DOORS TO DISTANT ROOMS:
BRIAN J & THE PIMPS OF JOYTIME
by Erik Jay
Fred Allen, one of the wittiest of all ‘40s radio comics, lamented that TV, which ended his career, was “chewing gum for the eyes.” Today’s more adventurous music lovers, sifting through Clear Channel chaff and Top 40 filler, can identify with Allen’s complaint... read
A SUBTLE, CEREBRAL SOUNDTRACK:
RYAN McNEELY
by Erik Jay
Ryan McNeely’s MySpace page is entitled “Ryan McNeely Eats Animals,” but the links from there to his LastFM radio page and other sites eschew the carnivorous imagery in favor of just the name that I assume his parents gave him... read
PARADOXICALLY ANACHRONISTIC CONTEMPORANEITY:
OKAY PADDY
by Erik Jay
Good thing My Quinn, Pat Finnerty, John Parise and Brian Craig of the band Okay Paddy are in Pennsylvania, since in California an Italian police captain couldn’t even refer to himself as “Top Wop” on a custom license plate. Apparently, back East... read
A FRESH BATCH OF OLD BLUES: FRUTELAND JACKSON
by Erik Jay
Like indigenous (folk) music and country, blues is one of those musical styles whose strength is primarily in the story being told, by both the music and lyrics, as well as the performer’s presentation. It relies on a simpler musical structure and a less expansive vocabulary... read
WHAT SHE'S LEARNED, SHE'S RETURNED TO TEACH:
KRYSTLE WARREN
by Erik Jay
Krystle Warren’s Web site biography says her beginnings “trail back” to Kansas City, Missouri. But what’s more important in that real-life short story is the bit about her “buying her first guitar at fifteen,” after which she “immersed herself... read
THE HIGH COST OF "FREE JAZZ": STEVE LACY
by Erik Jay
Music is like nothing else so much as language. It is spoken with words (notes) both long and short, of different tone and timbre, a collection of which is called the same thing — a phrase. Even without accompanying lyrics, people innately sense... read
THE FREEDOM OF UNAPOLOGETIC ART : TOOFLY
by Erik Jay
The only way I know that the illustrator, designer and street artist Toofly’s real name is Maria Castillo is because that’s the name displayed with her e-mail address. I suppose I should be more cautious and say that I assume that it’s her real name. Frankly, I... read
Originally published at FreshoutMedia, one of the few arts sites on the web eclectic, intelligent, and creative enough for me to consider writing for... so I do, and would have done so even if they didn't pay me (which they do). Don't just check 'em out; get involved with them, as they are definitely a 10 on a scale of 10.
