A bilingual blog by Carmelo Ruiz-Marrero dedicated to all things fun, like music, cinema, comedy and sci-fi. Contact: ruiz@tutanota.com - Un blog bilingüe de Carmelo Ruiz Marrero dedicado a todo lo que sea divertido, como música, cine, comedia y ciencia ficción. Contacto: ruiz@tutanota.com
"Just in time for the last Coachella weekend and Record Store Day, it’s a special ALL-MUSIC EPISODE! We’ve got tunes and tales from Nancy Sinatra, Miguel, Carrie Brownstein, Weird Al Yankovic and Steve Martin. Also, David Crosby chats about crafting his classic California album… Classical maestro Gustavo Dudamel declares his love for all things Aerosmith… Todd Snider gets his wallet stolen by Tony Bennett (well, kinda)… Lars Ulrich bows to the crowd… And Jenny Lewis and Benjamin Booker pitch in as dinnertime DJs."
"To celebrate our 300th episode, we’re telling the DPD origin story! You’ll hear pieces ofour first-ever episode (yes, spooky)… highlights from format-busting conversations with Spike Leeand Elaine Stritch… Advice (and jeers) from our public radio peers…. Behind-the-scenes tales that we’ve never shared before… And a chat with two very special guests, without whom Brendan and Rico literally COULD NOT EXIST! It’s everything but the kitchen sink (and cupcakes)."
This week: “Chappie” star Dev Patel on acting alongside robots and Dames… Dave Barry brings a machete to our etiquette segment… Author Tania James sees life (and loss) through the eyes of a child elephant… Singer Lady Lamb makes a playlist for us, and for her best friend Shervin…”The Cat in the Hat” trumps Dick and Jane… Suggestions from a “mustard sommelier”… We meet “The Wrecking Crew” — the session musicians behind hundreds of ’60s/’70s hits… And more!
This week: Actor Titus Welliver on shooting a gun, canonically … Corin Tucker doesn’t think her band’s music is too awful … Tracee Ellis Ross shares the gift of laughter and a loopy life coach … Comedian Maz Jobrani helps our listeners confront stereotypes and racism, with jokes … Hollywood costume creator Colleen Atwood reveals one dress she won’t be designing … Small, squishy creatures with powerful mouths (and we’re not talking about politics) … Why one type of Chinese cooking is so hot right now, while also less hot than you think … Some splashy history … And a newly-released song from the iconic Pop Staples …
Elle Fanning talks about her extra-curricular activities … Author Gary Shteyngart is only a little failure … Ruben Östlund has made a film that may increase Sweden’s divorce rate … One bubbly coffee entrepreneur explains his innovation … Michelangelo really, really, did not want to paint that ceiling … Patrick Haggerty puts together a playlist for a party in ‘Lavender Country’ … Dan Pashman of The Sporkful builds a bacon tower … Spooky new music from King Tuff … And experiencing a horrifying, immersive, nightmare scenario from which you cannot hide — for fun!
Welcome to The Dinner Party Download, a fast and funny hour of culture, food and conversation: “public radio’s arts & leisure section.” In every episode you’ll learn a joke… bone up on an odd bit of history and then wash it down with a themed cocktail recipe… meet artists of note (for instance Willie Nelson, Venus Williams and Steve Martin)… have your burning etiquette questions answered by the likes of Dick Cavett or Henry Rollins… savor an emerging food trend… and hear your new favorite song. Plus, unconventional wisdom from hosts Rico Gagliano and Brendan Francis Newnam.
English singer-songwriter David Gray joins World Cafe for a full-band performance of songs from his new album, Mutineers. Gray's first record, White Ladder, remains an all-time best-seller in Ireland, and went on to become the first album released on Dave Matthews' ATO Records in the U.S. White Ladder has sold more than seven million copies worldwide. Here, World Cafe's Michaela Majoun has a long discussion with Gray about his difficulty in making the new album, his 10th, and what he's learned while inhabiting music's mainstream.
David Gray (born 13 June 1968[3]) is an English indie rock singer-songwriter.[4] Gray released his first studio album in 1993 and received worldwide attention after the release of White Ladder six years later. It was the first of three UK chart-toppers in six years for Gray, the latter two of which also made the Top 17 in the US. He has been nominated for four Brit Awards – twice for Best British Male.[5]
Welcome to The Dinner Party Download – a fast and funny hour of culture, food and conversation designed to help you “win” your weekend dinner parties. In every episode you’ll learn a joke… bone up on an odd bit of history and then wash it down with a themed cocktail recipe… meet an artist of note (say, Spike Lee or Willie Nelson)… have your burning etiquette questions answered by the likes of Dick Cavett or Henry Rollins… savor an emerging food trend… and hear your new favorite song. Plus, unconventional wisdom from hosts Rico Gagliano and Brendan Francis Newnam.
On The Turntables: Guest DJ Miss Mara By JASMINE GARSD August 14, 2014
When I first arrived in Mexico, I was lucky enough to wind up at a popular bar called El Imperial during one of the coolest DJ sets I've ever heard, courtesy of Miss Mara. Ever since, I try never to miss her sets, because no matter how hard the week has been, no matter what mood I'm in, I know she'll hit me with a fun, eclectic mix. That's a great DJ. That's why I invited Miss Mara to our studios this week: to share her music collection, as well as her insight into what makes young Mexican crowds dance. Enjoy!
Adrian Quesada of Ocote Soul Sounds, Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath, The Echocentrics, and Spanish Gold.
Check out Adrian Quesada guest DJing at NPR's Alt.Latino.
Here is what the show's co-host Félix Contreras had to say:
We asked him on the show in hopes of gleaning some insights into that most ethereal of music-industry gigs: record producer. It's a role that's part therapist, part conductor, part visionary and part techno geek. Here, Quesada gives us a peek into the music and culture that forms the DNA of his bands — including Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath, a Latin funk outfit that's currently getting its Ozzy on. Like many of the artists we feature on Alt.Latino, Quesada is the product of a bi-cultural Latino environment: Musica Tejana rubbed elbows with hip-hop for this child of the MTV generation who grew up on the U.S./Mexico border. To me, the music he makes with his bands (or while producing others) has a soft, almost unnoticeable accent, sort of like my grandfather's. My grandfather was fluent in English, but his rural New Mexico roots were always present in his speech. That influence is obvious in a band like Grupo Fantasma, the retro cumbia and rock outfit that, until recently, Quesada helped lead for many years. But I can also hear it in the mellow, spacey funk romp of Ocote Soul Sounds, a studio project he developed with fellow visionary Martin Perna of Antibalas.
Text by Jasmine Garsd: Brazil is in the spotlight right now, both for the dawn of World Cup festivities and for its tense social and political situation. But on Alt.Latino, Brazil has always been in the spotlight: We constantly dedicate shows to the Latin American giant's rich musical history. On this episode, we follow our own tradition and play new Brazilian artists worth hearing. Our guide is Lewis Robinson, a British DJ whose love of Brazilian music is so great, it led him to assemble Rolê, a stellar 43-song compilation that showcases up-and-coming musicians.
Rene Perez Joglár, lyricist and frontman for Calle 13, didn’t mean to become a revolutionary icon for Latin America’s youth.
“They try to put stamps on you,” Perez tells Latino USA in a one-on-one interview. “It’s more simple than that. It’s just a normal guy, writing about the things he sees around him.”
Calle 13 began life as a potty-mouthed rap group from Puerto Rico. They gained attention for their alternative take on reggaeton, with a style characterized by over-the-top sexual humor and smart punch lines. Over years and albums, their music became more serious and socially engaged, addressing topics like poverty, migration and social justice in Latin America. Musically, they absorbed influences from traditional and folk sounds from the region.
Now, nine years after their debut, Calle 13 has released their most introspective album yet, titled Multi_Viral. Featuring guest spots from leftist icons Eduardo Galeano, Julian Assange and Silvio Rodriguez, the album touches on a lot of “big ideas”: on the resilience of the human spirit in “El Aguante”, on the ephemeral nature of life and death in “La Vida (Respira el Momento)” and on the power of ideas itself in “Así de Grandes Son las Ideas.”
René Perez sits down with Maria Hinojosa for a an intimate interview about his new album.
Below, listen to the songs we played in this segment:
We think Puerto Rico's Alvaro Diaz is the next big rapper to watch out for.
courtesy of the artist.TEXT BY JASMINE GARSD:This week on Alt.Latino, we're just chilling out. And by chilling out, I mean bouncing to Álvaro Díaz, a Puerto Rican rapper we think is the next big thing; dancing to Desechables, a vintage post-Franco Spanish punk outfit; and listening to some deep, thought-provoking tunes from Marisa Ronstadt, cousin of Linda.We never do things halfway — and even when we chill out, we rock out. Join us, and as always, let us know what songs are starting your party and helping you unwind.
This Week: Marc Maron gives etiquette AND time-travel advice… Graphic novelist Mimi Pond lists criminals, spies, and other bohemians … “Man On Wire” tightrope-walker Philippe Petit explores creative chaos… “The Descendants” author Kaui Hart Hemmings tells a new tale… load up on Kleenex ’cause here comes SADvertising… the history of the least respected trophy in sports… and Rico tastes Soylent: the pasty beige future of food. PLUS: Our listeners sound off about mouths and sounds.
