Time to Lean...And Here's A Song!

A Weird Sort of Purgatory

Episode 87 is a Very Special Episode featuring Phil and John’s recent visit to Rapid City where they got to tour the construction site of South Middle School. A new building is going up and we’re joined on the call by Rob, Elizabeth, Meghan, and Jennifer K who all talk about their experiences there.

Phil reads some comments he gathered from other former South students

John did not attend South but assured everyone that his Jr. High experience was just as crappy as everyone else’s. 

The Song:  “Rebels” (Featuring Michael Johnson)

Smoke in the Orchestra Room

Episode 86 features a return appearance of Bruce K!

John samples some new-to-him Thomson single malt whisky.

Bruce feels that Jim Beam tastes like walnuts and doesn’t like Canadian rye.

The Dick Van Dyke show episode John mentioned. 

John and Phil talk about the Scotch tasting they attended where they met the head distiller of Lochlea.  Phil doesn’t comment much because he left his mic temporarily muted. Sad!

Bruce has retired from public school orchestra teaching. Many long-winded stories follow, mostly about international trips and rotting food in instruments.

The Song:  “There You Have It, There You Go”

Breath of the Wildebeest

Episode 85 wheezes to life with some talk about the number of high schools in Rapid City and the action at the Minnesota Legislature.

We make excuses for not getting more episodes out.

Phil is enjoying Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond and John pontificates about Compass Box Orchard House blended malt.

Phil talks about his recent choir concert (The Apollo Club men’s choir) and John recaps his recent Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra concert.

We discuss the remake of the “classic” Bob Reel Beer jingle.

We’re almost ready to discuss Star Trek Picard.

We attempt to launch a new segment:  “John’s Old Tech”.  Part One:  The Betamax!

Wikipedia article

The first machine we had access to.

This guy explains the VCR formats better than John did.

Phil’s been watching all the “Friday the 13th” movies.

The Song:  “Bob Reel Beer ‘23”

Big Joe is Dead

After a rough start, Phil and John get into episode 84 with some free-association. 

Beverages: Phil - Pendleton 1910 Whisky 1910, John - The Real Stuff 

John is somehow reminded of the 1958 Coasters song, Charlie Brown, which  is NOT about the Peanuts character, so ignore what John says. 

Phil talks about some new booze he’s tried and his OTHER podcast, “Sleep Baseball”. 

John made another trip to Rapid City.

Phil joined a choir in the Twin Cities. Maybe they could do this song.

Phil reports about another concert he attended.

John talks about a new Rapid City whiskey bar in Rapid City, Windsor Block but lamely didn’t get there when it was open. Sad. 

Brief chat about old physical media, old tube TVs, and our time working at Best Buy.

Big Joe

Phil recommends the Netflix series How to Change Your Mind

John talks about the series, The Last of Us and Shrinking. 

The Song:  “The Ghost of a Cat”

The Murdo Triangle

In our first episode of 2023, we welcome back Special Guest, Lee Howard!

Naps and surviving the month of January.

We make a lame attempt at summarizing the previous year.

Lee’s writing projects and his love of “The Divine Comedy”

We remember one of our old comedy sketches. 

Our Top 3 lists.

Phil does some recruiting for the AARP.

 

The Song:  “My Top 3”

South Dakota is Closed

Episode 82 finds Phil and John on the weekend before Christmas so why not do another TTL Holiday Special!

John drinks a cocktail called The Premier made with Norseman Pineapple Chipotle Gin.

John mentions that The Talk Show podcast mentioned the Sleep Baseball podcast Phil is part of and the local’s pre-holiday Festivus-like party.

Phil joins the AARP.

John talks about the TV show, “Abbott Elementary”

Phil is watching the show, “Ultimate Survival WW2”, reminisces about Survivorman, and tries a beer from Uganda.

The weather.

John talks about his wife’s work holiday party that was held at Paisley Park.

We reflect on the passing of Sesame Street’s Bob McGrath.

Phil has some…different ways of pronouncing things.

Happy Holidaze Everyone!

 

The Song:  “Christmas (In the Star of the West)”

Scotchsplaining

Episode 81 covers John’s recent birthday (don’t get too excited) and post-election talk.

Navigating before the age of the smartphone.

Phil’s wife is off having an adventure in Uganda.

John talks about his recent Canada cruise and has a birthday surprise.  (hint:  It’s not a stripper)

Chili. 

The Song: “Old Saint John” (with lyrics by Rob K.!)

Gorgon Doodle

Episode 80 (!) The Season 8 Finale finds the guys recording in person in John’s backyard where they taste a few whiskies and talk about things like… 

We reflect on our older episodes and John reports on his most recent trip to good ‘ol Rapid City.

 Another Media Consumption segment:  Phil finally tried “Severance”. John has been neglecting TV and playing “Horizon Forbidden West” on the PS5. John also endorses the movie, “Joe Vs. The Volcano” (written/directed by John Patrick Shanley), Talk Talk’s song: “Talk Talk” circa 1982. 

Phil’s grandpa Phil’s nephew Ray Hunter.

Inventory management in video games.

Phil plays the iPad game, “Shop Hero Legends”.

Phil and John break out a box of the NYC’s favorite cookie, Mallomars   

Phil’s anime update: Dorohedoro, etc.

 

The Song:  Time to Lean '22

Reminder:  All the “Time to Lean and Here’s a Song” songs are available on Bandcamp!

Rehearsing the Escape Route

Episode 79 features Special Guest, David Daniels!

 

David and Phil go way back but that’s nothing compared to how far back David’s interesting experiences go! David talks about all of the places he’s lived, the people he’s known, his political activities, and the various artistic projects he’s created and been involved with.

See this Facebook page for some of David’s work: https://www.facebook.com/rootswriterdaviddaniels, including Annie Jones w/Charlie Parr backing.

“Scenes From a Reggae Western” (youtube link here), feat. friend of the show Shawn C.!

Phil is further pressured to watch “Better Call Saul” and asks a very serious question about Carol Burnett. 

 

The Song: “Unusual Life”

Back From the Dentist

Episode 78 begins with the amazing news that Phil has 2 weeks off from work. 

Phil doesn’t quite seem able to tell Steely Dan and Supertramp apart this evening. 

After the booze introductions, we move onto talking about Star Trek Picard along with other stuff we’ve been watching, including Phil’s new find: Glen and Friends Cooking.  

Phil reports on the happenin’ scene on West 7th St. [Tori, Emerald Lounge, etc.] and on his night out at an Adrian Belew concert. 

John’s Iowa Travel Tips™

John is having trouble deciding whether or not to buy a PS5. 

 

The Song:  “Creepin’ Down”