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Diary/Journal #3
Thursday October 5th, 2000
Another busy day:
I started the day by stopping in at Tunes (record store) in Hoboken, N.J. I put up some flyers for my upcoming gig in NYC, left some copies of NICKEL and then proceeded into NYC.
While I was in New York City, I was fortunate enough to find a broken meter to park next to in midtown. "Consider it a free day of parking in New York", said the meter maid (wheee!). I then walked past MTV live. Pamela Anderson was upstairs, but most of the stares were towards me (dressed up in my Howard Stern best!). Yep! Somebody had their picture taken with me!
My next stop was down in the Village. I put up more flyers for my gig on the 15th at The Back Fence. By 6:00 PM, I was at Webster Hall for the NARAS convention. That was eventful.. I went there as an artist - then I realized; I'm also a commodity being that I'm a DJ!
So I picked up a few CD's for my radio show.
I also met a semi-known vocalist named Pepper Swinson. Right now, she's singing for Wilson Picket, but she's a dead ringer for Robin Quivers! We exchanged business cards and I said, 'the next time you're doing something in the area, let me know, maybe we'll have some fun onstage! She seemed into it!
Afterwards, I made a brief stop at The BMW Bar - I was supposed to do a few tunes there with the hosts Brian And Marcy. I went a bit overtime at the convention, so I just said 'hi' and went back to PA.
Think it ends there?
Nope!
I drove directly into Allentown, and stopped in to see The Red Elvises at Crocodile Rock! I spoke to the lead singer, Igor, and made an appointment to tape an interview with him at WDIY on Friday night. I then stopped in at The Sterling Hotel (a few blocks away) and caught the last set of the band Crush. They do a lot of Dave Mathews material. That girl, Rachael, whom was teaching me violin, now plays and sings with Crush.
Busy day, eh?
Friday October 6th, 2000
Yep, I taped the interview with Igor Uzov, of The Red Elvises. I thought it might be nice for me to bring my guitar to the interview. He liked the fact that I tune my guitar a full step down. He played a new tune from the forthcoming Red Elvises album - "Girl From Outer Space".
Monday October 9th, 2000
Today, on my show at WMUH, I only played John Lennon's music. He would have turned 60 years old today. (see my playlist).
I also re-aired my interview with Igor Uzov of the Red Elvises. I attained permission from the WDIY program director to use the interview at another station (sweet!).
From WMUH, I went into Kutztown to distribute my newspaper. I had thought about stopping in NYC to visit Strawberry Fields in Central Park to commemorate Lennon's birthday, but it was just too cold that day. I came home, took a nap, and went to host the open stage from 7 - 9 PM at The Sunday News Cafe. I didn't have enough; I then stopped in at the jam at 1. Anylisa's Hava Java, 2. visited somebody playing at The Fun House, and then 3. the jam at Casey's.
Now I can go home!
Friday October 13th, 2000
A free day for me, means time to promote! Yesterday, I drove to New Hope, PA. to distribute my newspaper - made a brief stop back home - and then drove to Stroudsburg to distribute my paper - and then a brief stop back home - and then I saw Sandra Bernhard at The State Theater here in Easton.
[She said something interesting - She told of her trip to Morocco. "A country thousands of years behind us where people have next to nothing". She said that people go to prayer five times a day to give thanks for the simplest things. She then said that if we could tap into that, what a better world this would be.]
Monday October 16th, 2000
Yesterday was a humdinger! I played at The Back Fence in NYC from 6 - 8 PM, and then drove down to Asbury Park to play at The Saint from 9:30 until midnight. Just another (busy) day for me!
Wednesday October 25th, 2000
I was just thinking,... Howard Stern's contract expires in November. He hasn't made any indication of whether or not he'll renew it. If he quits, where would that leave me, as far as an impersonator?
Wednesday October 25th (continued...)
The release party for The Menagerie Records compilation was tonight! That was fun! From there I went to the jam at The Sarah Street Grill. The hosts, Diane and Willie, are also featured on the CD. They played the party too!
Thursday October 26th, 2000
I tried something new tonight: 'Speed Dating'. A dozen girls will sit at a dozen tables, and each will be seated across from a man. The two will interview each other for seven minutes. The moderator will ring a bell at the end of seven minutes and then each man will move to the next table. If the man wants to contact the lady, he will mark down her table number, and if the lady wants to contact the man, she will mark down his assigned number. The participants will turn in their markings at the end of the night and the coordinator will make the proper tallyings and exchanges.
(sigh) why do I even try? I spoke to one woman after the session, and she said that I was the nicest one there. I always seem to stand out - even on compilations: people usually say that mine is their favorite, or that mine really stands out.
Where is my crowd, if I'm supposed to be so great?
Sunday October 29th, 2000
I was just thinking - pertaining to all the rhetoric that we see on TV+radio for the candidates,..
It used to be that people would ask you 'who are you voting for?'. Now people just ask 'are you voting?' Are people that apathetic? It's the same old question: "Why does it always come down to choosing the lesser of two evils"?
Tuesday October 31st, 2000
Whooee!!!!! I've had a busy night - I played live on Reading cable (Acoustic Roadshow), and did a little club hopping on the way back home - hey, why not? I was still in costume!
P.S. I found out that my appearance on the Howard Stern Show aired again on Saturday night on CBS (show #52). Whheee!!!!!!
Wednesday November 15th, 2000
One of the reasons that I haven't made any entries lately is that I've been too concerned with the outcome of the elections. I've faxed some letters with my opinions to different newspapers, including the New York Times. I've also faxed CNN.
The elections in Florida should be re-held. The fact that a notice was sent out to polling places is proof of guilt.
I think a lot is at risk by putting Bush in office, but I'm not that pleased with Gore, either.
Nader is a good activist, but I wouldn't fully consider him to be 'politician material'.
My guess is, that Bush will be declared the winner.
Monday November 20th, 2000
Frustration and tension galore - right now, it's the election (arguments will be heard in court in about 2 hours), and on December 15th, Howard Stern will go on vacation until the end of the year.
He hasn't given an answer to the question of his contract renewal - what will that do to my career as an impersonator if he quits?
Monday November 27th, 2000
Last year, I asked someone at a prestigious men's clothing store how much the President pays for his business suits.
Shortly, thereafter, I said on my radio show that I've bought cars for less than that amount of money.
Well, lo and behold,.. history has repeated! I've bought another car. (yes, it runs,...)
Sunday December 3rd, 2000
I was thinking about the uncertainty of Howard Stern's future and I've decided to try something phenomenal/drastic:
I videotaped an interview I've done tonight on my WDIY radio show - Motto was the guest - and I'm going to send it to my friend "Bug", whom has his own cable TV show in New Jersey.
If Howard calls it quits and somebody sees this tape, maybe somebody will try me as the 'next Howard Stern' (?,!).
Thursday December 7th, 2000
Well,... At least I had a little fun - I went into New York City tonight. I walked around the area of the Hard Rock Cafe. The Guild Theater had an opening tonight. I walked past it and a few photographers came up to me thinking that I was Stern!
I let them photograph me walking. I stopped in The Hard Rock, just to surprise people. Some knew I wasn't Stern. They recognized me from my appearance on his show and still asked to have their picture taken with me!
I later walked down to the new location of Planet Hollywood (45th + Broadway) and had dinner. A whole bunch of high school girls were there on a class trip from Alabama - yup!, more pictures!
I had my arm around more 16-year-old girls that night than I did all through high school.
Friday December 15th, 2000
My birthday! And I've received a little present in the mail: The new Breeders tribute CD!
Hey, check this out - this is the third compilation I've been on in the last three years, and each time, my song # has been song #13! ooohhhh!!!! SPOOKY!!!!
Thursday December 21st, 2000
I'm at the library. I've completed writing up some pages for the new issue of NICKEL. On Saturday, I went to an art opening at a private home in Allentown. I was surprised to see that many people there were acquaintances of mine! I never realized that I was in with such a cool crowd.
I'm relieved to see that Howard Stern signed up for another five years on his show. I'll admit to you all right here: The fact that I resemble Howard Stern has helped my career a lot!
The one thing that I can say for myself, though, is that at least I have some talent to back up my good looks!
Thursday March 1st, 2001
Yes, it's been a while since my last update. I've been busy. I've bought a newer car. It failed the night I was to play in New Jersey. It runs fine, now.
I met a fan the day after my last entry. Van Wagner. He came to see me years ago at Name That Bar in Philladelphia!
He has been obtaining bootleg tapes of me for years and we finally had the chance to meet on December the 22nd.
He has his own album out and cites me as one of his influences! It's a pretty good album! It's loaded with good melody, humor (like myself!), and some excellent production!
I haven't been on Stern, lately, although I'd like to go back on one more time.
Sunday, February 11th was a busy (or usual) day for me.
I attended a social group meeting in the morning, went to play at The Back Fence in NYC at 6:00 PM. I was walking out of my gig after 8:00, and saw a jam next door at Kenny's Castaways! Yup! 'went right onstage!
I then went uptown on a friend's invite to play at her gig later that evening!
Last night, NBC had an episode of "Law And Order" that made me wonder. The show centered around a murder that occurred during the taping of a fictitious "Real World" style TV show called "Deal With It". (interesting note: the episode started out in the same video format as MTV's "Real World")
It was determined by the episode's end that the incident leading to the fight and death of a cast member was the result of an outside influence from the V.P. of the fictitious show's network.
I remember reading in Spin magazine, an interview with one of the cast members (the heavy black girl) from Real World's first season.
She said that the production/camera crew were trying to influence a relationship between her and one of the other cast members.
There was also a mention as how the production crew were a little too obsessive with the gay member of the first cast.
After the episode ended, I called Bunim Murray productions in Van Nuys, CA. (they're the producers of "Real World"). I left a message asking if they had seen the episode of Law And Order and if they had any feedback on it. I said I wanted the information for a column in my paper. I'll check my messages later this afternoon.
Sunday March 11th, 2001
'not much to report since my last entry,.. I gallery sat at Venue on Thursday, saw a band, "Poor Luthers' Bones", on Friday... That's about it.
There was a pirate radio station broadcasting in this area for a while - they've stopped broadcasting now.
Interesting, wide variety, blues, metal, rockabilly, country, some 1930's stuff...
Sunday April 15th, 2001
That pirate radio station is back on the air. I've mentioned it in my new issue of NICKEL.
Wednesday night and Thursday daytime, I was in the New England area.
I drove all the way there. I stopped in at the Foxwoods Casino. Yes, I gambled! I spent the night at a nearby hotel and then I drove to the Cape Cod area in the morning. It's too bad that the weather was rainy - I would've visited Marthas' Vineyard.
I then stopped at Boston's World Trade Center. The NEMO convention was there. I then drove back home.
Maybe, when the weather gets nice, I'll revisit the area.
Friday April 20th, 2001
Where shall I start?,.... I am very sad that Joey Ramone is gone.
Usually, you would expect rock stars to die from plane crashes, auto accidents or drug over-doses.
The fact that he is gone from something more associated with old age, brings me up to the fact that I too, am not a kid anymore.
Yesterday, there was a small tie-in to this;
My day started early. At 8:00 AM I was having my cars' engine washed.
A small cap popped out off of the engine and dirtied the whole compartment.
After the engine was washed, I cleaned the rest of the car at a self-service car wash. I then went to the library for an hour (internet).
Kutztown, PA. was my next stop. It's a college town. I distributed my paper around town.
I stopped back at home, ate, took a brief nap, phoned an old musical acquaintance, paid a bill, then off to NYC.
On the way, I stopped in Clinton, N.J. (a historic town) distributed my paper, then a brief stop in Hoboken, N.J. to do the same. Next Stop: NYC! I went to Arlene's Grocery (never been there before!), and saw a great band opening up for LOURDS! (another great band!). Bear in mind that I bear a strong resemblance to Howard Stern. When I'm not being called 'Howard', I'm being called 'Joey'.
I spoke to one of the band members from the opening band. He had received many e-mails about Joey Ramones' death, and at first he thought they all were a joke.... then I walk into the dimly lit club;
Well,.. some people did a few double takes,..
Lourds was being filmed for a new show, which will debut on MCTV in June. I was honored to be interviewed as one of her fans. She even joined in the interview!
After all was said and done, I drove up to my favorite restaurant on W 72nd (right near the Dakota Building).
One bowl of soup later; on my way back home. A brief stop in Pattenburg to drop off some copies of my paper (Pattenburg Tavern - they have a weekly jam), THEN I went home! (filled in my journal + went to sleep!)
The Brodian Page
journal page 1: 10/9/99 - 3/11/00
journal page 2: 5/29/00 - 9/23/00
journal page 4: 4/22/01 - 8/04/02
journal page 5: 9/02/02 - 7/24/05
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