Episode 1012: Comedian Marcus Hawkins and Rock Band Animal Sun, Steven Blake

Podcast Version

Episode 1012: Comedian Marcus Hawkins and Rock Band Animal Sun, Steven Blake 

This week on JUST TALKING we celebrated “Hawkinsmas” with comedian Marcus Hawkins. The Holiday Tree bared many gifts wrapped in WOKENESS!  But the greatest gift of all — front teeth!  “If you have no front teeth you’re automatically a crackhead!” The METAVERSE is screaming for comedy but can today’s “unwoke comedian” make it off Santa’s blacklist? Marcus says “I’m gonna give YOU what YOU need, not what YOU want.”  Merry CHRISTMAS!

Steven Blake from Animal Sun is back on STRIKE A CHORD to promote their new music video Safe not Sound.  “It explores the darker weird obsessions in our lives.”  After adjusting his curly locks Steven’s Marlon Brando vibes bring out the dark eye-liner in all of us.  “We know what we want out of this record.”  Animal Sun is constantly evolving, pushing boundaries — “reinventing the wheel a little bit.” The new album Generation Waiting (Coming Soon) is a mix of 80’s pop—BUT more importantly Animal Sun wants us to be thinking about—“being present—being in the moment.” Follow Animal Sun on all platforms.  

Episode 1011: 2021 Video Game Awards, Dan Mitre

Podcast Version

Episode 1011: 2021 Video Game Awards, Dan Mitre

What the hell is the Metaverse? Whatever it is Dan Mitre Associate Director of Community Development at Ubisoft joins us on JUST TALKING and pulls out the 2021 Video Game Awards.  Wasssss uuuuppppppp!  Game of the year is up for grabs!  Out of the six nominee’s Dan goes for…. we’re not going to tell you!  Log in!  The world is going digital—forget about the traditional courting rituals like eating out at a restaurant for your first date.  Why not test the strength of a pre-marriage commitment with the game It Takes Two—"it’s either going to make or break your relationship over the puzzles."  Not sure what gift you should get for the gamer in your life?  The top six nominee’s: Deathloop, It Takes Two, Metroid Dread, Psychonauts 2, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart and Resident Evil Village are absolute stocking stuffers! The Video Game Awards have become the new Oscar’s for voiceover actors.  Move over animation, TV and Film because Far Cry 6’s Giancarlo Esposito performance takes the 1-up mushroom!  Video games continue to be a major driving force behind the rise of Esports with a revenue stream greater than movie and music industries combined.  2019 League of Legends had more viewers than the Super Bowl!  OK Zuckerberg we’re on to you!  There’s always been a Metaverse! Remember a game called Second Life?  “You can go meta upon meta” — GAMING INVENTED META! Watch the Video Game Awards Streaming Live Thursday, December 9, https://thegameawards.com

Episode 1010: Midwest Punk Rock, Avenues

Podcast Version

Episode 1010: Midwest Punk Rock Avenues

We’re cursed for the next 20 years!  Los Angeles Lakers basketball sports venue The Staples Center will now be called Crypto.com! What’s next? Is Dodger Stadium now going to be called Doge-stadium! Former world champion boxer Mike Tyson “dies” on TOAD VENOM but was resuscitated with a slap in the face by his psychoactive training coach Captain Cannabis. Technophile corporations are bored with mining your personal data.  Amazon One uses your “hand print” to pay for goods, services and entering music venues.  In an open letter many artists and musicians are against using biometrics to track people citing—“hand jobs are a private currency!” Taylor Swift runs out of ex-boyfriends to sing about and plans to re-record her first six albums — girl, shake it off and let it go! Who’s on YOU?  Serial killer fantasy victim Laura Ingraham goes full on Abbott and Costello with Raymond Arroyo and nobody gets the joke.  Click here to confirm “You are a Slut.”  Instagram now wants police style mugshots to prove you are worthy of the SpankBang?!  What happened to good old Captcha?!

Strike a Chrod

Milwaukee punk rock band Avenues joins STRIKE A CHORD to release their new album “We’re All Doomed.”  With insane bass fills, drumming, rhythm and vocals, it took 4 years to make this album.  Drummer Marc Alan Perez suffered an intestinal infection requiring physical therapy to learn how to walk again—fortunately for this album he is back at the drums!  Every rock band has their quirks and for Avenues it’s Galaga!  YES the 80’s arcade greatest video game of all time Galaga!  Vocalist/guitarist Vin Smith was at a regional Galaga competition when the album dropped—“when duty calls you’ve gotta blow up some battleships!”  We call that the Galaga Incident!  The album “We’re All Doomed” is exceptionally important to the band—it screams a message about determination and commitment to your craft as an artist. Listen, follow and support Avenues at: https://www.facebook.com/AvenuesMKE

Episode 1009: Actor Vin Vescio | See You Next Christmas

Podcast Version

Episode 1009: Actor Vin Vescio | See You Next Christmas

Hot Girl Summer to No Nut November! 81% of single men said SEX is now LESS important than it was pre-pandemic.  What?—NO horizontal hokey pokey?  Before heading off to enjoy your favorite band at a live event make sure to follow these 8 TIPS to surviving a Travis Scott concert. Paul Rudd is crowned as People's Sexiest Man Alive for 2021.  This completely explains the latest Millennial BABY BOOM during the pandemic.   Raw dogging is UP and the hokey pokey is DOWN! 

Just Talking

Let’s go to the movies!  Film Actor Vin Vescio joins JUST TALKING complete with costume.  Wearing a custom made Christmas Snowman sweater—made by his girlfriend.  Vin gets us into the Christmas spirit with his film See You Next Christmas.  Most actors start in theater and work their way up looking for their big break.  OR you can do what Vin did—accidentally audition for a bartender role with George Wendt (Norm from Cheers) doing improv and then “everyone knows your name!”  Vin plays supportive husband Tom Clark in See You Next Christmas a millennial Rom-Com about two binary pronoun specific gender defined singles who find themselves hooking up at the yearly “Clarkmas” party.  Holiday parties can lead to awkward conversations.  BUT the question is—how do you get out of them?   Vin offers the same advice for surviving a music concert. Pivot with the crowd, hydrate, always have exit strategy, exit strategy, exit strategy and no hot apps!  Everyone should have a “Clarkmas” party.  Watch See You Next Christmas on major streaming services. https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/see-you-next-christmas/id1588992086

Episode 1008: German Indie-Pop Band, Kid Dad

Podcast Version

Episode 1008: German Indie-Pop Band, Kid Dad

Strike a Chord

German Indie Pop Band, Kid Dad joins STRIKE A CHORD to promote their EP BLOOM. Why does a German band care so much about America?  Their track “As Soon As America” breaks it down.   Bands like Green Day and Blink 182 were inspirational to Kid Dad.  The idea of “having multiple cultures coming together in a melting pot can become who they are.”  German millennials are facing similar adult pressures to Americans — get a real job, go to university, make real money not bitcoin!  But Kid Dad romances about a “gigantic earth that loves and cares for each other.”   It’s an endearing sentiment resonating in “As Soon As America.”  The EP BLOOM is a “bouquet of 5 different flowers that blossom in very different colors.”  Not conforming to the genre box Kid Dad’s new EP BLOOM evolves from the past dark grunge label to the “good vibes” colorful songs they could identify with most. Germans are often labeled as serious but the track “Apartment” is a joking matter.  It’s one of the few videos where the band is smiling and laughing.  Kid Dad is emotional, fun and serious all at the same time—it’s a roller coaster ride!  Follow at https://www.kid-dad.com

Episode 1007: Actor Luis Antonio Aldana, Acuitzeramo

Podcast Version

Episode 1007: Actor Luis Antonio Aldana, Acuitzeramo

Sorry kids no candy this Halloween we’ve got supply chain issues! President Biden brings an 85 vehicle motorcade to Rome to combat global warming in Glasgow, Scotland—while China and India say “puff, puff, pass.” Condoms are the latest threat to climate change.  The big question is will Vegans swallow to save the planet? The Babylon Bee released their new book: “The Babylon Bee Guide to Wokeness”—how to take your wordiness to the next level. Resident lizard alien Mark Zuckerberg announced Facebook will now be called “Meta.” A dystopian virtual world where your alt-right uncle can be “re-cancelled” all over again. Here we go again! Should straight actors play queer roles? Benedict Cumberbatch doesn’t want his dance card to be public—“Do we have to explain all our private moments in our sexual history?”

Just Talking

2021 Next Generation Indie Film Awards BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, Luis Antonio Aldana joins JUST TALKING.  It was only a year ago Acuitzeramo Director Miguel Angel Caballero was on the show to promote the film.  Besides picking up awards world-wide Acuitzeramo is a conversation starter.  Identity in films is important.   These types of stories are becoming more mainstream—“we don’t really get to see the stories about queer elders in rural towns.”  Luis’s character Anthony (the son) plays a major role in providing an impartial viewpoint—“it’s about empathy, it’s about understanding someone else’s story.”  Today’s storytellers have an obligation to create original and unspoken stories. Acuitzeramo is available on HBO MAX starting January 2022. 

Episode 1006: Sports Contributor Kevin Drake and Indie Pop Singer/Songwriter Cloe Wilder

Podcast Version

Episode 1006: Sports Contributor Kevin Drake and Indie Pop Singer/Songwriter Cloe Wilder

Just Talking

CCS Sports Contributor Kevin Drake joins JUST TALKING to spit game! First up to bat the 2021 Major League Baseball World Series!  Kevin wants revenge for the Dodgers loss to Astros—BUT first got to get past the Braves.  The MLB gave Candy Digital their entire catalog to use for NFTs.  Will baseball fans buy a rare Babe Ruth or Jackie Robinson digital baseball card?  The NBA season kicked off its75th season.  Will the Milwaukee Bucks pull a repeat win against the Brooklyn Nets minus Kyrie Irving?  Well Charles Barkley isn’t happy: “you don’t get the vaccine for yourself…family first then your team.”  The Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy is still up for grabs.   Kevin picks the Golden State Warriors.  China gives the NBA a sad Emoji :( and pulled all Boston Celtics games from the Chinese internet after Enes Kanter posts Xi Jinping a “brutal dictator.”  Gotta know when to hold them, know when to fold them—right LeBron?  Follow Kevin at: https://www.chriscollinsshow.com

STRIKE A CHORD

 Indie Pop Singer/Songwriter Cloe Wilder joins STRIKE A CHORD to talk about her new EP “Teenage Lullabies.”  The vibe is good and Cloe is good!   While on lockdown in Los Angeles, Cloe has been making a ton of new music.  Cloe’s latest track “In the Next Life” has a music video with its own backstory—and tells her Instagram following: “This is an entirely alternative video from what I had originally planned to use.”  “In the Next Life” is a thoughtful track about remembering loved ones—AND knowing there’s comfort in “seeing them again.” Great lyrics—a MUST HEAR! Support and follow at: https://www.cloewilder.com

Episode 1004: Cameron Sorsby, Praxis CEO

Podcast Version

Episode 1004: Cameron Sorsby, Praxis CEO

Praxis CEO, Cameron Sorsby joins a second semester on JUST TALKING. Millennials are confused about which direction to take their careers—GO the traditional college route OR join Praxis—OR third option — become a Millennial Mobster?!  Chris is clearly not ready for the mobster life.  He’s always on his phone posting on social media providing evidence to the crimes—NOT good for the MOB!  So rather than having to work your way up the Chris “The Chatty Kathy Boss” Collins crime ladder—join Praxis. “It’s a one year apprenticeship program, helping hard working ambitious young people start their careers strong.”  With the cost of college going up and the experience of “Zoom Education” bringing students down, college alternatives like Praxis should make young people ask— WHY University?  Learn more about Praxis, https://discoverpraxis.com

Episode 1003: Lead Singer/Guitarist Chris Newhard Sleep Cycles

Podcast Version

Episode 1003: Lead Singer/Guitarist Chris Newhard Sleep Cycles 

Lead Singer and Guitarist Chris Newhard from Sleep Cycles joins STRIKE A CHORD.  Sleep Cycles has ex-members from Promise of Redemption, The Color Fred and Tokyo Rose to name a few—SO there’s a bit of historical rock experience to pull from.  We love band origin stories!  There’s always a moment when you’ve either got to shit or get off the pot. With no songs in hand Newhard went to the writing room and banged out some lyrics—AND some funny backstories. We call this winning the rock lottery!  Sleep Cycles links up with Fred Mascherino from Talking Back Sunday to produce “The 88 (eighty-eight)” and “Come On and Say It” (feat. Fred Mascherino).  Sleep Cycles has definitely been wide awake making some kick ass music! Listen and Follow at https://www.facebook.com/SleepCyclesPA

Episode 1002: American Rock Band, Astoria State

Podcast Version

Episode 1002: American Rock Band, Astoria State 

No strangers to the toil and grind of the Music business, the members of Astoria State have been professional musicians and road warriors in bands for the past decade.   They’ve been supporting members in various projects, and have now decided the time is right to step forward and take the lead roles in a project they’ve been visualizing together for years.   With the release of the thought-provoking yet hopeful new single “Nobody Knows“, Astoria State are ready to take on that challenge. https://astoriastate.com/

King Foolish aka Danny Resnick the vocalist/guitarist for Astoria State joins STRIKE A CHORD. They say it takes about 10 years for a band to make it!  In the case of Astoria State it started back in the 2000’s when Danny met Jessie Carroll playing for The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus.  Fast forward a few broken bands, some projects and years later—you get Astoria State!  AND YES Resnick plays keys for TRJA — it’s unconventional but we don’t care.  Astoria State’s NEW EP “The Suffer, The Salvage 2021” is six head-banging guitar jams.  Our favorite track “War” — or maybe a little closer to the heart—Love is a War and always a battlefield.  Resnick wrote the track about those bad love experiences to reflect on how we react and grow from it… “a little bit about life, a lot about love.” Haven’t you heard War is a 4 letter word?  Listen to Astoria State: https://astoriastate.com

Episode 1001: Actor William Moseley, Saving Paradise and Singer-Songwriter Lili Joy

Podcast Version

Episode 1001: Actor William Moseley, Saving Paradise

Film Actor William Moseley joins JUST TALKING to discuss his latest film Saving Paradise. What attracted William to Saving Paradise? — it wasn't a pencil factory! –surprisingly Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men!  If William looks familiar to you it’s because you might know him as Peter Pevensie from The Chronicles of Narnia.  Rumor has it there’s a Chronicles of Narnia TV series on the way—will William be making a cameo appearance?  You have to listen—he tells all on the show.  Watch Saving Paradise on all streaming platforms, https://www.jaysilvermanproductions.com/saving-paradise.

Episode 1001: Singer-Songwriter Lili Joy

Singer/ Songwriter Lili Joy a season 16 Team Blake Sheldon The VOICE contestant joins STRIKE A CHORD to bring the joy of her new single Dandelion. Since the last time Lili Joy was on the show there’s been a few changes.  The trademark blue wig is on hiatus for starters.  BUT Lili Joy has been writing/creating new music during the pandemic—“if there’s one good thing to come out of this… just time to like create….” It’s been a time warp.  Lili went to bed as a sixteen year old and woke up eighteen!  Her new single Dandelion asks the existential questions about growing up.  What should I do?”  “What should I be?” ALSO, check out Lili Joy’s cover of 1960 Patsy Cline’s track Crazy—Lili, you’re not crazy—we're CRAZY for YOU!  Listen to Dandelion: https://soundcloud.com/user-686612984