Kevin Hearn has released a stark album called There and Then: Solo Piano Improvisations. 3 distinct rooms, 3 pianos, and 3 days of playing, each only for 3 hours.
No demos. No rehearsal. No real conversation between himself and producer Mark Howard.
Yes. The same Kevin Hearn who was a member of the Corky and the Juice Pigs Band, bandleader for Lou Reed, and a star member of Bare Naked Ladies.
Kevin worked for years with Gord Downie. Right up until Gord was lost to Cancer.
There and Then honors Gord (Among the Stars) and Lou (Lou) and Garth Hudson (The Garth HudsonInstitute) and the basic elements of great music.
The album cover was painted by Gord’s daughter Willo. Lou Video was directed by Mike Downie.
Rather than paint a word picture I’ve decided to let Kevin tell the tale of how all this came to be.
THIS is an album that will become a balm for the World we all live in.
Well done Kevin and Mark.
It’s fair to say Keb Mo is simply one of the most popular choices for anyone’s playlist. An easy pull.
He delivers thoughtfulness, groove, and joy every time.
So imagine my delight in having him Zoom guest from his home in Nashville.
Keb’s new album is Good to be. It reflects the loss of his mother, returning to Compton to remodel and freshen up the home he was brought up in and to reconnect with “the community”. That’s one thing we talk about – I never thought of Compton as a community because everything I read and heard only referenced the toughness of the streets and what could be a hard life. (NWA!!)
Keb references and hangs with The Compton Cowboys.. real-life people. Legends in Compton history. (Check out the video below)
Speaking of video – You can see the Zoom Interview on the Terry David Mulligan YouTube Channel! His smiles and laughs make the session come alive.
Keb also talks strongly about his thoughts on Black History Month, working with Vince Gill, Old Crow Medicine Show, covering his friend Bill Withers, etc.
He answers the last question straight up – Did you find the blues or did the blues find you?
The complete audio and zoom interview drops right after The Stew. Details at www.mulliganstew.ca
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.
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.
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.
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 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
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 Gaswill 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.
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.
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!
Kevin Hearn has released a stark album called There and Then: Solo Piano Improvisations. 3 distinct rooms, 3 pianos, and 3 days of playing, each only for 3 hours.
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.
