Dispatch and Imagination Theater

Dispatch and Imagination Theater

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Rick with the stick

Dispatch on Livestream, 08-23-2012

My concert/chat was early today, [3 pm EDT].  Dispatch was on Livestream [http://new.livestream.com/home] talking and playing.  Simply wonderful!  The trio are great musicians and very personable.  They played some excellent songs, discussed fans, social causes, personal growth and funny stories.  This was a real treat for people like myself who have never had the pleasure of meeting the group.  I have enjoyed their music.  I was introduced to the infectious pop/rock/folk trio by noisetrade and then purchased product culminating in their latest release. “Circle Around The Sun”.

ImaginationTheater-ListenNow

This evening, I tuned in a favorite radio drama series from Seattle, Imagination Theater [http://jimfrenchproductions.com/zc137m/index.php?main_page=page&id=2&chapter=0].  It features different series of contemporary radio plays in 30-60 minute episodes.  My favorites are The further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” and “The Adventures of Harry Nile”, but I enjoy many of the others especially the single story “Movies for Your Mind”.  Tonight was an episode of the western series, “Powder River”, a “Gunsmoke”-like adventure/drama which I also quite enjoy.  I’m sure I’ll write about Imagination Theater again and again, but right now I’m very weary.  3 weeks to go on the extreme stage of the diet.  We are out of the projected path of the hurricane says the weatherman, so I should be posting again whether or not anybody is reading.

  

Elephantgun

I saw Elephantgun at the unfortunate Treasure Coast Music Festival in Vero Beach, Florida, but they are a Melbourne, Florida ensemble.  Don't get me wrong.  Seeing Elephantgun was very fortunate.  Hearing them even more so.  They were playing on the North stage where people passed by from the entrance, pavilion or venders and while few stayed I think mostly for fear of impending weather or wishing to be elsewhere, it was amazing to see everyone stop and stare and listen.  These guys are truly fantastic!  While the flamboyant playing of bassist David Pastorius is often the attention grabber (follow the link to hear, but he really is a marvel to watch), Tom Van Dyke is no slouch on the drums nor does guitarist/vocalist Trevor Prince fail to enthrall.  Trevor is a powerful and intricate guitarist which is a striking contrast to his irreverent humor and casual presence as the groups frontman.  His vocal style is a gravelly alternative texture with a quick, concise hip-hop/rap style.  Don't be misled, though, this is definitely a solid rock trio.  They are contemporary but tip their hats in homage to some classic covers like CCR and Fleetwood Mac also.  The style is not similar I think, but I could not help but compare three such phenomenal musicians with Emerson, Lake and Palmer.  Just my age, I suppose, but to say I was impressed was an understatement.  I highly recommend, seeing, hearing and know this band as well as you are able.

Elephantgun

Imagination Theater

Miss old-time radio;  mysteries, fantasies, suspense, westerns-the drama imagination and excitement?  I did.  And old-time radio is entertaining, but there are a limited number of shows preserved and I'm often subjected to the same shows and sometimes I like something new.  Enter Jim French's "Imagination Theater" with its "movies for your mind".

I listen every Thursday to the Seattle-based production over the internet and often in between on the collection cds available at the above website.  Some of the voices might even sound familiar. Jim French has been in radio since 1943, long before Imagination Theater was started in 1972 and syndicated in 1996. Other regulars like Larry Albert are long-time veterens of airwaves and footlights and guests like John Astin, Eddie Bracken, Hans Conreid, Bob Crane, Patty Duke, Russell Johnson (the Professor on Gilligan's Island), Kurt Kasznar, Ruta Lee, Roddy MacDowall, Richard Sanders (of WKRP in Cincinatti), Tom Smothers, and Keenan Wynn might sound familiar.
   The shows vary not just week to week but often 2 shows per 1 hour episode.   My personal favorites are "The Adventures of Harry Nile", "like the river" to quote that classic hard-boiled private eye and the non-recurring stand-alone shows.  Tonight was a "Powder River" episode, though (I listened to the archive tonight.).  That's a western drama in the vein of "Gunsmoke" and I enjoyed it.  Another favorite is "The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes".  I strongly recommend this show!

Noisetrade - Fair Trade Music

"What does it cost?"  "Whaddaya got?"  Noisetrade is a great place for music listeners and independent musicians.  The former is delighted to find diverse and wondrous music sold as listen first then pay what you think is fair.  All that is required is your e-mail addy and your zip code.  I often find a new artist there and then buy other product they choose to sell elsewhere.  The latter gains exposure, a test market and though I doubt anyone gets rich I bet one can do alright.  This is an outlet for music to be honest and not cajole the fickle sensibilities of us mass-market types (peasants!). 
My latest treasure finds were Ivan & Alyosha's Fathers Be Kind and Molly Parden's Le Premier.  Wow!  Fortunately, I can listen now and tip later because as a disabled, fixed income listener,  I fall in a category like to many others who tip, not what a things worth, but what we can afford.  That these talented people are offering their music makes me wish I could afford so much more.

Donnacha Dennehy, 'Grá Agus Bás'

When I read the review for Donnacha Dennehy's, 'Grá Agus Bás' I thought, "This sounds promising."  After listening I thought, "This sounds like crap."  To be fair, it is much louder than crap which generally just lies around being crappy.  I guess it is artistic expression and has its audience, but I'm not it.  When I started listening I couldn't decide if it was being chanted in indigenous American or some middle eastern dialect.  Perhaps culturally meaningful in some way, but not aesthetically pleasing to western ears.  Melody seemed a foreign concept and meaning seemed obscure.  Perhaps I didn't understand but certainly I did not wish to.  When I hear a disturbing noise, I may seek its source and meaning, but if I fail to do so and it merely continues to be annoying, I seek only to stop it, or, at least, stop listening to it.  The All Songs Considered reviewer might rejoice that it is not the stereotypical example that the term 'Irish Music' brings to one's mind.  I despair of it.  This is an example of what I was discussing previously.  Being different for difference's sake is no virtue.  Sins can be different also.