Can you hear me, Long Beach?

On Episode #16 of “CAN YOU HEAR ME, LONG BEACH? No artform hits us deeper, sparks more memories, inflames more passion, or arguments, than music. We talked to two men—Eckart Preu of the Long Beach Symphony and James Bass of the Camerata Singers—who say music saved their lives, in a very real, "If not for it, I may not be here today," kinda way.

Of course, music has also become their livelihoods, and we spoke of how they go about doing that every day. Both men took over their present positions in 2017 and each is about to launch a new season; Long Beach Symphony opens Sept. 28, the Camerata Singers first performance is Oct. 13.

We first spoke with Eckart Preu (pronounced PROY), music director of the Long Beach Symphony. If you've only experienced Preu conducting on stage then your impressions are of an imposing, what the New York Times called, "fiery" individual. When he conducted Beethoven’s Ninth, last spring, we wrote that he attacked Beethoven’s masterpiece as if "it had run over his dog."

But meeting Eckart Preu is a whole other thing; he's funny and personable. We spoke to him about not only the art of conducting but the business of it that means you can’t always be as friendly as you’d like. We also talked about his growing up in East Germany and how music got him through that, alive. Oh, and for a few glorious moments, we spoke of Sade.

Like Preu, James Bass gets it. Approachable and funny, he understands better than most that music not only has the power to change lives but to do it in a moment because it changed the course of his life in an instant in grade school. Music eventually delivered him from a hard-scrabble life in Florida that he says he’s not sure he would have survived.

Bass, who also teaches singing at UCLA, is artistic director of the Camareta Singers, the classical music choir that performs on its own and with local music outfits such as the LB Symphony and Musica Angelica. We spoke with him about musical salvation, the unique pull of the human voice and what a good time it is to be a singer.

0:40 Ekart Preu shares how music saved his life and became his livelihood

2:50 That time he scared the hell out of that singer

34:54 Steve and Ekart have a moment, A Sade moment

39:40 James Bass talks about how he went from growing up in Florida to directing the Camerata Singers

1:19:22 What sound is that, Steve?

On Episode #15 of “CAN YOU HEAR ME, LONG BEACH?” It was just six years ago that the Cambodia Town Film Festival was a fledgling event struggling to get films to show. Today, it's one of the cultural highlights of the year in Long Beach and beyond. We spoke with festival co-founders praCh Ly and Caylee So.

praCh Ly has been described as the first Cambodian hip hop star, his album "Dalama" went No. 1 in Cambodia, 20 years ago. He's not only a founder of the festival but a producer on "In the Life of Music," the feature-length film that opens the festival and that is Cambodia's official entry for Academy Award consideration. As if that wasn't enough, on Saturday, praCh will be performing "Dalama" in its entirety, with help from lots of friends. Prach spoke with Sarah Bennett about the festival and about getting back on stage, perhaps for the last time.

Besides being a co-founder of the Cambodia Town Film Festival, Cayle is the co-writer, co-director and co-producer of “In the Life of Music.” She has had a circuitous journey to her craft, one that included two stints in Iraq as a member of the U.S. military. She spoike with Steve Lowery about the painful moment she told her parents she was joining the military, as well as what responsibilities Cambodian artists have and don’t have when it comes to producing work about the genocide. She also talks about, perhaps, her most amazing accomplishment, giving birth to, and raising, two children while producing, directing and writing a full-length feature movie. Not surprisingly, Caylee was wearing a Wonder Woman T-shirt while being interviewed.

1:06 PraCh Ly talks about his journey to being a No. 1 Cambodian hip hop artist

31:06 Ly shifting from music to film and starting the Cambodia Town Film Festival

47:24 Caylee So talks about making “In the Life of Music”, and her journey to get there

1:01:37 How So went from the armed forces into filmmaking

1:15:48 So’s experience being directed by her dramatic 2-year-old

On Episode #14 of “CAN YOU HEAR ME, LONG BEACH?” Downtown Long Beach has long struggled to stay relevant, what the kids call "hot." We talked to two people whose business/organization helps validate the direction of the area while gambling that enough people will be attracted to keep everything going.

First, Ron Nelson, executive director of the Long Beach Museum of Art, speaks to Asia Morris and Steve Lowery about the museum's new downtown space located at 3rd and Elm. This is the second time the museum has come downtown and Nelson believes conditions are right this time for them to stay. He also thinks artists should charge more for their work. Right?

Andy George's Toxic Toast Records is celebrating its fifth year downtown, an experience that seems to have been, shall we say, mixed, given the comically pained way he reacts to the question "How is it dealing with the city?" Still, George has doubled down on his initial investment, opening a performance space—Toxic Toast Theatre—next door to his record store (and his adorable doggy friend, Toast). Asia, Steve and Cheantay Jensen, who profiled Toxic Toast Theatre, spoke with Andy about all of this and why he should be listening to the Monks. YOU ALL SHOULD BE LISTENING TO THE MONKS.

On Episode #13 of “CAN YOU HEAR ME, LONG BEACH?” Long Beach Comic Con is happening again, Aug. 31 - Sept. 1, though it will be a first for Samantha Strelitz, a Long Beach native who plays Mary-Beth Gaskill on the very successful Red Dead Redemption 2. How successful? It pulled in better than $725 million its first weekend of release. Strelitz, who now lives in New York, talked about the making of RDR2, how it led to an additional career as a gaming commentator, the ins and outs of dating a gamer and what's the first thing she does when she gets back to the beach.

Gaming and pop culture commentator Curtis Herod, who took part in the Strelitz interview, sticks around to talk about what makes Long Beach Comic Con different, and better, than some other similar productions, as well as what he's looking forward to seeing.

Asia Morris and Steve Lowery talk about things to this weekend and breakfast ethics.

1:56 Samantha Strelitz talks about her acting career and being in Red Dead Redemption 2

7:45 How do you correctly pronounce “Strelitz”

11:00 How dating gamers impacted Strelitz’ career

15:05 Sam is going to be at Long Beach Comic Con

30:22 Sam’s Long Beach cred and shout outs

34:34 Long Beach Comic Con is coming this weekend and Curtis tells us whats up

43:15 What’s happening this weekend and breakfast ethics with Steve and Asia

45:55 Don’t tell me about your cornhole

53:05 The answer is toasted flax seeds

57:09 What “dead red” means

On Episode #12 of “CAN YOU HEAR ME, LONG BEACH?” we’re going back to school with journalism professor, and Post contributor, Barbara Kingsley-Wilson, who talked about what it was like to work at the Post this summer and what’s the present state of journalism and journalism students? Like any good reporter, she poses the questions that beg being asked, in this case: can you say “bullshit” on this podcast. Listen and learn!

We stay on campus with Amanda Fruta, who manages communications for Cal State Long Beach’s contemporary art museum. A lot has gone on at the museum: a director was let go, an artist shut down their own exhibition because the director was let go, the museum received a sizeable donation, has plans to expand and got a new name, the Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum.

On Episode #11 of "CAN YOU HEAR ME, LONG BEACH?" we journeyed out to talk with folks about living and loving the city. T, podcasting from Rose Park Roasters in Downtown. Recent transplant—from Iowa, believe it or not—Kat Fatland told us all about the things she loves about living Downtown; it's a lot.

Steve Gerhardt of Walk Long Beach about, well, walking Long Beach; the ins, the outs, the places where the sidewalk ends, how pedestrians and cyclists get along, why a lot of business owners don't realize that pedestrians are their best customers and what are some of his favorite walks? (We're guessing none of them are downtown to the Queen Mary, a trek that USA Today, which recently named Long Beach one of the 10 most walkable cities, said is a common stroll for residents. Yeah, right after sauntering from Belmont Shore to LB Airport.) And the rather wonderful, very funny Nancy Lynee Woo dropped by to talk about her Lucky Seven Performance Roulette event at DiPiazza's on August 15 and stuck around to talk poetry.

On Episode #10 of “CAN YOU HEAR ME, LONG BEACH?” Solimar Salas recently got a new job description at the Museum of Latin American Art: she is now the Vice President of Museum Content and Programming. If it sounds rather wide-ranging, it is; Salas is now responsible not only for the museum's content but educational programs, marketing, branding and communications. She spoke about her new duties and the ongoing mission of MoLAA made all the more complicated during these times when Latin American culture finds sometimes scrutinized under the hot lights of the present political atmosphere.

If you've been to the Art of Bloom installation, you know that its engagement of the senses can be both wondrous and jarring. Yosh Han is the person responsible for connecting with participants through their sense of smell. As one of the leading perfumers in the world, Han has a scent sense so fine-tuned that she's capable of recreating, as she did for the exhibit, the smell of two friends walking silently through a forest. She talked about how she does that and about her concerns that some younger people believe their sense of smell is as useless as their pinkie.

Asia Morris and Steve Lowery talk about what to do this weekend in our weekly roundup of "The 7," and Val Osier drops by to help remind everyone that the "Can You Hear Me" crew will be conducting Office Hours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Rose Park Roasters (800 Pine Ave) where we will have one microphone primed and ready to go for anyone who has something to say. You get FIVE MINUTES.

On Episode #9 of "CAN YOU HEAR ME, LONG BEACH?" Bobby Dee is a practical guy; he instructs the ‘80s bands he promotes to play only hits because nobody “wants to hear the new stuff” and always has a lot of TVs in his restaurants because “most couples don’t like each other.” Though claiming to be painfully shy during our interview, he was a treasure trove of backstage stories—“So I said [to Morrissey], do you think I’m the waiter?!?”—and hard truths about the music business—“The only way you make money is touring.” Dee is one of the most successful concert promoters in the country, having partnered with Snoop Dogg to create Uncle Snoops Army. The pair created the just-completed, Once Upon A Time in the LBC festival that recently played two sold-out shows at Queen Mary Park. Bobby Dee Presents, started by his father, has and continues to promote a wide array of artists, from New Kids on the Block to Easy E to Morrissey to Snoop to Los Lobos and the B-52s. Shy or not, he had a lot to say about it all.

Bourbon Jones was formed in the early 90s and went on to become not only one of Long Beach's most popular bands—their residency at the since-passed Blue Café was the place to be on Sundays—but a lynchpin in the city's rock and blues scene. Members of the band played in multiple other bands such as the Dibs, Mickey’s Big Mouth, Johnny Jones, and many, many more. But, as with all bands, life happens. People get married, have kids and move away. The band still gets together to play from time to time, as they did last week at Alex’s Bar. We caught up with singer Chris Hanlin and bass player Mario Barmosca, and talked about the Long Beach scene then and now as well as what the years change about music and what always stays the same.

On Episode #8 of “CAN YOU HEAR ME, LONG BEACH?” Jay Howell, creator of the characters for Bob's Burgers, spoke with Brian Addison at a live Pow! Wow! Long Beach event about working hard and selling out. For a guy who's accomplished so much—he's also the creator of Nickelodeon's "Sanjay and Craig"—Howell's is remarkably humble and practical, to wit: "Just be good when you're good" and "WHOEVER WORKS THE HARDEST, WINS. IT SUCKS TO SAY, I'M SORRY, BUT IT'S TRUE." He'll also draw your dog. He said so.

Asia Morris updates us on POW! WOW! Long Beach, including the Art of Blood installation at the Edison Theater and hopes more murals will find their way north next year.

2:00 Jay Howell talks about making money with art

9:30 How Jay got involved in Bob's Burgers

13:15 How Jay stopped being involved in Bob's Burgers

20:10 Diversity on the television

24:50 An almost bar-fight turns into a job

33:30 Steve and Asia talk about how POW! WOW! is HOT

40:45 The Art of Bloom is at the Edison Theater

45:20 "Can You Hear Me Long Beach?" is coming to a coffee shop near you

On Episode #7 of “CAN YOU HEAR ME, LONG BEACH?” Chris Lowe of Cal State Long Beach’s Shark Lab talks about all things concerning sharks, stingrays and Spielberg. Lowe, who was brought up on Martha’s Vineyard and actually watched the filming of “Jaws”—the film that came to define sharks for many people—has devoted his professional life to not only educating but demystifying sharks and everything else that lives under the water in hopes that managing people’s fears will lead to them managing the oceans better and more humanely. His Shark Lab will be hosting its annual open house on Saturday, July 20. He talked about that, comic books, stingrays and, yes, "Do do do do do do do do!"

The band Stormhouse recently released its first, full-length album. The band spoke with Nani of Rad Dog about the album, some local gigs they have coming up—including a July 26 show at Alex’s Bar—and the connection between them, Elvis and Bigfoot.

Asia Morris uses the time usually carved for “The 7” things to this weekend, to focus completely on the Pow! Wow! Long Beach mural festival which launches Sunday, runs for a week and will once again change the face of Long Beach.

0:00 Steve hates raccoons

1:30 Chris Low discusses SHARKS!

19:45 Baby shark... (Do do do do do do)

22:05 See a shark? (Do do do do do do)

30:00 Stormhouse origin story

33:15 Being in a band with your ex

38:20 When your dad is an Elvis impersonator

41:00 When your dad is a Bigfoot hunter

44:35 This weekend is Pow!Wow!

51:50 There are no raccoons in the production of this podcast