WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:07.919 Hudson River Radio dot com. It beats listening to nothing. Oh my godness, 2 00:00:07.960 --> 00:00:15.320 Being Frank fright where the only way to be is Frank. Hello everyone, 3 00:00:15.480 --> 00:00:19.920 and welcome to Being Frank. We're the only way to be is Frank. 4 00:00:20.480 --> 00:00:23.519 I'm your host, Franklebono, and i'd like to thank you for joining 5 00:00:23.559 --> 00:00:29.559 us on what we like to call the Intelligent conversation podcast, where no conversation 6 00:00:29.719 --> 00:00:35.679 is out of bounds and all points of view are welcome. So I want 7 00:00:35.719 --> 00:00:40.119 to further welcome move to our holiday extravaganza. Well, it's sort of an 8 00:00:40.119 --> 00:00:44.920 extravaganza. I am wearing a Santa Claus hat. Can't see it, but 9 00:00:45.399 --> 00:00:49.600 I am. But we're going to promote the twenty seventh rendition of Blankfest, 10 00:00:49.679 --> 00:00:54.399 a full day of music and revelry whose ultimate goal is to bring free blankets 11 00:00:54.439 --> 00:00:57.960 to the homeless in New York City. And they say that music is the 12 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:03.120 international language. It can be to both soothe and inflame. Poetry also known 13 00:01:03.159 --> 00:01:07.439 as the spoken word, can have the same effect. When well crafted, 14 00:01:07.640 --> 00:01:11.920 they can change the world. It's all in how we apply them. Well, 15 00:01:11.959 --> 00:01:15.719 on this edition of Being Frank, we'll meet three people who use their 16 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:21.159 considerable talents in those arts to make the world a better place for everyone, 17 00:01:21.680 --> 00:01:25.480 especially the less fortunate. And they've been doing it for a long time too. 18 00:01:26.159 --> 00:01:30.040 Their continued efforts could not have come at a better time. Not only 19 00:01:30.359 --> 00:01:34.239 is it the holiday season, and in fact we're recording live to tape, 20 00:01:34.239 --> 00:01:40.200 it's the first evening of Hanukkah, so a wonderful festival of lights for all 21 00:01:40.200 --> 00:01:44.560 who celebrate, and so many innocant people both here and around the world are 22 00:01:44.599 --> 00:01:48.840 suffering as well. So we need to have some good news and have some 23 00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:53.920 fun tonight, some intelligent fun. So without further ado, let me introduce 24 00:01:53.400 --> 00:02:00.480 our guests. First, the Mayastro, the founder of Blankfest uh the U, 25 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:07.000 one of the moving forces, driving forces between behind one of my favorite 26 00:02:07.000 --> 00:02:12.400 bands, The Bag Daddy os Uh. He is ken Raul. Will also 27 00:02:12.439 --> 00:02:16.639 be joined by Yvon Sotomayor, who's a poet living in New York City, 28 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:23.240 and she'll bring her powerful voice to our program tonight. She's relatively new to 29 00:02:23.400 --> 00:02:30.879 Blankfest, but has become a creative force as well there and joining us full 30 00:02:30.960 --> 00:02:35.479 time this time is the man I call the Mailman because he also delivers. 31 00:02:35.599 --> 00:02:38.520 One of the founding members also of the bag daddios. He's their drummer. 32 00:02:38.759 --> 00:02:44.479 Enuff said, we all know a lot about about drummers, and it's all 33 00:02:44.719 --> 00:02:49.800 true. Mister Neil Richter joins us tonight. Thanks everybody, thanks for being 34 00:02:49.840 --> 00:02:55.960 here, and happy holidays to everyone. Happy Honicarday. Yeah, thank you 35 00:02:58.599 --> 00:03:00.800 guys. Let's again, Ken, Why don't we start with you, because 36 00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:06.240 the point of this is to really let people know about Blankfest, which is 37 00:03:06.319 --> 00:03:09.560 coming up. We're taping. It's the seventh of December. It's also the 38 00:03:09.719 --> 00:03:15.120 anniversary of Pearl Harbor, and we never forget December seventh, nineteen forty one, 39 00:03:15.520 --> 00:03:17.639 of course, the day that lived in infamy, but it's also a 40 00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:22.400 happy day as well, on the occasion the Festival of Lights, the first 41 00:03:22.479 --> 00:03:25.599 day of Hanukkah, so there's lots to celebrate. And coming up on the 42 00:03:25.840 --> 00:03:32.240 seventeenth, which is a Sunday, is the twenty seventh rendition of Blankfest. 43 00:03:32.680 --> 00:03:37.199 My god, Ken, where has the time gone? Can you remember back 44 00:03:37.240 --> 00:03:42.360 to the first Blankfest twenty seven years ago? I feel so old? And 45 00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:47.199 it is ironic because this year's Blankfest is on December seventeenth, which is ten 46 00:03:47.319 --> 00:03:53.439 days away, and we did the first Blankfest literally within ten days ten, 47 00:03:55.319 --> 00:04:00.120 I mean, and I had mentioned it to check to Brwin who was at 48 00:04:00.120 --> 00:04:05.280 the time bartending at brucks Hills. And it's a boring just again relatively speaking, 49 00:04:05.360 --> 00:04:09.560 because you know, we were based in Rockland County, New York, 50 00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:14.319 out of Stony Point, but because we stream, we go to other areas 51 00:04:14.439 --> 00:04:16.720 just to give people a little bit of relevance as well too. So that 52 00:04:17.160 --> 00:04:24.000 talking about a kind of a legendary place in Nyack one of many legendary places 53 00:04:24.600 --> 00:04:30.279 night stops in Naiak. But continue. There was a time in the nineteen 54 00:04:30.360 --> 00:04:35.000 nineties when Nayak had clubs, bars, restaurants all up and down the main 55 00:04:35.079 --> 00:04:41.439 street strip. And Neil and I had just gotten done playing a show in 56 00:04:42.839 --> 00:04:46.319 Golly. Where wasn't Neil? It was my brain is fried at this point. 57 00:04:46.519 --> 00:04:49.959 It was at my place. Anybody remember my place, m Ai Place. 58 00:04:50.360 --> 00:04:55.879 It was next to the Thai restaurant called the King and I And when 59 00:04:55.920 --> 00:05:00.160 we got done, I walked up the street to this other legendary restaurant and 60 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:04.439 now I called Block Cells. And that's where Chuck de Brown, who used 61 00:05:04.439 --> 00:05:08.399 to be the front man actually still is the front man for the horse that 62 00:05:08.519 --> 00:05:12.560 rode in on this is really really really cool band. And then one of 63 00:05:12.600 --> 00:05:16.439 the performers on the at blank Fest Sunday the seventeenth, correct, right, 64 00:05:16.759 --> 00:05:20.680 Yes, they're going to be there too, you know. And I remember 65 00:05:20.920 --> 00:05:26.240 I had mentioned it to Chuck about a week before. It wouldn't be really 66 00:05:26.279 --> 00:05:29.240 great if we had a benefit show and it got some blankets at the door 67 00:05:29.240 --> 00:05:31.560 and we can hand them out on Christmas Eve. And we didn't hear a 68 00:05:32.120 --> 00:05:34.800 you know, we did. I didn't give it a second thought until after 69 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:39.959 the Bagdad show. I walk up the street to brock Cells. I sit 70 00:05:40.079 --> 00:05:43.759 down for just you know, pind it and just to relax a little bit 71 00:05:43.800 --> 00:05:46.680 before going home, and Chuck said to me, he goes, you know 72 00:05:46.759 --> 00:05:49.680 that idea you came up with about a week or so ago, that's a 73 00:05:49.720 --> 00:05:53.639 great idea. We should do that. And I thought, think, you 74 00:05:53.720 --> 00:05:56.839 know what, we should. Within ten days we put on the first blind 75 00:05:56.920 --> 00:06:00.560 Fest. It was I mean, it barely made a debt in the papers 76 00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:05.040 and we were lucky to pull it off. We had it was supposed to 77 00:06:05.040 --> 00:06:08.279 be a four hour show. We only ended up doing three and a half. 78 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:12.480 And originally it was supposed to be a one off. And when I 79 00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:15.480 got to the end of the show. I walked out to just say goodbye 80 00:06:15.560 --> 00:06:18.240 to this just only a handful of people were left, and I say, 81 00:06:18.560 --> 00:06:23.120 can I you know, thanks for coming, thank you for your generous donations. 82 00:06:23.560 --> 00:06:28.319 And it was really really awkward, and for lack of a better way 83 00:06:28.360 --> 00:06:30.720 of signing off, I just said, we'll see you next year. And 84 00:06:30.839 --> 00:06:32.000 I walk up the stage and they go, oh, what did I just 85 00:06:32.120 --> 00:06:38.199 promise? After that we were off and running. And twenty seven years later, 86 00:06:38.759 --> 00:06:43.720 why the idea of blankets at I mean, people think of toys, 87 00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:49.279 food obviously, and we've had people to people on the Rockland County Food Bank. 88 00:06:49.360 --> 00:06:51.920 We're going to talk a little bit about them a little further on in 89 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:57.199 the program because people have needs. That way, what gave me the idea 90 00:06:57.319 --> 00:07:02.680 for blank for blankets? And get us through the whole procedure of how people 91 00:07:02.800 --> 00:07:06.920 bring blankets? You distribute the blankets. But first things first, what game? 92 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:13.959 What came in your head? Why blankets? Well, growing up in 93 00:07:14.040 --> 00:07:19.279 New York, we were always aware of, you know, those little human 94 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:26.480 interest stories that we would get. You know, you've usually buried on page 95 00:07:26.560 --> 00:07:29.720 thirteen of the New York Poster, the Daily News, where they'd say, 96 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:31.959 you know, they found a homeless person, you know, that's frozen to 97 00:07:32.040 --> 00:07:34.560 death in the middle of the night, you know, on a great somewhere 98 00:07:34.600 --> 00:07:39.199 on the street in New York. And the more I was playing music in 99 00:07:39.240 --> 00:07:43.720 New York City, the more I was literally stepping over home most people you 100 00:07:43.800 --> 00:07:46.800 know, on our way to it from a show, you know, And 101 00:07:46.759 --> 00:07:50.680 I mean the serious answer, I guess is that there's people freezing to death. 102 00:07:50.720 --> 00:07:54.879 And it was kind of like a knee jerk reaction of like, well, 103 00:07:54.879 --> 00:07:57.800 the freezing given a blanket, you know, And if you want the 104 00:07:57.879 --> 00:08:01.399 silly reason, you know, it didn't make any sense to hand the poor 105 00:08:01.399 --> 00:08:05.199 I'm almost personal slinky. So we just figured, all right, get them 106 00:08:05.240 --> 00:08:09.240 a get them a blanket, keep them warm. You know, we never 107 00:08:09.399 --> 00:08:13.199 meant to solve the problem. It was just sort of like kind of a 108 00:08:13.279 --> 00:08:18.639 band aid until we could get a more permanent solution. Now, how did 109 00:08:18.680 --> 00:08:22.399 you convince you've grown, as you said the first one, from three and 110 00:08:22.439 --> 00:08:26.839 a half to four hours to now you do a full twelve hours with and 111 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:31.600 we'll talk a little bit, but I want you to mention at some point 112 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:35.960 some of the performers that will be there, it's a tall hour all day 113 00:08:35.039 --> 00:08:41.519 thing at the Hudson House in Nayak, which is a wonderful classy restaurant but 114 00:08:41.639 --> 00:08:45.639 has a really kind of it's the whole town Hall in Nayak. So upstairs 115 00:08:46.039 --> 00:08:50.159 where the Village of Justice Court used to be, is where these performances take 116 00:08:50.200 --> 00:08:54.600 place. Correct, Yeah, I mean when I was a kid, my 117 00:08:54.679 --> 00:08:56.679 dad used to say, you're going to end up in court someday, and 118 00:08:58.360 --> 00:09:03.120 literally were in court up on the second floor what used to be Naia's town 119 00:09:03.200 --> 00:09:09.000 Hall, and that's where the stage area is. If I want to bring 120 00:09:09.080 --> 00:09:13.919 you into the conversation, you're relatively new relatively speaking to Blankfest, but I 121 00:09:13.000 --> 00:09:16.559 know you've been involved for the last few years. What did you think of 122 00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:22.919 it when you first heard about it and how did you become involved? Well, 123 00:09:22.120 --> 00:09:26.840 I'll tell you a story. Eleven years ago, there was Hurricane Sandy. 124 00:09:28.919 --> 00:09:35.440 I was sick in my parents' house. I was having to take care 125 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:41.480 of stuff, and there was this online dating app and so that's how I 126 00:09:41.519 --> 00:09:46.759 found Ken Row and one of the things that drew me to And besides this 127 00:09:46.000 --> 00:09:50.399 cookiness is as funny as we all know. You know, he's a character. 128 00:09:50.200 --> 00:09:54.720 Is is Blankfest? When I saw that. I said, this guy 129 00:09:54.840 --> 00:09:58.000 has a heart. This guy has a heart, and I, you know, 130 00:09:58.240 --> 00:10:03.519 ventured to say hello, you know. And it's been since then, 131 00:10:03.639 --> 00:10:07.960 since twenty twelve. The first month we were dating, I was already helping 132 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:15.200 with Blankfast and that was eleven years ago. Obviously I thought very highly of 133 00:10:15.320 --> 00:10:22.000 him because that got me to say hello and yes to a date. It's 134 00:10:22.200 --> 00:10:26.000 terrific. Neil the male man as I like to call him, He's always 135 00:10:26.039 --> 00:10:31.200 delivers. He's our engineer here at being Frank with Hudson River Radio. But 136 00:10:31.279 --> 00:10:35.480 he's also, as I said, a musician and drummer and involved for many, 137 00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:39.159 many years with the bag Daddy OS. What was your impression when Ken 138 00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:41.159 came to you and said, of we're going to play for nothing again. 139 00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:46.039 Something seemed to do quite well. That was nothing new, but you know, 140 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:52.159 with any band really. But yeah, I think that the thing that 141 00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:58.000 struck me or impressed me the most was the immediacy of it. That people 142 00:10:58.120 --> 00:11:05.480 donated a blanket and then the blanket got delivered really right, no no middleman, 143 00:11:05.679 --> 00:11:07.039 right to the people who need it. There was, you know, 144 00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:13.240 no red tape, no fooling around. People donated the blanket and the people 145 00:11:13.279 --> 00:11:15.919 who needed it got them a few, you know, a few days later 146 00:11:16.759 --> 00:11:20.840 on Christmas Eve, and I was like, that's if that's not what Christmas 147 00:11:20.960 --> 00:11:24.639 is all about, I don't know what is, you know. So that 148 00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:28.279 was what impressed me the moment I said this, this is great, this 149 00:11:28.440 --> 00:11:31.519 is this is a great idea. Well, you know it's another great idea 150 00:11:31.639 --> 00:11:35.240 is not having to have me talk through this whole thing. We've got music, 151 00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:39.360 We've got bad Daddy, We've got bad Daddy ohs music, and this 152 00:11:39.559 --> 00:11:45.759 is a holiday extravaganza. Prom I did promise our listerns in the beginning, 153 00:11:46.120 --> 00:11:48.240 so they don't have to hear me drone for the whole program. We have 154 00:11:48.600 --> 00:11:52.960 music, we have some poetry. Why don't we set up our first song? 155 00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:56.879 I believe it's It's Christmas Ain't for lonely people? Is that? Is 156 00:11:56.919 --> 00:12:00.840 that what we've got cued up? Guys? I I believe so right? 157 00:12:01.600 --> 00:12:03.200 All right, tell us tell us a little bit about this tone, either 158 00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:09.480 Neil or or Ken. Tell us about what we're about to hear. Well, 159 00:12:09.879 --> 00:12:15.080 I'm the I'm the brilliant mind that came up with it. You wrote 160 00:12:15.080 --> 00:12:18.279 it, You tell them, I'll tell the story in the studio maybe, 161 00:12:18.360 --> 00:12:22.879 but oh kay, oh yeah we can. Yeah. There's a tune that 162 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:26.960 was going through my head since I was seven years old. And when I 163 00:12:26.039 --> 00:12:31.240 was eighteen, I was writing lyrics in the corner of my political science college 164 00:12:31.320 --> 00:12:35.919 notebook, and so I had the first of the chorus obviously, you know, 165 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:39.080 Christmas A for the only people, repeat three times in rents, you 166 00:12:39.159 --> 00:12:43.519 know, and then the first verse or so, and then I never finished 167 00:12:43.559 --> 00:12:48.360 it off until the early two thousands when I was living in this lonely Spanish 168 00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:52.080 colum law on Eastard's Emptune Street, and I was actually up visiting my parents 169 00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:58.080 for Thanksgiving in Nayak and they were watching some puny Eastwood movie downstairs in the 170 00:12:58.159 --> 00:13:01.360 family Dead, and I'm up in the living room all by myself with the 171 00:13:01.399 --> 00:13:05.000 guitar, and I finished it off that it just came straight from the heart. 172 00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:11.360 It's you know, it's that that feeling of like sometimes when you're alone, 173 00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:15.759 uh, you're isolated, I guess, the emotions can really get to 174 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:22.559 you. And it's almost like a rueful kind of like Christmas ain't for lonely 175 00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:24.639 people, is it, you know? But really it is, because I 176 00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:31.720 think we all take turns on the Loneliness Carousel, so to speak, Neil, 177 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:35.039 what you said you had a studio story. It was I remember, 178 00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:39.200 you know, going in and recording it, and it was it was kind 179 00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:45.600 of a departure sort of of what the usual bag daddy O sound. It's 180 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:52.279 it's would you agree, Ken, it's not oh yeah, yeah, it's 181 00:13:52.360 --> 00:14:00.320 not the overdriven, amplified sound that we usually have. But yeah, but 182 00:14:00.440 --> 00:14:05.559 I do remember after after we recorded and got it all done, while we 183 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:09.120 were in there, apparently a storm had come through and it was like a 184 00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:11.759 big snowstorm and I remember getting out and all of a sudden, all the 185 00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:16.360 roads were like a sheet of you know, snow and ice, and I 186 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:22.600 was like, oh, Merry Christmas. Yeah yeah, everybody got home okay, 187 00:14:22.679 --> 00:14:24.759 But it was like where did this come from? You know? But 188 00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:28.639 when you're when you're busy in the studio, you really don't pay attention to 189 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:37.840 what's going on outside. Were record during wats disasters or you know, lizards, 190 00:14:37.559 --> 00:14:39.919 you know, if we were, if we were on the West Coast, 191 00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:45.320 I'm sure be recording during an earthquake or something like that. No, 192 00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:48.279 it's just it's just for some reason, we see we're a lightning Rod for 193 00:14:48.360 --> 00:14:52.159 that sort of thing. But yeah, as a matter of fact, you 194 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:56.080 know, you brought up the recording studio. And again for any of the 195 00:14:56.159 --> 00:15:01.559 listeners. You might not know the name Kevin Lacey, but he's one heck 196 00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:05.360 of a producer and uh, you know he's got a recording studio. When 197 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:09.080 Annuel in New York and I remember at one particular blank Fest, he was 198 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:13.919 watching us do our thing and he came up to me and he was just 199 00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:16.960 so caught up. I remember he gave me a hug and a big kiss 200 00:15:16.200 --> 00:15:20.559 on the side of my face and said, man, what you do for 201 00:15:20.799 --> 00:15:24.559 these people, these you know the almost it's it's a wonderful clause. He 202 00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:28.879 goes, I just want to do something to show my appreciation. You just 203 00:15:28.039 --> 00:15:31.919 name it. So he said, could you record my band for you know, 204 00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:35.919 like for like three songs or so? He said absolutely. So we 205 00:15:37.080 --> 00:15:41.480 polished off three songs, two of which from the same session. You're gonna 206 00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:46.159 hear it tonight. Now I understand that you're going to premiere a video of 207 00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:48.639 this song. Unfortunately we don't do video that people can listen to it. 208 00:15:48.759 --> 00:15:52.879 But where when people want to see the video, where can they go to 209 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:58.639 check it out well. And when I never major to marketing, I should 210 00:15:58.679 --> 00:16:02.480 have or else I probably would have ended up picking an easier name to find 211 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:10.279 on online than bag daddyos because people spell it all differently, they pronounce it 212 00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:14.080 wrong. It's it's wonderful actually. But if you go to b H G 213 00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:18.039 H d A D d I O S and watch out because there's a great 214 00:16:18.120 --> 00:16:22.919 band out of Scotland called the bag Daddies, we're not them. And if 215 00:16:22.960 --> 00:16:26.679 you type in bag daddy os, it'll try and change the spelling. You 216 00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:30.240 gotta steer it back to bag daddiosh with the H in the middle and all 217 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:34.200 that. But if you put bag daddy os on YouTube, that video comes 218 00:16:34.279 --> 00:16:38.960 right up. Also, you want to go to my Facebook page. I 219 00:16:40.200 --> 00:16:42.799 I just put it out there for all of our friends. Terrific. Well 220 00:16:44.120 --> 00:16:45.919 let's check it out, Neil, you're ready, You're ready, You're ready 221 00:16:45.960 --> 00:16:51.120 with this? All right? We got Christmas ain't for lonely people. The 222 00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:56.840 bag daddy Os here on being friend Christmas, aple loly people, Christmas, 223 00:16:56.879 --> 00:17:03.840 aplely people, Christmas and for lowly people. You should know that by now 224 00:17:07.880 --> 00:17:15.599 marry Christmas. I helo not another friend to stove lots of blinking. It's 225 00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:22.440 so kay for me, it's just a loo. The day happy people on 226 00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:30.680 my TV shell distracts me so much that I almost begetting all that. Christmas 227 00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:37.839 A for lowly people, Christmas A for lowly people, Christmas A for lowly 228 00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:45.759 people. You should know that by now My comfend's going to her sister space 229 00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:52.039 and now a bet is chanced a empty space. Three days, double on 230 00:17:52.480 --> 00:18:00.680 my children. Let the holler days begin. Sits kipping messed up jingle bells 231 00:18:02.119 --> 00:18:04.640 said he knows you, My friend said, I wish you well. Who 232 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:14.200 Christmas A for lowly people, Christmas A for lowly people. Christmas and for 233 00:18:14.359 --> 00:18:22.160 lowly people. You should know that by now see a crazy man talking to 234 00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:26.519 himself on the bus. But I'm staring passing on or think about his sirs. 235 00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:30.920 I be trying to call you a bunch of silvers onis off distole sa 236 00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:36.680 in the tarkness of my lonely Spanish art of law. I miss my dad 237 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:41.559 and I miss my mom. The rich I now live in Florid on my 238 00:18:41.720 --> 00:18:47.480 sister and kids a living end of verbs. But the buses aren't Lord, 239 00:18:47.599 --> 00:18:52.000 It's I'm strended out the good The girl on aware the Netwick Withers smiled. 240 00:18:52.599 --> 00:19:02.880 Here's me bookading before only wonder. Christmas aple lowly me, Christmas A for 241 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:07.559 lowly people, Christmas ale lowly people. You should know that by now, 242 00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:41.920 yes, Christmas A for lowly Christmas A for lowly people, Christmas ale lowly 243 00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:49.240 people. You should know that by now, I provide a collar up to 244 00:19:49.480 --> 00:19:53.240 my head, weed down, turn towards to me. I'm just trying to 245 00:19:53.440 --> 00:20:00.359 carry ross down to FESTI snow as now Judge's lunch when you by yourself be 246 00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:06.400 concerned tells me too much. All I want is to be with you. 247 00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:11.799 But I guess the juken to who have to do a look at pictures and 248 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:18.400 try to remember this swis happens to me when we get to decemb My hero's 249 00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:26.599 voice is saying to it, they're a charter just Dememory w Christmas A for 250 00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:34.599 lowly people, Christmas for lowly people, Christmas April only people. You should 251 00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:47.440 know that by now Christmas A for lowly people, Christmas and for lowly people, 252 00:20:47.880 --> 00:20:52.839 Christmas aple lonely people. You should know that Christmas aple only people tells 253 00:20:52.880 --> 00:21:10.119 you forget Christmas af loly people. You should know that by now the Bag 254 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:15.480 Daddy Os with Christmas for Lonely People. That was terrific when I enjoyed that. 255 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:18.720 And I promise you if you come to Blankfest at the Hudson House of 256 00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:26.799 Nayak in Nayak twelve seventeen, that's a Sunday from noon to midnight, you'll 257 00:21:26.839 --> 00:21:32.359 be able to hear live the Bag Daddy Os with Ken Rowl and Neil Richter 258 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:34.599 our guests tonight. They are the house band, if you will, and 259 00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:41.079 also known as the band that just Won't Die. I think that's one of 260 00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:45.119 your correct I love it. We're trying not to, you know. It's 261 00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:53.240 keep rocking like that and you certainly and you and you certainly won't that's for 262 00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:57.640 sure. Know my favorite part of that song as I get to sing backup 263 00:21:57.680 --> 00:22:00.160 and it's you know, you can really hear it, really, really crystal 264 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:06.200 clear. I just wanted to point that out to you that it is no 265 00:22:06.359 --> 00:22:11.640 but seriously seriously that you know Ken's songwriting, his lyrics are so clever, 266 00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:15.720 his songwriting is so great. That's what attracted me to you know, I 267 00:22:15.839 --> 00:22:18.799 campaigned to be in a band with him back you know, way back when 268 00:22:19.079 --> 00:22:23.359 should we say what year it was you know, but I was only you 269 00:22:23.400 --> 00:22:29.200 know, fourteen at the time. But yeah, the child prodigy. Yeah, 270 00:22:29.880 --> 00:22:34.079 yeah, so I've heard no. But seriously, yeah no, if 271 00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:37.319 I want you to, I want to want you to introduce one of your 272 00:22:37.359 --> 00:22:41.160 poems. But before we go to that, since we've written the musical mode 273 00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:47.319 and we mentioned the bag Daddios, the so called house band for blank Fest 274 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:51.960 the seventeenth of December at the Hudson House in Nayak. The fundraiser, remember, 275 00:22:52.319 --> 00:22:56.720 the only admission, it's free except for a blanket. Gently used blankets 276 00:22:56.720 --> 00:23:00.960 are accepted. You can bring a new blanket, all shapes and sizes. 277 00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:03.759 I don't know if it's anything like last year. My god, they seemed 278 00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:08.279 like there were hundreds of them. That's the seventeenth of December, Blankfest at 279 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:12.319 the Hudson House. The Bagdaddios. You've heard Ken, who else? Who 280 00:23:12.359 --> 00:23:15.000 are some of the other people appearing? Let's give them a plug now, 281 00:23:15.400 --> 00:23:22.359 like and some really top shelf entertainment. Absolutely, let me see here. 282 00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:26.200 I actually have my fire, because if I don't have it, I won't 283 00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:33.039 remember. Hold on, I have it. It disappeared. There we go. 284 00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:41.880 We actually have Let's start right off with The Young Dead featuring Bobby Steele, 285 00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:45.039 And oddly enough, we have somebody familiar sitting in on drums with The 286 00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:48.480 un Dead featuring Bobby Steele. Who is that name? And who would that 287 00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:55.319 be? No? I ye, no, I am like really honored to 288 00:23:55.480 --> 00:24:00.359 be able to. I guess they're they're you know, current drummer or whatever 289 00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:06.599 was unavailable, and I guess they contacted you, Ken and said, do 290 00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:11.720 you think you know your drummer would want to fill in? And you asked 291 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:15.839 me, and I said what I want, I'd be yeah. You know. 292 00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:18.359 It's it's funny because a couple of months ago, you know, when 293 00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:22.240 you were told me about playing Uh. I can't speak for Neil, but 294 00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:26.400 I hadn't really played out with a band for about even nine months, and 295 00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:30.200 Neil and I were both talking about like, you know, breaking the Rust 296 00:24:30.240 --> 00:24:33.880 office, you know, and we went from that to playing the New York 297 00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:41.000 City Marathon about a month ago, and nothing like playing eight hours off and 298 00:24:41.119 --> 00:24:45.000 on over the course of the day to really get your your game back on. 299 00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:48.559 So I knew when Bobby's wife Diana said, you know, would your 300 00:24:48.680 --> 00:24:52.839 drummer be interested? I was like, oh, I know, I know 301 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:56.839 the answer to this one. I ran by Neil and it was like, 302 00:24:56.480 --> 00:25:00.559 you know, he was ready, pribed and ready to go, and it's 303 00:25:00.680 --> 00:25:03.480 just great. He's he's going over the songs with them right now. We 304 00:25:03.640 --> 00:25:07.640 might even get a live rehearsal or two. But even if he doesn't, 305 00:25:07.640 --> 00:25:10.200 these guys are going to hit the ground running their old season pros. So 306 00:25:10.319 --> 00:25:12.559 I can hardly wait to hear what they sound like, you know, and 307 00:25:12.880 --> 00:25:18.200 let me say that that that Bobby Steele and the Undead. Bobby Steele was 308 00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:22.119 also a member of the legendary punk band The Misfits back in their heyday, 309 00:25:22.279 --> 00:25:26.160 back in you know, the late seventies. So to me, this is 310 00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:29.279 like, you know, like a dream come true. This is like, 311 00:25:29.799 --> 00:25:34.359 you know, well, if you ever see the legendary documentary called American Hardcore, 312 00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:37.839 Bobby Steele's a whole log of that, you know, it's I had 313 00:25:37.880 --> 00:25:41.160 a horror band member, or to give me a holler from halfway across the 314 00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:45.440 United States going oh my god, there's Bobby Steele. You know. You 315 00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:47.960 know, I saw him in the theater and I was like that, you 316 00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:52.960 know, that's the guy who shows up almost every year for Blankfest, and 317 00:25:53.279 --> 00:26:00.640 in his first year he showed up. We were actually broadcasting on Internet radio 318 00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:06.880 for iHeartRadio the live show. I thought that at the stage we got overloaded 319 00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:11.759 so much. Everything crash, It crashed the internet connection. Yeah, I 320 00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:15.880 remember that. I remember that. Yeah. So who else do we have? 321 00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:21.599 Ken? I know you have quite a few outstanding performers. Let's let's 322 00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:25.160 plug them, let's get more over. Well, we also have Patty Rothbert, 323 00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:30.960 she of our EI label, who also played the Tonight Show with The 324 00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:36.319 David Letterman Show. She's guest VJD on MTV. She's toured with the Black 325 00:26:36.359 --> 00:26:41.519 Crows in Japan. She's got a pretty pretty strong, strong background. But 326 00:26:41.680 --> 00:26:45.359 even if it wasn't for that, we knew each other before she was signed, 327 00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:48.599 when we were both playing Stevie Gimi together. And I've always thought the 328 00:26:48.680 --> 00:26:53.440 world for as far as being a front person, a songwriter or a really 329 00:26:53.519 --> 00:26:59.799 great songwriter in her own right. And she's a multi instrumentalist. So she 330 00:27:00.319 --> 00:27:03.759 is going to be back again. She couldn't make the first Blankfest because she 331 00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:07.240 was touring Japan, but she did make Blankfest two in nineteen ninety eight. 332 00:27:07.400 --> 00:27:12.880 She's been with us ever since. Moving on. If you're from the Hudson 333 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:17.200 Valley, or even if you're not, if you're from Europe, or you're 334 00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:21.440 from Japan, or if you're from Wheeling, West Virginia, or if you're 335 00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:27.400 from California. A great touring band is called Joe Durso in Stone Caravan. 336 00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:32.279 Joe Drso. I've known him since I was a kid. He went to 337 00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:37.559 high school with my sister Jen. Great, great guy and actually one of 338 00:27:37.599 --> 00:27:44.519 the co owners of the new reborn CBGBI in the mid two thousands. Joe 339 00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:48.480 Drso on Stone Caravan. They do the Light of Day tour in Europe every 340 00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:52.079 year. I think he's in Belgium right now, even as we speak, 341 00:27:52.119 --> 00:27:56.279 as we're taping this program. I believe, as a matter of fact, 342 00:27:56.440 --> 00:28:00.160 I was able to nail him down for the show and he actually uh, 343 00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:02.799 I got to be said, there's a little bit of a time deferential. 344 00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:04.400 I think at the time he was in the UK. Now he's in Belgium. 345 00:28:06.880 --> 00:28:10.160 But he comes like right off the road. There's been there's been blank 346 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:14.759 fests where he's literally gotten off the plane, gotten in a car service and 347 00:28:14.880 --> 00:28:17.240 they dumped him in front of the club and he walked in. They handed 348 00:28:17.319 --> 00:28:19.559 him a guitar, and up he went and did his thing. So we're 349 00:28:19.640 --> 00:28:22.920 really psyched that he's there. You heard me talk about the horse you rode 350 00:28:22.960 --> 00:28:30.079 in on that is with Chuck to Brune and Lance McVicker and I know I'm 351 00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:37.000 forgetting some names. And Joel Joel Finn on bass, Joel find drummer, 352 00:28:37.319 --> 00:28:41.799 the great drummer. I can't remember his name. Oh my god, this 353 00:28:41.960 --> 00:28:47.599 is where I need to do my homework. We also have singer songwriter Sharry 354 00:28:47.720 --> 00:28:51.759 Dall. The last I checked, she was coming in from Connecticut, although 355 00:28:51.799 --> 00:28:56.319 she might have relocated back to native New York City. Uh Nuns and posers. 356 00:28:56.440 --> 00:29:00.920 John Rerick is another strong musician. He was with the band back in 357 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:04.440 the late eighties early nineties Fall Kablama Chunk, and they were fantastic. They 358 00:29:04.599 --> 00:29:08.319 used to blow the doors off every place they played. The Guests are an 359 00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:15.200 acoustic trio that do some incredible harmonies together. Actually, Bobby Still's daughter, 360 00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:21.119 Hannah is one of the lead vocalists of the Guests, and they actually last 361 00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:25.279 year because of some logistics problems, Bobby and crew couldn't make it, but 362 00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:30.000 Hannah felt so bad she had Diana driver out to the club and she came 363 00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:33.279 up she did. She did was one song or too. She did two 364 00:29:33.400 --> 00:29:40.359 songs, yeah, including this her very very moving rendition of Hallelujah. So 365 00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:45.519 you know again. I can't say enough good things about her and the rest 366 00:29:45.559 --> 00:29:48.559 of the group. Sophia McClue played for the first time. I believe it 367 00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:53.599 was last year, and we recruited her at the last minute and we were 368 00:29:53.720 --> 00:29:59.519 just so glad to get her on the stage. She's another talented singer songwriter. 369 00:29:59.680 --> 00:30:03.839 I'm sure you're gonna be blown away by her. Ross Byron is a 370 00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:07.279 seasoned veteran who used to have a celebrated cable TV show on the Manhattan News 371 00:30:07.359 --> 00:30:12.519 Network, and I've known him going back well over twenty years. When he 372 00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:18.599 asked if he could be a part of this, I leapt at the opportunity 373 00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:23.160 to have him on board. Tim o'donniue is on Red Schoolhouse Records. He's 374 00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:29.079 a label mate with Joe Derso from years past. He's got a great earthy 375 00:30:29.240 --> 00:30:34.359 roots rock sound, a little bit of country mixed in. Very very talented 376 00:30:34.400 --> 00:30:38.680 singer songwunter. Plus he's part of the o'donahue family. And if anybody's from 377 00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:45.519 Nia, they know how important the o'donne, who's are to Nayak's cultural impact? 378 00:30:47.119 --> 00:30:52.240 I loved him. He's just good people. Donald Sabasnik He's He's another 379 00:30:52.319 --> 00:30:56.880 one of our friends from New York City, a great singer songwriter. I 380 00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:59.720 tell him this all the time. He always reminds me of Blue Red. 381 00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:04.720 He's just got that visceral kind of owth to them. And Count of Nine 382 00:31:06.519 --> 00:31:10.960 is gonna be on with them as well. There is not enough good things 383 00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:15.240 I can say about Joe Dugan and his lovely, lovely wife, Abbey Mills 384 00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:19.440 Dugan. I've known them going back twenty twenty five years. As a matter 385 00:31:19.480 --> 00:31:23.960 of fact, he played drums on one song that Neil couldn't make the recording 386 00:31:25.039 --> 00:31:27.680 session for. It's another one of our Christmas tunes called let It Be Happy. 387 00:31:29.119 --> 00:31:32.960 The video for that we did at their home. Oh God, let's 388 00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:37.960 go back about five or six years ago. Just a great people, great 389 00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:42.599 band. They've always got, plus interesting takes on cover tunes that you've ever 390 00:31:42.720 --> 00:31:48.519 heard, plus some really really cool synth driven originals. Michael G. Potter, 391 00:31:48.839 --> 00:31:53.880 You're gonna love this. Michael G. Potter does a regular gig at 392 00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:59.759 Strawberry Fields in the Central Park. He will play live all the time, 393 00:32:00.440 --> 00:32:06.480 and he has gotten a dedicated loyal following that shows up just to hear him 394 00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:10.039 play. And one day Michael Moore recorded him on his iPhone and just broadcasted 395 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:15.200 out on his Instagram. So Michael G. Potter and Michael Moore go hand 396 00:32:15.240 --> 00:32:20.160 in hand for this one. And then finally we've got our very special guest, 397 00:32:20.720 --> 00:32:25.720 David Tanner, who is a seasoned veteran of the promotions of business in 398 00:32:25.799 --> 00:32:31.160 New York City, but he started life as a musician and occasionally he'll grab 399 00:32:31.240 --> 00:32:36.200 his buddy Jesse's guitar, and his buddy Jesse passed away unfortunately several years ago 400 00:32:36.519 --> 00:32:40.920 and left him a spender stratt. David gets up and he does some songs 401 00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:46.359 that he's written from his heart, and we feel very very fortunate that we're 402 00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:51.240 able to get him up for a rare public appearance. And the real cool 403 00:32:51.279 --> 00:32:54.799 part is whenever David plays, he brings his entire family. By the way, 404 00:32:55.920 --> 00:33:00.359 the first year I was with Yvonne, she was right we celebrated our 405 00:33:00.599 --> 00:33:06.359 first month anniversary as a couple. She was literally sitting on my lap in 406 00:33:06.480 --> 00:33:10.599 the front of David Tanner's van as we are a hustling equipment for the bronx 407 00:33:10.960 --> 00:33:15.519 U Tanayak to do this show. So far, that's what we have. 408 00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:19.160 We actually have a few more that are warming up in the bullpen, but 409 00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:22.039 we can't mention any names yet because it's not a done deal. But right 410 00:33:22.119 --> 00:33:28.000 now, counting all of them and the bag Daddio's Andy Vaughne, we've got 411 00:33:28.079 --> 00:33:32.559 sixteen x ready to roll. It's an incredible lineup of a full day of 412 00:33:32.680 --> 00:33:38.279 music at the Hudson House of Nayak the seventeenth of December blank Fest. Bring 413 00:33:38.359 --> 00:33:42.599 a blanket. You won't regret it. I never miss it. I don't 414 00:33:42.759 --> 00:33:45.519 in the twenty seven years. I may have missed a feudive because I was 415 00:33:45.599 --> 00:33:50.079 on assignment. But if I'm here, I'm going to be there, you 416 00:33:50.160 --> 00:33:54.960 know. And it's it's just a great thing because it's like not giving something 417 00:33:55.039 --> 00:33:59.640 for nothing. You're getting something out of it. You're getting some great entertainment. 418 00:34:00.079 --> 00:34:01.799 You get to do a good thing for the price of a blanket. 419 00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:06.400 I mean that that's some good stuff. Guys. Before we go to the 420 00:34:06.440 --> 00:34:09.559 break, I want to bring Yvonne in for a little spoken word. Uh 421 00:34:10.039 --> 00:34:15.519 and uh here our contribution. I know she contributes her talents as well to 422 00:34:15.639 --> 00:34:22.000 blankfest So what can we hear from you now, Yvonne? Please? I 423 00:34:22.079 --> 00:34:24.320 don't know, Neil, Why do we have cute up first? Anything you 424 00:34:24.440 --> 00:34:30.719 want? Oh, he's the mailman. That's why he delivers. You ask, 425 00:34:30.400 --> 00:34:35.280 you ask and he delivers. Not necessarily me, but you guys can 426 00:34:37.119 --> 00:34:39.039 Neil is such an MP three for a song. We haven't done a video 427 00:34:39.119 --> 00:34:43.159 for her yet. By the way, if you take Yvonne's name and put 428 00:34:43.199 --> 00:34:46.559 it in YouTube and it's spelled like the Supreme Court justice s O t O 429 00:34:46.840 --> 00:34:52.039 M A y O R spermor uh Yvonne with a Y, you will see 430 00:34:52.079 --> 00:34:59.519 a bunch of poetry videos basically music videos that you know, uh are are 431 00:34:59.800 --> 00:35:04.679 for spoken word. But she has one Christmas video out there, but we 432 00:35:04.760 --> 00:35:08.320 figured we wanted to keep it festive. There's another poetry video we're working on 433 00:35:08.559 --> 00:35:14.159 right now. It's what's what's it's called? It's called uh Yeah you have 434 00:35:14.480 --> 00:35:19.480 you have the lyrics right in front of us Christmas in New York City, 435 00:35:20.519 --> 00:35:23.960 and oddly enough, it's shut to a bagatio nostalgic Christmas. I want to 436 00:35:24.039 --> 00:35:30.840 have that, don't want to how that happened when you exchange bows. You 437 00:35:30.880 --> 00:35:34.280 know. Well, if I'm what which what? What? What are we 438 00:35:34.360 --> 00:35:37.920 going to hear? Set it up for us? Okay, So this first 439 00:35:37.000 --> 00:35:43.079 poem is called Nostalgic Christmas. It's about Christmas in the city, which is 440 00:35:43.360 --> 00:35:49.159 again where Ken and I met, where we've worked, where we've lived, 441 00:35:49.960 --> 00:35:54.400 and going back to businesses we moved a little further up north. It was 442 00:35:54.480 --> 00:35:59.679 a different perspective and it felt different, and I really realized how much I 443 00:35:59.760 --> 00:36:04.199 miss and all the details that make up Christmas in the city, and so 444 00:36:04.360 --> 00:36:07.760 I decided to to write about it. Write write about the rockets, and 445 00:36:07.800 --> 00:36:13.440 the cathedral, and the lights and and of course the lighting of the Christmas 446 00:36:13.480 --> 00:36:15.519 tree. And I don't know if we had said this before or not, 447 00:36:15.679 --> 00:36:20.880 but I'm a bilingual poet, so what I write in English, I translate 448 00:36:20.960 --> 00:36:24.280 to Spanish. So if I may say a few words in Spanish to the 449 00:36:24.719 --> 00:36:38.079 hopefully a few Spanish listeners in rockland Inglis's show Domingo, the same thing. 450 00:36:38.199 --> 00:36:51.519 The Hudson House Kaestn. Main Street, Nayaka is the inglist is a Yemma 451 00:36:51.960 --> 00:37:04.880 blankfest Is, Glamu's Pondos met this song and Cutson House in Nayaka, and 452 00:37:05.079 --> 00:37:31.159 so here we go with nostalgia Christmas Christmas with green and red ribbons going straight 453 00:37:31.280 --> 00:37:37.639 to my heart, the warmth and the chuckles music to my long years. 454 00:37:42.719 --> 00:37:49.559 I'd almost forgotten such joy and good year. Kids running around in circles singing 455 00:37:49.760 --> 00:38:12.719 Halleljah. I stand in its energy as the skaters go by, and lovers 456 00:38:12.840 --> 00:38:25.119 proposed by the Rockefeller trip as hot chocolate is simpically flopping windows onto the Grand 457 00:38:25.199 --> 00:38:32.920 Cathedral filled with the leaf and hope, giving respite to the cold admirers rushing 458 00:38:34.079 --> 00:38:52.719 in and clutching trendy bags and chocolates. Back outside to the storefronts with magical 459 00:38:52.840 --> 00:39:00.159 light, shoes full on display, filling the night as noisy crowds with merry 460 00:39:00.280 --> 00:39:08.440 music and carold We all know from heading down to the Midtown where a center 461 00:39:08.599 --> 00:39:15.360 nerve pulses, it's a band of beautiful ladies dancing and kicking and synchronous charm. 462 00:39:22.039 --> 00:39:28.480 Further down to the windows made famous in name, each a special Christmas 463 00:39:28.599 --> 00:39:42.239 scene, all different for stilling theme the same. It's Christmas, Christmas everywhere, 464 00:39:42.880 --> 00:40:15.880 It's Christmas again. Can't wait till next years. Naida Consinta verde viloas 465 00:40:16.480 --> 00:40:22.039 the end, the director Corra soon, el calori, lassas music, Caparami, 466 00:40:22.159 --> 00:40:28.360 solidos, aciosus, Cassirio, Viravo, tante ria, buen animos, 467 00:40:29.519 --> 00:40:35.039 Ninos, corin and circulos, cantando al Luja, my parents, son and 468 00:40:35.159 --> 00:40:38.800 Tia, miter Ros, Patine, Lores, parsan los, amants, popon 469 00:40:38.920 --> 00:40:44.920 and hunto largo, rocket teller, he interest vere, Chocola de galin, 470 00:40:45.440 --> 00:40:51.760 resilas, bantanas, Corniola, Ala Ran cathedral, vamos Eno, the fay 471 00:40:52.000 --> 00:40:59.840 esperanza, Dando espiralos a milores, Leorentos and Tandrie Garando bols have them. 472 00:41:00.079 --> 00:41:04.960 Mona is the mother. There were the puer looses, caparades, caned, 473 00:41:05.000 --> 00:41:10.320 spectaculus, the looses, macibos, infantire, completa, Ernando, las vidos 474 00:41:10.360 --> 00:41:22.159 as multiculoci co musical and sikos gitos are Hindo c Santa la suda don the 475 00:41:22.440 --> 00:41:28.760 nervious central pulsa as Navan, the most damas by land, Patieno, Couni, 476 00:41:28.960 --> 00:41:37.079 cantos, Synchronisao masaba, colasanas, h as famosa and number calunas sen 477 00:41:37.159 --> 00:41:49.880 and especiali those differentis braun and elmis montemas Navida Navida and thas parties is Navida 478 00:41:49.960 --> 00:42:02.519 de Nuego, Noma want past Proximolia. That was Ivon so To Mayor with 479 00:42:02.719 --> 00:42:09.199 Nostalgic Christmas. Here on the Being Frank Holiday Extravaganza with my guest Ken rowll 480 00:42:10.079 --> 00:42:16.199 Ivon Sat Tomayor and Neil Richter. We're talking about Blankfest, the twenty seventh 481 00:42:16.360 --> 00:42:22.920 year of the fundraiser called Blankfest, a full day of music from twelve noon 482 00:42:22.079 --> 00:42:28.559 to twelve midnight at the Hudson House, Main Street, Nayak on the seventeenth 483 00:42:28.639 --> 00:42:32.639 of December. It's great fun. It's free. The only admission is a 484 00:42:32.760 --> 00:42:36.960 blanket. We're gonna take a quick break. When we come back, we'll 485 00:42:37.039 --> 00:42:43.679 have some more music, some more conversation. I'm talking about Blankfest and the 486 00:42:43.800 --> 00:42:46.599 holidays and so much more Here on Being Frank. Don't go anywhere yet, 487 00:42:46.639 --> 00:42:52.000 We'll be right back Hudson River Radio dot com. Bring a dash of green 488 00:42:52.159 --> 00:42:57.800 into your life. Check out the Many Shades of Green with Maxine margat Rubin 489 00:42:57.920 --> 00:43:02.440 and Malcolm Berman. Get informed about environmental issues and current events that affect us. 490 00:43:02.519 --> 00:43:07.639 All. Pick a shade of green and raise your eco consciousness with the 491 00:43:07.800 --> 00:43:14.119 Many Shades of Green available on Apple Podcasts, iHeart, Spotify or wherever you 492 00:43:14.239 --> 00:43:21.880 get your podcasts. You ought to be in movies, well, at least 493 00:43:21.960 --> 00:43:27.639 you should watch movies. The Silverscreen Podcast talks about all aspects of film and 494 00:43:27.960 --> 00:43:32.119 entertainment, current films, old films, how movies are made, and interviews 495 00:43:32.239 --> 00:43:37.960 with movie makers, authors and musicians too. Check out the Silverscreen Podcast at 496 00:43:38.079 --> 00:43:45.280 Hudson River Radio dot com or wherever you get your podcasts, and go watch 497 00:43:45.320 --> 00:43:52.039 a movie Hudsonriverradio dot com. We're so good we don't need a transmitter. 498 00:43:53.239 --> 00:44:01.280 Welcome back to Being Frank the Intelligent Conversation Podcast. It's the Extravaganza program. 499 00:44:01.480 --> 00:44:06.599 Thanks for sticking with us. I'm your host, Frank Lebono. We're talking 500 00:44:06.920 --> 00:44:13.960 blank Fest, the twenty seven year ongoing day of music and revelry at the 501 00:44:14.079 --> 00:44:17.559 Hudson House on Main Street in Nayak. The only price of admission here a 502 00:44:17.880 --> 00:44:22.199 full day of music and revelry, is to bring a blanket or two. 503 00:44:22.880 --> 00:44:30.559 My guests are people who are so heavily involved in Blankfest. The originator, 504 00:44:30.679 --> 00:44:37.079 the creator, the driving force. Mister ken Row, a poet and new 505 00:44:37.159 --> 00:44:42.480 to our show and always welcome. Ivon so to Mayor and the mail man 506 00:44:42.559 --> 00:44:46.880 who's always with us. Neil Richter, our engineer, is also a drummer 507 00:44:46.960 --> 00:44:52.159 with the Bagdaddios, the house band for Blankfest. Again, we will remind 508 00:44:52.280 --> 00:44:57.840 you that that's coming up on the seventeenth of December. That's a Sunday at 509 00:44:57.960 --> 00:45:01.039 noon and it goes all the way to midnight. I want to remind you 510 00:45:01.119 --> 00:45:07.159 that we bring our audience a fresh topic every week, premiering on Thursday nights 511 00:45:07.199 --> 00:45:12.119 here at Being Frank. We stream from Hudson River Radio, located in beautiful 512 00:45:12.119 --> 00:45:15.400 and historic Stony Point, New York. But you can catch Being Frank anywhere 513 00:45:15.480 --> 00:45:21.800 you get your favorite podcasts like Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio and all the others. 514 00:45:22.360 --> 00:45:25.199 And because every Being Frank is archives, you can listen to any of 515 00:45:25.320 --> 00:45:30.679 our programs any time you like. That's why we always give you a date 516 00:45:30.280 --> 00:45:34.960 so you can have some context as to when we're actually recording our program. 517 00:45:35.400 --> 00:45:38.320 You can find the link to Being Frank on the Hudson River Radio Facebook page 518 00:45:38.840 --> 00:45:45.360 or at our website Hudsonriverradio dot com. Just click and you're there. Leave 519 00:45:45.440 --> 00:45:49.519 us a comment and please consider subscribing to the podcast, and if you really 520 00:45:49.760 --> 00:45:52.840 like us share being frank with your family and friends. All right, let's 521 00:45:52.920 --> 00:45:58.000 get back to having some intelligent fun. We're listening to some music, some 522 00:45:58.159 --> 00:46:01.079 spoken word, and the more we get to listen to that, the less 523 00:46:01.119 --> 00:46:05.920 you have to listen to me. So let's uh, I think we've got 524 00:46:05.960 --> 00:46:10.119 another tune queue up by Neil. Why don't you tell us a little bit 525 00:46:10.159 --> 00:46:16.920 about this one coming up? Ken rawl Christmas at CBGB's pretty self explanatory, 526 00:46:17.039 --> 00:46:22.119 but it conjures up quite the image for me. Tell us a little bit 527 00:46:22.119 --> 00:46:25.440 about this song, Ken, Well, CBGV was our home away from home. 528 00:46:27.320 --> 00:46:30.280 The third show of the back Daddy has ever did was at CBGB. 529 00:46:31.559 --> 00:46:35.079 It was December first. As a matter of fact, I think it was 530 00:46:35.159 --> 00:46:38.280 ninety Neil was ninety two or ninety three, ninety two, I believe, 531 00:46:38.360 --> 00:46:42.960 Yeah, late late ninety two. You guys are old. I wasn't only 532 00:46:43.119 --> 00:46:49.639 like two at that time. We had fake ID It's okay, I was, 533 00:46:50.320 --> 00:46:55.159 but we're talking on Q there. But yeah, I mean CBGB was 534 00:46:55.239 --> 00:47:00.760 just our spiritual place. It was the only place where filter at home. 535 00:47:00.119 --> 00:47:02.519 And don't get me wrong, I mean we're proud of the fact that we're 536 00:47:02.559 --> 00:47:07.360 from the Hudson Valley Naic and all. But you know, we'd go when 537 00:47:07.400 --> 00:47:10.280 we'd play like three Originals that have like ten songs in a set, and 538 00:47:10.360 --> 00:47:14.800 people would be like, you know, you know, you're a little too 539 00:47:15.039 --> 00:47:17.440 top heavy and the Originals here. We'd go down in New York City and 540 00:47:17.519 --> 00:47:22.239 it would be like the other way around. We'd play eight songs and we'd 541 00:47:22.239 --> 00:47:25.280 do like two covers and they'd be like, you know, you're playing way 542 00:47:25.280 --> 00:47:29.800 too many covers. So they really put the axe out of the original stuff. 543 00:47:30.280 --> 00:47:35.960 And Hilly, who owned CV, was one of the sweetest, at 544 00:47:36.039 --> 00:47:39.519 least to us anyway, most accepting people that would just you know, invite 545 00:47:39.599 --> 00:47:44.000 us up all the time to go and do some shows. Louisa booked. 546 00:47:44.000 --> 00:47:47.119 The bands would always seem to give us a really nice spot, and we 547 00:47:47.320 --> 00:47:52.719 just enjoyed what we were doing so thoroughly. So one day, I'm living 548 00:47:52.760 --> 00:47:54.920 in a basement apartment in Nayak and I just woke up. It was the 549 00:47:54.960 --> 00:47:59.119 middle of July. It was like one hundred degrees out. Don't even ask 550 00:47:59.239 --> 00:48:02.199 me why, but I woke up and I just started singing Christmas at CBGMI 551 00:48:02.760 --> 00:48:06.440 and I just ran to the foot of my bed, grabbed a guitar and 552 00:48:06.519 --> 00:48:10.719 wrote the whole song and walked into the studio that night and said I got 553 00:48:10.760 --> 00:48:15.440 a new one. And we recorded it right there on the spot. And 554 00:48:16.840 --> 00:48:21.199 we didn't think we could get a video done for it until we met a 555 00:48:21.599 --> 00:48:27.159 great guy named Fred Rawls out of Connecticut, no relations, out of Connecticut, 556 00:48:27.519 --> 00:48:31.159 who did animation for Showtime HBO, and he was with a band cold 557 00:48:32.199 --> 00:48:37.559 Ill review I think it was cold, And he did a cartoon video for 558 00:48:37.719 --> 00:48:40.039 us, and that's which you'll find out on YouTube if you look up this 559 00:48:40.159 --> 00:48:45.920 song, so I won't talk no more. You can play it all right, 560 00:48:45.039 --> 00:48:50.239 Well, it conjures up an image. Even if you can't see it, 561 00:48:50.679 --> 00:48:55.079 you can hear it. Make up your own image of Christmas at CBG's 562 00:48:55.400 --> 00:49:24.920 recorded in July. By the way, Hen Raoul and the bed Daddy got 563 00:49:25.239 --> 00:49:30.960 from the con Man and the beer on the bone, that's a bucket in 564 00:49:30.079 --> 00:49:37.000 the Colly Master back home a home, that's a d He was sitting about 565 00:49:37.039 --> 00:49:40.679 the doll smile and he said, I'm about the sunny. So he had 566 00:49:40.719 --> 00:49:45.000 a good preach. This morning. We got ten bricks, back book, 567 00:49:45.079 --> 00:49:50.360 the boments, got something to go to a watch, got clean and d 568 00:49:50.800 --> 00:49:57.880 and I get some all the prints like the turned on the monory on the 569 00:49:57.960 --> 00:50:04.199 water, Louis like the cover she always wanted to want to go until he's 570 00:50:04.199 --> 00:50:08.559 getting in the corner. I make the bed a mark w subject the shot 571 00:50:08.639 --> 00:50:15.119 out and I went until the start y's got the turn when that cos the 572 00:50:15.199 --> 00:50:24.840 mom's got some everyone's got crushes out. Seeing here with all the friends, 573 00:50:24.880 --> 00:50:45.599 I knows the things back the same here, don't very know we got he 574 00:50:45.719 --> 00:50:50.519 don't see them knowing, and I guess even better go I said that the 575 00:50:50.599 --> 00:50:57.039 amazing and a pretty colored rose see because it's nothing mes that make good that 576 00:50:57.119 --> 00:51:04.800 you don't do really has got back both the moments got somes not great, 577 00:51:05.639 --> 00:51:46.679 and I can't get some psid BSI knows that say that. How so every 578 00:51:46.840 --> 00:51:57.280 good night lest a couple of Louise. This guy gonna three life not copy 579 00:51:57.400 --> 00:52:52.519 fine and SENSI sky not Christmas Now it makes perfect sense. Christmas at CBGB's 580 00:52:52.920 --> 00:52:57.400 with the bag Daddy os with Neil Richard that you want the drums there. 581 00:52:57.719 --> 00:53:00.599 Full full disclosure. I didn't play on that track. It was it was 582 00:53:00.719 --> 00:53:07.159 July. I was at the beach. I wasn't you know, good for 583 00:53:07.440 --> 00:53:10.280 you. Well, let's the bag Daddy. O's the house band for blank 584 00:53:10.400 --> 00:53:15.519 Fest, a full day of music and revelry whose ultimate goal is to bring 585 00:53:15.639 --> 00:53:20.360 free blankets to the homeless in New York City. It occurs on the seventeenth 586 00:53:21.320 --> 00:53:25.000 of December. That's a Sunday, starts at noon, goes to midnight with 587 00:53:25.599 --> 00:53:30.840 just so many great musical acts, all for free. Just bring a blanket. 588 00:53:30.159 --> 00:53:34.639 You can eat at the wonderful Hudson House. The food is terrific. 589 00:53:34.960 --> 00:53:37.400 There'll be a cash bar. I'll be there, friends will be there, 590 00:53:37.480 --> 00:53:42.199 great music will be there. Why don't you join us? Just bring a 591 00:53:42.360 --> 00:53:45.679 blanket. We only have a few minutes left, and I want to hear 592 00:53:45.760 --> 00:53:49.920 more from Yvonne. I want to hear some more poetry. So let's queue 593 00:53:49.960 --> 00:53:53.760 one up and Yvonne, what can we hear from you to help close our 594 00:53:53.840 --> 00:53:58.840 program? Oh? Thank you? Well, this last one is called I 595 00:53:58.960 --> 00:54:01.920 Am, which is kind of there's like an anthem for everyone to be proud 596 00:54:01.960 --> 00:54:07.719 of who they are, and it also mentions, you know, with our 597 00:54:07.800 --> 00:54:13.679 heart and home. And that also ties into Blankfest because we do distribute blankets 598 00:54:13.719 --> 00:54:17.320 on Christmas Eve every year for the homeless, and like Neil had said earlier. 599 00:54:17.480 --> 00:54:22.880 It is direct, there's no middleman. We actually go out there and 600 00:54:22.199 --> 00:54:27.800 get out of our cars and deliver the blankets to the homeless, hands in 601 00:54:27.920 --> 00:54:31.519 hands. The other part of what I'd like to say of I am, 602 00:54:32.000 --> 00:54:36.679 besides that it's also in Spanish, as I am a bilingual poet, is 603 00:54:36.760 --> 00:54:42.199 that I am very proudly, very happily and very lovingly missus raul So, 604 00:54:42.440 --> 00:54:45.880 not just the bilingual house poet for Blankfast, but I am his wife. 605 00:54:46.559 --> 00:54:53.239 And since twenty twelve we've been together doing this as boyfriend girlfriend and my husband 606 00:54:53.280 --> 00:55:00.320 and wife. And though I sometimes proclaim it in truth our Elliday because it 607 00:55:00.440 --> 00:55:05.320 is exhausting to be out overnight, you know, from Christmas Eve to Christmas 608 00:55:05.400 --> 00:55:09.239 Day, it is a very kind, sweet thing to do. And this 609 00:55:09.519 --> 00:55:15.679 is actually what showed me is heart. So I am this is row. 610 00:55:15.880 --> 00:55:20.039 I am very proud. I am thankful to you, to your podcast and 611 00:55:20.199 --> 00:55:28.559 Nyell to everyone. The bat dliosos so dealing with King Hudson House is there, 612 00:55:31.039 --> 00:55:50.719 then amos novos is so this is a King Hudson house and I will 613 00:55:50.760 --> 00:55:58.000 limos thank you so much when you can find me in Yvonne Poeta p O 614 00:55:58.119 --> 00:56:00.559 e t A dot m y c of course on all the social media. 615 00:56:00.559 --> 00:56:08.320 And we have videos as well made by my own back Dadio here which has 616 00:56:08.400 --> 00:56:15.920 his music, his original music as backing for my poetry. So let's say, 617 00:56:15.320 --> 00:56:37.440 all right, let's let's do. I am by ivonne sotomayor without force 618 00:56:37.679 --> 00:56:45.239 or calm, without beast or burden, without smile or laughter. I am 619 00:56:45.519 --> 00:56:52.840 without fault or blame, without wins or loss, without heart or home. 620 00:56:53.400 --> 00:57:04.360 I am without coin a dollar, without sight, or I am without fear 621 00:57:04.639 --> 00:57:12.239 or worry, without anger or bless. I am without you or me, 622 00:57:13.519 --> 00:57:22.440 without subtleties, without shame, okay, I am without loneliness or it hurts 623 00:57:22.360 --> 00:58:30.719 without blood or tears. I am I am, I am h h sin 624 00:58:30.840 --> 00:58:43.920 posa la calba sinvestia okarga sincen risa la risa gee soy singh coupaupa visa singha 625 00:58:44.000 --> 00:58:55.440 answers of las sinoga ocassa George soy see moneta o dollar sina pus ladda gee 626 00:58:55.639 --> 00:59:10.639 soy sintmro pre coopers sine novo la felina Joe sooy sinhi omi sin supulesa slone 627 00:59:13.320 --> 00:59:22.840 Joe soy sin soil all alone Sin Sanlamas, Joe Soi, Joe Soi, 628 00:59:24.360 --> 00:59:36.119 Jojoji Wow. Just just one small example of some of the great entertainment you 629 00:59:36.159 --> 00:59:42.400 can catch on the seventeenth of December. That's a Sunday at Blankfest, a 630 00:59:42.519 --> 00:59:45.880 full day of music and revelry whose ultimate goal is to bring free blankets to 631 00:59:45.960 --> 00:59:51.239 the homeless in New York City. It's at the Hudson House of Nayak, 632 00:59:51.280 --> 00:59:54.400 which is right on Main Street. I'd like to thank our wonderful guests for 633 00:59:54.519 --> 01:00:00.039 their time this evening, mister can Rowl, Miss Ivan so Tomyo, you 634 01:00:00.079 --> 01:00:04.760 are in the mailman, mister Neil Richter. And of course we offer special 635 01:00:04.840 --> 01:00:07.199 thanks to our listeners who take time to give us a voice in their lives. 636 01:00:07.719 --> 01:00:13.199 Remember we offer fresh topic every week and you can catch us wherever and 637 01:00:13.440 --> 01:00:19.400 whenever you get your favorite podcasts like Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Speaker and 638 01:00:19.519 --> 01:00:22.519 more. You can also check us out on the Hudson River Radio Facebook page. 639 01:00:23.039 --> 01:00:27.159 Like us, leave us a comment. We also ask that you consider 640 01:00:27.320 --> 01:00:31.719 sharing being frank with others. I'd like to mention one more date for charity 641 01:00:31.760 --> 01:00:38.239 event that's really wonderful and again you get something forgiving something and that's on Monday, 642 01:00:38.920 --> 01:00:44.440 the twelfth of December. It's called Getting Saucy. It's a fundraiser for 643 01:00:44.960 --> 01:00:50.360 Rockland County's largest food bank. People to People, where celebrity chefs will cook 644 01:00:50.480 --> 01:00:53.599 up there special homemade sauces. I happen to be one of them. Of 645 01:00:53.679 --> 01:00:58.239 course, I believe mine is the best. But you guys go. It's 646 01:00:58.320 --> 01:01:04.679 at the Nayak again in Nayak, New York. That's on Monday evening. 647 01:01:04.760 --> 01:01:09.119 I believe it starts at six pm on the eleventh. Go taste my sauce, 648 01:01:09.639 --> 01:01:14.679 eat some spaghetti, and raise some money for a great cause. People 649 01:01:14.760 --> 01:01:17.360 to People. I'd like to leave you with two small things. One is 650 01:01:17.400 --> 01:01:22.119 a quote from Winston Churchill. It's one of my favorites, and I think 651 01:01:22.159 --> 01:01:27.199 it's very appropriate for our program in this time of year, and it says, 652 01:01:27.679 --> 01:01:30.320 we make a living by what we get, but we make a life 653 01:01:30.880 --> 01:01:36.199 by what we give. Remember that, folks, especially at this time of 654 01:01:36.320 --> 01:01:39.840 year, when giving is so important. We'll leave you with a classic by 655 01:01:39.920 --> 01:01:45.440 the bag Daddy Os. Their version of felis Navedad. I'm your host, 656 01:01:45.559 --> 01:01:47.719 Frank Lebarma. This has been being Frank, and we sure hope to see 657 01:01:47.760 --> 01:02:06.159 you next time? What please me time when medid please do me? Do 658 01:02:07.280 --> 01:02:12.159 it? Dad? I want to see one Mary Christmas. Wanta less see 659 01:02:12.199 --> 01:02:17.159 one that Christmas? W see one that a bottle? My mom? Please 660 01:02:17.199 --> 01:02:23.840 have me? God release me, job release DoD? What about a god? 661 01:02:25.079 --> 01:02:35.800 Wady s did by good Dad? About any god? One Christmas? 662 01:02:36.000 --> 01:02:38.599 I want one that is Christmas? Why do I see one? Marry Chris 663 01:02:38.760 --> 01:02:47.719 pa? Wannabo Christmas? What do I see on that Chris my photo on 664 01:02:47.920 --> 01:02:54.719 my glacis waz this Hudson River Radio dot com