See Hear Podcast Episode 92 - Interview with Tom Surgal, director of "Fire Music: The Story of Free Jazz"

 

Change is difficult. Some embrace it, some resist it. It might seem obvious, but change is inevitable.

Welcome to episode 92 of See Hear Podcast.

Jazz is an art form that never remained stagnant. Through creativity or financial necessity, post-war jazz moved from the big swing orchestras to smaller ensembles and bebop became the dominant form. In the late 50s, some jazz musicians decided that, as exciting as bebop was, they wanted to take jazz music in a different direction with band members not having to rely on a structure – neither rhythmically, melodically, or tonally. Avant garde jazz had its champions over the years including people like Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, Cecil Taylor, Carla Bley, Albert Ayler and Sun Ra amongst many others.

Bernie and I speak with drummer and film director Tom Surgal about his great new documentary “Fire Music: The Story of Free Jazz”. His documentary tells the story of how this music was developed and supported over the years. The music had many detractors – music venue owners, jazz publications, and saddest of all, other jazz musicians – those who were afraid of the music's evolution. Given that there appears to be no attempt to put free jazz into its perspective on film (and we speak about who is possibly responsible for that).

Tom was a fantastic conversationalist and we spoke about his own performance background, how musicians took on a DIY attitude when the mainstream rejected them (and probably influenced punk years later), how free jazz musicians formed collectives, angry sounding music being full of love, civil rights, and the music's ongoing legacy. Also, Tom tells a story about Charlie Parker and Miles Davis that would probably find a happy home on Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast.

Our huge thanks to Tom for being such a wonderful guest and to Lin Culbertson (who scored the film) for organising the chat.

You can go to the website https://www.firemusic.org/ for all information about screenings and to keep an eye out for the streaming and physical media release.

If you’ve been enjoying the show, please consider giving us a favourable review on iTunes and let your friends know that our show exists. If you don't enjoy the show, tell your adversaries to tune in. We don't care who listens.....

See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at http://pantheonpodcasts.com.

Send us feedback via email at seehearpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Facebook group at http://facebook.com/groups/seehearpodcast

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You can download the show by searching for See Hear on whatever podcast app you favour.

Download episode 92 from here.

See Hear Podcast Episode 91 - Interview with Scott Barber, director of "This Is Gwar"

 

What happened to heavy metal in the eighties? It bred Dokken, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, W.A.S.P., Motley Crue and many other hair metal bands. Meanwhile in Richmond ,Virginia, an art student and punk musician connected while part of an art collective to form a metal band that combined theatre, chops, a sense of humour, and plenty of bodily fluids.

Welcome to episode 91 of See Hear Podcast.

Scott Barber is the director of a wonderful documentary about Gwar, a band that had liked to blend social satire with heavy music. They invented themselves as creatures from another planet that had been dumped on Earth with the express purpose of destroying all humankind....or at least its political leaders. A Gwar concert experience will include costumes, stage props, bodily secretions sprayed on its audience, decapitations, and as much taking the piss as spraying the piss. For all of the cartoonish elements the band may have to the casual observer, this film tells the story of a band of brothers and sisters – musicians and artists – who looked after each other and cared deeply for each other, even to the point of protecting each other from possible death.

….and one would think that the law enforcement community had learned something from the debacle with Jim Morrison in Florida.....all hail the cuttlefish of Cthulu.

Bernard was absent for this episode, but Tim and I are joined by friend and Gwar super-fan, Jason Skitch to talk about the film with Scott from all its humour to its very dangerous moments. Gwar owe as much to vaudeville, and the boundary pushing of Lenny Bruce as it does to science fiction novels and heavy metal bands of previous years – yet they're definitely their own thing. It was a privilege to speak with Scott about how he captured a career of over 35 years in a 2 hour film. Tim and I also offer many thanks to Jason for stepping in at the last minute to join us.

If you’ve been enjoying the show, please consider giving us a favourable review on iTunes and let your friends know that our show exists. If you don't enjoy the show, tell your adversaries to tune in. We don't care who listens.....

See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at http://pantheonpodcasts.com.

Send us feedback via email at seehearpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Facebook group at http://facebook.com/groups/seehearpodcast

Check out the Instagram page at www.instagram.com/seehearpodcast/?hl=en

You can download the show by searching for See Hear on whatever podcast app you favour.

Download episode 91 from here.

See Hear Podcast Episode 90 - Breaking Glass

 

Music must change. It always has and always will. The common story (probably part truth and myth) is that punk emerged in the UK as a reaction to the so-called “dinosaur” bands...the ones that had been around for a whole 10 or so years (we'd laugh at that notion now....). Bands that were bloated on their success and measured that success on excess...the supposed antithesis of the early days of popular music. Punk burned brightly, but quickly gave way to the “new wave” of British bands. A large umbrella for many bands who often had little in common.

Welcome to episode 90 of See Hear Podcast.

Tim is absent for this episode for the most wonderful reason...he's getting married on Halloween to his fiance' Maria (Bernie and I love you both). We invited long time friend and host of The Projection Booth, Mike White, to help round out the trio. Mike selected this month's film, Breaking Glass released in 1980. Starring Hazel O' Connor, it's set in Thatcher's England and tells the story of a singer who just wants her music to be heard. At that time, artists of the British new wave were exploding (not in the Spinal Taps' drummers sense...) in popularity. O' Connor plays Kate who is part of this musical dawn, but has to fight crooked music publishers, radio station apathy, the National Front and eventually, her own success. It's an oft repeated story, yet still has a vitality set in this musical and historically troubled period.

The film is available on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR5BXDqO_CQ

Our gratitude goes out to Mike for joining us again. You can (and really should) subscribe to The Projection Booth wherever you download your shows or at the website https://www.projectionboothpodcast.com/

If you’ve been enjoying the show, please consider giving us a favourable review on iTunes and let your friends know that our show exists. If you don't enjoy the show, tell your adversaries to tune in. We don't care who listens.....

See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at http://pantheonpodcasts.com.

Send us feedback via email at seehearpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Facebook group at http://facebook.com/groups/seehearpodcast

Check out the Instagram page at www.instagram.com/seehearpodcast/?hl=en

You can download the show by searching for See Hear on whatever podcast app you favour.

Download episode 90 from here.

See Hear Podcast Episode 89 - Rock & Rule

 

Say you're in a band, and you're struggling to get your songs performed because the self-appointed leader is a narcissistic arsehole. Then along comes an aging mega rock star who offers you a gig to sing for him so he can summon a demon from another dimension...

It's a common showbiz tale....

Welcome to episode 89 of See Hear.

Tim, Bernie and Maurice sit at the virtual round table to talk about the 1983 animated feature Rock & Rule developed by Canadian animation house, Nelvana (later known for The Care Bears Movie). The film is set in a dystopian future where earth's occupants are animals mutated into humans (because ya know....anthropomorphic animals in cartoons....) The one thing that hasn't changed is that band in fighting still exists and aging rock stars still have massive egos.

The gents talk about the history of Nelvana, Faustian tales (of which this isn't quite one), King Features, animation for adults vs animation for kids, major studio interference, and the soundtrack of this film featuring Cheap Trick, Debbie Harry, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and Earth Wind and Fire.

What did they think? Tune in and find out.

The film is available to watch in it's entirety on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knENwlh0FFA.

If you’ve been enjoying the show, please consider giving us a favourable review on iTunes and let your friends know that our show exists. If you don't enjoy the show, tell your adversaries to tune in. We don't care who listens.....

See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at http://pantheonpodcasts.com.

Send us feedback via email at seehearpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Facebook group at http://facebook.com/groups/seehearpodcast

Check out the Instagram page at www.instagram.com/seehearpodcast/?hl=en

You can download the show by searching for See Hear on whatever podcast app you favour.

Download episode 89 from here.

See Hear Podcast Episode 88 – Songwriter

 

So, let's say you're a working songwriter and musician. Life is hard enough as it is (and we're talking pre-Covid) without a couple of divorces, management of a singer with an inferiority complex, keeping an agent inline who's trying to cheat you, and a publisher is HAS cheated you to worry about.

Unless you're Doc Jenkins.....

Welcome to episode 88 of See Hear.

Bernie, Tim and Maurice gather around to talk about the 1984 film Songwriter starring Willie Nelson (as Doc Jenkins) and Kris Kristofferson (as Blackie Buck). The film looks at the day to day issues of a pair of country singers from Texas who aspire to stardom, but not before the industry takes ITS cut. They decide the industry can just stop cheating them out of their due, and they take some fun steps towards that.

The See Hear crew have some fun talking about the music and filmography of these giants of country music as well as the film and its songs. What did they think? Tune in and find out.

To follow along, you can watch the film on Tubi (but will need a VPN outside of the US). Sssshhhh......

If you’ve been enjoying the show, please consider giving us a favourable review on iTunes and let your friends know that our show exists. If you don't enjoy the show, tell your adversaries to tune in. We don't care who listens.....

See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at http://pantheonpodcasts.com. The list of new shows is always increasing.

Send us feedback via email at seehearpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Facebook group at http://facebook.com/groups/seehearpodcast

Check out the Instagram page at www.instagram.com/seehearpodcast/?hl=en

You can download the show by searching for See Hear on whatever podcast app you favour.

Download episode 88 from here.

See Hear Podcast Episode 87 - Interview with Scott Crawford, director of "Creem: America's Only Rock 'n' Roll Magazine"

 

With the ubiquity of fanzines, blogs and podcasts in the 21st century, anyone can publish their critiques on any form of the arts (including your humble hosts of this very show). For better or worse, we don't have to limit ourselves to the opinions of those who claim to “know better”. There was a time, though, where we'd have to rely on information and analysis about music from the writers at publications like NME, RAM, Juke, Rolling Stone or any number of music magazines.

Welcome to episode 87 of See Hear Podcast.

In 1969 in that most rock and roll of cities Detroit, publisher Barry Kramer and founding editor Tony Reay created Creem magazine. Unlike, the recently founded Rolling Stone which portrayed rock music as a serious artform, Creem was taking the piss out of popular culture – very much in line with counter culture values. It featured writers who would be gain fame and infamy like Lester Bangs, Dave Marsh, Cameron Crowe, Robert Christgau and Greil Marcus among many others who obviously loved the music being created but without being held hostage to its creators. The writers showed no fear no favour in how they wrote about bands. MC5 and Rolling Stones, “Exile On Main Street” received less than favourable reviews to start with, something that seems unfathomable now.

We're proud to welcome to the show, documentarian Scott Crawford to discuss his latest film, “Creem: America's Only Rock and Roll Magazine”. He had access to many of the surviving key players from the magazine's 20 year run and has come up with a fascinating look at how Creem was different from its competitors and why it was so beloved of many musicians. There's a gem of a story involving Lester Bangs, Dave Marsh, a typewriter and a dog. Wanna know more? Tune in.

Our huge thanks to Scott for being such a great conversationalist and for allowing us to spend time with him to talk about a truly interesting part of rock history. We at See Hear highly recommend you watch this film....here's a number of ways you can stream it. (Depending on where you are, you may need a VPN). https://www.creemmovie.com/watch-at-home/

Scott also has a great podcast called Spoke which you can check out here: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/spoke-scott-crawford-0zTir9pbt-A/

If you’ve been enjoying the show, please consider giving us a favourable review on iTunes and let your friends know that our show exists. If you don't enjoy the show, please tell your friends to tune in anyway.

See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at http://pantheonpodcasts.com. The list of new shows is always increasing.

Send us feedback via email at seehearpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Facebook group at http://facebook.com/groups/seehearpodcast

Check out the Instagram page at www.instagram.com/seehearpodcast/?hl=en

You can download the show by searching for See Hear on whatever podcast app you favour.

Download episode 87 from here.

See Hear Podcast Episode 86 - The Sparks Brothers

 

I Predict that When I'm With You, there will be no Existential Threat unless we're Eaten By The Monster Of Love in this Cool World.

Welcome to episode 86 of See Hear Podcast.

Edgar Wright has been known to use music to great effect in his narrative films, so it's only appropriate that he makes a music-related documentary. The Sparks Brothers tells the tale of brothers Ron and Russell Mael who as Sparks have been writing and recording albums for nearly 5 decades. Unlike so many musicians who had an initial creative flourish then lose sight of their muse, the Maels are still creating great music right up to today.

Due to a peculiar turn of events, Tim, Bernard and Maurice handed the keys to the See Hear car over to friends of the show Mike White of the Projection Booth Podcast and musician / documentarian Skizz Cyzyk. These guys are the best, and we felt completely comfortable leaving the show in their professional hands. As a bonus, Mike also presents an interview with the film's editor Paul Trewartha. It's a fascinating discussion about his involvement with the film as well as the editing process in general.

The regular crew will definitely be back next month to carry on with regular podcast shenanigans (which may be bad news if you've enjoyed the high standard brought by Mike and Skizz). You can find all things Booth-ian (except Frank) at https://www.projectionboothpodcast.com/

You can follow Skizz' activities at http://www.skizz.net/ Our huge thanks go to the gents for sailing our ship.

If you’ve been enjoying the show, please consider giving us a favourable review on iTunes and let your friends know that our show exists. If you don't enjoy the show, please tell your friends to tune in anyway.

See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at http://pantheonpodcasts.com. The list of new shows is always increasing.

Send us feedback via email at seehearpodcast@gmail.com

Join the Facebook group at http://facebook.com/groups/seehearpodcast

Check out the Instagram page at www.instagram.com/seehearpodcast/?hl=en

You can download the show by searching for See Hear podcast on iTunes or Stitcher…..or whatever podcast app you favour.

Download episode 86 from here.