mostly david ephgrave

It’s not every day you get to see a Garth Brooks-themed industrial vehicle (unless you work for Doherty Concrete on a 24/7 basis, that is). Garth Brooks-themed Doherty Concrete vehicle (near-side view) When I spotted it on my way back from town this morning, I did a double take. I was so close to it initially that it took a while for the enormity of what I was passing to sink in. At first, the style of the artwork made me assume it was a fairground attraction, but no, it was something much more mundane than that; it was a way of transporting large quantities of sand, gravel and cement from A to B with the intention of mixing concrete, that happened to be decorated to a country and western motif.  Garth Brooks-themed Doherty Concrete vehicle (off-side view)   …and why not? Let's face it: Garth Brooks and concrete are synonymous. They’re both the most successful in their idiom; I challenge you to name a bigger-selling C&W artist or a more w...

It's perhaps surprising that one of my favourite love-songs was written by Bob Dylan. He's someone you're more likely to associate with cynicism than romanticism, which may be why when he writes something tender, it hits home all the more. Take the much-covered 'Make You Feel My Love': Dylan's aged cigarette-and-Never-Ending-Tour-weary voice lends more beauty, warmth and sincerity to the song for me than Adele or (*shudder*) Garth Brooks ever could, particularly when hidden in the midst of the bitter, depression-filled, mortality-fearing atmosphere of the album 'Time Out of Mind'. It sounds genuine. When he wears his heart on his sleeve and shows a little frailty, it’s a fleeting yet wonderful thing to behold. While I love 'Make You Feel My Love' (I could have worded that better), it doesn’t hold a candle to 'You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go'. It’s not just one of my favourite ballads; it’s one of my favour...