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Gotta love an airport whiskey tasting right before the gate. No, I will not be buying the €159/bottle Irish whiskey, but I sure did enjoy it!

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And last night’s post-fest show at Mono with Bubbles (collective musical resumes include Orange Juice, Josef K, Fire Engines, Jazzateers, Bluebells) was a delight. I could watch Malcolm Ross play guitar all night.

Bubbles live onstage at Mono in Glasgow on August 16, 2026

Malcolm Ross, singing and playing guitar live onstage at Mono in Glasgow on August 16, 2026

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Other random shots from great sets at GGP: Rachel Love (Dolly Mixture) performing in Railcard, Linda Smith, ex-Felt members in FEEL w/(mostly) instrumental versions of Felt covers, and ace new Glasgow band Comber.

Rachel Love, playing guitar and singing onstage at Glas-Goes Pop in Glasgow on August 15, 2026

Linda Smith, singing and playing guitar at Glas-Goes Pop in Glasgow on August 15, 2026

Former members of Felt (original drummer Gary Ainge, bassist Marco Thomas and guitarist Philip King) plus Martin Davies on keys and Andy Wellings on lead guitar, performing live as FEEL at Glas-Goes Pop in Glasgow on August 15, 2026

The three members of Comber, performing live at Glas-Goes Pop in Glasgow on August 15, 2026

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Night 3, Saturday at Glas-Goes Pop. A hit-filled ending, with Made Up In Blue + Boogey Man + North By North in a row.

The Bats, performing live onstage at Glas-Goes Pop in Glasgow on August 15, 2026

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This entire Music section requires more investigation…

Long wall of shelving filled with books, under a sign that reads “MUSIC”

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I wanna buy this book but I don’t wanna lug it home. So pretty!

Front cover of the book Punk 45: The Singles Cover Art of Punk 1976-80

Two pages from the book Punk 45: The Singles Cover Art of Punk 1976-80, featuring Young Marble Giants and Fire Engines singles

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Extremely robust 33 1/3 section at this Waterstones in Glasgow

Colorful spines of books from the 33 1/3 series, taking up three full shelves at Waterstones in Glasgow

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I can be shy as well, so was lucky that a mutual friend provided an initial intro. I find that one beer helps. :-)

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Yes, a couple of years ago in Newcastle, when she was playing with the band The Girl With the Replaceable Head. She’s lovely, so friendly and clearly still passionate about music.

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Night 2 of The Bats, with a slightly different set of songs. (Sub “Tragedy” for Boogey Man” in the set list, + “North By North” to close.) Bonus: Lindy Morrison of The Go-Betweens sitting on the steps by me for their whole set. We chatted after, and she’ll be back in the UK next July… to perform!

The Bats performing live at The Lexington in London on August 13, 2026

Set list lying in stage, listing songs planned for The Bats’ performance live at The Lexington in London on August 13, 2026

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Record shopping was worth it, tho

A thermometer/hygrometer showing 22% humidity and 92.8F temperature being held in front of a vinyl copy of Weekend’s “La Varieté” album

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Not recommended: riding the bus in a heat wave

Close-up of a thermometer/hygrometer, showing humidity of 43% and temperature of 93.8F

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Sadly, no. But returning to Paris is definitely on our radar. Our last visit was much too short.

Jen Matson (DJ nstop) @nstop.com · 12/08/2026

First of three times I get to see The Bats this week. Can you tell I’m trying to make up for it having been over 13 years since the last? 😂

Robert Scott of the Bats, singing and playing guitar live onstage at The Lexington in London on August 12, 2026

Drummer Malcolm Grant of the Bats, playing onstage at The Lexington in London on August 12, 2026

Guitarist Kay Woodward and bassist Paul Kean of The Bats, performing onstage at The Lexington in London on August 12, 2026

All four members of The Bats, performing live onstage at The Lexington in London on August 12, 2026

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Vision-safe post-peak eclipse selfie, but it’s just a big ol sunny blob ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

A lot Oman with red curly hair make an “oh well!” Expression in front of a blurry sun setting over a London street corner

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Jen Matson (DJ nstop) @nstop.com · 12/08/2026

Taking a picture of people taking (or preparing to take) pictures of the eclipse here in London.

Crowd of people standing on a city sidewalk, some looking up and some holding up their phones as if taking a picture

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Jen Matson (DJ nstop) @nstop.com · 09/08/2026

Good shit in the New Arrivals bin at my neighborhood record store

Three-row wooden bin filled with vinyl albums, with a sign above that reads: “New Arrivals”. Visible in front are two LPs: The Clean - “Compilation” and Sneaky Feelings - “Hard Love Stories”

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Jen Matson (DJ nstop) @nstop.com · 08/08/2026

Coffee before a haircut. My hair rn:

A potted fern with multiple long and tangled fronds overflowing onto the wooden counter on which it sits; in the foreground, a small cup of coffee

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Reposted by Jen Matson (DJ nstop)

Helen McCookerybook (aka Helen McCallum, aka Helen Reddington) @mccookerybook.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Can't get to Rebellion? Watch our documentary instead! Wit and wisdom from Gina Birch, Lucy O'brien, Liz Naylor, Viv Albertine, June Miles-Kingston, Jane Woodgate, Jane Dowsett Lesley Woods, Liz Naylor, Trash, Karen Gymslip, The Dollymixture and more! www.youtube.com/watch?v=zki9...

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Jen Matson (DJ nstop) @nstop.com · 04/08/2026

I can find enough new music to fill an hour or radio every week, but coming up with a mix tape full of fresh musical discoveries for a fellow lady DJ similarly clued-in to the latest and sharing many of the same favorite bands/labels? WAY HARDER

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This was a very fun gig. And I won’t mind if you check out this video premiere instead of listening to my live radio show this Wednesday evening. 😉

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My memory is pretty fuzzy as well… good thing I managed to record part of Small Factory’s set before my Walkman died, otherwise it would be harder to remember.

Thanks, can’t wait to read everyone else’s pieces. Volume 1 was great.

I was at that show! You guys went on really late, though, so I don’t think I caught most of your set 😭

Also, check out this rad Kicking Giant gig poster by Tae Won Yu plus a great Black Tambourine action shot by Michael Galinksy w/Papa—err, Baby Slumber @slumberlandrecords.com

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Jen Matson (DJ nstop) @nstop.com · 02/08/2026

Got my copy in the mail today of Where the Wild Gigs Were: Vol 2 @hozacrecordsbooks.bsky.social book.. with a piece in it by yours truly! Big thanks to @timdaggerboy.bsky.social and Eric Eggleson. I wrote about early 90s times at long-gone NYC rock club The Spiral. hozacrecords.com/product/wtwg...

Cover of the book “Where the Wild Gigs Were: Volume 2” by Tim Hinely, Eric Eggleson & Friends, published by Hozac Books

Close-up of a page from “Where the Wild Gigs Were: Volume 2” featuring a piece on The Spiral Lounge by Jen Matson

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Found out more about The Vera Project’s plans for a new Georgetown venue at their neighborhood Garden Party this afternoon. Can’t wait!

Architect’s rendering of the exterior of the new Vera Project Georgetown venue

Architect’s rendering of the floor plan of the new Vera Project Georgetown venue

A table on which sits tiered platters of cookies and pastries, along with a white poster sheet plastered with colorful sticky notes of different band names. Heading: “Who do you want to perform in Georgetown?”

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Jen Matson (DJ nstop) @nstop.com · 01/08/2026

RIP Jeff Conolly of Lyres, who could tear it up onstage til the end. (Here w/Mission of Burma at the tail end of a raucous cover of “No Fun” at his cancer benefit in March.)

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Jen Matson (DJ nstop) @nstop.com · 22/07/2026

As a non-sporty type, I was just glad to finally be good at a “sport” 😂