Comedian Max Silvestri's Spark Is Moonstruck: Romance And Ridiculousness In Perfect Harmony

Comedian and writer Max Silvestri joins me to geek out over the classic Oscar winning romantic comedy Moonstruck. We talked about the tremendous performances from Cher and the late, great Olympia Dukakis and also discussed the film's perfect balance between sweetly sincere drama and broad comedy. As an added bonus, we contrasted our Moonstruck chat with a little discussion on another of Max's favorites, Wes Anderson's The Royal Tennenbaums.

Links:

Max Silvestri

Moonstruck

The Royal Tennenbaums

Tales Of The City

 

This episode is supported by Before The Chorus and Factual America

Roosevelt's Spark Is The Whitest Boy Alive's Rules: The Magic Of The Dancefloor, The Thrill Of The Crowd

Singer/songwriter/producer Roosevelt joins me to talk about his spark of inspiration, Norwegian/German band The Whitest Boy Alive's second album Rules. We talk about the thrill of making dance music with live instruments, the intense bond between musicians and the crowds they perform to and our mutual excitement about the hope of returning to live events.

Links:

Roosevelt

Rules

Hell Hath No Fury

Joshua Henry's Spark Is Brown Sugar: Gospel, Soul And The Making Of A Classic

This week, I'm joined by three time Tony nominee, singer and actor Joshua Henry to chat about our shared love for D'Angelo's genre bending classic debut album Brown Sugar. Joshua talks about Brown Sugar's impact on his life and career, and also deconstructs his favorite tracks. Best of all, he gave me a few quick tastes of his incredible singing voice.

Links:

Joshua Henry

Brown Sugar

Mare Of Easttown

FLYTE's Will Taylor Is Sparked By Kramer Vs Kramer: Divorce, Feminism And Drama Behind The Scenes

This week, I'm joined by FLYTE frontman Will Taylor to talk about his spark of inspiration, the Oscar winning Meryl Streep and Dustin Hoffman film Kramer Vs Kramer. Will speaks about how the film's events mirrored aspects of his own parents' divorce, we dive into some of the weighty issues covered in it (child custody battles, work life balance, feminism) and take a look at the real life drama that Dustin Hoffman created on set.  

Links:

FLYTE

Kramer Vs Kramer

All I Need

Skullcrusher's Spark Is Spirited Away: Fantasy, Empowerment And Hand Drawn Art

This week, I spoke with musician Skullcrusher (Helen Balentine) about the inspiration she's drawn from Hayao Miyazaki's Oscar winning animated feature Spirited Away. We talk about powerful female protagonists being underestimated in films, the wildly imaginative style of Studio Ghibli and we marvel at the intense emotional response evoked by hand drawn animation.

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Skullcrusher

Spirited Away

Leave The World Behind

Musician Evan Stephens Hall Of Pinegrove Is Sparked By The Remains Of The Day: The Repression Olympics And The Spectre Of Fascism

Singer/songwriter and musician Evan Stephens Hall joins me to talk about the inspiration he's drawn from Kazuo Ishiguro's Booker Prize winning novel The Remains Of The Day. We touch on English repression, unrequited love and the pressures of duty and loyalty under the looming shadow of fascism.

Links:

Evan Stephens Hall/Pinegrove

The Remains Of The Day

In And Of Itself

Marvin Gaye's What's Going On Sparked Adrian Younge's Inspiration: The Personal, The Professional and The Political

Composer and producer Adrian Younge joins me to geek out about his spark of inspiration: Marvin Gaye's classic album What's Going On, which celebrates it's 50th anniversary this year. How does music reflect our personal history? How does it reflect the history of our nation? Adrian and I speak about the cultural context in which What's Going On was created, the lasting impact the album has had on his music and the history of Blackness in America.

Links:

Adrian Younge

What's Going On

Daft Punk

Philosophy, The Multiverse And Binge-worthy TV: Yassir Lester On Devs

This week, I'm doing a deep dive into the brain melting world of Alex Garland's limited TV series Devs with comedian, writer and actor Yassir Lester (Black Monday, Duncanville).  

We dig into the brilliance of Alex Garland's body of work, geek out over other genre fair (like Watchmen!) and wax poetic about the philosophical and existential themes in Devs.  

It's truly one of the best conversations I've had yet!  

Warning: if you haven't watched Devs yet, spoilers abound.  

 

Links:

Yassir Lester

Devs

Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar

A Love Letter To Friendship In NYC: Claud on Broad City

Who needs a short, sharp blast of sunshine in their gloomy winter day?

*literally everyone raises their hand

Thought so! Here it comes! This week I had a frankly adorable conversation with super talented musician Claud about their love for one of my fave tv shows, Broad City.

We talked about all of the lols Broad City has brought us over the years, life in NYC and Claud remembers their chance encounter with Abbi Jacobson in LA. Sounds like the most fun you've ever had, doesn't it? It is!!

Ps Claud's BRILLIANT debut album Super Monster is out this Friday!!! 

Links:

Claud

Broad City

When Historical Drama And Contemporary Events Collide - Joyelle Johnson On Gone With The Wind

Congratulations on your new POTUS and VP, America! As a new president gift, here's my delightful chat with comedian Joyelle Johnson about her love for cinema classic Gone With The Wind. We cover flouncy dresses, unapologetically bratty rich people, portrayals of Black people in film and our current dizzying political climate. This one is a real hoot!

 

Links:

 

Joyelle Johnson

 

Gone With The Wind

 

Search Party

Musical Comedy, But Make It Filthy: Matt Buechele on South Park: Bigger, Longer And Uncut

What a week, right? Could anyone use a little reprieve from the chaos and insanity swirling around us? Well, I've got you covered, baby! I had a delightful conversation with comedian/composer Matt Buechele about his love for South Park: Bigger, Longer And Uncut, the notorious 1999 full length feature film version of Comedy Central's South Park. Matt and I show appreciation for the South Park team's reverence for musical theater conventions and laugh at the outrageous filthiness of the boundary pushing classic.  

 

Links:

Matt Buechele

South Park: Bigger Longer And Uncut

Kajillionaire

When The Cracks Begin To Show-Jake Luppen On The White Album

This week, I'm taking on one of the most famous and revered albums in history, The Beatles 1968 stone cold classic The White Album. But I'm not doing it alone! I had a little help from Jake Luppen (the singer/guitarist from Hippo Campus and newly minted solo artist as Lupin). We spoke about the impact The White Album has had on him as an artist, the benefits of band infighting in the studio and much, much more.  

Links:

Lupin

The White Album

Road Of The Lonely Ones

Embracing The Weirdness: Conor Oberst On Northern Exposure

Get ready for some post-election joy! I got to reminisce with legendary singer/songwriter Conor Oberst about one of my favorite '90's TV shows, Northern Exposure. We talked about the show's glorious weirdness, it's unforgettable characters (including one who was Conor's first crush) and also dug into the value of subverting expectations in art. It's a real hoot!

Links:

Conor Oberst

Northern Exposure

The Great British Baking Show

Post-Election Chill Vibes Only: Charles Spearin on Koyaanisqatsi

Now that we're past election day, let's de-stress with a chat about something super chill and supremely soothing. I spoke to musician Charles Spearin (Broken Social Scene and Do Make Say Think) about Godfrey Reggio's classic experimental film Koyaanisqatsi, which features the music of certified legend Philip Glass. Have a listen and watch all your election related anxiety melt away. 

Links:

Charles Spearin

Broken Social Scene

Do Make Say Think

Koyaanisqatsi

His House

3 True Loves Of A Disco Queen: Gavin Turek on Tame Impala, Brittany Howard And Raphael Saadiq

It's true. I got to talk to the incomparable Gavin Turek! Speaking to a singer of Gavin's caliber about the vocalists who have influenced her is already exciting, but that's before you know that her influences are Tame Impala, Brittany Howard and Raphael Saadiq! Gavin and I had a great chat about those legendary singers, her penchant for winning concert tickets from radio stations and so much more!!

Gavin Turek

Tame Impala

Brittany Howard

Raphael Saadiq

Lucy Pearl

The Joy Of Subversive Artists: Will Young on René Magritte

Who controls the meaning of an artwork? The artist? The viewer? Both? Singer and author Will Young joins me for a super fun chat about the inspiration he's drawn from René Magritte's work. We also dig into Will's acting career, the perils of taking art too seriously and much more!!


Will Young⚡

Rene Magritte's The Treachery Of Images⚡

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VOTE!⚡

Brian Moylan Loves Frank O'Hara and Tennessee Williams

*Backstreet Boys voice     Oh my god, I'm back agaaaaaaaain! Did you miss me? I slept non-stop for two weeks and now I'm refreshed and ready to deliver the goods. Which goods are those? Why, my delightful and charming chat with writer Brian Moylan about his love for poet, writer and art critic Frank O'Hara and legendary playwright Tennessee Williams. Sounds like a real hoot, don't it? And if that's not enough for you, I also give some sage advice about how and when you should challenge yourself with "difficult" art. 

Links:

Brian Moylan

Frank O'Hara

Tennessee Williams

Wind Of Change

Rabbit Hole

Jungle Fev

Irwin Sparkes Loves Bruce Springsteen/Guns N' Roses/Moses Sumney

It's Wednesday again! Isn't it? Who knows? What is time anymore? Let's try to focus on the good stuff. Namely, my chat with The Hoosiers and White Tail Falls front man Irwin Sparkes about his love for a trio of powerhouse musical acts: Bruce Springsteen, Guns N' Roses and Moses Sumney. We covered so much ground, folks. You're gonna love it. And you get to hear me babble a bit about artists who procrastinate. You literally can't wait, can you?

Links:

Irwin Sparkes

Bruce Springsteen

Guns N' Roses

Moses Sumney