Empty Checking With Derek Brink

In this episode I talk about shows I've recently attended, including AC/DC with Foo Fighters, Kevin Smith, and Squeeze with Adam Ant and Haircut 100. I had fun finally doing an episode. Now it's your turn! Time got away from me this week, so I don't have a time index, but enjoy the following links. The songs in this one are from my UPCOMING record, so keep an eye on Bandcamp! Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com  Bandcamp: http://derekbrink.bandcamp.com  email: db@derekbrink.com  Thanks!

Busy holiday week messed up my schedule. Talk to you later in the week!

In this episode, I pay tribute to Dolly Parton and Tim Curry (with a nod to Peter Cullen, as well). I don't feel like this is enough. But it's something. Please enjoy. Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com email: db@derekbrink.com Bandcamp: http://derekbrink.bandcamp.com No outline this week--just listen.  The only song in it is the theme song, which is here: https://derekbrink.bandcamp.com/track/bite-the-habanero-single Thanks!

In this slightly delayed episode, I start by yelling at you about being frustrated with cover bands for a little bit...then I review new music by Punch Brothers, The Mountain Goats, New Pornographers, Joe Jackson, and Metric. This episode goes a lot of places. Maybe you'll like some of those places. No way to tell until you click it. Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com  Bandcamp: http://derekbrink.bandcamp.com  email: db@derekbrink.com Time Index: 0:00 - Intro (and rant about cover bands that WILL generate some emails) 14:21 - Slainte 14:52 - Music Reviews 15:29 - Punch Brothers - The Unsung Adventures of Punch Brothers 20:17 - Mountain Goats - Days 24:12 - New Pornographers - The Former Site of the New Pornographers 30:46 - Joe Jackson - Hope and Fury 34:40 - Metric - Romanticize the Dive 40:35 - Vagabond 41:06 - Outro

I'm a little sick. So show coming later. Sleep now. Etc...

WE'RE FINALLY BACK! And in this episode, I tell you what's been keeping me away, by talking about concerts from Rush, Aimee Mann, and ALL, plus I pay tribute to Glen Hansard. I enjoyed finally doing this one. Hope you enjoy finally hearing it. Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com  Bandcamp: http://derekbrink.bandcamp.com  email: db@derekbrink.com  The only song in the episode is the theme music...but that's available, just like everything else! Time Index: 0:00 - Intro 7:27 - Rush 24:28 - Aimee Mann 32:01 - Glen Hansard 49:06 - ALL

Holding off on a new episode until August 4th. Thanks for your patience!

No new episode this week--things are BUSY in my world! But this is the 8 minute version of what the show would've been this week anyway. Enjoy, and ill have a full episode for you again soon! Thanks!

In this episode, I don't bother with segments and end up just ranting about Sammy Hagar, the government, my new laptop, and recording music. Why weren't there segments? Laziness. Why were those the topics? Shut up. Enjoy! Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com  Bandcamp: http://derekbrink.bandcamp.com  email: db@derekbrink.com 

In this episode, I talk a lot about Mel Brooks and rank his 13 theatrically released movies, all in celebration of the Melcentennial--Mel Brooks' 100th birthday! I had a lot of fun with this one--and at one point or another, I felt EVERY emotion. I think it's a good listen. Now it's your turn to listen and agree! Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com Music: http://derekbrink.bandcamp.com email: db@derekbrink.com No time index because it's all one topic. Just enjoy it!  Songs in this episode: I Wanna Write Songs for You Slainte

In this episode, I talk about the biopic The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, then (mostly) new music from Neil Dimond, Modest Mouse, Paul McCartney, and the Beach Boys. I had fun. Maybe also that is a thing you could have. Fun, I mean. Enjoy! Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com  Bandcamp: http://derekbrink.bandcamp.com  email: db@derekbrink.com *Please note that any and all ads that are not read in my voice are chosen at the discretion of the site hosting this podcast and/or your individual player. I do not select or approve any ads, nor do I financially benefit from them. Time Index: 0:00 - Intro 7:34 - Hands 8:01 - The Life and Death of Peter Sellers 27:49 - Being There 28:19 - Music Releases 28:19 - The Beach Boys - The Pet Sounds Sessions Highlights 33:28 - Modest Mouse - An Eraser and a Maze 38:23 - Neil Diamond - Wild at Heart 41:32 - Paul McCartney - The Boys of Dungeon Lane 46:19 - Coming Storm 46:50 - Outro

In this episode, I give my thoughts on the Fender Stratocaster debacle, then hopefully win you back by talking about new music from Devin Townsend, Foo Fighters, Violet Grohl, Bruno Mars, and Yungblud. I had fun with this one, and I get all worked up a couple of times. Hope you enjoy it! Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com  Bandcamp: http://derekbrink.bandcamp.com  email: db@derekbrink.com  Time Index: 0:00 - Intro 7:50 - You and You Alone 8:21 - The Fender Strat Situation 28:32 - Everything Good 29:04 - Music Reviews 29:37 - Devin Townsend - The Moth 37:25 - Foo Fighters - Your Favorite Toy 41:20 - Violet Grohl - Be Sweet to Me 44:34 - Bruno Mars - The Romantic 48:39 - Yungblud - Idols Complete 56:07 - Please 56:39 - Outro *Please note that any and all ads that are not read in my voice are chosen at the discretion of the site hosting this podcast and/or your individual player. I do not select or approve any ads, nor do I financially benefit from them.

In this episode, I'm joined by my friend Jim Ousley, who has a new comic book in progress called "The Agony of Stars," with a Kickstarter active RIGHT NOW (6/2/26). We talk about the comic, but also about everything else, with primary topics being being a creative person, process, and how real life bleeds into art. It's always a pleasure to talk to Jim, and I love that this episode just became a conversation that could've happened without the microphones. I think you'll like it a lot too! Please consider being a part of funding "The Agony of Stars" here: The Agony of Stars by Jim Ousley — Kickstarter Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com  Bandcamp: http://derekbrink.bandcamp.com  email: db@derekbrink.com 

In this episode, I'm getting back in the swing of doing the show by talking about the newest book by Tana French then reviewing two concerts I went to (on back to back nights)--David Byrne and Jason Isbell! I hope you enjoy this one as much as I enjoyed making it! (Or more!) Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com Bandcamp: http://derekbrink.bandcamp.com  email: db@derekbrink.com Time Index: 0:00 - Intro 9:56 - Happy Now 10:27 - Tana French: The Keeper 20:59 - That Weekend (Blue Tattoo) 21:31 - David Byrne and Jason Isbell 21:31 - David Byrne 51:16 - Jason Isbell 1:04:00 - Denouement 1:04:32 - Outro, including a follow=up on my tribute to Michael Feldman, back in November

After many delays, your Uncle Derek and Papa Dave are finally BACK and this time we're counting down our Fab 15 Supergroups. This discussion solidified that we should really set ground-rules before making our lists...but it was still a lot of fun, and we hope you enjoy it! Dave's Spotify playlist will probably go up a little late because I didn't tell him when I was posting the episode and it's the middle of a workday. But hey! Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com  Bandcamp: http://derekbrink.bandcamp.com  email: db@derekbrink.com  Spotify Playlists: https://open.spotify.com/user/317eypfciiajkyay2kxloz3kreoa?si=f046115ad0514079  Time Index: 0:00 - Intro 13:09 - The List Begins 13:09 - #15 19:12 - #14  24:19 - #13 31:49 - #12  40:16 - #11 44:00 - #10 50:36 - #9  58:29 - #8  1:06:39 - #7  1:12:26 - #6  1:15:03 - #5  1:21:19 - #4  1:26:44 - #3  1:33:57 - #2  1:42:25 - #1  1:43:03 - Honorable Mentions 1:59:49 - Intervention 2:00:19 - The Final 15 and choosing a #1.

Long story short, pending any serious storm damage, you should have the Fab 15 on Tuesday. Thanks for your patience!

UPDATE - My laptop is dead. I'm trying to revive it. If that doesn't work, I'll have to buy a new one. The show is currently trapped on it. I'll keep you posted. Sorry everybody.

I'm trying to at least do these again, when I'm struggling to upload an episode. At least that's something, right? Long story short, I'm editing a FAB 15 and you'll have it soon...but here's a brief update on what I've been doing in the interim. New episode by the weekend! I promise! (Barring anything unforeseen, of course!) Thanks for your patience, Checkmates.

In this episode, I talk about playing the banjo and the Beetlejuice movies. It's as classic as peanut butter and jelly. Biscuits and gravy. Peaches and Herb. Beetlejuice and banjos! It's a fun one. It turns out that I have a LOT of thoughts about Tim Burton. Enjoy! Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com  Bandcamp: http://derekbrink.bandcamp.com  email: db@derekbrink.com Time Index: 0:00 - Intro 6:40 - Banjo Break #1 - 5 String Banjo 7:11 - Talkin' Banjos! 24:30 - Banjo Break #2 - Plectrum Banjo 25:00 - Yellin' about Beetlejuice... 31:22 - Beetlejuice 42:33 - Beetlejuice Beetlejuice 1:08:35 - Banjo Break #3 - Tenor Banjo 1:09:06 - Outro

This week's episode is a little bit short, but no less sweet than usual. It's a fun one where I complain about the weather, then talk about new releases from Mumford & Sons, Mitski, and Squeeze. I had fun with it. You might too! Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com  Bandcamp: http://derekbrink.bandcamp.com  email: db@derekbrink.com  Time Index: 0:00 - Intro 12:21 - Vagabond 12:52 - Music Reviews 31:23 - Slainte 31:53 - Outro