Is There an Echo in Here? A Podcast About Echo & the Bunnymen

Join Courtney and Shane as they peel back the layers of reality and dive deep down into “Going Up”, the first song on the first album from, you guessed it, Echo & the Bunnymen. An interrogation of Ian's lyrics leads to investigations into quantum physics, the etymology of the words “ain't” and “thou”, the Truman Show, William Blake, Dr. Who, life, the universe, and everything. They discuss the influence of the band Love and Probe Records, the epicenter of Liverpool's musical zeitgeist. (Thank you Hitoma Drone and Andrew Male!) And they learn about Cosmic Scouse. Finally, Shane offers a musical/harmonic/theoretical analysis of the guitar and bass parts. Let's get the hell outta here!

In this episode we finish our discussion of the Summer '79 tour. But first, we take an unexpected detour into stellar regions. Note to listener: correction - in this episode we refer to Travis Scott, but we meant to say Travis Walton.

In episode 34 we recount the tale of the August 15, 2022 EATB concert in Atlanta, Georgia, which kicked off their current North American adventure. We laughed, we cried, we sang our hearts out. Get well Ian!

Just in time for EATB's 2022 US/Canada tour, we offer you a thrilling in-depth exploration, analysis, and appreciation of Ian McCulloch's often misunderstood speaking voice and his beautiful Scouse accent. Attend the concert with the confidence that you will understand his stage banter between songs. Follow along as we study useful phrases and vocabulary, and deconstruct a few Mac the Mouth interview excerpts. This is one boss episode and that's no gobshite!

Lets hop in the van with Captain Les Pattinson as he drives us and the band through the summer of ‘79, when the Bunnymen take their first steps into the winding delirium of tour life. We discuss some early false starts and successes, and a legendary concert at the YMCA in Manchester. More than a few times we turn down a side road and drive a little too close to the edge, somehow entertaining discussions about Bryan Adams, Rush, Billy Corgan, the Eurhythmics and more, making new discoveries along the way, before we pull out the map, aka the memoire, Bunnyman, by Will Sergeant, and find our way back to the narrative. Buckle up!

This episode begins with recent Bunnymen news and addresses some listener comments. We read an insightful letter about "Pictures on My Wall" from friend-of-the-podcast All Those Things. We then plunge into a discussion about the band's first single, its release, its reception, and its cover art, which includes a brief detour into the music of Lori & the Chameleons. We then delve into the mysterious inscription on the seven inch single, which reads "The Revenge of Voodoo Billy". This leads to an exploration of ghost stories and hauntings of Liverpool. Finally, Will Sergeant sets the record straight in the conclusion of our interview with the legendary Bunnyman himself.

For their 30th episode, Courtney and Shane sit down with none other than Echo & the Bunnymen Guitarist Will Sergeant for an in-depth discussion about his new memoir, Bunnyman.

Your hosts are still reeling from a recent interview they conducted with WILL SERGEANT for an upcoming episode, and they are giddy and distracted. This episode ostensibly centers around Echo & The Bunnymen's new record deal, but spirals out of control when Courtney takes an abrupt conversational detour and decides its time to revisit A SHALLOW MADNESS, rehashing the difficult dynamic between Julian Cope/Ian McCulloch. Then the hosts take a stroll down Balfe Boulevard where the discussion is again derailed by a cursory exploration of DALEK I LOVE YOU, and David Balfe endearingly hails Julian Cope as “not quite nobody, but not one of the main guys.” Along the way, Mac starts showing a degree of initiative, and Shane mentions TEARS FOR FEARS twice for no reason. The conversation deteriorates into a pile up of sidebars and segues, that somehow coalesce into an offer from a record company that can't be refused. However, none of it really seems to matter because in the next episode will be an interview with the greatest guitarist of all time, WILL SERGEANT. Hopefully this episode will keep you occupied in the meantime.

Courtney and Shane humbly present a musicological listening companion to the song “Ocean Rain”, the title track off the 1984 masterpiece album by Echo & the Bunnymen. They locate the song within the canon of nautical ballads, provide a theoretical analysis of the composition (form, strings, guitar solo and all), breakdown the production, and basically play parts of the song over and over again, while they talk over it. Cheers!Songs featured: EATBM - Ocean RainThe Longest Johns - Banks of NewfoundlandAnna & Elizabeth - Black-eyed SusanKing Crimson - Starless

In episode 27, we take a multi-faceted approach to investigating another early single by Echo & the Bunnymen. Shane is super curious about the clave, an auxiliary percussion accent found in some form on all recordings of the song. We consult the work of theorist Susan Sontag to help us interpret the meaning of family photos in a world devoid of meaning and real connection. Courtney interrogates the ostensibly revolutionary undertones to the lyrics. And Shane provides an in-depth musical analysis of the chord progression. And we postulate that, at the end of the day, this is perhaps the perfect anthem for the Covid era. Also, we respond to some listener letters, where one listener elucidates the true meaning of Happy Death Men.

We begin this episode by reading an epic letter from a listener and lifelong Bunnymen fan. We address a review that we received. Then, we launch head first into the song "Happy Death Men", extrapolating literary corollaries, music theory analysis, hypotheses about the song's authorship, juxtapositions of its prog elements with its overall power chord punk essence. Okay, here we go!

Finally! Our long awaited episode about The Fall is here. They are an essential influence on The Bunnymen, and we need to know about them! Its a long and rambling one. Enjoy!

In our first episode of the post-COVID world, we dive into some listener letters about language and the atlas adventures. Then the episode devolves as Courtney begrudgingly delves into one of the many topics she loathes to consider: record labels and the music biz. Fear not, though, Shane maintains a sunny disposition about the subject at hand and the duo pull through. Courtney manages to describe the riveting missed connection between Tony Wilson and Roger Eagle as they have a near miss at collaborating on a split-label record release, and Shane teases at the emerging shared destiny between Bill Drummond and the Bunnymen, while unwittingly becoming a fan of OMD and the Durutti Column in the process. Sorry for the delay in release. Things have turned upside down since the troubles began. We hope to make up for our tardiness with duration and depth of analysis.

These are strange times. But, fear not, we are here to bring you our finest episode to date! We interview Bunnymen merch guy, zine writer, website manager, fan mail responder, roommate, apostle, and all around insider, mister Peter Allen! He has been with them since the beginning and still is! Join us as we pull back the curtain on the inner workings of the band, and hear personal anecdotal stories, demystifications, and tales of high adventure right from the source! A coherent and kind soul who helps us make sense of the mystical world of the Bunnymen, we are so grateful to have Peter as our guest and to share his insights with you. Not to be missed!

Things are finally coming together in Episode 22, as the blokes we have been on about name their band and play their first show. Les surprises everyone by hopping on bass in the 11th hour. Will rents a practice space and hopes for the best. Meanwhile, Mac is a no show leading up to the gig… As the fateful evening approaches and the Liverpool post-punk teenage elite gather at Eric's Club, will the boys deliver the goods? Will Les hold down a groove with Echo? Will Will let the technology get the best of him? Will Mac show even show up? Tune in to find out the answers to these questions and more!

In our first episode of 2020, we welcome record producer, label owner, and artist manager Dolphus Ramseur onto the podcast. He is the manager of The Avett Brothers and several other artists, and he brings a unique perspective to the podcast as a successful music industry insider who operates as an outsider. AND… Echo and the Bunnymen is his all time favorite band! He reached out to us several months ago as a fan of the band and the podcast, and as a fellow North Carolinian. This episode is his love letter to the Bunnymen, as well as a fascinating exploration of underground music industry mechanisms and the parallels between 80’s British post punk bands and folk/Americana, and how all this music, with its deep revelations of the soul and mystique, really comes down to “just someone singing and playing the guitar”.Playlist:Echo & the Bunnymen: With a Hip, Thorn of Crowns, Silver, All I Want, Stars Are Stars, Killing MoonCharlie Poole - Take a Drink on MeDoc Watson - Shady GroveThe Smiths - This Charming ManThe Cure - Love CatsTony Rice - Blackberry BlossomBuell Kazee - East VirginiaEtta Baker - Railroad BillAvett Brothers - Rejects in the AtticHappy Goodman Family - He’s Coming AgainHank Williams - Alone and Forsaken

In this episode, we explore what is arguably Echo and the Bunnymen's most mysterious song, "Read it in Books." Many questions surround this enigmatic song, including: Who wrote it? What is the actual name of the song? And, most perplexingly, why does nobody know the answer to these two questions? We set about getting to the bottom of these seemingly unsolvable queries in our typical circuitous manner. We begin the episode by comparing two versions of the song, recorded by two different bands, sung by two different singers, both of whom claim to have written it. We attempt to chisel away at this infamous stalemate by exploring the song's origins, its nuts and bolts, and how such a dispute may arise. After poking at it from every possible angle we come to understand that it is not one song, but many songs. In fact, it is every song ever written. Join us as we interrogate the very notion of authorship, inspiration and authenticity. Also, Nirvana.

In Episode 19, we are graced with another knowledgable and insightful guest. Courtney had the opportunity to interview a real-life time traveler, Alison Renner, who contacted us out of the blue to discuss some of the subject matter we’ve explored in earlier episodes. It was immediately clear that Courtney was communicating with someone with a true understanding of the Liverpool scene. Over the course of the interview Alison reveals her time bending gifts and offers to take us into the past as we continue our odyssey.We are so grateful the Bunny gods brought us together through this modern medium of podcasting and we are excited to announce that Alison has agreed to share her time traveling gifts with us, by transporting herself into the Liverpool scene at various points in its history to give our listeners a firsthand glimpse of all the goings on.Alison Renner is a collector of antique photographs and a lover of the Liverpool scene. As a child, she spent an unusual amount of time sitting by the radio and writing down band names for her future self to find once she had mastered the art of time bending. In one of her notes she wrote the words "THE WILD SWANS" and this band became a portal as she was shot across the Ley Lines into the the dream city of Liverpool where she seems to have taken up residence. When she speaks of this moment in history, she speaks as someone who has lived alongside the individuals who inhabit this scene. She is someone who has lovingly combed through lyrics, interviews, and the small print of liner notes many times over.In this episode, Alison answers all Courtney's eager questions about the Liverpool scene and gives a sweeping overview of the period we are focusing on in the city's musical history. The inhabitants come to life as she situates each individual's contributions and motivations within the larger context of the scene. We try to cover it all: the genesis of bands, the burgeoning feuds, the lasting bonds, the uninvited American, the collective mourning, we touch on all of it.You can find Alison Renner on instagram @odpeacockIf you are brave and interested in mysteries and unexplainable phenomena, listen to STRANGE FAMILIARS podcast on iTunes, Googleplay, and all the other podcasty places. Check out their website at STRANGEFAMILIARS.COMAnd check out the STRANGE FAMILIARS shop on Ebay where many of Alison's haunting antique photographs are listed.In this episode, we play clips of the following songs--"Charlotte Anne", by THE TEAR DROP EXPLODES (1988)"Young Manhood", by THE WILD SWANS (1988)"The Coldest Winter For A Hundred Years", by THE WILD SWANS (2011)"My Town", by THE WILD SWANS (2011)"The Culture Bunker", THE TEARDROP EXPLODES (1981)

We return from the cosmic, archetypal realm of episode 17 and land squarely in the middle of Will Sergeant's 1979 abode to join the Bunnymen where a band practice is underway. We focus on a burgeoning song called "I Bagsy Yours" and begin by defining the meaning of "bagsy" and it's usages in the Liverpool vernacular. We practice using this term in various sentences and we search for correlations to American slang words. After exhausting our efforts to understand, we come across another word that appears to have no meaning at all. Nonetheless, we heroically forge ahead to provide an in-depth lyrical analysis, followed by a musical analysis that leads Shane to assert that it really is, indeed, the blues Ian McCulloch is singing. We close out the episode with a dramatic reenactment of a Bunnymen rehearsal that ends with a cliffhanger. Join us as we decipher the mysteries of "Monkeys". Keymon!

In this episode, we dive deep into the eel infested waters of the human psyche and wash up on an island shore where a single magnolia tree grows. We explore the cosmological locus of Echo & the Bunnymen via Jungian archetypal theory, psychoanalysis and astrology. As we embark on our second season, we are honored to have Shannon O'Neill, MA, LPC-S, LCAS, CCS as our very first guest on the podcast. She expertly guides us on this mythopoetic quest, penetrating mysteries, illuminating secrets, and yielding many a shining diamond of wisdom. Not to be missed!Shannon O'Neill is a private practice psychotherapist and clinical supervisor living in Asheville, NC. She has a Master's in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. She is trained in the Archetypal Psychology tradition of Carl Jung and neurophysiology of Somatic Psychology. You can learn more about her practice, including classes and workshops on her website.https://somaticpsychology.comhttps://zodiactivity.com/

Join Shane and Courtney for the one year anniversary episode! The conversation gets meta as we reflect on our experiences making the first 15 episodes, and how our understandings have evolved--of the band, of the Liverpool scene, of just what it is we are doing here. We prepared interview questions for one another, such as "Who is your favorite Bunnyman?", "Who is your favorite non-Bunnyman?", "What has it been like to meet other Bunnyfans as a result of the podcast?"The first half of this episode is a current discussion of where we are now. In the second half, we flash back to late summer 2018, sharing from the vault a previously unreleased recording of one of our first conversations about how we came to know the band's music and our hopes and dreams for this podcast.All in all, its a casual hang session, some pause before we dive back into the rigor of our historical and analytical work, excavating the myths and music of EATB.

For the first time in the history of this podcast, we answer some listener questions, some of which were a long time coming. We begin this episode by addressing some corrections and grappling with our lack of knowledge regarding British name pronunciations. We then answer a listener question about Echo and the Bunnymen's mysterious B-side track, "Broke My Neck". Courtney attempts to decipher the meaning of the staccato, half-sentences that comprise the lyrics, and she promises to revisit this song again in a future episode. Finally, we give a long awaited answer to a very thoughtful question regarding drones, bagpipes, and their possible influence on Echo and the Bunnymen's music, particularly the guitar playing of Will Sergeant. Eager to discover the source of the Bunnymen sound, we begin by defining what exactly a drone is, providing some homespun examples. We also discuss the harmonic secrets of Echo and the Bunnymen's songs, dissonance, the devil's fifth, people's true feelings about bagpipes and, of course, The Velvet Underground. It seemed that the episode would end in a flurry of vague correlations and baseless postulations until Shane has a revelation that turns the conversation upside down. Don't miss this one.Understatement Man, this one's for you.

After nearly a year of podcasting, we finally reach the momentous occasion when the members of Echo & the Bunnymen first meet one another in the bathroom at Eric's Club. The episode begins with a brief yet meandering recap of our exploration of the burgeoning late-70s Liverpool music scene, where Ian McCulloch finds himself set adrift. After being sacked from A Shallow Madness and almost losing sight of his rock and roll dreams, the hands of fate lead him into "the ladies room" where he meets Will Sergeant and Les Pattinson, a crucial step towards their shared destiny. We zero in on this encounter, examining and postulating about every detail of their initial impressions. Later, we shift gears and get into a deep analysis of Ian McCulloch's rhythm guitar strumming style and Shane sings the opening lines of “Karn Evil 9” by Emerson, Lake and Palmer for the second time on our podcast. This is an episode where things happen and the narrative advances, so climb aboard our ship’s tender frame as we sail upstream to gladder shores.

In tonight's episode, we pay tribute to Bunnymen historian, Chris Adams’ essential biography of the Bunnymen, TURQUOISE DAYS. We focus in on his nuanced exploration of foundational Liverpool bands, some of which never existed. We begin by discussing the infamous super-band, THE CRUCIAL THREE (Wylie, Cope, McCulloch, Spence). We give an overview of their humble beginnings, their last minute decision to rename the band, their would-be discography, their instrumentation and influences. We are then transported through time and space to one of their four rehearsals as we attempt to approximate and perform, for the first time in Bunnymen history, a rendition of an original song by THE CRUCIAL THREE based on Chris Adams’ detailed accounts. During the discussion Shane manages to mention METALLICA on four different occasions pondering their unique song writing process and subsequently mourning the loss of their original bassist, Cliff Burton. Courtney then recounts the surprising tale of Acid guru turned rock god, Geoff Lovestone. She attempts to describe the band's instrumentation, influences, visual elements and personnel, but Shane senses that things are not really what they seem and has to grapple with the very fabric of reality before he and Courtney attempt to channel Geoff’s (Les’s?) musical ideas and perform a rendition of one of his nonexistent hits. We leave the liquid lightshow of The Lovestones and arrive amongst the smoke and steel of Will Sergeant's first band INDUSTRIAL DOMESTIC, a three piece outfit that included Paul Simpson (WILD SWANS) and a little analog drum machine with a fascinating (to Courtney) past. As we begin to discuss this project, Shane is reminded of Rocky Erikson and his recent passing. Courtney and Shane marvel at Will Sergeant's dedication and consistent aesthetic but they leave the factory yard with more questions than answers. Other bands, both real and imagined emerge. Pete Burns (DEAD OR ALIVE), whom Courtney finds both fascinating and familiar, is introduced to the melee and joins THE MYSTERY GIRLS (along with Cope and Wylie). A prankster band, NOVA MOB, is formed and Shane shares a story of innocent youthful fun gone awry. We finish our episode by discussing A SHALLOW MADNESS, the band that absorbed and expelled surrounding particles and set the wheels of fate in motion.Order a copy of Chris Adams’ TURQUOISE DAYS online on Biblio.comhttps://www.biblio.com/search.php?stage=1&result_type=works&keyisbn=chris+adams+turquoise+daysSupport local booksellers and small businesses.

In episode 12, we advance the narrative about the burgeoning Liverpool music scene, circa mid-late 1970’s, the epicenter of events being a show performed by The Clash at Eric’s on May 5, 1977. This concert inspired the formation of many influential bands, both real and imaginary.

In Episode 11, we discuss a range of topics, from soaring falsettos to basement toilet bowls to some of the yin and the yang of the music biz. We ponder teenage Ian McCulloch's clothing choices and Courtney finally learns the true meaning of the word: kaftan. We embark on in-depth analyses of both David Bowie's and Ian McCulloch's voices and the mechanics of singing. From these vociferous heights, the conversation descends to tales of what the bathrooms in Eric's Club were like. We emerge relatively unsoiled, and enter the "cavernous grotto of the club”, flipping through the legendary jukebox, before finally introducing the first two Petes who will have an impact on the creation of the Bunnymen.

We are finally back with another thrilling episode! This one celebrates the 60th birthday of Ian McCulloch. First, we check in to see where Les and Will are in the timeline of the tale we are spinning. Then, we dive headlong into a one-hour rhapsodic discussion about birthday boy Ian McCulloch. We begin our sprawling, circuitous discussion with Mac's physical attributes and Shane makes a revelatory observation about Ian's appearance that he is eager to share. We then go on to make sweeping claims about British culture in the post-colonial era and the music industry throughout its existence. We establish a psychological framework that we can apply to the Bunnymen and discover the true nature of the human soul. Courtney then gives a detailed accounting of Ian's initiation into adulthood as he embarks on the universal pilgrimage toward obtaining oneness with the source. We eventially catch a bus back to Liverpool where Les and Will are hearing a new type of music and are about to discover a new kind of club. This episode is as wonderous as it is strange and even Courtney has trouble avoiding the subject of Pink Floyd. Join us!

Our hosts have been suffering from allergy-related illness throughout the month, so, to keep our momentum going, we have unearthed a conversation from our vault of early recordings to share with our faithful listeners. We begin the podcast with breaking news regarding the current state of Mac/Bono relations before we plunge into an exploration of the Liverpool music scene, circa 1987. Using an old episode of BBC - Channel 4's music show, The Tube, as our guide, we examine several contemporaries of Echo & the Bunnymen, in order to locate the band within the context of the broader Liverpool scene. We unearth hidden treasures and interesting specimens as we sample a slew of 5 second clips from various artists, whom we discuss at great length. Lots of hot takes in this one! While this episode is not explicitly about Echo & the Bunnymen, it is nonetheless one of Courtney's favorites and she is happy to release it while she waits for her sinuses to drain and her voice to return to normal.

This episode nearly did us in. The terrain was so broad and the roads were worn and well-trodden. For weeks, we made wrong way turns down dead end alleys and ran off the rails a couple of times before we arrived at the delightful adventure we now present to you. We thank our lucky stars that we found a map in the form of an article by Will Sergeant (guitarist for Echo & the Bunnymen), which appeared in Q Magazine in 2013. Using this article as our guide we navigate the prog-rock beginnings of punk. We also discuss Captain Beefheart's hard feelings about the scene. We explore some misconceptions about punk and revel in the unearthed treasure that is the band Death (Detroit). We make our way to Andy Warhol's Factory where many of Ian McCulloch's heroes hung about. We then cross back over the Atlantic to meet up with some rough and tumble kids forming bands in the suburbs of London. Last but not least, Courtney reveals her OTHER favorite band. Its an episode for the ages!

Join us for this groundbreaking episode as we recount the adventures of the legendary Roger Eagle, and reveal for the first time in history the shocking (and possibly) true story of how he managed to singlehandedly thwart the criminal underworld of Liverpool and secure a lease on a dirty cellar that would one day be called Eric's Club, thus changing musical history. We explore his unique and visionary musical journey, from his humble beginnings as a young DJ in Oxford, to his invention of "Northern Soul" in the all-nighters of Manchester. This episode is broad in scope, meandering, and larger than life; not unlike the disposition and musical tastes of Roger Eagle himself. In this episode we discuss Ray Charles at length, along with John Lee Hooker, Screaming Jay Hawkins, The Stranglers, The Runaways, George Michael, Michael Jackson, Captain Beefheart, and Can. Honorable mention: The Sex Pistols, Crass, and Rush.

In episode 6, we step outside of the chronology we've been pursuing to tell the story of Courtney's experience meeting Ian McCulloch, lead singer of Echo & the Bunnymen. She takes us on her solitary journey to Detroit on Thanksgiving Day, where she joins forces with a kind-hearted friend. Together, they set out on a mission to deliver culinary items to a fellow EATB fan and, despite their shyness and passivity, make their way backstage. Along the way, we discuss fandom, the concert, we ponder the mysteries of setlist distribution, we speculate about things Ian McCulloch would like to do after a show other than meet Courtney, and Shane shares his never-before-disclosed secret to getting better seats at any show for no extra cost. He also shares his childhood memories of meeting Iron Maiden, Trent Reznor, and David Copperfield. Join us for this recounting of the encounter. It is a holiday tale of kindness, suspense, friendship, despair, heartache, empathy and redemption that you won't want to miss!

In this episode, we discuss the string section of Echo & the Bunnymen. When Shane finally remembers Will Sergeant's name, we explore Will’s early life and musical tastes that may or may not include: Yes, Jethro Tull, Led Zeppelin and Velvet Underground. We struggle to keep sight of our subject who evades us with subtle texture and nuance. In frustration, we throw a Mother's of Invention record down the stairs and Shane shares memories of remaining seated during a Rolling Stones concert. Shane then compares his career and school trajectory to Will's and finds many commonalities. He shares a little wisdom regarding life in the "C stream" and lists, about 25 of the 40 jobs he had before becoming a "professional musician". We then go on to contemplate space travel with Les Pattinson and Shane does a deep dive analysis of his harmonic pallet. The episode closes with Courtney admitting her true feelings about The Doors and lamenting Ian McCulloch's thwarted art career.

In Episode 4, we delve into Mac’s teenage years, discuss his struggle with obsessive-compulsive tendencies, learn how David Bowie became a personal savior, and what it was like to teach himself to sing in close quarters, growing up in the modest childhood home. Also, we analyze the EATB song “The Puppet". And much much more!!

In episode 3, Ian McCulloch is finally born! Join Courtney and Shane as they excavate the budding young frontman's childhood, discuss his home life, hypothesize about his father, re-enact one of Mac’s grade school eye exams, and much more!

Heave away and set sail with Courtney and Shane as they navigate a sea shanty origin story of Echo and the Bunnymen, and trace a line from skiffle to Mersey Beat, mentioning a little band called the Beatles, and crashing their ship ashore on the isle of Deaf School.

The first episode gives an overview of things to come in our highly detailed accounting as we dive deep into the eel infested waters of the River Mersey, and begin to excavate the mysteries of the world that birthed Echo and the Bunnymen.