Mulligan Stew Podcast

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.

EP 184 | Stevie Van Zandt pt2

November 27, 2021 Mulligan Stew Podcast

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Who, what and when was the “Big Bang” of Popular music?

Who changed rock into an  “art form” in 1965 and with what song?

What songs did Steve suggest to close the Sopranos?

How much did Sopranos change his life?

What does Steve consider the world’s “universal music” and who is the star of that music?

All those opinions and lots more from Steve van Zandt are included in his new autobiography Unrequited Infatuations.

It’s a great read.

We all know about growing up pals with Bruce Springsteen and forming the E Street Band but this book reveals all of the other stories and events that shaped not only his life but in no small part the history of the World. (Think of  his single  Sun City and the dismantling of Apartheid government in South Africa and the release of Nelson Mandela)

Steve van Zandt is in the Rock Hall of Fame. Frankly, he’s a human Rock Hall.

He’s an actor and an activist, a musician, and a mentor. He’s Miami Steve van Zandt and this is his story Part two

EP 183 | Stevie Van Zandt pt1

November 20, 2021 Mulligan Stew Podcast

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Little Steven

Miami Steve Van Zandt

Silvio Dante (Sopranos)

Frankie The Fixer Tagliano (Lilyhammer)

Steve is every one of those guys and a lot more.

He turns 71 on Nov 22nd and celebrates the release of his new autobiography Unrequited  Infatuations.

Steve and Bruce Springsteen found each other because they both really weren’t interested in going to school but both did have guitars and a keen sense that that was the road they wanted to walk. Steve played in  Steel Mill and the Bruce Springsteen Band. It all came together when he became a permanent member of The E Street band in 1975 just in time for The Born to Run album and tour. From musician and performer, he became a songwriter, arranger, producer, actor, director, Broadway producer, TV and film composer, activist, teacher, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ( now is very much a part of the committee that decides future nominees). Last but not least, he’s one of the World’s most knowledgeable authorities on the history of rock and roll. He also created two radio shows that became singular channels on Sirius – Little Steven’s Underground Garage and Outlaw Country.

He formed his own label Wicked Cool Records. Stevie also leads his large solo band The Disciples of Soul

Perhaps his finest moment?  In 1985 he forms United Artists Against Apartheid and released Sun City a song protesting the Apartheid system in the South African resort Sun City. Over 50 artists were involved. It leads to the removal of Apartheid and the release from the jail of Nelson Mandela.

Here’s a link to all of these events and a staggering list of all the others.  It makes you instantly want to read the story of his life. That’s what Unrequited Infatuations is all about.

www.littlesteven.com/bio

This is part one of our conversation.  We start with the early roots of rock and roll and the beginnings of  Bruce and The E Street Band. What happened to the sounds of rock records in the ’70s and why after leaving Bruce’s E Street Band his first thought was  “I thought my life was OVER”

Read the book – you’ll realize his life  had just begun. Enjoy!

Part Two next Week

EP 182 | Dan Mangan-All Together Now

November 13, 2021 Mulligan Stew Podcast

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I did my first interview with Dan Mangan years ago on a hot and dusty day at the Calgary Folk Festival. Had never met him or heard him perform.

He was one of half a dozen interviews I was scheduled to do.  I started with the lame opening of…

Please tell our at-home audience your real name.

“I’m Dan.  Dan MAN-GAN”

I was hooked. My kind of guy.

Dan Mangan

Many years later,  The Dusty Dan of the folk festival has become a winner of 2 Juno Awards.  Each tour has gathered more and more fans around the World.

EP’s, albums, tours, festivals, film scoring, co-creating Side Door Access, and full-on family guy.

Now comes the latest project! A beautifully crafted concert documentary by Amazing Factory called, All Together Now, recorded at his homecoming concert in 2019 at the Vogue Theatre in Vancouver.

It’s unlike any other concert film you might have seen. There’s a sense of truth, honesty, and clarity in every song. Pure MAN-GAN.

And best of all   I still see “the guy” behind the songs. Dusty Dan.

EP 181 | Colin James

November 5, 2021 Mulligan Stew Podcast

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November 5th Colin James releases his 20th studio album Open Road.

Colin found a way to write and record music during the Covid 19 Pandemic.

Gather your music friends and create.

Colin co-wrote and made music with pals Tom Wilson (Toronto) & Colin Linden (Nashville) Both are members of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings and Craig Northey (Vancouver) From Odds.

He also reimagined covers of songs by Bob Dylan, Albert King, Tony Joe White, and Otis Rush.

Colin is a road warrior. The road is his second home.

He’s back on it right now on Vancouver Island and then works his way through to double dates in Alberta. March finds him opening for Buddy Guy in the USA and playing on Austin City Limits.

 Check out the Zoom Interview here!

This is the complete interview  – with four tracks from Open Road.

Tour dates found here:

https://colinjames.com/tour/