81: Hay, It’s Christmas!

Dec 13, 2023

This week I revisit an old discussion on the best Christmas tartans. Always good for discussion at holiday time. Additionally, I discuss girl apartment smells, nostalgic Christmases and making a difference in small ways. Things that seem worthy of attention at this festive season. Thanks for checking out the show. Reach out and say “hi” some time.

80: Nog For Your Noggin’

Dec 5, 2023

Cousin Eddie

Hi friends! Speaking of friends, how are yours? Friends, I mean. Do you have any who are difficult to deal with? Is it time to consider cutting them loose? Sometimes it’s worth evaluating. I’m enjoying a bit of eggnog so I decided to do an eggnog show. History of the nog, making the nog and spiking the nog. Now go have a cup of that sweet, fatty elixir. Weird, that was my old college nickname. See you Thursday.

79: A Chat With Mike Faber

Nov 30, 2023

79 A Chat With Mike Faber

Today I sit down for a little chat with our good friend Mike Faber of the ESO Network. We discuss podcasting, live concerts, The Monkees and much more. A really fun chat! Give it a listen.

78: Namaste Is As Namaste Does

Nov 28, 2023

Welcome to a new week, friends! I checked out the film “Killers Of The Flower Moon” this week. Give it a look if you like disgusting characters who make everyone’s life hell. Kind of like me with this podcast. I was thinking about significant moments in my life like when I became a man and when I was (basically) told I couldn’t sing. No one else knew how significant those moments were but I still knew. Also, I have to face the fact that I suck at the basics of spirituality. Maybe I should just give it up. I dunno. I’ll probably keep trying. Interview show with Mike Faber coming up Thursday. It’s a good one. Don’t forget about it. See you then.

77: Digesting

Nov 24, 2023

The day after Thanksgiving and I’m still dealing with my gluttonous holiday activities, how about you? Not as bad as previous years but, crap, I still got work to do. This year for the holidays we get a feud between Hall and Oates, which of course we were all looking forward to. So, how about we just get into a discussion of weird religions? Why not? It’s something that can bring us all together this festive season. Hey, gang, hit me up if you need stickers. Hit me up if you need a chat. Just hit me up. See you next week.

76: Death Angels We Have Heard on High

Nov 21, 2023

‘Twas the Tuesday before Thanksgiving… Got your dinners all planned out? I asked you what your favorite non-traditional Thanksgiving meal is and I got several interesting responses. Me? I’ll stick with the traditional tofu molded into a turkey. I was reading a bit about sea angels last week and thought I’d share a little about these freaky mollusks. Maybe you’ll want to put one on top your tree this year! Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate! I’ll talk with you on Friday.

New Outta Toon Merch!

Nov 18, 2023

New Outta Toon Podcast merch is here! Just in time for Christmas, Grab something for yourself and anyone else who loves obscure podcast merchandise. It’s a great way to help defray the cost of podcast production and help us out with a little advertising and marketing as well. It’s the gift that keeps giving all year long.

Jonatha Brooke’s Busted Guitar

Nov 17, 2023

In this week’s show (#75) I tell the story about Jonatha Brooke’s busted guitar. I’m posting some photos and a blurb from her Facebook page about the incident. All content posted without permission so hopefully I won’t get sued. It will be removed upon request. Also, at the end is a video of Jonatha playing. If you know nothing about her, it would be a good idea to dive into her catalogue. She’s an excellent songwriter. One of the best.

From Jonatha Brooke’s Facebook Page:

TSA, SHAME on YOU!!!!
 
People ask me all the time how I can stomach the anxiety of checking my guitar, a custom-made Olson, when I travel.
I tell them that at a certain point, I just gave up fighting gate agents, flight attendants, baggage handlers. The stress was just too much day to day, not knowing whether I’d have a full-blown meltdown or a happy dance when I boarded.
 
And so, the letting go began. And slowly, I became…. Ok…. With the uncertainty. Sure, my stomach lurches a bit each time I hand my guitar off to the TSA. But, each time it shows up intact in the next city, I celebrate.
I schlepp to sound check. Set up my little rig, revel in its sound. I play my heart out. And then I pack it up tenderly, tape the latches and bring it, with another day’s prayer, to the next city’s airport screeners.
And then. Wednesday happened. And ….I’m not….ok.
I understand that in the larger shitshow that is the world right now, my guitar is tiny beans.
In my tiny world, that guitar is all the beans.
It is the current that carries me.
It is the means to my every musical end.
The sound of that guitar is MY sound.
When James Olson made my guitar, (2003) he made the neck precisely for MY hands. He braced it and shaped it with MY favorite tuning in its DNA (C, G, D, G, B, D) with MY favorite strings in mind. He even threw in a few extra little fretboard doves as a kindness.
 
And so, Wednesday. The unthinkable. I opened my guitar case at sound check and my 20-year-old beloved was trashed. Someone at TSA had taken it out of the case and then, dropped it on its most vulnerable edge. They then put it back in the case, threw one of their standard little “TSA was here” notes in, and sent it on its way.
 
What hurts the most is – what has been churning in my belly for two nights now – is, how does someone do that and make no effort to take accountability. How does someone shatter a one-of-a kind instrument, and then leave it (SURPRISE!) for the poor owner to fight for her right to recourse. (And also fight to figure out how the show will go on!)
 
I begin the long slog today with TSA. Forms, proofs. All the things that suck about government agencies. I am bracing for months of fighting with them. I am bracing for never getting the money it will cost to fix or replace my guitar.
It is so very broken. I am so very heartbroken.
 
But, stubborn is in MY “bracing.” Perseverence is in MY DNA. I will get to the bottom of this. And I am hoping James Olson can nurse this masterpiece back to life. No matter how much it costs, or how long it takes.
 
Xo
 
Jb
 
Ps. Mill Valley shout out! I cannot thank Eric, Michael and Maria at the Sweetwater Music Hall enough. Michael (sound engineer) jumped right into action. Called Eric. Eric drove 200 miles like a crazy person to bring me a lovely Collings, (Maria, the manager, also married to Eric, threatened him with divorce if he didn’t get there in time)
And in the meantime, Eric and Michael located a Martin nearby so the show could go on.
 
Pps. Despite my nerves about the whole unfamiliar guitar thing, I had a GREAT time. Mill Valley, you sure brought the LOVE… I can’t thank you enough. And I can’t wait to see you again when my baby is “back in the circus!”
 
xo
 
jb

75: I’m Not the Turkey, You’re the Turkey!

Nov 17, 2023

Welcome, friends, to the new, old, Outta Toon Podcast! Hope you enjoy your stay! Today, I’m planning a holiday dinner menu, planning a substantial haircut and planning on never watching Hallmark Christmas movies again. Yeah. Good luck with that. Let’s discuss air travel and the destruction of expensive guitars and how to de-escalate conflicts at your family Thanksgiving gathering. I’m not an expert at any of those things but I’m an old white guy and I’m allowed to pontificate about things I know absolutely nothing about, right? Do me a favor and share the podcast this week. It really helps. See you next week!