The Steve Reynolds Program - Issue #9
Loosely timed weekly hello to you!
I have a question for you.
Do you have a car book?
By that, I mean a book you keep in your car (and it doesn't leave the car) for whiling away the time? I used to. I was reminded of this concept when I heard someone use the phrase "pick up book" -- no, not "pickup" like the new horrid, misogynist genre of males who apply strategies to bothering women like they're using video game cheat codes. It's just a way to describe the kind of book you can pick up, start reading at any page and be engrossed.
My car books were like that. Something to focus on while chilling in the Skylark. Now, it's this stupid phone I stare at and I miss the tactile feel of pages and the zone my brain goes in when reading a book.
So put a book in your car today.
Four For The Week
1. Rhythm and Blues Revue (1955) - Browsing Amazon Video, I stumbled onto this curiosity. I love old movies that simulate stage shows or lectures. This one has an MC, corny comedy and some great music. I love the idea of this simulation of a Harlem revue being shown and enraging kids in small towns across America who couldn't see these acts live. Nat King Cole sings one song and his only accompaniment is a conga. Because who wants to hear him with piano and/or orchestra? Gross.
2. Sesión Mexican Style Lager - Full Sail Brewing is a great and dependable brewery. And this seasonal light and crisp beer is back on the shelves. This brew has just a tad more body and bite than the classic Mexican mass beers. Their site has a recipe for a Michelada, but I'm leery. Just as all tomato based pasta sauces need a sauteed anchovy fillet in the base, Micheladas need Clamato. (This recipe does not). There is an alchemy when the ocean is throw into the mix that makes these concoctions that much better.
3. Bone and Sickle - Al Ridenour brings both his scholarly and absurdist sides to examine European folklore in podcast form. And it's invigoratingly great. Al wrote the book Offbeat Food. The title and packaging seemed to suggest it be shelved in the Humor section at chain bookstores and contain facile snark about bad marketing gimmick foods. But nope, it was a deep dive into traditions, beliefs and oddities of Western Civilization. This podcast, inspired by his last book The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas: Roots and Rebirth of the Folkloric Devil delves even further into the roots of our weird world. Plus he has his butler, Wilkinson, narrate parts. Al throws in wild snippets of songs and oddities in it too.
4. Ghost Towns of Oklahoma - The unincorporated town of five residents Cookietown was on weather maps this week. It reminded me of this book from 40 years ago. It is still for sale on some shelves and it's fascinating. Oklahoma, though young, has had a lot of settlements that were formed and dissipated. Guess that's what happens when the government systematically reappropriates land from Native Americans and gives it for free to whites. The freeloaders don't feel connected to their new place and leave when the going's good. Anyways, some great tales and weird tidbits abound.
Me In Public
Friday the 4th I'll be a feature at Headliner's at Rio Bravo Brewing. I got some new material worked in I'm enjoying the heck out of. Tell your ABQ friends to come!