Pop Life
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
The current film “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” is about a period in the life of “Mother of the Blues” Ma Rainey, one of the earliest professional blues singers, and one of the first of her generation to record her songs. Rainey began her career as a teenager performing in minstrel shows, and became known as “Ma” after […]
Batteries Not Included
The Tape Project
As we enter February, with the pandemic still going on, I can’t help but think about things from one year ago. I was looking about booking a room in Greensboro, North Carolina where I would be performing in March with Blue Plate Special at a comedy festival. We also had another festival coming up in […]
Pop Life
Hillbilly Elegy
Hello friends, this week I am discussing the current film “Hillbilly Elegy” starring Glenn Close. The film is based on the memoir of J.D. Vance, a man from Kentucky whose book explores three generations of an Appalachian family and their search for the American Dream. The film is directed by Ron Howard and stars Owen […]
Batteries Not Included
The Zen of Legos
At the end of 2019 into the early, once hopeful, days of 2020, I was given two Lego sets. One was a ‘60s Volkswagen bus, the other the same company’s classic Beetle design. It was the first time in years I had ever put together a lego set. I loved it! It was great fun […]
Pop Life
Wonder Woman 1984
As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for. Wishes play a huge role in the new film “Wonder Woman 1984” which features our favorite Amazon warrior in a new adventure from director Patty Jenkins. The film is a sequel to the 2017 hit, and advances to the year 1984 where the immortal Diana […]
Batteries Not Included
Rolling Thunder Revue
In 1975, Bob Dylan assembled a group of troubadours and embarked on the somewhat ambitious and unusual “Rolling Thunder Revue.” A two-leg, fifty-seven date tour that took place in smaller venues than the typical stadium tours that were becoming commonplace. The tour was filmed and became the focus for a fictional movie, 1978’s “Renaldo & […]
Pop Life
Voices of Fire
If you need something to lift up your spirits, I recommend the Netflix series “Voice of Fire”. The documentary series follows pop star Pharrell Williams (“Happy”) and his uncle Bishop Ezekiel Williams and their efforts to bring together a diverse group of excellent singers to be part of a world class gospel choir. The Bishop’s […]
Batteries Not Included
So Long, 2020
Look. You know how you’re feeling. You’re feeling like I am feeling. You’re tired, exhausted, worn out. You know that intellectually the close of 2020 doesn’t mean the magical end of the pandemic. You know that you feel foolish that back in March you thought that we would all do the right thing and be […]
