Empty Checking with Derek Brink

This week's episode is a little bit short, but no less sweet than usual. It's a fun one where I complain about the weather, then talk about new releases from Mumford & Sons, Mitski, and Squeeze. I had fun with it. You might too!

Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com 
Bandcamp: http://derekbrink.bandcamp.com 
email: db@derekbrink.com 

Time Index:

• 0:00 - Intro
• 12:21 - Vagabond
• 12:52 - Music Reviews
• 31:23 - Slainte
• 31:53 - Outro

In this episode I talk about the theatrically released Muppet movies, in chronological order. Because everyone loves the Muppets! Enjoy!

No time index, since it's just the one subject--and I should clarify that I am spoiling every movie, if you haven't seen them.

Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com 
Bandcamp: http://derekbrink.bandcamp.com 
email: db@derekbrink.com 

Songs used in the show:

• I Hope You're Happy
• Useless

In this episode, I talk about recent releases from Geese and Wednesday, then I talk about buying an Autoharp. That's the show! Enjoy!

Sorry there's not a time index...but here are the links...although really there's not anything that corresponds to the Bandcamp page, since I'm just noodling...but whatever!

Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com 
Bandcamp: http://derekbrink.bandcamp.com 
email: db@derekbrink.com 

In this episode, I pay my respects to Catherine O'Hara, then talk about my newest (vintage) guitar and the long-since-canceled TV show Andy Richter Controls the Universe. I had fun with this one! Enjoy!

Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com 
Bandcamp: http://derekbrink.bandcamp.com 
email: db@derekbrink.com 

Time Index:

• 0:00 - Intro
• 6:41 - I Go*
• 7:11 - Rest in Peace Catherine O'Hara
• 25:18 - Racing the Rain*
• 25:49 - Silvertone Guitar
• 38:20 - After the Storm*
• 38:51 - Andy Richter Controls the Universe
• 51:34 - Losing Sleep*
• 52:04 - Introduction to Racing the Rain
• 55:43 - Racing the Rain (Electric Version)
• 59:59 - Outro

*All songs except "Racing the Rain" were just me noodling on the guitar this week, so there's not much to download, unless you just wanna go to Bandcamp and find the full songs.

In this episode, I'm low on stuff to talk about because I haven't bought anything lately, so I talk about movies from the recent (25-35 years) Rocky & Bullwinkle universe. It's a show! Enjoy!

Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com 
Bandcamp: http://derekbrink.bandcamp.com 
email: db@derekbrink.com 

The subjects this week are pretty intertwined, so I didn't do a time index. But if you're interested in the songs used in this episode they are as follows:

• Vagabond
• Racing the Rain
• Bite the Habanero (Theme Song)

Given the week's happenings, we're postponing the first official show of 2026 for a week, or thereabout. I spent about 11 minutes ranting here. The only thing that seems appropriate to say right now is rest in peace Renee Good and ABOLISH ICE. We will return with a normal episode as soon as possible. Probably next week. Thanks for listening. Keep talking.

It's a Christmas...well...not "miracle." But it's happening near the day! In the final Fab 15 (and EC episode) of 2025, your Uncle Derek and Papa Dave are counting down our favorite albums of 2025. It was a really fun talk and we hope you'll enjoy it and maybe find a few new things to listen to! Enjoy!

Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com 
Bandcamp: http://derekbrink.bandcamp.com 
email: db@derekbrink.com 
Spotify Playlists: https://open.spotify.com/user/317eypfciiajkyay2kxloz3kreoa?si=f046115ad0514079 

Time Index:

• 0:00 - Intro
• 14:39 - The List Begins!
  • 14:39 - #15
  • 20:23 - #14
  • 27:55 - #13
  • 33:43 - #12
  • 38:47 - #11
  • 45:46 - #10
  • 50:35 - #9
  • 57:45 - #8
  • 1:05:42 - #7
  • 1:11:37 - #6
  • 1:18:03 - #5
  • 1:29:06 - #4
  • 1:38:54 - #3 
  • 1:49:11 - #2
  • 1:54:46 - #1 
• 2:00:50 - Honorable Mentions
• 2:18:07 - This is Your Christmas
• 2:18:37 - The FINAL 15 and Outro

This is an unfortunately "special" episode, in which I try to process the murder of Rob and Michele Reiner, while also celebrating some of my favorite movies, directed by Rob, and honoring their memory and legacy. I'm not happy with the episode. It's too rambly and aimless. But it's something.

I don't even have a good episode photo because all of my DVDs/BluRays are in stacks for the annual re-sorting that I do at the end of every year. So I can't easily physically get to my Rob Reiner movies to take a picture...but maybe this cover photo is appropriate. "None more black" and all that.

Let's try to have a happier episode soon, okay everybody?

This episode is very raw and emotional. It absolutely comes with a trigger warning, if you are negatively effected by grief, death, mourning, or just-plain hearing someone struggle with loss.

Sometime on Sunday morning, November 30th, 2025, my friend Michael Feldman passed away, after a lengthy battle with cancer. I had been in bands with Mike for about 25 years. He's someone who will remain in my heart forever.

Later that evening, I sat down in front of a microphone, played one of Mike's albums, and recorded this episode, while I listened (and beyond). What you're hearing here isn't my prettiest moment--I cry several times--and it is NOT the place I would begin listening to this show...but I needed to do it, for myself, and for my friend.

This barely scratches the surface of my memories of Mike. But it's something. I hope there's something in it that speaks to you. Thanks for listening.

Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com
email: db@derekbrink.com

 

It's a Thanksgiving treat! There's a new episode of Empty Checking!

In advance, I ended up doing something else and did NOT get the nap I was hoping for throughout the episode...but at least I got to talk about music from Cheap Trick, Envy of None, Drive-By Truckers, and Hayley Williams, then about the last Downton Abbey movie, Frasier, and the King of the Hill revival! I had fun doing this one, even though it was willfully rushed and could've been time spent napping. Hope it makes your Thanksgiving Day/weekend pass a little more happily.

Blog: http://emptychecking.blogspot.com 
Bandcamp: http://derekbrink.bandcamp.com 
email: db@derekbrink.com 

Time Index:

• 0:00 - Intro
• 8:01 - Forever Home
• 8:32 - Recent Listening
  • 8:32 - Cheap Trick - All Washed Up
  • 13:46 - Envy of None - Stij(e)en Wavz (That's as close as I can get to their dumb spelling without using characters that won't show up on some computers)
  • 18:38 - Drive-By Truckers - The Definitive Decoration Day
  • 25:15 - Hayley Williams - Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party
• 31:20 - You and You Alone
• 31:51 - Recent Watching
  • 31:51 - Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
  • 43:33 - Frasier
  • 45:28 - King of the Hill (Revival Series)
• 52:01 - Indelible
• 52:32 - Outro