See Hear Podcast Episode 111 - Theory of Obscurity: A Film About The Residents

 

Musicians, artists, actors and authors (and any other creatives I haven’t nominated) have long taken pseudonyms. Maybe a more exciting name will sell an image, maybe it’s to have some semblance of privacy, maybe it’s to separate themselves from their past, …any number of reasons. Avant garde art collective The Residents took things beyond name change – they maintained complete anonymity.

Welcome to episode 111 of See Hear Podcast.

The Residents are a band, multimedia artists, theatrical performers….and anonymous. Long time fans claim to be aware of their identities, but putting that aside, the band subscribed to the Theory of Obscurity that maintains that better art is created when the artist is anonymous and free of audience expectations. The band has always performed with masks and not given names….not even pseudonyms.

They’ve been creating music for over 50 years, and have released multitudes of albums – original compositions and deconstructions of 20th century standards from the likes of The Rolling Stones, James Brown and George Gershwin. Trying to define what they do beyond the catch-all tag of “avant- garde” is ridiculous. For some, it can be music that is difficult or challenging….and for others, it can be a breath of fresh air.

For this episode of See Hear, Tim and Maurice discuss the 2015 film “Theory of Obscurity: A Film About The Residents” directed by Don Hardy, its themes, the music of the Residents, and whether there’s something actually to the theory or if it’s bunk.

The film is easily available on Kanopy, Youtube and Tubi. You can tune into our conversation before or after watching it, but either way, grab your top hat and cane, then tune in. We have our eye on you.

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

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You can download episode 111 from here.

See Hear Podcast Episode 110 - The Wrecking Crew

 

Most working people have that day gig – accountant, engineer, admin, hospitality. The job pays the bills and puts food on the table. We don’t tend to think of being a musician as a day job category.

Welcome to episode 110 of See Hear Podcast.

Through the 20th century, there was always some group of musicians who had that “day job” status – playing for corporate functions, teaching people to instrumental skills, and being the faceless people providing the grooves and melodies behind your favourite records. Remember the shock you felt realising that the Beach Boys weren’t playing their own instruments on Pet Sounds? Or The Monkees? The collective of Los Angeles session musicians who became known as The Wrecking Crew (via drummer Hal Blaine’s autobiography) provided the music for tons of songs that music fans consider pop pantheon. There were other collectives of course – Motown had the Funk Brothers, Stax had Booker T and the MGs, and there were the collectives in Muscle Shoals and Nashville.

Film maker Denny Tedesco is the son of Wrecking Crew guitarist, Tommy Tedesco. In the mid 90s, Denny started making a documentary that took nearly 20 years to make. Financing for licensing rights was a big part of that duration, but in the end, he created a wonderful film that opens a window to the world of that period of time when Sonny and Cher, Frank Sinatra, The Mamas and the Papas, The Ronettes, and The Beach Boys all had one thing in common – The Wrecking Crew. Even if the general public had no idea who Carol Kaye, Hal Blaine, Tommy Tedesco, Earl Palmer or Plas Johnson were, the “name” artists certainly did and revered their work.

For episode 110, Tim, Kerry and myself discussed Denny’s documentary as well as our own favourite records from that period, the difference between WC and other famous session groups, British session musicians, social context, and economics. Tim also has an interesting spin on why session musicians may not feel the need to brag about their work…….

If you want to catch up on the film, it’s currently available on Beamafilm, Prime and (in October / November 2023) SBS On Demand.

Very excitingly, we will be having Denny Tedesco on See Hear in early 2024 to talk about his new film The Immediate Family about another group of LA session musicians from the 70s.

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 110 from here.

See Hear Episode 109 - Interview with Steve Matteo about Act Naturally: The Beatles On Film

There was a time when the rock and roll star appearance in a film ostensibly as themselves (or a variant) was a given. Think of the films of Elvis Presley or Cliff Richard. Before the Warholian expression of 15 minutes of fame became a thing, the pop music film was a way to make the most of the latest populist puppet’s time in the sun – script be damned, musician’s longevity be damned. “Let’s just give the kids what they want and reap the benefits before the next pretty face we can exploit”. I’m sure that was the studio mantra. The Beatles were gonna be part of that machine….yet something different happened.

Welcome to See Hear Podcast episode 109.

The Beatles got signed to a 3 film deal with United Artists, and in 1964 released what has been called the Citizen Kane of rock and roll films, A Hard Day’s Night. People have been arguing the merits of their filmic output ever since. This year, author Steve Matteo has released a book called Act Naturally: The Beatles On Film where he focuses on the Fabs as film stars. He looks at the making of each of their 5 films giving credit to their collaborators, as well as putting the films into social context (what else was happening in British cinema at the time).

Unfortunately, neither Kerry nor Tim was available to join me on this conversation, but Steve and I had a terrific time talking about his book and all things Beatle-films.....and many things Beatle adjacent. I also make a confession that will have film buffs gathering their pitchforks and hunting me down – I stand by my contention. Thanks hugely to Steve for a very entertaining conversation. I hope to have him back for a round table at some stage.

The book Act Naturally: The Beatles On Film is available at all the usual virtual and physical bookstores. It comes with the See Hear stamp of approval.

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 109 from here.

 

See Hear Podcast Episode 108 - Saturday Night Fever

 

Disco music had been a thing from the early 70s on, but not so much in the mainstream. Parts of the African-American, Latino and gay communities had been cherishing the music as an event - going out to dance in discotheques was the thing. There's are books that go through the history of disco music and what put that music underground. Some of the music became top forty success stories, but disco really exploded in 1977 thanks to a movie featuring a TV actor and songs by a group past their glory days.

Welcome to episode 108 of See Hear Podcast.

Robert Stigwood bought the film rights to a fictitious article by Nik Cohn called “Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night”. He invested $3.5M into making the film, and made sure his act The Bee Gees were going to be featured on the soundtrack. John Travolta in between Welcome Back Kotter seasons starred as a young working class man from Brooklyn who hates his job and home life, and only finds solace when dancing at the 2001 Odyssey Discotheque. The film is a great character study of what drives people and their self esteem.

Kerry, Tim and I welcome first-time guest to the show, Dan Fisher. Dan has started a great new podcast called Let's Talk Ten where he and guests run off lists about all manner things devoted to pop culture. I invited him to our virtual table and Saturday Night Fever was his pick.....it triggered a great discussion, although as Frank Santopadre would say, we barely scratched the surface.

The film has so many thematic elements to riff on. We cover some of those, but we also look at disco as a phenomenon (and how it influenced Chasidic music and Joe Raposo), 70s Hollywood movie anti-heroes, the violent backlash to disco music, and aspiring for something better in life. A warning: I sing – twice.

We're grateful that Dan came to us with this pick and was such an active participant in the episode. It won't be his last time with us. You should search for him on Facebook to follow his “Rank 'Em” posts (explained at the start of the episode), and you can find Let's Talk Ten at https://letstalktenpodcast.buzzsprout.com/ or whatever app you use to listen to podcasts.

Also, we're giving a shout out to fellow Pantheon Podcasters Bruce and Ryan over at Prisoners of Rock and Roll. Their latest episode is called Does Disco Suck? It will make a good companion piece to ours. Catch it at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/does-disco-suck/id1534602232?i=1000625127339

Canned Heat might have meant it differently, but the message is the same: Don't forget to boogie.

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 108 here.

See Hear Podcast episode 107 - Free The Jazz

 

To some people, Ornette Coleman represents the adventurous spirit of jazz. To others, Kenny G is as exciting as it gets. This episode is more dedicated to the former.....

Welcome to episode 107 of See Hear Podcast.

This month, Tim has selected the film under discussion. It's a documentary filmed in a jazz club in Budapest called “Free The Jazz”. Released in 2014, but seemingly filmed in 2007, its format is simple. Director Czabán György interviewed a range of jazz musicians from Germany, England, Japan, America and Norway about their love of free jazz and what it means to them. After each 2 minute interview, we see that musician in action....then it moves onto the next performer.

On the surface, this doesn't sound like a great film format. However, it allows people who may not necessarily be familiar with many of these artists to listen to what they have to say and sample their music. If you don't like one, you only have to wait a brief time to the next one – the jazz sampler equivalent of speed dating if you will. In that regard, this film is highly worth watching, both if you're a fan of free jazz or even if you're not. It's informative enough for it's format, and allows you to follow up on those artists that may take your interest.

Kerry, Tim and Maurice discuss their histories with free jazz, how it's different from tonal and modal jazz, and the politics that inspired some of the musicians. They debunk the notion that it's groups of musicians playing what they want with no thought.....oh, and they discuss the film....

They dedicate the episode to the memory of the recently deceased Peter Brotzmann, a giant in the field of free jazz.

“Free The Jazz” is on YouTube in its entirety to watch at: https://youtu.be/KHlshNgkmOE 

There are hard subs in Hungarian, but much of the film is in English, and you can activate the English subs for those musicians speaking in other languages.

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 107 from here.

See Hear Podcast episode 106 - Hilary and Jackie

 

The history of cinema is loaded with films about siblings and the problems that go with loving and competing with your flesh and blood: The Godfather, A Simple Plan, Hannah and Her Sisters, Eat Drink Man Woman.....and Hilary & Jackie.

Welcome to episode 106 of See Hear Podcast.

Classical music history records that among the greatest of cellists was Jacqueline du Pre'. Her interpretations of the cello concertos of Elgar and Dvorak amongst others are considered amongst the pinnacle of the recorded canon. She had a sister, Hilary, who started life equally talented as a flautist. Circumstances worked against her continuing, so she married and carried on life domestically without concern. Sadly, Jacqueline died of MS in 1987. Hilary and their brother Piers wrote a memoir called A Genius In The Family which stirred up controversy with classical musicians who'd worked with Jackie, as well as fans. The film that followed, “Hilary and Jackie” caused similar issues. Hilary defended her stance in writing about her relationship with her sister citing that no one who worked with her knew her the way she did.

Rachel Griffiths and Emily Watson are superb in the title roles, but we discuss whether the film falls into the problems that many biopics suffer from. We also wonder how problematic is it to accept on face value some of the assertions Hilary du Pre' made about her sister (with denials from her daughter and Jackie's husband Daniel Barenboim). Do they matter when telling a story that everyone accepts is going to have facts altered for “dramatic purposes”? Do peoples' motivations to create art at its peak standard create divisions between them rather than bring them together? Podcast siblings Kerry, Tim and Maurice attempt to get deep with these questions.

The film is showing on Prime in the US (and hopefully other regions), and at the time of this writing is on SBS-On Demand in Australia. It's also worth watching a posthumously made documentary on Jacqueline that focuses more on her artistic side called Remembering Jacqueline du Pre' on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g4w91_ilgw&t=2s

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

We're also on Instagram @seehearmusicandfilm

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

Proudly Pantheon.

Download episode 106 from here.

See Hear Episode 105 - Sound of Noise

 

Do you remember when you were a kid and you liked to make percussive sounds on biscuit tins, cushions, the neighbour's fence, or your own stomach? Of course you do!!!! No matter whether you took up an instrument or not, percussion is always fun......until nasty neighbours tell you to shut up because you're making noise and disturbing their peaceful afternoon listening passively to Kenny G!!!!!

Welcome to episode 105 of See Hear Podcast.

Tim, Kerry and I look at a Swedish film from 2010 called Sound of Noise. A guerilla group of percussionists (is that a snare of drummers????) come out of the shadows like a flash mob to perform their composed percussion pieces using any number of found objects – suction hoses, oxygen tanks, money being shredded, bulldozers - and the local constabulary are not pleased. They are determined to rid the city of “musician scum”, particularly one officer who has grown up hating music!!!!

We discuss the ubiquity of music in society and how we passively accept it when forced on us by some and reject it when brought on by others. We also talk about heist films, music futurism, and playing drum kit while in high pursuit by the police. There's plenty to take in from Sound of Noise, and we hope you enjoy our conversation.

The film is on Youtube in the US at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maQhD3AmV1Y (you'll have to use a VPN if outside....but it is free of charge). I also believe it's on Prime in the 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

We're also on Instagram @seehearmusicandfilm

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

Proudly Pantheon.

Download episode 105 from here.