The Tender Bar

nospam@example.com (Holger Schauer) — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 23:04:32 +0200

The Tender Bar is a memoir written by JR Moehringer -- and one of the books I've read during my holidays. It's really outstanding, both in the many funny anecdotes it tells, all of which are centered around the bar which was basically the authors' replacement for his dad, as well as for the really joyful writing style. I only wish most blog authors, myself included, could achieve a similar ability to write so inspiring and refreshing simply by going to our favorite bar, too.

How soon is never?

nospam@example.com (Holger Schauer) — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 20:20:14 +0100

Looking for a present, I recently stumbled upon the book "How soon is never?" by Marc Spitz. In case you liked the band The Smiths some twenty years ago ... No. Let me try to put it otherwise. Around 1986 there was no one listening to the Smiths, you would have been hating or loving them. So, if you happened to love the Smiths, "How soon is never?" is interesting as it tells the story of some ex-Smiths-fan-become-rock-journalist's life. If you like to check out what your life might have been like in case it had not provided to get over the Smiths, that is. Or perhaps you know that already.

Anyway. Naturally reading the book led me to dig out my old CDs (I own only "Louder than bombs" on vinyl. It was the first Smiths album I bought - in 1987, I think - , although that doesn't really explain it, as I think that I already owned my CD player, which btw. is still the same today). It's true what Marc writes, also in 2007 that music is still worth listening to. Similarly for my favourite other band of that time, the The Woodentops -- their live album from 1987, "Live Hypnobeat Live" is still unbelievable wrt. its intensity -- and speed, of course. I did some web searching and discovered that they seem to have played some concerts again, last year, surprisingly. If they were to play in Germany again (I saw them in 1987 in Oberhausen), I would probably travel quite some distance. There is even a new website (Woodentops portal) on which one can download MP3s of old material, including raw live material.

A view from the hill - Literature

The Tender Bar

How soon is never?