Alright mate? This is the digital home of Daniel Savage, a small man who is trying very hard to exist.

This must be the place

Letterbox showdown of favourite films with specific locations in the title. The Muppets Take Manhattan Notting Hill Synecdoche, New York Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri The Grand Budapest Hotel This Is England Dunkirk The Bridge on the River Kwai The Last Black Man in San Francisco Casablanca

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🎵Now Playing: The Maccabees - Given to the Wild (2012)

The Maccabees are also back. No new music just yet but I managed to grab tickets to one of their upcoming Manchester shows. I think of all the indie-adjacent bands of my youth, The Maccabees are my favourite. Sorry, Bloc Party. I can’t wait to hear these songs live.

Favourite Tracks:

  • Child
  • Feel to Follow
  • Ayla
  • Forever I’ve Known
  • Pelican
  • Go
  • Grew Up At Midnight

🎵Now Playing: Snapped Ankles - Hard Times Furious Dancing (2025)

The lead single Raoul was an instant hit for me. The rest of the new songs continue in that vein - weird, thumping, agitating- the album title speaks for itself.

Favourite Tracks:

  • Pay The Rent
  • Raoul
  • Bai Lan

🎵Now Playing: Blondie @ Glastonbury (2023)

I make a playlist of most of the gigs I attend, to try and recapture those moments. With the sad news that Blondie’s drummer Clem Burke has passed away, I thought I’d listen to the set list from the only time I saw them live, a sunny Glastonbury Sunday in 2023. They still sounded great after all these years.

Favourite Tracks:

  • Hanging on the Telephone
  • Call Me
  • Atomic
  • Rapture
  • Maria
  • Heart of Glass

🎵Now Playing: Tune-Yards - W H O K I L L (2011)

Tune-Yards have a new album coming out, and I wanted to revisit this album. I actually discovered them live, before I’d heard anything, at Manchester’s famous Deaf Institute back in 2011. They blew me away, sounded like no-one else, and this album is still a favourite. I hope she’s touring the new album and keeping some classics in the setlist, I want to hear Bizness live again.

Favourite Tracks:

  • Gangsta
  • Powa
  • Bizness
  • Doorstep
  • Killa

A Sober 2025: March Update

After a dry Jan and an accidentally wet Feb, I got back to winning ways in March. 30/31 days without a drink, and that one time an almost unavoidable Stag/Hen party. It’s been a good month, and I’m feeling the benefits both in my head and in my wallet. Looking at the whole year I’m 88/93 days without alcohol. Looking ahead to April there are one or two occasions where I might be tempted, but I can feel that 3 months in, my relationship with drinking has started to change.

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🎵Now Playing: Tom Vek - We Have Sound (2005)

This album is exactly the kind of sloppy indie/electronic music I need on a sunny Friday afternoon. Weekend ahoy!

Favourite Tracks:

  • C-C (You Set The Fire In Me)
  • A Little Word In Your Ear
  • Cover
  • Nothing But Green Lights

Cultural Diet - March 2025

A run down of everything I’ve consumed this month. March has marched on out, but spring is here and summer is on the way. I managed to get my new office space decorated (but the cat isn’t very happy about it).

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Learned how to wire a light fitting, and the new office/guest room is pretty much done. Last bit to build - the desk.

🎵Now Playing: SBTRKT - SBTRKT (2011)

I needed some momentum so I could fit all my work in this afternoon. This provided that momentum. Tunes.

Favourite Tracks:

  • Hold On
  • Wildfire
  • Pharaohs
  • Never Never
  • Living Like I Do

Having a room decorated over the weekend. I’ve had to empty it and so the rest of the house is a complete mess. It’s worth it. It’s worth it. It’s worth it.