“I want you to know…”

One of my favorite things in the world--is the movie trailer. Now, I say "thing" because I’m unsure if it's a stand alone work of art, or if it’s a commercial. In contemporary culture, it’s quite clear when someone is selling something to you. It’s quite clear if this thing is art or motivated by commerce. But, enter the movie trailer—yes, it’s a commercial to the movie. But, its not so much a commercial or call to action (go see this here), often its tempting it’s audience, seducing its audience. You ever see a trailer...

We consume, repurpose, and produce art in this fast paced phone world. At a certain point we may not even have a phone at our fingertips, or on our wrist.

I know, I sound like the old codger longing for a time where pacing and searching for music in record stores, music shops, or even Woolworths==was worthwhile..

Okay, lets take that off the table for a second—we still can have those music and art discovery moments—with conversation.

My next guest plays in Guided by Voices, and make...

Chelsea Gods, and Nero rally the troops, and talk 4th Of July for this KPCR special episode.

https://kpcr.org/join

Oh, the harp the angelic harp. Hardly an instrument that can be used by an artist as some sort of novelty. So, when I saw this album come across my desk—I thought to myself 'how will this person pull it off? It says here that it’s indie rock ? Is this some gimmick?'

No. What I heard was a tasteful, atmospheric, intimate, and cinematic record—rooted in good songwriting, and no-gimmick delivery.

I Want You To Know Stephanie Babirak

Special PRIDE episode.

It’s still June, so we are still celebrating Prince. So, of course we have Terri D of Real Prince Stories By Real Fams. Terri curates a show that spotlights Prince Fams and their stories. So, no famous people waxing partial fandom, but Fams about that life—standing in line for hours, after party shows, but mostly about the connection and dare I say; guided by a love and appreciation for Prince.

This week on I Want You To Know—all of my closest friends are having babies; my little cousin, my high school friend, close friends i’ve seen navigate heartache, careers, etc—to find their way to becoming a father, And, I’m just over here being a Daddy…

I’ll play songs related to fatherhood, dads, and being a man..and I make fun of manosphere culture, and I slap incels in the face. Dorks!

A couple weeks ago I was with Gabriel Ramos aka Ssleeping Desiress assisting in a performance. We arrived super early (as requested in the call sheet), we roamed around the substantially sized venue Haus Leipzig. And out of now where—soundcheck began. We heard a smart, fun, funky, sophisticated and futuristic (yet vintage) sound pumping out of the speakers. Dancing around upstairs, Gabriel and I looked at one another and said in unison “these guys are good”.

Those guys were Karl Kave and Durian, I Want You To Know Andrin Uetz aka Durian of Karl Kave and Durian

This is a redone version of Monday's episode.

I tagged along with collaborator, and friend Gabriel Ramos (of Ssleeping Desiress”) to help with his live set at WGT Fest in Leipzig. I was there to lend some visuals (in real time), it was a technically and artistically challenging endeavor. Hear about it.

Also, I play artists who also played the festival, I talk about my time in Germany, the day of the show, travel nightmares, navigating the scents and (un)pleasantries of Germans, going to the realest goth club ever, meeting new friends, and meeting co...

My next guest functions within many artistic tasks. When pressed she often disregards them as just something she loves, or just does. At one point she referred to it as “a hobby” or “The Hobby”. Then I learned just what that meant—the fascinating world of a Doll Artist

I Want You to Know Samanthia Wildes.

My next guest curates experiences, nurses emotions, guides sensations. With a mix of compassion, attentiveness, and a genuine care and curiosity about people—he sets the tone with records as a dj, he also a visual artist who can encapsulate moments and emotions.

I Want You To Know Jeff Bostic

I don’t like country music, it’s not my thing. The sound of the guitars (shout out to my former boss, and friend Joe Goldmark, he’s an artist). But, the sound of the singing, the vocals, the twang, the vibe. It’s not my thing.

But, I’ll tell you what I do like about it, the one thing I love the cast of characters. The blue collar characters (much like my beloved classic blues). Men and women navigating working class existence, blue collar heartache, pondering love and love loss as some sort of respite. Pondering...

This week on I Want You To Know we talk with artist, musician, performer, formative friend, and one of those people good at everything. She’s also a deep Prince “fam” (fan), so we explore a little Prince fandom post Michael Bland show, and now with ten years after Prince’s passing.

I Want You To Know Samar Nassar

This week, to commemorate the passing of Prince (ten years ago) we have a special show. I talk to New Power Generation drummer Michael Bland. He is one Prince's longest tenured collaborators, a creative partner, and a drummer who weathered Prince's most restless creative period,

Mr. Bland offers insight to his process, Prince's process, and he shares some insight and stories. He also offers what it's like being a drummer to one of the most iconoclastic musicians of the 20th century, and he celebrates his beloved home of Minneapolis and the community that keeps him loved and...

This is a remix rerun of an episode I did with Bird Call (aka Chiara Angelicola). Chiara and I came up in the San Francisco music scene together, even collaborated (hear the unearthed live recording courtesy of Not Quite The 80's host DK Coleo. back in his Spicy Meat Parade days, 15 years ago). Chiara and I both moved to LA, so we draw contrasts to home and LA.

Also, hear Chiara and I discuss the creative process, and we reconnect after not speaking to one another for over a decade (sometimes we think we are at odds...

My next guest is a young stand up comic who sought and found the value of coming up the hard way; doing open mics, sharing bills and stages with older men, yet still finding time to do the Tik Tok comedy thing.

I met her when she was an intern at a historic comedy institution. She missed her first day, or first week or something—due to a startling and horrific incident. And, when she eventually started—I found her to be irreverent, funny, and kind. You’re going to enjoy this.

I Want Y...

My next guests are a band who value volume, energy, and attitude. At one point this would have been a given for a rock and roll band. But, now we live in a culture where an old codger like me is disappointed by the next generation being softer--telling young folks how soft they are, remembering back to when the next generation was always more devious….but music and culture is in a complete is in a retrograde. But, the next band isn’t ready to stop having fun, and won’t stop pushing the deviousness forward.

I Wa...

My next guest is a performer, writer, musician… after viewing a friend/colleagues one person show—she felt inspired, but also felt a little aimless in what she should write… she opted to share. She dared to tell everyone, personally, anecdotally-- Schizophrenia Is Funny.

(she's also turning her show into a short film!)

I Want You To Know Alyssa Scholl

Some of my favorite episodes are no longer available online. I wanted to rerun this episode from the archives, the episode where I speak with legendary Boxing analyst and commentator—Jim Lampley.

Jim and I discuss story telling, boxing, his iconic calls, and where boxing is today. He was promoting his memoir “It Happened”. It was a joy discuss Mr Lampley’s career

Musician/Artist JPBraxton is in the drivers seat, and at the wheels of steel, with a live mix for you, he takes us deep in the mix, and he manages to torment Nero with food talk as Nero is out via a tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy (and can't eat).

Check out JPBraxton's new album!!

Puckett Electric guest hosts on IWYTK this week. The show was hatched from a discussion Nero and Puckett Electric had regarding "who'd be in your super group? what makes a super group?" etc.

Puckett Electric showcases his heady, groovy, gritty, and cinematic songs, and plays cuts from his supergroup candidates, he also spotlights Nero's picks. You'll learn a lot, and rock and dance too..

(Nero is out due to his tonsillectomy)

This week on I Want You To Know my guest is musician/composer Jerik Centeno. Jerik is releasing his score to the feature film Riley. It’s a lush, dreamy, pensive, melancholy piece, that suits the achey, sensual and raw 'coming of age' film.

We discuss Jerik’s upbringing, influences, mentor, and process. And we play lots of ambient, weird, and arty soundscapes for your rainy days.

This week on I Want You To Know—Rachel Walther is in for Nero. Rachel's a film columnist, writer, & our I Want You To Know film critic. And, she talks to— musician and cultural historian Nick Rossi. Nick is an accomplished musician, a mover and shaker in the Jazz scene, and he’s also the Music Director for the Noir City.

Rachel and Nick deep dive into some of the songs synonymous with film Noir, Noir City’s history as a film fest, the background stories to these famous Noir themes, and-- overall enlighten us on Noir...

We keep our thoughts on/with Minneapolis.

https://www.miracmn.com

A special episode to aid your protests, and ask for help from you.

https://kpcr.org

This is Rachel's second appearance on the show. She is our resident movie critic, a film columnist and she just finished her fantastic book Born To Lose: The Misfits Who Made Dog Day Afternoon

This remix and encore edition of I Want You To Know focuses on writer’s we’ve had on the show.

First I start off talking to the world’s most accomplished boxing sportscaster, and towering orator—Jim Lampley. We discuss his memoir “IT Happened”

Then we circle back to a conversation with J Monroe Adams, he’s a photo journalist, and author. We talk about how he found the inspiration, and siezed the time to write his novel “For The Love of Champagne”. His book was such a thrill to read.

Then we conclude the sh...

This was recorded a couple years back when my friend Rykarda was in town, she graciously came by my old Hollywood apartment. I remember my dog Zelda was being impolite to her, yet we sat in my kitchen and had a delightful discussion about creative growth, our mutual love of pop songs from a certain period, and lyrics/songs we hate.

I feel I talked too much in this episode. I think I was just excited to talk to Ryki, and I was stoked that she came by. I remember I had to go to...

This is one of the many archival/remix episodes we will be playing until I return from some life stuff (my movie, my health, work). I wanted to get this started with a special episode I did with one of my closest friends. I hated how the original version sounded, I was still finding my footing on the show. So, enjoy this less edited, remixed, encore episode of I Want You To Know with Actor/Voice Actor/Fashionista Olivia Hack

This week on I Want You To Know --we close the year, we close the season, and sort of end the show with lots of voices from the past, friends of mine, and people I love and respect—when they tell me their favorite films from the first quarter of the 21st century.

I thought it would be a fitting send off—to hear the wide array of guests sharing their lists. I will also play some tunes from the aforementioned lists, and I give a thorough exit, and info on the future of the show.

My next guest is an art historian, and an educator. I want to talk to her about the culture of art in an academic space, and how folks are digesting art, especially art that predates the student, she’s always had great taste, I mean this as a compliment— but her personality even seems curated of only the best and smartest stuff. To the donors out there, and future donors…I hope you enjoy this elevated conversation about art, this is just a snippet of the kind of programming we strive to bring you—

I Want You To Know...

This week on I Want You To Know, I take a look at last week, and my nearly complete meltdown mentally and physically, and how this station, here, saved my life…again.

Right in time for pledge month,

We need your donations at KPCR.ORG/JOIN

We neeed ten k for repairs, transmitters, licensing, and just to keep the ship afloat.

I’m going to tell you all about that, and my week from hell, and we have another review by Rachel Walther.

We also spotlight the special kinds of a...

This week on I Want You To Know—one of my best friends in the world is getting married, and it got me thinking about music and it’s association with weddings.,

Today, I provide a mixtape about weddings, marriage, husbands, wives, divorce. Songs that put those awful songs— associated with marriage and weddings to shame. You will not hear bland and overcooked songs that are as bland and overcooked as (yet free) a wedding meal—

I Want You To Know-- songs about matrimony

My next guest and I met when I was working at a comedy establishment we both occupied in different capacities. She performed some wonderful pieces within a bigger show. It was great. What wasn’t great was one of those pieces were not captured on video (in my defense I was only indirectly involved in uploading the shows I captured for the theatre). I was pretty bummed because I knew she gave her all, and she offered something special. But, alas, it was gone. BUT, I BECAME A FAN

I offered her a small (but consequential) part in...

This week on I Want You To Know I talk with filmmaker/ video director, and musician Dylan Greenburg. We talk about their new comp Music For Gaza Soup Kitchen.

Dylan rallied their musician friends and social network to put together a comp to generate money for Gaza Soup Kitchen ( a grassroots organization committed to feeding Palestinians in the Gaza Strip).

Dylan tells me how any of us can put together an activism fueled music comp, and we discuss Dylan’s film/video work and process. And, of course we play the comp.

Lastly, I...

Purity and authenticity is a tricky thing in life...but it’s especially daunting when it comes to making art. Most of art is balancing a pose and presentation, with purity, and revelation, and confession. So, if you make a wrong turn aesthetically you can dilute the confession, or muddy the waters. But, my next somehow crept out of the conventional place of indie singer songwriter, into real life hip hop artist….is that possible?

Lets find out

I Want You To Know Matt McCombs and his new album

The...

My next guest makes music that places you on the fringes, on the outside, rooted in some sort of Americana like story, but also relentless, unhinged, cinematic, in some place we have never seen, but know all to well.

The recordings are personal, intimate, and seemingly losing itself at the seams…I really enjoyed the conversation.

I Want You To Know Puckett Electric and his new record Bone Conduction

Dark themes, dark music, dark talk

This week on I want you to know. We celebrate Lou Reed, with who else, but musician Caio Ara. We explore how two guys, can have such a strong connection with an artist who seemingly and superficially-- have nothing in common with said artist.

Warning: lots of record store dude, and I remind you this is not the manosphere, or brocast...

This week on I Want You To Know-- I talk with writer and journalist Jeff Pearlman. Jeff wrote a dazzling, exhaustively researched, and insightful book called 'Only God Can Judge Me (The Many Lives Of Tupac Shakur)', a bio about the rapper, actor, activist, icon— Tupac Shakur.

Jeff uncovered some jaw dropping info on the characters in 2pac’s life, and the man himself.

I Want You To Know Jeff Pearlman & his book Only God Can Judge Me

A lot is happening in the world, the government is shut down, and massive kookery all around. I work a lot, no days off, if you know me personally you’ve heard me complain about all the working. But, but, this week is my birthday, in the past I’ve done a joint bday show with Jeff Shuman, live from Musso & Frank, we also did a live from Disneyland. I’ve had my mother and sister on. Maybe it’s a little self indulgent, but in this cultural hellscape—what isn’t.

I thought I’d play some A...