So let's see, the 2019 version of this list is probably something like:

Duran Duran
Gary Numan
The Smiths
The Police
Soft Cell

The Police and Soft Cell reunions are done and over and I missed that boat. Partly because I didn't get to see The Police when they played Phoenix. Partly because Soft Cell's reunion consisted of a London gig only.

The Smiths I don't hold out hope for. And let's be honest, Morrissey's recent questionable take on life has left a sour taste anyway. Would I even go? Dunno.

So I hold out hope for Duran Duran and Numan. Both still tour. Could happen.

Doc Martens 1991-2019.

When I think of the stories these guys could tell. Walking the streets of London, Paris, Rome, Venice, New York. They traveled with me through every single move.

Except this last one.

What a great life they had though. Cheerio old friends.

Jason Kottke has a post about the new Laurel & Hardy movie. Got me thinking back to those old black & white re-runs I used to watch as a kid. Flash Gordon, King Of The Rocket Men, Zorro, Harold Lloyd. I have fond memories of them (the nostalgia blinders) and I wonder how they'd hold up now?

The Cure are one of my favorite bands of all time. Had all their albums on vinyl, posters on the wall of my bedroom as a teenager, you name it. For one reason or another I didn't get around to seeing them until 2008 when they played in Phoenix. I'll never forget that night.

(yeah, cameras weren't the best in 2008)

Fast forward to this weekend, and they played their 40th anniversary show at Hyde Park in London. By all accounts a great gig to be at. The setlist was actually pretty good, albeit a "safe" greatest hits endeavor.

If I were picking the setlist it would consist of gems they rarely play live anymore. Depending on mood this would likely change but it would resemble something like this.

Plainsong
Shake Dog Shake
One Hundred Years
Disintegration
Dressing Up
This Twilight Garden
Push
From The Edge Of The Deep Green Sea
The Big Hand
Sinking
The Perfect Girl
Faith
Killing An Arab
Primary
Pornography
All Cats Are Grey
Harold And Joe
The Same Deep Water As You
Just Like Heaven
A Forest
All I Want
Short Term Effect
Wendy Time
Want
A Night Like This

I bought a thing. Something wonderful about seeing the familiar blue Commodore 64 screen for the first time in 30 years.

This is going to be a lot of fun.

I've been listening to a lot of albums from my youth this week. Each one of these I originally owned on vinyl or cassette. There's some good stuff in here, consider this your playlist. You're welcome.

Adam And The Ants – Kings Of The Wild Frontier
The Cure – Disintegration
The Cure – The Head On The Door
Depeche Mode – Music For The Masses
Depeche Mode – Violator
The Human League – Dare
INXS – Shabooh Shoobah
The Mission – God's Own Medicine
Simple Minds – Live In The City Of Light
The Sisters Of Mercy – Floodland
Soft Cell – The Art Of Falling Apart
Tears For Fears – The Hurting
Thomas Dolby – The Golden Age Of Wireless

I still have my vinyl, but where are my cassettes? They did not survive one of the many moves over the years. That's a bit of a shame.

You ever stumble across something and wonder "how did I not know this was a thing?".

I was listening to my 'Discover Weekly' playlist in Spotify the other week and a song came on that made me sit up and immediately take notice. It sounded just like all those American synth based 80s TV show themes that you used to love when you were a kid. But on steroids.

Convinced it was just a song I had overlooked from from my youth, I was surprised to find it was actually new music. Made by youngsters. Wut? As I went down the rabbit hole a bit further I discovered a few other bands all doing similar. Retro Electro I've seen it labeled as. And I love it.

If this sounds like the kind of thing that would be your cup of tea, run don't walk and have a listen to Carpenter Brut, Dance With The Dead, Timecop1983, The Midnight, Le Cassette and my current favorite Perturbator

"The legend says he's half human, half synthesizer…"

Quite simply, the best song he ever wrote. This live version has an extended intro, and if you're as much of an 80s synth fan as I am, it will tickle your fancy. Enjoy.

Update: original video taken down. Updated with another version I found.

I used to have one of these pin thingies when I was younger. Wanted one after watching the Midge Ure If I Was video.

Of course I left my face print in it before we left the store. You needed to ask?

Lovely old timey barber shop. They don't make them like this anymore.