My Impression Now

My Impression Now

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Richard Hell: Revisiting, repairing, and remixing Destiny Street
After last week's 'Take Five' stop with Hell's book, 'What Just Happened,' I dug up this interview with Hell from 2010 where we discussed his project to…
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John Kenyon
40 years later: Revisiting Live Aid
Four decades ago today, some of the biggest names in rock joined to raise money to combat famine in Africa. Here is a look back at some sets that blew…
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John Kenyon
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Take Five: What is and what should never be
This leads to that in a week of the mind, with tech bros, Nick Cave, the Marginalian, Richard Hell, Benjamin Labatut and John Koethe. Then the mind…
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John Kenyon
A perfect world or one false move?
Bruce Springsteen just released, 'Tracks II,' a box set with 7 unreleased albums. As you would expect, there is some sublime music and some forgettable…
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John Kenyon

June 2025

Take Five: Creativity, elegy and industry
Curiosity and connections led me to Terence Blanchard, Danny Gatton, Mick Ralphs' work with Mott the Hoople, the murals of Diego Rivera, and, yes, yet…
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John Kenyon
Take Five: Bright stars in a dark age
Another week of connections: Alice Notley to Ted Berrigan to Joe Brainard, Charles Mingus to Jeff Beck, and Four Tet to Mazzy Star
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John Kenyon
Take Five: Music was in his soul
With Brian Wilson's passing this week, it seemed fitting to share five songs that go beyond the hits and show why he was considered a genius (and…
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John Kenyon
Glenn Mercer on his 'Feelie-ish' solo debut
As we celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Feelies' debut, Crazy Rhythms, we revisit an interview with the band's Glenn Mercer on the occasion of the…
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John Kenyon
Take Five: Comforted and afflicted
Music and books were soothing and sorrowful this week, with Bono and the Edge, Agustina Bazterrica, Eli Winter, Kim Weston, and a chat between Marc…
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John Kenyon
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May 2025

Take Five: Trying to get to you
The King ushers in a week of surprises with a Bill Fox interview, a Sylvia Plath-Joe Pernice connection, an '80s slow dance with Jimmy Barnes and Neil…
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John Kenyon
Take Five: Aboard a tidal wave
Culture swells this week and the hits keep coming. Thanks to Aimee Mann, Reginald Dwayne Betts, Pere Ubu (RIP David Thomas), Brian Wilson, Kieren…
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John Kenyon
Take Five: The past is never dead
Take it from good old Bill Faulkner: Thanks to YouTube, the past isn't even past. You can relive my past with Robyn Hitchcock, INXS, Passengers, Peach …
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John Kenyon
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© 2025 John Kenyon
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