Zig At The Gig podcast

Interview with Diane Kendig.

Diane Kendig is a writer and teacher born and raised in Canton, Ohio, where she currently resides again after decades living and working elsewhere. Kendig’s four poetry chapbooks include the most recent Prison Terms (Main Street Rag, 2018), as well as The Places We Find Ourselves (Finishing Line 2009), Diane Kendig’s Greatest Hits (Pudding House, 2001), and A Tunnel of Flute Song (Cleveland State University 1980). She also co-edited the tribute anthology In the Company of Russell Atkins (Red Giant 2016) and published with photographer Steve Cagan a collection of her translations from Nicaraguan poets, And a Pencil to Write Your Name (Bottom Dog 1986). Her poems and essays have appeared in many anthologies, such as Letters to the World (Red Hen), Colors of a Different Horse (NCTE), Ariadne’s Thread: Contemporary Women’s Journals (Harper and Row), and in over 100 journals, including J Journal, The Minnesota Review, Under the Sun, Ekphrasis, and English Journal. The recipient of two Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Awards in Poetry, Kendig has also received awards from the Fulbright Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities, and she has held artist residencies at Yaddo and at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Her book Prison Terms was a finalist for the Cathy Smith Bowers Contest. She won a Sears Foundation Award for teaching and the Outstanding Educator award at The University of Findlay, where she was a professor for two decades. In addition to her writing and literature classes on campus, she regularly taught in the university’s prison program in medium security. She also has taught at Cleveland State University, Kent State Stark, Cuyahoga Community College (all in Ohio), and Bentley University (in MA), and in the Ohio Arts Council “Artist in Residency” program, in addition to teaching high school Spanish and English in her first years as an educator. Currently Kendig is working on two poetry collections: a bilingual collection of poems, Woman with a Fan, about the Spanish artist Maria Blanchard, and a book of poems, Stays. She curates creative writing sites for libraries, including Read + Write: 30 Days of Poetry for National Poetry Month, and she continues to give readings and to lead creative writing workshops. Diane's info: https://dianekendig.com/

 

Interview with Drew Miller of Boiled In Lead !

Boiled in Lead’s musical recipe features guitar, bass, violin & drums that play country music from many countries with power and emotion. They are the longest-running Celtic punk band in America, and an important part of the foundation of what became Minnesota punk rock; their star is still on the wall at legendary nightclub First Avenue, dating back to their first 7th Street Entry show in 1983. A record release show, presented by KFAI, is confirmed for the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis tomorrow with openers Pop Wagner and the Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band. Tickets can be purchased here. Initial press reception for the new record has been terrific with coverage in (and soon to be in) outlets as diverse as World Music Central, Beatique, Rabble Rouse News, KFAI, The Five Count Radio Show, Mpls Jazz88 Shamrock Shore interview, We Heart Music, ReGen magazine, Strange Currency (NPR’s KMUW), Exclusive Magazine, Ink 19, The Ox in Germany and more. With the eyes of the world on Minnesota, the band understand the irony of releasing an internationalist record at this time in history. Bassist Drew Miller says, “We began recording in the spring of 2024, a very different time. Our goal, as it’s been since 1983, is to bring some joy into people’s lives by loudly reviving dark old folk songs and Irish dance music. The band’s name comes from an 17th Century Irish ballad called “Two Sisters.” In the last verse, the bad one is executed by being boiled in lead. Seemed like a good name for a band starting out in the punk scene.” While Boiled in Lead is known for their Celtic roots, King Of The Dogwoods is much more than that. In fact, it will take more than one listen to take in all that is going on on this record. In a world that is ruled by checking genre boxes, Boiled in Lead is radically eclectic: the Serbian folk song “Adje Jano” sits comfortably alongside strong originals like the title track, and multiple instrumentals from the delicate “Keshenever Bulgar” to the brutal “Fast Reels.” It rewards the listener after one listen, yet has uncommon depth on repeat listenings. Sure there are through lines from the bands career; taking traditional material that excites them (“Bold Lovell”), and finding powerful ways to play it as a rock band. With the strongest four-part harmonies that they have ever had, it’s less wild jam improv but more studied although they always value the element of surprise. Celtic, Americana, World, Cajun can all be found on King of the Dogwoods. Enthusiastic, powerful, technically brilliant, playing a wealth of instruments with extreme dynamics, Boiled In Lead routinely demolishes genres with its highly-identifiable sound. An Onion A&E quote describes the band’s approach well: “…the prime purveyor of a style of Celtic music infused with punk-rock attitude, developing over the years with a hard-driving swirl that combined Irish folk with heavy rock and elements of styles from all over the world. …one of the best bands Minnesota’s ever produced. …even without amplification, Boiled In Lead can summon up furious punk-folk energy.” While in high school, bass player and founder Drew Miller became obsessed with traditional folk. He started the band to turn the volume up and bring those tunes and songs to new audiences. Following their first LP, he met guitarist / vocalist Todd Menton at an Irish session. With distribution from Twin\Tone, the band was soon playing the First Avenue Mainroom, the Winnipeg Folk Festival; that led to a UK record deal and tours in Europe and around the country. The group and the individual musicians have won many Minnesota Music Awards, and toured throughout the US and in Europe. Having played alongside bands like Hüsker Dü, Richard Thompson and Camper Van Beethoven, Boiled in Lead are celebrating more than 40 years on stage and in the studio combining eclectic sounds featuring world music tunes from Irish, Serbian, Bulgarian, Klezmer, and roots American traditions. https://boiledinlead.bandcamp.com

https://boiledinlead.com/

 

Interview with poet Kent Taylor (part 1)

Kent Taylor started writing poetry his freshman year at Ohio Wesleyan University. After quitting medical school at Ohio State University, he returned to Cleveland, and became a charter member of the underground poetry scene that erupted there during the 1960s. His first six books were published by d. a. levy. Taylor moved to San Francisco in 1970. Publications include 24 books and hundreds of appearances in anthologies and periodicals

Link to Kent's New book The Night Always Keeps Something. https://betweenshadowspress.bigcartel.com/product/the-night-always-keeps-something

https://verdantpress.com/checklist/kent-taylor/

 

Interview with Harvey Gold,

 

GOLEMS OF THE RED PLANET is a 3rd wave surf exploration of John Zorn's MASADA songbooks. But let's back up... In l992-l993, composer John Zorn began composing a series of short melodies written in modes found in Ashkenazi Jewish music - a project he called MASADA. Now, over 25 years later, Zorn has composed 613 of these little ditties - the number of commandments found in the Torah. Each of these compositions is written on half a sheet of staff paper (no more than five staves) and written to be performed by any instrumentation. These pieces have been performed by genres as diverse as piano jazz, string quartet, hardcore, all female acapella, salsa, afrobeat, and many many more .... but never SURF!

And as many of us know, the best surf music uses middle-eastern scales. (check out the band Meshugga Beach Party and see for yourselves). So what we're doing is exploring this vast songbook of new Jewish music and exploring it in a 3rd wave surf context - in the vein of bands like Man or Astro-Man? or Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet.

If you're interested in hearing some of our source material, please visit Mark's Masada World page and check out some of the "Masada Tunes of the Day."

 

Tickets to June 19th at Beachland 

https://www.beachlandballroom.com/shows/golems-of-the-red-planet-19-jun

Interview with Wasted Society, Cleveland based punk, metal rock and roll band! https://www.facebook.com/WASTEDSOCIETYBAND

 

Interview with author and film maker Jason Prufer!

Jason has been working on a film called Out Of Obscurity, Into Oblivion: A Film About The Numbers Band.

It premiers June-6-26 stay tuned to the Numbers band's media and websites for future showings. https://www.facebook.com/numbersband156075

 

We join Jon as he negatives through the Boston Airport to talk about The Mekon's new album HORROR and HORRORble the Dub companion album!

 

Mekons, who will be celebrating their 50^th year in 2027, will be touring in support of the upcoming re-release of their 2025 album HORROR on June 12 in conjunction with a an entire new album of Dub remixes, entitled HORRORble (mekons Vs. Tony Maimone In Dub Conference) by Pere Ubu’s Tony Maimone via Fire Records as a 2xCD, white vinyl and digital configurations and can be ordered here.

June -3-26th Cleveland OH The Mekons at The Music Box Supper Club Tickets here mekons-june3

 

About Jon:

 

 

 

Jon Langford born October 11, 1957, Newport, Monmouthshire is a Welsh-born musician and artist who is presently based in Chicago. He is the younger brother of science-fiction author and critic David Langford

Langford was originally the drummer for the punk band The Mekons when it formed at the University of Leeds in 1977, but he later took up the guitar as other band members left. Since the mid-1980s he has been one of the leaders in incorporating folk and country music into punk rock. He has released a number of solo recordings as well as recordings with other bands outside of The Mekons, most notably the Waco Brothers, which he co-founded after moving to Chicago in the early 1990s. He is involved with the Chicago-based >independent record label >Bloodshot.

Langford is also a prolific and respected visual artist best known for his striking portraits of country music icons including Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Elvis Presley. His multimedia music/spoken-word/video performance, “The Executioner’s Last Songs,” premiered at Alverno College in 2005, and has been performed in several other cities. He illustrated the comic strip Great Pop Things under the pseudonym Chuck Death. Since 2005 he has co-hosted a weekly radio program, “The Eclectic Company,” broadcast on WXRT 93.1 FM in Chicago. He has contributed to This American Life.

Among Langford’s musical side projects have been the Three Johns (with John Hyatt and John (Phillip) Brennan), who released several albums of drum-machine-fueled punk in the 1980s; the country-punk Waco Brothers (with Dean Schlabowske, Tracey Dear, Alan Doughty, Mark Durante, and Mekons drummer Steve Goulding), who have been recording since 1995; the Pine Valley Cosmonauts, a revolving assortment of Chicago musicians who have backed both Langford and other musicians such as Kelly Hogan; and Ship and Pilot. He became a father figure to the local music scene, encouraging many of his labelmates on Bloodshot Records and championing anyone he thought worthy of scrutiny, often lending his services as a musician or visual artist or inviting local musicians to guest on his releases. Langford’s first official solo album, Skull Orchard, a look back at his hometown of Newport, Wales, was released in 1998. He followed it with All the Fame of Lofty Deeds, in 2004, Gold Brick in 2006, and Old Devils in 2010.

Langford is an accomplished artist and is renowned for his multi-layered paintings of famous and forgotten figures from the dawn of country music. Nashville Radio, a collection of his artwork and writings, was published in 2006.

In January and February 2009, Chicago’s Walkabout Theater Company and Collaboraction premiered a stage adaptation of Langford’s Goldbrick that featured a live band, two actors and video projections. In November and December 2009, The House Theatre of Chicago staged a production of “All the Fame of Lofty Deeds”, written by rock journalist Mark Guarino and based on Langford’s art and 2004 solo album.
Collaborations with other musicians

Langford initiated a project, the Pine Valley Cosmonauts, which performs the music of other country music groups. Several alternative country musicians have guested on these recordings.

Langford has guested on numerous recordings, including with Dutch punk band the Ex, The Old 97s, Chip Taylor, as well as Austin, Texas legend Alejandro Escovedo, and has recorded joint albums with Sally Timms, Kevin Coyne, Richard Buckner, Kat Ex and Rosie Flores.

Interview with Toaster Coaster vs. The Weather Machine!!

 

Toaster Coaster vs. The Weather Machine's info 

https://toastercoastervstheweathermachine.com

 

Tickets for May 22nd at Beachland

https://www.beachlandballroom.com/shows/toaster-coaster-vs-the-weather-machine-22-may

Interview with singer songwriter George Usher !

Stevensonville is a 12-part illustrated song-cycle that delves into the myriad goings on in its
namesake locale. Each song and illustration represents a different inhabitant of Stevensonville.
They sometimes reference each other in the manner of Edgar Lee Masters’ Spoon River
Anthology or Thornton Wilder’s Our Town. The characters who people dark, repressed
Stevensonville have their own very unusual and pressing issues to cope with, before they can
gamble on leaving. George Usher’s poetic lyrics and folk-rock and chamber pop musical settings
combine with Laurie Webber’s colorful, magnetic illustrations for a stunning, unique
presentation.
George and illustrator Webber first conceived Stevensonville 30 years ago as a literate, artistic,
musical project. However, Usher’s businesspeople were put off by the projected cost of recording
it and manufacturing album packaging that included the hefty booklet of illustrations in view of
its likely limited commercial prospects. The song cycle was performed live twice over the years,
once at the Bowery Poetry Club in New York City to an enthusiastic audience. Then, it was set
aside and forgotten…until now, when Ahoy Larry Pursuits and Strothard Bulldog Productions
have joined forces to finally produce the album and booklet for George Usher’s Stevensonville,
as it was always intended.
Stevensonville was produced by Tony Shanahan (Patti Smith Group), with Andy York on guitar
(John Mellencamp), Brian Griffin on drums (Brandi Carlile, Black Crowes), Andy Burton on
keyboards (Ian Hunter) and David Mansfield on strings (Bob Dylan, others).
George Usher has been a vital part of New York City music scene since the late 1970’s. The
Village Voice called him, “one of New York’s best pop craftsmen.” He led or was a member of a
number of NYC/Hoboken based bands including The Decoys, Beat Rodeo, The Schramms, and
House Of Usher during the 80’s and 90’s.
Usher co-wrote the title tracks to Bongos frontman Richard Barone’s “Cloud Over Eden” solo
album and River To River EP with Barone. Country chanteuse Laura Cantrell recorded his song,
“Not The Tremblin’ Kind” and made it the title track of her album debut.
 
Over the years, George has released seven solo albums; a 2-CD Anthology 12” LP vinyl  is
available on Bandcamp. He has recorded two collaborative albums with Edward Rogers as well
as two with Lisa Burns, including the critically acclaimed, The Last Day Of Winter.
https://www.facebook.com/p/George-Usher-100063555302040/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0t2r3lAo89AALlzzvpmwwr

 

Interview with singer songwriter, and artist Kelly Foley!

 

Louder Than You Think: A Lo-Fi History of Gary Young & Pavement, the original motion picture soundtrack from the 2023 documentary film, has been confirmed for release via digital outlets, Special Edition CD and black and colored vinyl editions in early 2026 on Independent Project Records. The first single from the soundtrack, “Please Be Happy (For Us),” from Gary Young & Pavement is out today and is available here. Proudly resistant to genres and conventions, the Louder Than You Think soundtrack tells the story of Gary Young, a true original in life and behind the drum kit, who, when he was approaching the ripe old age of 40, joined twenty-somethings Stephen Malkmus and Scott Kannberg (Spiral Stairs) to become the original drummer, as well as producer, for soon-to-be indie royalty Pavement. More than just a soundtrack, the release features rare and never-before-heard tracks from the underappreciated Stockton music scene of the ‘80s and ‘90s, including bands like Fall of Christianity (the Stockton rebels that struck a chord with a teenage Spiral Stairs), CRLLL, The Authorities, Gary Young’s Hospital, and Hot Spit Dancers. The album also includes tracks scored for the film from Edward W. Dahl (Jodorowsky’s Dune) and Noah Georgeson (Joanna Newsom, Devendra Banhart, Cate Le Bon). “Louder Than You Think is the story of original Pavement drummer Gary Young,” said Pavement’s Scott Kannberg. “This soundtrack captures the spirit and warped vision that could only come from Gary and the ‘underbelly of California,’ Stockton!" Pavement themselves make memorable appearances throughout the record with ultra-rare live tracks, as well as something quite special: born as a ditty improvised by Gary during filming, “Please Be Happy (For Us)” turned into something rather special after his old friend Scott ‘Spiral Stairs’ Kannberg created a suitably trippy musical track (spiced with some Stephen Malkmus feedback yowls). It’s both a surprising reunion and a heartwarming send-off recorded for the movie shortly before Gary’s passing in August 2023.

 

https://www.facebook.com/kelly.foley.5458