We reviewed Adam’s EP/mini album as One Adam One in March this year and it was a beautiful piece of work. We’re pleased that he’s agreed to take part in our annual end-of-year feature and share some of his favourite things from 2023 and equally pleased that he absolutely bought in to the random concept of the High Fives.

The High Lonesome Voice That Hit Me Hard

This is the age of rabbit holes and I fell down another one when I saw this Dean Johnson performance of “True Love” on Country AF (very chill, authentic, obscure songwriter video channel). Dean’s voice is sincere and effortless and drop-dead gorgeous. He put out an EP earlier this year, right around when I released mine…so I feel like he’s my brother in off-the-grid indie twang.

The Cheap, Gimmick-y Looking Gadget That Turns Out to Be Ingenious

I stumbled into a conversation between younger gals raving about this new thing called a silicon scalp scrubber. I thought for a moment, “Well, that’s just for women.” But then I looked at them and they all had beautiful, healthy hair, while I have this sort of sad, stringy man hair that looks like it belongs in a medieval village. Who was I to deny their superior grooming wisdom? This soft little f-er is a game changer.

The Strange Podcast that Dances in My Ears

Iain Sloan of the Wynntown Marshals hipped me to the Blindboy Podcast and I often tune in when I don’t feel like listening to music. Don’t let the strange profile pic of the host in some sort of head bandage turn you off. The Blindboy is a master spinner of yarns and whip-smart contrarian. He can turn a story of a cat dying under his porch into an elegy of companionship and natural wonder. And, his lilting voice is ASMR-level soothing.

The Strange Novel from a Parallel Universe

When one of my favorite writers announced he was doing a book based on the family of a pastor in suburban Illinois in the 70s, I was a little freaked out. In real life, I was raised in the household of a pastor in suburban Illinois in the early 80s. I wasn’t sure I wanted an author of such skill applying his scalpel so closely to the heart of my childhood memories. I took the plunge this year and read Jonathan Franzen’s “Crossroads”. Thankfully, my family was not as dysfunctional, and the time era is slightly offset, but I recognized a LOT of it. And it’s brilliant.

The Pure Animal Energy that Revitalizes Me

I got a new dog this year and he’s a bit of a wild animal. I am very fond of him, but sometimes it feels like he just wandered in the back door to steal some food. Slowly, he’s melting under the spoils of civilization. Just recently he did the unthinkable — he rested his chin on my leg! I almost had to sleep sitting up because I didn’t want to disturb the best feeling of 2023. 

Here we go again. It’s time for High Fives 2023 and it’s traditional to kick off the feature with a contribution from Neil Sheasby of Stone Foundation. It’s a major anniversary on two counts – Neil’s been contributing to this feature for ten years now, and Stone Foundation have just completed their twenty-fifth anniversary tour, finishing off with a triumphant two nights at Islington Assembly Hall with special guests Emily Capell, Graham Parker, Laville, Mick Talbot and Paul Weller. And I know Neil mentions this at the end of the piece, but he’s also published his second book, ‘Bass Notes’, this year, giving a warts’n’all view of life on the road with an eight-piece soul band. Here’s Neil’s thoughts on this year, in no particular order:

Talking Heads Talking! – 

Something that seemed so implausible a few years ago but here we are in 2023 and they have been united again for the re-release of the ‘Stop Making Sense’ film. I’ve always felt there’s been unfinished business and I live in hope of a new album and possibly some tour dates. It just made me re-appraise that amazing back catalogue. 

Sly Stone book – Thank you (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) – 

All the wonder, excess and car crash material that you’d expect from a Sly Stone memoir 

Hard to believe he’s still here to tell his story. 

It’s kind of tragic and bittersweet but he was THE originator, look at them at Woodstock, bringing the heavy duty funk as early as 1969! 

Another great page turner was Kevin Armstrong’s ‘Absolute Beginners’ book, his experience as being a sideman to the stars (Bowie, Iggy) it’s full of amazing stories. 

The new Two Tone book by Daniel Rachel ‘Too Much Too Young’ is wonderful too, it digs in and unearths some interesting perspectives, it’ll make you play all those records again too.

It truly was a remarkable period. 

Album of the year? – 

I have to say whilst I heard a lot of songs that caught my attention, I don’t think it’s been a vintage year for the album. 

I’d have to plump for Blur’s ‘The Ballad of Darren’ as my most played record of ‘23 along with ‘Lotus Glow’ by Adi Oasis 

Closely followed by ‘Silver’ by Say She She, a modern soul dancer that doesn’t fall foul of the cliches and pastiche (great live too – check ‘em out!) 

I also loved Chris Thompson’s writing and work on his new Bathers record ‘Sirenesque’. It’s such an eloquent, poetic, beautiful album. 

Chris is a genius. 

The return of Galliano – 

I was overjoyed to witness the return of Galliano this year, naturally I felt I couldn’t miss their London show at Village Underground. I was kind of nervous about it though as they were one of my favourite live bands of the 90’s, I saw them tons of times, always an uplifting, joyous experience. 

The 2023 model were every bit as fabulous. 

There’s a new album in the works for next year too. Positive vibes abound… I’ll dig my beads out. 

SF 25th Anniversary celebrations – 

I’m hesitant to big up ourselves but I have to admit that 2023 and the 25th anniversary of Stone Foundation has felt like a special milestone and something I should not be guilty of feeling proud of. 

The gigs have been tremendous, the crowds have been amazing. It’s been my favourite tour thus far and I myself am celebrating 40 years of making noise in bands. 

I was also pleased to get my D/S/P project off the ground, it was lovely to create music with my son Lowell and my old sparring partner Nick Read, we received some positive vibes back from those tunes. 

So along with the release of my tour diary book “Bass Notes” I’d say it’s been a very productive year.