Trivia NYC/DSO Media

It’s true that some weeks are better than others for studying the more offbeat and different-drummer types in their natural habitat, but last week was a monster. The UN General Assembly had an endless stream of awesome nutcases that served as proof that the ability to elect the idiot as mayor of one’s village is not a skill reserved for American Politics, or anywhere else, really; it’s merely the natural way of things, and so it shall always be, turn, turn, turn.

Rod Blagojevich has a (completely alternate-reality) new book out, Mackenzie Phillips has a (truly squicky) new book out, the chattering & punditry classes are punditting and chattering away, and the local trivia nights (or at least the ones I’ve gone to this week) have been more raucous, in an entertaining way, than usual. Just — the people who’ve come have been more engaged and vocal. Frankly, I kind of like it. No danger, just a bit more party in the house, which honestly is fine by me.

This week’s podcast gives a shout out to Rhino Records, which may be about to disappear as we know it. They did great work for 30-plus years, and the music world, especially the outsider world of freaks like Wild Man Fischer, Barnes & Barnes & much of the rest of the Doctor Demento and MST3K multiverses, is now without a home, on Westwood Boulevard or anywhere else. (Sure, there’s the Rhino-employee halfway house label Shout! Factory and tons of assorted outsider music blogs like Largehearted Boy, STG, That Unsound, The Delete Bin, Music For Maniacs, and the greatest of them all, the mighty WFMU blog, but it’s still a sad day when a joint like Rhino finally slips beneath the waves, absorbed ashes-to-ashes style into the great corporate sea.

So take good care of the the crazy people in your life. Each one is a wonderful treasure, a little fortune cookie of not-the-same that shines a light sideways through the world. Don’t sleep with them or elect them to office or let them sleep in a tent on your front lawn or anything, but if they’re there, just — acknowledge them. This is their hometown too.

Enjoy the podcast.

 

 TriviaNYC Podcast #26: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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• The opening theme is by “22:50″ by Sternklang, and the question music is “Latin Canteen” by The Rurals. The interval music is the selectively famous “Left Bank Two,” by the Noveltones, as heard on any British kids’ art show from the 1960’s and 1970’s, and this week there’s a special appearance by one W.M. Fischer.

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