Time to … podcast
Tune into Mick and the Phatman Talking Music at www. buzzsprout. com/1690618
Janice Creenaune meets Coledale resident Michael Chesworth, who after a career in IT customer service has taken up podcasting
Michael Chesworth and his mate Jeff Crompton used the Covid downtime to create a podcast called “Mick and the Phatman Talking Music”.
Anyone raised on the music of the 1970s and onwards will enjoy it. Their podcast has been likened to eavesdropping on two mates – and they’re also funny, with an easy-listening conversation style born of a life-long friendship.
“We are very different,” Mick says. “The humour is definitely Jeff. He is intelligent and quick-witted. I am more of a ‘serious young insect’, but we bounce off and balance each other.
“We have been mates since our teens and music is our great passion and love. I merely suggested to him in our retirement that we start a podcast about music and ‘The Phatman’ was in total agreement. We decided on a style inspired by Roy and HG Nelson and had our first episode in February 2021.”
Mick and Jeff – who lives in the Blue Mountains – meet about once a month to record and review.
“A little research always helps check our memories, but generally it’s an easy discussion,” Mick says. “Early on, I made a conscious decision to find challenging music to listen to, or maybe to prove a point. I always wanted to know who was behind the Velvet Underground or Roxy Music and, of course, Bowie was one of the first I idolised.
“The discussion generally is off-hand and quite fast-paced. The memories and the experiences just come flooding back. Really, we are just a couple of mates having a few beers and enjoying our own conversation as much as anything.
“We’re harsh on some artists, but it’s our views listeners are tuned into, so a bit of bias is to be expected. I personally think Warren Zevon is one of the best songwriters of the era and my favourite quote from Zevon is “music is too important to dance to”. I detest Jeff Buckley and Coldplay. But if you are going to have an opinion on something, you must know about it first, even to dislike it.
“We also recognise and highlight excellent songwriters like Burt Bacharach and Hal David. We can be a ‘bit left of centre’, but even Abba had some well-crafted songs. We do not want a passive podcast – we like to be interactive with comments and feedback essential.”
Tune into Mick and the Phatman Talking Music at www.buzzsprout.com/1690618.
Writer Janice Creenaune is a volunteer for PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) Foundation Australia. Email janicecreenaune@gmail.com
