Ever have trouble remembering things? Phone numbers? Grocery lists? Names of casual acquaintances? If so, get ready to feel very self-conscious, because on this week's WAKE, we meet the indomitable Neal Kosaly-Meyer, a musician who decided, entirely of his own volition, to spend seventeen years memorising and performing the entirety of Finnegans Wake. Seriously. Toby and TJ caught Neal as he prepared to take on the punishing 'Tales From the Inn' chapter (premiering December 2025!), where we discuss memorisation, how the Wake is like music that most people neglect to play, rhythm, and, of course, offer WAKE's first and definitive opinion on Kendrick Lamar at the Super Bowl. Don't forget: it's a new WAKE!

This week's chatters: Neal Kosaly-Meyer, Toby Malone, TJ Young

Contextual Notes

Neal on CBC: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-wednesday-edition-1.5400965/this-man-is-memorizing-and-performing-all-688-pages-of-finnegans-wake-1.5399495

Neal Kosaly-Meyer on Waywords and Meansigns: https://www.waywordsandmeansigns.com/artists/neal-kosaly-meyer/

Neal on NPR: https://www.npr.org/2019/12/24/791045690/seattle-man-plans-to-memorize-and-perform-joyces-finnegans-wake

Neal on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nealkosaly/

The Stranger https://www.thestranger.com/theater/2019/12/04/42157754/the-seattle-man-who-is-memorizing-an-unreadable-novel

Neal in performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HumFP8dLffk

Gavan Kennedy, Finnegan Wakes: a Machine of Memory and Meaning https://journal.burningman.org/2018/08/black-rock-city/participate-in-brc/finnegan-wakes-a-machine-of-memory-and-meaning/

For early drops, community and show notes, join us at our free Patreon, at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/wakepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or check out our Linktree, at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/wake.pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We welcome comments from everyone: even, nay, especially, the dreaded purists. Come and "um actually" us!