The Filtered Excellence: April 11, 2021

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Bob Geldof once asked us, “Where is the filtered excellence!?” It’s right here. Once a week we take a break from comedy to bring you this week’s picks of the best things to watch, the most interesting things to do, great things to try, the best picks to read, our favorite things to listen to and more.

WATCH THIS

Hemingway.  Ken Burns and Lynn Novick look back at the extraordinary life and career of Ernest Hemingway in this new three part PBS documentary.  Weaving in excerpts from his novels, short stories and non-fiction, it shows how Hemingway’s insatiable appetites for art, adventure, women and celebrity fueled some of his greatest work.  As always, Burns and Novick have exhaustively researched Hemingway’s life, adding new revelations that add new depth and nuance to his larger than life persona.  to stories that have become legend.  It’s a remarkable look back at a literary titan.  Hemingway is available now on PBS and the PBS app.

LISTEN TO THIS

Breathe by Dr Lonnie Smith.  In 2017, Dr. Lonnie Smith spent his 75th birthday recording his critically acclaimed album All In My Mind and performing at The Jazz Standard.  Highlights from that show can be heard on his latest album, Breathe.  Fronting a band that included Jonathan Kresiberg on guitar, drummer Jonathan Blake, John Ellis on tenor sax, baritone saxophonist Jason Marshall, Sean Jones on trumpet and trombonist Robin Eubanks, Smith and the crew are in peak form, ripping through songs such as ‘Bright Eyes’, ‘Track 9’ and ‘World Weeps’ that gives spotlights everyone‘s dynamic musicianship. On ‘Pilgrimage’, special guest vocalist Alicia Olatuja all but steals the show, transforming The Jazz Standard into a revival meeting.  For the two studio tracks that bookend the album, Smith teams up with Iggy Pop for funky, low key cool versions of Donovan’s ‘Sunshine Superman’ and Timmy Thomas’ ‘Why Can’t We Live Together’. Nearly 60 years after his debut as a bandleader and solo artist, Dr. Lonnie Smith has put together another killer album that shows that he has no plans to slow down.  Breathe by Dr. Lonnie Smith is available now through all major streaming services.

Eleutheromania by Trope.   Since their formation in 2016, Trope has been blowing away audiences with their fusion of alternative and prog rock.  After putting their own dark spin on the Tears For Fears classic, ‘Shout’, the Hollywood based band sets their sights on mainstream success with their highly anticipated debut album.  Led by vocalist Diana Studenberg and guitarist Dave Thompson, the ten song set features Studenberg’s vocal dynamics soaring over monster riffs, dizzying time changes, and relentless rhythmic attack.  The comparisons to Tool and A Perfect Circle are inevitable, – that’s a great thing – but Studenberg and Thompson keep the songs into a concise package and sound that takes the alt/prog sound to a whole new level.  Simply put, this band is the real deal.  Elutheromania by Trope is available now through all major streaming services.

READ THIS

Maps For The Modern World by Valerie June Hockett.   Critically acclaimed singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Valerie June Hockett can now add author to her impressive resume with the publication of her first book.  It’s a collection of poems, affirmations and illustrations, urging everyone to channel their creative spirits, and connect with the world around us – even as technology makes us more and more emotionally disconnected.  Hockett presents the writings in a tone that’s wistful and inviting without coming across as heavy handed or preachy.  It’s a wonderful companion piece to her latest album, The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers that will help you become the true artist – and person – that you want to be.  Maps For The Modern World by Valerie June Hockett is available now through all major book retailers.

DO THIS

Los Angeles. Festival Of Books, Stories And Ideas.  The Los Angeles Times and The University of Southern California are teaming up for this week long event celebrating all things pertaining to the written word.  It will once again be held virtually with Zooey Deschanel, Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family), Don Lemon, Richard Thompson and Walter Mosley (Devil In A Blue Dress) all slated to appear.  There will also be panel discussions, screenings and much more.  A must see event for anyone who loves literature.  The Festival Of Books, Stories And Ideas takes place April 17th through the 23rd.  You can go to www.events.latimes.com for more information.

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Earl Douglas

Earl Douglas is a writer/photographer based in New York City. A frequent contributor to The Interrobang, Earl is also Executive Director for the New York chapter of The Black Rock Coalition. Earl worked in radio for nearly two decades at WNEW-FM and XM Satellite Radio, which included being the on-air producer for Carol Miller, Scott Muni and Ron & Fez, and a contributor to Opie & Anthony. Earl has also independently published a number of books including Black Rock Volume 1, Urban Abyss, Mobile Uploads, and For Shimmy. His latest project is the photojournalism magazine PRAXIS, which is available exclusively through Blurb.com.
Earl Douglas

Earl Douglas

Earl Douglas is a writer/photographer based in New York City. A frequent contributor to The Interrobang, Earl is also Executive Director for the New York chapter of The Black Rock Coalition. Earl worked in radio for nearly two decades at WNEW-FM and XM Satellite Radio, which included being the on-air producer for Carol Miller, Scott Muni and Ron & Fez, and a contributor to Opie & Anthony. Earl has also independently published a number of books including Black Rock Volume 1, Urban Abyss, Mobile Uploads, and For Shimmy. His latest project is the photojournalism magazine PRAXIS, which is available exclusively through Blurb.com.