Louie Pérez has written many great songs for Los Lobos, but “Saint Behind the Glass” is especially close to his heart. It was inspired by a saint statue from his family’s home and now is part of the exhibit American Prophets: Writers, Religion and Culture at the American Writers Museum in Chicago. Perez offers that song’s origin story, digs into his songwriting dynamic with singer-guitarist David Hidalgo, discusses their trippy side project the Latin Playboys, reflects on the impact of Los Lobos’ smash cover of Richie Valens’ “La Bamba” and says whether, 10 years after their last album of original material, Los Lobos is preparing new music. He also reveals a recent health issue and whether it affected his return to the stage, he addresses how artists can respond to the current administration’s toxicity toward immigrants, and he offers inspiring words for anyone involved in the act of creation.
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Bob Merlis
Bob Merlis ran the Warner Bros. publicity department for much of his 29 years at the label, and he has tales to tell. He recalls his adventures as a Columbia University student presenting concerts by the Byrds and others, as well as his rock journalist stint, his encounter with “supernova” Little Richard and a classic misunderstanding with the Carpenters. Soon he was working with Dion DiMucci, ZZ Top, Debbie Gibson, Talking Heads, Devo, the B-52’s, the BoDeans, Madonna, R.E.M. and many others. Which act was the beneficiary of “the cheapest promo in the history of Warner Bros”? Who reacted hostilely to his publicity ideas? Who was especially cool? How did the label vibe change? After Merlis left Warner Brothers, what was Chris Isaak’s valuable advice? And what role did late Rolling Stones/Beatles manager Allen Klein play in Merlis’s next act?
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Paul Kelly
Paul Kelly has been one of Australia’s—and the world’s—premier singer-songwriters for decades, having been introduced to American audiences with the mid-‘80s albums Gossip and Under the Sun and songs such as “Before Too Long,” “Darling It Hurts,” “Dumb Things” and “To Her Door.” His new album, Seventy, finds his voice and songwriting powers undiminished as he continues delivering deep reflections, vivid storytelling and ear worms, including “Rita Wrote a Letter,” a sequel to his 1996 song “How To Make Gravy.” Here he reflects on his life as a musician in Australia, his travels to the U.S., his evolution as a songwriter, his enjoyment of setting poetry to music, his years of being “a recreational heroin user” and what he has learned. Is songwriting his way to make sense out of being human? (Photo by Dean Podmore)
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Paul Myers (John Candy)
Paul Myers is one of those do-it-all guys: author of the new John Candy: A Life in Comedy, host of the Record Store Day Podcast (which he also writes, produces, engineers and composes the music for), radio and TV host, musician, and author of books about Kids in the Hall, Long John Baldry, Barenaked Ladies and the one that hooked me on his work, A Wizard, a True Star: Todd Rundgren in the Studio. We dig into Candy’s life, an inspirational story and cautionary tale that makes you laugh and breaks your heart. We also flash back on Paul Myers’ years growing up in Toronto with his Beatles/Monty Python-loving parents from Liverpool and his brothers, including writer/performer Mike Myers. How did he wind up becoming a musician, writer and radio/TV/podcast host? What have been his biggest podcasting thrills? And what are his picks for the upcoming Record Store Day Black Friday? (Photo by Liza Algar)
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Jonathan Segel (Camper Van Beethoven)
After Camper Van Beethoven performed the final show of its recent tour in Washington, D.C.—and perhaps its last show ever—violinist/multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Segel returned to Stockholm, Sweden, where he has lived for the past 13 years. Segel is well traveled as a musician and otherwise, having been born in Marseille, France, grown up in Davis, Calif., and played with Sparklehorse as well as the Øresund Space Collective and on solo projects. He was a key element, if not the sparkplug, in the classic Camper Van Beethoven lineup until, he says, frontman David Lowery dismissed him before the band recorded Key Lime Pie and then broke up altogether. Segel recalls how he found his place in a band that would shift from ska to klezmer music to crunching rock within a few measures. He describes the band's rise, his departure, how he and Lowery patched things up and whether the far-flung bandmates might record or perform together again. (Photo by Bengt Alm)
There may be nothing more inspiring and entertaining than relaxed, candid conversations among creative people. Mark Caro, a relentlessly curious journalist and on-stage interviewer, loves digging into the creative process with artists and drawing out surprising stories that illuminate the work that has become part of our lives. The Caropopcast is for anyone who wants to dig deeper into the music, movies, food and culture that they love.
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