I’ve been catching up with some Andy Kershaw Plays Some Bloody Great Records podcasts. Tell It Like It Is, etc. Where else can you hear the Stones covering The Temptations, a Martin Stephenson kitchen session, and some DIY recordings from a field trip the Democratic Republic of the Congo from back in the late 1980’s?
Kershaw sounds as bitter as ever from being sidelined from the BBC - and indeed he should. There are few other broadcasters who understand their audience, and who also know their music inside out. He is a rare asset that the BBC should have ‘reintegrated’ back into what platform Kershaw now fits these days. It’s remarkable to consider that he once held down a Radio 1 spot, playing pretty much the same music that he is still playing on his podcasts these days.
He also has a great relationship with the artists he has championed over the decades. They’re still lining up to appear on his podcast, live and direct from his kitchen table. The background barking from his dog Bertie sounds almost like a canine two fingers being raised up to the BBC.
I’ve always loved the bashfulness of Kershaw. Put simply, he doesn’t give a shit. This Live Aid clip where he held court with the unlikely trio of Sting, Phil Collins and, erm, Howard Jones is a brilliant watch. He cuts the interview short and tells Phil to bugger off to the other side of the Atlantic.
You get the first hour of the podcasts for free. A Patreon endorsement unlocks a second hour. I confess to not having signed up - but I really should. Cost of living shit, innit. I do have a list of ‘creators’ who I really want to endorse, should a little more money come my way. Without the likes of Kershaw still kicking over the statues, well, then we’re left with a very bland cultural offering.
