KVC-Arts

David Fleming speaks with Raul Malo, of The Mavericks. The Mavericks are performing with Dwight Yoakum with two dates in our region quite soon. More at themavericksband.com

On this edition of the program, David Fleming speaks with TJ Hicks - Program Manager for the Rancho Mirage Public Library and Observatory. We'll here about the many programs they have to offer - including children's theatre, opera, movies and more.

David Fleming speaks with Jane Kirkpatrick, author of 41 books, including "The Healing of Natalie Curtis." This is a work of historic fiction about a woman who helped preserve music, dance and language of the Navajo, Hopi, and Zuni Tribes at a time when many sought to ban such things.

"On Golden Pond," "Wait Until Dark," "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest," "Midsummer Night’s Dream," "Man of La Mancha..." For those in theatre this reads as a "must do someday" kind of list. For many others this is a list of shows you've heard of, even if you're not into theatre whatsoever. What this list is - in order - The lineup for Riverside Community Players' 100th season! They polled the audiences to find out what THEY'D like to see. These were all pulled from the near 100-year history of the theatre - which started in 1925, originally the Drama Department of the Riverside Women's Club before separating to become Riverside Community Players. So out of 99-plus years... yes, we were bound to have some heavy hitters asked for. And this is what we'll be getting! On this edition of KVC-Arts, David Fleming speaks with board members Phillip Gabriel and Michael Shane Eastman, as well as Mia Mercado, director of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," running now, and wrapping up the 99th season. We'll hear about the upcoming 100th season - going beyond the titles mentioned above, as well as talk about theatre in the round - the type of presentation you get at Riverside Community Players.

On this edition of KVC-Arts we have David Fleming in conversation with Colin Mochrie. Known mainly for his nearly two decades with Who's Line Is It Anyway, we'll hear about the show of course, how he even got into improv in the first place, and a NEW show coming to Agua Caliente June 22nd.

On this edition of KVC-Arts, It's Riverside Community Players and the upcoming production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. David Fleming speaks with Philip Gabriel, board member, Michael Shane Eastman, also on the board, and Mia Mercado, DIRECTOR. We'll hear about the play, which wraps up the 99th season, and we'll get a bit of history - as we move toward season 100.

On this edition of the program, it’s the music once again of the indie rock band, SEPT, with David Fleming in conversation with Ben Ochoa and Caleb Ervin. They’ve got a date at The Troubador in LA June 21st, along with Bed and Boy Comma, as guests of The High Curbs. On a previous KVC-Arts we explored their self-titled release, on this edition of the program – some singles, EP’s and more.

On this edition of KVC-Arts, David Fleming speaks with Albert Lopez, founder of the band Wayword in 2018. The band was formed through Albert reaching out to friends to help him play his music live and in studio. Wayword has released 1 ep, 1 album and is actively working on a 2nd record. Wayword is a multi-genre band with influences in indie rock, alt rock, power pop and shoegaze. On Instagram @waywordca

Henry Franklin, Skipper, got his start with Roy Ayers in a Latin jazz group while still in high school. He was recruited by Hugh Masekela for an album which produced "Grazing in the Grass," and took him to Woodstock as well as the Monterey Pop Festival. He's worked as a sideman with many, and has 28 (or so) albums under his own name.Onthe next KVC-Arts David Fleming speaks with Skipper about one of the most recent - one which earned him a NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Jazz record - instrumental. SUCH a great disc! We'll also hear about one that was a bit of an avant-garde piece, yet still QUITE cool to listen to. We'll touch briefly as well on his time with Stevie Wonder... but it's mostly jazz.And - jazz in this area! Skipper still lines up the musicians for Pierce Street Jazz, a free concert series at La Sierra University. A variety of types of jazz presented, with known players who are in the region (they're all OVER the place).AND more!

David Fleming speaks with Emilio Castillo, one of the founding and current members of Tower of Power. We'll get a bit of history - including a drastic change in not only their material, but their look as well, some song specific material and more.

Jonathan Karrant has been on KVC-Arts several times now, and with several upcoming performances in our region, David Fleming has re-packaged his first interview with Jonathan, serving as a wonderful introduction to a man with impeccable discs, and a phenomenal onstage delivery of story through song.

David Fleming continues his conversation with Michelle Dowd, author of Forager: Field Notes For Surviving a Family Cult - A Memoir. This is the story OF Michelle - told from her perspective... as a little girl growing into her teens. She grew up in a cult started by her grandfather, who was seen as the last prophet, and would lead them after surviving the apocalypse.More at michelledowd.org

David Fleming speaks with Michelle Dowd, author of Forager: Field Notes For Surviving a Family Cult - A Memoir. Each chapter begins with a plant you can find in the mountain wilderness, and the ways to use it for food. Each chapter then goes on to tell the story of Michelle Dowd, and the Angeles National Forest cult in which she was raised. The cult was started by her grandfather, known to all as the last prophet. He would not die, but rather live to be 500 and lead the organization through the impending apocalypse. The story is told from the perspective OF Michelle - as a 7-year-old, growing into her teenage years - when she would eventually leave.More on the book at Michelle Dowd dot org. Michelle’s on Instagram at MichelleDowdZ, there’s also MDowd.Substack.com. The books available in hardback, paperback, Kindle and Audio anywhere books are sold. All are on Amazon.

On this edition of the program David Fleming speaks with Brooks Wilson. Bobby was already in tribute bands, performing among other things, the music of Jackie Wilson – long before finding out that he was indeed Jackie Wilson’s son. Bobby will be at Vibrato Grill & Jazz March 8th with a Jackie Wilson Tribute show.vibratogrilljazz.com for more. Also, more at bobbywilsonmusic.com.

David Fleming continues his conversation with Evan J. Marshall - sometimes known as Mr. Solo Mandolin, due to his ability to play several parts of the mandolin at the same time, giving self-accompaniment. We'll hear about bluegrass, Western swing, as well as classical. AND - his take on the final movement from The William Tell Overture AKA the theme from The Lone Ranger.

Writers on the Block started off as pretty much an open mic for writers... mostly poets. It soon became mainly an online Facebook presence where people could share their works, as well as give and receive feedback. It then became a live event once again - the first Wednesday of every month at The Vault Martini Bar Redlands (which turns/turned 20 years old this year)! There's a sign up sheet starting at 8, and by 9 be ready for, well, readings and recitations. I got there as someone was reading from a short story. Many, many poems followed as we went through the signup sheet. I heard some very personal pieces, and some which were designed for a laugh. I heard some works which adhered strictly to meter and form... and others were a rant on paper. And all of which I enjoyed thoroughly.The main driving force behind Writers on the Block these days is the combination of Alfred Valdivia Jr., Jamie Lee Musser, and Jose Nevarez AKA Vill Ain. Jamie and Villain join me to talk about Writers on the Block - past and present - and more.

Entertainment to experience… or to see!Whatever branch of service you might have served in, you may recall just how much they molded you into being a soldier, sailor, marine, etc... but they didn't do a WHOLE lot to prepare you for being a civilian once again.Enter Mil-Tree, and their program, "Tapestries of Transformation." The purpose of which is connecting veterans back to their community and reducing chronic loneliness and isolation.The culmination of the program will be a theatrical performance in the Spring, which comes together as the culmination of several workshops - drumming, writing and storytelling, acting, and movement. The workshops are coming up QUITE soon - running through February. AND - they're not JUST for veterans.More at mil-tree.org.

John Jorgenson grew up in Redlands (and while at University of Redlands, actually played clarinet with Benny Goodman conducting!!!), and at one point worked at Disneyland - playing in three different bands comprised of the same four guys. He was in The Desert Rose Band, along with Chris Hillman of the Byrds and Herb Pederson, who’s played with more people than I can name in one breath. He was also in the award-winning Hellecasters, and was invited by Elton John to be part of an 18-month tour, which turned into a 6-year stay. John Jorgenson is also one of the forerunners in the world of Gypsy Jazz.I interviewed him just over a decade ago when he was getting ready to perform in Redlands, though this was before the creation of KVC-Arts. About time I included this one! John is still touring and performing in a number of configurations. More at johnjorgenson.com

On this edition of KVC-Arts, we'll hear from Johnny A Hickman about this region of California as well as bands from the area (Cracker's roots are indeed Redlands, San Bernardino, Highland, Riverside...), another phrase or three talking about the songwriting process for Cracker, several REALLY cool tunes from Hickman's early solo release, Palmhenge - as well as the origin of that name, and yes - Cracker's breakout hit - Teen Angst.

The core of Cracker has always been Johnny A Hickman and David Lowery. Before moving to Virginia, Cracker was VERY much steeped in The Inland Empire region of Southern California (The Dangers, Camper Van Beethoven & more). So in early November when they were getting ready to wrap up their 2023 tour in Highland (a literal 10 miles from where I sit), I happily grabbed a chance for an interview. It was very much at the 11th hour, and David was teaching that day, but I was quite happy to speak with Johnny. Either one would have been wonderful. LOTS of GREAT material with both these guys!Even though there wasn't room in a KVC-Arts prior to their performance, we still spoke for just under an hour, so I could grab a snippet of the conversation to be used as a feature during Morning Edition and All Things Considered to promote their appearance and use the rest of the conversation for a KVC-Arts in the relative near future.So - taking us into the new year, it's Cracker for the next TWO KVC-Arts. Some of the items for the first show... The songs "Low," "San Bernardino Boy," "Eurotrash Girl," "March of the Billionaires" and more... and of course Cracker as a name for the band. These days it sometimes gets a person dinged on Facebook.