Monthly Archives: May 2013

May 8 2013
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Travelogue 021: Bremerton, Washington

In this episode, I travel to Bremerton, Washington… Home of the band MxPx. They have been a band for over 20 years! They are incredibly cool guys.
Lead singer Mike Herrera takes us on a tour of his “Monkey Trench Studios”, then I get some interesting historical tidbits about the band’s first release from some cool people. Finally, I fulfill a lifelong dream, and get to rehearse with the band as they prepare for tour.

Life’s a great ride, so enjoy it. While your at it, check out some of my other adventures… or better yet, go live some of your own!

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May 8 2013
Video

Travelogue 020: Virginia

In honor of the greatest Country in America, I thought I’d take you on a tour of the spooky, abandoned “President’s Park” near Williamsburg, Virginia. It is one of the few places we’ve found where you’ll be able to check out 43 rotting, 16 foot tall US President’s heads. It is Amazing.
Also, check out the Rock and Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach… It was BRUTAL. Also, I debunk some rumors that the good ol’ Disney Company started a few years ago regarding our dear friends, the Colonial English Settlers and the story of Pocahontas.

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May 8 2013
Video

Travelogue 019: North Western Washington

One thing about the State of Washington that I’ve gotta give it.. It has a LOT of diversity. That’s why there will have to be more than one episode dedicated to the Evergreen State.
In this episode, we take you to the world-renowned “Skagit Valley Tulip Festival” near Mount Vernon, WA. It is a breathtaking spectacle that I recommend everyone see at least once in their lifetime.
After the pretty things are over, we get a brief education on “Exclaves” from a random Canadian hitchhiker that we picked up near a golf course. Then we visit a pleasant little boutique wine emporium called “The Liberty” located in Washington’s very-own exclave, Point Roberts, WA.
We wrap up this tidy little episode with a trip to the “Outback Kangaroo Farm” somewhere outside of Arlington, WA.
Enjoy your life, and keep exploring!

#theTravelogue

May 8 2013
Video

Travelogue 018: Austin

The city that has music… at all hours, also happens to claim residence to some pretty weird people and places… Including the “The Museum of the Weird” and Marti Motormouth’s painful sideshow act.
Steve Busti, owner and founder of the Museum of the Weird was like the most long-form storyteller I had ever met, so I had to be selective. Go and meet him yourself and ask him about his “Haunted” Oddfellow Skeleton…
Trust me there is something odd like this in every town in America, you just have to find it.
Oh, did I mention all the Bar B Que joints? Iron Works BBQ is the jam.

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May 8 2013
Video

Travelogue 017c: Bay Area Punk

This is the story of going to the famous Santa Cruz Mystery Spot, which in all reality, is nowhere near as fun as the “Montana Vortex/House of Mystery” as you may have seen in the “Montana” episode.
But hey, you can watch this, and see everything that you’d ever need to see… all without the pain of having to leave your chair!

Cool bumper stickers though?!

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May 8 2013
Video

Travelogue 017b: Bay Area Punk

This Travelogue dives into the world of “Independent Record Labels” in the form of a two part interview with the Bay Area’s legendary labels Fat Wreck Chords (and Owner “Fat Mike” Burkett) and Asian Man Records (and Owner Mike Park).

Mike Park is a humble, unassuming, and handsome record label owner. When not touring the country with one of his many musical endeavors (including, but not limited to, Skankin’ Pickle, The Bruce Lee Band, the Chinkees, or as a solo artist), Mike has been running an ultra-DIY record label since 1996 that has been home to such incredible and legendary acts as Alkaline Trio, The Queers, The Lawrence Arms, Slapstick, and The Toasters.

Mike shows you around his famed “parents garage,” where he has run the label since its inception. We also get a little slice of horticultural heaven in the form of Mike’s mother’s meticulously-manicured back yard. What a treat.

Get in touch with Mike if you’re ever in the South Bay. He is quite a cool cat.

#theTravelogue

May 8 2013
Video

Travelogue 017a: Bay Area Punk

This Travelogue dives into the world of “Independent Record Labels” in the form of a two part interview with the Bay Area’s legendary labels Fat Wreck Chords (and Owner “Fat Mike” Burkett) and Asian Man Records (and Owner Mike Park).

In these tours, you’ll find out some interesting tidbits about how these labels started, and have managed to survive and thrive while the rest of the music industry tanks.

The people at Fat Wreck Chords are great. Fat Mike was surprisingly candid and casual during our interview and the warehouse tour. It may have been the jet lag he had from just returning from South America (where he’d just wrapped Season 2 of his own TV show, “Backstage Passport”), but we really got along like gangbusters.

Go visit fatwreck.com and find out when their record shop opens next, it is well worth the trip to pick up your favorite record for cheap (as well as colors of records exclusive to the store)!

#theTravelogue

May 8 2013
Video

Travelogue 016: North Central Washington

In this Episode, I visit the unique town of Winthrop, Washington… which was created to have an “Old Western, wood-plank sidewalk facade” in the early 1970’s (for what reason, no one really knows). I meet a guy at Glassworks Windsor with the coolest name in history: Garth Mudge. All of the sudden a giant navy plane buzzed over my head. I got super scared.
I also get some fake history lessons from a lady about some old mining equipment that were either “Built on Site OR brought here…” Is there a third option that I didn’t know about?
Your mission, find a small, weird little town within 100 miles of you and spend a few hours there talking to the locals.. it’ll do your soul some good.

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May 8 2013
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Travelogue 015: Hawaii Part One

In this episode, my lovely cohost Emily and I travel half way across the Pacific to the beautiful Island of Oahu.
Per usual, we mix the unusual with the historical as we learn about Pacific Island history at the Polynesian Cultural Events Center, watch Teddy Bears assassinate other Teddy Bears with extreme prejudice (on more than one occasion), meet Babe, the most inspiring two-legged dog in the world, explore Pearl Harbor, and more!

Smile! The world is a remarkable place!

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May 8 2013
Video

Travelogue 014: Utah Part Two

I explore some of the most strange, and some of the most commercial parts of Southern Utah. From the “Abandoned” Little Hollywood Movie Set in Kanab, Utah to the “High School Musical 2” film locations in Saint George, we sure find out how commercially viable this area is for movie makers.
Oh, and don’t forget my short stop in at Lance’s Antiques in Orderville, Utah, proclaiming itself to be “One of the CHEAPEST Antique Shops in the USA.” We’ll see if you agree.
As an interesting aside, the tiny town of Orderville was originally established by Brigham Young as a planned “United Order” community… an idea founded in roots of Communism, where everyone in the town contributes equally and lives communally, without divided incomes. Orderville, and its residences experienced one of the most successful runs of this “Ordered” style of government, and continued it long after the Church’s sanction had ceased.
As a guy like Lance WOULD say, “There ain’t nothin’ special.”

#theTravelogue