Mulligan Stew Podcast

EP 194 | Shawn Hall: Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer live at the King Eddy

February 12, 2022 Mulligan Stew Podcast

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Carefully assembled from the most powerful performances of a three-night residency at Calgary’s historically iconic blues mecca, the King Edward Hotel, between February 15th and 17th, 2019, Live at the King Eddy arrives as the latest installment of an already storied career that has to date produced six stunning studio releases. Following the independently released, raw folk and country-blues excursions of 2007’s The Blues Can Kill and the following year’s eponymous album, vocalist and harmonicist Shawn Hall – the Harpoonist – and guitarist Matt Rodgers – the Axe Murderer – truly hit their stride and found their sound on 2012’s Checkered Past.

Now. Three years after capturing these live recordings on The Stones Mobile, Harp and Axe release the finished product. Live at The King Eddy.

It’s a pumped and beautifully greasy set. Slick and unhinged at the same time.

Here’s a conversation with Shawn Hall – The Harp. We’ve showcased 5 tracks for you.

  • Mama’s in the back seat
  • Cry a Little
  • Roll with the punches
  • Sarah
  • Treat me kind

 

EP 193 | Sarah McLachlan – 1988 & 1992

February 5, 2022 Mulligan Stew Podcast

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Not all the interviews we present on the Stew Podcast are brand new.

I’ve been at this interview thing since 1964 so there are always the possibilities of archival interviews.

Many are tied up in legal issues. Some were never kept or lost to time.

However, occasionally they just get “discovered”

The Sarah McLachlan interviews we present this week are the discovered type.

The first was in 1988. Sarah with her late 80’s Halifax Hair. Me,  holding her new album on Solace on cassette.

Then a large jump to 1992.

The year before Sarah had released Solace and was touring hard,  working on the songs for ‘93’s  Fumbling towards Ecstasy.

Everything changed right there. She had the songs, the voice, and the drive to become – what she became – a 40 Million album selling, Lilith Faire producing, and Grammy/Juno winning music star.

Sarah and I would later tour Thailand and Cambodia for World Vision. That’s another interview.

Two moments in time on the Mulligan Stew Podcast.

HELLO Sarah

EP 192 | Billy Joel 1988

January 28, 2022 Mulligan Stew Podcast

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Two Words – Billy Joel.

One of the very few singing piano players who transcend the law of popular music.  There’s Elton John, Harry Connick, Leon Russell, Randy Newman, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Fats Domino etc.

Billy grew up on Long Island..in the shadow of NYC.

Determined to play piano and write songs Billy paid his dues in a Hollywood Bar. The kind where no one in the room was listening.

He has become a legend and a world star. Songwriter &  Rock and Roll Halls of Fame. Grammy winner. Kennedy Centre Honours.  This interview was done around 1998 or 1989..following the release of his album Storm Front. Produced by Mick  Jones of Foreigner.

There’s a good segment on Billy’s songwriting PROCESS…IT’S DREAMS EMBEDDED IN SLEEP.

EP 191 | Chief Clarence Louie ‘Rez Rules’

January 14, 2022 Mulligan Stew Podcast

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Here’s what you might know about Chief Clarence…

CLARENCE LOUIE has been chief of the Osoyoos Indian Band, in the south Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, for almost 40 years. In 2013, Maclean’s named him one of the “Top 50 Canadians to Watch.” In 2003, Louie was chosen by the U.S. Department of State as one of six First Nations leaders to review economic development in American Indian communities… He is a member of the Order of British Columbia, the Order of Canada, and in 2019, he was the 1st  First Nations person ever inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame.

And some info you may not know.

When you talk to  Chief Clarence, ask your question, and then Get Out of The Way.

He’s talking about Respect. Truth. Reconciliation. Healing. Wellness. Land. Justice. Economic Freedom.

He believes in Native names for Sports Teams. He believes in renaming mountains, parks, rivers and cities/towns after the original nations who called it home for 10,000 years.

“tribes have been hanging around the Funding Trough for far too long.  I was taught by the old-timers that there is no such thing as a free lunch – Indians gotta stop looking for that free lunch. I’ve learned we have to move from spending Grant money to making our own money.”

The Osoyoos Indian Band leases include Arterra (Jackson Triggs), Spirit Ridge Resort, Sonora Dunes Golf course, District Wine Village, a provincial prison, 1,100 acres of prime vineyards, etc.

OIB businesses include a 300-acre vineyard, Nk’mip Cellars, a culture center, campground RV park, daycare, gas stations, cannabis stores, etc.


“A raw and honest perspective on First Nations leadership.”
—Manley A. Begay, Jr., former co-director, The Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development.

“A common-sense blueprint for what the future of First Nations should look like as told through the fascinating life and legacy of a remarkable leader”  Google Books

EP 190 | Brent Butt

January 7, 2022 Mulligan Stew Podcast

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Hey kids. What’s the secret of great comedy?   TIMING.

Just as we were starting to post our latest podcast, this weeks  guest Brent Butt posted this message:

Sorry for the Butt Bummer.

However, we have some great news. Brent Butt, star of Corner Gas will still be the special guest of the MulliganStew Podcast.

After all, this is the comedian, writer, actor who created small town funny for 6 years with Corner Gas.  Then the movie and finally the animated version. Brent’s fans stick to him like super glue.

Please Enjoy this audio and video visit from the man himself., Brent Butt.

Click the YouTube tab at the top of the page and you’re magically transported into Brent’s garage.

EP 189 | Rick Mercer ‘Talking To Canadians’

December 30, 2021 Mulligan Stew Podcast

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Canada is famous for its hockey and hockey stars.

Singers and Songwriters?  Yup!

Sometimes lost in the debate is one of our greatest resources,   “Funny”.

We do funny as well as anyone.

Dan Aykroyd. Martin Short. Andrea Martin,  John Candy. The people of Schitt’s Creek, Second City,  Kids in the Hall, Norm MacDonald, Samantha Bee, Jim Carrey, Lorne Michaels to name just a few. That’s not even counting the writers, directors, and producers who do funny,  under the radar.

They all went South to work and became stars in the US.  Go for “The Show”

Rick Mercer, our guest this week has created an astounding career and profile.  Rick achieved fame making Canadians laugh. At themselves! Rick stayed in Canada and mined comedy gold. He has released his very personal memoir, Rick Mercer.  Talking to Canadians.

It’s funny, clever, and revealing from cover to cover.

He first came to fame with Show Me the Button I’ll Push It, or Charles Lynch Must Die, a one-man show that toured across Canada. He co-created and was a resident performer on CBC’s This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and was the host of The Rick Mercer Report, CBC’s highest-rated comedy show, for fifteen seasons. Rick is co-chair of the Spread the Net campaign, dedicated to preventing the spread of Malaria in Africa, and has also campaigned for the Canadian AIDS Society’s The Walk for Life project. His many honours include 21 Geminis and the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award. He is from St. John’s and currently resides in Toronto.

He shaved and cleaned up for this interview.

 

EP 188 | Joey Landreth ‘All That You Dream’

December 25, 2021 Mulligan Stew Podcast

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The very first time I heard The Bros Landreth my heart jumped “those boys were raised on Little Feat (One of the very best bands to ever step onto a stage. Anywhere)

They were led by the late Lowell George. Lead singer, primary writer, singular guitarist.

When I got to interview Joey and brother David, they spun a story of growing up in Winnipeg. Their father was a well-known working musician and the house was filled with Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Poco records but the most popular were the early 70’s albums by Little Feat. (Little Feat. Sailin’ Shoes. Dixie Chicken. Feats don’t fail me now)

It was a true musical education.

This all leads us to this Podcast featuring Joey Landreth and his new solo album All that you dream.

It’s a tribute to Lowell George and Little Feat. A “thank you” if you will.

Turns out, we’re the ones who should be saying thank you. It’s a beautiful table full of the Little Feat Dixie Chicken. One generation saluting another.

The Bros are headed back to Europe for tour dates (listed here)

Remarkably they are even bigger stars in Europe than here but that imbalance will surely change this year when this killer solo album is joined by the next Bros Landreth album, in the Spring!

Note:  check out Joey in episode #52

EP 187 | Benjamin Cleary Writer, Director ‘Swan Song’

December 18, 2021 Mulligan Stew Podcast

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In the recently released film Swan Song,  Oscar winner  Mahershala Ali plays Cameron, an illustrator involved in a happy marriage,   father of one with another on the way.  He’s also terminally ill. This being the future, a medical procedure exists which allows Cameron to be cloned and have his memories and DNA  implanted in the clone. The clone then returns to Cameron’s wife Naomie Harris and family, so that they don’t have to deal with the grief of losing him.

In his first leading role, Mahershala Ali takes on a demanding role. Playing both  Cameron and his clone. Taking the stereotypical double role, he shaped it with such an amazing level of sensitivity and genuine craft, that he matched his work in his Oscar-winning Moonlight and The Green Book roles. He’ll very likely be in the middle of the Critics Choice and Oscar races yet again.

Swan Song also stars Glenn Close, Adam Beach, Awkwafina and is written for the screen and directed by our guest this week  Academy Award winner Benjamin Cleary

 

EP 186 | Eric Wright – The Fretless

December 10, 2021 Mulligan Stew Podcast

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Eric Wright, a founding member of the Juno winning The Fretless,  is the guest. Their latest album is called Open House.

The Fretless is Trent Freeman (Fiddle/Viola), Karrnnel Sawitsky (Fiddle/Viola), BenPlotnick(Fiddle/Viola), and Eric Wright (Cello).

Open House is a 10 song vocal collaboration album and the first project that The Fretless feature vocals on all the tracks and in such a prominent role.  They teamed up with Dan Mangan for a spin on his single “Troubled Mind“. Up next was Celeigh Cardinal featured on a version of William Prince’s “Earthly Days“, Nuela Charles on a gorgeous rendition of “Stay“. And most recently The Bros. Landreth on a version of their song “Let It Lie”  and 6 more artists.

Outreach and inspiring the next generation of string players is very much a part of The Fretless ’ethos. They continue to support numerous fiddle camps, masterclass’ and workshops around the world, not only as instructors but as mentors. Over the past few years, they have connected with notable organizations such as the Calgary Youth Orchestra and the Luxembourg Youth Orchestra, creating and performing full orchestral arrangements of Fretless tunes.

Eric says the Fretless are modern folk. To the ear, they sound like a rock band with violins, violas, and Eric on cello.  They happily share their creative space with other artists.

I’ve chosen four to talk about and play

  • Dan Mangan – Troubled Mind
  • Celeigh Cardinal – Earthly Days
  • Nuela Charles  – Stay
  • The Bros Landreth – Let it lie

EP 185 | Shawn Edwards

December 3, 2021 Mulligan Stew Podcast

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The Critics Choice Association will present the annual Celebration of Black Cinema & Television on Monday, Dec 6 at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel LA.

Since 2014, the Celebration of Black Cinema has honored standout achievements in Black filmmaking.

This year, for the first time, the awards ceremony will also celebrate achievements in television.

Our guest, as in the past 3 years,  is Shawn Edwards, Executive Producer. He’s based in Kansas City.

I rode the movie junket buses with Shawn for many years – to and from screenings and after-parties.

Shawn was always talking about this dream he had.  To celebrate Black filmmaking and cinema.

As the world around us changed (BLM) the celebration changed from fantasy to fact.

And here we are Year Four.  Honorees include:

Halle Berry, Anthony Anderson, Barry Jenkins, Jennifer Hudson, Antoine Fuqua

Plus Will Smith, Ruth Negga, and many more.

The broadcast can be seen on KTLA-TV Los Angeles (which is available on many cable providers across Canada)

#criticschoice #celebrateblackcinema

The Critics Choice Association is the largest critics organization in the United States and Canada, representing almost 500 media critics and entertainment journalists. It was established in 2019 with the formal merger of the Broadcast Film Critics Association and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association, recognizing the intersection between film, television, and streaming content. For more information, visit: www.CriticsChoice.com.