Thursday, May 31, 2012

The Art of Documentation

Continuing on yesterday's thread about the Museum's upcoming exhibition on illustrator Howard Pyle, It turns out there is a documentary about the artist that was just released. It looks well-done... here is a preview:




The feature was produced by filmmaker Paul Mento from Silver Hand Productions. According to the Delaware Art Museum, which organized the exhibition and screened the documentary, Mento has been a lifelong fan of the artist. His name sounded familiar to me, and now I realize that he had actually been in touch with me at the Museum a couple years back, looking for information about Pyle's influence on Norman Rockwell. I'll have to check out the documentary--no doubt it will be useful in learning more about Pyle's work and how to promote the exhibition.


There is another new artist documentary coming out, which is also worth mentioning. Gregory Crewdson: Brief Encounter follows the work of acclaimed photographer Gregory Crewdson, who creates haunting, surreal, and stunning photographs, that have an eerie, cinematic feel to them. Think Edward Hopper born again as a filmmaker who is taking still photos, and that it what Crewdson's world looks like:






I first discovered the photographer's work when I started working in Massachusetts. He has set many of his scenes there (including my former town of Lee), and spends a bit of time in the Berkshires. There is even something of a twisted mirror on the work that Rockwell is known for, and I have met the photographer on a couple of occasions while I have worked at the Museum; the last time was during a lecture he gave at Norman Rockwell Museum a couple years ago, where this documentary filmmaker, Ben Shapiro was also present. 


The film is having a screening on the final night of this year's Berkshire International Film Festival. My friend Stephanie, a talented actress, actually posed for one of the photographs in the series that is being examined in this documentary (it even made the cover of the catalogue for the series). I wonder if she will make it into the documentary... go Stephanie!


My "Crewdson-wannabe" photo shoot with Sarah following
the photographer's lecture at Norman Rockwell Museum, March 27, 2010.
Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.
I would love to see the documentary (maybe even work with Crewdson sometime), but we are scheduled to meet our wedding photographer this Sunday--he's also a creative guy... I just hope the wedding photos don't look like Crewdson's! Hopefully there will be other screenings of the film to catch.

Hmm... these documentaries make me jealous really... I'm not sure how they are totally financed and produced, but what a great gig--I could get into doing work like this (and I'll keep trying!). Looking for time, money, and a good HD camera... please!

Related Links:


www.howardpyledvd.com


www.gregorycrewdsonmovie.com


www.biffma.com

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Sharing The Treasure Chest


I have been busy at work preparing for a new exhibition that is opening up next Saturday, June 9, at Norman Rockwell Museum. Howard Pyle: American Master Rediscovered looks at the work of an artist who is frequently referred to as the "grandfather of American illustration." Howard Pyle (1853-1911) was one of the most popular artists of his day, creating widely circulated images of pirates, knights, historical figures and fairy tales for popular American publications. His work was admired by such creative types as Vincent Van Gogh, Mark Twain, and Norman Rockwell, and has had a lasting impact on our visual culture (Pirates of the Caribbean, anyone?).

I think this exhibition, curated by the Delaware Art Museum, is going to be a good one--sort of a summer blockbuster, if you will--the artwork looks stunning:

"An Attack on a Galleon," Howard Pyle,
1905. Oil on canvas, 29 1/2" x 19 1/2"
Delaware Art Museum,
Museum Purchase, 1912
"The Mermaid," Howard Pyle, 1910.
Oil on canvas, 57 7/8" x 40 1/8"
Gift of the children of Howard Pyle
in memory of their mother, Anne Poole Pyle, 1940
"The Buccaneer Was a Picturesque Fellow,"
Howard Pyle, 1905. Oil on canvas, 30 1/2" x
19 1/2". Delaware Art Museum,
Museum Purchase, 1912.
Eat your heart out, Captain Jack Sparrow... Pyle also served as a teacher for many talented illustrators whose careers took off during the early 20th century. N.C. Wyeth, Jessie Willcox Smith, and one of my favorites, Maxfield Parrish (I can see the influence in Parrish's highly dramatic and detailed paintings). 

So I'm in the process of setting up press interviews and trying to spread the word about the exhibition. If that weren't enough, the Museum will be holding a special pirate-themed dance party during the opening, as well as a Thursday night lecture series during the summer, that looks at the artist's influence. So I'm busy trying to come up with catchy slogans... "Set your sights on adventure this summer..." "Shake Your Pirate Booty"... not sure if "Pirate Bootylicious exhibition" is going too far... but this should be a good one.

Related Links:

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Hot and Bloggered

Man, it's too hot to blog today... too hot to do much of anything. It's been hazy, hot and humid right from the time I left for work this morning. I think I saw that the temps had reached about 90 degrees... feels like we have jumped into the dog days of August! 


JC chillin' in the HV (from the "Hayride Series").
Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.
My recent tuxedo search has me hoping that it will be a little cooler come mid-July. Hmm... following my recent trip to the farm, maybe it's time to consult The Old Farmer's Almanac (I bought a copy when we were trying to figure out wedding dates). Let's see... July... uh oh. Here's the forecast: "T-storms, humid." But really... how accurate can this stuff be? May 25-31: "Sunny, very warm." Ulp... 


Well it was like this until my drive home... the sky opened up and, thankfully, refreshed the scene (although I don't think the guy who hydroplaned a few feet back on the freeway would share my sentiment). For some reason, hearing the summer rain come down tonight reminds me of my time in Rochester in the mid-90s, where I used to record the audio of rainstorms to use in video and audio projects. Occasionally, I would even replay my "rain" to fall asleep. Not a bad idea now... after a trip to the gym, we are both exhausted--time to hit the hay (with apologies to the almanac)...


Related Links:


www.almanac.com

Monday, May 28, 2012

Sweet Memories

We were back in the Hudson Valley today to honor our loved ones on Memorial Day. Sarah helped me pick out some nice flower arrangements to plant in the cemeteries, and also introduced me to the beautiful Jewish tradition of leaving pebbles on top of gravestones as a sign of respect and remembrance. 


We really didn't have to travel too far for beautiful flowers... there are some stunning peonies planted right alongside my family's farmland property. The area is scented with that hint of sweet spring air... at times intoxicating... and I keep searching for the cherry trees! It really is my favorite time of year, and being back here reminds me of how beautiful and inspiring the area is...
Photos ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

It's The Word, Love

It was a gorgeous spring day out today... but I was stuck inside by my computer. That can mean only one thing: yup... I have been busy creating visuals for The Spoken Word Almanac Project again. 

Actually, I have budgeted my time fairly well this go-round. I have visuals for a good number of poems already gathered, so it should be an easy transition and completion in time for the New York City-based mid-year show next month. So yeah, while the sun was shining, and birds were chirping, I was busy watching footage of Rush Limbaugh insulting a college student, and Mitt Romney declaring his indifference to poor people... to make poetry out of these dissonant topics will be no small feat. 

Google is my best friend when I am working on these shows. Basically I brainstorm possible visual ideas by combing through the Google Images database, and video elements through YouTube... it is hilarious what I have come up with at times (try it, any topic)! Other times I stumble upon something that is quite moving, thought-provoking or artistically done, like this video clip that was created to support the recent student protests over tuition hikes in Montreal, Quebec, and proposed law enforcement required before they take place:




Now that's what I call an effective protest.


After I have collected a number of suitable images for SWAP, I usually edit the works together in Final Cut, and then convert each individual clip into .mov files that we add a playlist that is run during the live show. I have been trying to get more abstract with my visuals, but for this show I am under a bit of a time constraint... so it is mostly straightforward visual representation. That doesn't mean that I am any less thoughtful in my construction of the clips, and still utilize my artistic insight in terms of the rhythm of the sequenced images, and effective storytelling structure that hopefully complements the spoken word.

For the Romney poem, I thought I had the killer ending visual... I had seen it going around: a photo of the Republican Presidential candidate seemingly staging a group of kids in t-shirts to spell out his name, but they mixed up the letters to read M-O-N-E-Y! 




However after trying to find the source of the actual image, I now realize it was actually Photoshopped. It's still funny, but I think I'll hold off on using it... there are enough strange but true photos out there that are funny enough. Speaking of the real Mitt, I once "met" the former Governor of Massachusetts when he did a whirlwind tour of the Museum. It was strange... felt almost like a choreographed dance routine in and out the door... I think it was all over in about ten minutes.

By this evening, I was ready to dance myself. After a day of staring at the computer screen, I was happy to get out into the open air of the Hudson Valley countryside. Everything smells so fresh and looks so lush... a great time of year. From there, Sarah and I drove on to the Berkshires to take in a performance by the dance group Noche Flamenca. It was a dramatic performance, with live Spanish guitar and often spirited tap/flamenco dance routines. I only wish they had more colorful costuming to match the mood outdoors... 

Tomorrow is Memorial Day, and we have quite a bit to do. One thing to add to our list: I would like to look into practicing some swing and/or ballroom dance again... it has been awhile, but it would be great to brush up on our moves in time for the wedding. Last night we went over some of the songs we are thinking about for the reception. Like everything, it takes some time... but I know a few "must-have" Blue-eyed Soul selections that should be there.


Related Links:


"Montreal Pots And Pans Video Of Protest Against Bill 78 Goes Viral," Huffington Post, May 26, 2012

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Happy Trails...

Beautiful day. We decided to get out and go for a hike around the Lisha Kill Nature Trail in Niskayuna, not far from where Sarah grew up. It felt good to lose ourselves in the woods for a little while (despite the QR Codes!)...







All photos ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

LInks: 


Friday, May 25, 2012

So Vain. Probably Think This Song Is About Me...

Sigh... out again looking for tuxedos. There are elements I like in each I place I have checked... but not sure I have found "the one..." Damn, it's hard to be so vain!


Anyway, we'll get there... ZZ Top-mobile or not. 

We also had a chance to walk around the artsy Lark Street area of downtown Albany, which was nice... ducked into Washington Park and over for some Indian food again. We also walked past the old spot where we first met. Time for some more dance lessons too... can we still squeeze those in? 

Sigh...

Thursday, May 24, 2012

One Step Closer

We've got our rings! Nicely engraved. Northeastern did a good job... we've been happy with the experience all the way around.

Now it's up to the ring bearer! Sarah's mother posted a really cute photo today on Facebook of my soon-to-be nephew learning some of the ropes of a wedding ceremony... of course it was a toy cake being served to a couple of stuffed animals (apparently I was the hound-dog... appropriate considering my background as an Elvis impersonator). I'm sure he will be great. It's still a little startling to hear a kid yell "Uncle Jeremy!..." but actually, it's pretty cool... he even loves Spider-Man. 

Tonight we continued with our pre-marriage counseling. This time we looked at the area of finances... it was probably one of the more sober conversations, and there is a bit to consider... but I have had enough practice at this by now that I think we'll be alright (in fact, I just paid off one of two credit cards today).

Other great news: one of my good friends, who I met in a local film organization, just had twin boys! Earlier than expected, but they seem to be doing well. Unfortunately, they won't be able to make it to the wedding, as they live in California... I think a trip out west is in order soon.

One more day of work until Memorial Day weekend! It's the official start to summer, meaning that the fun is just about to begin...

5.24.12. Smart photo taken with Smartphone. ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Don't Touch That Dial

What an odd day. I think one of the strangest and least "productive" ones (at least in a creative sense) that I have ever experienced... but not for want of trying...


I returned to my full-time job, and had more than enough to do. One of the first things on tap was to accompany a videographer, for what I thought would be a few minutes in the morning. Well, that stretched out to be the entire day... basically just walking around, watching him do his thing... <<insert "yawn" here>>. At least at the very end of all this, he interviewed me on-camera. I have gotten quite good at this spokesperson thing... have I mentioned that???...


From there I drove out to the Capital Region to meet Sarah, and we served as members of the audience for a live TV show taping. Well... the production elements were nice... and it was interesting to watch the various staff producing the show (sweet mechanized camera cranes)... but I can't say it quite matched the fun of being part of the audience for this guy a couple years ago in New York City: 


The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
04/14/10 in :60 Seconds
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full EpisodesPolitical Humor & Satire BlogVideo Archive

Well... at least we got paid. 

I'm hoping to have more time to be creative in the next few days... need to continue looking at my Spoken Word Almanac Project materials... and... oh yeah, planning for the wedding... "time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin' into the future..." 

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Dressed for Success

I've been feeling a bit of the "heat" this past week, so I decided to take the day off from the Museum today. It gave me a chance to catch a breath, save some cash from my hour-long commute, and do my "homework"... as Sarah puts it.


I started the day by working on some visuals for the Spoken Word Almanac Project's mid-year show... Trayvon Martin, freedom of speech, and Obama are just a few of the many topics being covered so far. Fortunately, the group has narrowed it down to a definite list of at least one poem by each artist that will be included in the show. This will help me to focus in the next week on laying something down before I need to hand it off to the show's producers to finish. Unfortunately I won't be able to join the group for the show that is scheduled to take place on June 30th... that's the day of my bachelor party, and I'm not sure I should even try and pre-visualize that!


Around noon I switched my attention to the wedding, and hit the town to visit a few tuxedo shops. Sarah was working, and I have to admit that I felt a little "lost" without her... I know what looks good, but it's hard to remember all the details regarding what will complement the bridal party... plus, it's just more fun to have her around. However, by the end of the day I stumbled upon a place that might just work in terms of outfitting me and my groomsmen. Sarah met me at the shop late in the day, and then we walked up to the road to grab a meal at one of our favorite Indian restaurants. An hour or so later it was off to the gym, and back home to watch the finale of Glee... the running theme of the day seemed to be about changes and style... maybe it's better to not stray to far from what works... classic with a modern twist.


On that note, here is a video my SWAP colleague Darian Dauchan just released today with his hip-hop group The Mighty Third Rail:




Monday, May 21, 2012

Sound The Call

Union College, May 19, 2012. Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.
The day started off with an impromptu radio interview... I literally just got into my office when I received a call from a radio station in Kentucky: "Can you do an interview?" "Sure." "Ok, stand by..."-! Fortunately, I have gotten good at this type of thing, so it worked out just fine. I was also interviewed by a newspaper in the afternoon. My spokesperson duties certainly are getting a workout lately...



This evening we received a call from the photographer that we approached to shoot our wedding, saying that he was free to photograph our big day. Great news, and a bit of a relief as the day is fast approaching! I think he's going to work out well... all of his shots that I have seen really tell a story, including the various persons filling in the background. He has a background in photojournalism, which I think helps... so now I think we're all set with our photographer and videographer... check, check!

Speaking of video, here is a Iittle film I captured on my smartphone this past Saturday. Sarah lives up the street from Union College in Schenectady, and they were presenting a concert and fireworks to honor the 150th anniversary of the military tune, "Taps." The solemn, 24-note bugle call is credited to Daniel Adams Butterfield, who was a Union General in the American Civil War, and Assistant U.S. Treasurer in New York City, who also graduated from Union College in 1849. According to the school's website, "while serving as a general during the Civil War, Butterfield didn’t like the traditional bugle call that marked the day’s end. So with the help of his brigade’s bugler, Butterfield tweaked another call no longer in use. The eloquent and haunting sound quickly spread to other units and became the new standard."


I love living in a pretty area, where you have access to such cultural events. It was a real treat to be able to walk less than a mile down the street on a pleasant spring evening and take this all in. The bugle call, presented by professional trumpeter Steve Weisse, was preceded by a full concert by a brass band in the school's Memorial Chapel to honor Armed Services Day--it was a lovely tribute. 

Just a couple days earlier, I heard a story on NPR that talked about the genesis of "Taps," which has become a national song of remembrance-- I thought it was interesting to learn that it was used by both the Confederate and Union troops during the Civil War! On the eve of Memorial Day, the deceptively simple song seems as relevant as ever...

Related Links:

"Sounding a solemn note: Taps turns 150," Union College website, May 7, 2012

"Union College hosts a milestone for 'Taps'," Albany Times Union, May 18, 2012

150 Years of Taps," NPR, May 18, 2012

"Tapping into Taps," Wall Street Journal, May 17, 2012

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Sunny Side Up

There's a lot going on... I had trouble sleeping last night, thinking about all there is yet to do. Anyway, although exhausted, today turned out just fine. I worked on some materials for the Spoken Word Almanac Project in the morning, listened to the rebroadcast of my WEXT My Exit show (how could I object to hearing myself on the car stereo?), and stopped over at the wedding venue for a food tasting. I think we're in good hands-- I hadn't been to the venue since last winter, so haven't really seen it during spring/summer, when it is a lot more lush.

The Egg, man... goo goog a joog!
Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.
From there, we drove to downtown Albany to attend our friend's graduation from nursing school. It was held at The Egg (pictured in the photo), a unique events/performance space located in Empire State Plaza, near the state house and other governmental buildings. 

The Egg was designed by Wallace Harrison and built in 1978--I once dated a girl who says that her father fell off The Egg while working on its construction (instead, she was born!). The building certain adds some character to the Albany skyline. Even the band They Might Be Giants were so inspired that they wrote a song about the building--I actually attended their 2004 concert (in The Egg) where they debuted the quirky tune:


The egg seems as much a sculpture as a building. Inside, the acoustics are actually quite good, and the venue has played host to some interesting acts, including They Might Be Giants and Ray Davies of the Kinks (both of which I have seen). On tap is a farewell concert by Glen Campbell, which is probably worth seeing... Also on tap: Psychedelic Furs, Alejandro Escovedo, and Matthew Sweet, who I had met ages ago when I used to DJ at WBER-FM.

But back to the purpose of scrambling to the Egg this afternoon: our friend's graduation. It was a beautiful day out... we went back to her place for dinner, a bonfire, and good company. The summer season really has begun... sunny side up!

Related links:



Saturday, May 19, 2012

Soul Picnic

It was a productive Saturday, filled with wedding planning and lots of walking around town on a clear, sunny afternoon. 

We finally figured out the videographer for our big day, which was a relief (considering my own background, it's funny how long that took to finalize!). We also started planning out our honeymoon. Things are coming together...

I started the day off listening to this new band, Alabama Shakes--I think they have a really nice, soulful sound, and I'm embarrassed to admit that I only just realized that the leader singer was a she (thought it was a man, man). She has sort of a cool Janis Joplin thing happening... this one is particularly good:



With Fitz & The Tantrums at WEXT.
Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.
I think I mentioned before that another soulful band we have grown to love is Fitz & The Tantrums. They definitely channel that old classic soul vibe, and their album Picking Up The Pieces was my absolute favorite from last year.

Yes, they are included in the My Exit show I recorded for WEXT. You can hear it for yourself as the show is re-broadcast tomorrow, Sunday, May 20, starting at 10 a.m. ET. In fact, the first time I heard the band play live was at the WEXT studios last year... and so began my appreciation for all things Fitz (would love to interview them sometime!)

The band is currently hard at work recording a new album, and just offered this cool EP that was recorded during their concert at The House of Blues in Boston last Fall--Sarah and I actually attended the gig, so it's cool to have this! Here is the link to the free download (parental discretion advised):



On a different musical front, we checked out a cool brass band concert this evening just down the street at Union College, that was followed by fireworks! It was a pretty meaningful affair... I'll talk more about that later...


exit977.org

www.alabamashakes.com

http://fitzandthetantrums.com

Friday, May 18, 2012

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Improv Berkshires


This afternoon I represented the Museum during a PR event at Mass MoCA. I worked from home in Schenectady in the morning, and then drove directly to the inspired contemporary art museum located in North Adams, Massachusetts. It was quite a pretty drive--lush, green hills enveloping my ride on either side. 





I also had a chance to get a quick peek inside the galleries of the museum's converted factory building. North Adams has a cool energy, with a strong visual arts scene anchored by MoCA.


It seems a little less pretentious than some areas of the county, and probably a little more hip to young visitors.



My improv group used to rehearse/perform each week in North Adams at the old Main Street Stage. I used to enjoy heading out there. Coincidentally, after the meeting I drove back to Lee, Massachusetts to rehearse for our show being held at the town's Spectrum Playhouse tomorrow, May 18, at 7:30 p.m. 

This will be an interesting event, as we are teaming up with another improv group called Jellyfish, which is based in the Pioneer Valley. After RBIT performs some of its "hits," Jellyfish will be doing some long-form improv, which I am interested in seeing. We have started to play around with this format (a game called "follow the leaver," where the scene is changed each time an actor leaves the stage) and will attempt to team up with Jellyfish for a musical long-form at the end of the event. We'll see how it goes... I think it will be good for us to challenge ourselves, and see what insight we can gain from other performers.

More details about tomorrow's event can be found at our website: 




Photos taken at Mass MoCA/North Adams. Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.


Wednesday, May 16, 2012

In The Zone

Photo courtesy AJ Vittone. All rights reserved.
The man who dubbed me "The Clowe Show," the title of my last post, is having his own luck in the world of showbiz lately. AJ Vittone, a friend from my days at The University of Hartford, just appeared in episode six of the new TV series Magic City, airing on the Starz network. 


Set in Miami, Florida, in the year 1959, Magic City tells the story of Ike Evans (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), the owner of Miami's most glamorous hotel, the Miramar Playa. Evans is forced to make an ill-fated deal with Miami mob boss Ben Diamond (Danny Huston) to ensure the success of his glitzy establishment. In episode six, titled "The Harder They Fall," Ike and Ben make a huge bet on a boxing match, and the ring announcer is the smooth-talking Jimmy Powers, played by none other than Mr. Vittone! It sounds like perfect casting... 




STN 10-year reunion, 2003. Photo courtesy Mike Cohen.
All rights reserved.
I got to know AJ as a fellow co-founder of STN, the student-run television station at University of Hartford back in 1993. I served as a reporter, and Aaron was our sports anchor (what you might call "a natural"). I always appreciated his energy and zaniness... punctuating the game highlights with a "jaaaammm..." here and a "jaaaammm..." there. As the first group of students at the school to produce a weekly TV newscast, it was sort of trial by fire... but a perfect opportunity to learn about producing a live TV broadcast... I'm proud of what we accomplished! 


Channel 2 is still going strong to this day... AJ and I went back for the ten year reunion of STN, and I was amazed to see how far the organization (and technology) had come... hell, we thought we had it good with a chyron machine-! 

After college, AJ went on to work at WENY-TV in Elmira, New York, and I was extremely grateful when he helped my cousin Damian find a job as a fellow sportscaster at the station. It was weird to visit Damian not long after he had secured that job, and see the two of them bantering back and forth on highlight reels!

When I started working in the Berkshires in 2001, I learned that AJ had also moved to the area. A native of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, he had decided it was also time for a change, and moved back to his hometown to start doing more freelance work, and began hosting Sports Page Live on the Cox Sports Television network, based out of Providence, Rhode Island. It was good to reconnect again, and he hadn't lost any of his trademark silliness... 



In the years that followed, he began filling in for some of the TV news stations in the Albany, New York area, as well as developing his own TV program devoted entirely to the sport of boxing. After a brief stint in Florida, he decided late last year to move to Los Angeles, California... I think I may have been one of the first to learn about his plans, and was happy to hear about his fulfillment of a long-time dream. 

The gig with Magic City was apparently a fluke--an "outside the box" tip from his agent (pun intended). It sounds like AJ's background as a sports announcer (including actual ringside announcing for boxing matches) has paid off. Since the show is based in the 1950s, he tells me that he had to endure makeup and wardrobe to get the look (hopefully he fared better than my dorky reporter get-up for the movie Taking Woodstock). Apparently he also ad-libbed some of his lines, which made it into the final scene. Here is a preview of the episode:


The show seems to be an attempt to mine the "retro goldmine" a la Mad Men. I'm dying to see it, as well as the episode! Unfortunately, we don't get the Starz network, and I don't see the episode online yet. Nevertheless, I'm proud of my friend-- there never really was any doubt AJ would find success after UHA. Of course, he has also caught the acting bug-- even landed a role in an independent film recently. It's nice to hear when good people get a break, and I hope he keeps the "jaaaammm...." going!

Related Links:




"Native lands cable role," Berkshire Eagle, April 6, 2012

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

The Clowe Show!

Thanks to all who tuned into My Exit show last night on WEXT. We were in Schenectady, so we had a chance to listen in to the program on the good old-fashioned stereo. It felt good. Made me hungry for more...


For those who missed it (or loved it so much they want to tune in again), the show will be airing again this Sunday, May 20, at 10 a.m. eastern time. You can listen in at 97.7 WEXT-FM in New York's Capital Region (and outlying areas) or online at exit977.org


In the meantime, here is my playlist and a line from each of the songs, which I love:


Waxing poetic... vinyl is hip again! Photo ©Jeremy Clowe.
All rights reserved.

1. "Dark Is The Night," A-ha: "It's time to break free, we need to celebrate the mystery..." (indeed).


2. "Here Comes The Sun," The Beatles: "Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting... little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear..."


3. "(I Know) I'm Losing You," The Temptations: "Ooh, I can tell when we kiss... from the tenderness I miss... Ooh, little girl I'm losing you..."


4. "A Girl Like You," Edwyn Collins: "You've made me acknowledge the devil in me, I hope to God I'm talking metaphorically, hope that I'm talking allegorically, know that I'm talking 'bout the way I feel..."


5. "Superstitious," Stevie Wonder: "Keep me in a daydream, keep me going strong... you don't want to save me, sad is my song..."


6. "Don't Gotta Work It Out," Fitz & The Tantrums: "I don't know but I've been told... the world outside is oh so cold, late at night when you're along... do you think about me now that I"m gone? When I'm on the road I often dream and think of you, girl... I hope that you do too..."


Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.
7. "Heart In Your Hand," Colwell (Hector on Stilts): "You've got my heart in your hand, Sarah... have you ever felt this before..."


8. "My Eyes," Travis: "Ya ya yay, ya ya yay... you got my eyes... we can't see what you'll be, you can't disguise... and either way I will pray you will be wise... pretty soon you will see tears in my eyes..." (I think this is the sweetest song ever written from a father to his child!)


9. "People C'mon," Delta Spirit: "If you're feeling what I'm feeling c'mon, all you soul-searching people c'mon..."


10. "Girl of the North Country," Bob Dylan: "If you're going when the snowflakes storm, when the rivers freeze and summer ends... please see for me she has a coat so warm, to keep her from the howlin' wind...."


11. "Rebel Rebel," David Bowie: "You like me and I like it all, we like dancing and we look divine... you love bands when they're playing hard, you want more and you want it fast..."


12. "Live Forever," Oasis: "Maybe I will never be all the things that I wanna be... but now is not the time to cry, now's the time to find out why... I think you're the same as me, 
we see things they'll never see, you and I are gonna live forever..." 


Funny how a-ha records keeping popping up when I enter a store... 
Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.


13. "Home," Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros: "We laugh until we think we'll die, barefoot on a summer night, never could be sweeter than with you..."




14. "Hey Ya!" Outkast: "Shake it like a Polaroid picture..."




15. "Analogue," A-ha: "All I want you to know: I love you... all I need is the time to show you..."


Related:


All Over Albany profile


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RBIT has an improv show this Friday, May 18, at the Spectrum Playhouse in Lee, MA...and it's exactly two months until the BIG day! Whoa...

Monday, May 14, 2012

My Music = My Exit

Well, tonight's the night when I take over the airwaves of New York's Capital Region! Tune into WEXT's My Exit show, to hear me host an hour of my favorite music. If you're not in the Albany, NY, area, you can listen online at exit977.org. This really was great fun, and reminded me of how much I loved DJing back in college and during the mid-90s at WBER—maybe I need to look into doing a regular gig again...

Standing in the shadows of Motown... Detroit, 2004.
Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.
As I mentioned yesterday, the website All Over Albany has posted a profile and preview of my show on their website today. It gave me a great opportunity to promote my TV music interviews, and talk about some of the music I will be playing on tonight's My Exit program. 

When asked to describe my taste in music, I responded: "I'm a soul man. I respond to music that is emotionally honest. Classic soul, indie rock, alternative, Britpop, classic rock, reggae, ska, jazz, etc. I'm a big fan of melody, and Sarah is always teasing me for frequently being drawn to melancholic songs. Moreover, I tend to be attracted to songs that deliver a sweeping chorus--these are the moments that usually give me goose bumps, and remind me why music is such an important part of my life."

Rock on!

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