Interview with Beth Patterson, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, novelist, poet, Celtic music specialist.

It is hard to summarize Beth Patterson (Paxton) in a simple paragraph. She embodies the terms multi-talented/ faceted, and she earnestly goes deeply into the musical avenues that interests her. But, this isn’t limited to music. She also has written novels (published) and poetry, and while she somehow does all that she puts on wild and riveting performances and invents crazy stuff to do with her also highly talented husband, Josh Paxton.

So in this interview you will hear her talk about coming out of Lafayette and somehow ending up involved in all sorts of world music but especially Celtic music. She plays an unusual instrument - the Irish Bazouki as well as bass and mandolin. Her dexterity and execution are amazing, but she also has an incredible wit and humor that are both fast and sensitive…and insensitive at exactly the right time. Her songwriting style is wide ranging as well as having a colossal repertoire of traditional music from around the world and the ability to fuse these things together. Is it mash-up or fusion?

Either way, it’s very interesting and she has a lot of thinking, ideas, and experiences that go into and come out in her art. Check out her ideas in this 4 part podcast.

part 1 of the Interview with Beth Patterson

part 2 of the interview with Beth Patterson

part 3 of the interview with Beth Patterson

part 4 of the interview with Beth Patterson

to know further:

Beth's website

Beth’s Wikipedia page

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Interview with Composer/Performer, Anthony Cuccia of The Other Planets

Anthony Cuccia- Percussionist, keyboardist, composer, idea man for The Other Planets. Anthony uses music both for social consciousness and for exploration of its own various technologies.  He is always striving for a new way to assemble his ideas.  If you haven't, go check out his evolving band.  If you are real lucky you might catch him doing a solo show.  This interview took some interesting turns partially due to Anthony's willingness to discuss parts of his "process."

Part 1- Background and growing up in Lafayette; coming to the Bongos; interest in eclectic characters in music; seeking authenticity and individualised statement; studies with Hector Gallardo; big ideas; the influence of video games; what happened to Paul?; more on Hector and playing out on Frenchmen St; meeting Jimbo Walsh, getting turned on to Captain Beefheart, and putting the band together; transformation from "jazzy" band to rock band and the forces that caused the transformation; the impact of Zack Smith and Dan Oestreicher on The Other Planets; the rebirth of Dan Oestreicher; the departure of Oestreicher; influences on the lyrical content- politics and humor; insulting the audience; is the audience listening?

Part 2- Is the other planets avehicle for political views?; development into more of an emphasis on lyrics and vocals; more "pop" forms enter the picture; defining what had gone on previously; why the attempts at boundary pushing?; what is this idiom?; process of working on the vocals; content understanding within the band; more on whether the audience comprehend the material; nightmarish mis-adventures in accounting; upcoming recording possibilities; the solo shows; current directions in Cuccia's songwriting; literary interests; what is driving the change toward the positive and the spiritual; gullain-barre syndrome; music as therapeutic recovery system; sonic features of positive music; what Cuccia learned from James "Jimbo" Walsh; different ways that band members internalize the musical ideas; Rex Gregory, Tim McPhatter; the wind cries mary; planned people to collaborate with; what was learned from The Iguanas

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