Onstage with Jim and Tom

Bill Soberanes, also known as Mr. Petaluma, was best known for his 49 years at the Petaluma Argus-Courier but also as the founder of the World Wrist-wrestling Contest, the Ugly Dog Contest, the Houdini Halloween Seance.

A self-described peopleologist, he claimed to have collected over 45000 photos of himself with presidents, sport figures, movie stars, politicians, celebrities, gangsters and ordinary people too. He was one of the great characters in the history of Petaluma.

Jim and Tom welcome Katie Watts, Chris Samson, Harlan Osborne, Chris Linnell and John Sheehy to tell Bill stories celebrate his legacy on the night of his 100th birthday.

Jim & Tom welcome historians Katie Watts and John Sheehy for a deep dive into Petaluma’s history from the the 1920s to the 1970s. We explore how Petaluma became known as the world’s egg basket, Prohibition, speakeasies, massive bootlegging rings, famous people-meeter and Petaluma booster Bill Soberanes, the post-war boom, Gilardi’s, Mayor Helen Putnam, the near decimation of Petaluma’s downtown, how the east side developed and much more.

Jim and Tom welcome historian Rebecca Yerger for a sampling of stories on the history and characters of Calistoga. We talk about the wild life and legacy of Sam Brannan as well as George Yount, Calistoga’s connection to the Donner Party, Edward Turner Bale, “Old Hog Killer”, Leland Stanford (Stanford University), Eadweard Muybridge (father of the motion picture), Mount St. Helena and more.

Rebecca Yerger writes a biweekly history column for the Napa Valley Register.

Jim and Tom welcome Daniel Steinbock to the stage at the Phoenix Theater for an interview and performance on 3/17/20.

We talk about his relationship with the muse, capturing songs from dreams, his relationship with his father, ancestral trauma, personal growth and much more

Setlist

Out of Blue

Sea Inside

Kiss of the Bee

Too Close to You

Recorded at at the Phoenix Theater in Petaluma, CA.

Jim and Tom welcome Maya Songbird to the stage at the Phoenix Theater for an interview and performance on 3/10/20.

We talk about rainbows, what happens when you die, when Maya stopped giving a fuck, growing up in the Castro, how her son is a hater, Maya’s Magic Shop, being a witch, being an empowered woman, being a slut and much more.

Setlist

I Believe in Magic / You Should Be Dancin’

Staying Alive

Disco Bill

Recorded at at the Phoenix Theater in Petaluma, CA.

Jim got Tom a dozen personalized celebrity videos. 52 minutes of dumb fun with friends and foes, old and new.

Jim and Tom welcomes The Band Ice Cream to the stage at the Phoenix Theater for an interview and performance on 3/3/20.

We talk about their reinvention as a band, near death experiences, songwriting, a debilitating hockey injury, apathy and more.

Setlist

Eject

Daily Pep Talk In Front of a Stained Mirror

Big Car

Roses

Recorded at at the Phoenix Theater in Petaluma, CA.

Jim and Tom welcome historian John Sheehy for our longest history feature yet (almost 2 hours!) as we dive deep into the Coast Miwok, the Machiavellian General Vallejo, the 1830’s smallpox epidemic, Petaluma’s Chinese-American and African-American communities in the 19th century, William Bihler, Tom’s favorite explosions, Petaluma's second battle with Santa Rosa, Tom’s favorite murder, booms/busts in Petaluma, Deep Throat at the Mystic and much more.

John Sheehy is the author of "On a River Winding Home" which features stunning photography and intimate historical stories of the Petaluma River Watershed.

Jim and Tom welcomes Clementine Darling to the stage at the Phoenix Theater for an interview and performance on 2/25/20.

Clementine left Seattle ten years ago on a busking trip down the West Coast. We look back on the major events of her last decade that led to the life of music she now lives.

Setlist

The Road

Holy Ghost

Crazy

Fire Map

Recorded at at the Phoenix Theater in Petaluma, CA.

Storytelling episode: Jim and Tom talk COVID-19, deaths inside the Phoenix (2!), tributes to Joel Cox & Nate Reifers, showdowns with local authorities, The Birds premiere at the Phoenix in 1963, anecdotes from big shows, lamenting turning down NWA, nineties punk at the Phoenix and more.