The Follyphone appeared on stage in London during the fall of 1912 during orchestral concerts conducted by H.G. Pelissier. And all of the newspaper accounts from the time make it sound like an interesting prop to deliver a message about anticipation, elaborate planning, and ultimately disappointment.
[Image and more about the Follyphone found here.]
Rocking Pneumonia & the Boogie Woogie Flu Part 1
Huey ‘Piano’ Smith and The Clowns (1957) Rocking Pneumonia & the Boogie Woogie Flu Part 1 earned a spot in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock & Roll; the flip side of the Ace Records 45rpm, RP & the BWF Part 2, did not.
In 1944 at the age of 15, Huey Smith began working in clubs around New Orleans and recording with partner Eddie Jones (later known as Guitar Slim). By 1955 he was a session musician, playing piano for Little Richard, Lloyd Price, Earl King and others. Smith’s mix of boogie woogie, blues and jazz piano styles became the sound of New Orleans.
Dragon tail tale [h/t Amy D.]
Still my favorite puzzle video.
Tim, Michelle, Rosie and John.
This is probably an emergency.
The incomplete lives of AI generated actors.
Springfield Bushman [via Everlasting Blört].
Life inside a bag of corn chips [via Memo Of The Air].
Dawna Kaufmann discusses the late Paul Reubens, aka Pee Wee Herman. [Jump to 21:44 for interview. Unfortunate commercial interruptions.]
[Top image: Mona LisAI, Peter McClard, 2025.]
From the Archives: 1 year ago. 5 years ago. 10 years ago. 15 years ago.
The Seatsniffers are a Belgian roots rock band with a large following throughout Europe. Unfortunately they don’t seem to have a website. [h/t Chuck S.]
They’re part rock, part psychedelia, part R&B and part soul, but mostly Seratones is lead singer and guitar player A.J. Haynes. When asked what inspires her, she responded, “Afrofuturism.”
Eliza Stark & The Dappers:
“The only rockabilly band based in Montenegro. A classic trio of guitar, drums and hot chick slapping double bass and regular guests of national TV and festivals, they also well-known for their true and original music far beyond the borders of Montenegro.” – ES & The D Facebook Page
Sue Foley covers Clarence Gatemouth Brown’s classic Okie Dokie Stomp with style (and her trademark pink paisley Stratocaster). She’s been performing and recording since she was 21, has won many awards since [bio here].
On 5 February 2020 I was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer. I made the mistake of looking up survival rates on the internet. Scared the crap out of me.
The following month I had surgery, but they couldn’t get at a couple of malignant lymph nodes, and on 16 March I began chemotherapy infusions every two weeks. My oncologist said that something would happen by my third year of treatment, but he didn’t know what.
In 2023 I passed the three year mark. Nothing happened in my fourth year either, and the onkydoc said I was an unusual case, an outlier within the top fifth percentile of patients. He reduced my chemo dosage for a second time in October 2024.
I still get to visit the pretty nurses in the clinic every three months for a blood draw and Signatera test, and have a CT scan every four.
I’ve been fortunate that my side effects have been tolerable. The most bothersome was chemobrain – the mental fog that never quite dissipates. I’m hoping that as the toxins flush out things will improve, but then I won’t have chemo to blame for when I get a case of the stoopidz.
[Found here.]
For those of you in the Memorial Day BBQ crowd, wrapping up your roadtrips, or just chillin’ on the porch, here are some random unrelated tunes posted in May of the years 2020 – 2025, ordered by year of release.
[Caveat: I don’t own the copyrights to any of the recordings. They are presented here for entertainment purposes only.]
I’d Much Rather Be With The Girls, Donna Lynn (1965)Little info can be found about Canadian pop singer and occasional Broadway actress, Donna Lynn (Albano?). She recorded several novelty songs in the 1960s while still in her teens and had a minor hit with My Boyfriend Got A Beatle Haircut, recorded in 1964, just weeks before Beatlemania erupted.
Pig leaves [via Bunkerville].
Pigdogball [via Everlasting Blört].
Satan’s Tears. [Related post here.]
Making Kopi Luwak coffee: Step 1.
Shooting vertical panoramas [via Memo Of The Air].
Request for liberty granted [via The Feral Irishman].
The Boss fired himself [via The View From Lady Lake].
[Top image: Audrey II, artwork by Chet Phillips, 2020.]
From the Archives: 1 year ago. 5 years ago. 10 years ago. 15 years ago.
R.L. Burnside was born in Lafayette County, Mississippi, learned from Mississippi Fred McDowell who lived in the next county over. Burnside and his family, tired of the life of sharecroppers, moved to Chicago in the early 50s. Subsequently his father, two uncles and two brothers were murdered there. In 1959 he returned to Mississippi, was convicted of murder himself, and served time at the Mississippi State Penitentiary, aka Parchman Farm.
Australian guitarist, singer-songwriter Ray Beadle, with Jonathan Zwartz on double bass and Andrew Dickeson on snare play Diamonds At Your Feet, a 1956 Muddy Waters tune. A former member of The Foreday Riders, Beadle plays original compositions and covers of blues and jazz standards in his own style.
Formed in 2011 in southern California, Robert Jon & The Wreck has earned a following playing southern rock with a 1970s flavor. They decided to visit Pioneertown for this recording session.
Memorial Day Weekend is upon us. Somewhere in between road trips, BBQ (and Porch Time), pause to remember the meaning of the holiday and give thanks to the fallen soldiers who gave up everything for the people of this Great Nation.
Tacky Raccoons 