May 21, 2010

Crawlspace Eviction Presents American Idle Hands | The KFS screens The Last Station: This week on the NCH

Crawlspace Eviction Theatre Productions will close out its 2009-2010 season with a show titled “American Idle Hands”.

Kalamazoo’s improv group is having a little comedic fun with America’s obsession with reality television and the king of all reality shows American Idol.

Crawlspace Eviction Artistic Director Dann Sytsma (pictured to the left in the embrace of fellow Crawlspace performer Adam Carter) will stop by the Nonchalant Café Hour Friday to discuss the shows scheduled for May 21 & 22 at Studio 246.

Speaking of Kalamazoo’s independent theatre Studio 246, Crawlspace Theatre Productions, Kinetic Affect, and Fancy Pants Theater are joining together for a series of shows titled “Fancy Affection in the Crawlspace” the first weekend in June.

The show promises spoken word poetry, original theater works, improv and sketch comedy par excellence as a fundraiser for the Studio 246 theatre space.

Also on the NCH Friday we’ll speak with Kalamazoo Film Society President Mike Marchak about their presentation of The Last Station directed by
Michael Hoffman. See a trailer below.

Also on the show, we’ll catch up with the fine folks over at the Kalamazoo Gazette’s KalamaBrew to find out the latest happenings in the Michigan craft beer scene. In a side note, be sure to stop by Draft Magazine and vote for KalamaBrew as your favorite beer blog … because they are right?

Listen to the NCH streaming online:

[photo credit: Shawntai Brown]
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May 15, 2010

Beer Collectables, American Craft Beer Week, a Debauching Ballad and More!

The origins of KalamaBrew‘s lovable mascot Taps McFirkin (the dapper looking gentlemen to the left) is in some circles mysterious and mythological like that of tales of folklore discussed around campfires.

Some say Taps emerged from the hedonistic lairs of Latin speaking monks developing the first Trappist ales. Others say he was found at a beer collectibles show. I’ll let you decide.

Listen to my weekly podcast with KalamaBrew’s John Liberty and Josh Smith for a discussion about everyone’s favorite Taps McFirkin along with other notable topics including American Craft Beer Week.

Plus as a special bonus feature, take a listen to the song hand-forged by Boulder, Colo.’s T. Mule and The Longest Day of the Year depicting the amazing adventures of Taps McFirkin.

Click on the media player below to stream, download and share.

[photo credit: International Trappist Association via KalamaBrew]

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May 14, 2010

May Erlewine Releases “Golden” at Bell’s: This Week on the NCH

Songwriter May Erlewine has released a new album titled “Golden”.  After a few preview listens, the Lake City, Michigan-based musician’s fifth solo recording feels like a breath of fresh air and is a perfect release after the long winter.

Recorded at Earthworks Farm in October, 2009 with engineering by Kalamazoo, Mich.’s Ian Gorman and mastering by Glenn Brown, “Golden” features Erlewine doing what she does best with a touch of folk, gospel and a barrel full of soul.

<<UPDATE>> Click here to listen to the interview with May discussing her “Golden” release.

Erlewine will be featured on the Nonchalant Café Hour this week ahead of her release show Sunday at Bell’s Eccentric Cafe.

<<EXTRA>> Click here to listen to May discuss the release of “Love Labor” on the NCH in 2009.

Also on the show, we’ll catch up with the fine folks over at the Kalamazoo Gazette’s KalamaBrew to find out the latest happenings in the Michigan craft beer scene. In a side note, be sure to stop by Draft Magazine and vote for KalamaBrew as your favorite beer blog … because they are right?

Listen to the NCH streaming online:

[photo credits: SethandMay.com]
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May 13, 2010

Kalamazoo’s Devastating Tornado, 30 Years Later With Blake Naftel and Chris Killian

On May 13, 1980, Kalamazoo faced an unprecedented F3 tornado that carved its way through the downtown central business district destroying everything in its path. The devastation resulted in several deaths and millions of dollars in damages to practically every downtown business.

Journalist Blake Naftel has been collecting video and other data on the tornado for more than a decade. The tornado served as the impetus for Naftel’s career aspirations and has resulted in a sprawling documentary project.

Naftel and fellow journalist Chris Killian stopped by the Nonchalant Café Hour to discuss the tragic events that took place 30-years ago on this day.

Click on the media player below to stream, download and share.

See a video web extra with Blake and Chris here
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May 11, 2010

Seth Bernard Discusses “Is This You?”

Lake City, Michigan’s Seth Bernard has released a new record titled “Is This You?” as a companion piece to his album “This Here”. Bernard spoke to the Nonchalant Café Hour to discuss the album ahead of a show at The Strutt in downtown Kalamazoo.

“Is This You” takes listeners on a journey through joyful and challenging rites of passage and moments in life. The orchestrations give the album a richness and depth that envelops the listener and is a window in to the talent of Bernard and his musical collaborators.

Recorded in Michigan at the Heart Center Studio, “Is This You” features Bernard’s longtime life and music partner May Erlewine along with a full rock band backing on many selections by Bernard’s friends with engineering by Kalamazoo’s Ian Gorman and mastering by Glenn Brown.

Listen, download, share the interview below.

EXTRA: Have you heard the documentary produced by NCH host Steven Davy featuring Seth Bernard and May Erlewine? Click here to check it out.
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May 11, 2010

Kalamazoo Tornado Web Extra with Chris Killian and Blake Naftel

May 13 marks the 30-year anniversary of an F3 tornado that destroyed much of downtown Kalamazoo, Mich., and wreaked havoc in Van Buren and Kalamazoo Counties.

To mark the anniversary, journalists Blake Naftel of Fox 17 News and the Kalamazoo Gazette’s Chris Killian stopped by the Nonchalant Café Hour studio to discuss the event. See them both here in an special NCH web extra.

Also, be sure to stop by the Nonchalant Café Hour in the coming days for a post with the full interview with Blake and Chris. Until then, please enjoy this exclusive behind the scenes video.

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May 7, 2010

The Kalamazoo Tornado 30 Years Later, Also Seth Bernard Releases Is This You: This Week on the NCH

May 13 marks a significant anniversary for Kalamazoo. In 1980, two F3 tornadoes touched down and carved paths through Van Buren and Kalamazoo Counties eventually winding right through the heart of Kalamazoo downtown central business district.

Five people were killed, and over 100 injuries were reported along with millions of dollars in damages.

To mark the 30-year anniversary, journalists Blake Naftel of Fox 17 News and the Kalamazoo Gazette’s Chris Killian will stop by the studio to retell the story of Kalamazoo’s worst day in modern history.

<<UPDATE>> Click here to see a behind-the-scenes video of Blake and Chris

Click here to listen to the conversation with Blake and Chris

Also on the show, musician Seth Bernard has a new album out titled “Is This You?”

We’ll find out the details behind the album from one of Michigan’s most talented and prolific artists ahead of his CD release here in Kalamazoo Saturday May 8th at the Strutt.

And … Check out our regular chat with KalamaBrew for all the latest on the Midwest craft beer scene.

<<UPDATE>> Click here to listen to the interview with Seth Bernard

Listen to the NCH streaming online:

[photo credits: E. Lorey from Vanished Kalamazoo &  Seth Bernard and May Erlewine]
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