Citywide Blackout

Gene Dante talks about being back on stage and putting out new singles

If you're at all connected with the local scene of Boston, the name Gene Dante and the Future Starlets is a familiar one. It certainly is to me, and it's with great pleasure that I interviewed him for this episode! We talk about the band being back on stage at Ralph's Rock Diner and how it felt to play for a crowd once more.

 

Recently, Gene released two new singles, “High Time” and “She's Outside.” "High Time" is all about showing narcissists the door and removing the bad seeds from your life and Gene talks about how his own experiences with folks like this influenced the song. We take a look at the amazing music video by Director Silvia Graziano and what made it happen.

 

We also talk about the impact that the band has had over the years and the kind of effect that Gene hopes comes from all these years in music.

 

Following this, kick back and enjoy “High Time.” It's a great example of the band's glam rock sound and doesn't disappoint!

Galia Gichon dives into the Women‘s Suffrage Movement in new novel

Over a century after women were granted the right to vote, Galia Gichon explores this pivotal moment through her new book, “The Accidental Suffragist.”

 

It's 1911, and Helen Fox is a factory worker living in New York's tenements. When tragedy strikes in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, Helen is seduced by the cause for women’s suffrage and is soon working alongside famous activists.

 

In this interview we look at how this subject came to Galia's attention and the research she undertook to learn all about it. We learn about Helen Fox, her motivation to join the movement, and how she changes as a person. Galia's been able to hold several in-person readings and book events and talks about the experience of being in front of an audience.

Author David Rohlfing returns with the prequel in his Sasha Frank detective series

It was seven months ago that writer David Rohlfing made his Citywide Blackout debut for his first book, “Deliberate Duplicity.” And now he's back with a prequel story, “Cold Consequences,” which sees Det. Sasha Frank five years younger and on the trail of a murderer following a drug deal gone wrong.

 

David and I talk about the quick turnaround from the first book to the second and how he learned from his debut novel. David takes us through the book (not everything though, you gotta get your copy to see how it ends!) and how different a person Sasha Frank is five years ago.

 

We also look at the return of in-person events and if David has any planned at this time. He's done plenty of virtual events as well as interviews with the media and we talk about how he's adapted to the electronic format of book releases.

4 Minutes Later talk about the Tweet that launched their career

It all started with a Tweet that read “Music Coming Soon.” Those three words kicked off a flurry of guesses as to who 4 Minutes Later really were and what they were all about. After three years, Junyor and Moon got to unveil this new project, a blend of styles called Alien Pop.

 

In this interview, we talk about the group's origins, what it was like to keep a secret for three long years, and how it felt to finally tell the world. Junyor and Moon explain to me what Alien Pop is and how past projects influenced their current style.

 

I'm not that familiar with the music scene in Canada, and Junyor and Moon walk me through it, introducing artists that they've worked with and others that I'm dying to check out.

 

Following this, kick back and relax with the group's new single “In My Head.” It's the first song of theirs that I heard and led me to checking out their entire discography.

Kristian Montgomery talks touring, the Boston Music Scene, and new releases

This one has been a long time coming. I've been a fan of Kristian Montgomery and The Winterkill Band for awhile now, and in this episode we get to hash things out for his newest album, “Prince of Poverty.” It's one of three recorded during the pandemic and this fall he'll release “A Heaven for Heretics."

 

Kristian has been a part of the Boston Music Scene for some time and talks about the way he fits in (and sometimes doesn't). He talks about the challenge in getting noticed in the U.S. while at the same time he's become well known in Europe. He's also done shows over there and shares some tales about the audiences and what they're like.

 

We also do a deep dive into his newest album, “Prince of Poverty,” released earlier this year. The album touches on a lot of different subjects—from judgement over the past to America and how he views it.

 

After this, enjoy two songs from the new album, “American Fire” and “A Warm Grave.”

Julianna Joy talks new music and why more support for artists is needed

BONUS TRACK-LX looks at destructive relationships in new single

 

In the newest episode I head to LA (virtually at least) to talk with Julianna Joy, who's made a life and career for herself in music. We talk a lot about the support that artists don't get and how it's impacted them. It's mind-boggling to think of this given the money that revolves around shows and we look at how this needs to change.

 

We also talk about her newest singles, which include “Don't Come to LA” and “Spirits.” There's a story behind the tunes, which focus on a relationship that just didn't work out and the artist making the tough call to let it end.

 

After this, kick back and relax with the new single, “Don't Come to LA.”

 

Following the music break, I talk with LX for her new single “Naked Truth,” which shows the reality behind getting out of a destructive relationship, while also celebrating being able to end it in the first place. LX and I talk about the real-life relationship that inspired the song and her own battles with these kinds of confrontations.

 

After this, enjoy the new single, “Naked Truth.” I dug the honesty of the song as well as the style.

Author Robert Stadnik talks a return to events and expansion of his Exodus series

I'm excited to once again sit down with writer Robert Stadnik, creator of the popular Exodus series. We look at a series of short stories he's working on that expand on characters, plots, and events of the series. We also talk about the future of the Exodus series and if Robert think it will eventually be finished.

 

Recently it's been announced that book expos and conventions will be returning, with some already held, and Robert discusses what he plans to do and if he feels ready to get back amongst the crowds.

 

Ten years ago, Robert wrote a superhero story “Tales Of A Former Child Superhero.” We talk about the genre and how he got into it, and his plans for further developing this and other stories.

Author Justin Lee is back with a most unexpected sequel

In 2018, author J. Lee published his first book, “The Hubley Case,” introducing the world to the character Ben Siebert. At the time, it was supposed to be a one-off story, with no sequels planned. But the fans spoke, telling Lee that they wanted another adventure for Siebert—and so we have “The Silent Cardinal,” available on Aug. 3.

 

In this interview, Lee and I talk about his feelings as release day approaches and plans for in-person events now that such things can be done. We look at the continuation of the story and how Ben grows as a person. We also talk about the villains and how to make such characters unique in a world where thriller bad guys are so prevalent.

 

Lee also talks about the complex story he created and how it all came to be, as well as his planning process and outlining.

 

It's a double dose of Boston music with Linda Marks and Daniel Promotes

As the title says, it's dual Boston artists in this episode. Kicking things off is singer-songwriter Linda Marks, who has a brand new album out called “Monuments of Love.” Inspired by and written during the pandemic, the album touches on a lot of the last year, from the health risks we were all faced with to separation anxiety to lost moments with loved ones.

 

Linda and I talk about how she stayed creative during this difficult time, even hosting a regular livestream music series. We also look at how she completed two other albums, “The Piano” and “Songs at the Heart of Life” during COVID. Linda also has a big triple album release show planned for Aug. 1 at The Burren in Somerville.

 

After Linda's interview, enjoy one of the tracks for the new album, “Prayers,” written for a musician friend who battled a hellish case of COVID but is now on the mend and singing once more.

 

Following this, I'm back with Daniel Promotes, and we also find ourselves chatting about the last 15 months and what it's been like for him. Daniel's also been hard at work joining Ambitious Writerz, and it looks like there's going to be touring in the near future. We look at the Boston rap scene and how it weather the pandemic, focusing on some artists who really made their mark with new releases during this time.

 

Marc Bernardin shares the diverse, detailed world of “Adora and The Distance”

Recently, I had the chance to read the new graphic novel “Adora and the Distance,” available exclusively through comiXology Originals. It was created and written by Marc Bernardin, who has a lengthy history in television, journalism, and comics.

 

“Adora and The Distance” is an amazing story about a young girl named Adora who faces a violent force called The Distance, a city-killing threat. Rather than wait for it to bring an end to her home, she and a group of adventurers set on a quest to stop it.

 

The story is years in the making, and Marc and I talk about how it came to be and the hurdles faced pitching it to publishers before connecting with comiXology. “Adroa and The Distance” is inspired by Bernardin’s daughter who was diagnosed with autism as a toddler, and we talk about what it's like raising a child on the spectrum and how they're often portrayed in media.

 

Marc and I also talk about the team he worked with. This includes Ariela Kristantina (Illustrator), Bryan Valenza (Colorist), Bernardo Brice, (Letterer), and legendary comics editor Will Dennis. I learn how they worked to create the vivid, lush world found in the pages of this comic and how it even influenced some of the story.