Can you storm the castle by getting across the MOAT? A weekly meta crossword constructed by forum member Ben (aka benchen71). These metas range from relatively easy to more challenging, depending on how many Australianisms he puts in them! Puzzles are posted in a new thread every Tuesday, with nudges appearing on Saturdays, and the solution coming out on Mondays. (At least, that's the plan. Given he lives in Australia, and they are so far ahead of the US time-zone-wise, things may get posted early!)
Can you storm the castle by getting across the MOAT? I had never heard of Mike Doughty or the band he used to front, Soul Coughing. But when Paste Magazine included a song called "Looking At The World From The Bottom Of A Well" on one of their monthly sample CDs, I was hooked. Turns out Mike had just released the first single from his latest solo album "Haughty Melodic" (which, for us cryptic crossworders, is an anagram of the artist's fuller name, Michael Doughty.) It's a catchy little tune, quite simple in its chord structure, but the end result is extremely memorable. So much so that, nearly 20 years later, this song has become the inspiration for a "week 1" meta. The answer to the meta can be seen from the bottom of a well.
The easiest way to submit is on Crosshare (and you get instant feedback and unlimited attempts!) But you can also PM me with your submission. Either way, I'll compile a list of those who successfully solve the meta.
Last edited by benchen71 on Sun Oct 06, 2024 5:34 am, edited 2 times in total.
Check out "The MOAT Mini Pack of Marching Bands" here. US$5 gets you 7 Marching Bands which, hard enough on their own, now contain metas too. And once again there's a mega-meta!
Soul coughing was awesome. Right after their second album came out they played an outdoor show downtown on a small stage at the corner of state and Jackson, which I went to see. I’m not usually one for autographs but the band was milling about after the show and I had the cd with me.
While I was waiting for the bass player to finish getting his enormous upright into his case and watching him struggle with it, I asked “did you ever think about taking up the harmonica?”
Hence somewhere in my mother’s apartment is a cd signed by 3 of the 4 members of soul coughing.
If you like Rows Gardens check out my mini ones here: viewforum.php?f=41. Nudges are free on the off chance I’ve solved the meta.
sharkicicles wrote: Tue Oct 01, 2024 11:59 am
Soul coughing was awesome. Right after their second album came out they played an outdoor show downtown on a small stage at the corner of state and Jackson, which I went to see. I’m not usually one for autographs but the band was milling about after the show and I had the cd with me.
While I was waiting for the bass player to finish getting his enormous upright into his case and watching him struggle with it, I asked “did you ever think about taking up the harmonica?”
Hence somewhere in my mother’s apartment is a cd signed by 3 of the 4 members of soul coughing.
That's so funny! So the bass player didn't sign out of spite? Or he did sign but Mike didn't, because he was already thinking about his solo career?
Check out "The MOAT Mini Pack of Marching Bands" here. US$5 gets you 7 Marching Bands which, hard enough on their own, now contain metas too. And once again there's a mega-meta!
It's been nearly 24 hours since posting the puzzle, so it's time for the first solver update:
Tom Wilson
Danny K Bernstein
Avlan
Berto
rjy
LarsCaine
Darth
markhr
hoover
Pair O Ducks
Hector
Cindy Weatherman
Mr Tex
JM
Cindy Heisler
kurtalert
boharr
DCBilly
Tyrpmom
imontoo
woozy
kymike
iceman
MatthewL
Carolyn
heidi
Steve M
LindaPRmaven
whimsy
DIS
Meg
Morendil
KayW
lbray53
CPJohnson
HeadinHome
Dave C
I K Snamhcok
Trixxi
JakeDaSnake
We start with 40!
Check out "The MOAT Mini Pack of Marching Bands" here. US$5 gets you 7 Marching Bands which, hard enough on their own, now contain metas too. And once again there's a mega-meta!
De MOATed and enjoying the view. Thanks, Ben!
