Newsletter No. 6: Cover songs, cancellations, Beasties, etc.
Friends! Lovers! Muppets!*
Do you have big plans this weekend? I do, for once — I'm seeing the new Warhol exhibit at the Whitney! Not to get too crazy, but I may even dare to roast a chicken, binge-watch that Julia Roberts series and make a few decorative handprint turkeys.
My veins are pulsating with coffee and dreams, so let's get on with the show.
* Zoot is very underrated, Muppet-wise.
11 things I'm into right now ...
A few things blowing my hair back this week:
1. Hot dang, this Beastie Boys book is on fire. Released last week, BEASTIE BOYS BOOK comes from the only guys who could write it, Michael Diamond and Adam Horovitz. Shout-out to my friend Greg for telling me the 12-hour audiobook is unprecedented; readers include Amy Poehler, Bette Midler (!), Steve Buscemi, Kim Gordon, LL Cool J and pretty much everybody else you'd ever want in an audiobook. If you've been considering an Audible subscription, now might be the time to take the plunge.
2. TALES FROM THE TOUR BUS is back! The flawless first season of Mike Judge's animated docuseries spotlighted classic country artists, and this season goes for funk. George Clinton gets the first ep, though I'm sure he could've filled several.
3. I know I've mentioned it before, but Ed Brubaker's MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN JUNKIES is a perfect weekend read that'll whet your whistle for a dark, drug-induced, rock 'n' roll-tinged crime story. The graphic novel is illustrated by Sean Phillips, and these two just keep topping themselves.
4. Bob Mould has never, ever done me wrong. In February he releases a new solo record, Sunshine Rock, and the title song is greatgreatgreat.
5. Somehow I missed Chris Stamey's memoir 'til now. A SPY IN THE HOUSE OF LOUD takes us from North Carolina to New York in the late '70s, at the birth of punk and Stamey's influential band, the dB's. If your musical taste touches any part of the punk/New Wave/Southern college rock Venn diagram, this is for you. (A long excerpt is on Amazon, and it includes Stamey's memory of seeing Television for the first time at CBGB.)
6. I'm a big fan of playwright Annie Baker; her Pulitzer Prize-winning play THE FLICK is a must-read that takes place entirely in an old movie theater. Anyway, now seems like a good time to recommend JOHN, her 2015 play that takes place in a Pennsylvania bed and breakfast over Thanksgiving. Check it out! You can, and probably will, read it in a night.
7. If you have a young person in your life (like ages 6-8), you may wanna point them toward NELLIE NUTGRAF, an exclusive story on the children's reading site GetEpic.com. Written by Tom Angleberger and illustrated by Gillian Reid, it follows a young reporter who writes about some of the biggest news stories in history, all with a funny and goofy twist. Kids can read the story or select the audio version and, well, this is pretty much tailor-made for 7-year-old Whitney.
8. I'm a big Drew Droege fan, so I had to listen to his recent appearance on THE PODCAST FOR LAUNDRY. In what he calls a "sad niche podcast," comedian Brett Davis plays a warped version of himself, a guy who's hopelessly obsessed with laundry. From the opening question about detergent (or, as Brett puts it, "What's your 'terge'?"), I was howling.
9. Morrissey covered "Back on the Chain Gang," and don't even pretend (pun intended!) that you don't wanna listen.
10. I must praise Mekado Murphy for writing the only BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY article I needed to read, an insightful feature about the "tooth-maker extraordinaire" who crafted Rami Malek's fake Freddie Mercury teeth. (Turns out he has made several sets of cinematic chompers.)
11. Finally, a big ol' hiss to two things I love that were canceled this week: the podcast DR. GAMESHOW and the TV series ALONE TOGETHER. Perhaps there's a powerful person with good taste reading this who can save them (and fund my highly profitable business idea).
My friend Leanne texted me the other day to alert me of this Zara T-shirt, which seems to have borrowed my likeness. Is it too weird if I buy it?
... And 11 things YOU'RE into right now:
Thanks for all the recs! I always want to hear what movies/TV/books/anything you're enjoying, so feel free to email me or text/leave a voicemail at 929-515-1988. (And yep, I still record new outgoing messages to that number every day.)
At the moment, you really like ...
1. LAST SEEN, the podcast about "the largest unsolved art heist in history";
2. the BINGE MODE: HARRY POTTER podcast;
3. Tom Breihan's engaging and informative THE NUMBER ONES column for Stereogum;
4. A STORM OF SPOILERS, which is usually a GAME OF THRONES podcast but has been delivering fun "off-season" eps about pop-culture topics;
5. paranormal podcast ASTONISHING LEGENDS;
6. the debut release from London band Fightmilk, particularly the catchy, soaring song "Dream Phone" (thanks, Aug!);
7. the documentary FREE SOLO, which one reader calls "an amazing feat of athleticism and filmmaking" that ranks near the top of the roughly 100 films they've seen this year;
8. the AMC series LODGE 49, which may be your most-recommended TV show;
9. THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE on Netflix, which might be your second most-suggested series;
10. IMPOSSIBLE OWLS: ESSAYS by Brian Phillips; and
11. last week's mention of THE COMIC BOOK STORY OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTING reminded Joey of Box Brown's IS THIS GUY FOR REAL?, a graphic novel about the late, great Andy Kaufman.
As always, I adore your taste. Please keep 'em coming.
Kansas City-based reader Michael M. sent me this pic of his FIREFLY tattoo, with "Keep Flying" written in actress Summer Glau's handwriting. (He met Summer at a comic convention and had the presence of mind to get her to write something tat-worthy. Nice!)
Allow me to give a shout-out to the amazing folks at Whistle Salon who have kept me feelin' fancy for many years! Every time I walk outta there, I feel like I'm in a movie montage. You guys are the best.
Bits 'n' pieces:
- Spread the word! Tell folks to subscribe via WhitneyMatheson.com or this page.
- Feel free to send me love notes, freelance opportunities, story tips, podcast/event inquiries or potential band names. Email me at this address or leave a voicemail/text at 929-515-1988.
Thanks! Now go crack open a ginger ale and watch old eps of VOYAGERS! on YouTube. (Remember that show? Anyone?)
The secret word is ARTHRITIS,
*eavesdrops three feet from your table*
Whitney
"My favorite sound is the sound of the needle hitting the record." - Winona Ryder