What Wakes Me Up/Moccasin Tracks presents:
What Wakes Me Up 4
This episode of What Wakes Me Up is particularly compelling. Consider these guests and what they have to tell. Noon Wednesday, August 21
- Dawn Flores, artist, educator, installation designer and passionate historian who documented the strife over police violence, as well as the destruction of a forest. Her recent project The Atonement Flag tells the story of Monument Avenue and the world as it burned with change after George Floyd’s murder struck the match.
- Dan Mouer, artist, retired archeologist and professor, was called in to explore the well in which human remains, taken from graves in an African burial ground, had been tossed after being used as cadavers at the medical center.
- Paul DiPasquale, artist, builder, monumental sculptor, was called in to help remove bronze monuments to the Lost Cause of upholding the right to own and enslave people and perpetuating Jim Crow laws.
As is best practice in a situation like this, I say little while Dan, Dawn and Paul tell their history, their work and thoughts about these matters. Settle in to WRIR.ORG at noon Wednesdays for a compelling hour of news, history and music. You may even want to take notes.
Photo clockwise from seated: Dan Mouer, Paul DiPasquale, Sunny, Dawn Flores. 2nd photo: Our own Melissa Vaughn
Sunny Gardener What Wakes Me Up/Moccasin Tracks July 29th, 2024
SIFTER for the Ear presents:
Double feature: a musician and a drag queen
This two-parter features Brandon and Brandi:
Part One:
Brandon Adams is the host of the Emmy award-winning series The Life Of A Musician on PBS Appalachia. It features small house concerts and interview with acoustic musicians. We’ll talk about:
– Where the idea come from
– How he finds artists
– Deciding between concerts and interviews
– The short history of year-old PBS Appalachia
– Selecting the venue and crowds
– Attending the Emmy ceremony
Part Two:
Calvin Fields is also know by his drag name, Brandi. This Emporia VA native had a small part in the new film National Anthem (my review). He discusses:
– When he started doing drag
– How he get cast
– Working with Charlie Plummer
– The dress and makeup
LINKS
The Life of a Musician (Brandon’s website)
The Life of a Musician (PBS site)
Calvin “Brandi” Fields on Facebook
Jerry Williams SIFTER for the Ear July 26th, 2024
SIFTER for the Ear presents:
Do you know Black chef Edna Lewis?
Deb Freeman is an award-winning writer, specializing in Black foodways throughout America, particularly in Virginia. She also hosts Setting the Table, a critically-acclaimed podcast that explores Black culinary history. Deb is now working on a documentary about famed influential Black chef Edna Lewis. It’s starting as a series of shorts on VPM’s YouTube channel and will evolve into a full-length doc to be released in February. Our topics include:
– Being named a “snailblazer” by Slow Food USA
– How she discovered Edna Lewis
– Being a guest for On Chasing Flavor with Carla Hall
– Preparing a dinner to honor Edna at the Roosevelt
– How the full-length doc will be different from the episodes
– Her article “Vegan is the new Black”
LINKS
The first episode will premiere on the VPM Culture YouTube Channel Friday, July 19
Deb’s website
Chasing Flavor featuring Deb (Ep. 4)
Podcast on Picturing the Obamas with Hannah Ayers
Richmond 48 Hour Film Project
Jerry Williams SIFTER for the Ear July 19th, 2024
Unicorn Power presents:
Unicorn Power: New Schtuff in 2024 Pt. 2
More new power metal!
One Hit Wanda Unicorn Power July 12th, 2024
River City Limits presents:
RCL 7-6-24 Jay Smack Host
smack River City Limits July 6th, 2024
Posted In: Local, Music, Music Shows
SIFTER for the Ear presents:
Remembering Gene Wilder on Netflix
Remembering Gene Wilder looks at the comic actor’s films, including interviews with Mel Brooks, Alan Alda and Harry Connick, Jr. It played Richmond as part of the Weinstein JCC’s Israeli & Jewish Film Festival last January. Since it just dropped on Netflix, I’m “remembering” my interview with Ron Frank (billed as the director) & Glenn Kirschbaum (writer). Topics include:
– Mel Brooks and his great stories
– Why Harry Connick. Jr.?
– Using Wilder’s own voiceover
– Finding hilarious outtakes from Young Frankenstein
– The Alzheimer’s connection
LINKS
Remembering Gene Wilder (Netflix)
48HR Film Project
Jerry Williams SIFTER for the Ear June 28th, 2024
SIFTER for the Ear presents:
This film buyer went to the Oscars
Paul Serwitz has made his career as a film buyer, including 25 years for Regal Cinemas and most recently, President and COO of Landmark Theatres. He’s now consulting as a distributor for Roadside Attractions and has lots of interesting insights into the biz of buying and distributing films, including.
– Outlook for 2025 and beyond
– Upcoming films from CinemaCon
– Musical trailers with no music
– Theatrical windows
– The 4-audience quadrants
– How movies are marketed now
– Why horror movies open almost every week
– What is Day and Date releasing
– Attending the Oscars
LINKS
Good 4 Her (film screening)
Jerry Williams SIFTER for the Ear June 21st, 2024
WRIR Presents… Discussing Disability with SOAR 365
Hosted by Nate Wise. This month’s episode focuses on volunteering!
One Hit Wanda WRIR Presents: Black Coochie (1st)/Discussing Disability (2nd)/OPEN! (3rd)/Final Friday Signal Boost (4th) June 14th, 2024
Posted In: Local, News, Volunteering
River City Limits presents:
The Listening Room
Andrew with RVA Playlist takes a look at the history of the Listening Room, a local concert series that ran from 2009 to 2014 where the main rule was no talking was allowed during the performance. Special guest Jonathan Vassar, one of the original Listening Room founders and curators, will be joining to discuss all the musical memories.
rvaplaylist River City Limits June 8th, 2024
Posted In: Local, Music, Music Shows
SIFTER for the Ear presents:
Richmond actor in new Jerry Seinfeld movie
In UNFROSTED Bailey Sheetz is discovered by Jerry Seinfeld’s character in a dumpster eating what would become a Pop-Tart. This young actor has a funny part in the new Netflix hit that was written, directed and stars Jerry Seinfeld. Our lively interview covers much more than any of the local print stories, including:
– His relationship to the gas station/restaurant with the same last name
– His love of antiques, esp. vacuum cleaners
– Being called “an old soul” on Big Little Shots with Melissa McCarthy
– His first role as the voice of a squirrel for Apple
– Working with Seinfeld, McCarthy and Jim Gaffigan
– Flying on top of a truck
– Almost getting strangled by a candy necklace
LINKS
My review of UNFROSTED
Podcast on Pine Grove School
The vacuum cleaner episode was on How to with John Wilson, Season 3, Ep 4 of (my 5-star review)
Jerry Williams SIFTER for the Ear June 7th, 2024