First published in 1934 by George Newnes, British car magazine Practical Motorist became an essential guide for generations of car owners who preferred the “do-it-yourself” approach to vehicle maintenance.
[…] More than just a technical manual, Practical Motorist captured the spirit of post-war motoring culture, fostering a community of enthusiasts who took pride in the grease under their fingernails and the reliability of their well-maintained vehicles.
Moonlight Shuffle, Les Elgart & His Orchestra (1959)
After successful runs with several big bands of the 1940s, Les Elgart and his brother Larry formed their own orchestra with a distinctive brass-heavy sound. Their most recognizable recording, Bandstand Boogie, became the theme song to Dick Clark’s American Bandstand television show.
Shaggy Dogs play a blues/R&B/rock/soul mix they call Fiesta Blues ‘n’ Roll. Performing and recording since the late 1990s, their album Pinball Boomers was “the most streamed French album in 2025 on the blues radio collective.”
Monster Mike Welch has been performing and recording for over 25 years. The bluesman from Boston was only 13 when Dan Akroyd gave him the nickname.
The Black Keys (Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney) have recorded their 14th studio album Peaches, due to be released in May. It was written while Auerbach was caring for his (late) father on the basis that “it would be good for Dan to have something to do.”
Lotta things we’re supposed to be outraged about these days, but most of them sound like little stampy feets and made up cuss words to me, while the real monsters are pounding on the door trying to get out of the basement. I’m not worried. I’ve got more important things to do, like getting the Superbowl Chili burbling and the corn breading. See you tomorrow, same porch time, same porch channel.
Gen-an (Fantasy Villa) house, Shinshiro, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, designed by Japanese architect Osamu Ishiyama in 1975.
Ishiyama used unconventional and industrial materials for its construction, such as giant corrugated steel tubing typically used for civil engineering projects. The house was inspired by a monk’s minimal dwelling cell.
[Images found here, here and here; description from Google AI Overview.]
No one ever came home drunk. Atule’er Cliff Village in Sichuan Province, China, where wooden homes cling to sheer cliffs accessed by 800-meter bamboo ladders, highlighting the daily risks for over 80 resident families
The ladders have since been replaced with stairs.
[Photo found here, description via GROK.]
The True Loves are an Afro-beat funk and soul group out of Seattle. Formed in 2014 by Jabrille “Jimmy James” Williams / guitar, Bryant Moore / bass) and David McGraw / drums, they’re backed by Iván Galvez / congas, aux percussion, Gordon Brown / tenor sax, Greg Kramer / trombone, and Skerik / baritone sax. [h/t Chuck S.]
An amazing version of Motörhead’s classic by Brass Against, a collective led by guitarist Brad Hammonds for purposes of protesting everything you can imagine with song covers. (Fun Fact: They are banned from playing at NASCAR events and Daytona Speedway’s Rockville Festivals because of an “incident” in 2021.)
I see that the winter storm isn’t done messing with you folks east of the Mississippi and south of everything. I don’t envy you – I did my time long ago. Remember to steer in the direction of the skid, and we’ll see you on the other side. For the rest of us, heavy porchtime is expected to blow in by noon o’clock tomorrow. See you then.
Tacky Raccoons 