Back for a couple of days, Folks.
I have to say I haven’t changed my mind about Missouri but St. Louis is great.
When I travel I don’t always know where I am. I remember some things from some places. Sometimes I’m not sure which place has what. I remembered being in St. Louis when I got there. It was definitely one of the great midwestern cities and now it's just a pretty good one as far as that goes. So many of them seem to have fallen and then slowly come back around. The lady who owns Clementine’s Ice Cream showed me around the city and let me have some ice cream and I was ready to move there. Apparently, the cost of living is amazing. The museums and zoo are free. Free outdoor concerts. Beautiful parks. Great coffee and food. Amazing record store. The catch is, you’re in Missouri. That’s a big crazy, right-wing, Christian catch. But the ice cream is very good. Time will tell.
When I was there I didn’t feel how scary the rural parts of the state are or how awful and violent the racism is but I knew it was all around. I guess, sadly, that’s the same as anywhere. When you live in a blue city in an aggressively red state your progressivism is tempered by your fear in the face of what you don’t know about your neighbors or coworkers. So, just don’t talk about that stuff. You know, politics, religion, LGBTQ issues, race, vaccines, etc. Just keep it light. Food and weather. Save it for the meetings of like-minded people.
I did go to one of the most amazing record stores I’ve ever been in. Euclid Records is a marvel. I would say it’s an old school used record store but it isn’t. It’s just a great one. With so much stock of actual quality USED records. So many record stores that claim to be used record stores just have all the new releases of older stuff or RSD releases. The other store I went to in St. Louis is Vintage Vinyl. Another place with a tremendous stock of actual old records. I bought a lot of vinyl. I’m wondering when I’m going to hit the wall with the vinyl thing. I know when I do there will be record shelves against it. Running out of room.
The five shows at Helium Comedy Club were truly great. I got a lot of work done. Despite saying shitty things about their state leading up to it, which I am not sorry for, the vaxxed crowds were great. Even though I had to deal with a bachelorette party. Old school. The babysitting job. It was fine. I still have the chops to deal. I made some really good headway with the new material and went on some serious improvisational journeys at the late shows. Mary Radzinski opened for me and she’s always great. She’s opened for me many times.
So, thank you, St. Louis!
Today I talk to Sopranos creator David Chase about the new film The Many Saints of Newark which he wrote---it's about the Sopranos when they were younger. We talk a lot of old TV too. On Thursday I talk to the creator of The Black List, Franklin Leonard, about the state of the American screenplay and quality of movies being made and the slow growing inclusiveness in the industry. Great talks!
Enjoy!
Boomer, Monkey and LaFonda live!
Love,
Maron