Empty Checking with Derek Brink

Episode 23 - Wireless and Rechargeable

Be sure to check out the accompanying blog at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com. Shorter episode this week. I talk a little bit about my grandma to open things up. Next, I talk a bunch about the WWE and the arrival of Rowdy Ronda Rousey. Afterward, I discuss music including the new album from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club ("Wrong Creatures") alongside mentioning that my current listening is Annie Lennox and Rush, then I get excited about the Tragically Hip putting out a BluRay and Rufus Wainwright touring. I also talk about stuff I've got on order, but that hasn't arrived yet, including the oft-delayed Star Trek Mission Crate, a couple of cool t-shirts, and something of an accidentally more intimate nature. It's a shorter episode, but a fun one. Thanks for listening! Time index: 0:00 - Intro and music 2:54 - Talkin' 'bout Grandma 8:52 - Music Break #1 - "Remember Me" from my "Sorry I Didn't Mean to Shout" release. 9:27 - WWE Wrestling Recap, including me being VERY excited about Ronda Rousey! 19:53 - Music Break #2 - The outro of "Good Things" off of my "Out from the Light" record. 20:22 - Music-talk, including the new album by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, my current listening--Annie Lennox and Rush, me being excited about the Tragically Hip's last gig being on Blu Ray, and a little bit of me being excited that Rufus Wainwright is coming to town. 29:25 - Music Break #3 - Part of "The Best" from my "Ink-Stained Fingers" album. 29:53 - Other stuff I ordered, including me bitching about Loot Crate delaying the Star Trek Mission Crate, some talk of t-shirts...and something a little more intimate... 44:19 - Music Break #4 - Chorus of "Not Okay" from the "Trigger Warnings and Sunshine" album. 44:55 - Outro, including some talk of darts and the retirement of the great Phil Taylor.

Episode 22 - Mashed Potatoes and Heavy Narcotics

This week's kind of a random show--I felt like I had to cram two weeks into one! I give a general update on my health, post dental surgery, talk about my CD collection, bemoan the closing of a music store I haven't been to in 15 years, celebrate the 20th anniversary of Spice World, talk about local food I enjoy, and a whole bunch of other stuff at the top of the show. I also talk about a new CD release from St. Louis band Grace Basement (spoiler alert: BUY IT). Then I bid farewell to Dolores O'Riordan and also to Neil Diamond (who's still alive, but not at all well). Then I talk about Fuller House, Red Dwarf, and pro-wrestling. Weird episode--which is fun for me! Here's the outline: 0:00 - Intro 1:40 - General health and personal update. 4:06 - Bidding farewell to Dale's Music 7:26 - Stuff I've eaten around town. 10:15 - Talkin' 'bout my CD collection... 12:31 - THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF SPICE WORLD!!! 16:12 - Music Break #1 - Part of "Napalm" off of my album "Something to Look Forward To..." 16:42 - Music Stuff, including a review of Grace Basement's "Mississippi Nights," a RIP to Dolores O'Riordan, and my well-wishes to Neil Diamond. 33:49 - Music Break #2 - "Scars" from the "Things I Meant to Say" album. 34:17 - TV Stuff including reviews of Fuller House, Red Dwarf Series XII, and WWE Wrestling (including my thoughts on the 25th anniversary of Monday Night Raw). The wrestling stuff starts at 45:37. 1:02:39 - Music Break #3 - "Give It Up" from "Ink-Stained Fingers" 1:03:10 - Outro Stuff... Thanks again! Good to be back this week!

Episode 21 - The David Bowie Episode

On this week's episode, all I do is talk about David Bowie and what he means to me for an hour, in recognition of the second anniversary of his death. Check out the blog at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com for lots more on this one!

Episode 20 - And He Shall Be Kevin

Be sure to check out the accompanying blog at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com for links and photos referenced in the show. We cover a lot of ground this week, starting with bidding farewell to Rose Marie. I also discuss my "current listening" of Elton John, The Talking Heads, and Motorhead, then recommend my favorite record store in St. Louis and a cool local radio show. I talk about my week's worth of playing on the Nintendo Switch and close out by talking wrestling and a couple other things. Check out the time indexes below for more info! 0:00 - Introduction, including new years wishes and stuff. 5:57 - Musical Break #1: A clip of "Beautiful Disaster" from my "Trigger Warnings & Sunshine" Album. 6:37 - Rest in Peace, Rose Marie 15:27 - Musical Break #2: A clip of "Coming Storm" from my "Things I Meant to Say" album. 16:06 - Current Listening: Elton John, Talking Heads, Motorhead, and recommendations of Salt & Smoke BBQ, Vintage Vinyl, and Night Grooves with Orlandez. 30:02 - Musical Break #3: A clip of "Please" from my "Out from the Light" album. 30:42 - Nintendo Switch Games, including (briefly) Mario Odyssey, WWE 2K18, and Shovel Knight 40:10 - Musical Break #4: A clip of "Last Folk Singers" from my "Sorry, I Didn't Mean to Shout" release. 40:50 - This week in WWE Wrestling. 56:13 - Musical Break #5: A clip of "You and Your Perfect Life" from the "Something to Look Forward To" album. 57:04 - Closing thoughts, including a little talk about my teeth and memories of getting gassed with Mom.

Episode 19 - I Have a Perfect Fourth Doctor Cosplay in My Closet By Accident

On this week's show, we keep it a little bit briefer than in recent episodes (you're welcome!) and talk about the Nintendo Switch, music from Vic Chesnutt, Doctor Who, and my recommendation of where to buy your pottery. If I don't talk to you before then (and I won't!) please have a happy and safe New Year! Be sure to visit the companion blog over at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com for photos and other stuff! Here's the time-index for your skipper-arounders: 0:00 - Intro stuff including some talk about Alewine Pottery, Christmas, and New Year's Eve. 9:48 - Musical Break #1 - A clip of "Church Girls" off of my "Trigger Warnings and Sunshine" album. 10:26 - Talking about the Nintendo Switch, Mario Odyssey, WWE 2K18, and gaming in general. 22:25 - Musical Break #2 - A clip of "Falling" off of my "New Year's Eve" album. 22:48 - Talking about Doctor Who and the new regeneration. Then about "A Christmas Story" and Dick Van Dyke after that. 34:25 - Musical Break #3 - A clip of "Outlaw" off of my "Wayne County EP" album. 34:58 - Current Listening: Vic Chesnutt - Is the Actor Happy?" and songs from the "Lord of the Rings" movies. 41:32 - A clip of "AMB 4" off of my "Grounds" album. 42:03 - Outro

Episode 18 - My Top Ten Favorite Albums of 2017

Most of this episode is spent talking about music. I discuss my top ten favorite albums of 2017 and several "honorable mentions" that didn't quite make the list. Among the latter, I spend a lengthy amount of time talking about the latest and sadly LAST solo album from Gord Downie, "Introduce Yerself." After all the music talk, I touch on a few quick subjects, including my thoughts on the season finale of Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, a couple of notes on the WWE, and reviews of four weird, random sodas I bought from Cracker Barrel. Throughout the show, I also play snippets of "music only" mixes of several tracks off of my upcoming solo album "It Could Be Worse," which will be out in 2017, and we close out the show with a special Christmas gift for my dad. It's a jam packed episode! Here are the time-indexes for you skipper-arounders... 0.00 - Intro and Theme Music 1:17 - Greetings and Opening Remarks 4:53 - Musical Interlude #1 - A clip of "Always" from my upcoming album "It Could Be Worse." 5:33 - The Honorable Mentions, with particular attention to Gord Downie's "Introduce Yerself" at 7:00-15:43 30:39 - Musical Interlude #2 - A clip of "Everybody Shut Up" also from the upcoming album. 31:20 - THE TOP TEN ALBUMS OF 2017!!! (Ten-32:54, Nine-35:05, Eight-36:15, Seven-36:57, Six-39:13, Five-41:35, Four-43:09, Three-45:11, Two-47:11, One-50:56) 55:42 - Musical Interlude #3 - A clip of "Nobody Else" from the upcoming album 56:40 - A couple brief notes about the WWE. 59:45 - Thoughts on the finale of Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. 1:01:16 - Four weird random sodas from Cracker Barrel 1:06:06 - Memories from Ham Days passed. 1:08:38 - A Christmas Gift for my Dad/Outro Thanks for your continued support! Happy holidays!

Episode 17 - For Frodo and Others

On this week's episode, I wish you happy holidays--with Hanukkah and Christmas getting most of the attention--and talk about some of the things I love about the holidays. Then we talk about wrestling for a long time. Then I talk about new music from Willie Nelson and Mastodon--those are two separate albums, but now that I see it, I'd really like to hear that. I also talk about my favorite two Christmas albums by Aimee Mann and Dave Brubeck, respectively. And in a "long time coming" move, I talk about my love of the Lord of the Rings franchise and my memories revolving around those movies and the holiday season over the past several years. Be sure to check out the blog at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com, and if you like any of the music I'm playing in the show, full versions of the songs are available for FREE at http://derekbrink.bandcamp.com Here's the time-stamps. FYI, they may be a little bit approximate. For some reason I show different times in different players and I haven't been able to work out why. 0:00 - Intro and Hanukkah/Christmas Greetings 8:26 - Guitar Break #1 - "Everything Good" off the Trigger Warnings & Sunshine album. 9:00 - This Week in Wrestling 30:24 - Guitar Break #2 - "In My Heart" off the "Out from the Light" album. 30:58 - Music including Willie Nelson, Mastodon, and Christmas albums by Aimee Mann and Dave Brubeck. 42:22 - Guitar Break #3 - "Fall Apart" off the "Grounds" album. 42:51 - My memories of seeing Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit in years passed. 54:34 - Guitar Break #4 - "Remember Me" off the "Out from the Light" album 55:01 - Closing remarks and outro music.

Episode 16 - First I Call Your Kids Stupid Then I Call Your Music Fat

After an unplanned week off we have a lot to catch up on! This week's show sees me talking about what happened in my laptop crash last week, a fun week I've been having on social media, the present debacle over at Cracked, an RIP to Jim Nabors, and a whole bunch of music. (Music discussed includes Angel Olsen, Sharon Jones, Wesley Stace, U2, Neil Young, HAIM, Ani DiFranco, and Cheap Trick.) All that and more! Time indexes follow, and be sure to check out http://emptychecking.blogspot.com for photos and more! 0:00 - Intro and Theme Music. 1:22 - What happened last week and my new laptop. 8:29 - Guitar Break #1 - "Out from the Light" from my album of the same name. 9:06 - Potpourri of stuff. 9:24 - My glasses. 11:47 - RIP Jim Nabors. 17:24 - A weird, one-sided conversation with you. 18:00 - My week in Social Media. 24:55 - Guitar break #2 - "Outdoor Summer Concerts" from my single of the same name. 25:38 - My thoughts on the recent firings at Cracked and Internet culture in general. 42:00 - Guitar Break #3 - "Beautiful Disaster" from my album "Ink-Stained Fingers." 42:48 - Big, fat music round-up. 43:25 - Sharon Jones and the DAP Kings. 47:38 - Wesley Stace (aka John Wesley Harding.) 52:25 - Angel Olsen. 54:38 - U2. 1:02:26 - Neil Young and Promise of the Real. 1:04:46 - HAIM. 1:06:55 - Cheap Trick. 1:10:04 - Ani DiFranco. 1:14:03 - Guitar Break #4 - "Tear It Down" which I used to play in a couple bands with my brother, but I don't think there's an "official" copy of anything in circulation that has the song on it right now. 1:14:59 - Closing remarks. Thanks for your support!

11-22-17 - Episode 15 - The Podcast is Also on iTunes Now, FYI

As the title states, we are now also on iTunes! Check it out, if that's your thing! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/empty-checking-with-derek-brink/id1315519361?mt=2 There's also a blog post here: https://emptychecking.blogspot.com/2017/11/as-title-states-we-are-now-also-on.html On this episode I talk about new music from Craig Finn and Iron Maiden, then go into detail on five songs with which I've recently reconnected. I also talk about pro-wrestling, the Big Bang Theory, and Dirk Gently. Then I end the show on a personal note with a tribute to a friend who passed away a few years ago. It's a long one, but I'd like to think it's a good one! Thanks for listening! 0:00 - Intro stuff and details on my recent trip to the eye doctor. 9:40 - Music break #1 - Bass solo. 11:07 - Music reviews. Iron Maiden at 11:24. Craig Finn at 15:13. iTunes Roundup at 21:17 39:34 - Music break #2 - Guitar solo from "Just Another Day." 41:41 - Pro Wrestling talk... 57:21 - Music break #3 - Guitar segment of "Diner" 59:10 - TV talk. The Big Bang Theory and Dirk Gently 1:08:35 - Music Break #4 - Guitar segment of "The Last Folk Singers" 1:09:57 - Closing tribute to my friend Becca. 1:16:35 - Becca's Song

11-14-17 - Episode 14 - You Did Nothing to Deserve My Wrath

Full blog post: https://emptychecking.blogspot.com/2017/11/episode-14-you-did-nothing-to-deserve.html Long episode this week, because I kinda got into a serious thing talking about Ric Flair. I review the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary on Flair, talk about wrestling in general, review the 2017 releases by The National and the Jesus and Mary Chain, talk about my shoes, talk about the dentist, and play the guitar. All that and other stuff! Here's the outline: 0:00 - Introduction stuff. 2:48 - Shoes! Dentist! Etc! (Including talking about an upcoming thing I'll be doing on the podcast.) 9:26 - Guitar Break #1 - "That Was Then" acoustic sample. 10:55 - Music reviews for The National's "Sleep Well Beast" and the Jesus and Mary Chain's "Damage and Joy." Also my current listening: Leonard Cohen and Rush. 26:11 - Guitar Break #2 - "Amanda, I'm Tired" acoustic sample. 28:12 - Review of ESPN's 30 for 30 on Ric Flair, including a healthy amount of fan-boying over Ric Flair and his career. 58:47 - Guitar Break #3 - "No One Leaves St. Louis" acoustic sample. 1:00:42 - This week in WWE Wrestling. 1:13:13 - Closing remarks/exit music.