Tag Archives: The Man Who Ate the Town

My Holiday or: A Happy Podfather

30 Wednesday Sep 2020

Posted by in Life as We Know It, Podcasting, The Less Desirables Network

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Salutations™!!

Today I get to celebrate a holiday that many celebrate now but when I started there were a lot fewer. Today is International Podcast Day.

I have mentioned before that I have been podcasting longer than probably 98% people in the area and probably that much or more continuously. I started podcasting in 2007 when I was co-owner of a local comic book store. We only did about 5 or 6 that was even worth mentioning and it most of that was rehashing recorded conference calls with Marvel Comics execs. But, it was a start and wasn’t what I wanted to do. I wanted to do a radio show. I wanted to talk about pop culture. I still want to do radio. And, in a way, I do.

I started The Less Desirables with my pal Brian Attridge on February 3, 2010. You know that story. Eugene came along, Brian left, Caitlin came, Eugene left, Bruce came, Bruce left, Danielle came, Caitlin left, Bethany came. I’ve talked that ad nauseum by now. I wanted to do more than The Less Desirables, though. I wanted a whole network of podcasts, whether I was involved or not, perhaps just as an associate producer. Also, I wanted to get my “studio” out of my house and into a real business location.

So, in late 2012, Eugene and I moved all my stuff from my bedroom loft to a spot in the Chatham Building off of Fourth Street in WSNC. Soon after, in early 2013, I started producing both the Camel City News Hour hosted by Chad Nance and Fan Interference hosted by Ty Collins. CCNH lasted a few years and Fan Interference is still going today. Later in 2013, Nikki Miller-Ka, The BCPF and I started Tart & Tangy Triad, a food news podcast. That went until early 2016.

In February 2015, five years after starting The Less Desirables, Jon Lowder, Paul Jones, and I started The Beer Dads Podcast, after we were sitting at Small Batch Beer trying to decide what we were going to do a podcast about and I came in complaining about 3B, my son. We recorded it and Jon and Paul have become partners of mine. We have crossed the 200 episode mark.

In July of 2016, I recorded my first episode of The Man Who Ate the Town Podcast because I wanted another food podcast and had to rebut nasty comments about a critique of a local restaurant that I was actually a fan of. That is still going and I have had four co-hosts. Kelly Bone was my first, followed by Tim Johnson, then Ray Morgan. Ray is still with me and we have added Lea Metz to our lineup. I love them both being there. We will record episode 170 next week.

In late 2016, I started Sipping NC: The Art of Drinking Podcast with Jordan Keiper and we had a lot of drinking to do, for sure. We recorded into 2017 had to pause due to an illness in Jordan’s family. We are still on that hiatus, although Jordan and I have discussed, along with Danielle from TLD restarting it back up, but C-19 and other issues have kept us from doing that.

In 2018, along with “Jeff Evans” and Rory, we started Apartment 5B: Irrational Conversations with the Cool Breezes of Anytown, USA. We did that up to the pandemic, which JE’s wife was getting ready to have a baby, so we put everything on hold and we haven’t started back up.

In July 2019, Clay Howard and I started Beeswax Vinyl & More, a podcast that explored music in a different way. Clay’s schedule didn’t allow for him to do that long. I’m exploring other options for that. I haven’t given up on it. Stay tuned.

In February of 2020, Eugene B Sims started his long-awaited podcast, Wheeler’s Dog. He does two a week, one for the general public and one for his Patreon subs. I am an “associate producer” for that show. It’s all Eug, really. But, it is on my network.

And, finally, in July of this year, my “Kousins” Gary and Marvin and I started Asylum: The Tales from the Devereaux Diaries Podcast. We talk music but almost exclusively about our favorite band, KISS.

Also, I have produced a lot of podcasts for companies and clients. Forsyth Magazines, Blue Door Group, Phoenix Rising, Ring the Bell Realty, Center for Private Business, Dr. Shawn Ricks, and more are on the way in the next few months.

So, podcasting is now in my blood. I have done it so long and for so many that I’ve been christened, “The Podfather” and I love that title. I run with it and will continue to do so. So, to all my podcasting co-horts, whether they’re mine or not, to those in the community that do podcasts that I’m not part of but may have been inspired by (so I’ve been told) and to the people who listen to them, HAPPY INTERNATIONAL PODCAST DAY!!!!!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I think podcasting is here to stay.” – Adam Scott

Spinning Sunday or: Record Store Day Drop One

30 Sunday Aug 2020

Posted by in Records, Spinning Sunday, The Less Desirables Network

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Salutations™!!

Yesterday was a national holiday for record collectors, although it didn’t feel like it. In recent years, I would have camped out overnight in front of Underdog Records in anticipation of Record Store Day. And, it would have been mid- to late-April. But, all that went out the window with C-19. RSD was postponed and then they decided to do it in three drops. One each in August, September, and October. Jonathan did the right thing and set it up in a lottery system where interested parties registered to enter. There were over 100 entries, maybe close to 200. Only 36 slots were available: 3 people every 15 minutes from 8am (the normal start time for RSD) and 11am. Underdog then closed and Jonathan took an inventory of the leftovers and, also for the first time, he was able to sell RSD titles online the day of.rsd drops

I was lucky enough to draw one of the spots. I was a 1015am slot. No overnight camping was allowed, which I don’t mind missing at all, I just missed hanging with my friends. And, no mad scramble for records, although with our crew (or Crüe as we call it), it was fun to do that together. All of these are new and I include (where applicable) the limited issue. So, with that in mind, here’s the haul:

  • Iggy Pop – Kiss My Blood (Live At The Olympia – Paris France – 1991 — Record Store Day 2020 exclusive release, limited to 2,500 copies. Includes printed inner sleeves, a tour poster, and a DVD of the live concert. 3xLP Gray/Red/Gray. New.
  • Ace Frehley – Trouble Walkin’ — Record Store Day 2020 first release, limited to 2,400. 2XLP, 45 RPM, Yellow/Orange splatter. First time on vinyl since 1989. I only owned it on CD, much later.
  • The Cure – Bloodflowers — Record Store Day 2020 exclusive release, limited to 7,500 copies. 2xLP, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue. I don’t usually do picture discs because a) they sound atrocious and b) they tear the poop out of my needle. But, this album isn’t available on vinyl right now unless you find an old copy.
  • Judas Priest – British Steel — Record Store Day 2020 exclusive release, limited to 3,500. 2xLP, Single Sided, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue. Side A is on Record 1, and Side B is on Side A of Record 2. Sides B & D are printed on creating the illusion of a picture disc. Tracklisting on the packaging differs from what is listed on RSD’s website. I’m not sure how this works, I haven’t opened the albums. I got this mainly for the collectability of it.
  • Throwing Muses – Purgatory Paradise — Record Store Day 2020 first release, limited to 950 copies. 2xLP, Reissue. I don’t know that this album (released in 2013) was released on vinyl originally. I think that’s what the first release means. This was a pick from The BCPF.
  • k.d. lang – Drag — Record Store Day Aug 2020 edition. Smoky grey vinyl. 2xLP, 3 sides recorded, side 4 etched “drag.” Special Edition. k.d. lang (I love the lowercase styling) has an amazing voice.
  • Fight – A Small Deadly Space — Record Store Day 29 Aug 2020 exclusive. First-ever vinyl reissue. Limited Edition, Red & Black Marble. For those who don’t know, Fight was the band that Rob Halford started after he left Judas Priest in 1992. This is their second album.
  • Martin Denny – Exotic Moog —  Limited Edition, Reissue, Orange. Record Store Day 2020 exclusive, limited to 1,500 copies. Originally released in 1969.
  • Tones On Tail – Pop — Limited Edition, Reissue. RSD 2020 Release. Limited to 1500 copies. We didn’t get this from Underdog Records. I had talked to someone from the Crüe that I knew had an earlier time slot and I knew that this was on his list. Another part of RSD is you’re only allowed to buy one of each title. I also didn’t know how many copies Jonathan got in, so another member of the Crüe had to go to another store (he didn’t get drawn) and was first in line (that store did allow people to gather) and picked it up for me. This was The BCPF’s “must-have” from the list.
  • Al Green – Green Is Blues — Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Green/Blue Split, 180g. First released for Record Store Day 2020 with an initial pressing of 3,000 copies, of which 500 were sold in the UK. Housed in a tip-on jacket. This means the pictures are glued onto the card stock.
  • The Pale Fountains – Longshot For Your Love — Compilation, Limited Edition, Reissue. RSD 2020 release reissue limited to 900 Copies. Black vinyl disc issued in a gatefold sleeve. With inner sleeve featuring liner notes & lots of photographs. This was confusing. Musically it is amazing. Vocally it was awful. The music wins.
  • Roxy Music – Roxy Music — Reissue, Clear, 180 Gram, Gatefold. Record Store Day 2020 exclusive release, limited to 4,000, gatefold cover. This release is listed as “Roxy Music – The Steven Wilson Stereo Mix“ on RSD’s website, but that title does not appear on the front cover or spine. So, I don’t know if it really is the Steven Wilson stereo mix or not. Some copies with “Made in the Czech Republic” sticker on the back. Mine had that. The debut album from the band in 1972.
  • Gorillaz – G Sides — Compilation, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, 180g. Limited to 15,000 worldwide copies according to Record Store Day. Printed inner sleeve. I don’t have any Gorillaz and I don’t know a single tune by them. I figured now is a good time to listen to some of it.
  • Pretenders – Live! At The Paradise Theater, Boston, 1980 — Limited Edition, Reissue, Clear / Red. RSD Drop, August 29, 2020 release. Limited edition of 6500 copies. It’s in a vinyl plastic sleeve that smells like pool floats and beach balls. I dug it. The record is awesome, too.
  • k.d. lang and the reclines – Angel With A Lariat — Limited Edition, Translucent Red, Reissue. Reissue of her 1987 sophomore effort.
  • Tom Tom Club – Genius of Live 2020 — Compilation. Record Store Day 2020. Exclusive limited to only 1200 pressed on yellow vinyl.
  • Dio – Annica — 12″. Picture Disc. Officially released on August 29th, 2020 for Record Store Day. The sticker still lists the date for RSD as April 18, 2020, which was postponed. Limited to 3000 copies. Again, this is more for the collectibility of it than to listen to. I’m not a fan of 12″ single nor picture discs (as I stated).
  • The Charlatans UK – The Charlatans V. The Chemical Brothers — 12″,  Limited Edition, Reissue, Yellow. Record Store Day 2020. Limited to 500 copies. The Chemical Brothers remixed this 12″.
  • Def Leppard – Rock N Roll Hall of Fame — Limited Edition, Special Edition. Released for the first Record Store Day “Drops” 2020. Limited to 4000 copies. Includes a hype sticker. Recorded last year in the Barclay Center during their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.
  • Ultravox – Sleepwalk — 12″, 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Clear. Record Store Day 2020 edition: first time on UK 12″. Cover sticker states Ultravox. 40th Anniversary. 12″ Clear Vinyl Exclusive Sleepwalk. Limited Edition Record Store Day. Rear Cover states: Taken from the 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of VIENNA. Note: only one pressing of this has been manufactured for worldwide distribution and there are no separate releases for any specific country. 1,200 copies only.
  • New Riders Of The Purple Sage – Field Trip — Limited Edition, Black. Recorded live at Temple Meadow – Veneta, Oregon August 27, 1972. Taken directly from the original 16-track analog master reel-to-reel tapes running at 15 I.P.S. Previously released as “Veneta, Oregon August 27, 1972” (KUFALA Recordings- KUF 0088) in 2004. Record Store Day Release limited to 1500 copies. I know this is probably a blasphemous statement, but I have never heard of NRPS other than some passing something here and there. I don’t know that if I ever had heard it or anything from them, I wouldn’t know it was them. So, why not check it out?
  • Various – Girls In The Garage Volume 8 — Compilation, Limited Edition, Numbered, Special Edition. Some of the artists on this are Claire Lane, The Beas, The Liverbirds, Marilyn Mattson, Shammy And The Famous Ruis Family, Die Sweetles, What Four and Judy Came, just to name a few.

The next two were not part of the RSD releases but we picked them up while we were in the store:

  • Fantastic Negrito – Have You Lost Your Mind Yet? — My Kousin Gary turned me on to this during the recording of Asylum: The Tales from the Devereaux Diaries podcast last week. It’s hard to put him in a genre but you can include, blues, R&B, and some roots stuff. It’s a great listen and The BCPF loved it as well. New.
  • Rolling Blackouts C.F. – Hope Downs — The BCPF really liked the first album we got from Rolling Blackouts C.F. (which was their second album) so she wanted this one (their first), too. New.

I know this was all long and I won’t go into any long-winded diatribe things. Checkout Underdog Records’ website, listen to Asylum: Tales from the Devereaux Diaries podcast (and The Less Desirables and The Man Who Ate the Town and… well, the whole TLD Network) and use Discogs for cataloging and collecting!

Until tomorrow, whew! Keep spininn’!
Scorp out!

—
“Have you lost your mind yet? To get free tonight, ah. To all of your friends that come over, uh. And get free tonight, uh. Clap your hands in time. Get free tonight, yeah. Now the whole world is watching. Get free tonight. It’s your mind, body and soul food tonight. Let your mind, body and soul feel it tonight.” – “Chocolate Samurai” (Dphrepaulezz)

A Glimpse of What Once Was or: What’s One More Than a Trifecta?

10 Monday Aug 2020

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Salutations™!!TLDNetwork

I’m giving you a break from videos today. I don’t know if it’s a break or not, though. I mean, I’d just as soon watch videos than to read a bunch of words. Then again, I hate reading, so… Anywhat! Today I got to do something that was almost reminiscent of the way things were back in late February/early March. I produced four podcasts. All of them were for The Less Desirables Network, but not all of them were recorded today. That’s okay, though. It was some semblance of “normalcy.”

So, what did I produce? I recorded and produced a new episode of The Man Who Ate the Town and The Beer Dads. I “produced” which means published in this case the latest non-Patreon episode of Wheeler’s Dog and put together/produced one for Fan Interference in which Ty basically said goodbye to that old name for the Washington Football Team. I felt good about it. I got work done. That helps the mind, for sure.

Listen to the episode of:

TMWATT here.
The Beer Dads here.
Wheeler’s Dog here.
Fan Interference here.

Thank you in advance for listening. We will have new episodes of The Less Desirables and Asylum: The Tales of the Devereaux Diaries Podcast later this week.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I consume a lot of podcasts. I’m a voracious podcast consumer.” – Paul F. Tompkins

Now Normal Chronicles or: The Non-Video Edition

05 Tuesday May 2020

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Salutations™!!

Yesterday was an epic day for podcasting for me. I recorded The Man Who Ate the Town (listen here), The Less Desirables (releasing tomorrow), Beeswax Vinyl & More (listen here) and The Beer Dads (listen here). Then, I “produced” Wheeler’s Dog today. Thursday I will do Fan Interference. So, other than Apartment 5B and Sipping NC: The Art of Drinking, all of the TLD Network shows have been or will be released this week.

TLDNetwork

That’s a good week. I figured I’d give you a break from videos today since my biggest complaint has been the lack of anything happening.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Zoom sponsored by Bull’s Tavern!” – TLD Network

Now Normal Chronicles Podcast Edition or: Zooming

06 Monday Apr 2020

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Salutations™!!

I recorded three podcasts today. The Man Who Ate the Town, which I do every Monday, with Ray, Lea (who does Winston-Salem Strong with me) and Daniel Butner from Carrabba’s Italian Grill. We talked about the “list” and all the cool and good things that Daniel is doing. ZoomLogo_112b8a4

Then, Bethany, Danielle and I pre-recorded The Less Desirables, which will be released on Wednesday. We talked about the crisis and how it is affecting us.

Finally, Clay and I recorded episode #4 of Beeswax Vinyl & More. I’m going to post that (along with Wheeler’s Dog’s latest) tomorrow.

When we were recording TLD, I mentioned that I was going to ask for sponsorships for a year’s subscription to the full-on version of Zoom. The one that doesn’t cut off parties of three or more after 40 minutes. I have more control over rooms and more control over what goes on. It will help my business greatly as I can use it to record podcasts from anywhere. Danielle sent me the money almost immediately and I turned around immediately and purchased the paid version. So, from this point on, at least until April of next year, every TLD Network podcast that is recorded using Zoom will be “sponsored by Bull’s Tavern.” She’s awesome.

So, let’s do a podcast. Got an idea and don’t want to leave your house? No worries. Let’s do it remotely. Send me a message and let’s set this up.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Simplified video conferencing and messaging across any device.” – Zoom

The Now Normal Continued or: Imminent Lockdown

25 Wednesday Mar 2020

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Salutations™!!

We are now into day whatever of “The Now Normal.” All the work on the WSNC Hospitality List has left me unsure of what day it is and what’s going on. The only saving grace is for what I either record or release as far as podcasts go. It did throw me off to record TLD on a different day of the week (two weeks in a row), but somehow I remembered to post it. I did record Fan Interference today.

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Staring at lists got me like…

The mayor of WSNC, Allen Joines announced today a “Stay-at-Home” alert and that freaked people out. It starts on Friday but people are, of course, going to panic and continue to buy up everything, hoard stuff and put others in further need. People are going to worry about having enough to eat. I can assure you, you will. Even with the “lockdown” in place, you can still go to the store. You can still go to “essential” stores and yes, absolutely, you can still get food from restaurants. You can’t eat in, that’s true. You can have it delivered. You can get it to go. You can even just get curbside that you don’t have to get out of your vehicle for.

Yes, it is a disruption to “everyday life.” It is an adjustment. We will survive it. We will see the other side. It will take a bit. It will be uncomfortable for a bit. But, there is no reason to freak out. That does no one any good. To give you the rundown and updated food service list, visit this link.

Keep calm. Listen to some podcasts. Spend time with your family. And, yes, wash your damn hands!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Y’all made it happen.” – Katie Murawski

The Now Normal or: The List Goes On

24 Tuesday Mar 2020

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Salutations™!!

Dear Reader, I’m apologizing to you upfront for the fact that I’m going to continue to inundate you with links to “the list.”

The list is the work of Lea Metz and myself, searching for what food and beverage businesses are doing in WSNC. Lea (pronounced Lee-ah, like my sister except hers if spelled with an “h”) joined Ray and me for The Man Who Ate the Town podcast yesterday. We all practiced social distancing and were each on a Zoom chat, Lea in WSNC and Ray in Mt. Airy and I was in the studio. You can hear that episode here.

I produce the Forsyth Mags podcast and was actually a guest on it this morning and talked about the list, as well. You can hear that episode here.

Technically, there are two different lists but that’s only for style and web usage. The data collected therein is shared between Lea and me. Nothing goes on that list unless we have discussed it with the other of us. We have had a great response and are still having people contact us to make sure their business (or a favorite of theirs) is on the list.

It has been shared and/or used by WXII, The Winston-Salem Journal, Yes! Weekly, and multiple Facebook and social media groups. I actually had someone text me today that said the executives at RJ Reynolds was using our list and had used/added it to their “teams” list. I am proud of this list and I know that Lea is, too. We talk about it all day every day, now. Someone is working on it now to make it more dynamic for cell phones and we will turn it into an app as soon as we can. We’re working on that, too. So, to update you on the list, you can find it here.

Thanks again for reading it and listening and for spending money at the local F&B businesses.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Hope this is over soon and we get to see you here.” – Nui Nui

Day Three Quarantine or: More Food News

19 Thursday Mar 2020

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Salutations™!!man who ate the town Stallone

Today was another day of working from home but like the last two days, I’ve been working on the food list. It’s been hard work but I published it. There’s the blog post that I started and then there’s the services list that I put on my The Man Who Ate the Town website. It’s the most comprehensive list for WSNC that I’ve seen. Lea Metz, a friend who has ties to the food industry and I have (and will continue to) worked our butts off on this.

You can see the update here.

I’m going to bed, now.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Great info and very helpful” – Alice Dodson

Day Two or: More Food Stuffs

18 Wednesday Mar 2020

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Salutations™!!

20200317_155633

Over the last two days, I have written more blog posts at TMWATT and definitely have edited one more than any other post that I’ve ever done. And, we are still hanging out working here at home, The BCPF and I. Working from home for both of us have been really busy. She’s been dealing with canceling functions through her work because of the “illness-that-shall-not-be-named” and I have been doing all the updates for the food and beverage industry.

We’re hanging in, though. If you want to catch up on that list, you can do so here.

I also posted a TLD episode today. You can hear that here.

Until tomorrow, wash your damn hands!
Scorp out!

—
“Thank you for doing what you do!” – Chelsea Tart

Eating The Town, Still or: A Whole New List

17 Tuesday Mar 2020

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Salutations™!!

Whew! I have spent the entire day compiling a list of restaurants in WSNC and what they’re doing during the gathering lockdown. I’m not going to mention that pesky bug going around because Facebook poo-poos on that. Anywhat! Over at The Man Who Ate the Town, I posted (and will continue to post and update) this post. Support your local businesses.

man who ate the town Stallone

Until tomorrow, wash your damn hands…
Scorp out!

—
“You are the man…” – Kinsey Anne