Podcast: Episode #007

Subtitle: Top of Our Head

Post Date: May 15, 2018

Hosts: Eric D. and Pauly V.

Show Notes: Riff On's co-host Eric D. (@HopSnobbery) is joined by Pauly V (@varricc) to launch Episode 007, talking everything right off the top of their head.  From music and CDs and Spotify to radio, maps and television.

Pauly V. visits the Riff On studio in Colchester, Vermont for the very first time. Left alone in the studio, he admires some of the artwork on Eric D's studio wall, which includes a drawing of Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam who he thought was Max Cavalera of Sepultura. Eric D. reflects on how Pearl Jam is the first artist that he watched the full arc on, from debut release of 'Ten' to their election into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

Conversation turns to the CD collection that Eric D. has in his office and how outdated it is now that Spotify is so widely used. Music royalties are discussed for artists, and Eric D. reflects on a job he had overseeing the copyrights for George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic and the derivitive songs due to hip-hop and rap sampling. They guys talk rap, including Vanilla Ice, the Beastie Boys, Run DMC, Kanye West, Jurassic 5, Drake and Post Malone.

Radio gets discussed as Eric D. DJ'd at St. Michael's College Radio and The Radiator (he doesn't mention his stint at WEZF (now Star 92.9 in Colchester, VT) How is it that Led Zeppelin only had a few top 40 hits, yet their music is all over the radio, but only modern "top 40" rock songs traditionally get added to stations?

Pauly V. drives for a living and the duo talk GPS, Waze and atlases.  How great was the GPS as an invention and how obsolete are they now due to Google Maps on our phones? Those that drive in Vermont know what The Notch is from Smuggler's Notch over to the Stowe side of Mt. Mansfield and car GPS' will lead trucks through The Notch (Route 108) when they won't fit through.

Can't have a proper episode about anything without discussing beer.  The guys are enjoying an Idletyme Zog's American Pale Ale and Eric D. compares it to Upper Pass' First Drop, which is a widly popular APA in the Vermont scene.  Turns out chicken wings are at four year low for prices and Eric D. wishes the four pack prices of DIPA's were at a four year low, as well.

Netflix, horror films, cable, TV, Lucifer and Mike Judge Presents: Tales from the Tour Bus are all discussed as the guys wrap up the episode talking about podcasting. 

Pauly V. hosts his own podcast called 'Off the Table' (grab it on itunes here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/off-the-table/id1199645438?mt=2) and Eric D. has picked his brain on more than one occasion about how to setup a podcast.  Eric D. asks Pauly about Anchor, which is a mobile-based podcasting service and he just recently looked into it this weekend. 

If you make it through to the end, Eric D. drops a fairly good podcast topic for those that are looking for a subject to discuss.  Tune in and find out.

Go find Pauly V. on Twitter.  He doesn't use it nearly enough at @varricc but he does use Instagram at @varricc

Thank you for tuning in and be sure to give us a follow on Twitter or Instagram at @RiffOnPodcast and a like on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/RiffOnPodcast/

Stream this episode on YouTube at https://youtu.be/qUglaocd0P4  

Podcast: Episode #006

Subtitle: Electronics

Post Date: February 18, 2018

Hosts: Andrew James, Eric D. and The Real Voice Mel

Show Notes: Co-hosts Andrew James (@OneWhoSeesDimly) and Eric D. (@HopSnobbery) are joined by Mel Allen (@TheRealVoiceMel) to launch Episode 006 of Riff On, talking electronics and namely computers, video games and technology because at this point, all of the hosts have been around computers and technology for 30+ years, including Coleco Vision, the Atari 2600, Merlin and Simon. 

Recollecting Ames, Service Merchandise and Star Trek technology, Mel was introduced to computers in 1984, Andrew, in 1981 and Eric D. around 1984 with an IBM PC Jr. TRS-80 and CAT computers are discussed in early technology.

First video game systems are discussed, including Atari, Nintendo and Sega Genesis.  Mel still has a Genesis and Eric D. misses the simplicity of the single button and two-button controls like Atari and Nintendo, even though he has a Playstation 3.

Retro gaming lives on at The Archives in Burlington, Vermont, which is home to an incredible craft beer list, with 80s upright arcade games. Aladdin's Castle in the University Mall, Dream Machine in the Square Mall, Skateland in Williston, and the Milton laundromat all had upright video game machines that the hosts played at.

Eric D. recollects the Nintendo Track & Field trick with the pen cap, as well as playing Atari 8-bit baseball, Sega 94 Hockey and the retirement of Jaromir Jagr and having recently visting a Game Stop to buy a used wrestling video game.  But now, it's all about Egames and Egaming and the use of Twitch to live stream video games.

Mortal Kombat, Ivan "Ironman" Stewart's Super Off Road and Missile Command video games are all dwelled upon, as welel as Andrew James talking about coding when he first got into gaming. Zork and Leisure Suit Larry were old school computer games and "Deep Fake" would be the modern-age version of cutting-edge technology and electronics. 

The gang discusses Dragon's Lair to Call of Duty in regards to graphics capabilities and how we're moving into AR (Augmented Reality), VR (Virtual Reality) and AI (Artificial Intelligence) including Pokemon Go. 

Andrew James has his Wii and plays bowling with his girls, which Eric D. never had.  How great would a Wii be with Nintendo games? Interactive gaming is all the rage at the local bowling alley (Spare Time) including a large scale Connect Four and a 'beer pong' type game.  Interactive gaming also includes Guitar Hero and DJ Hero. 

The rabbit hole moves through hip-hop music, including A Tribe Called Quest, Eminem, Run DMC, N.W.A., Drake, Migos and Kanye West.  However, when it all comes said and done, this is all part of modern day electronics.

Be sure to check out Mel Allen on Twitter and Instagram and at www.therealvoice.com online.

Andrew James hosts The Local Haunt on Facebook.

Eric D. also hosts the Let's Fix Construction podcast.

Thank you for tuning in and be sure to give us a follow on Twitter or Instagram at @RiffOnPodcast and a like on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RiffOnPodcast/

Stream this episode on YouTube at https://youtu.be/Q--WaRbL9bc