obligatory sleigh bells and a riff that's a riff on Jingle Bells before dropping to classic Fall Out Boy whiny acoustic emo about the trials of teenage romance. Shades of Spill Canvas. Mid. Thanks for reading this post via RSS! Let me know your thoughts by...

"Making Christmas" by Rise Against I haven't listened to Rise Against for a long time because they became my go-to "code angry" music at the end of a job I disliked. This Nightmare Before Christmas cover slaps though. The mark of a good cover is when it sounds like the band could have written it and this checks that...