Empty Checking with Derek Brink

Ec Update 5.16.21.m4a

A brief update on why there's not a new episode. and why I don't know if there ever will be. (I'll probably find a way to do more, but I have no idea when or how. Next week? Next month? Next year? We'll have to wait and see. Thanks for your time.

Episode 98 - No Thread There. Just a Coincidence.

In a FREQUENTLY delayed episode (see http://emptychecking.blogspot.com for details on that) I finally talk about some of the art hanging on my walls and the subjects related to it. We cover Kurt Vonnegut, Bone by Jeff Smith, Star Trek, Rush, and Leonard Cohen, amidst the typical babbling.

Also, in two episodes, we'll be at #100! I'd like to make that episode all about the listeners, so please submit some comments and questions at either the Podbean page, the blog above, or by e-mailing me directly at db@derekbrink.com! And check out the blog for a TON of photos on this one! Thanks as always!

Time Index:

• 0:00 - Intro, including an appeal for questions for episode #100!
• 13:45 - Music Break #1 - A new song from an upcoming album!
• 14:15 - ART! Part One. - Kurt Vonnegut: Asterisk, etc. / Jeff Smith's Bone, by the rocks and elsewhere.
• 47:18 - Music Break #2 - More of the same song!
• 47:48 - ART! Part Two. - Star Trek Posters
• 55:24 - Music Break #3 - Even MORE of the same song!
• 55:54 - ART! Part Three. - Rush: The Canadian Gothic. / Leonard Cohen's skull and a naked lady.
• 1:17:17 - Music Break #4 - Somehow there was still MORE of the song left!
• 1:17:49 - Outro

4/9/21 Update

Sorry, Checkmates...no real episode this week. Instead you get me complaining about the work being done on my bathrooms (and the serious personal pain it's causing me!) for 5 minutes. We'll be back hopefully next week, depending on the progress, of course. Always remember to check http://emptychecking.blogspot.com if you don't see anything in your feed and I'll hopefully have said something there. Thanks for your five-minutes!

-Uncle Derek

Episode 97 - I'm Sloppy...

In an episode that I unfortunately didn't edit I talk about personal stuff, then music from Steve Earle and Neil Young and then the movie Young Sherlock Holmes. At one point I admit a crush I had when I was five years old and how I'm following up on it when I'm 40. It's a weird, Ketel One fueled episode. Sorry! Enjoy!

Check out the companion blog for photos and more! http://emptychecking.blogspot.com

Time Index:

• 0:00 - Intro, including tributes to George Segal and Beverly Cleary.
• 16:16 - Music Break - Outdoor Summer Concerts
• 16:46 - Music reviews: Steve Earle's "J.T." and Neil Young's "Young Shakespeare."
• 28:02 - Music Break - Outlaw
• 28:32 - Young Sherlock Holmes
• 43:12 - Music Break - Nobody Has It All
• 43:47 - Outro

Episode 96 - May the Flubber Rise to Meet You

In this unexpectedly St. Patrick's Day themed episode I talk about the movie Flubber for some reason and also about a bunch of Irish music. I also briefly completely leave the room and leave the recording running without me to get a glass of Jameson Irish Whiskey for some reason. Whatever! It's a fun one. Dig it.

Be sure to check out the companion blog at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com and e-mail your questions and comments to db@derekbrink.com!

Time Index:

• 0:00 - Intro - Including an update on some personal stuff and me leaving the room to get whiskey.
• 9:45 - Music Break - Battle Cry
• 10:15 - FLUBBER TWEETS!!! - And also a loving tribute to Wil Wheaton.
• 24:42 - Music Break - Eliot's Benediction
• 25:12 - Irish Music Primer including the Chieftains, Dubliners, Irish Rovers, Pogues, Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys, and The Gloaming. (Whew!)
• 37:54 - Music Break - Dichotomy
• 38:25 - Outro

Episode 95 - It's the Right Thing to Do. It's Wonderful. It's Just Weird.

This week's episode has a long intro that includes me yelling about Dr. Seuss and Trans rights (the two were unrelated) and then I talk about new music from Alice Cooper, Weezer, Foo Fighters, and Neil Young and also old music from Nick Cave. I liked making it. Maybe YOU'LL like listening to it!

Check out the companion blog at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com for photos and more. And please feel free to e-mail the show at db@derekbrink.com to ask questions and tell me I'm great! Thanks for your support!

Time Index:

• 0:00 - Intro
  • Flipping out about Dr. Seuss - 4:35
  • Mailbag - 12:15
• 21:23 - Music Break - Burn
• 21:53 - New Releases and also Nick Cave! 
• 51:38 - Music Break - Absent Friends
• 52:09 - Outro, including a brief segment about Star Trek: Discovery

Episode 94 - I'm Pressed for Time in My Imagination

In this slightly shorter episode I talk about music from the Bottle Rockets in light of the announcement of Brian Henneman's retirement from the group, and also give my thoughts on Doctor Who and Star Trek: Picard. I also talk about oatmeal and beer and stuff like that, too. It's a fun one!

Check out the companion blog at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com for photos and more stuff (including occasional posts between episodes!)

Time Index:

• 0:00 - Intro - Including Michelob Amber Bock and Oatmeal!
• 7:10 - Music Break - Born in This Town
• 7:40 - The Bottle Rockets and the retirement of Brian Henneman
• 17:46 - Music Break - Falling
• 18:16 - SCI-FI!!!
  • Doctor Who - 19:07
  • Star Trek: Picard - 25:37
• 34:41 - Music Break - Sometimes You Say Goodbye
• 35:11 - Outro - Including news about my plumbing and The Hobbit

Thanks for your support!

Episode 93 - I Look Like a Homeless DJ

In this episode, I return to numbering which episode it is in the episode title, among other things. (Can you believe it's almost 100 episodes?!?) I mostly talk about music from Matthew Sweet, Ani DiFranco, Lucero, The Hold Steady (although I forget to actually mention the band or album title for a LONG time while I'm talking about it! Sorry!), and Lord Huron. I also touch on the Switch re-release of Super Mario 3D World, hats, phones, Rush Limbaugh, and beer. So there's plenty to dig into, even though it's a little bit of a shorter episode. Do it up!

And be sure to check out the podcast blog at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com for photos and other stuff!

Time Index:

• 0:00 - Intro (Texas, Snow, Rush Limbaugh, and New Phones)
• 13:14 - Music Break #1 - "You've Got to Laugh"
• 13:44 - New (and old) Music Releases:
  • Matthew Sweet - Catspaw - 13:44
  • Ani DiFranco - Revolutionary Love - 17:45
  • Lucero - When You Found Me - 21:47
  • The Hold Steady - Open Door Policy - 26:40
  • Lord Huron, in general.
• 38:18 - Music Break #2 - Greetings from Far Away
• 38:48 - Outro (Schlafly APA, Super Mario 3D World, and more)

I've Had A Bad Week - 2/8/21

In this episode I break from the usual format and just talk about being bummed out and the art that's helping me through it at the moment. It's a different one. There's no music and no format. I just talk. Hope you enjoy it. Please visit http://emptychecking.blogspot.com for photos and more. Thanks!

There Wasn't A Good Title in the Dialogue - 2/1/21

This is a little bit of a different episode in that the "intro" last for a half-hour! A couple Checkmates wrote in with questions, so I took time to answer them...and that left only room for one segment where I talked about four albums that came out when I was 13. It's a good episode, but it's a different pace. Do you like it? Well...if not, then ASK BETTER QUESTIONS! Otherwise...dig it! And check out the companion blog at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com. 

Time index:

• 0:00 - Intro
  • 6:38 - Mailbag!
  • 26:28 - Rest in Peace to Mira Furlan, Larry King, Cicely Tyson, Cloris Leachman, and Dustin Diamond. (Bummer!)
• 34:10 - Music Break - "I Go..." from the "Two Hangmen" EP, currently unavailable online.
• 34:40 - 4 Albums from when I was 13, including Rush - "Conterparts," Nirvana - "In Utero," Live - "Throwing Copper," and Yes - "Talk." I love this segment...and seriously...Marc...call me or whatever...
• 1:02:03 - Music Break - "Fightin' Drunk" from the "Two Hangmen" EP, currently unavailable online.
• 1:02:33 - Outro, including talking about Alewine Pottery and...whatever!"

Thanks for your support!