The Department of Tangents Podcast is back from a brief hiatus with a comedy and music packed EP32! The main interview here is with The Upper Crust, the world’s leading Rocque band. They have a great new rock and roll record out called Delusions of Grandeur, and I spoke with the band at their CD release party at Once Ballroom in Boston before they hit the stage. Most bands would kill to have either great songs or a great shtick, and The Upper Crust has both. When I told them I felt that AC/DC and Mott the Hoople sounded like strong influences, they pointed out they had a couple of centuries on both of those bands, so it was a moot point. You see, they first got together in the 18th century, a band of aristocrats performing high-voltage rock in their finest silk and platform boots for the unwashed masses. It sure beat working for a living. You’ll hear guitarist/singer Lord Bendover and bassist Count Bassie talk about their history and philosophy, with drummer Jackie Kickassis joining in here and there.
A couple of samples from the new album:
“Little Castrato”
“Heads Will Roll”
Before the main interview, though, you get a few minutes with Australian sketch group Aunty Donna, who are in the midst of their first North American tour. I saw them at the Wilbur in Boston Monday night, and they put on an impressive show. There are six members, including a live director, film director, and composer. Only three appear onstage, and once that show starts, they never stop moving. They sing and dance, there are pop culture parodies, live-action silent movies with a Katy Perry soundtrack, and a lot of wonderful silliness. If they are coming to your town, you should see them. I grabbed all six members after their show, and after they had greeted a few hundred adoring fans for hugs and autographs.
Wrapping things up, a track from Ali Wong’s new album, Baby Cobra. The Netflix special by the same name put her in the spotlight last year, and she has just released the audio only for it. You can hear a signature bit, “Leaning In,” at the end of the podcast.
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