Boston’s Haywire are always a force to be reckoned with, and their gig Friday night at Empire Live in support of the Coast 2 Coast Tour was certainly no different.
Photography by Jake Fox.
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The Invincible Casuals @ Hangar on the Hudson, 5/4/2025
Chandler Travis returned to the Hangar on the Hudson, this time in the form of the Invincible Casuals.
Photography by Timothy Reidy.
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Prog Digest – An Xperience Column
Prog Digest – An Xperience Column – by Klyde Kadiddlehumper.
“I’ll be out of here by 3:00 tomorrow.” Or something to that effect.
Those are the words of Aldo Vanucci – The Fox. A notorious Italian thief in “After the Fox,” a brilliant 1966 comedy starring Peter Sellers, Britt Ekland (his wife at the time), and Victor Mature. Sellers as the lead, Ekland as his younger sister, and Mature as an over-the-hill matinee idol. All part of a fake movie, a heist, and a hilarious car chase. Oh, did I mention this was Neil Simon’s first ever screenplay? You can check it out on YouTube.
As you, dear reader, may have gathered, Klyde has been going down memory lane and picking up some lesser-known brilliance along the way. Lost on so many and appreciated mostly for one thing – sometimes we just gotta spread the love a bit.
This time – Peter Sellers.
Certainly, you are all familiar with the Pink Panther – but the rest of his career was filled with British radio and TV and International film genius. Films I’ll not delve into here, but that you ought to seek out, include Kubrick’s “Lolita” and “Dr. Strangelove” (as three, count ‘em, three distinct characters), “What’s New Pussycat,” “The Party,” and “Being There” (a masterpiece). These films, in and of themselves, would make a stupendous career for most. Sellers was so much more.
His personal life was, well, like many of us, a mess – married three times before he passed in 1980 at 54. His work is certainly a reflection of that.
Were you aware that he was the star of a James Bond film? Yup. There were many contractual and rights issues with Ian Fleming’s work in the ‘60s (into the ’80s, actually) which resulted in … wait for it – Casino Royale. Where it seems the entire cast played James Bond (David Niven, Sellers, Ursula Andress (Vesper Lynd/James Bond), Daliah Lavi, and Woody Allen as Jimmy Bond. Hell, Orson Welles was Le Chiffre. A comedy James Bond film.
Campy, stupid, and endlessly entertaining. George Raft flicking a coin like in Scarface. Oh yeah.
Then, perhaps my favorite: “The Magic Christian.” This film has the distinction of being the first, real starring role for Ringo!
The premise is simple enough. Peter Sellers is Sir Guy Grand – the richest man in the world. He believes everyone and everything has its price. Adopting Ringo off a park bench, they set out to prove it. Paying off a cop who gave him a ticket – and he does. Paying off the two combatants in the televised heavyweight boxing championship – to dance in the ring. Indeed, the final scene is, well, umm … disturbing. It is, however, accurate. Perhaps more so today than ever.
I suggest you hunt them up, take a look, and then find some other Peter Sellers films and the like. Why? Well, a break from the world is always a good thing – and these are refreshing. And while you are at it, check out the film “Son of Dracula,” starring Ringo and “Countdown Gems,” one and all.
Until next time.
Klyde
Benefit of Jerks – The Weird Side of the Internet
Benefit of Jerks – The Weird Side of the Internet – by Liam Sweeny.
At one time, the mere mention of the word ‘masturbation’ freaked people out. It was subject to all of the descriptors of perversion, and one had to watch their hands for hair growth after every solo session. But over the past few decades, the act has become normalized, to the point that it has become sugar: each week it means something different to your health. One time it’s good for your prostate, the next, it is terrible for your psychic state and ability to form real relationships. That part is more about pornography than masturbation, but one tends to go with the other.
According to Dr. Sham Singh, masturbation is okay. So at this point, right here, stop getting on social media, before it becomes bad again. I guess you’ll eventually get tired of trading social media doomscrolling for guilt-free self-play, but enjoy it while you can.
As far as what benefit it offers, it’s very basic, as in if you don’t know already, you’re probably not doing it. So here goes: helps you relax, helps you sleep. Is anyone surprised by this? One medical thing, aside from prostate health, is that, according to Dr. Singh, masturbation is good for women undergoing menstruation. So that’s cool, right?
Can you imagine psycho health nuts being told that their self-care routine is incomplete? Wonder what those Youtube videos would look like. Where does a friendly jerk (or flick) fit into a grueling crossfit routine?
I should mention that all of the benefits from a choke can also be realized by a quick jog. So maybe the pro-beat-it news is really just the fact that we’re finally taking it out of the dregs of all we don’t talk about, so we can talk about the good that was always there. Probably like cannabis in a number of states.
So yeah. Something you like is healthy for you. Have at it, and you’re welcome.
Nesavanan Avadiar (Malaysia) – Interview – Thanks for Asking!
Nesavanan Avadiar (Malaysia) – Interview – Thanks for Asking! – by Liam Sweeny.
RRX: What was the very first reaction to your music, from the first person to ever hear so much as a practice jam or the demo of your first song?
NESA: I did not expect much from the first person to hear it but when he heard it, he did not like it at all, unlike the rest of the others who heard it. They did however say that it is a good song and many would resonate with it, it was just not their cup of tea. Yes, this was from my manager and executive producer.
RRX: Stereotypes are a bitch. I mean, aside from the really bad ones, you have cultural stereotypes about everything, including music. Would do you think is the stereotype for the music you play, and how far are you away from it?
NESA: Firstly, I am a 3rd generation Indian in Malaysia. There are a lot of cultural stereotypes that comes along with that, domestically and regionally. So, music made by a guy who’s dark brown, who’s mother tongue is not English and is not from the United Stated, has very little expectations from anyone who’s paying attention. I think the type of music I make has potential to be mainstream or even critically acclaimed but it not given due credit because it’s from a brown guy from a small country but Indians and Malaysians are knows the world over for our achievements globally.
RRX: In the musical world, there are many supporting players. Recording engineers, sound techs, cover art designers. Who are three people that support the craft that you would like to shine a spotlight on?
NESA: I’d like to honor my music producer and master, Boy Radge. He producers, arranges, records, mixes, masters and does a lot more at Abraham Records, also based in Malaysia. Secondly, my manager and executive producer, Bradley Michael Alphones, who’s my pillar of strength. I consult him on almost everything from the song production, music video, marketing, social media and everything else under the sky. The guy has a big heart and even bigger amount of patience. Finally, the filmmaking brothers duo, Anban and Agilan Elankgoven, for they made the music video, concept art, editing and everything that’s art related for my first solo single, BWBY.
RRX: Would you rather have one of your songs blow up and make you a one-hit wonder and household name, or would you rather have all your songs be solidly received, but no chart-climbers? (You have to pick one or the other here.)
NESA: This is a tough one. This is like what the devil would ask if they’re asking to make a deal for my soul. I mean, what good would any song do if they don’t even make it to the charts? But hey, that’s just greed talking. How about I exploit a loophole in the devil’s deal? I’ll take the latter, all song solidly received with billions of streams and dollars piling up. Only then, I’d be okay with it not making the chart.
RRX: Tell me about your most recent song, album, or video (you pick.) Tell me a story about what went into making it. Not a process, but a cool story that took place within the process.
NESA: BWBY is the name of my first solo single. I’ve had the intention to make this song ever since the pandemic hit in 2020 and there were so many racism-fueled incidents in all over the world happening like never before. Having my first daughter born dark brown like me instill a fear in me that she would face the same kind of systemic discrimination that I did growing up. I think that was the reason I made a song to remind people that we are more than our color. It doesn’t matter what you look like, that should not lead you to be stereotyped and discriminated against. This is a reminder to be fearless, to transcend and to remind the naysayers to just put a cork in it.
RRX: With services like Spotify, streaming revenue can be pretty dismal. Without spilling secrets, do you have a promotional mindset or philosophy?
NESA: Like my manager says all the time, “a hit is not made, a hit is always marketed”. I’ve noticed in recent times, music pundits and even legendary artists saying something along these lines, “the mainstream songs of recent times are mediocre at best, but they are hits because of the marketing and the fans herd behavior due to pop culture and social media trends. If you want to hear a hit, listen to the legendary bands of the yesteryears when no social media was present. Those were the real bangers.” To sum it up, in these days of social media driven attention span of a few seconds, spare no expense when it comes to marketing but make sure its something of good quality to market in the first place. You can’t market a product that is not good enough for the consumers.
Sunami @ Empire Live, 5/9/2025
Pain of Truth @ Empire Live, 5/9/2025
The Coast 2 Coast Tour descended on Empire Live on Friday, featuring Long Island headliners Pain of Truth.
Photography by Jake Fox.
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Willie Nile – Xperience History
Willie Nile – Xperience History – by Dick Beach.
Klaatu barada nikto is a phrase from The Day the Earth Stood Still. Willie Nile’s
latest release plays homage to that film. He comes to The Linda on February 18th
and this is part of the story.
RRX: We’re speaking with Willie Nile, who has been described as the troubadour of New York City. We thank you very much for joining us here for Xperience Monthly.
WN: Thanks for having me, Rich. Happy to be here, buddy.
RRX: You’re a Buffalo kid.
WN: Born in Buffalo. Born and raised, yeah.
RRX: So, I like to start these with where you’re from and influences. Your house was a pretty musical house to begin with.
WN: Very much so.
RRX: Is that the start of all this? Were you writing when you were younger, before you moved to New York?
WN: I was writing before I came to New York but that’s where it began, really. There was a lot of music in the home I grew up in. There were eight kids. There was a piano that was being played by my older brothers. My grandfather was a vaudeville band leader for over 20 years. I saw him play when I was very young.
So, I had a lot of ragtime, boogie-woogie stuff growing up. There’d be parties at the house. It was always a very lively, Irish-American world, with a lot of music and a lot of laughter. My older brothers were bringing home rock and roll records, and the radio stations were on in the house. The TV was on when Elvis Presley was on. I was just a little kid. I saw the beginnings of the counterculture, the rock world. I saw the beginnings of all that.
RRX: Of course, I have to ask the obligatory food question. I’m a big fan of Schwabl’s on Transit Road for a beef on weck. How about you?
WN: Wow. Schwabl’s. You know, beef on weck. There’s some great local foods there. Beef on weck is probably my favorite of them. It’s just a peculiar thing. Sponge candy is another. Buffalo has sponge candy. I’ll mention this to people in New York. I go sponge candy and they go, what’s that? It seems to be local to western New York.
Went to school one year in Ohio, first year of college. My roommate had a guitar. There was nothing to do in the middle of Ohio, so I learned to play the guitar. Then, my poetry turned into songs. I’ve been rocking ever since.
RRX: Did you stay in college in Ohio.
WN: I went one year. I fooled around. I goofed off in high school. I never needed to study; I was smart enough where I could just get by.
RRX: Oh, I know that trick.
WN: Most of us do. But, when it came time to go to a decent college, I couldn’t get in. I had a decent average, but not good enough. So, there was a school in Ohio, Walsh College. They had just built a new dorm, so they were looking for out-of-state students. So, all of us losers and troublemakers went to Walsh College.
I’ll tell you what. You never know where the road’s gonna lead you. It led me to a place where I met my guitar player, Denny Wentz. The next time I play Pittsburgh, I got to look him up. Hey, look what happened with you teaching me the guitar. I started writing rock and roll songs.
RRX: You had, I guess it would be called a residency at Kenny’s Castaways in the Village.
WN: Yes.
RRX: I am certain that that is no longer there because as so many other places are not.
WN: It was there for a long time. The Smithereens came out of there. Steve Forbert, the Roaches. It was a great scene there. It was what you hope for when you come to the City, a club. Locals would hang out late. After the show was over, locals would get up and just play new songs. It was a real cool Bohemian scene. I dug it. Then, CBGB opened, and I was always over there in the very beginning, seeing the bands play there. It was just such an interesting, fertile time.
RRX: Was it just because it sounds cool, but how did you decide on the name Willie Nile? That is not your given name.
WN: No, no. My born name is Robert Noonan. I wouldn’t get on until like two or three in the morning. I didn’t like the guy. Didn’t respect him, didn’t care for him. I’m in line. He looks up, I’m giving him my name, he’s writing down the names in order. “Hi, my name is Robert Noonan, Bob Noonan.” He goes, “Oh, I’m sorry, I couldn’t hear you. What was that?” I go, “Oh, it doesn’t matter. You can just make something up.” He goes, “Oh no no no, it’s really important what your name is.” He gives me this little one-minute Las Vegas lecture. I go, “Oh, really? Oh, okay. My name is Huey Rosinbag.” Off the top of my head. He goes, “Rosenberg?” “No no, Rosinbag. Like the pitcher’s mound.” So, this guy writes, “Huey Rosinbag.”
The week after that, I was Umberto Snorts. The week after that… I kept changing. Osgood Pequod. That was my favorite. I kept changing my name just because I refused to play the game and take this fame thing seriously. It’s not what I’m about. It’s a good rock and roll name, so that’s how…
RRX: Moving forward. The good news is that by the sounds of it, the 21st century has been good for you with respect to – well, except for the pandemic, which is its own craziness – writing and recording and performing.
WN: Oh yeah.
RRX: Do you feel that the 21st century has maybe been a bit of a reemergence.
WN: Absolutely.
RRX: A rebirth of the things you’ve been doing?
WN: It’s been a renaissance for me. I’ve put out four albums in the last five years and nine in the last 12. It’s not about how many. It’s the quality. In the last five years, I’ve put out World War Willie, Positively Bob, the Dylan cover album I made. Children of Paradise, New York at Night and The Day the Earth Stood Still. I’d hold those records up against anything. That’s the last five years, nine in the last 12. House of a Thousand Guitars, The Innocent Ones, American Ride, If I Was a River.
RRX: Official plug time. The lucky thing for my region is that you’re coming to play at The Linda in Albany. I know that we are in for an absolute treat.
WN: Thank you. Thank you, Rich. It’s been a couple of years. I love coming up there. I’ve played The Linda many times. But it’s been a few years. I love it. I love playing there. They’ve got a great piano. The sound system rocks. It’s gonna be a storytelling night. I’m gonna tell stories and play stuff. I’ll play fan faves. I’ll play really obscure stuff. I was playing the piano the other day and I played the first song I ever wrote. I went, that’s pretty good. I’m really looking forward to it. It’s gonna be a unique, special night. The Linda rocks. It’s great. I love coming up there.
RRX: In the background, I am currently playing The Day the Earth Stood Still because that has been on my repeat list.
WN: Thank you, buddy.
RRX: One of the really fascinating parts is that it shifts between rock and roll or folk or something melodic. By the titles of the songs and the lyrics that I’ve been reading – because I got the kit from your lovely publicist – this entire pandemic, for someone who wants to get out and do what you do, had to have been traumatic.
WN: This past year, we started playing in April 2021. We’ve been playing, not as much as usual, but we’ve been playing a bunch in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, all over Jersey, New England, Boston, thereabouts, Buffalo. We did a Midwest tour in October, the band and me. So, I had been playing.
It was during the course of this year; I made The Day the Earth Stood Still. So, I’m making a record, there’s a lot involved with it. They couldn’t have come out any better. It couldn’t have. If the baby Jesus was playing on it, it wouldn’t sound better. The guys played great on it. So, I had that going on, working on it. This year, there’s been a bunch of shows.
RRX: There are two songs on this that I would like to hit with you, they seem to be the yin and the yang of the entire deal. It’s prescient that it’s playing currently in the house, “The Justice Bell.”
WN: Oh yeah.
RRX: Wow.
WN: Thank you. I’ll sing that in Albany. Yeah, “The Justice Bell.” I met John Lewis. He’s a hero of mine. This brave man, this courageous man, trying to speak up for voting rights. A very humble guy. I like humility. Humility is a very underrated virtue. He’s all of that.
RRX: Because I do have my own little twisted view of the world, the yang to that yin is “Off My Medication.”
WN: I’m working on a video for that.
RRX: You can see how I flip those. I read the lyrics first and then I listened to it. I went, uh, okay. That’s a little disturbed, but…
WN: That’s completely disturbed. I was writing it thinking who are you? What planet did you come from? It’s so much fun. I’ll write about anything. Like “The Justice Bell.” I was moved to write that song about John Lewis and the struggle for some people. “Off My Medication” is like a Saturday night rock and roll party song that’s nothing but fun.
RRX: I showed my wife – I had her read the lyrics. She kind of looked and I said, “Somehow, I think Willie Nile was channeling Warren Zevon.”
WN: Oh yeah, God bless Warren. That is a bit Warren, you’re right. I met Warren. We had a day together in the dressing room we shared in Providence, Rhode Island, mid-1991. I had a record out with Columbia Records and he had a new record out. We were at, I think it was HJY, if there’s any brain cells left in my head. Providence, Rhode Island, a great station, great people.
I got there early. They were petrified. They were real scared by his coming ’cause his reputation precedes him as a wild man. He couldn’t have been nicer. He wasn’t drinking; he had been through that. We shared a dressing room. We swapped albums. It was a pleasure and an honor. When he was dying – if you remember, he was on Letterman.
RRX: Amen. I have a way I end the public part of this. I am always interested in what would you say to the world? If you had any platform anywhere, what would you say are words that you would like the world to hear that would be the lasting statement about your philosophy about life, and about people, and about anything?
WN: Follow your heart. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Look out for your neighbor and your loved ones. My father had quite a line. My father is 104. He’s still going strong.
RRX: Good lord.
WN: Oh yeah, it’s great. I saw him. I was with him last week in Buffalo. He said, “You walk a straight line. Do the best you can.” He would say, “Leave the rest in God’s hands.” Treat people good. Follow your heart. Do the best you can and what you can’t control, you let it go.” Somewhere in there is the answer. Do unto others as you would have them do until you.
RRX: Thus endeth the official part of the recorded interview and thank you.
WN: You’re welcome.
Just Listen – An Xperience Column
Just Listen – An Xperience Column – by Rob Skane.
Clem Burke, may he rest in peace, was a great drummer in a great band – Blondie. I know you know this, but if you don’t, then look for their LP “Parallel Lines.” It’s a good one and it’s a master class in rock’n’roll drumming of the New Wave variety. Clem might have been the fashion plate of the New York New Wave too. He looked very “mod” – in the coolest sense of the word, and the way he hit the drums was powerful, exuberant, and timeless. He played like he loved the tunes: all in, matched grip, and seemingly combining the most memorable bits of Keith Moon, Ringo, and Hal Blaine. Check out the first two songs on “Parallel Lines” – just sayin’. Clem drummed in some other really cool groups too, and his big beat loveliness will be missed. We all know that he rocked, but most importantly, there was the roll – which some will argue is more important, because… it is. Just listen to the Blondie records, you’ll know what I mean. I hope. If not, then we need a heart-to-heart over coffee where I gently explain that, it’s not me – it’s you.
Robert Quine. All I can say is that every time I heard him play the guitar, I was mesmerized. I still am. He may mostly be known for his time with Lou Reed – but he’s played with countless others, including Richard Hell, and he’s featured on the Matthew Sweet LP “Girlfriend.” Sunglasses on, cigarette hanging out of the corner of his mouth, wearing a suit jacket, snare drum side of the stage. He was the epitome of “disheveled coolness.” Single coil skronk blaring out of a Fender Super Champ, every note perfect, the Albert Ayler of the electric guitar? Kinda. The Lou Reed LP, “Live in Italy,” is mind-numbing on many levels. Quine just slays on that one and on “Girlfriend” too. Again, go and listen – I’m not sure if anyone does that anymore. But, would it kill you?! Quine isn’t with us anymore. It’s a sad story, but he left behind a legacy that many find influential.
Pro tip, kids. When we listen to music – we don’t talk, for example, while the music is playing. Everything stops, and we listen. Because music is important. It can take us away, for a bit, from the burdens of being upright, so to speak. Oftentimes, it’s fun to listen with friends, and sometimes it needs to be a more personal and introspective experience; it’s your choice, kids. Either way. Just. Listen. You’ll hear things on the 30th listen that you didn’t catch on the first 29, and it will be worth it. “Dude, the shaker couldn’t have come in any earlier than 11 minutes and 38 seconds – I’m telling you!! Let’s go back and listen to it!”
Mark Hummel & Anson Funderburgh @ Hangar on the Hudson, 5/8/2025
On Thursday, the Capital Region Blues Network and Hangar on the Hudson presented legendary blues performers Anson Funderburgh and Mark Hummel. You could cut the talent with a knife in that room.
Photography by Stephanie J Bartik.
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