This is my conversation with Valient Himself of Valient Thorr, one of my favorite bands to see live. Valient Thorr blew me away a few years ago when I was living in Minnesota and I found it very synchronous to return to RVA and find Valient Himself lurking around here driving a cab for Napoleon. He’s also got a newer band called Brief Lives who are playing with RPG at Hardywood August 1st. so check that out.  He generously gave me an hour between a shitload of other engagements, so we could talk about Norman Lear and Comic Books, dig it.

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Sean McClain has been around here for decades doing his thing from Chrome Daddy Disco to Bandito’s, to Chrome Daddy Disco at Bandito’s. He’s a guy I never took the time to talk to partly because he’s a guy and I’m not in to guys (shh) and partly because he’s a mod and I was something else. But after a nice afternoon of bro-ing down on being men of a certain age, who like women of a certain age, I realized I’ve been missing out on a helluva guy who has done more than his fair share to contribute to the life and lives of this town. I’m sure you’ll feel the same.

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This is my chat with Ellie Quinn burlesque performer, writer, producer and champion. We had a great time digging into the many facets of an Ellie Quinn production and I always welcome the chance to make boobies highbrow. Enjoy. There is something wrong with the sound but you won’t notice it after a while, I hope. That’s what I get for trying to upgrade.

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Rashad is a former member of Strike the Chord and Burn and a current member of Ex Knives, at least that’s what he was calling his new project when we talked several months ago. This talk has been in the can for a while as I was in a slump and didn’t give shit about putting anything out there, so, it may be a little stale or it may be a little timeless. Who knows? You be the judge. I always thought Rashad was an interesting character but this was the first time I’ve ever had any kind of conversation with him. Church Hill kid meets Charles City Kid. Ramble On.

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Dana Walters old friend and Director of Project Yoga Richmond. I have known here for years although we lost touch for about 15 of them. I have recently struck up a new grown-up friendship with Dana and was excited to learn she is involved in Yoga which I both legitimately dig and use as my whole shtick but often fall out of practicing. Since this chat I’ve gotten back into it so, Om, kids and don’t forget to breathe.

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Emily Skinner is a Richmond, Virginia, Church Hill girl I grew up with but haven’t seen in 30 years. She was in town for a production of Mame and stayed in the old neighborhood for a spell. We get together to catch up and talk about the changing face of Church Hill and Richmond as well as the changes time brings to all of us. I don’t know a lot about musical theater but I know she’s good at it and has always had that thing it takes ever since we were kids. So much so I that I don’t think I ever really knew her as more than a sort of performing arts kid. So, we rectify that quite a bit and have 30 years to catch-up on. Enjoy. Oh special paranoid rant to kick of the episode!

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Chrissie Griffith is a musician, a member of the Talking Heads tribute band Fear of Music and member of the band Lady God. I saw both bands not long ago and wanted to know more about this lady and wherefrom springs her music and style. She highlighted for me the limits of my literacy in local music and rather than feeling dumb I am glad to realize this little town has a music scene that is increasingly difficult to easily know. Cool chat. Enjoy sample of LG at the end.

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Hey this is part two of my conversation with DL Hopkins. I already said what I had to say in the last blurb so ya know refer back to that one. This is part two so listen to part one, or don’t I think it works either way.

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DL is a local actor whom I first became aware about a year ago as a member of the cast of the David Mamet play Race. I was unsettled by that play and impressed by him at the time. Later when I had Iman Shabazz on the podcast he mentioned DL as part of the Jazz Acting School and I made a mental note. But it was an encounter on Facebook over a New Yorker cartoon that ultimately brought DL to the dining room studio on Cedar St. We have a record breaking Tantric Conversation which will be presented in two 90 minute segments. It was a cathartic chat for me, heavy, funny and inspiring.IIt ends pretty abruptly at the 1hr 38 so stay tuned for part two.

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Erik was in one of my all time favorite Richmond bands, Dragstrip Syndicate. Now he’s an ex-expatriate who lives in North Carolina and fronts the band Demon Eye. I have always dug the guy and I dig him further after this conversation. We’re doing the laconic thing with the text so just press play or download below or git it on iTunes.  “Nuff Said!

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