Category: Music
DoT Podcast EP33: My Infinite Tuesdays with Michael Nesmith, New Music from Banditos
Back in April, Michael Nesmith released his book Infinite Tuesday: An Autobiographical Riff, his take on his 50 years in music, film, and...... Read More
DoT Podcast EP32: Frippery and Foppery with The Upper Crust, Aunty Donna Invades America, and Comedy from Ali Wong
The Department of Tangents Podcast is back from a brief hiatus with a comedy and music packed EP32! The main interview here is...... Read More
AXS TV Re-Airing “Classic Albums” Series
Good news for music geeks! My favorite documentary series – Classic Albums – is back on television, if only for a limited run....... Read More
DoT Podcast EP31 – Rita Rudner’s Comic History, Plus New Music from The Upper Crust
Rita Rudner has been working on an autobiography lately, a considerable undertaking for someone with her history. She has been writing and performing...... Read More
DoT Podcast EP30 – Amy Helm Finds Her Voice and Newly Released Comedy from Bill Hicks
The first thing you should know about Amy Helm is that she’s a fantastic singer/songwriter. In 2015, she released her first solo album,...... Read More
DoT Podcast Episode 29 – A Late-Night “Yes, And” Session with Petey Gibson, Plus Music from Amy Helm
There is a concept in improv called “Yes, And…” which basically means that you take whatever reality your scene partner has presented, accept...... Read More
DoT Podcast EP28 The Women In Comedy Festival 2017 Edition Plus New Music from Scott H. Biram
Last year, I was sad to see one of my favorite festivals, the Women In Comedy Festival, take a hiatus. “Hiatus” can mean...... Read More
DoT Podcast EP27 The Comedians of Awkward Sex and the City and New Music from Sarah Shook & The Disarmers
For EP27 of the podcast, I talked to the comedians of the Awkward Sex and the City tour, including the show’s creator, Natalie...... Read More
Bad Mancinis Celebrate Nick the Lounge Singer at Midnight Tonight with ILL MURRAY
So maybe you’re saying to yourself, I want to hear some deep electronica grooves right now. But you’re also saying, I really love...... Read More
DoT Podcast EP26: Anders Parker on Solitude and Collaboration, New Comedy from Carmen Lynch
Anders Parker has been swerving all over the map, musically, for more than twenty years. He started out as the one-man band Varnaline...... Read More
DoT Podcast EP25: The Sublime Lunacy of Chandler Travis plus New Comedy from Jackie Kashian
We have reached the quarter century mark, in terms of full-length podcasts. And I’m happy to reach that milestone speaking with musician Chandler...... Read More
Kickstarters: Johnny Angel Wendell Makes Some Noise About Sex and Politics
Musician/novelist/radio host Johnny Angel Wendell created a Kickstarter campaign for his new project, an EP called Smut and Politics, on March 20, and...... Read More
DoT Podcast EP24: Joe DeRosa on Horror and Comedy
Joe DeRosa is the perfect subject for the Department of Tangents Podcast. He’s a talented comedian, as evidenced by his new album and...... Read More
Comedy Jam Producers Mike and Tim Duffy Talk Music and Comedy
I love it when any of the themes of this blog overlap in one project, so I was tickled to read about Comedy...... Read More
RIP Chuck Berry – The True King of Rock and Roll
It is impossible to calculate what the world would sound like without Chuck Berry. What would music be? What would a guitar solo...... Read More
DoT Podcast EP23: The One-Year Anniversary “Best Of” Episode
One year ago today, I launched the Department of Tangents Blog & Podcast, a place where I could write about my love of...... Read More
Kier Byrnes & Friends Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Blarney
March is always a busy month for Boston musician Kier Byrnes. He can’t remember exactly when it started, but he has been playing...... Read More
DoT Minicast: Son of the Velvet Rat’s Georg Altziebler Talks the Shimmering New Dorado
Welcome to a new Department of Tangents Minicast with Georg Altziebler, singer/songwriter behind Son of the Velvet Rat. In February, Son of the...... Read More
DoT Podcast EP22: Birds of Chicago on Touring and Love In Wartime, Plus New Comedy from Jenny Zigrino
This week on the Department of Tangents Podcast, a conversation with Allison Russell and JT Nero of Birds of Chicago, plus a preview...... Read More
DoT Podcast EP21: Twenty Years of “The State of the Industry” with Andy Kindler, Music from Birds of Chicago
For twenty years, Andy Kindler has been making hamburger of sacred cows with his State of the Industry Address at the Just For...... Read More
New Release Roundup: New Shades of Blue with Son Volt
Son Volt – Notes of Blue If there is one consistency throughout Jay Farrar’s career, from Uncle Tupelo to Son Volt to New...... Read More
Horror Anthology XX Offers A Quartet of Disturbing Films; Out Feb. 17
XX “Four Deadly Tales from Four Female Filmmakers” Directors: Jovanka Vuckovic, Annie Clark, Roxanne Benjamin, and Karyn Kusama Starring: Natalie Brown (“The Box”),...... Read More
DoT Podcast EP 20: Comedian Nick Vatterott on Being Strange, New Music from the Chandler Travis Philharmonic
Nick Vatterott doesn’t like being strange for the sake of being strange. He won the Andy Kaufman Award in 2011, but he’s uncomfortable...... Read More
Spotify Playlist of Department of Tangents Podcast Guests!
If you’re a Spotify person, I have created a playlist made up of musicians and comedians who have appeared on the Department of...... Read More
New Release Roundup: Mortal Comedy from Joe DeRosa, Chandler Travis’s Strange Pop, Beach Slang’s Energetic Nostalgia
COMEDY 1. Joe DeRosa – You Let Me Down The funniest, most startling bit on Joe DeRosa’s new album, You Let Me Down,...... Read More
DoT Minicast: Glenn Mercer On The Feelies New Album
The Feelies are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year with the release of In Between, their sixth album, on February 24 (look for...... Read More
New Release Roundup: Mega Bog, Frederick the Younger, Rose Cousins, and Duke Garwood
MUSIC 1. Mega Bog – Happy Together The third or fourth time I listened through Happy Together, Mega Bog’s first full-length album since...... Read More
Coming Up: Rosie Carney’s “Awake Me”
Rosie Carney writes haunting music, watery soundscapes with delicate vocals that fit the introspection of the lyrics. She has yet to release a...... Read More
DoT Podcast Ep19: All the Hyphens with Singer/Songwriter/Storyteller/Humorist Don White
I heard Don White on the radio long before I met him. He would tell these wonderful stories about his family, often followed...... Read More