Zappagram #92: Tune in to Strombo!
Tune in to Strombo on Apple Music Hits radio every Mon-Thur + Sun from 5-6pm Pacific
Hey Zappagrammers,
One of my 2024 goals is to include a piece of original artwork in every week’s newsletter. This week, the artwork and quote of the week are both legendary media personality, George Stroumboulopoulos, a.k.a. Strombo.
Back around the time I started the Zappagram podcast (currently on hiatus), I knew I’d be conducting artist interviews, and having never done interviews before, this made me quite nervous. One night, I saw George go live on Instagram and popped into his live. I commented, asking him if he had any advice for someone like myself who was nervous about conducting interviews.
He spotted my question and added me to his live so he could talk directly to me. I didn’t think he’d even see my question, much less respond to it, much less take me live with him to talk to me directly. He didn’t have to give me the time of day, yet he was so kind and gracious and generous with his time and the answers he gave me. We spent probably 6 or 7 minutes chatting. Admittedly, I was pretty awestruck and don’t remember everything he said, but I distinctly recall he told me not to be nervous interviewing musicians, no matter how famous they are, because aside from the fame and all the hoopla surrounding these people, they’re just people. Like you or me.
I was already a huge fan of George and his work, but after that conversation, I realized what a fucking great guy he is. He truly cares about everyone and does his best to help those in need wherever and whenever he can. Look no further than all the humanitarian work he does for further proof of that.
He currently hosts a show on Apple Music Radio every Mon-Thur and on Sunday from 5-6 pm Pacific. He plays only the best music and conducts amazing interviews that go far beyond the surface-level crap most interviews consist of. If you don’t already listen to him, please do.
Also, check out House of Strombo on YouTube, where he has some of music’s biggest artists play shows in his freaking living room! Everyone from Robert Plant to John Prine to Sting to the Melvins to Rufus Wainwright to Spoon to A Tribe Called Quest to The Kills to Broken Social Scene has played his show. He’s interviewed Geddy and Alex from Rush, Chuck D, the Beastie Boys, and too many more to name.
It’s truly one of the best things on YouTube, especially for music fans like us.
Ground control to reader: Take your protein pills. Put your helmet on.
This newsletter ain’t gonna read itself.
“I'm looking for conversations that will be meaningful with people that want to have meaningful connections with an audience.”
—George Stroumboulopoulos
ROCK THE VOTE
:: MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
WEEKLY PLAYLIST
:: NEW MUSIC EVERY WEEK
Featuring: Dylan LeBlanc, Bonny Light Horseman, SHAED, Safari Room, Gruff Rhys, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, Granfergo, Elbow, Keane, Mac Saturn
ZAPPAGRAM #92
ZAPPAGRAM PLAYLIST (ALL WEEKS)
MUSIC NEWS
:: WHAT’S GOING ON
Melanie, ‘Brand New Key’ Folk Singer Who Played Woodstock, Dead at 76
Singer also scored hits with "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)" and a rendition of the Rolling Stones' "Ruby Tuesday" over a career that spanned six decades [RollingStone]
Johnny Ramone’s Widow Sues Joey Ramone’s Brother Over Pete Davidson-Led Biopic
The film is currently in development for Netflix [Consequence]
André 3000 Announces New Blue Sun Tour Dates
The tour runs from Jan. 29 to March 9, with multiple-day stops in San Francisco, California, and Brooklyn, New York [RollingStone]
Apple Music Will Pay Artists More for Higher Quality Audio
The move comes over two years after the company first launched Spatial Audio on the platform [RollingStone]
Pixies, Modest Mouse, and Cat Power Extend Tour
Pixies and Modest Mouse co-headline with support from Chan Marshall on the lengthy North American run [Pitchfork]
Morrissey “Receiving Medical Supervision for Physical Exhaustion”
The news comes after two gigs celebrating 20 years of 'You Are The Quarry' were cancelled [NME]
Bob Dylan Announces Spring 2024 US Tour
The short run through the South kicks off on March 1st [Pitchfork]
Cake Announce 2024 Tour Dates
A run of shows across the midwest and east coast [Consequence]
Alice in Chains Announce Jar of Flies 30th Anniversary Reissue
A box set and single LP variants are expected to arrive in late March [Consequence]
Edward Norton to Replace Benedict Cumberbatch and Play Pete Seeger in New Bob Dylan Movie
A Complete Unknown stars Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan [Pitchfork]
LCD Soundsystem Announces North American ‘Kinda’ Tour
Band finally leaves the confines of New York City for a spring trek that starts in Mexico and ends in Chicago [RollingStone]
Man Plays Deftones and System of a Down Guitar Riffs While Undergoing Brain Surgery
Christian Nolen helped surgeons remove a tumor in his brain by playing guitar and using his cognitive functions [Consequence]
Mr. Bungle Announce Spring 2024 US Tour
The trek stops in numerous cities the band hasn't played since 2000 [Consequence]
Ozzy Won’t Tour Again But Will Play Two More Shows to Say Goodbye
The metal legend plans on performing two farewell gigs in his UK hometown of Birmingham [Consequence]
Melvins’ King Buzzo and Mr. Bungle’s Trevor Dunn Team Up for Summer 2024 US Tour
The Fantômas bandmates will perform together on an extensive acoustic run [Consequence]
Grand Ole Opry Apologizes for Elle King’s Disastrous Dolly Parton Tribute Performance
King acknowledged she didn't know the words to Parton's songs and was "hammered" [Consequence]
Joni Mitchell to Make Grammy Performance Debut at 2024 Award Show
Nine-time Grammy winner and Lifetime Achievement Award recipient had never performed on Music's Biggest Night [RollingStone]
Classic Butthole Surfers Albums to Receive Vinyl Reissues
Matador has launched a new reissue campaign of the Texas band's discography spanning 1983 through 1991 [Consequence]
Z-REX
:: ZAPPA’S RECOMMENDATIONS
IDLES has become one of my favorite bands of the last decade. I’m excited about their new album, Tangk, which drops next month (Feb 16). In anticipation of that, here’s their full performance from Le Bataclan in Paris, recorded in December 2018. This performance was also released as a live album, A Beautiful Thing (Live at Le Bataclan) available wherever you listen to music.
NEW RELEASES
:: RECENTLY DROPPED MUSIC
Future Islands: People Who Aren’t There Anymore [listen]
Gruff Rhys: Sadness Sets Me Free [listen]
Keane: The Night Sky EP [listen]
Sarah Jarosz: Polaroid Lovers [listen]
The Smile: Wall of Eyes [listen]
Ty Segall: Three Bells [listen]
RELEASE RADAR
:: UPCOMING RELEASES
- FEB 2 -
Brittany Howard: What Now
J Mascis: What Do We Do Now
Lee “Scratch” Perry: King Perry
Paul McCartney & Wings: Band on the Run (Underdubbed Mixes)
- FEB 9 -
Chelsea Wolfe: She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She
Les Claypool: Adverse Yaw: The Prawn Song Years
Madi Diaz: Weird Faith
Sonic Youth: Walls Have Ears
Tyler Ramsey: New Lost Ages
- FEB 16 -
Grandaddy: Blu Wav
Idles: Tangk
Matthew Logan Vasquez: Frank’s Full Moon Saloon
Nouvelle Vague: Should I Stay or Should I Go?
Slayer: Show No Mercy (40th Anniversary Edition)
- FEB 23 -
Bombay Bicycle Club – Fantasies EP
Can: Can Live in Paris 1973
Laetitia Sadier: Rooting for Love
MGMT: Loss of Life
Modern English: 1 2 3 4
Motörhead: The Löst Tapes
The Cult: Dreamtime (Vinyl Reissue)
The Waterboys: 1985 (Deluxe Edition)
- MAR 1 -
Faye Webster: Underdressed at the Symphony
Kaiser Chiefs: Kaiser Chiefs’ Easy Eighth Album
Liam Gallagher & John Squire: Liam Gallagher & John Squire
Mannequin Pussy: I Got Heaven
Ministry: HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES
Nils Frahm: Day
Thundercat: Apocalypse (10th Anniversary Edition)
The Who: Live At Shea Stadium 1982
ON THIS DATE
:: MUSICAL HAPPENINGS OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
- JAN 29 -
Birthdays: Tommy Ramone (1952) • Louie Perez of Los Lobos (1953) • Jonny Lang (1981) • Tom Searle of Architects (1987) • Blues singer/guitarist Willie Dixon died of heart failure. (1992)
- JAN 30 -
Birthdays: Marty Balin of Jefferson Airplane (1942) • Phil Collins (1951) • Jody Watley (1961) • The Beatles performed their famous, final concert on the rooftop of their Apple Records building in London.
- JAN 31 -
Birthdays: Terry Kath of Chicago (1946) • Phil Manzanera of Roxy Music (1947) • Johnny Rotten (1956) • Lloyd Cole (1961) • Jeff Hanneman of Slayer (1964) • Justin Timberlake (1981) • Marcus Mumford (1987) • The Beatles spent a second day at Knole Park, Sevenoaks, Kent, England to complete filming for the “Strawberry Fields Forever” video. The film was shot in colour, for the benefit of the US market, since UK television was still broadcasting only in black and white. Taking time out from filming, John Lennon bought a 1843 poster from an antiques shop in Surrey which provided him with most the lyrics for The Beatles song “Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite”. (1967)
- FEB 1 -
Birthdays: Don Everly (1937) • Drummer Jimmy Carl Black who worked with Frank Zappa on Hot Rats (1938) • Rick James (1948) • Mike Campbell of The Heartbreakers (1950) • Lisa Marie Presley (1968) • Patrick Wilson of Weezer (1969) • Big Boi of Outkast (1975) • Laura Marling (1990) • Harry Styles (1994) • RCA Records issued the first ever 45rpm single, the invention of this size record made jukeboxes possible. (1949) • Don Cornelius, the host of Soul Train, who helped break down racial barriers and broaden the reach of Black culture, died. (2012) • Andy Gill of Gang Of Four died. (2020)
- FEB 2 -
Birthdays: Graham Nash (1942) • Ross Valory, bassist for Journey (1949) • Eva Cassidy (1963) • Robert DeLeo, bassist for Stone Temple Pilots (1966) • John Spence of No Doubt (1969) • Ben Mize, drummer for Counting Crows (1971) • Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious died of a heroin overdose in New York City. (1979)
- FEB 3 -
Birthdays: Dave Davies of The Kinks & Melanie Safka (1947) • Arthur “Killer” Kane, bassist of The New York Dolls (1949) • Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth (1956) • Lol Tolhurst of The Cure (1959) • Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens died in a plane crash shortly after take-off from Clear Lake, Iowa. (1959) • Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers performed during the halftime-show of Super Bowl XLII. (2008)
- FEB 4 -
Birthdays: Alice Cooper (1948) • Tim Booth of James (1960) • Natalie Imbruglia (1975) • Fleetwood Mac released Rumours. (1977) • Karen Carpenter died, aged 32, of cardiac arrest at her parent’s house in Downey, California. (1983) • Lux Interior, singer and founding member of The Cramps, died aged 62. (2009)
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Peace and love to all,
🤘🏻🖤
