38 - Linda Cardellini, actress...

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...from 1997, before she became famous.

Long, long ago Art visited a high school classmate in Hollywood and met his cute new friend. The petite brunette would go on to star in NBC's Freaks n' Geeks, as well as ER, Scooby Doo, Mad Men, and now New Girl: Linda Cardellini. Art digs into the vault and brings you the thrilling interview (about 1:00 long) where she talks about her budding career and first roles.

Next, it's an epic tune from prog-jam band Iratowns called "Analogy." The live performance is from 2001 at Raleigh, North Carolina's Pour House. The guitarist/violinist of this band, Dan Campbell (link), went on to be part of country singer Buddy Jewell's band and was a world-traveling Nashville musician for over a decade.

Art's comments: "This show is one long name drop. Those who know me personally have heard this Linda Cardellini story at least 10 times. Kind of a weak move pulling out a 17-year-old tape but hey, I'm keeping the podcast beast fed! Skip to 24:50 to hear the clip.

"I was Iratowns' publicist for awhile and proudly got them write-ups in the Tampa Tribune, St. Petersburg Times and a Sarasota newspaper. To this day I think they're one of the best bands I've ran across, right up there with Led Zeppelin and everyone else. Although they broke up years ago, I still hope their music gets around. Please do listen for a great performance of one of their best songs."

Links:

• New York Times review of Linda Cardellni's movie RETURN.
• Iratowns lives on on Facebook

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37 - Observe and Report: Mary Mac's Tea Room, Muppets-Lady Gaga Holiday Special, Twitter Embarrassment

The most whacked-out thing in TV history.

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Art's back, and he's by himself! Except for your company, of course.

Art takes a trip to Mary Mac's Tea Room, birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement (right?).

He also asks the question, "Was the Muppets-Lady Gaga Holiday Special the sounding of the final horn before Apocalypse?"

Finally, hear about how he may have embarrassed himself in front of the stars on Twitter.

All of this and a look at your local forecast! 22 minutes.

Art's Comments: "I'm one guest who never fails to disappoint. What's worst is this Art Howard guy talks so much that I can't get a word in edgewise."

Relevant links:
Mary Mac's Tea Room
"Gaga's Muppet Thanksgiving Flopped Majorly" (Huffington Post)

36 - Evan Kessler, L.A. standup comic

Evan J. Kessler, known by TMZ as "J-Kess"

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"A New York comic now doing it in L.A." That's how Evan Kessler was first described to Art.

In this interview, Evan sets the record straight that he actually began doing standup in California. Kessler talks about what it's like to begin a career in standup in the show business mecca of Los Angeles, and his brushes with star comics like Maria Bamford and Emo Philips. He also gives insight into his day job, working as a writer and production assistant on various reality shows. Along the way he also talks about the very beginnings of his career back in New York, writing for the National Lampoon Web site and working on various VH-1 "I Love..." shows. 69 minutes.

Art's comments: "I think it's a lot of people's dream to step onto a stage in Hollywood and try to make it as a comedian. Evan Kessler is actually living it. While the rest of us are creeping down the interstate to our cubicle farms, this guy is hitting the clubs and making his dream come true. For that alone he deserves for you to listen to his story.

"Not to mention that he later tweeted he was holding back vomit throughout this interview. That's another reason to listen."

Evan Kessler links:
His Twitter feed
YouTube channel
Evan Kessler.com

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The Best of Howard: Jeff Clark, rock critic/DJ/publisher

 

 

 

 

 

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Well, shit! A month has gone by and I haven't posted a new episode! So enjoy this classic (read: old) episode from the summer of 2012 where I interviewed famed ATL music critic and DJ, Jeff Clark. He publishes Stomp and Stammer, an irreverent and hysterical music `zine that basically invented Simon Cowell's shtick 20 years before Cowell did. Jeff Clark is a great writer, rock n' roll entrepreneur, and living library of alternative/indie rock music history.

This episode also has excellent ambiance because it was recorded at The Majestic, one of Atlanta's finest eateries. Check it out!

I've got irons in the fire for more shows. Stay tuned to this space.

35 - "A Don Looks at 40" - Don de Leaumont

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Art Howard at Night's first guest ever, Don de Leaumont, returns to show his softer side with this live acoustic performance!

Don may be best known as publisher of the hard rock/metal blog, The Great Southern Brainfart, which has received bylines and mentions in music magazines from Revolver to Rolling Stone. For his 40th birthday, however, much like Jimmy Buffet did with "A Pirate Looks at 40," Don looks at 40 by demonstrating his singer-songwriter skills. Along with highlights from his birthday show at Decatur, Georgia's Java Monkey café, Art gets the inside scoop on how a devout metal fan weaned on Twisted Sister became an unplugged, fingerpicking wordsmith.

Songs performed are "You Built a Wall," "Somewhere in Between," "Why I Sing About the Rain," "Carry Me Home" and "Fart Proudly" (seriously). 41 minutes.

Art's comments: "Oh, my poor face! Don totally melted us all! But really, if you listen closely to Don's music, you'll hear impressively precise fingerpicking with the most well-thought-out rhymes this side of Jay-Z. Turn off the screamo for a change and take a listen to Don."

Don de Leaumont links:
Don's music at Bandcamp.com
The Great Southern Brainfart metal blog
Don's Facebook
"Ghengis Don" on Twitter

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34 - Observe and Report - Just Art

Chaps with no DLR to fill them

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Art flies solo again!

Did you vote for Art in the "Nuzzy and Guy Decently Funny Show Us Your Podcasts Challenge"? Art talks about the making of his non-winning video, and what video did  impress him.

Next, wild animals are on the loose in Art's house! How does he manage to not only survive, but live in harmony with Mother Nature?

In his quest to always bring you the best guests, Art talks about his attempt to get an interview with the one-and-only David Lee Roth!

Also enjoy a listener message from the SpeakPipe feature (upper right hand corner of this page).

Last, discover a great band called the Emma Gibbs Band as Art shares their classic track, "Worn Out Shoes." 35 minutes.

Art's comments: "I've got more irons in the fire for great guests in the future, but every now and then it's nice to just talk straight across to the listener like this. Hope you like it."

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33 - Brett Baker, creative director, ad copywriter

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Brett Baker (self-portrait at right) is the creative mind behind some of TV and radio's most entertaining commercials of late. He joins Art for a discussion of the ad industry and how he got into it. He explains how he went from being a directionless college freshman in Kentucky to writing national commercials featuring stars like Michael Jordan and Charlie Sheen.

But first, Art talks about seeing Dave Grohl's documentary "Sound City," and accuses the alternative rock star of becoming an elitist, classic rock old geezer! 70 minutes.

Art's comments: "Hey, look! I got someone to endure an hour of my questions again! Brett Baker is one of the wittier people on Twitter with a great career in the ad world going for him, so it was nice of him to take the time to talk to us. Make it worth his while by listening."

Brett Baker links:
Internet home of TV's Brett Baker
Follow the white advertising devil on Twitter

Baker-penned Discover Card commercial:

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32 - The Big W, Buddies Lounge, Metromedia Radio

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Podcast Place in Atlanta teams up with Studio 67 in Hollywood for a living stereo SUPER PODCAST!

For nearly six years, The Big W has hosted the An Evening with the Buddies Lounge podcast. Now, the show has been picked up by Metromedia's N.E.W.!

The Big W explains what "Space Age Pop" is, how his show was picked up by WNEW/Metromedia, and how he came to own the record collection of former KNX/Los Angeles DJ and Hogan's Heroes star, Bob Crane. Sambo's and the Pan Am Worldport also enter the conversation as W and Art discuss the fate of these marvels of Googie architecture. 70 minutes.

Art's comments: "An Evening with the Buddies Lounge was one of the first podcasts I ever heard, and one I return to regularly. If you have the slightest interest in music, recorded sound, or pop culture of the `50's-`60's, this will be the most enjoyable hour you've ever spent in school."

((( In stereo, where available! )))

Buddies Lounge links:
An Evening with the Buddies Lounge podcast (recommended episode #203!)
Metromedia Radio

Associated links:
Space Age Pop.com
Your Father's Den

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