{"version":"https:\/\/jsonfeed.org\/version\/1.1","title":"The Government of Daniel Savage","home_page_url":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk","feed_url":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/feed.json","description":"Official Missives and Dispatches from the Government of Daniel Savage.","authors":[{"name":"Daniel Savage","url":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk"}],"language":"en-GB","items":[{"id":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/glasto-tickets-26","url":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/glasto-tickets-26","date_published":"2026-10-01T00:00:00+00:00","content_html":"

I hate these green bars with my whole life.<\/p>

\"\"<\/figure>"},{"id":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/glasto-tickets-27-yes","url":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/glasto-tickets-27-yes","date_published":"2026-10-01T00:00:00+00:00","content_html":"

OK MAYBE I WAS TOO MEAN TO THE GREEN BARS. Glastonbury 2027 here I come!<\/p>

\"\"<\/figure>"},{"id":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/listening-report-september-2026","url":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/listening-report-september-2026","date_published":"2026-09-30T00:00:00+00:00","title":"Listening report \u2014 September 2026","content_html":"

Listening \u2014 September 2026<\/h2>\n

182 artists \u00b7 226 albums \u00b7 311 tracks \u00b7 315 plays<\/p>\n

Most played artists<\/h3>\n
    \n
  • Phoebe Bridgers (16 plays)<\/li>\n
  • Bombay Bicycle Club (14 plays)<\/li>\n
  • Buena Vista Social Club (14 plays)<\/li>\n
  • This is Lorelei (8 plays)<\/li>\n
  • Radiohead (7 plays)<\/li>\n
  • Sunbeam Sound Machine (7 plays)<\/li>\n
  • Joshua Idehen (6 plays)<\/li>\n
  • Alabama Shakes (5 plays)<\/li>\n
  • Boy Harsher (5 plays)<\/li>\n
  • Friendly Fires (5 plays)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Most played albums<\/h3>\n
      \n
    • Lost Weekend \u2014 Phoebe Bridgers<\/li>\n
    • Buena Vista Social Club \u2014 Buena Vista Social Club<\/li>\n
    • The Singer in My Band \u2014 This is Lorelei<\/li>\n
    • Goodness Gracious \u2014 Sunbeam Sound Machine<\/li>\n
    • A Different Kind of Fix \u2014 Bombay Bicycle Club<\/li>\n
    • Get Mean \u2014 Boy Harsher<\/li>\n
    • Nobody's Coming To Save You \u2014 Gurriers<\/li>\n
    • I know you're hurting, everyone is hurting, everyone is trying, you have got to try \u2014 Joshua Idehen<\/li>\n
    • I Had the Blues But I Shook Them Loose \u2014 Bombay Bicycle Club<\/li>\n
    • Boys & Girls \u2014 Alabama Shakes<\/li>\n<\/ul>"},{"id":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/wing-fest","url":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/wing-fest","date_published":"2026-09-05T00:00:00+00:00","content_html":"

      I am in Bristol for the day for Wing Fest. Lots of chicken. And more beards than I\u2019ve ever seen in one place in my life. <\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/figure>
      \"\"<\/figure>"},{"id":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/birthdays","url":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/birthdays","date_published":"2026-09-04T00:00:00+00:00","content_html":"

      I\u2019ve realised that today is the day with the most of my friends\u2019 birthdays on it. Happy birthday to Beth (28), Harry (39), and Henry (40).<\/p>"},{"id":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/the-kingdom-of-god-is-within-you","url":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/the-kingdom-of-god-is-within-you","date_published":"2026-09-04T00:00:00+00:00","title":"The Kingdom of God Is Within You","content_html":"

      Selected Quotes and Highlights<\/h2>\n
      \n

      man is not stationary in regard to truth, but every individual man as he passes through life, and humanity as a whole in the same way, is continually learning to know a greater and greater degree of truth, and growing more and more free from error<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      The liberty of man does not consist in the power of acting independently of the progress of life and the influences arising from it, but in the capacity for recognizing and acknowledging the truth revealed to him, and becoming the free and joyful participator in the eternal and infinite work of God, the life of the world<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      the horse is free to drag the cart himself or to be dragged with it. And so it is with man.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      Men need only understand this, they need only cease to trouble themselves about the general external conditions in which they are not free, and devote one-hundredth part of the energy they waste on those material things to that in which they are free, to the recognition and realization of the truth which is before them, and to the liberation of themselves and others from deception and hypocrisy, and, without effort or conflict, there would be an end at once of the false organization of life which makes men miserable, and threatens them with worse calamities in the future. And then the kingdom of God would be realized<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      Will not harm come if, being wholly in the power of a master, I carry out, in the workshop erected and directed by him, the orders he gives me, strange though they may seem to me who do not know the Master's final aims<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      Share all that you have with others, do not heap up riches, do not steal, do not cause suffering, do not kill, do not unto others what you would not they should do unto you, all that has been said not eighteen hundred, but five thousand years ago, and there could be no doubt of the truth of this law if it were not for hypocrisy<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      the one aim of your life ought to be to purify yourself from falsehood and to confess the truth<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      \"The kingdom of God cometh not with outward show; neither shall they say, Lo here! or, Lo there! for behold, the kingdom of God is within you.\" (Luke xvii. 20, 21.)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity by contributing to the establishment of the kingdom of God, which can only be done by the recognition and profession of the truth by every man.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      Not without good reason was Christ's only harsh and threatening reproof directed against hypocrites and hypocrisy.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      these people have so entered into their part that they seriously believe that they really are what they pretend to be<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      The state is so organized that wherever a man is placed in the social scale, his irresponsibility is the same<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      we need only each live with all the light that is in us, to bring about at once the promised kingdom of God to which every man's heart is yearning<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      nowadays the wealthy class and men at the head of government do not constitute, as they did in former days, the \u00e9lite of society; on the contrary, they are inferior to the middle class<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      The conditions of the new order of life cannot be known by us because we have to create them by our own labors. That is all that life is, to learn the unknown, and to adapt our actions to this new knowledge.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      we do know by prolonged experience that neither enemies nor criminals have been successfully suppressed by force<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      Public opinion arises spontaneously and spreads for hundreds and thousands of years, but it has the power of working on men by infection, and with great rapidity gains a hold on great numbers of men<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      Power selects and attracts the worst elements of society, transforms them, improves and softens them, and returns them to society<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      The seductions of power, and all the wealth, honor, and luxury it gives, seem a sufficient aim for men's efforts only so long as they are unattained<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      The good cannot seize power, nor retain it; to do this men must love power. And love of power is inconsistent with goodness; but quite consistent with the very opposite qualities\u2014pride, cunning, cruelty<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      I know that I do not need to attack and slaughter other nations or to defend myself from them with arms, and therefore I can take no part in wars or preparations for wars<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      But no honest and serious-minded man of our day can help seeing the incompatibility of true Christianity\u2014the doctrine of meekness, forgiveness of injuries, and love\u2014with government, with its pomp, acts of violence, executions, and wars<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      The whole History of Humanity is the History of the Forcible Appropriation of Power by the Wicked and their Oppression of the Good<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      The Christian says: I know nothing about the form of government, I don't know whether it is good or bad, and I don't want to overturn it precisely because I don't know whether it's good or bad, but for the very same reason I don't want to support it either. And I not only don't want to, but I can't, because what it demands of me is against my conscience.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      the whole authority of the state is based on the compliance with these unchristian demands<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      Every man of the present day is under the necessity of taking part in the cruelties of pagan life, or of refusing all participation in them<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      the freedom of all men will be brought about only through the freedom of individual persons<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      punishments do not reform, but only deprave those on whom they are inflicted<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      Freedom is an inalienable possession of the Christian<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      Everything is ready for the new life, but still the new life does not come<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      As the means of extermination are improved, the means of reducing men who hold the state conception of life to submission can be improved to correspond<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      Intimidation, corruption, and hypnotizing bring people into a condition in which they are willing to be soldiers<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      the longer men lived in the world and the more complex their relations became, the more evident it was that to resist by force what each regarded as evil was irrational, that conflict was in no way lessened thereby, and that no human definitions can succeed in making what some regard as evil be accepted as such by others<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      The Christian religion is not a legal system which, being imposed by violence, may transform men's lives<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      The advantages of the man who refuses to obey will consist in preserving his dignity as a man, gaining the approbation of good men, and above all knowing that he is doing the work of God, and so undoubtedly doing good to his fellow-men.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      The power of the state, far from being a security against the attacks of our neighbors, exposes us, on the contrary, to much greater danger of such attacks<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      In our day governments not only fail to encourage, but directly hinder every movement by which people try to work out new forms of life for themselves<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      If the laborer has no land, if he cannot use the natural right of every man to derive subsistence for himself and his family out of the land, that is not because the people wish it to be so, but because a certain set of men, the land-owners, have appropriated the right of giving or refusing admittance to the land to the laborers<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      It is generally supposed that governments strengthen their forces only to defend the state from other states, in oblivion of the fact that armies are necessary, before all things, for the defense of governments from their own oppressed and enslaved subjects<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      People have believed, as though it were something fully proved, and so needing no proof, that since all nations have hitherto developed in the form of states, that form of organization is an indispensable condition of the development of humanity<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      The object of authority and the justification for its existence lie in the restraint of those who aim at attaining their personal interests to the detriment of the interests of society<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      If men submit to authority, it is only because they are liable to these punishments in case of non-submission.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      The man who is controlled by moral influence acts in accordance with his own desires. Authority, in the sense in which the word is ordinarily understood, is a means of forcing a man to act in opposition to his desires. The man who submits to authority does not do as he chooses but as he is obliged by authority<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      Universal military service is only the internal inconsistency inherent in the social conception of life, carried to its furthest limits, and becoming evident when a certain stage of material development is reached<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      so long as there are two men, and bread, money and a woman\u2014there will be war<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      If the people understood that, if they themselves passed judgment on murderous governments, if they refused to let themselves be killed for nothing, if they would only turn their arms against those who have given them to them for massacre, on that day war would be no more. But that day will never come.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      government is in its essence always a force acting in violation of justice<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      a government is only a government so long as it can make itself obeyed, and therefore it always strives for that and will never willingly abandon its power<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      To suggest to governments that they should not have recourse to violence, but should decide their misunderstandings in accordance with equity, is inviting them to abolish themselves as rulers, and that no government can ever consent to do<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      Not only Christians, but pagans, thousands of years ago, all recognized the evil of war and the blessing of peace<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      And strange and terrible to say, the cultivated men of our day, the leaders of thought, are in reality with their subtle reasoning drawing society back, not to paganism even, but to a state of primitive barbarism.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      A man may cease to do what he regards as wrong, but he cannot cease to consider wrong what is wrong<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      The antagonism between life and the conscience may be removed in two ways: by a change of life or by a change of conscience<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      If there were no external means of dulling their sensibilities, half of mankind would shoot themselves without delay, for to live in opposition to one's reason is the most intolerable condition.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      the permanently armed condition of Europe together with its profession of Christianity is alone enough to drive any man to despair<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      True peace is based on mutual confidence, while these huge armaments show open and utter lack of confidence, if not concealed hostility, between states<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      Until our warriors are disarmed and our armies disbanded, we have not the right to call ourselves a Christian nation<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      Nations cannot endure the constant increase of armies for long, and sooner or later they will prefer war to all the disadvantages of their present position and the constant menace of war.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      We are all brothers\u2014and yet every morning a brother or a sister must empty the bedroom slops for me. We are all brothers, but every morning I must have a cigar, a sweetmeat, an ice, and such things, which my brothers and sisters have been wasting their health in manufacturing, and I enjoy these things and demand them<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      The sufferings of the working classes, springing from the contradiction between what is and what ought to be, are increased tenfold by the envy and hatred engendered by their consciousness of it.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      with our whole heart we know and cannot escape knowing the fundamental truth of the Christian doctrine, that we are all sons of one Father, wherever we may live and whatever language we may speak; we are all brothers and are subject to the same law of love implanted by our common Father in our hearts<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      The time will come\u2014it is already coming\u2014when the Christian principles of equality and fraternity, community of property, non-resistance of evil by force, will appear just as natural and simple as the principles of family or social life seem to us now<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      the object of this love is not found outside self in societies of individuals, nor in the external world, but within self, in the divine self whose essence is that very love, which the animal self is brought to feel the need of through its consciousness of its own perishable nature.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      Christianity recognizes love of self, of family, of nation, and of humanity, and not only of humanity, but of everything living, everything existing; it recognizes the necessity of an infinite extension of the sphere of love<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      Christian love is the result only of the Christian conception of life, in which the aim of life is to love and serve God.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      The ideal is to love the enemies who hate us<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      The ideal is never for any purpose to use force<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      The ideal is to take no thought for the future, to live in the present moment<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      The ideal is perfect chastity, even in thought<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      The ideal is not to desire to do ill to anyone, not to provoke ill will, to love all men<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      Life according to Christ's teaching consists of nothing but this setting free of the Son of God, existing in every man, from the animal, and in bringing him closer to the Father.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      The true, the rational life is only possible for man according to the measure in which he can participate, not in the family or the state, but in the source of life\u2014the Father<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      These three views of life are as follows: First, embracing the individual, or the animal view of life; second, embracing the society, or the pagan view of life; third, embracing the whole world, or the divine view of life.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      The chief peculiarity which distinguished Christ's teaching from previous religions consisted in the fact that those who accepted it strove ever more and more to comprehend and realize its teaching<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      The greater or less blessedness of a man depends, according to this doctrine, not on the degree of perfection to which he has attained, but on the greater or less swiftness with which he is pursuing it.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      The significance of the Gospel is hidden from believers by the Church, from unbelievers by Science<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      There can only be two solutions: either to find a real unquestionable criterion of what is evil or not to resist evil by force<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      In what way are we to decide men's disputes, when some men consider evil what others consider good, and vice versa?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      Christ's teaching is useless because, if it were carried into practice, life could not go on as at present<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      the principle of non-resistance to evil by force has been attacked by two opposing camps: the conservatives, because this principle would hinder their activity in resistance to evil as applied to the revolutionists, in persecution and punishment of them; the revolutionists, too, because this principle would hinder their resistance to evil as applied to the conservatives and the overthrowing of them<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      they find themselves between belief in the divinity of their Master and disbelief in his clearest utterances, and they want to escape from this contradiction<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      the kingdom of God would come if all men kept these five commandments of Christ, viz.: 1. Live in peace with all men. 2. Be pure. 3. Take no oaths. 4. Resist not evil. 5. Renounce national distinctions.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      If you believe that Christ forbade murder, pay no heed to the arguments nor to the commands of those who call on you to bear a hand in it<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      we consider it the duty of every man who thinks war inconsistent with Christianity, meekly but firmly to refuse to serve in the army<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      Satan can never be driven out by Satan. Error can never be corrected by error, and evil cannot be vanquished by evil<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      One man may not kill. If he kills a fellow-creature, he is a murderer. If two, ten, a hundred men do so, they, too, are murderers. But a government or a nation may kill as many men as it chooses, and that will not be murder, but a great and noble action<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      \n

      the establishment of universal peace can only be founded on the open profession of the doctrine of non-resistance to evil by violence (Matt. v. 39)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>

      \"The<\/figure>"},{"id":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/haircut","url":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/haircut","date_published":"2026-09-02T00:00:00+00:00","content_html":"

      Today, for the first time in my life, the barber said \u201cgrey hairs are coming through aren\u2019t they\u201d. Dust to dust.<\/p>"},{"id":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/listening-report-august-2026","url":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/listening-report-august-2026","date_published":"2026-08-31T00:00:00+00:00","title":"Listening report \u2014 August 2026","content_html":"

      Listening \u2014 August 2026<\/h2>\n

      190 artists \u00b7 194 albums \u00b7 429 tracks \u00b7 432 plays<\/p>\n

      Most played artists<\/h3>\n
        \n
      • Badly Drawn Boy (18 plays)<\/li>\n
      • MJ Cole (18 plays)<\/li>\n
      • DJ Shadow (13 plays)<\/li>\n
      • Saint Etienne (13 plays)<\/li>\n
      • Doves (12 plays)<\/li>\n
      • Kathryn Williams (12 plays)<\/li>\n
      • U2 (12 plays)<\/li>\n
      • Coldplay (11 plays)<\/li>\n
      • Primal Scream (11 plays)<\/li>\n
      • The Jesus and Mary Chain (11 plays)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Most played albums<\/h3>\n
          \n
        • The Hour of Bewilderbeast \u2014 Badly Drawn Boy<\/li>\n
        • Sincere (Deluxe) \u2014 MJ Cole<\/li>\n
        • The Mountain Will Fall \u2014 DJ Shadow<\/li>\n
        • Foxbase Alpha \u2014 Saint Etienne<\/li>\n
        • Lost Souls \u2014 Doves<\/li>\n
        • Little Black Numbers (Remastered) \u2014 Kathryn Williams<\/li>\n
        • Achtung Baby \u2014 U2<\/li>\n
        • Screamadelica \u2014 Primal Scream<\/li>\n
        • Honey's Dead \u2014 The Jesus and Mary Chain<\/li>\n
        • Geography \u2014 Tom Misch<\/li>\n<\/ul>"},{"id":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/edinburgh-2026","url":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/edinburgh-2026","date_published":"2026-08-26T00:00:00+00:00","title":"Edinburgh, 2026 \ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc73\udb40\udc63\udb40\udc74\udb40\udc7f","content_html":"

          FROM THE PEN OF THE PRIME MINISTER, AT HOME<\/strong>
          \nDomestic Visit to Edinburgh, 2026<\/p>\n

          \n

          I had a brief jaunt northwards to Edinburgh, via Newcastle, with my brother. Every August, the world's largest performing arts festival take over the ancient Scottish capital and transform it into a hub of creativity and American tourists. I have been to the festival twice before, but the last time was about 10 years ago, and this would be the first time with my brother. We arrived Sunday morning and headed home Monday afternoon, fitting in 6 show, a bit of sightseeing, and a weeks worth of steps and stairs. <\/p>\n

          \"\"<\/figure>\n

          It is definitely expensive and it is a shame that these world class acts are perhaps only being seen by wealthy tourists and locals but you can't deny the level of talent on display, not only in the venues but peppered along the streets. I was constantly in awe and wonder and the genius of human creativity and potential and I left wanting to have more human experiences like this. There is simply nothing like live entertainment made by human flesh and spirit. In a time where artificial slop is being shovelled into our vision at every opportunity, we need to go out and be with people more and more. Here's who we managed to see.<\/p>\n

          Rob Auton: JUPITER<\/h3>\n

          Sun 23 Aug 13:00 \u00b7 Assembly Roxy \u00b7 \u00a318<\/p>\n

          \u2b50\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f<\/p>\n

          What a way to start. This is the 4th of Rob's shows and it always leaves me inspired and hopeful. This show, hung (loosely) on the premise of an estate agent in Jupiter trying to sell somewhere on Earth, provided the same. Filled with laughs amongst some more tender moments, always hopeful and full of amazement and existence itself \"How good is breathing!\".<\/p>\n

          Ten Thousand Hours<\/h3>\n

          Sun 23 Aug 17:30 \u00b7 Assembly Hall \u00b7 \u00a319<\/p>\n

          \u2b50\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f<\/p>\n

          Something completely different. This circus acrobatic act drew gasps and applause seemingly every 30 seconds. These were strong, flexible, talented athletes and performers. The mind boggled at the things they were able to do with their bodies, the strength and balance on show made me question whether I was truly human. I can't even touch my toes, and here were these sculpted Aussie bodies chucking each other around with ease. <\/p>\n

          \"\"<\/figure>\n

          Sean Morley: Backchannel<\/h3>\n

          Sun 23 Aug 19:50 \u00b7 Monkey Barrel Comedy (Niddry Street) \u00b7 \u00a312<\/p>\n

          \u2b50\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f<\/p>\n

          The power of the fringe, of its size and variety is the fact that you get a diversity of approach and content of shows. This was a show that was unique, in that it seemed deliberately antagonistic to the audience, whilst making a comment on the idea of audience participation and the power imbalance in the relationship with the performer. Meta, but still packed full of laughs from surprising places.<\/p>\n

          Stamptown<\/h3>\n

          Sun 23 Aug 21:50 \u00b7 Assembly George Square Gardens \u00b7 \u00a320<\/p>\n

          \u2b50\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f<\/p>\n

          My favourite type of comedy is chaos. It's the shows that feel like they could fall apart at any second, where the performers themselves are on the edge of breaking and it feels like they're just going with the flow. Stamptown is exactly that. Superbly hosted by Zack Zucker the show features a roller skater called Dylan, Bollywood Spidermen, Frankie McNair, a eunuch looking for their balls, a sword swallower, fire lady and other world class cabaret acts. It's late night Edinburgh at its best. <\/p>\n

          \"\"<\/figure>\n

          Chris Cantrill: Rewilding<\/h3>\n

          Mon 24 Aug 12:10 \u00b7 Monkey Barrel Comedy at O'Neill's (The Tron) \u00b7 \u00a313<\/p>\n

          \u2b50\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f<\/p>\n

          The most conventional stand-up set we saw, SNL UK writer (and previous half of Delightful Sausage with previous Edinburgh award winner Amy Gledhill) gave us a joke filled story loosely inspired by the cutting down of the tree in the Sycamore gap. He's a fantastic stand-up and as a millennial I was the perfect audience. <\/p>\n

          Mark Watson: Sometimes People Are Being Over-Cautious When They Say Work-In-Progress, But This Truly Is Rough<\/h3>\n

          Mon 24 Aug 14:00 \u00b7 The Stand Comedy Club 3 \u00b7 \u00a315<\/p>\n

          \u2b50\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f<\/p>\n

          Mark couldn't have made it more clear that this was a work in progress with his title, and so I went in with that expectation and so wasn't disappointed. There's definitely a show in there being formed, and Mark is such a great stand-up that even this was a fun hour. He's been someone I've been a fan of for a long time and hadn't managed to see live before, and will go again to see how the finished article turns out.<\/p>"},{"id":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/edinburgh-26","url":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/edinburgh-26","date_published":"2026-08-24T00:00:00+00:00","content_html":"

          I have been in Scotland for the Edinburgh Fringe festival seeing some of the best performers I\u2019ve ever seen. And what a city this is, especially in the sun.<\/p>

          \"\"<\/figure>"},{"id":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/between-jobs","url":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/between-jobs","date_published":"2026-08-20T00:00:00+00:00","content_html":"

          I'm currently in the fun bit between leaving one job and starting a new one. A sort of 3 week holiday where I've decided to get as much done in the house as I can. Today: new carpets.<\/p>"},{"id":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/euro-athletics","url":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/euro-athletics","date_published":"2026-08-11T00:00:00+00:00","content_html":"

          Really enjoying watching the European Athletics Championships. I love seeing people trying their very best.<\/p>"},{"id":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/mercury-prize-1992","url":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/mercury-prize-1992","date_published":"2026-08-06T00:00:00+00:00","title":"The Mercury Prize Determination, 1992 \ud83c\udfb5","content_html":"

          COMMITTEE ON ARTISTIC AFFAIRS<\/strong>
          \nSub-Committee on the Adjudication of Musical Awards<\/em><\/p>\n

          Subject<\/strong>: The Mercury Prize of 1992
          \nPurpose<\/strong>: To establish whether the prize of 1992 was correctly awarded.
          \nDetermination<\/strong>: Amended<\/p>\n

          \n

          As much as I love new music, it's always good to check back and see what you might have missed before. When the Mercury Prize shortlist for 2026 was announced I thought it would be good to listen back to past years and give the nominees another chance. First up, it's 1992.<\/p>\n

          Albums are listed alphabetically, not in order of preference.<\/p>\n

          ^<\/code> denotes the Mercury winner. *<\/code> denotes the Committee's.<\/em><\/p>\n

          \n

          Barry Adamson, Soul Murder<\/h3>\n

          I saw that he was a fellow Manc who had been in Magazine and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, so I thought I had an idea of what this was going to sound like. I was very wrong. This is a jazz noir, slam poet, bossa nova, groove mirage. It feels like he's lifted songs from various film soundtracks (there's an imagined Bond theme in here) and jumbled them all together. I'm really glad I listened. Not sure I quite got it in one listen, but it deserves a few more.<\/p>\n

          Bheki Mseleku, Celebration<\/h3>\n

          The jazz entry. There will be more of these in the years to come, and it's one of the areas I know least about. Mseleku was South African, living in exile in London, and this was a great entry: smooth but vibrant, with fantastic production.<\/p>\n

          The Jesus and Mary Chain, Honey's Dead<\/h3>\n

          This just felt very 90s. The drums are very Madchester, the guitars distorted and powerful. The lyrics are fine. It's well-crafted guitar pop for the baggy jeans generation, but it felt very samey and by the end I was glad it was over.<\/p>\n

          Jah Wobble's Invaders of the Heart, Rising Above Bedlam<\/h3>\n

          Not for me, thanks. This is the most dated of the albums.<\/p>\n

          John Tavener and Steven Isserlis, The Protecting Veil<\/h3>\n

          The classical entry. Again, no idea what to expect. I don't think having it in my headphones while I work is giving it the space it requires, and I'm no classical expert, so I'm setting it aside rather than judging it properly. It was great to work to. Listening to this live with an orchestra in proper surroundings would be ideal.<\/p>\n

          ^ Primal Scream, Screamadelica<\/h3>\n

          I expected more. Maybe it was more revolutionary when it came out, but it does seem to drag a lot. I actually saw them play this album live in full and it felt a lot better. I think you need to be out dancing with people to get the full experience.<\/p>\n

          * Saint Etienne, Foxbase Alpha<\/h3>\n

          This was a great record. Poppy, dance-y, but always interesting. It was bright and light. Only Love Can Break Your Heart is the well known track, but there were others that I really liked. Even the longer songs held my attention, unlike in Screamadelica.<\/p>\n

          Simply Red, Stars<\/h3>\n

          I'm from the same town as Mick Hucknall, but there will be no hometown loyalty here. This was the biggest album in the UK of both 1991 and 1992, and remains one of the biggest sellers in British chart history. It was a smash, but other than a couple of bangers the rest is pretty bland.<\/p>\n

          U2, Achtung Baby<\/h3>\n

          Another big hitter. I really enjoyed this album. It kept most of my attention throughout and there are some classic tracks on it.<\/p>\n

          Young Disciples, Road to Freedom<\/h3>\n

          This was the only album Young Disciples ever made. A shame, as this was another great album. Cool, slick. A mix of jazz, funk, soul and hip hop.<\/p>\n

          Judgement<\/h3>\n

          Overall, it was a great inaugural year for the Mercury Prize. A real variety of sounds and genres, and other than Jah Wobble (sorry) they've all dated quite well.<\/p>\n

          On the question of Achtung Baby: it is plainly the strongest set of songs on the shortlist. Can you really say any of the other albums had songs like One<\/em>, Mysterious Ways<\/em> and Even Better Than The Real Thing<\/em>? But the Committee removes U2 from consideration on the grounds of size. They were already too big a band to be handed the prize, and did not need the money or the exposure. <\/p>\n

          That leaves Saint Etienne<\/strong>. I can see why Screamadelica <\/em>won, but Foxbase Alpha<\/em> held my attention where the winner didn't, and it has aged just as well. The determination of 1992 is amended in its favour.<\/p>"},{"id":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/gig-diary","url":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/gig-diary","date_published":"2026-08-02T00:00:00+00:00","content_html":"

          Every gig I've been to since 2003 is now on the record. 312 of them, from Stereophonics that year through to Alabama Shakes in Memphis this April. Where setlist.fm has the setlist, you can click through and see exactly what was played.<\/p>\n

          If you head to the Department of Culture<\/a> I've also added year filters across all the cultural filings, so you can see year by year what I've been watching, reading and listening to.<\/p>\n

          Websites are so fun!<\/p>"},{"id":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/listening-report-july-2026","url":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/listening-report-july-2026","date_published":"2026-07-31T00:00:00+00:00","title":"Listening report \u2014 July 2026","content_html":"

          Listening \u2014 July 2026<\/h2>\n

          168 artists \u00b7 170 albums \u00b7 488 tracks \u00b7 499 plays<\/p>\n

          Most played artists<\/h3>\n
            \n
          • Radiohead (33 plays)<\/li>\n
          • Arctic Monkeys (20 plays)<\/li>\n
          • The Beatles (18 plays)<\/li>\n
          • Alabama Shakes (17 plays)<\/li>\n
          • Hammock (17 plays)<\/li>\n
          • Geese (16 plays)<\/li>\n
          • Barry Adamson (14 plays)<\/li>\n
          • Death Grips (14 plays)<\/li>\n
          • DOMi & JD Beck (14 plays)<\/li>\n
          • Muse (14 plays)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Most played albums<\/h3>\n
              \n
            • Revolver \u2014 The Beatles<\/li>\n
            • The Gaslamp Killer at Bastid\u2019s BBQ, Los Angeles, 2025 (DJ Mix) \u2014 The Gaslamp Killer<\/li>\n
            • Soul Murder \u2014 Barry Adamson<\/li>\n
            • WHO ASKED? \u2014 DOMi & JD Beck<\/li>\n
            • Trouble \u2014 TEED<\/li>\n
            • Paracosm \u2014 Absolutely<\/li>\n
            • The Money Store \u2014 Death Grips<\/li>\n
            • For Ever \u2014 Jungle<\/li>\n
            • Origin of Symmetry \u2014 Muse<\/li>\n
            • Emotional Junglist \u2014 Nia Archives<\/li>\n<\/ul>"},{"id":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/mercury-prize","url":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/mercury-prize","date_published":"2026-07-30T00:00:00+00:00","content_html":"

              New Mercury Prize shortlist announced today<\/a>. I try to listen to all the albums before the winner is announced in October, but I'm tempted to go right back to the beginning and listen to the shortlist for each year! Who knows if I'll have the time or motivation but it would make a nice series for the Department of Culture<\/a> to delve into. <\/p>\n

              Please get in touch<\/a> to let me know what you think of this year's shortlist and who deserved a spot!<\/p>"},{"id":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/job","url":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/job","date_published":"2026-07-29T00:00:00+00:00","content_html":"

              Handed in my notice this week to start something new! Excited. I will, of course, remain in my role as PM of my own life. You can\u2019t really hand your notice in for that.<\/p>"},{"id":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/wc26-4","url":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/wc26-4","date_published":"2026-07-19T00:00:00+00:00","content_html":"

              What a horrible final with a horrible half time show run by a horrible (and corrupt) institution with horrible losers. I think the beautiful game has now, officially, gone. <\/p>\n

              (3 weeks until the Prem starts up again.)<\/p>"},{"id":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/bbc-proms-26","url":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/bbc-proms-26","date_published":"2026-07-17T00:00:00+00:00","content_html":"

              Just watched the First Night of the Proms (another jewel in the BBC crown we should be fighting to keep alive). They close with Wonderwall. Oasis continue to be a phenomenon.<\/p>"},{"id":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/wc26-3","url":"https:\/\/danielsavage.uk\/propaganda\/wc26-3","date_published":"2026-07-15T00:00:00+00:00","content_html":"

              Same as it ever was. <\/p>\n