Pheaturing Charity Chapman

Hello, welcome to a Monday entry of the Phile, I am your host, Oliver Queen. LOL. Only a handful of you readers will get that.  This is the last entry for January already. Man, this year is flying by.  Mitt Romney released his tax records and they showed that he earned$42 million over the last two years. So now the other candidates aren't running for president. They're running to be Mitt Romney.  Google Plus has introduced a new policy that allows nicknames. Unfortunately, it's a nickname they give you based on your search history.  House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi says she has dirt on Newt Gingrich, but so far she's keeping her lips sealed... because that's how the last surgeon left them.  Olive Garden announced they're undergoing a makeover to try to increase business. They're so desperate they're even considering serving Italian food.  A new website just came out that’s designed to calculate how long it takes Mitt Romney to earn your salary. So from now on, whenever Mitt Romney is running late, he can call there and say, “I'll be there in five teachers.” What's interesting is in the time it took you to think about that joke, Mitt Romney made $65 million.  President Obama spent the other night in Las Vegas. The next morning he woke up on his hotel room floor trying to figure out what to do about a tiger, baby and 9 percent unemployment.  Here's news from America's wang... a Florida man was recently arrested for taking up-skirt shots at Wal-Mart. It will come to trial as soon as they can find 12 jurors willing to look at up-skirt shots of Wal-Mart shoppers.  So, I was in the super market the other day and Inoticed somethig that seemed odd. Quaker, the cereal company, is a little bit racist. Don't believe me? Take a look.

So, earlier I introduced myself as Oliver Queen. For those that don't know, he is The Green Arrow. Anyway, there's a PSA poster about super heroes that were put out that I thought was interesting. Take a look. 

Alright, now for some sad news.

Robert Hegyes
May 7, 1951 - Jan 26, 2012
Dear Mr. Kotter, Please excuse Epstein from school. He's dead. Signed, Epstein's Mother.

Okay, so, there's a thousand or so blogs out there, right. Not all are updated more frequently than Zsa Zsa goes to the hospital. But there's a lot. So, I thought once again I would pheature someone's elses blog, in a pheature I call...

Today's award goes to persephone-lee.blogspot.com. Here's a piece of it.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2012#18
In the Spring of 2010, I was very lost. The boy I had gone backwards and forwards in loving had broken up with me to be with his ex, and I was embarrassed to have dropped out of sixth form and so actively avoided keeping in contact with my high school friends. My relationship with my parents was far from mended; in fact it took moving out and another year before it would feel right again. To top it off, I had just started a different college in the middle of the school year. I was very withdrawn and didn't much feel like studying or making friends.

It was as if all of a sudden everything had gone wrong.

During that time there was only one group of people I could rely on. It comprised of mostly female family friends, including my ex girlfriend and a few other girls I would occasionally (and unintentionally) have sex with. I had had a couple of disastrous encounters with boys who cared little about me, and I ended feeling even more worthless and ashamed than my depression had left me. It was also around the time I started seriously considering becoming an escort. (Still not, FYI).

I could never seem to find a boy who understood me, someone I was compatible and comfortable with. At the time I thought it was because of them rather than my (for want of a better word) fragile mindset. 'Fuck it, I'm obviously a lesbian,' I thought. This lead to a lot of hand-wringing 'am I or am I not?' soul-searching. It took many nights of lost sleep and many lost days filled with ever-more daring sexual experimentation, many a drunken night hanging out in dyke bars acting like I had a dick (even though I almost always refused to pack), fucking girls in bathroom stalls, and waiting. Waiting to feel like I belonged, for something to finally make sense and seem right again... before I finally had this epiphany:

HOLD ON I STILL LIKE PENIS UH-HUH I DO I LIKE IT LOTS

Not a lesbian after all. Bisexuality is real, people.


The 11th artist to be pheatured in the P.P.A.G. is a guy named Bleach Methane and this is one of his sketches.

Bleach will be a guest on the Phile a week from today. 

Today's guest is a singer-songwriter who has placed a number of things in film & TV, including CBS, MTV, Lifetime and Showtime, and "X-Factor" in both the States and in the U.K. Her new single "I Feel Fine" is now available on iTunes. Please welcome to the Phile... Charity Chapman.

Me: Hello, Charity, how are you? Welcome to the Phile.

Charity: Thanks!

Me: Okay, I have to mention "X-Factor" first of... your song "If I Could Fly" was featured in two episodes, right?

Charity: They used it in 6 episodes.

Me: I'm sorry... six epidoes. Did you know that show was gonna use that song? Did you watch the episodes the song was in only, or the whole series?

Charity: They did tell me they were likely to use the song but they did not tell me when they were going to use "If I Could Fly" so it was always a surprise when it played... it felt like I was on the show, too!

Me: I watched the whole series but I have to admit I like "American Idol" more. What do you prefer?

Charity: I really enjoyed X Factor... it was fascinating to see the interplay between the judges as well.

Me: I bet your song sales peaked after they played that song, Charity. Did you like the way they used it?

Charity: I loved the way they used it, especially after Drew's 1st audition. www.youtube.com/watch?v=TanlK2J4eoA. My song plays at 3:50 to the end of the link. I love how they showed her looking at her Dad after she finds out she's gone through to the next round... it was so sweet.

Me: Your music was also in "Felicity". That show is like, what, 10 years old or more. How long have you been making music?

Charity: I actually was on "Felicity" DVD series, not the TV show, so that was 4 years ago and the whole show is being re-broadcast and my music will be in this re-broadcast. I have been writing and getting placements on film and TV for about 10 years... I call myself the "20 year overnight success" since I started so young. :)

Me: How old were you when you first started to perform? Did you know all your life you wanted to be a singer?

Charity: I think I was 4 when I decided to become a singer and there was no looking back. I never wanted to be anything else. I used to perform for my Mom and Dad's dinner parties, I would dress up and do an impromptu "performances" if you could call it that. It was a show people laughed at, you know? And that was great because people loved it. It wasn't mean laughter, it was fun. I was exhilarated performing, even at that level. It's so much fun to get the privilege to sing for people.

Me: I didn't realize you are originally from Florida, Charity. What part are you from?

Charity: I grew up for the first part of my life in Pensacola, Florida... the deep, deep south and ate a lot of grits (yum) and seafood. I lived right next door to a swamp with crocodiles- seriously- and lots of creepy, gross bugs.

Me: Did you spend anytime here in Orlando?

Charity: No.

Me: Where do you live now?

Charity: I live in Los Angeles now.

Me: I read you originally went to California to become a Broadway star. Didn't anybody stop you and mention Broadway was in New York City?

Charity: That was the funny thing... I thought theatre was everywhere but in my small town of Fort Collins, Colorado! So, I figured if I got out to California, it was sure to be there. :) And there is theatre in LA, but it isn't to the level of NY. Also, if you do theatre in LA, you have to drive and be away from your family. Also, once I discovered I loved to write as well as perform, I wanted to sing my own songs. It just gave much more meaning to me when I could connect with the subject matter.

Me: Do you still wanna be a Broadway star?

Charity: I don't think I would turn down being Repunzel from Tangled or anything. :) But, I that's a whole 'nother career direction and I'm pretty committed to my life here.

Me: You grew up in Colorado, not Florida or California I believe. I like the way how you slowly moved from the East Coast to the West Coach. What do you prefer, Charity?

Charity: I love LA. I love that my kid's class looks like the UN... that there are so many different cultures, foods, people and music here. I love how casual LA is... there's just a vibe to the city that grows on you. My current favorite thing about LA is that I can go outside just about every day of the year and enjoy being outside without my lungs hurting (like they did in Colorado.) Don't get me wrong, Colorado is AMAZING and sooo beautiful, but I hate being cold now, so it seems even more intense when I go home.

Me: Did Colorado take some getting used after moving from Florida? They are so completely different. Did you go from water skiing to snow skiing?

Charity: I was a cross-country skier and I hated it! My parents used to drag my sister and I up the mountain to "ski" because it was good exercise. Now, I'm grateful they did, though I'm still terrible at basically any sport. They did give me an appreciation for nature but the only sport I enjoy is donut eating.

Me: When you were in high school it was a real high school musical, right? You concentrated on music a lot through those years. Did you study music in colelge as well? Where did you go to college?

Charity: High school was just a blur of performances and travel and choir and musicals. So. Much. Fun. I really never remember opening a book. Surprisingly, I was accepted and went to Pepperdine University and I'm still not sure how I got in, but I put in many singing hours there, as well.

Me: I mentioned a few TV shows your music has been in, but there's a few movies as well... Slap Her, She's French is one. What a great movie title. I never heard of that movie, though. What is it about?

Charity: It starts out very funny and then kind of loses itself about halfway through, but I still enjoyed it and the best thing about it is it's played world-wide. :)

Me: Okey dokey, let's talk about your music, Charity. Your first album "Butterflies with Chainsaws" is really good. I love the album title, it sounds like a great name for a band. Where did that album title come from?

Charity: I envisioned myself as the Butterfly and the guitars as the Chainsaws.

Me: Your second album is a Christian live album called "Worship Live". Worship is my favorite part of going to church. Did you sing in church?

Charity: Yes, tons! I feel like I got most of my musical education, so to speak from reading music in hymns, hearing singing all the time in my house and at church. There was rarely silence growing up.

Me: How did you come up with the decision for that to be your second album?

Charity: I went to this very cool church called the Malibu Vineyard. It had a lot of celebrities and amazing musicians in it. It also had a state of the art studio in the church and the guitar player and I decided to do a live album because we could! It was such a unique opportunity.

Me: Would you consider yourself to be a Christian singer?

Charity: Hmmm... I consider myself to be a singer-songwriter that's a Jesus follower.

Me: How did you pick what songs you wanted to put on this album?

Charity: I wrote all the songs out of the Psalms, everything in there except for one part of "Give Thanks" is from that book. I also loved "The Message" translation... it sort of came alive to me.

Me: Your new single is called "I Feel Fine". Which is good, I am glad you do. After your last CD came out which was "Gordon the Northern" you got really sick. You had something called Hyperemeis Gravidarum. I have no idea what that is, can you explain it, Charity?

Charity: Yes, it is Morning Sickness gone to hell. It's uncontrollable and unstoppable vomiting and nausea to the point of death, hence the "gravidarum" in the title. I had a feeding tube for quite awhile. I also lost a lot of hair, just from sheer malnutrition. I did ultimately find a drug that stopped this, it was quite a process. 

Me: How are your children now if you don't mind me asking?

Charity: They are perfect! It's a total miracle.

Me: Charity, speaking of charity... is there a H.G. charity Phile readers and myself can donate money to. Is there a cure?

Charity: Thank you for asking that. There is a website called HelpHer.org and you can donate directly on that site. Also, you can sign up for GoodSearch here: goodsearch.com and they will donate to whatever charity you select (I know. I know... it's crazy that is my name in this situation). That's completely free, you just use their site to shop online. There is no cure. :( A lot of women have to terminate their pregnancies, some end up dying trying to have the baby and some end up with long term medical problems, like pancreatitis and other organ trouble. It's great to be alive!

Me: Did you have to have surgery?

Charity: No.

Me: So, I am totally guesing you wrote "I Feel Fine" about your feelings getting better. I have to ask you about the song I previously mentioned at the start of this interview... "If I Could Fly"... do you wish you could fly to save money on air fare? You did do a lot of traveling.

Charity: Ha ha. I wrote "I Feel Fine" because I wanted to challenge myself to write a happy song... I was sooo miserable and it was sad song after sad song... so, I wanted to see if I COULD write a happy song. I nearly died trying to finish it... ha ha.

Me: I have to congratulate you for being in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. I interviewed a few musicians in the past who have been in that same competetion. How did you do, and which song did you enter?

Charity: I entered a song called "Not Gonna Cry". I was a finalist, so I think I won some guitar strings, but it was nice to recognized as writing a decent song. I was starting out at the time, as well, so it was a confidence booster, which is always nice.

Me: Are you currently working on a new album, Charity?

Charity: I'm actually just doing single song releases right now. It doesn't seem to make much financial sense to do record anymore. I have a new song out called, "Where the Road Goes" so, it's downloadable.

Me: I know you are working with a singer named Cleo Elliott... she has a famous dad, am I right? Sam Elliott. How is this going, working with her?

Charity: We finished that project and she did a great job! She is a talented girl. I hope she will go on to do more singing and writing.

Me: Charity, thanks so much for being here, you have a great voice, and you are a really good songwriter. Go ahead and mention your websites and eveything, and please come back when your next single comes out.

Charity: Thanks Jason, I appreciate the complement. You can download my newest song "Wait and See" on my website for free. And of course, my songs are on iTunes and at my website charitychapman.com. Drop by and say hi!

Me: Take care, and continued success.

Charity: You too!

Well, that about does it fr another entry of the Phile. Thanks to Charity Chapman for a great interview. The Phile will be back on Wednesday with Brian Sumner from the duo The Sumner Brothers. Then next Sunday it's The Super Bowl Special with Smilin' Tom Fridley, who has a song about Tim Tebow on iTunes and a week from today it's artist Bleach Methane. So, spread the word, not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye.

Pheaturing Kyle Carey

Hello, welcome to the Peverett Phile, for another Sunday. How are you? President Obama gave his annual State of the Union address the other night in Washington, D.C. Did the Supreme Court justices really need to wear their robes to that? Have you been watching "American Idol"? I love that show. Wednesday's auditions were held in Aspen. Where else better to find talent than a snowbound town that's 400 miles by icy road to the nearest city? Well, Facebook users probably know, in September, the site unveiled the Facebook profile page, which they call "timeline." Or more fittingly, "waste of timeline." It's revolutionary because it allows your friends and co-workers to see drunken photographs of you, not just from last night, but from any point in your existence. There was another Republican debate here in Florida. What is left to know about these candidates? Is someone going to confess to a murder? Fortunately, tonight's debate was the last one we're going to see. The candidates are going to take a break, spending more time attacking the morals of their families. Recently, Apple Inc. has come under fire for the labor violations of their suppliers in China. Long hours, unsafe working conditions and a shamefully inconsistent policy on “Casual Fridays” are just some of the complaints being voiced. But Apple, always the nimble marketer, is responding quickly to the situation. Not by improving the conditions, but using the tragic events as an advertising tool. Take a look at this new ad that Apple put out.

Speaking of ad's... have you seen the new ad for Elmer's Galactic Glitter Glue? If you haven't, here it is.

So, there's like four candidates left on the Republican side running for President this year, but it seems more and more people are coming out to run. Look at this new campaign.

Do you see it? Look at the movie theatre screen real closely. Jar Jar Binks. Actually, I like Jar Jar and cannot wait to see him in 3D. Alright, so, the Mayans predicted the world will end in December as you know, but that's not the only clever things the Mayans have said. Those Mayans are pretty smart. So, I thought I would once again invite a Mayan to the Phile to give some words of wisdom. So, please welcome, once again...

Me: Hello, Marvin, so, what kinda words of wisdom do you have for us today?

Marvin: Nya b’a’n tu’n tjax tk’on chi’l toj twiy, ku’n b’e’x ch’ajila tu’n tx’yan.

Me: Marvin, once again I don't talk Mayanese or whatever you call your language. Can you translate that in English please?

Marvin: It’s not wise to put a basket on your head as you will be eaten by a dog.

Me: Thank you, Marvin. Marvin the Modern Day Mayan, everybody.

The 11th artist to be pheatured in the P.P.A.G. is a guy who goes by the name Bleach Methane. I know, it sounds like a character I would make up, but it's not. Anyway, this is one of his pieces. It's so good.

Bleach will be a guest on the Phile next Monday.

Today's guest is a singer and songwriter whose new album "Monongah" is available on iTunes and from her website. She'll next be appearing at Holderness Prep in Plymouth New Hampshire on March 5th and starting March 7th her Netherlands tour begins. Please welcome to the Phile, the lovely and talented... Kyle Carey.

Me: Hello, Kyle, welcome to the Peverett Phile. How are you?

Kyle: I'm not too bad now, just coming off a three month tour, and looking forward to a bit of rest :).

Me: There's not many women named Kyle I don't think. Kylie, yes, Kyle no. Is Kyle short for something?

Kyle: It's just straight Kyle, my parents are under the impression it's a girl's as well as a guy's name. It used to drive me crazy, but I must say its grown on me.

Me: Kyle, where are you from and where do you live now?

Kyle: I lived in the Alaskan bush until I was seven, in Yupik Eskimo villages where both my parents taught. Then our family moved to New Hampshire, where I finished elementary and high school. I've been living in Ireland and Scotland for some time, but I'm about to either move to Amherst or Boston to base myself, haven't quite decided which yet!

Me: You have also spent a lot of time overseas, right? Where was the first place you went to?

Kyle: My junior year in college I spend eight months living in West Kerry, Ireland, in one of the regions where Irish is still widely spoken. Following graduation I went up to Cape Breton for a year on a Fulbright Fellowship to study Gaelic song and Cape Breton fiddle style. After that I lived on the Isle of Skye in Scotland for a year, where I became fluent in Gaelic as part of an immersion program. And finally, another year in Ireland, 2010-11 in West Kerry again.

Me: Didn't you record your album "Monongah" over there in Ireland?

Kyle: Yes, "Monongah" was recorded in Ireland this past year, in Donogh Hennessy's studio in West Kerry, the plan was to do part of the album in Boston, but everything was going so well with Donogh, we decided to finish it up there, and I'm delighted we did.

Me: I bet you met and played with a lot of people with an 'O' in their name, right?

Kyle: Surprisingly not! There are Fitzgibbons, Scanlons and Clancys, but only one O'Sullivan on my CD!

Me: Why did you go to Ireland to record your album?

Kyle: Actually, I thought I was going to Ireland to learn Irish Gaelic for a year. A month or so in, and old college friend, Jeff Chu, contacted me and said he was starting a production company. He wanted me as one of the artists on his roster, and suggested I record an album. Before I knew it, it was #8 on the Folk DJ Charts, and my life had changed completely.

Me: Let's talk about your album. Is "Monongah" a a place, or someone's name?

Kyle: "Monongah" is a native American name, it comes from the Monongahela River in West Virginia, where the greatest coal mining disaster in American history occured, of which the Appalachian poet Louise McNeill wrote a poem of the same title.

Me: How did that song get to be the title of the album, Kyle?

Kyle: I was thinking of titling the album "Adenine" or "John Hardy's Wife", but I wanted the title to reflect the Appalachian/Celtic mix of my album. Or be ambiguous enough to go either way, which I think is why I chose "Monongah". It could almost be an Irish word, but it's rooted in West Virginia history. I also think it's one of the strongest songs on the album.

Me: One of the songs on it is called "Gaol Ise Gaol I". Is that in gaelic or something?

Kyle: Yes, that is Scottish Gaelic and it means "She is my love". It's a waulking song. Back in the day, women in the Hebrides of Scotland would gather together to 'waulk' the tweed, or bang it on a board or table to tighten the fabric. They would sing as they worked, and "Gaol ise Gaol I" is one example of and I think the prettiest, of waulking songs I heard while living in Scotland.

Me: Speaking of different languages, you spent some time in Alaska and learnt Yupik. I didn't know Alaska had their own language, unless it is the language Eskimo's speak. What is Yupik?

Kyle: Yupik is the language of the native people of southern Alaska. I think I was quite efficient in Yupik when I was younger, but unfortunately I've forgotten most of it. Scottish Gaelic is the only other language I speak now, and I'm still working on my English ;).

Me: How do you say, "Hello, and welcome to the Peverett Phile, the world's greatest blog" in Yupik? LOL.

Kyle: Well, I can translate that into Gaelic for you: Haidh, agus failte dhan Peverett Phile, am blog as fhearr san t-saoghal. There should be a strac or two in there, but I can't find the symbol on my keypad!

Me: That's cool! Thanks. The Phile isn't the world's greatest blog though. Anyway, are their any other languages you know? I once told my mother-in-law I speak five languages... Canadian, English, American, Australian and South African. She was impressed.

Kyle: Bizarre coincidence, I know all those as well! I guess that brings me up to six ;).


Me: Kyle, you play fiddle, right? For the Phile readers that don't know, what's the difference between a fiddle and a violin?

Kyle: I do play a bit of fiddle, though prefer to sing more than anything else, I always make sure I'm backed by a good guitarist and fiddler for my shows. In terms of the physical instrument, there is no difference between a fiddle and a violin, it all depends on the style in which you play, and the manner in which you hold the instrument.

Me: On the album cover that's not a fiddle you are holding. Do you also play guitar?

Kyle: I do play guitar, and I write all my songs on guitar, though again, I prefer to sing in my shows, with good Irish-style guitar backing.

Me: Let's get back to the album. On it you sing about a mining disaster and about a river in Kentucky, am I right?

Kyle: "Monongah" was about a mining disaster that happened in 1907 on the Monongahela River, which is actually in West Virginia. Three hundred and sixty-five men were killed in the accident, many of them were first-generation immigrants to the country. Louise McNeill wrote a beautiful poem on the tragedy, she was the first poet Laureate of the country, and wrote ballad-like poems in the dialect of the Appalachian community where she was born.

Me: What is the mining disaster story? My wife's dad used to be a coal miner in Kentucky.

Kyle: To be honest I'm not sure what the cause of the disaster was, but I think it was a common enough occurrence back in those days.

Me: How do you pick what subjects you are gonna write song's about?

Kyle: They quite often pick me to be honest! I'll hear a song, read a poem, or have an interesting conversation, and before I know it, it's found its way into a song! I do think my love of literature helps me to come up with song ideas. For example the song, "The Star Above Rankin's Point" was inspired by a short story named "Island" written by Cape Breton author Alistair MacLeod, I'm always getting song ideas from poems, short stories and novels.

Me: Kyle, who is in your band with you?

Kyle: My band is ever-changing but for the fall tour I was backed by a guitarist from Athlone, Ireland named Neil Fitzgibbon. For the first month we had a fiddler from Cape Breton with us named Rosie MacKenzie, who was later replaced by Vermont fiddler Russell McCumber.

Me: Thanks so much for being here on the Phile, Kyle. I love your record and you have a beautiful voice. Go ahead and plug your album, and please come back. Will you?

Kyle: Thanks so much for having me Jason! I will certainly come back! To order copies of my album, please visit: kyleannecarey.com.

Me: All the best, and continued success.

Kyle: Thanks again. Le meas.

There you go, another entry of the Phile done. Thanks to my guests Marvin the Modern Day Mayan and of course Kyle Carey. The Phile will be back tomorrow with singer, songwriter Charity Chapman. Then on Wednesday it's Brian Sumner from The Sumner Brothers. Next Sunday on Super Bowl Sunday it's entertainter, actor, and singer Smilin' Tom Fridley, then on Monday it's artist Bleach Methane. So, spread the word, not the turd. Don't let snakes an alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye. Happy birthday to the best wife ever!!!

Pheaturing Teeg Ketchen

Hello, and welcome to a Wednesday entry of the Phile, kids. Please, don't read this while walking, texting, talking on the phone, or listening to music. Safety first. This is gonan be a short entry as our main computer is having problems, something to do with the Mac airport blinking amber. Whatever that means. So, like before I am using Logan's computer. Nick Nolte was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. It's his first major nomination since 2002, when he was nominated for Most Maniacal Mug Shot. President Obama gave his annual State of the Union address. And the State of the Union for 2012 is Kentucky. Congratulations. There's a State of the Union drinking game. Let me just say this, if you really are playing the State of the Union drinking game, you're probably an alcoholic. Obama focused on four areas he believes are the keys to restoring economic security. Energy, manufacturing, education, and TV shows about cupcakes, which we love. You all know by now that the New York Giants beat the 49ers last Sunday, I love the poster the 49ers released.

Everyone is talking about Newt and Mitt, but no one is talking about Ron Paul who the Phile supports... just because Kelly Clarkson says so. Anyway, here is the Ron Paul inspirational poster.

Well, it's time to talk football with my good friend Jeff, kids, in a pheature called...

Me: Hey, Jeff, how's it going? First of, what's the big news in the NFL apart from the Giants and Patriots Super Bowl rematch?

Jeff: The biggest news coming out of the Championship week is a quote from Peyton Manning. "It's not a good envirment right now here in Indy." Which pretty much has led to speculation that he might leave the Colts. I remember a time when great athletes (for the most part) stayed on their original team. The Bucs thought they had hired college coach Chip Kelly, but at the
last moment he decided to stay at Univeristy of Oregon and not go into the pros. Of course this week we also saw the passing of former Penn State coach Joe Paterno. Say what you will about the scandal (he did something bad, I am not justifying it) but let's remember his legacy for the first 84 years of his life, not what learned in the last year.

Me: Very good. So, how did we do with last weeks picks?

Jeff: Both games last Sunday were close. They were highly competitive games and we could easily be talking about Ravens vs 49ers. I went 0-2 this week thanks to the spread, you went 0-1-1. But thanks to the Giants winning and your tie, you are now up by 2 points going into the Super Bowl.

Me: Yeah, I'm winning! Alright, so, I say you come back on the Philes Super Bowl Sunday
entry, recap the season and we'll do our Super Bowl picks then. You know what team I'm gonna pick.

Jeff: See ya in two weeks!

Today's guest ia the 10th artist to be pheatured in the Peverett Phile Art Gallery. He is a talented freelance illustrator and designer from Boston who has his own blogspot. Please welcome to the Phile... Teeg Ketchen.

Me: Hello, Thomas, sir, welcome to the Phile. How are you?

Teeg: I'm good. Excited to be here... haha. How are you?

Me: Pissed my other computer is not working, other then that, okay. I have to say I like that name Teeg. It's very sci-fi sounding. What is the origin of it, sir?

Teeg: Haha... thanks, unfortunately there is no real awesome origin story to it. Basically my first and middle initials were T.J. and as babies my brother for some reason couldn't say that so he said Teeg. And it has been in place ever since.

Me: Where are you from? Boston, right? Have you lived there all your life?

Teeg: I am from the Boston area yes. Born and raised as they say. I love this area.

Me: I have to say, I love your artwork, especially on your Batman and Spider-Man stuff, both my favorite super heroes. My all-time favorite super hero though is Captain Britain. Have you or will you ever do a Captain Britain piece? do you know who he is?

Teeg: I do know Captain Britain, however I don't think I've ever drawn him. I have no real reason not to draw him so maybe I can work in a piece with him at some point for you.

Me: I notice you do a lot of super hero drawings, Teeg. Who do you like better, DC or Marvel?

Teeg: That is a tough question because I like certain things about each company. Though I would say if there was no way to get out of it and I had to choose one it would be DC. Mainly because they house Batman who is my favorite comic book hero of all time.

Me: Have you ever thought of drawing for them?

Teeg: I have thought about it, I like to think doing something comic related professional is an avenue I eventually go down. I would love to draw covers for comics.

Me: I noticed your artwork is very French, do you agree?

Teeg: Maybe? I mean I do use some French words in a few pieces as well as some Latin and such in some others. This is mainly something I picked up through an artist I really enjoy which is Francesco Francavilla. He tends to use foreign languages a lot in design for posters he makes. I thought it was cool so I do that sometimes as well. As for the actual look of the art I make resembling potential French art if that's what you mean then I don't know. I don't know that I know much about French art.

Me: I am English, so by right I shouldn't like your French looking artwork, but I do. Did you study art in school, Teeg?

Teeg: Hahaha. I did study art in school. I originally went for Graphic Design and then decided against it and got a degree in Illustration. However I like to think that the design experience I have helps with my overall personal art direction as I try to incorporate smart design into even my illustrations.

Me: Who is your favorite artist of all time?

Teeg: Wow, that is a tough question. I don't know that I could just pick one so I will give you a few. LeSean Thomas, Inoue Takehiko, Marko Djurdjevic, Tite Kubo, Kazuto Nakazawa, Ryan Ottley and Tim Sale. There are a bunch more but they are all so great that people should know them already.

Me: I have to ask what tools do you use? Do you sketch out the stuff you are gonna do first?

Teeg: It usually varies from piece to piece. Sometimes I work 100% digitally other times I will sketch something and then scan it and then finish it in Photoshop. The basic tools I use would be standard issue printer paper and mechanical pencil, scanner, Photoshop CS4 and my Wacom Cintiq.

Me: I saw you took part in a Decemberists poster contest for "The King is Dead". How did you do? I have a picture of it here.

Teeg: I don't know exactly whether it was considered or not as they didn't say all I know is that I didn't win... haha. No big deal though I had fun making the poster.

Me: You actually drew a dead king under a tree, which is cool. Are you a Decemberists fan?

Teeg: I am a big Decemberists fan. Yes I took the title of the album quite literally when designing the poster as I thought it would be unexpected given the nature of the band and their general aesthetics. It was so high concept it was simplistic... haha.

Me: One design I have to ask you about and that is the Air Nimbus one. I am sorry, I don't get it, can you explain it to me? What is a nimbus?

Teeg: Sure, Nimbus is the flying cloud from "Dragonball" and "Dragonball Z". It is given to Goku from Master Roshi and you can only ride on it if you are pure of heart or so they say. The design was made in the vein of an airline. Just instead of airplanes there were flying clouds.

Me: Okay, if you were gonna draw a logo for the Peverett Phile what would it look like, Teeg?

Teeg: I don't know, I would have to stew on that a bit. Generally when designing a logo the client tells you a direction they are hoping to go in as sort of a launching point. So we would have to see.

Me: I have to ask, what is the favorite thing you have drawn or designed?

Teeg: Another good question that I am afraid I don't have an answer for. I have drawn/designed so many things over my years that it would be impossible to pick one and hoist it above the rest.

Me: Teeg, thanks so much for being on the Phile, and please come back. Go ahead and plug your website, sir.

Teeg: Thank you very much for having me and for this opportunity! Folks can find me on Twitter @TeeKetch. My redbubble where you can buy some sweet clothing with some of my designs on them: www.redbubble.com/people/teeketch. On DeviantArt - TeegKetchen. Or people can check out my blog: tketchen.blogspot.com. Anyone and everyone feel free to find me in any of those places and leave a comment or what have you.

Me: You sell your artwork?

Teeg: I do. Anything I have already done I sell prints of and I am also open for design and commission work. Anything from comics to logos, I try and do it all. If anyone is interested in hiring me on for any art work or interested in picking up a previous piece I can be contacted through any of the above sites or by email to tketchen@gmail.com.

Me: Thanks again, and keep up the good work. And I hope to see a Captain Britain design from you soon. LOL.

Teeg: Thanks again and maybe some day soon I can make that Captain Britain a reality.

Well, that about does it for this short and shitty entry of the Phile. Thanks to Jeff Trelewicz and Teeg. The Phile will be back Sunday I hope with singer, songwriter Kyle Carey and on Monday with singer, songwriter Charity Chapman. Then next Wednesday it's Brian Sumner from the duo The Sumner Brothers. So, spread the word, not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye.

Pheaturing Ian Narcisi

The Giants are going to the Super Bowl! The Giants are going to the Super Bowl! Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Phile, kids. How are you? I am tired, but happy as the New York Giants are gonan go to the Super Bowl. What else is going on?  During a campaign event Mitt Romney reached into his pocket and gave cash to a woman who said she was broke. Which got awkward, when she was like, “I'm also lonely!”  I saw that a bakery in Georgia is selling “Tebowing” pretzels, inspired by Tim Tebow’s popular pose. You can tell they’re Tebow pretzels, because if you eat one in New England, you end up choking.  President Obama is visiting Disney World on last Thursday to promote a new plan to boost tourism. It was awkward when he walked into the Hall of Presidents and saw them making room for Mitt Romney. Obama doesn’t pay admission to Disney World. He just charges it to the China section of Epcot.  During a charity auction, Donald Trump bought $12,000 worth of Tim Tebow memorabilia. Or as it was known on Monday, “15 bucks worth of Tim Tebow memorabilia.”  President Obama took Michelle out to a steak restaurant for her birthday, marking the first time in months the words “Obama” and “well done” appeared in the same sentence.  Two weeks ago, or as we say in England, a fortnight ago, a British Airways crew mistakenly told passengers that their plane was about to crash into the ocean. They made an even scarier announcement later: “Your in-flight movie will be Yogi Bear.” Yeah, the crew told passengers their plane was about to crash, but it turns out a flight attendant hit the wrong button. I don’t know what’s worse... getting lied to about crashing into the ocean, or knowing it happens so often there’s a button for it.  Texas Governor Rick Perry officially dropped out of the race for president. Yeah, he just couldn’t get over that one campaign hurdle... you know, talking.  President Obama aired his first campaign ad of 2012, which promotes his record on clean energy. Obama’s a big environmentalist. In fact, for the election he plans to recycle the same promises he made four years ago. Next week Obama will visit Iowa, Arizona, Las Vegas, Denver, and Detroit. Not because he’s campaigning, just because all he could afford was a Southwest flight with a bunch of layovers.  A new study found that 68 percent of Americans are overweight or obese. While the rest are both.  Okay, not only did the President release his first ad for the 2012, he also released an inspirational poster. And I have it here first.

 
Watching the football game last night, a few things I noticed that is different from American football to say Brtish football. For example, you'll never see a move like this with the Giants. 

So, it looks like they fixed the Costa Concordia cruise ship. At least it looks that way to me. 

I think Michael Bay should just blow it up for his next movie. Okay, and now for some sad news... or is it?

Joe Paterno
Dec 21, 1926 - Jan 22, 2012
Nothing will overshadow the fact that he was the winningest coach in major college football history. Wait. What? Seriously?

Okay, with this whole SOPA thing I thought I would invite someone to the Phile to get her opionion, as no internet could effect everybody. S, please welcome to the Phile for the very first time, the young moody lady with the almost positive attitude...

Me: Hello, Eve, welcome to the Phile. So, what do you think of this SOPA deal?

Eve Rest: If SOPA passes, no more free porn.

Me: True, true. Anything else you wanna say? I was kinda expecting more.

Eve Rest: I put 70 cents in the toll before I noticed it read my EZ pass.

Me: Thanks... I guess. Eve Rest, everybody.

And now from the home office in Phulfortha City, New York, here is this week's...

Top Ten Things You Don't Want To Hear At An Awards Show
10. "I'd like to thank the Academy and... I'd like to tell you about a few Amway products."
9. "And now a few words from Al Gore about global warming."
8. "Okay, I'm back from the rest room. You can leave now."
7. "Each acceptance speech will be limited to one hour."
6. "Here's a montage of stars we hope to lose in 2012."
5. "Coming up: Justin Bieber does a Bruce Springsteen medley!"

4. "And here to present the top three nominees, Rick Perry."

3. "David Hasselhoff's on the red carpet. No, I mean ON the red carpet."

2. "That guy you just insulted in the lobby? Ricky Gervais."

And the number one thing you don't want to hear at an awards show is...

1. "Oprah. Uma. Uma. Oprah."

The 10th artist to be pheatured in the P.P.A.G. is Thomas "Teeg" Ketchen and this is one of his pieces...

Thomas will be a guest on the Phile this Wednesday.

Today's guest is a singer, songwriter, drummer and keyboardist from Chicago, Illinois. His latest EP "Phone Call To Infinity" is now available from his website and iTunes. Please welcome to the Phile... Ian Narcisi.

Me: Hello, Ian, welcome to the Phile. How are you, sir?

Ian: I’m doing well thank you.

Me: You're from Chicago, right? Have you lived there all your life?

Ian: Yes, I am from Chicago. Yes, I have lived in Chicago all my life and I love it here!

Me: Chicago is a great city. The last time I was there was in 1996. Growing up in Chicago you have to be a fan of the blues, am I right?

Ian: I am. I was more into the experimental side of the the blues. Artist’s such as Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn were my favorites. Robert Cray and Eric Clapton are a close second. I’ll never forget the first (and sadly last) Stevie Ray Vaughn concert I saw in Alpine Valley, in East Troy Wisconsin on August 27, 1990. Actually it was a bunch of blues artist’s (SRV and his brother, Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, Sugar Blue on harmonica) and the show was fantastic. I personally thought Stevie stole the show! I’ll never forget him doing the 'Hendrix thing' during "Voodoo Chile" where he laid his guitar flat on the stage floor and was playing the springs on the back of his guitars’ body during one of his mind blowing solos! I knew right then and there that this guy was the real deal. I mean you can listen to any of his albums and know this, but, man: I just felt something go through me during that solo that was just beyond words. Perhaps he knew somewhere in his heart that this was the last time he would ever play guitar and was telling us in that solo. That night his helicopter went down in the fog.

Me: And I take it you're a Michael Jordan fan? Everybody from Chicago is a Michael Jordan fan.

Ian: I appreciate his passion for what he did and respect him immensely. He brought a new dimension to the game of basketball that I never have witnessed in my life. He certainly pushed the bar of the game to a whole new height!

Me: What music did you listen to growing up?

Ian: My parents always were listening to classical music (Mozart, Beethoven, Handel, Chopin, Mussorgsky, Liszt, Schubert, Brahms, etc) when I was growing up, but also had a flair for The Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel as well. I started off with The Beatles “Abbey Road” and The Polices’ “Ghost In The Machine” eight-tracks on my now ancient Craig stereo. I worked my way into Elton John, The Who, REM, The Smiths, Peter Gabriel, Rush, etc cassettes and entered the digital age with Living Colour, Yes, Genesis, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Chopin, Beethoven, Mozart, Debussy, Tchaikovsky, Dvořák, Led Zeppelin, The Samples, ELO, Crowded House, Janes Addiction and Stevie Ray Vaughn.

Me: Alright, lets talk about your music. You started out playing keyboards but switched over to drums, right? 

Ian: Yes. 

Me: Why did you switch? 

Ian: Piano at 10 years of age just didn’t spark anything in me. I think “The Bear Went Over the Mountain” just wasn’t rocking enough. Drums didn’t come along until I was 14. My brother sparked it off when he brought me over to his friend Steve’s house to watch Steve play. From that day I never looked back. Neil Peart (drummer of Rush) sprinkled the extra creative ingredient that I invited into my playing. It was and continues to be so damn exciting to feeling what you play while you are playing! It’s like being hypnotized while your limbs are working on a separate realm – steaming ahead with intense focus.

Me: What do you prefer to play now?

Ian: I really am on the fence with this one. I love the emotions evoked when playing keyboards and love the shear drive and physical prowess of drumming.

Me: You're smart... drummers don't get the chicks, Ian. When did you start to write songs?

Ian: Chicks… no, however, drums are what got me the chick! I married her years later. I started writing songs in the late 90’s. I was in a band called Population 3 that played around Chicago. During rehearsals (at the end when everyone was packing up) I would experiment on the keyboardist’s piano. I still remember the exact time “Forever Today” (from my first EP “Off Purpose” [2006]) came to life. I just knew it would become a song. Soon after that moment; I took it upon myself to purchase a spinet piano from my boss’s mother. I used to play every day after work. I started playing and singing religiously from that point in time on.

Me: You took a break from music to study meteorology, which is crazy. Did you wanna be a weather man?

Ian: Yes and still do sometimes. I went to Oklahoma University for about 15 minutes to major in meteorology. Mononucleosis won that battle.

Me: Do you still study the weather stuff?

Ian: Daily I watch Tom Skilling on WGNTV here in Chicago and look at the latest grid models to see how things are and will be changing. I watch the skies endlessly and at work enjoy informing my fellow employees of impending doom when a snow storm, or severe thunderstorm is approaching. Yeah, pretty much a weather geek. I am the first to admit it. After my Oklahoma adventure I went to Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, IL and interned with chief meteorologist Tom Skilling for a year and a half as well as Tim McGill and Jim Ramsey: all top notch meteorologists here in Chicago. It was amazing and I gained a whole new respect for what those guys do on a daily basis!

Me: I met someone years ago who was a storm chaser. That's the most dumbest job ever, next to a snake wrangler, or anything to do with animals. You didn't do that storm chasing stuff, did you?

Ian: Yes, several times. Even before I knew how to drive I would race on my bike to the nearest park to audio record (and later video record) every storm that went through town! Later (in the mid 90’s) I chased with Paul Sirvatka’s (amazing meteorologist and all around nice guy) chase class in the bread basket. That year we saw nothing but blue sky and tumbleweeds. We ended up in Boulder, CO to visit The National Center for Atmospheric Research which was quite cool. My first albeit, 30 second tornado was on a chase I did with a couple of guys from The College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL. We chased in central Illinois. The tornado literally touched down and went back up that fast! When you know, for the majority of the time, how these supercelled storms work you know how to play it safe for the most part. You know where the tornado is most likely to form and with the aid of having access to the internet from basically anywhere; it makes chasing that much safer.

Me: And you studied opera? Did you have an opera teacher?

Ian: Yes. I was vocally trained by opera singer Janice Pantezellos from The Chicago Studio of Professional Singers in Chicago for about a year and a half. The emphasis of my studies with her were based in opera. I made it very clear that it was not what my passion was. I would bring my own songs in all the time and Janice would help me. I would sing operatic pieces (acapella for the most part) at various churches and schools around Chicago, but would always slip an Elton John, or old Billy Joel tune in every now-and-again. She is an amazing voice teacher/singer!

Me: Your music has been described as part Queen and part Pink Floyd. How would you describe it, Ian? 

Ian: I would describe my music as a mesh comprised of Rush, Yes, Queen, Pink Floyd, Muse, Porcupine Tree, Genesis and Radiohead. They all are major influences. From these influences (and many, many more) comes my interpretation and expression somewhere enmeshed within the mesh.

Me: I have all your releases as you know, Ian, and a cool t-shirt you sent that I am wearing now. Your latest release is the EP "Phone Call To Infinity". Where did that EP title come from?

Ian: I think it was a combination of my job at the time (Telecommunications engineer) and my wife and my amazing spiritual-laden trip to India. They sort of shook hands and said, “Hey, let’s make an EP!”

Me: I am trying to figure out what that is on the cover sleeve. It's an 8-track, right?

Ian: No. It’s a cell phone battery. That picture (“Phone Call To Infinity” cover) was just waiting there in an alley in Evanston, IL. My wife and I were walking down a part of an alley we usually never need to walk down. She saw that series of white painted squares on the asphalt with a phone battery almost exactly how it looks in the picture and said, “That’s it Ian! That’s it!” Quite the auspicious moment!

Me: Who plays on the release with you, Ian?

Ian: Erik Swanson plays bass. Dave Bowers plays guitar. Tim Sandusky is my sound engineer and co produced all the songs and is a very talented singer/songwriter himself!

Me: This EP has three songs, and I am guessing there's a lot more where this came from. Are you currently working on a full album?

Ian: You are spot on. I am beginning work on what is beginning to look now like a massive undertaking. I am beginning work on a 20 (perhaps more, perhaps a little less) song concept double CD. I have most of the music written on keys and some on drums, but need to: A) complete the majority of the music (most songs are partial in nature), B) write lyrics and sing for the rest. There will be several instrumentals filling the gaps. The theme will definitely be spiritually based (non-religious) and should be completed sometime early next year. I will throw a song out here and there on my website during 2012 as I’m moving through the motions of this monster just to show that I still have a pulse. I am very excited about this one!

Me: How do you compare this last release to "Off Purpose", your first release? I am guessing you have learnt a lot in the studio.

Ian: I certainly have! Tim really takes the prize for this one. Tim is constantly pushing me to change my sound (see the latest video on my website for the perfect example) and incorporates new sounds and new methods of composing to my songs to give the listener a fresh experience on every release. I love that! If it were up to me things would evolve at a much slower pace. I’m happy to have him and his alchemistic approach to my music. I really had to find the right guys for “the sound”, or, rather: the sound had to find the right guys for it. Time seamed that gap quite nicely. I played in a band way back in the early 00’s with Erik and knew he would be the perfect fit on bass. He is an amazing player and very creative and innovative. I experimented with several amazing guitarists before Tim’s instincts reeled in Dave for guitar. Dave is insanely quick and uses his speed and creative might in a way that seems invisible as it is woven into the music by Tim. I respect Tim’s amazing instincts, musical intelligence and sheer technical know-how to the utmost! He is the creative blacksmith behind all my songs. I can throw him some seriously crazy chord changes and rhythmically off-the-wall patterns and he will funnel it all into the crown of his head and cough up some seriously beautiful music! Financially speaking, the past has taught me a great deal as well when it comes to recording professionally. Over the years I have learned how to perfect my rough mixes prior to going into Studio Ballistico with Tim and the guys to save me money. You really have to be wise when money is added into the mix.

Me: Wait, since the EP you have released a single called "Come Of Age (New Sun)". Is this a song from your new upcoming release? 

Ian: For the future concept double CD? It might be. I’m not sure just yet. It certainly would fit into the spiritual theme! Only time will tell.

Me: Ian, when your next release comes out, please come back onto the Phile. I wish you luck and take care, continued success. Go ahead and plug all your websites and stuff, Ian.

Ian: Thank you Jason! I wish you all the best with your wonderful, beautifully-articulated blog! I will certainly come back when the beast is complete! Progressive rock from a Chicago indie musician who wants to help the world awaken

Ian Narcisi
Progressive Rock indie musician
Singer/songwriter, drummer, keyboardist:
ianmusic.com,
iannarcisi.blogspot.com, myspace.com/ianmuzic,
facebook.com/pages/Ian-Narcisi/161379568011?ref=ts, 
twitter.com/IanNarcisi,
www.last.fm/music/Ian+Narcisi/Weight+Of+The+Words, www.last.fm/music/Ian+Narcisi/Feel+No+Evil,
iannarcisi.posterous.com, thesixtyone.com/iannai29/#/iannai29/, iannarcisi.tumblr.com/.



Me: Take care, sir, and please come back.

Ian: I most certainly will, Jason. Thank you for your time and for helping us “independents” get our music out there! It certainly is appreciated!

Well, that about does it for another entry of the Phile. Thanks to Eve Rest and of course Ian Narcisi. The Phile will be back on Wednesday with artist Thomas "Teeg" Ketchen. Then on Sunday it's singer, songwriter Kyle Carey. Monday it's Charity Chapman and next Wednesday it's Brian Sumner from the duo The Sumner Brothers. So, spread the word, not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye.