Deep skins

Today on Phawker, an interview with Glenn Kotche, drummer for undeniably-great rock band Wilco and a creative, broad-minded percussionist and composer. He's coming to Philly for a performance with Bang on a Can All-Stars.

I didn't push him for details on the new Wilco album; I tried to keep our discussion centered on his work as a composer and his collaborations with BoaC and other new-music groups. I'm happy just knowing it's on its way. The big New Zealand-based project he described sounds intriguing as well and appears to be on its way even sooner.

Do you want more?!

The Vienna Philharmonic with Zubin Mehta and Lang Lang. Feb. 26, 2009, The Bulletin.

DPS didn't like this one as much as I did, but at least I left Lang Lang's hairstyle out of it.

Also, the latest Paperboy A couple nice cover stories undermined by a couple fact errors and dumb typos. Among the misspelled or misidentified: Washington, DC-based record label Dischord, aioli, and drummer John Hollenbeck. Also, I'm pretty sure Police Chief Charles Ramsey came to Philly from DC, but it's possible he went home to Chicago in the roughly year-long interim between positions.

The hits keep coming

Steve Lippia and the Philly Pops' Celebration of Ol' Blue Eyes, The Bulletin, Feb. 20, 2009.

Another week, another Paperboy for Phawker. In light of this, I join others in sounding the death knell for PW's commitment to journalism.

Plus, a preview of Benjy Ferree, who plays tomorrow night at the M Room.

From Rittenhouse to your house

A preview of Curtis on Tour, The Bulletin, Feb. 17, 2009.

The article includes some insights from composer David Ludwig on his "From the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam," which will be premiered Wednesday evening. I knew a little bit about the original Persian poetry going into writing the article, but I confess that the first thing that came to mind was an episode of the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. Wednesday's recital features wind and string students from Curtis, as well as mezzo-soprano Allison Sanders but, sadly, no flying squirrels.

Your revue of reviews

The Cleveland Orchestra at Verizon Hall, The Bulletin, Feb. 10, 2009.

Curtis Opera Theatre's Impressions of Pelleas, The Bulletin, Feb. 12, 2009.

Today's title is a shoddy reference to Sid Caesar. I'll try to make it up to him.