KPCC: Dinner Party Download

One For The Road: Lyme and Cybelle, "Follow me"

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Before Carmelita held him tighter, a teenage Warren Zevon was half of the duo Lyme and Cybelle (he was Lyme). "Follow Me" is their most well-known song.

Main Course: Cold Turkey Contest

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Canter's is one of the most venerable -- and famous -- delicatessens in the USA. They're known for their reubens, but this year they hosted a turkey sandwich contest, with the winning recipe featured on their menu for the entire month of December. Rico talks with contest organizer Dena Stein about the winners, the losers, and the shame of white bread.

Guest of Honor: Writer and satirist George Saunders

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0800

George Saunders has been compared to Mark Twain and Kurt Vonnegut for his sharp satire and ferocious wit. His short stories and essays have won him a slew of awards -- including a MacArthur Genius Grant. Recently he spent a week in a homeless encampment in Fresno, California and wrote about the experience for GQ. He talks to Brendan about how awful it was there... and how Dick Cavett got him through.

History Lesson with Booze: A star falls in Alabama and the “Extinction Level Event”

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0800

This week back in 1954, Alabama housewife Annie Hodges earned a dubious distinction: She became the first person in recorded history to get hit by a meteorite. But as Michelle Phillipe explains, she was just another in a long line of people who let a small brush with fame damage their lives. Hear Annie's story, then toast her memory with a devastating drink that celebrates random impacts.

Small Talk: North Korean Jeans, Virtual Wedding Vows, Economic Clausualties

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The staff of Marketplace shares their favorite offbeat news stories from the week.

Ice Breaker: MC Frontalot

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0800

MC Frontalot -- Godfather of nerdcore hip-hop -- shares a joke that has been scientifically proven to generate maximum laughs in Belgium. Seriously.

One For the Road: The XX, "Basic Space"

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Britain's The XX make minimalist sensual slowcore. Best listened to AFTER the dinner party. (If you know what we're saying.)

Main Course: Thanksgiving Centerfolds

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Brendan talks to Eat Me Daily's Paula Forbes about the swimsuit edition of food magazines -- the Thanksgiving issue.

Guest of Honor: Julian Casablancas

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Julian Casablancas started the century as the lead singer and main songwriter for The Strokes -- whose classic debut album put underground guitar-rock back on the map. But on his first solo album "Phrazes For The Young" Casablancas favors complex beats and keyboards over six-strings. Julian talks with Rico about polyrhythms and Charlie Chaplin. And you can click above to stream "Phrazes" first single, "11th Dimension."

History Lesson with Booze: The Edsel and "The 2 Billion Dollar Pony"

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

This week back in 1960, the last Edsel automobile rolled off Ford’s assembly line. Now the folks at your dinner party may know the car was a failure. But they probably won’t know how big, and why. Michelle Philippe’s back from vacation to tell the tale.

Small Talk: The Perfect Cow, Eggo Shortage, The Thin Green Line

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The staff of Marketplace shares their favorite offbeat news stories from the week.

One For the Road: Deep Purple, "Hush"

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

In October 1968, Deep Purple's cover of Joe South's "Hush", reached #4 on the US Billboard chart. It's from their their debut album Shades of Deep Purple, and it kicks ass.

Main Course: Jonathan Safran Foer's "Eating Animals"

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Author Jonathan Safran Foer made a huge debut with his bestselling novel "Everything Is Illuminated." His new book, "Eating Animals," is a thoughtful non-fiction argument for vegetarianism and against factory-farmed meat. This week he and Rico try to figure out why so many meat-eaters find "vegetarian" a four-letter word.

Guest of Honor: Laura Veirs

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Laura Veirs has seven more albums than you do, and she's filled them with lush indiepop tunes filled with natural imagery. Colin Meloy of The Decemberists calls her forthcoming release, July Flame, "The best album of 2010." This week she tells Brendan about her pact with her producer/boyfriend, the joys of deep breathing, and why the new album's a peach.

History Lesson with Booze: King Tut's Hut and "the Tamarind"

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

This week back in 1922, the entrance to King Tut's tomb was discovered. Financed by an English Lord-turned-failed-amateur-excavator, it was the most perfectly-preserved Egyptian tomb ever discovered. Listen to the story of the dig and its aftermath... then embalm youself with a cocktail named after one of the Middle East's most delectable fruits. Click the link above for the recipe.

Small Talk: Hockey Line Cut, Space Hotels, Talking Beer

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The staff of Marketplace shares their favorite offbeat news stories from the week.

Icebreaker: Stewart Brand

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Back in the '60s and '70s, Stewart Brand spearheaded the hippie "back to the Earth" movement as editor of the infamous National Book Award-winning "Whole Earth Catalog." In the '90s he founded pioneering social network The Well. And these days he's busy angering many of his former colleagues with a new book, "The Whole Earth Discipline," in which he argues environmentalists should embrace nuke power and GMO's. For us, he found a joke in a haystack.

One For the Road: The Swimmers, "One Hundred Hearts"

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Philly is unstoppable right now, and we're not even talking about the Phillies. We're talking about Dr. Dog, Free Energy, Blood Feathers, Alec Ounsworth and now The Swimmers, a three piece that makes clean pop with a touch of Britfluence. We recommend listening to this while cooking dinner at dusk.

Main Course: (As)Sa(u)lty Licorice

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Brendan eats the worst candy in the world. Actually, he eats a little bit of it and then spits the rest out.

Guest of Honor: Chuck Klosterman

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Chuck Klosterman is one of those guys who gets to do whatever he wants and what he wants to do is share his humorous/insightful theories about pop culture. Rico talks to him about his new book "Eating the Dinosaur."