RECENT ARTICLES

Peter Frampton, who is recognized as one of the world’s greatest guitar players, has traveled the globe, earned a #1 record (Frampton Comes Alive), and was friends with David Bowie as a schoolboy. Indeed, in many ways, Frampton has lived a charmed life. But it hasn’t all been roses and sunshine for the virtuoso, as he explains in his new memoir, Do You Feel Like I Do?, out yesterday. The lengthy book, which talks about Frampton’s loving and supportive parents and his friendships with the legends of rock (from Bowie to The Beatles), also talks about his bouts with depression, his debilitating physical afflictions, divorces, and band breakups. The memoir isn’t so much a window into Frampton’s life as it is a wide-open front door and a magnifying glass. But that’s the artist’s style: put it all out there, leave nothing for later. We caught up with the musician to talk about his parents, his love of songs, his musical relationships, and much more.

Surfing through the glorious abundance of Netflx the other day, I chanced upon a fabulous movie about something unexpectedly entertaining: a bookstore. Thankfully, I clicked on the movie and watched it end-to-end in one sitting. That movie? Circus of Books.

The documentary, which debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 26, 2019, tracks the life and times of the bookstore, which was the biggest distributor of gay and lesbian pornography anywhere in the United States. The shop, run by a cute little straight couple, helped change the world and offered a place for queer folks in Los Angeles to congregate, communicate, and grow (as well as indulge in some lustful behavior behind the shop).

We caught up with Kathryn Robson, who co-wrote the film (it was directed by Rachel Mason, daughter of the shop’s owners). Robson, who helped craft and edit the movie’s narrative, talked about how she got involved in the documentary, what she appreciates about both sex and pornography, and what, above all else, she loves about telling stories.

Longtime folk singer-songwriter, Arlo Guthrie, who is the son of folk legend Woody Guthrie, recently released a new song, a cover of the American standard, “Hard Times Come Again No More.” The song is meant to express a sense of unity and a communal desire to get through tough times. As the world tries to work through the pains of a global health pandemic and centuries of social injustice, Guthrie decided to add his signature bit of assistance to the conversation. We caught up with the songwriter, who wrote the 1967 20-minute-long hit, “Alice’s Restaurant,” to ask him about the new recording, how he first fell in love with music, the first time he heard Bob Dylan’s song for his father and much more.

Legendary recording artist Herb Alpert is the kind of guy who gives you keen, friendly marriage advice just because he cares. He’s kind and smooth and insightful. Alpert’s Tijuana Brass sound took over the 1960s (outselling The Beatles for a stretch) and along the way he started the famed A&M record label, which worked with artists from The Carpenters to Sérgio Mendes. Alpert is also a philanthropist. When the Harlem School of the Arts was going to close, he made sure it wouldn’t with a huge financial donation.

This year, Herb Alpert Is…, a new documentary about the artist’s life, will hit streaming screens. In it, viewers see a window into his life, not only as a musician, but also as a painter and sculptor. It’s accompanied by a 63-song box set of the same name.

We caught up with the lifelong creative soul—who recently released a cover version of “Smile” (co-written by Charlie Chaplin and memorably also performed by Nat King Cole)—to ask him about his days in music, his thoughts on the importance of art, and feeling.

Colin Quinn has written a truly funny and enlightening new book called, Overstated, which was released this week. In it, the Brooklyn-accented, longtime comedian shares his thoughts, revelations, and realizations as they pertain to the history of the United States. The connection between the 50 states, Quinn says, is like a marriage gone bad. So, now what? In the pages, Quinn roasts all 50 states, while offering insights into their peculiarities and peccadillos, which, in turn, may offer a window in how we can get the country on the right track (again? for the first time?). There is a lot of work to do, but it can be done, the comedian says. Quinn, who has been on Saturday Night Live, hosted his own show on Comedy Central, and worked just about every standup club in the western hemisphere, has a unique, loving perspective, couched in an upfront New Yorker’s vocabulary. We caught up with the funny man to ask him about when he got his first laugh, what his hope for America is and much more.