Bar Crawl Radio

Gene Pritsker--composer and world musician--joined us to share his latest adventures on tour in Europe and composing for and acting in Nettflix's Babylon Berlin. Categorizing the work of Gene Pritsker is impossible. He calls his music "eclectic" but that does not capture his effects for me. Pritsker is dyna-manic and dynamite – he is a ball of human energy – an experimental musician – pulling in sounds for his compositions from wherever his imagination takes him.  I think – Gene would agree – he is primarily a composer – but – he is also --a rapper – DJ – guitarist –a coordinator of music concerts – teacher – now actor --  He has created almost 700 compositions – including, chamber operas – orchestral and chamber works – electro-acoustic music – songs for hip hop and rock ensembles – with accents from many cultures.  Gene is the co-director of Composers Concordance – and has performed, and his work presented, all over the world. Check out the Composers Concordance website for dates of their many concerts around town.

One of his disc covers describes Pritsker as a “mischief-maker and irreverent – there’s a great musician here … you might not like it all, but it is difficult to remain indifferent”

As usual -- we recorded from Gebhard's Beer Culture Bar on W. 72nd Street.

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The plan was that we would talk about films we like as adults and we sort of did that but we talked about a lot of other stuff -- like:

• our daughter's upcoming marriage
• tending bar and working fast and making $$$
• walking home along 9th Avenue
• mid-day martinis and evening martinis
• meeting our friend the professional juggler -- See the Gizmo Guys in action. 
• bangin' on the bar and mics
• "Yes" we're "EXPLICIT" -- podcast cursing --
• -- and "walla walla bing bang"

That's enough for a conversation at a bar -- Yes?

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We talked with Jon Ross the head and founder of MicroAid International at Vino Laventino off Broadway at W. 94th Street.

Jon and his organization go into third world disaster areas after the big boys – NGOs – Government agencies and news media – have left – andhelp rebuild homes and the economy using local resourcesJon has lived a multi-faceted life -- working on Wall Street -- on films in Hollywood [he learned about films at Roger Corman's New World Films] -- built-up a nascent Achilles Club in Los Angeles -- built houses for Habitat for Humanity, and Jon is now building houses in disaster areas -- one at a time. Consider contributing some amount to MicroAid International - Jon is one of the good guys doing important work.

Might be interested to know that we talked to Jon also about his Soothe Your Soles foot toilette business -- but that part did not get into the cut.

Let us know what you think of our programming -- [email protected]

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What about that idea? We tried a business man who is a liar -cheat - con man - maybe, a lyrical president would be a nice change of pace.

This was one of many ideas that came up in our delightful, fun conversations at Gebhard's Beer Culture Bar with three poet/performers who had participated in the World Poetry Movement event called "For a World Without Walls" held at the St. Illuminator's Armenian Apostolic Cathedral  in February 2019.

Let us know what you think about BCR -- and we are always looking for suggestions of show topics -- [email protected]

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This episode is about: How early film experiences -- Changed our lives – Filled us with wonder – Gave us meaning – Put us asleep and woke us up – Amazed our sox off – Filled the lonely times of childhood – Taught us about love and how to be feminine and masculine – Showed us proper ways to act and to drive a wooden stakes into a vampire's heart – Showed us adventures we would never have lived ourselves.

Films we talked about:

• Gone with the Wind
• Dracula
• The Blog
• How the West Was Won
• Summer Magic
• Pollyanna
• Lost Continent
• It's a Wonderful Life
• Sound of Music
• To Kill a Mockingbird
• Mary Poppins
• A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
• The Producers
• Winchester '73
• Alien (only briefly)

Oh, yeah -- AND -- about the coming Zombie Apocalypse <<< you do not want to miss this important information.

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Kathy Kelly has been in Federal Prison four times. Brian Terrell has spent more time in jail than in college and has learned more for it. Becky and I spoke with these two "stars" in the field of Peace Activism at Gabriella's Tequila Bar over wine and margaritas. Becky had a serious ear ache and so drank water -- poor baby.

Kathy and Brian were in town for a court hearing for an earlier action they held outside the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. And - while they were in the City they gathered members of Voices for Creative Nonviolence to protest Lockheed Martin who produced the bomb that a Saudi plan dropped on a bus filled with Yemen children -- dozens were killed outright,

These two amazingly dedicated people shared stories about how they got into activism and explained what these choices have meant to their lives.

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This is our "other other" BCR episode -- the one in which Becky and I just talk. We consider it a form of marriage counseling -- you know -- real talk -- mature talk -- deep listening -- about those areas of our relationship that need to be investigated.

We talked about television.

This BCR episode was recorded at 5 Napkin Burger on Broadway and W. 84th Street. Met the new manager -- Julio -- who treated your BCR hosts very well. We followed the recording by sharing a fat 5N burger - onion rings -- french fries. We recommend -- every so often.

And in case you are passing 5 Napkin Burger and see us recording -- drop in and let us know what you think of our programming -- OR -- email us at [email protected]

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Raphael Espinal is a 30-something NY City Council member from Brooklyn. We first invited him onto BCR when we learned about Raphael's idea for a NYC Night Life Mayor, and his work to end the city's ancient Cabaret Laws that banned dancing at bars -- BCR #6.

Then Raphael joined us for our "Margarita Crawl" -- BCR #16 -- to talk about his "ban plastic straws at bars" initiative. Each time, he was a delightful interview. When we learned that he was running for NYC Public Advocate Raphael joined us again at Gebhard's Beer Culture Bar -- BCR #30.  

He promised us at the time that if he won he would return to the podcast for a follow-up –- Becky and I immediately became Espinal cheerleaders. And anyway – he’s a good guy with great ideas. So, we wanted to keep tabs on how he was doing with the race.

For this extra BCR podcast, Raphael and I talked as he moved from a downtown Educational Alliance 'meet the candidates' event, to a show with Ilana Glazer at WNYC's Greene Space.

It is a revealing conversation with a young politician trying to do the right thing for his city -- and maybe a bit more.

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