Tell The Bartender Episode 9: Last Days and the Preponderant Shaft Project

Listen to Episode 9: Last Days and the Preponderant Shaft Project

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In This Episode:

Last Days: Stephanie D’Abruzzo has an interesting history with last days on the job. She shares with us two short stories about her last day at the Broadway show Avenue Q, and her last day working at a Burger King in college.

The Preponderant Shaft Project: In 2008 a group of friends took an inside joke on an email thread a little too far. In Katharine’s first ever field piece, we hear from Ed Winnick, Chris Powers, Michael Boyd, Jon Quinn and Brett Gustafson about what inspired them to create a full length album worth of songs in a few weeks… over a private email conversation started by a spam message. For the first time, we hear the fruits of their creative labor.

PLUS Katharine shares a new drink recipe, and we play a new round of everyone’s favorite game, “Craigslist Ad or Casting Notice?”

In related news, “Last Days and the Preponderant Shaft Project” is the name of Katharine’s new jam band.

Stephanie D’Abruzzo is a Tony nominated actor, an original cast member of Broadway’s Avenue Q, puppeteer, writer and an all around awesome person. She was also the voice of Uma on Oobi, Katharine’s favorite kids show ever to watch as an adult. Here she is looking just darling:

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Ed Winnick, Chris Powers, Michael Boyd, Jon Quinn and Brett Gustafson are a group of friends who have separately, and together, played in various bands such as 76% Uncertain (Ed), Onion (Ed), Shrieking Void of Emptiness (Ed and Brett), Gunk (Ed and Brett), Tide (Chris and Michael), Klimpter (Ed, Brett, Michael and Jon) and Firenza (Chris and Michael).

Listen to the full songs from the Preponderant Shaft Project here:

1. My Shaft is Extremely Preponderant - the Guided By Voices version by Chris Powers

2. Shafterpol – the Interpol version by Michael Boyd

3. 80′s Shaft - the 80′s take on the Shaft song by Jon Quinn

4. 60′s Shaft - the 60′s take by Chris Powers

5. Shaft Gordon – a play on the Flash Gordon song by Jon Quinn

6. Meta Shaft - inspired by the Isaac Hayes song of the same name by Michael Boyd

7. Shaftira – the Shakira version by Katharine Heller (featuring a voicemail accidentally recorded on Jon Quinn’s phone)

8. Shaft The Musical – the Broadway Musical version by Jon Quinn and Katharine Heller

9. My Thrash is Extremely Preponderant – the Heavy Metal version by Brett Gustafson

Music Credits:

“Setting Sun” by Chris Powers

“You Said Something” by PJ Harvey

“Black Hole Sun” by Steve and Eydie

“First of the Gang to Die” by Morrissey

“Bottled in Cork” by Ted Leo & The Pharmacists

Tell The Bartender Episode 8: Oops

Listen to Episode 8: Oops

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In This Episode:

Horse Power: A few years ago Micaela Walker’s car got hit by a reckless teenage driver. Since this took place in Amish Country, it also happens that the teenager was speeding in a horse and buggy.

The Time Of Your Life: Steve Reynolds tells us about one night with Green Day, his blood, and Winona Ryder.

Oopsie Baby: Mike Rose never expected to need the tips on his amateur midwifery cheat sheet, but…

PLUS Katharine shares a classic drink recipes and gives personal shout-outs to subscribers and supporters, and a new round of everyone’s favorite game, “Craigslist Ad or Casting Notice?” Also, Katharine was a guest on the amazing comedy podcast, Keith and the Girl last week. Hear her tell her favorite bartending stories on their show here!

Micaela Walker is a Brooklyn based photographer, writer and very safe driver. Here is a picture of the incident:

© Micaela Walker

© Micaela Walker

Steve Reynolds is a DJ (founder of the popular 90s event Party Like It’s 1999), an MC (for Bunnie England and the New Originals, New York’s loudest live karaoke band) a music journalist and co-editor of the new book Fan Interference: A Collection of Baseball Rants and Reflections, due out June 18th on Blue Cubicle Press. Here are the photos from the story he told with his blood on the stage:

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Mike Rose is an editor at The Unofficial Apple Weblog TUAW.com, and the regular host of the site’s live Sunday night podcast, talking about all things Mac, iPhone and more. You can find him on Twitter @MikeTRose and at his personal site, geekparent.com. Here is a picture of his family a few days after this story happened:

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Music Credits:

“Setting Sun” by Chris Powers

“Girl That Speaks No Words” by The Infadels

“Speed” by Bran Van 3000

“Goodbye” by Best Coast

“Dare I Say” by Bran Van 3000

“Farrar, Strauss & Giroux” by Destroyer

“Bottled in Cork” by Ted Leo & The Pharmacists

Tell The Bartender Episode 7: I Didn’t Know I Was Nugent

Listen to Episode 7: I Didn’t Know I Was Nugent

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In This Episode:

Brooklyn based restaurateur Ted Mann always knew growing up that he was adopted. Recently he found out that his birth father wanted to meet him. Then he found out that his birth father is Ted Nugent. He shares the story of his incredible family reunion.

PLUS Katharine shares a drink recipe with a mixer by the nice people at Cocktail Crate, we play the new game, “Casting Notice or Craigslist Ad” with the help of Matty Blake from The Actors Grind Podcast, and listener shout-outs!

Ted Mann is a restaurateur and bar owner with eleven establishments. They are, in no particular order, Cebu Bar & Bistro, Apt 138, Bar 4, Matchless, Public Assembly, Lone Wolf, No Name Bar, Cubana Social, Camp, Greenwood Park and the soon to be opened Park Luncheonette. Katharine has frequented many of them over the last ten years and they are all amazing. Seriously, you need to eat/drink at his establishments if you find yourself in Brooklyn.

Ted and Ted:

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The day they met:

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Music Credits:

“Setting Sun” by Chris Powers

“Painted Sevens” by Petula 62

“Father’s Child” by Petula 62

“Bottled in Cork” by Ted Leo & The Pharmacists

Tell The Bartender Episode 6: A Night With Kambri

Listen To Episode 6: A Night With Kambri

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In This Episode:

We spend the full hour with the amazing Kambri Crews. She tells us what it’s like to grow up as a hearing child with two deaf parents, adventures with mom’s “back massager”, and the night she found out that her father was arrested almost stabbing a woman to death. We laugh, cry and make new drinks.

PLUS Katharine shares a new drink based on a friend and show supporter!

Kambri Crews is a Queens based producer, publicist, writer and storyteller who is the author of the incredible memoir, Burn Down the Ground which you need to buy immediately.

Kambri, looking lovely:

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Here is Kambri singing songs in ASL with her mother at her book launch party:

Music credits:

“Setting Sun” by Chris Powers

“Mama Don’t Smoke” by Bran Van 3000

“Predictable” by Bran Van 3000

“Bottled in Cork” by Ted Leo & The Pharmacists

Tell The Bartender Episode 5: Taken In

Listen To Episode 5: Taken In

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In This Episode:

Cat Napped: Sharda Sekaran reveals how she, her high school friends, and a train full of New Yorkers saved a cat from a man on the subway who claimed to be a space alien.

Martha’s Meltdown: Lora Chio once booked a job in a Martha Stewart commercial without even auditioning. She quickly finds out why.

PLUS Katharine shares a warm weather drink recommendation AND gives personal shout-outs to new subscribers and supporters!

Sharda Sekaran is a Brooklyn based writer, singer and friend. Here she looking striking in a photo taken by one of the featured players in Sharda’s story, animal lover Micaela.

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Sharda Sekaran

Lora Chio is an actress, world traveller and all around kick-ass storyteller. Katharine met Lora on the set of a Red Lobster commercial where they saw food differently.

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Lora Chio

Music credits:

“Setting Sun” by Chris Powers

“Sneakin Out Of The Hospital” by the Beastie Boys

“There’s No Other Way” by Blur

“Bottled in Cork” by Ted Leo & The Pharmacists

Tell The Bartender Episode 4: New Friends, Old Friends

Listen To Episode 4: New Friends, Old Friends

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In This Episode:

Listen To Your Mother: Katharine’s mother talks about the time she was a teenager and almost kidnapped into white slavery while visiting Marrakesh. Then she shares a short story about when her mother was captured by the Nazi’s during WWII.

Wait… What?: Hugh Klitzke tells us about the time he was involved in an exorcism, and learned the value of true friendship.

PLUS Katharine shares her popular White Sangria recipe!

Hugh P. Klitzke is an award winning composer and lyricist, and producer and collaborator with Ingrid Breyer on the musical The Precautionary Principle. He is also voice casting director for a leading bi-coastal talent agency. Hugh has been head of sound for Penn and Teller, an Equity Stage Manager and a lecturer at SUNY Purchase. He’s pretty multi-talented and awesome.

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Hugh Klitzke

Katharine’s mother has been her mom for 30-something years. She’d rather not have her identity be public, so here’s a YouTube clip of a narcoleptic kitten.

Music credits:

“Setting Sun” by Chris Powers

“Happens All The Time” by Chris Powers

“Bottled in Cork” by Ted Leo & The Pharmacists

Tell The Bartender Episode 3: For The Love Of…

Listen to Episode 3: For The Love Of…

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In This Episode:

I’m Your Daddy: Dean Haspiel shares the very touching story of how he helped out a friend in need. By donating his sperm.

Finding Esteban: John Knefel fell hard for a girl, and took a trip to Argentina to see her. It didn’t go so well.

PLUS Katharine shares her signature Bloody Mary recipe!

Dean Haspiel is a Brooklyn based Emmy Award winning illustrator and comic book writer. You can see some of his work on Welcome To Trip City, among many other places. He will also be co-hosting a night of humor and amazement with Katharine on March 21st at Union Hall in Brooklyn. Here is one of Dean’s creations:

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John Knefel is a journalist, comedian, and co-host of Radio Dispatch. He’s also a total badass and has been arrested and even spent some time in Gitmo. Both for work. Here is a picture of John looking awesome and serious:

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You can read more about the story he tells on this episode here.

 

Music credits:

“Setting Sun” by Chris Powers

“Bittersweet” by Chris Powers

“Bottled in Cork” by Ted Leo & The Pharmacists