Steve Poltz Tells Stories and Performs on These Days

I'm a Steve Poltz fan, I'll admit it at the outset.  The guy can make up a song at the drop of a hat, and it will likely be clever and observant and touching...and off-kilter.  A lot has been written about Steve's songwriting and performance style, which has been described ad nauseam as "quirky."  I'm going to go with "off-kilter" because while I know Steve to be a seeker of balance (he's a yoga devotee), he also can't help the fact that he sees the world from a totally askew vantage point. 

It's a crazy trip and a real treat to see the world through Steve's eyes, and he's generous enough to share it in music and on stage.  He certainly shared it with These Days yesterday, where he came into the studio to play music and draw a few chuckles out of Tom Fudge.  Tom and staff were quite entertained.  During sound check, Steve broke out into a cover of "Memories" - oh yes, that one - which he admitted is his favorite song right now.  He also sang a hilarious song inapproprite for public radio (featuring a job on a bus) but a tried and true fan favorite.  If you go see him this Sunday at North Park Festival of the Arts (and you should!) you may hear it.  The music that did make it on the radio included some great cuts from Steve's new album Traveling, and one from his other new album, Unraveling.  Check him out:

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Omar Little Loves Some Honey Nut Cheerios

My colleague Trisha, a wise woman from Imperial Valley who loves The Wire, just informed me about an interview in Newsweek with Amy Poehler.  The following exchange takes place between interviewer and Amy Poehler:

Q: What cereal are you going to have?

A: Right now I’m down with Honey Nut Cheerios because that’s what Omar eats on “The Wire”

 Q: Do you base all your food choices on television shows?

A: I don’t know if you’re a “Wire” fan, but on the show Omar travels far and wide and risks getting killed just to get a box of Honey Nuts. So I like to think it keeps me connected to the streets.

I just went to the Honey Nut Cheerios website... lots of white people, upper middle class blacks, and the honey nut bee.  Their marketing team needs to show some respect for Omar Little and let him endorse their product.  Mad money to be made... street cred AND lower cholesterol.  See Omar's quest for Honey Nut below... (Nudity alert: opening 30 seconds).

Hilarious Video On Social Networking Wars - Must See!

This Crew Rolls Deep… Or How To Squash The Monday Blues

The Asylum Street Spankers On Busking, Spanking, And Lunchboxes

There are so many words that come to mind when describing the Austin-based band Asylum Street Spankers:  mischievous, irreverent, playful, subversive, vaudevillian.   These words get at the zaniness and sensibility of the Spankers, but they don't account for how talented these musicians are - both as musicans and songwriters.  Their music is a combination of vintage country, blues, jazz, and tin pan alley and they write about everything from politics to drugs to lunchboxes.   

The band began busking the streets of Austin back in the early 1990's, which is how they got their name.  One of the streets they often busked was nicknamed Asylum Street.  The word "spanker" is an old musicians' term for "one who plays his intstrument vigorously and proficiently."   The Spankers eventually took their act on the road, developed a cult following, and have since have recorded 17 albums.  Their latest is a children's album called Mommy Says No! and I love it.  It's catchy and sweet and makes me happy (there's even a song about boogers!)

The Asylum Street Spankers performed in our studios on Monday of this week.  You can see the video below and listen to the interview on These Days. 

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Miracosta Latin Jazz Orchestra Plays Tonight At Anthology

Yesterday, we at KPBS pulled off quite a feat.  We did an hour long interview and performance show with the 22-piece Miracosta Latin Jazz Orchestra, which we filmed in our TV studios for your viewing pleasure on Culture Lust.  22 PIECES.   22 people with 22 instruments.  And, here's the clincher, we did it all LIVE ON THE RADIO.... AT 10am!  HUGE.  Like, HUGE.  As someone who has booked a lot of bands, do you have any idea how difficult it is to get musicians up before 12 noon?  Now imagine getting 22 musicians here at 7:30am. 

To my great surprise, these musicians arrived early!  They were wonderful to work with and the show went off without a hitch.  You can hear the These Days interview here.   The orchestra is composed of talented student and community musicians, all under the guidance of orchestra director Mario Gonzalez.  Mario has an interesting background:  he runs a local and very successful music prodution studio called G Studios. He's also had a long career as a studio musician playing with big time acts, and he currently plays trumpet in Sheila E's band.  Don't sleep on Sheila E now, she's still out there.  She called out golddiggers way before Kanye West did and here's the proof, in all its 80's glory.   Love the hair... love the shoulder pads.  I know some of you rocked the shoulder pads back in the day.  It's ok, I did too.  80's nostalgia aside, Sheila E is a seriously talented percussionist and Prince knew what he was doing when he helped launch her career.

But back to latin jazz, you can watch the video of the Miracosta Latin Jazz Orchestra below.  You can also go see them perform live tonight at Anthology in Little Italy.  It's always a treat to see a big band perform live and they play interesting pieces from composers like Oscar Hernandez.  This orchestra is a hidden treasure right here in our sunny California midst... go check 'em out. 

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Tristan Prettyman Performs on These Days

Tristan's new album drops April 15th.  You can see her live at the Belly Up on March 19th.  You can hear her interview with Tom Fudge here.

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Pizza Delivery, David Sedaris Style

Abbott And Costello’s Who’s On First, Typography Style

My dad is a huge Abbott and Costello fan.  He used to do impersonations (still does around the house) and the Who's on First bit was one of his favorites.  When I was a little girl, I would try to be Abbott to his Costello.  It didn't always work.  I was much better at our Mae West, W.C. Fields routine. 

This typographical take on Who's on First is a fresh look at an old, sentimental favorite. 

Hillary Clinton, aka Tracy Flick?